Container with Integrated Protection Feature

Abstract

A container comprises a container body having a cavity for receiving a product therein and a lid sealing an opening to said cavity, the container body having a front surface, back surface, first sidewall and second sidewall, and a first bumper attached to the first sidewall of the container body, the first bumper configured to absorb forces applied to the container, wherein the first bumper comprises a first engagement mechanism configured to lockingly engage a second engagement mechanism located on the container body.

1 . A container comprising:
 a container body having a cavity for receiving a product therein and a lid sealing an opening to said cavity, the container body having a front surface, back surface, first sidewall and second sidewall; and   a first bumper attached to the first sidewall of the container body, the first bumper configured to absorb forces applied to the container, wherein the first bumper comprises a first engagement mechanism configured to lockingly engage a second engagement mechanism located on the container body.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first bumper is formed integrally with the container body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second bumper on the second sidewall of the container body. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first bumper is removably attached to the container body. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second engagement mechanisms are, respectively, one of: a tongue and a groove; or a groove and a tongue. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a second bumper configured to lockingly engage the container body, wherein the first and second bumpers comprise a plurality of ribs, said ribs extending one of parallel and orthogonal to said container body. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first bumper comprises a plurality of first grooves formed thereinto, said first grooves extending one of: parallel to a plane extending orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the container body, angularly offset relative to said plane. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein said first grooves are angularly offset relative to said plane in a first direction, said container further comprising a plurality of second grooves angularly offset relative to said plane in a second direction different from said first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first bumper and the second bumper are formed as bellows and are compressible along one of a width and height axis. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is flush with an upper surface of the container body. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension provided adjacent the lid, said extension having a greater height than the lid. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a shipping label attached directly to one of the container body and the first bumper. 
     
     
         14 . A container, comprising:
 a container body having a cavity for receiving a product therein and a lid sealing an opening to said cavity, the container body having a front surface, back surface, first sidewall and second sidewall; and   a first bumper and a second bumper attached to said container body, said first and second bumpers being movable from a first configuration having a first outer profile to a second configuration having a second outer profile smaller than the first outer profile, wherein the bumper is a bellows, said first and second bumpers comprising a plurality of folds extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said container body.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second bumpers lockingly engage the container body. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second bumpers are integrally formed with the container body. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the first and second bumpers defines a wall of the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second bumpers are separated from the lid along a width of the container body. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A container, comprising:
 a container body having a cavity for receiving a product therein and a lid sealing an opening to said cavity, the container body having a front surface, back surface, first sidewall and second sidewall; and   a first bumper attached to the first sidewall of the container body; and   a second bumper attached to the second sidewall of the container body, wherein the first and second bumpers are configured to absorb forces applied to the container, wherein each of the first and second bumpers extends over an edge connecting the front surface to the first and second sidewalls, respectively.   
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second bumpers comprise a first engagement mechanism configured to lockingly engage a corresponding second engagement mechanism on the container body via one or more of a snap-fit, friction-fit, tongue-and-groove engagement, and a keyed engagement. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of shipping, comprising:
 affixing a shipping label directly to a container to be shipped, said container comprising a container body having a cavity for housing a fluidic product therein and a lid enclosing said cavity, the container body having a front surface, back surface, first sidewall and second sidewall, and a first bumper attached to the first sidewall of the container body, the first bumper configured to absorb forces applied to the container, wherein the first bumper comprises a first engagement mechanism configured to lockingly engage a second engagement mechanism located on the container; and   shipping said container, with the proviso that no secondary packaging is provided for said container, wherein said container is configured to withstand forces applied thereto during shipping without fracturing or leaking.