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 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a stackable paint container comprising a unitary main body containing paint, wherein the main body includes a threaded neck portion and a sidewall, the unitary main body including 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 from the top and bottom of the unitary main body with an inner wall of the opening formed by a wall of the main body, wherein a substantial portion of the unitary main body defines a generally square or rectangular perimeter of the container;    the unitary main body further comprising a bottom portion having a bottom surface with a recessed area defined centrally in the bottom surface with respect to at least one centerline bisecting the bottom portion, the recessed area including a recessed horizontal surface having a perimeter that is vertically offset from the bottom surface, wherein the recessed area is a substantial area of the bottom portion of the second container and the bottom portion is free of an interlocking extension, the recessed horizontal surface extending inwardly from the perimeter of the recessed horizontal surface;    a lid threaded attachable to the threaded neck portion of the unitary main body, wherein the threaded neck portion is disposed centrally with respect to at least one centerline bisecting the main body, the lid of the container including a top surface portion, and a skirt extending from the perimeter of the planar top surface portion, the skirt having an outer surface which is free of interlocking extensions, the lid having at least one edge portion between the top surface portion and the skirt;    wherein the bottom recessed area of the container is sized to receive the top surface portion of the lid so that the at least one edge portion is within the bottom recessed area and functions to aid in aligning the top surface portion within the bottom recessed area and so that the recessed horizontal surface of the bottom portion is parallel to and proximate to the top surface portion of the lid;    one or more alignment nubs on a surface of the container, and one or more nub recesses sized to receive the nubs; and    further wherein the container is constructed to support another paint container stacked on the lid while the lid is attached to the threaded neck portion and so that the stackable container supports a substantially amount of the weight of the another container and at least in part retains the another container in a stable stacked arrangement, the another container being substantially identical to the stackable container so that the recessed area of the bottom portion of the another container receives the top portion of the lid when stacked thereon and the recessed horizontal surface of the bottom portion of the another container is parallel to and proximate to the top surface portion of the lid, and further wherein the alignment nubs on the stackable container are received in the nub recesses of the another container.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment nub of the container is centrally positioned on the recessed area of the bottom portion of the container.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the nub recess of the another container is centrally positioned on the top surface portion of the lid of the another container so that the alignment nub on the container is receivable in the nub recess of the another container.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment nubs of the container are symmetrically positioned on the recessed area of the bottom portion of the container.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the nub recesses of the another container are symmetrically positioned on the top surface portion of the lid of the another container so that the alignment nubs on the container are receivable in the nub recesses of the another container.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid of the container comprises a unitary band.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the unitary band defines indentations.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid of the container defines indentations on the skirt thereof for twisting off the lid.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid of the container includes an o-ring positioned to seal the lid to the neck of the container.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the molded handle of the container does not extend beyond the sidewall of the container.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the molded handle of the container is hollow.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the molded handle of the container is plastic-filled.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the container comprises polymer.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer is polypropylene.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container is lined with a liner.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the liner is a heat sealable thermoplastic.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the liner is a heat sealable laminate.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the material of the liner includes one of polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, and polyethylene.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the material of the liner includes one of cellulosics, polycarbonates, polypropylene, polyester and metallized plastic sheet material.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the edge of the threaded neck portion of the container is positioned so that the paint can be poured with ease.