Container with integral cap removal tool

Abstract

A container for removing a cap of another identical container includes a vessel defining an interior space therein and having a rim positioned on a top side of the vessel which defines an opening to the interior space. A cap is removably couplable to the rim of the vessel to close the opening. The cap has a top wall and a perimeter wall, wherein the perimeter wall is coupled to and extends away from the top wall. The perimeter wall surrounds the rim when the cap is coupled to the rim. The vessel defines a notch extending upwardly into a bottom surface of the vessel. The notch is shaped to receive another cap therein and remove the other cap from another vessel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a vessel defining an interior space therein, the vessel having a rim positioned on a top side of the vessel, the rim defining an opening to the interior space; and   a cap being removably couplable to the rim of the vessel to close the opening, the cap having a top wall and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall being coupled to and extending away from the top wall, the perimeter wall surrounding the rim when the cap is coupled to the rim;   wherein the vessel defines a notch extending upwardly into a bottom surface of the vessel, the notch being shaped such that the notch is configured to receive another cap identical in size and shape to the cap, the notch being shaped such that the vessel is configured to engage the other cap when the other cap is positioned in the notch to remove the other cap from another vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap has interior threads which engage exterior threads of the vessel when the cap is coupled to the vessel; and   the notch is shaped and the vessel is configured to engage a perimeter wall of the other cap and the vessel is rotatable to twist the other cap off of the other vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the container further comprises a plurality of teeth being coupled to the vessel and extending into the notch, the plurality of teeth being positioned such that the plurality of teeth is configured to engage the perimeter wall of the other cap. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a plurality of fins is formed on the perimeter wall and extends outwardly from the perimeter wall; and   the plurality of teeth being spaced such that the plurality of teeth is configured to be positioned in alternating fashion with a plurality of fins of the other cap when the notch receives the other cap.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of teeth is integrally formed with the vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the notch defines a recessed surface of the vessel which extends at an acute angle to the bottom surface of the vessel, the vessel having a ledge extending into the notch and having an edge engagement surface which faces the recessed surface, the edge engagement surface being configured to be urged against a free edge of the perimeter wall of the other cap to remove the other cap from the other vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the ledge has a U-shape such that the ledge is configured to extend around the other vessel below the other cap. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the ledge has a pair of tapered ends such that the ledge is configured to facilitate guiding the other vessel into the notch. 
     
     
         9 . A container comprising:
 a vessel defining an interior space therein, the vessel having a rim positioned on a top side of the vessel, the rim defining an opening to the interior space; and   a cap being removably couplable to the rim of the vessel to close the opening, the cap having a top wall and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall being coupled to and extending away from the top wall, the perimeter wall surrounding the rim when the cap is coupled to the rim, a plurality of fins being formed on the perimeter wall and extending outwardly from the perimeter wall;   wherein the vessel defines a notch extending upwardly into a bottom surface of the vessel, the notch being shaped such that the notch is configured to receive another cap identical in size and shape to the cap, the notch being shaped such that the vessel is configured to engage the other cap when the other cap is positioned in the notch to remove the other cap from another vessel.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the cap has interior threads which engage exterior threads of the vessel when the cap is coupled to the vessel; and   the container further comprises a plurality of teeth being coupled to the vessel and extending into the notch, the plurality of teeth being positioned such that the plurality of teeth is configured to engage a perimeter wall of the other cap and the vessel is rotatable to twist the other cap off of the other vessel, the plurality of teeth being spaced such that the plurality of teeth is configured to be positioned in alternating fashion with a plurality of fins of the other cap when the notch receives the other cap, the plurality of teeth being integrally formed with the vessel.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the notch defines a recessed surface of the vessel which extends at an acute angle to the bottom surface of the vessel, the vessel having a ledge extending into the notch and having an edge engagement surface which faces the recessed surface, the edge engagement surface being configured to be urged against a free edge of the perimeter wall of the other cap to remove the other cap from the other vessel, the ledge having a U-shape such that the ledge is configured to extend around the other vessel below the other cap, the ledge having a pair of tapered ends such that the ledge is configured to facilitate guiding the other vessel into the notch.