Container offering multiple configurations

Abstract

A container includes a receptacle having a sidewall with inner and outer surfaces and a rim. The container lid has inner and outer surfaces, a central portion, and a periphery divided into a first periphery portion and a second periphery portion extending outward and downward from the first periphery portion. In a first mounting configuration, the central and first periphery portions of the lid are nested below the receptacle rim with the lid outer surface contacting the receptacle sidewall inner surface. In a second mounting configuration, the lid is inverted and the second periphery portion extends over the rim of the receptacle, while the first periphery and central portions of the lid extend above the receptacle rim, and the inner surface of the lid contacts the outer surface of the receptacle wall. A second, identical receptacle can be included, with both receptacles mounted to opposing sides of the lid.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a receptacle having a receptacle base wall and a receptacle sidewall extending upward from the receptacle base wall to a receptacle rim, the receptacle sidewall having a sidewall inner surface and an opposed sidewall outer surface; and   a lid having an outer surface and an inner surface, the lid having a lid central portion and a lid periphery divided into a first periphery portion proximal to the central portion and a second periphery portion positioned outwardly and downwardly of the first periphery portion, the lid being mountable to the receptacle in a first configuration and in a second configuration;   wherein in said first configuration the lid central portion and first periphery portion are nested below the receptacle upper rim, and a portion of the lid outer surface is engaged with the receptacle sidewall inner surface, and   in said second configuration the lid is inverted with respect to the first configuration, the lid central portion and first periphery portion being above the receptacle rim, and a portion of the lid inner surface being engaged with the receptacle sidewall outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle sidewall inner surface comprises at least one indentation and the first periphery portion of the lid comprises at least one projection that is receivable in the indentation when the lid is mounted to the receptacle in the first configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration the second periphery portion is positioned above the rim of the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a shoulder between the first periphery portion and the second periphery portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the receptacle rim comprises an outwardly extending receptacle flange, so that in the first configuration, an outer surface of the horizontal shoulder is seated on the receptacle flange. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein in the second configuration an inner surface of the shoulder is seated on the receptacle flange. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the lid periphery comprises at least one inwardly extending projection, and in the second configuration the receptacle flange is secured between said inwardly extending projection and the shoulder of the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein when in the first configuration the container is liquid tight. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle, and the container further comprises a second receptacle that is mountable to the lid in an inverted position when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the second receptacle is generally identical to the first receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first periphery portion is nested in the first receptacle when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration and the second receptacle is mounted to the lid in the inverted second configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the second periphery portion is positioned above the first periphery portion and above the first receptacle when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration and the second receptacle is mounted to the lid in the inverted second configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the lid comprises a shoulder between the first periphery portion and the second periphery portion. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the rim of the first receptacle comprises an outwardly extending first receptacle flange, and an outer surface of the shoulder is seated on the first receptacle flange when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration and the second receptacle is mounted to the lid in the inverted second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the rim of the second receptacle comprises an outwardly extending second receptacle flange, and the second receptacle flange is seated on an inner surface of shoulder when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration and the second receptacle is mounted to the lid in the inverted second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the second periphery portion comprises at least one inwardly extending projection, and the second receptacle flange is removably secured between the projection and the shoulder when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration and the second receptacle is mounted to the lid in the inverted second configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first receptacle and the lid are liquid tight when the lid is mounted to the first receptacle in the first configuration and the second receptacle is mounted to the lid in the inverted second configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A container comprising:
 a first receptacle having a first receptacle base wall and a first receptacle sidewall extending upward from the first receptacle base wall to a first receptacle rim, the first receptacle sidewall having a first sidewall inner surface and an opposed first sidewall outer surface;   a lid mounted to the first receptacle and comprising a lid central portion, a lid inner surface facing away from the first receptacle, an opposed lid outer surface, and a lid periphery divided into a first periphery portion proximal to the central portion and a second periphery portion positioned outwardly and downwardly of the first periphery portion, wherein at least the first periphery portion is nested below the first receptacle rim; and   a second receptacle having a second receptacle base wall and a second receptacle sidewall extending upward from the first receptacle base wall to a second receptacle rim, the second receptacle sidewall having a second sidewall inner surface and an opposed second sidewall outer surface, the second receptacle being inverted with respect to the first receptacle and being mounted to the lid, the lid inner surface facing the second receptacle, and the second receptacle rim being nested within the second periphery portion.   
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the lid outer surface engages the first sidewall inner surface to secure the lid to the first receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the first sidewall inner surface comprises at least one indentation, the lid outer surface comprises at least one projection, and the projection is received in the indentation to secure the lid to the first receptacle. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the second receptacle sidewall engages the lid inner surface to secure the lid to the second receptacle. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the second periphery portion is positioned above the first periphery portion and above the first receptacle rim. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the lid comprises a shoulder between the first periphery portion and the second periphery portion. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the first receptacle sidewall comprises an outwardly extending first receptacle flange at the first receptacle rim, and the shoulder is seated on the first receptacle flange. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the second receptacle sidewall comprises an outwardly extending second receptacle flange at the second receptacle rim, and the second receptacle flange is seated on the shoulder. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the second periphery portion comprises at least one inwardly extending projection, and the second receptacle flange is secured between the inwardly extending projection and the shoulder. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the first receptacle and the lid are generally liquid tight. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the first receptacle and the second receptacle are identical.