Container assembly

Abstract

A container assembly including a first and second component. The first component includes a first base, a first plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the first base, and a first lip extending outwardly around a perimeter of the first plurality side walls. The second component includes a second base, a second plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the second base, and a second lip extending outwardly around a perimeter of the second plurality of side walls. The first and second components are convertible between at least a spaced configuration, a first locked configuration, and a second locked configuration. The first and second components are completely separate from one another in the spaced configuration and define an interior in the first and second locked configurations. An orientation of at least one the first and second components is different in the first and second locked configurations.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A container assembly comprising:
 (a) a first component comprising:
 (i) a first base, 
 (ii) a first plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the first base, and 
 (iii) a first lip extending outwardly around a perimeter of the first plurality side walls; and 
   (b) a second component comprising:
 (i) a second base, 
 (ii) a second plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the second base, and 
 (iii) a second lip extending outwardly around a perimeter of the second plurality of side walls, 
   wherein the first and second components are convertible between at least a spaced configuration, a first locked configuration, and a second locked configuration, wherein the first and second components are completely separate from one another in the spaced configuration, wherein the first lip is lockably engaged with the second lip to define an interior in the first and second locked configurations, wherein an orientation of at least one the first and second components is different in the first and second locked configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first component and the second component are identical. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are convertible between at least the spaced configuration, the first locked configuration, the second locked configuration, and a third locked configuration, wherein the first lip is lockably engaged with the second lip to define the interior in the first, second, and third locked configurations, wherein the orientation of at least one the first and second components is different in each of the first, second, and third locked configurations. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second components is convertible between at least the spaced configuration, the first locked configuration, the second locked configuration, a third locked configuration, and a fourth locked configuration, wherein the first lip is lockably engaged with the second lip to define the interior in the first, second, third, and fourth locked configurations, wherein the orientation of at least one the first and second components is different in each of the first, second, third, and fourth locked configurations. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lip includes a first engagement feature, wherein the second lip includes a second engagement feature, wherein the first engagement feature is configured to positively engage with the second engagement feature to retain the first and second components in the first locked configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first lip includes a third engagement feature, wherein the second lip includes a fourth engagement feature, wherein one of the first or second components is configured to be rotated about 90 degrees or less about a plane defined by the first or second lips to align and positively engage the second and third engagement features as well as to align and positively engage the first and fourth engagement features. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first engagement feature is a projection configured to positively engage the second engagement feature to retain the projection within the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second engagement feature is an aperture that extends completely through the second lip. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the projection has a maximum projection diameter and the aperture has a minimum aperture diameter, wherein the maximum projection diameter is greater than the minimum aperture diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second engagement feature is a recessed surface of the second lip. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed surface includes inwardly extending barbs configured to releasably retain the projection. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the projection includes an annular notch configured to couple with the inwardly extending barbs of the recessed surface. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first component or the second component is formed from molded fiber. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the other of the first component or the second component is formed from plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein both the first component and the second component are formed from molded fiber. 
     
     
         16 . A container assembly comprising:
 (a) a first component comprising:
 (i) a first base, 
 (ii) a first plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the first base, and 
 (iii) a first lip extending outward around a perimeter of the first plurality of side walls, wherein the first lip includes first and second engagement features; and 
   (b) a second component comprising:
 (i) a second base, 
 (ii) a second plurality of side walls extending upward from the second base, and 
 (iv) a second lip extending outwardly around a perimeter of the second plurality of side walls, wherein the second lip includes a third engagement feature configured to lock with the first engagement feature in a first locked configuration, wherein the third engagement feature is configured to lock with the second engagement feature in a second locked configuration, wherein at least one of the first or second components is formed from molded fiber. 
   
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first engagement feature includes a projection and the third engagement feature includes an aperture extending completely through the second lip, wherein the projection is configured to extend through the aperture to lock with the aperture in the first locked configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A container assembly comprising:
 (a) a first component comprising:
 (i) a first base, 
 (ii) a first plurality of side walls extending from the first base, and 
 (iii) a first lip including a first planar portion extending outward around a perimeter of the first plurality of side walls and a first ramp that extends through the first planar portion at an angle from a first side of the first component to a second side of the first component; and 
   (b) a second component comprising:
 (i) a second base, 
 (ii) a second plurality of side walls extending from the second base, and 
 (iii) a second lip including a second planar portion extending outward around a perimeter of the second plurality of side walls and a second ramp extending through the second planar portion at the angle of the first ramp, wherein the second ramp is configured to mate with the first ramp while the first and second planar portions engage each other in a first locked configuration. 
   
     
     
         19 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second components are convertible between at least a spaced configuration, the first locked configuration, and a second locked configuration, wherein the first and second components are completely separate from one another in the spaced configuration, wherein the first lip is lockably engaged with the second lip to define an interior in the first and second locked configurations, wherein an orientation of at least one the first and second components is different in the first and second locked configurations. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first lip comprises a first plurality of projections and a first plurality of apertures, wherein the second lip comprises a second plurality of protrusions and a second plurality of apertures, wherein each first projection is insertable into each second aperture and each second protrusion is insertable into each first aperture to releasably lock the first component with the second component in one of the locked configurations.