Container with attachable retrieval means

Abstract

A container for the storage of goods within a cavity of the container. The container includes retrieval means configured to be detachably coupled with an attachment mechanism in the cavity of the container. A rim and opening of the cavity of the container is angled with respect to a horizontal plane. The container may include a lid for engaging with the rim and/or side walls of the container to substantially close or seal off the opening and, thereby, the cavity. The lid may be configured to form a substantially horizontal top surface, or a top surface that is angled with respect a horizontal plane when it is engaged with the rim of the container. The lid may include a lip or side wall that allows two containers with angled top surfaces to be securely stacked on each other on the top surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for storing goods therein, comprising:
 a container body including a base and side walls, the base and side walls forming a cavity for the storage of goods therein, and the side walls including a rim that defines an opening into the cavity;   a lid configured to engage the rim of the container body in a first orientation to substantially close the opening; and   a retrieval means configured to be removably coupled with an attachment mechanism provided on the side walls of the container body,   wherein the container body is configured such that the rim is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the rim is angled from a horizontal plane between about 5 degrees and about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid forms a substantially horizontal top surface when the lid is engaged with the rim and the base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid forms a top surface that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the lid is engaged with the rim and the base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the lid includes a lip extending from the top surface. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the lip extends about a portion of the periphery of the lid that is proximate to the lowest portion of the angled top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a side wall extending about the periphery of the lid and away from a top surface of the lid that is configured to engage at least one of the rim and the side walls of the container proximate to the rim, and wherein at least a portion of the side wall of the lid is angled with respect to an underside of the top surface of the lid at an obtuse or acute angle. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes at least one first alignment indicator and the lid includes at least one second alignment indicator, the at least one first and second alignment indicators configured to provide at least one of a visual and tactile indication of the relative orientation of the container and the lid to facilitate orientation of the lid into the first orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the container body is proximate to the rim and distal to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the side walls of the container body include a neck portion, and wherein the attachment mechanism is provided on the neck portion. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism on the side walls of the container body is an open-ended sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned on the interior of the side walls of the container body and includes a cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the retrieval means includes an elongate handle portion configured to extend into the cavity of the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the retrieval means includes a projection configured to extend into the cavity of the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the retrieval means includes an elongate handle portion and a container portion, and wherein the projection extends from the container portion and is substantially parallel to the handle portion. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the retrieval means includes an elongate handle portion and a container portion, and wherein the projection extends from the container portion and is substantially perpendicular to the handle portion. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the retrieval means includes an elongate handle portion and a container portion, and wherein the projection extends from a free end of the handle portion and is substantially parallel to the handle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the container body includes a projection or aperture, wherein the retrieval means includes the other of the projection or aperture as compared to the attachment mechanism, and wherein the projection and the aperture are configured to removably couple the container body and the retrieval means when the projection is received within the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the container body includes a plurality of deflectable or deformable projections, and wherein the deflectable or deformable projections are configured to apply a compressive force to the retrieval means when the retrieval means is positioned between the projections. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the retrieval means includes an elongate handle portion and a container portion provided at an end of the elongate handle portion. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the elongate handle portion of the retrieval means includes a hinge mechanism configured to allow a portion of the handle portion that is distal to the container portion to pivot with respect to a portion of the handle portion that is proximate to the container portion. 
     
     
         22 . A container for storing goods therein, comprising:
 a container body including a base and side walls, the base and side walls forming a cavity for the storage of goods therein, the side walls including an attachment mechanism within the cavity and a rim defining an opening into the cavity that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface;   a lid configured to engage the rim of the container body for substantially closing the opening; and   a retrieval means configured to be removably coupled with the attachment means of the container body,   wherein the lid forms a top surface that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the lid is engaged with the rim and the base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, and   wherein the lid includes a lip extending from the top surface about a portion of the periphery of the lid that is proximate to the lowest positioned portion of the top surface.   
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the top surface and lip of the lid are configured to engage a second lid of a second container to facilitate substantially secure stacking of the container and the second container on the lid and second lid, respectively. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein a second top surface of the second lid is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the second container is substantially securely stacked on the container. 
     
     
         25 . A goods storage system, comprising:
 a first container comprising:
 a first container body including a first base and first side walls, the first base and first side walls forming a first cavity for the storage of goods therein, the first side walls including a first rim defining a first opening into the first cavity that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the first base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface; and 
 a first lid configured to engage the first rim of the first container body for substantially closing the first opening, 
 wherein the first lid forms a first top surface that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the first lid is engaged with the first rim and the first base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, and wherein the first lid includes a first lip extending from the first top surface about a portion of the periphery of the first lid that is proximate to the lowest positioned portion of the first top surface when the first lid is engaged with the first rim and the first base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface; and 
   a second container comprising:
 a second container body including a second base and second side walls, the second base and second side walls forming a second cavity for the storage of goods therein, the second side walls including a second rim defining a second opening into the second cavity that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the second base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface; and 
 a second lid configured to engage the second rim of the second container body for substantially closing the second opening, 
 wherein the second lid forms a second top surface that is angled with respect to a horizontal plane when the second lid is engaged with the second rim and the second base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, and wherein the second lid includes a second lip extending from the second top surface about a portion of the periphery of the second lid that is proximate to the lowest positioned portion of the second top surface when the second lid is engaged with the second rim and the second base is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, 
   wherein the first container and the second container are configured to be substantially securely stacked on one another via the first and second lids thereof such that the first top surface of the first lid and the second top surface of the second lid are in abutment, the first lip of the first lid engages a portion of the second lid that is void of the second lip, and the second lip of the second lid engages a portion of the first lid that is void of the first lip.   
     
     
         26 . The goods storage system of  claim 25 , wherein, when the first container and the second container are substantially securely stacked via the first and second lids thereof, the first lip of the first container and the second lip of the second container substantially oppose each other. 
     
     
         27 . The goods storage system of  claim 25 , wherein the first container and the second container are configured to be substantially securely vertically stacked via the first and second lids thereof when one of the first or second bases is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface. 
     
     
         28 . The goods storage system of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first and second containers includes a retrieval means configured to be removably coupled with an attachment mechanism provided on the respective container. 
     
     
         29 . The goods storage system of  claim 28 , wherein the attachment mechanism is positioned on the interior of the respective side walls of the respective container body and includes a third cavity, and wherein the retrieval means includes a member configured to extend into the third cavity to removably couple the retrieval means and the attachment mechanism.