Storage tin and modular storage system

Abstract

A storage tin is disclosed that can include a container having an irregular hexagonal shape and a removable lid. The container can include a base and a peripheral sidewall secured thereto. The base and sidewall can cooperate together to define an interior storage compartment that can be selectively sealed by the removable lid. In one aspect of the invention, the hexagon defined by the container includes two sides having a first length and four sides having a second length, with the first length being smaller than the second length. A modular storage system including a plurality of such storage tins is also disclosed. Methods for packaging an item, such as popcorn, candy, cookies, or the like, are also disclosed.

1 . A storage tin comprising: 
 a base, the base having a periphery with a pair of narrow sides and four wide sides, the six sides defining a hexagonal area, each of the narrow sides having a first length, each of the wide sides having a second length, the first length being smaller than the second length, the narrow sides being disposed in opposing relationship to each other, two of the wide sides being disposed in adjacent relationship to each other, the other two wide sides being disposed in adjacent relationship to each other;    a peripheral sidewall having a bottom end, a top end, and six planar portions, the peripheral sidewall connected adjacent the bottom end thereof to the base, the sidewall and the base cooperating together to define an interior storage compartment, each planar portion having a bottom edge and a top edge, the bottom edge of each planar portion being aligned, respectively, with one of the sides of the base and substantially corresponding in length thereto, the top edges of the planar portions disposed at the top end of the sidewall, the top edges of the planar portions defining an opening in communication with the interior storage compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The storage tin according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a lid, the lid being removably mountable to the peripheral sidewall such that the opening is selectively covered.    
   
   
       3 . The storage tin according to  claim 2 , wherein the lid includes an exterior surface having a handle mounted thereto.  
   
   
       4 . The storage tin according to  claim 3 , wherein the exterior surface of the lid defines a recess, the handle disposed in the recess.  
   
   
       5 . The storage tin according to  claim 4 , wherein the handle is movable between a stowed position wherein the handle is substantially disposed within the recess and an operating position wherein at least a portion of the handle extends from the exterior surface of the lid.  
   
   
       6 . The storage tin according to  claim 5 , wherein the exterior surface of the lid defines a hollow within the recess, the hollow being disposed underneath a portion of the handle when the handle is in the stowed position such that the portion of the handle is in spaced relationship with the exterior surface of the lid to define a predetermined gap therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The storage tin according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral sidewall includes a first shell and a second shell, each shell including a pair of mating edges, the mating edges of the first shell configured to retentively engage the mating edges of the second shell to secure the first and second shells together.  
   
   
       8 . The storage tin according to  claim 7 , wherein the mating edges of the first shell each include a mounting flange extending therealong, and the mating edges of the second shell each include a mounting hook extending therealong, each mounting hook configured to engage one of the mounting flanges to secure the first and second shells together.  
   
   
       9 . The storage tin according to  claim 7 , wherein the first shell is substantially identical to the second shell.  
   
   
       10 . The storage tin according to  claim 7 , wherein one of the mating edges of the first shell includes a mounting flange extending therealong, the other of the mating edges of the first shell includes a mounting hook extending therealong, one of the mating edges of the second shell includes a mounting flange extending therealong, the other of the mating edges of the second shell includes a mounting hook extending therealong, the mounting hook of the first shell configured to retentively engage the mounting flange of the second shell, and the mounting hook of the second shell configured to retentively engage the mounting flange of the first shell.  
   
   
       11 . The storage tin according to  claim 1 , wherein each narrow side of the periphery of the base has a pair of ends, each wide side of the periphery of the base has a pair of ends, one of the wide sides of the periphery of the base is disposed adjacent each end of the narrow sides, each narrow side and adjacent wide side defining a first interior angle, each wide side of the periphery having a narrow side disposed adjacent one end and a wide side disposed adjacent the other end, each wide side defining with its adjacent wide side a second interior angle, the first interior angle being greater than the second interior angle.  
   
   
       12 . The storage tin according to  claim 11 , wherein the first interior angle is between about 115° and about 135°.  
   
   
       13 . The storage tin according to  claim 11 , wherein the second interior angle is between about 90° and about 130°.  
   
   
       14 . The storage tin according to  claim 12 , wherein the second interior angle is between about 90° and about 130°.  
   
