Modular container system

Abstract

A modular container system of nestable containers which includes a main container, stackable secondary containers that substantially occupy a uniform plan area and shape of the main container, and tertiary containers that substantially occupy a uniform plan area and shape of at least one secondary container. The main container has a carrying handle, and secondary containers that also have carrying handles can serve alternatively as main containers. Thus the system is highly versatile in that various combinations of the containers are nestable for use in a variety of situations. Also disclosed is a point-of-sale display including multiple sets or likenesses of the containers In different combinations thereof.

1 . A modular container comprising:
 (a) a main container comprising a generally planar main bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding main side wall member, the main side wall member being joined to the main bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall member to form a main storage cavity, the main storage cavity having a main plan area and shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity;   (b) a plurality of secondary containers, the secondary containers being insertable into the main storage cavity in stacked layers, one or more of the secondary containers being formed to occupy substantially the entire plan area of the main container, the plurality of secondary containers, when stacked in the main storage cavity, substantially filling a volume portion of the main storage cavity extending from the bottom wall member to an upper surface of the uppermost of the stacked secondary containers.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the main plan area is generally rectangular. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the main plan area is generally hexagonal. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the main plan area is generally elliptical. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the main container further comprises a closure flap structure movably connected to the main side wall for covering the storage cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the main plan shape is generally rectangular, the main side wall having opposite side portions and opposite end portions, the closure flap structure comprising a pair of first flap members respectively connected to the opposite end portions, the first flap members having a first fastener structure for securing same in a closed and overlapping condition. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the first fastener structure comprises a mating pair of hook and loop members affixed to facing surfaces of the first flap members. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the closure flap structure further comprises a pair of second flap members connected to the opposite side wall portions for closing the main storage cavity. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , further comprising a second fastener structure for selectively connecting the second flap members, selectively with the second flap members being in overlapping relation to the first flap members when the first flap members are in the closed condition. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the second closure structure extends along marginal edge portions of the second flap members opposite the side wall portions. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the second closure structure comprises a mating pair of zipper members. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the main container further comprises main carrying handle means having a pair of main carrying straps connected to respective main side wall members. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein each of the main carrying straps has spaced apart connections to the main side wall and forming a handle loop portion, the handle loop portions being adapted for being positioned in adjacency above the main side wall member to form a singular handle. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the secondary containers is a pack container comprising a pack bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding pack side wall member, the pack side wall member being joined to the pack bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the pack bottom wall member to form a pack storage cavity, the pack storage cavity having a pack plan area that is substantially uniform from the pack bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the pack storage cavity. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , the pack container comprises an openable pack top wall connected to the pack side wall along an edge portion thereof, and pack fastener means for selectively securing the pack top wall in a closed condition in generally parallel relation to the pack bottom wall. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the pack container further comprises a pack carrying strap connected to the pack top wall member. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the pack container further comprises a pocket structure connected to an inside surface of the pack top wall and covering a portion thereof, the pocket structure forming a plurality of parallel-spaced pocket channels for holding respective handles of implements to be carried. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the pack container further comprises a pack pocket flap connected to the pack top wall member in spaced relation to the pocket structure and having a storage position covering a portion of the pack packet structure for preventing contact between implements carried by the pocket structure and other contents of the pack container. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising a set of tertiary containers associated with the pack container, each tertiary container comprising a tertiary bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the tertiary side wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall member to form a tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage cavity having a plan area that is substantially uniform from the tertiary bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the storage cavity, the set of tertiary containers being insertable in laterally adjacent relation within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the pack plan area. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the secondary containers is a folio container comprising a folio panel member having front surface, a back surface forming a plurality of folio panel portions, the folio panel member having a generally flattened condition, and a folded condition wherein the panel portions are in generally facing relation, the folio container, when in the folded condition having a folio plan area and shape that is approximately the same as the main plan area and shape. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the folio container further comprises at least one folio pocket structure being substantially co-extensive with one of the folio panel portions and having a folio pocket fastener for selectively securing the folio pocket in a closed condition. 
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the folio pocket structure is removably connected to the corresponding folio panel member. 
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one folio pocket structure comprises a mesh wall portion for facilitating drying contents thereof, and the folio container further comprises a hook member movably connected proximate an edge margin of the front surface of the folio panel member for hanging the folio container in the flattened condition thereof from an external support. 
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the folio container further comprises folio fastener means for releasably holding the folio container in the closed condition thereof. 
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the secondary containers is a pocket container comprising:
 (a) a facing pair of main pocket member portions forming a main pocket having a plan area and shape that is approximately the same as the main plan area and shape, and a main pocket fastener for selectively securing the main pocket in a closed condition thereof; and   (b) a secondary pocket member portion connected to one of the main pocket member portions in facing relation thereto for forming a secondary pocket, and a secondary pocket fastener for selectively securing the secondary pocket in a closed condition thereof.   
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the pocket container further comprises a tertiary pocket member portion connected to the secondary pocket member portion in facing relation thereto for forming a tertiary pocket, and a tertiary pocket fastener for selectively securing the tertiary pocket in a closed condition thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein at least one pocket member of the pocket container comprises a mesh material for facilitating drying of pocket contents of the pocket container. 
   
