Tiered Container

Abstract

A tiered container having a specific arrangement as among the respective tiers facilitates the storage, display, and retrieval of products stored thereat. In a particular application, the container is adapted to store and display single-service vessels for brewed beverage grounds. The container may optionally be rotatable about a vertical axis.

1 . A tiered container, comprising:
 a base having a base cover and a base plate, said base cover being rotatably coupled to said base plate for operable rotation about a first axis;   a spindle extending upwardly from said base along said first axis, said spindle being secured to said base cover for rotation with said base cover about said first axis;   a first basket secured to at least one of said spindle and said base cover for rotation about said first axis, said first basket having a first bottom and a first sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from said first bottom and about said first axis, said first sidewall terminating in an upper circumaxial boundary that is spaced from said first axis by at least a first radial dimension;   a second basket secured to said spindle for rotation about said first axis, said second basket having a second bottom and a second sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from said second bottom and about said first axis, said second bottom being axially displaced upwardly from said first basket along said first axis so as to define an axial spacing between said upper circumaxial boundary and said second bottom by a first axial direction of at least about 4 cm, said axial spacing permitting access between said second bottom and said upper circumaxial boundary to a first storage zone defined by said first basket, said second bottom of said second basket extending substantially circumaxially about said first axis to a second circumaxial boundary which is spaced from said first axis by a second radial dimension that is at least about 3 cm less than said first radial dimension.   
     
     
         2 . A tiered container as in  claim 1  wherein said upper circumaxial boundary defines a circle. 
     
     
         3 . A tiered container as in  claim 1  wherein said first sidewall is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . A tiered container as in  claim 1  wherein said second sidewall is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . A tiered container as in  claim 1  wherein said first axial dimension is between about 5-7 cm. 
     
     
         6 . A tiered container as in  claim 1  wherein said second radial dimension is about 3-5 cm less than said first radial dimension. 
     
     
         7 . A tiered container, comprising:
 a base;   a spindle extending upwardly from said base along a first axis;   a first portion having a sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from proximate to said base and about said first axis, said sidewall terminating in an upper circumaxial boundary, at least a portion of which is spaced from said first axis from a first radial dimension; and   a second portion having a bottom plate section that is axially displaced upwardly from said first portion along said first axis so as to define an axial spacing between said upper circumaxial boundary and said bottom plate section by a first axial dimension of at least 4 cm, said axial spacing permitting access between said bottom plate section and said upper circumaxial boundary to a first storage zone of said first portion, said bottom plate section of said second portion extending substantially circumaxially about said first axis to a second circumaxial boundary, at least a portion of which is spaced from said first axis from a second radial dimension that is at least about 3 cm less than the first radial dimension.   
     
     
         8 . A tiered container as in  claim 7  wherein an entirety of said upper circumaxial boundary is spaced from said first axis by at least said first radial dimension. 
     
     
         9 . A tiered container as in  claim 8  wherein said upper circumaxial boundary defines a circle. 
     
     
         10 . A tiered container as in  claim 7  wherein said sidewall of said first portion is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontally. 
     
     
         11 . A tiered container as in  claim 7 , including a second sidewall extending substantially circumaxially upwardly from said bottom plate section of said second portion about said first axis. 
     
     
         12 . A tiered container as in  claim 11  wherein said second sidewall is angled about 40-70° upwardly from horizontal. 
     
     
         13 . A tiered container as in  claim 7  wherein said first axial dimension is between about 5-7 cm. 
     
     
         14 . A tiered container as in  claim 7  wherein said second radial dimension is about 3-5 cm less than said first radial dimension. 
     
     
         15 . A tiered container as in  claim 7  wherein said base and said second portion are secured to said spindle. 
     
     
         16 . A tiered container as in  claim 15  wherein said base includes a base cover and a base plate, said base cover being rotatably coupled to said base plate for operable rotation about said first axis.