Combinable container

Abstract

A container comprising, in one embodiment, a side wall and a base, wherein the side wall is perforated to form at least a first flap movable relative to the side wall by a hinge, the first flap being moveable from a first position flush with the side wall to a second position extending away from the side wall, a second flap extending in the direction of the base, and a first opening defined in the side wall when the first flap is in the second position, the first opening adapted to receive a second container inserted into the first opening of the side wall of the first container such that the downwardly extending flap of the first container extends into the second container and the second container rests on the side wall of the first container.

1 . A container comprising:
 a) a side wall and a base;   b) wherein the side wall is perforated to form at least a first flap movable relative to the side wall by a hinge;   c) the first flap being moveable from a first position flush with the side wall to a second position extending away from the side wall;   d) a second flap extending in the direction of the base and comprising a first side edge, a second side edge and a lowermost point;   e) and a first opening defined in the side wall when the first flap is in the second position, the first opening having a first portion extending upwardly from the hinge along the first side edge to a first terminus above the lowermost point of the second flap, and a second portion extending upwardly along the second side edge to a second terminus above the lowermost point of the second flap.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap is substantially U-shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap is substantially V-shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has an upper edge and a lower edge and the hinge is defined along the lower edge. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has an upper edge and a lower edge and the hinge is spaced from the lower edge. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the first flap extends outwardly from the side wall to form a coplanar support with the hinge and the base. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , the side wall further comprising at least one additional opening. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is substantially coplanar with the base. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap extends outwardly from the side wall to form a coplanar support with the base. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second opening spaced from the first opening along a perimeter of the side wall. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second opening that is larger than the first opening. 
   
   
       12 . A combination of containers comprising:
 a) a first container having a side wall, a downwardly extending flap and a first opening in the side wall defined around the downwardly extending flap, and   b) a second container inserted into the first opening of the side wall of the first container such that the downwardly extending flap of the first container extends into the second container and the second container rests on the side wall of the first container.   
   
   
       13 . The combination of containers of  claim 12 , wherein the side wall of the first container is perforated to form at least a second flap movable relative to the side wall by a hinge from a first position flush with the side wall to a second position extending away from the side wall, the second container resting on the hinge and the second flap. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of containers of  claim 13 , wherein the first container has an interior base, the side wall has a lower edge, and the hinge is spaced from the lower edge and is substantially coplanar with the interior base. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of containers of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one additional container inserted into at least one additional opening in the side wall of the first container. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of containers of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one additional container is vertically spaced from the second container. 
   
   
       17 . The combination of containers of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of additional containers inserted into a plurality of additional openings in the side wall of the first container. 
   
   
       18 . A method of combining a second container to a first container, the method comprising:
 a) providing a first container having a side wall that is perforated to form at least a first flap that is movable relative to the side wall by a hinge, the first flap being moveable from a first position flush with the side wall to a second position extending away from the side wall, the first container having a second downwardly extending flap and a first opening defined in the side wall when the first flap is in the second position;   b) moving the first flap from the first position to the second position;   c) inserting a second container into the first opening of the side wall of the first container such that the second flap of the first container is inside the second container and the second container rests on the hinge of the first flap of the first container.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising extending the first flap outwardly away from the side wall to form a coplanar support with an interior base of the first container. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting at least one additional container into at least one additional opening in the side wall of the first container.