   
       15 . The storage tin according to  claim 11 , wherein the second interior angle is determined from the equation:  
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 Angle 
                 2 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   720 
                   - 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       4 
                       × 
                       
                         Angle 
                         1 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 2 
               
             
             , 
           
         
       
     
     where Angle 1  is the first interior angle in degrees, and Angle 2  is the second interior angle in degrees.  
   
   
       16 . The storage tin according to  claim 14 , wherein the second interior angle is determined from the equation:  
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 Angle 
                 2 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   720 
                   - 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       4 
                       × 
                       
                         Angle 
                         1 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 2 
               
             
             , 
           
         
       
     
     where Angle 1  is the first interior angle, and Angle 2  is the second interior angle.  
   
   
       17 . The storage tin according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening defines an opening area, the opening area being substantially the same as the hexagonal area of the base.  
   
   
       18 . The storage tin according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral sidewall is tapered such that the opening defines an opening area, the opening area being different than the hexagonal area of the base.  
   
   
       19 . The storage tin according to  claim 18 , wherein the opening area of the peripheral sidewall is greater than the hexagonal area of the base.  
   
   
       20 . A storage tin comprising a base, the base having a periphery with six sides defining an irregular hexagonal shape, a peripheral sidewall having a bottom end, a top end, and six planar portions, the peripheral sidewall connected adjacent the bottom end thereof to the base, the sidewall and the base cooperating together to define an interior storage compartment, each planar portion having a bottom edge and a top edge, the bottom edge of each planar portion being aligned, respectively, with one of the sides of the base and substantially corresponding in length thereto, the top edges of the planar portions disposed at the top end of the sidewall, the top edges of the planar portions defining an opening in communication with the interior storage compartment.  
   
   
       21 . The storage tin according to  claim 21 , further comprising a lid for selectively covering the opening to the interior storage compartment thereof.  
   
   
       22 . A modular storage system comprising at least two storage tins according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       23 . The modular storage system according to  claim 21  wherein at least one of the storage tins includes a lid for selectively covering the opening to the interior storage compartment thereof.  
   
   
       24 . A method for packaging an item, the method comprising: 
 providing a storage tin, the storage tin including a base, the base having a periphery with six sides defining an irregular hexagonal shape, a peripheral sidewall having a bottom end, a top end, and six planar portions, the peripheral sidewall connected adjacent the bottom end thereof to the base, the sidewall and the base cooperating together to define an interior storage compartment, each planar portion having a bottom edge and a top edge, the bottom edge of each planar portion respectively disposed adjacent one of the sides of the base, the top edges of the planar portions defining an opening in communication with the interior storage compartment;    inserting the item into the interior storage compartment of the storage tin.    
   
   
       25 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 providing a lid;    placing the lid on the peripheral sidewall of the storage tin such that the opening to the interior storage compartment is closed.    
   
   
       26 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the item comprises food.  
   
   
       27 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 26 , wherein the food comprises a predetermined amount of popcorn.  
   
   
       28 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 26 , wherein the food comprises a predetermined amount of candy.  
   
   
       29 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 26 , wherein the food comprises a predetermined amount of cookies.  
   
   
       30 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 25 , wherein the periphery of the base of the storage tin has a pair of narrow sides and four wide sides, and the peripheral sidewall of the storage tin has a pair of narrow planar portions corresponding to the pair of narrow sides of the base and four corresponding wide planar portions corresponding to the four wide sides of the base.  
   
   
       31 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 providing a pallet;    providing a second storage tin, the second storage tine being substantially the same as the first storage tin;    inserting another item into the second storage tin;    providing a second lid;    placing the second lid on the peripheral sidewall of the second storage tin such that the opening to the interior storage compartment is closed;    placing the first storage tin on the pallet;    placing the second storage tin on the pallet.    
   
   
       32 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 31 , wherein in the placing step, the base of each storage tin rests upon the pallet.  
   
   
       33 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 31 , wherein in the placing step, one of the narrow sides of each storage tin rests upon the pallet.  
   
   
       34 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 31 , wherein in the placing step, one of the wide sides of each storage tin rests upon the pallet.  
   
   
       35 . The method for packaging an item according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 applying a surface ornamentation to an exterior surface of the peripheral sidewall of the storage tin.