Customizable storage container system

Abstract

A series of interlocking or non-interlocking stackable containers have an identical size and shape. The containers may include transparent sides and a transparent cover. The cover may include a raised area. The bottom of container may include an inward recess sized to accept the raised area of the cover of a lower container. Each container may include an interchangeable faceplate that affixes to the transparent cover. The interchangeable faceplate may be used to accessorize the containers for visual recognition and cover an outer area of the cover, leaving an inner area of the cover exposed for viewing contents. The containers may similarly display contents at both a merchant and a customer location. A customer may purchase a container for home-use such as for interlocking or stacking with previously purchased containers of the same size. The containers may contain contents of the same type, such as jewelry, shoes, or other articles.

1 . A series of stackable containers, the series of stackable containers comprising:
 a top stackable container and a bottom stackable container having identical shapes, both the top stackable container and the bottom stackable container having:
 transparent sides; 
 a bottom having an inward recess, the inward recess having a first surface area; and 
 a cover having a raised area, the raised area being transparent and having a second surface area and a height of a first length, 
   wherein the second surface area of the raised area of the cover of the bottom stackable container is sized to be accepted by the first surface area of the inward recess on the bottom of the top stackable container, and once the top stackable container is stacked on top of the bottom stackable container, side surfaces associated with or defining the second surface area of the raised area of the cover of the bottom stacker container make one or more interference fits with side surfaces associated with or defining the first surface area of the inward recess on the bottom of the top stackable container such that the top stackable container is inter-connectively stacked on top of the bottom stackable container.   
     
     
         2 . The series of stackable containers of  claim 1 , wherein the cover of the top stackable container includes a faceplate configured to cover an outer portion of the cover, the faceplate having a cut-out interior sized to fit around the second surface area of the raised area of the cover such that the contents of each stackable container is viewable through the raised area of the cover. 
     
     
         3 . The series of stackable containers of  claim 2 , wherein the faceplate is configured to have a second height of a second length, the second length of the second height of the faceplate being less than the first length of the height of the raised area such that after the faceplate is slid over the second surface area of the raised area of the cover of the bottom stackable container, at least a portion of the raised area of the cover of the bottom stackable container protrudes from the faceplate for acceptance by the inward recess on the bottom of the top stackable container to facilitate inter-connectively stacking the top and bottom stackable containers together. 
     
     
         4 . The series of stackable containers of  claim 3 , wherein the faceplate is attachable to and removable from the cover of the top stackable container, the faceplate having a user-selected color. 
     
     
         5 . The series of stackable containers of  claim 4 , wherein both the top stackable container and the bottom stackable container have:
 a generally rectangular or square shape;   four transparent sides; and   a transparent bottom.   
     
     
         6 . The series of stackable containers of  claim 5 , wherein each of the four transparent sides is approximately equal to or less than 4.0 inches in dimension. 
     
     
         7 . The series of stackable containers of  claim 6 , wherein the top stackable container is configured to have an internal means for organizing jewelry. 
     
     
         8 . A stackable container, the stackable container comprising:
 a cover with a double raised area sized to be inserted into a second recess on a second bottom of a second stackable container, the double raised area having a height, the second stackable container being shaped similarly to the stackable container;   a bottom with a recess sized to accept at least a portion of a third double raised area on a third cover of a third stackable container, the third stackable container being shaped similarly to the stackable container; and   a faceplate for visual recognition of a type of contents being stored by the stackable container, the faceplate being configured to slide over the double raised area of the cover and be removably affixed to the cover, the faceplate having a second height of approximately half the height of the double raised area of the cover of the stackable container such that a top portion of the double raised area of the cover protrudes from the faceplate after the faceplate is removably affixed to the cover of the stackable container,   wherein, during use, the top portion of the double raised area of the cover of the stackable container that protrudes from the faceplate is slid into the second recess on the second bottom on the second stackable container such that second stackable container is held in place with respect to the stackable container via the inter-connection between the top portion of the double raised area of the cover of the stackable container that protrudes from the faceplate after the faceplate is removably affixed to the cover of the stackable container and the second recess on the second bottom of the second stackable container.   
     