   
       28 . A point-of-sale modular container system comprising:
 (a) a main container comprising a generally planar main bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding main side wall member, the main side wall member being joined to the main bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall member to form a main storage cavity, the main storage cavity having a main plan area and shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity;   (b) a plurality of secondary containers, the secondary containers being insertable into the main storage cavity in stacked layers, one or more of the secondary containers being formed to occupy substantially the entire plan area of the main container, the plurality of secondary containers, when stacked in the main storage cavity, substantially filling a volume portion of the main storage cavity extending from the bottom wall member to an upper surface of the uppermost of the stacked secondary containers, at least one of the secondary containers is a pack container comprising:
 (i) a pack bottom wall member; 
 (ii) a generally cylindrical upstanding pack side wall member, the pack side wall member being joined to the pack bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the pack bottom wall member to form a pack storage cavity, the pack storage cavity having a pack plan area that is substantially uniform from the pack bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the pack storage cavity; and 
 (iii) a handle structure; 
   (c) a plurality of tertiary containers associated with the pack container, each tertiary container comprising a tertiary bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the tertiary side wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall member to form a tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage cavity having a plan area that is substantially uniform from the tertiary bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the tertiary storage cavity, one or more of the tertiary containers being insertable within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the pack plan area, a plurality of the tertiary containers substantially filling a volume portion of the pack storage cavity extending from the pack bottom wall member to an upper surface of the uppermost of the tertiary containers.   
   
   
       29 . The container system of  claim 28 , wherein at least some of the tertiary containers are insertable in laterally adjacent relation within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the pack plan area. 
   
   
       30 . The container system of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the tertiary containers is insertable within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the pack plan area. 
   
   
       31 . The container system of  claim 28 , further comprising a rack for displaying at least some nestable container subsets of the system. 
   
   
       32 . The container system of  claim 28 , further comprising a chart for identifying at least some nestable container subsets of the system. 
   
   
       33 . A modular container comprising:
 (a) a main container comprising a generally planar main bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding main side wall member, the main side wall member being joined to the main bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall member to form a main storage cavity, the main storage cavity having a main plan area and shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity;   (b) a plurality of secondary containers, the secondary containers being insertable into the main storage cavity in stacked layers, one or more of the secondary containers being formed to occupy substantially the entire plan area of the main container, the plurality of secondary containers, when stacked in the main storage cavity, substantially filling a volume portion of the main storage cavity extending from the bottom wall member to an upper surface of the uppermost of the stacked secondary containers;   (c) at least one of the secondary containers being a pack container comprising:
 (i) a pack bottom wall member; 
 (ii) a generally cylindrical upstanding pack side wall member, the pack side wall member being joined to the pack bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the pack bottom wall member to form a pack storage cavity, the pack storage cavity having a pack plan area that is substantially uniform from the pack bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the pack storage cavity; and 
 (iii) a handle structure; and 
   (d) a plurality of tertiary containers associated with the pack container, each tertiary container comprising a tertiary bottom wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the tertiary side wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall member to form a tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage cavity having a plan area that is substantially uniform from the tertiary bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the tertiary storage cavity, one or more of the tertiary containers being insertable within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the pack plan area, a plurality of the tertiary containers substantially filling a volume portion of the pack storage cavity extending from the pack bottom wall member to an upper surface of the uppermost of the tertiary containers.