Device and method for preventing skidding of a container

Abstract

A container having a side wall having an exterior surface with at least one friction portion effective to prevent skidding of the side wall on a surface adjacent the side wall.

We claim as our invention:  
     
         1 . A container comprising: 
 a side wall having an exterior surface with at least one friction portion effective to prevent skidding of the side wall on a surface adjacent the side wall.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion encompasses substantially all of the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion encompasses less than the entire exterior surface of the side wall, the friction portion having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the side wall.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion comprises a stippled surface protruding from the side wall.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion comprises wall members positioned about the side wall, the wall members being protrusions from the side wall and effective to engage complementary protrusions of the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion is integral to the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion is an embossed structure on the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the friction portion is attached to the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises at least one of metal, plastic, and glass.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of friction portions on the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the friction portions encompass less than the entire exterior surface of the side wall, each of the friction portions having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the side wall.  
     
     
         12 . An anti-skid device comprising: 
 an engagement surface having a friction portion effective to prevent skidding of a container against the engagement surface.    
     
     
         13 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion encompasses substantially all of the engagement surface.  
     
     
         14 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion encompasses less than the entire engagement surface, the friction portion having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the engagement surface.  
     
     
         15 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion comprises a stippled surface protruding from the engagement surface.  
     
     
         16 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion comprises wall members positioned about the engagement surface, the wall members being protrusions from the engagement surface and effective to engage complementary protrusions of the container.  
     
     
         17 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion is integral to the engagement surface.  
     
     
         18 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion is an embossed structure on the engagement surface.  
     
     
         19 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the friction portion is attached to the engagement surface.  
     
     
         20 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , wherein the container comprises at least one of metal, plastic, and glass.  
     
     
         21 . The anti-skid device of  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of friction portions on the engagement surface.  
     
     
         22 . The anti-skid device of  claim 21 , wherein the friction portions encompass less than the entire engagement surface, each of the friction portions having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the engagement surface.  
     
     
         23 . A method of preventing skidding of a container having a side wall on a surface adjacent the side wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container having a side wall with an exterior surface; and    providing a surface adjacent the exterior surface of the side wall,    wherein at least one of the exterior surface of the side wall and the surface adjacent the exterior surface of the side wall comprises a friction portion effective to prevent skidding of the exterior surface of the side wall on the surface adjacent the exterior surface of the side wall.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion encompasses substantially all of the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion encompasses less than the entire exterior surface of the side wall, the friction portion having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the side wall.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion comprises a stippled surface protruding from the side wall.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion comprises wall members positioned about the side wall, the wall members being protrusions from the side wall and effective to engage complementary protrusions of the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion is integral to the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion is an embossed structure on the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion is attached to the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the container comprises at least one of metal, plastic, and glass.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of friction portions on the exterior surface of the side wall.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the friction portions encompass less than the entire exterior surface of the side wall, each of the friction portions having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the side wall.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion encompasses substantially all of the exterior surface of the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion encompasses less than the entire surface adjacent the side wall, the friction portion having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion comprises a stippled surface protruding from the surface adjacent side wall.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion comprises wall members positioned about the surface adjacent the side wall, the wall members being protrusions from the surface adjacent the side wall and effective to engage complementary protrusions of the side wall.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion is integral to the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion is an embossed structure on the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the friction portion is attached to the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the surface adjacent the side wall comprises a plurality of friction portions.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the friction portions encompass less than the entire surface adjacent the side wall, each of the friction portions having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of a remainder of the surface adjacent the side wall.  
     
     
         43 . A method of preventing skidding of a container having a side wall on a surface adjacent the side wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container having a side wall with a friction portion; and    providing a surface adjacent the side wall, the friction portion effective to prevent skidding of the side wall on the surface adjacent the side wall.    
     
     
         44 . A method of preventing skidding of a container having a side wall on a surface adjacent the side wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container having a side wall; and    providing a surface adjacent the side wall, the surface adjacent the side wall having a friction portion effective to prevent skidding of the side wall on the surface adjacent the side wall.