     
         9 . The stackable container of  claim 8 , wherein surfaces associated with or defining the double raised area of the cover of the stackable container and corresponding surfaces associated with or defining the second recess on the bottom of the second stackable container form one or more interference fits. 
     
     
         10 . The stackable container of  claim 9 , wherein the surfaces associated with or defining the double raised of the cover of the stackable container and corresponding surfaces on the faceplate form one or more interference fits, the faceplate further being removably affixed to the cover via one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . The stackable container of  claim 8 , wherein the recess on the bottom of the stackable container fits over the third double raised area on the third cover of the third stackable container such that stackable container is held in place on top of the third stackable container via one or more interference fits between surfaces associated with or defining the recess on the bottom of the stackable container and corresponding surfaces associated with or defining the third double raised area on the third cover of the third stackable container, so that the stackable container is vertically stacked with respect to both the second and third stackable containers. 
     
     
         12 . The stackable container of  claim 8 , wherein the double raised area of the cover of the stackable container is transparent such that after the faceplate is removably attached, the contents of the stackable container remain viewable through the transparent double raised area of the cover. 
     
     
         13 . The stackable container of  claim 11 , wherein the stackable container is configured to have an organizing tool for jewelry and a velvet interior, and further configured to have a bottom with an outer surface area of approximately 2.0 inches by approximately 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         14 . A method of selling customizable, stackable containers, the method comprising:
 selling a first content of a certain type along with an initial customizable and stackable container that is displaying the first content of the certain type at a merchant location during a first shopping event, the initial customizable and stackable container being at least partially transparent such that the first content of the certain type within the initial customizable and stackable container may be viewed without removing a cover associated with the initial customizable and stackable container, the initial customizable and stackable container being configured to be accessorized by a first accessory of a certain kind; and   subsequently selling a second content of the certain type along with a second customizable and stackable container that is displaying the second content of the certain type at the merchant location during a second shopping event, the second customizable and stackable container being at least partially transparent such that the second content of the certain type within the second customizable and stackable container may be viewed without removing a cover associated with the second customizable and stackable container,   wherein the second customizable and stackable container is configured to have a substantially identical size and shape as the initial customizable and stackable container, and be accessorized by a second accessory of the certain kind such that the second the second customizable and stackable container can be (1) inter-connectively stacked with the initial customizable and stackable container, and (2) accessorized in conformity with the first accessory of the certain kind associated with the initial customizable and stackable container.   
     
     
         15 . The method of selling customizable, stackable containers of  claim 14 , the method further comprising selling the second accessory of the certain kind during the second or subsequent shopping event to accessorize the second customizable and stackable container in conformity with the first accessory of the certain kind, such that the initial and second customizable and stackable containers facilitate display of the first and second content of the certain type, and visual recognition of the certain type of content being stored by each customizable and stackable container via the corresponding first and second accessory of the certain kind. 
     
     
         16 . The method of selling customizable stackable containers of  claim 14 , wherein the certain type of content is jewelry, the method further comprising selling dividers for dividing pieces of jewelry within each customizable and stackable container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of selling customizable stackable containers of  claim 14 , wherein the certain kind of accessory is a faceplate configured to be removably affixed to the cover of an individual customizable and stackable container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of selling customizable stackable containers of  claim 14 , wherein the initial customizable and stackable container includes a case and a cover both having a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of selling customizable stackable containers of  claim 14 , wherein the initial customizable and stackable container contains a re-programmable electronic device attached to or embedded within walls of the initial customizable and stackable container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of selling customizable stackable containers of  claim 14 , the method further comprising remotely tracking a location of the initial customizable and stackable container via a wireless transceiver or other electronic communication device attached to or embedded within walls of the initial customizable and stackable container.