Locking stacking lug for stackable containers

Abstract

A stackable container ( 10 ) has a generally cylindrical body with a rounded top ( 12 ), a rounded bottom ( 14 ), and a sidewall ( 16 ). A pair of opposed ears ( 26 ) formed below the top of the body extend outwardly from the side of the body for attaching ends of a handle ( 24 ) used to lift and carry the container. The container has a locking mechanism for stacking the container with a similarly formed container so the containers are securely attached to each other to facilitate their movement. The container has a circumferential lip ( 18 ) formed about the top of the container and a pair of opposed notches ( 30 ) are formed in the lip. A pair of lugs ( 32 ) extend outwardly from the container sidewall and are sized to fit into the notch when two containers are stacked together so to attach the containers to each other and facilitate stacking of the containers. In one embodiment the notches and lugs are aligned with the respective ears; while in another embodiment they are offset from the ears.

1 . A stackable container comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical body with a rounded top, a rounded bottom, and a sidewall;    a pair of opposed ears formed below the top of the body and extending outwardly from the side of the bottom for attaching ends of a handle used to lift and carry the container; and,    locking means for stacking the container with a similarly formed container so the containers are securely attached to each other to facilitate their movement, the locking means including at least one locking lug extending below one of the ears and a notch aligned with the lug on one container fitting in a notch on a corresponding container with which the stackable container is stacked.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  in which a circumferential lip is formed about the top of the container and the locking means includes at least one notch formed in the lip.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  in which the lug extends outwardly from the container sidewall, is vertically aligned with the notch, and is sized to fit into the notch when two containers are stacked together to attach the containers to each other.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  in which the locking means includes a pair of notches and a pair of lugs, the notches and lugs being oppositely formed on the container with a lug and vertically aligned with each other.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4  in which each notch depends beneath one of the ears.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5  further including a flange extending circumferentially about the container, below the top of the container, and the lug depends beneath the flange for the lug of the container to be received in the notch in the lip of the container with which the container is stacked.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  further including a second flange extending circumferentially about the container, below the top of the container and above the first said flange, the ears formed on the sides of the container extending between the respective flanges.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  in which the lug and notch are offset from the ears and not aligned therewith.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  further including a pair of notches and a pair of lugs being oppositely formed on the container and offset from the respective container ears.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  in which respective lugs and notches are vertically aligned with each other.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 6  in which the body sidewall tapers from the top to the bottom of the container.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1  which is a molded plastic container.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 1  in which the handle is a removable handle the ends of which fit in openings in the respective ears.