Container systems employing linking subsystems for coupling enclosure bodies, and related methods

Abstract

Container systems employing linking subsystems for coupling enclosure bodies, and related methods are disclosed. A container system may include first and second enclosure bodies. Each of the bodies contains a wall structure enclosing an inner space and a lip forming a passageway through the wall structure. The container system also includes a linking subsystem configured to reversibly couple the wall structures of the bodies together. The user may uncouple the bodies from each other and recouple them together as desired. In this manner, the container system offers a more stable combination resistant to falling over and an organizational flexibility to couple the bodies together when items within the bodies and desired to be used together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container system, comprising:
 first and second enclosure bodies, wherein each includes
 a wall structure surrounding an inner space, 
 a lip forming a passageway through the wall structure, and 
 a support surface connected to the wall structure and configured to abut against a planar surface when the passageway faces away from the planar surface; and 
   a linking subsystem configured to reversibly couple the wall structures of first and second enclosure bodies while both of the support surfaces of the first and second enclosure bodies abut against the planar surface,   wherein the linking subsystem includes at least one of an adhesive material and a cohesive material, and the wall structures respectively connect the lips to the support surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the linking subsystem is configured to reversibly couple the wall structure of the second enclosure body with the support surface of the first enclosure body while the planar surface abuts against both of the support surface of the second enclosure body and the wall structure of the first enclosure body. 
     
     
         3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner spaces of first and second enclosure bodies are configured to respectively hold first and second foodstuffs. 
     
     
         4 . The container system of  claim 3 , wherein the first foodstuff includes a serving of French fries and the second foodstuff includes a condiment. 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein the condiment includes at least one of ketchup, BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and mustard. 
     
     
         6 . The container system of  claim 3 , wherein the inner space of the second container includes a volume in a range from 100 milliliters to 1000 milliliters. 
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the linking subsystem includes a reversible adhesive at least one of an acrylic adhesive material or a rubber adhesive material. 
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 7 , further comprises a liner that seals the passageway of the second enclosure body and is in communication with the lip of the second enclosure body prior to coupling with the first enclosure body. 
     
     
         9 . The container system of  claim 8 , wherein the liner is configured to peel away from the linking subsystem. 
     
     
         10 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure of the second enclosure body includes a semicircular cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The container system of  claim 10 , wherein the linking subsystem is attached to a planar surface of the wall structure of the second enclosure body. 
     
     
         12 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the linking subsystem is configured to singularly hold the second enclosure body static relative to the first enclosure body when the user manually lifts up both of the enclosure bodies by grasping and applying a lifting force only the first enclosure body. 
     
     
         13 . A method for using a container system, the method comprises:
 receiving a first item in a first inner space surrounded by a first wall structure of a first enclosure body via a first passageway of the first enclosure body, wherein a first lip of the first enclosure body forms the first passageway through the first wall structure;   reversibly coupling the first and the second enclosure bodies by abutting the first and the second wall structures of the first and the second enclosure bodies against a linking subsystem disposed therebetween, wherein the second enclosure body includes a second wall structure surrounding the second inner space of the second enclosure body and a second lip of the second enclosure body forms a second passageway of the second enclosure body through the second wall structure of the second enclosure body; and   uncoupling, with the linking subsystem, the first and second enclosure bodies by pulling apart the first and the second enclosure bodies with a separation force.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising reversibly coupling the first wall structure of the first enclosure body with the second support surface of the second enclosure body while a planar surface abuts against both of the first support surface of the first enclosure body and the second wall structure of the second enclosure body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reversibly coupling includes forming an adhesive bond disposed between the first and the second enclosure bodies. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and the second items respectively include French fries and a condiment for the French fries. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removing the first item from the first enclosure body before dipping the first item in the second item which is disposed in the second enclosure body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising unsealing the second passageway of the second enclosure body by removing a liner from a second lip of the second enclosure body and exposing a second item disposed in the second inner space of the second enclosure body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the unsealing also includes peeling the liner from the linking subsystem. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reversibly coupling occurs when first and second support surfaces respectively of the first and the second enclosures abut against a planar surface.