Nestable collapsible containers

Abstract

A set of one-piece containers constructed so that each of the containers has a peripheral side wall which is arranged to permit movement of each container from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a telescoping relationship between the various sections of the peripheral side wall. The set of containers is constructed so that the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls are such that, in the collapsed position, the containers are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

1 . A set of one-piece containers, each container comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, the side wall including an annular rim defining an opening into the container, the annular rim being adapted for engagement with a lid to close the container, the peripheral side wall being arranged to include three portions adapted to permit movement of each container of the set from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a folding, telescoping movement between the various sections of the peripheral side wall, the side wall having in the collapsed position an outermost side wall dimension and an innermost side wall dimension, the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls being dimensioned such that, in the collapsed position, the containers of the set are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses. 
     
     
         2 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 1 , wherein the three portions of the peripheral side wall consist essentially of an uppermost portion, a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion joining the uppermost and lowermost portions, with a smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         3 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 2 , wherein the smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall of at least one of the set of containers further comprises additional inwardly curved gripping area to facilitate the extension of the at least one of the containers from the collapsed position to the extended position. 
     
     
         4 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 2 , wherein the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers has an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly to the smooth heel. 
     
     
         5 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 2 , wherein the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers includes an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion, a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion, and a junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers form a smoothly rounded ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 2 , further comprising a first circumferential transitional step joining an upper margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, a second circumferential transitional step joining a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers having a diameter that is greater than the second circumferential transitional step of the same container so that, when in the extended position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers forms a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved surface. 
     
     
         7 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 6 , where in the collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of the peripheral side wall of the same container, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers is positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall, and an inner surface of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container, the diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers being sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible containers. 
     
     
         8 . A set of one-piece containers, each container comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, the side wall including an annular rim defining an opening into the container, the annular rim being adapted for engagement with a lid to close the container, the peripheral side wall being arranged to include three portions adapted to permit movement of each container of the set from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a folding, telescoping movement between the various sections of the peripheral side wall, an uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers includes an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion facilitating collapse of each container, a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion facilitation extension of each container, and a junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers forming a smoothly rounded ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall, the side wall having in the collapsed position an innermost side wall dimension, the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls being dimensioned such that, in the collapsed position, the containers of the set are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses. 
     
     
         9 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 8 , wherein a lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall includes an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly to a smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall, and an inwardly curved gripping area to facilitate the extension of the at least one of the containers from the collapsed position to the extended position. 
     
     
         10 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 9 , wherein the peripheral side wall of each of the set of containers includes an intermediate portion situated between the uppermost portion and the lowermost portion, and in the extended position a first circumferential transitional step joining an upper margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, a second circumferential transitional step joining a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers having a diameter that is greater than the second circumferential transitional step of the same container. 
     
     
         11 . The set of one-piece containers of  claim 10 , where in the collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of the peripheral side wall of the same container, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers is positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall, and an inner surface of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container, the diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers being sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible containers.