Interlocking Container

Abstract

Certain embodiments are directed to an interlocking container having a top that is complementary with the bottom and incorporating a locking mechanism to reversibly interlock two containers.

1 . An interlocking container comprising:
 (a) a neck having an interlocking mechanism;   (b) a body;   (c) a bottom having a recessed portion configured to receive the neck of a second container, wherein the bottom portion contains the complementary part of the interlocking mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking mechanism is at least one flange present on the top or bottom of a container that snaps into at least one groove present on the bottom or top, respectively, of the complementary container. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking mechanism is at least one tab present on the top of a container that slides into at least one groove in the bottom of another container and is locked by twisting one container with respect to the other. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking mechanism is at least one tab present on the top of a container which inserts into at least one slot on the bottom of another container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to mate with a second container positioned side by side and in contact with the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein a first portion of the body is convex and a second portion positioned opposite of the convex first portion is concave, the convex first portion is configured to mate with the concave second side when two or more containers are position positioned side by side. 
     
     
         7 . A column of containers comprising two or more containers of  claim 1  positioned top to bottom. 
     
     
         8 . A stack of containers comprising two or more container columns of  claim 4  arranged in an array. 
     
     
         9 . An interlocking container comprising:
 (a) a neck having at least one locking tab;   (b) a body;   (c) a bottom having a recessed portion configured to receive the neck of a second container, wherein the recessed portion forms (i) a notch for insertion of the locking tab and (ii) a locking groove through which the locking tab can move from an unlocked to a locked position.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the container is configured to mate with a second container positioned side by side and in contact with the container. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the body is convex and a second portion positioned opposite of the convex first portion is concave, the convex first portion is configured to mate with the concave second side when two or more containers are position positioned side by side. 
     
     
         12 . A column of containers comprising two or more containers of  claim 9  positioned top to bottom. 
     
     
         13 . A stack of containers comprising two or more container columns of  claim 12  arranged in an array.