Container

Abstract

The present invention relates to containers, and more specifically, to plastic containers. The containers described herein may be applied to any use, but they are particularly useful for storing paint.

1 . A container comprising: a unitary main body with a threaded neck portion and a sidewall, the unitary main body further comprising a handle portion having opposite ends each of which extend from the main body, the handle portion comprising a molded handle wherein the molded handle and the main body define an opening for receiving fingers of a human hand, the handle portion extending along the side of the unitary main body wherein the handle portion and the unitary main body define a square or rectangular perimeter of the paint container; 
 the unitary main body further comprising a bottom portion with a recess defined centrally in the bottom portion, the recess defined by a vertically offset surface free of an interlocking extension and a horizontal surface extending inwardly from the vertically offset surface, and a lid, the lid attachable to the threaded neck portion of the unitary main body, wherein the threaded neck portion is disposed centrally with respect to the main body;    the bottom portion recess of the first container being adapted to align the first container with a lid of another container, the lid of the container including a planar top surface adapted to support a second container stacked thereon, and a skirt extending from the perimeter of the planar top surface, the skirt having an outer surface which is free of interlocking extensions.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the handle defines indentations.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes an o-ring positioned to seal the lid to the main body.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the lid comprises a unitary band.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the unitary band defines indentations.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the handle is hollow.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the handle is plastic-filled.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is lined.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the main body comprises a parallelepiped.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the main body comprises a polymer.  
   
   
       11 . A plastic container and lid assembly for storing paint materials, the assembly comprising: a container and a lid; the container having a main body with a bottom portion, at least one sidewall and a neck; the neck defining a wide mouth opening and including threads for receiving mating threads on the lid; the lid also having a plurality of lugs extending radially therefrom and terminating without extending beyond the container sidewall when said lid is in sealed engagement with the container; the main body also having an integral handle for lifting the container, wherein the integral handle does not extend beyond the container sidewall; the container and lid assembly having a perimeter which substantially conforms to the circumference of a conventional metal paint can.  
   
   
       12 . A plastic container and lid assembly for paint, the assembly comprising: a container and a lid; the container having a main body with a bottom portion, at least four sidewalls and a neck; the neck defining a wide mouth opening and including threads for receiving mating threads on the lid; the main body also having an integral handle for lifting the container, the container and lid assembly having a perimeter which substantially conforms to the circumference of a conventional metal paint can.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the main body includes four sidewalls.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the bottom portion of the container includes an indentation capable of aligning with a top section of a lid of a second plastic container and lid assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the wide mouth opening has a diameter which is at least eighty percent of the diameter of the container.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the container further includes a substantially square shaped bottom portion and a substantially square shaped body in cross sectional configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said integral handle is hollow.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the four sidewalls are joined and define four corners.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein the integral handle is formed at one of the four corners.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein the corners are rounded.  
   
   
       21 . A plastic container for storing paint, the paint container comprising: a main body having a bottom portion, at least one sidewall and a neck; the neck defining a wide mouth opening and including threads for receiving mating threads of a screw on a lid; the main body further comprising a first handle for lifting said container.