Container with improved stacking arrangement

Abstract

A container is provided to be stacked within another like container for transportation, storage, or the like. Each container includes a bottom and a sidewall. The bottom includes a bottom panel portion and a downwardly folded annular skirt. The sidewall includes an upper rim and lowermost edge and forms a frustoconical shape around a central axis. An outer surface of the annular skirt is attached to an inner surface of the sidewall. A lowermost edge of the annular skirt is spaced above the lowermost edge of the sidewall to form a first gap therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a bottom including a bottom panel portion and a downwardly folded annular skirt; and   a sidewall including an upper rim and a lowermost edge and forming a frustoconical shape around a central axis;   wherein an outer surface of the annular skirt is attached to an inner surface of the sidewall;   wherein a lowermost edge of the annular skirt is spaced above the lowermost edge of the sidewall to form a first gap therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes an inwardly folded hem formed from a lower portion of the sidewall being folded inwardly and against an inner surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein an inner surface of the annular skirt opposite the outer surface is an exposed surface and not attached to the hem. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an inwardly folded hem at a lower end of the sidewall, wherein the hem includes an upper terminal edge positioned above the lowermost edge of the sidewall, and wherein the lowermost edge of the annular skirt is spaced above the upper terminal edge of the hem to form a second gap therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein a first distance is defined by a vertical distance of the second gap between the lowermost edge of the annular skirt and the upper terminal edge of the hem, wherein a second distance is defined by a vertical distance between the lowermost edge of the annular skirt and a bottom surface of the bottom panel portion, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an inwardly folded hem at a lower end of the sidewall, wherein the hem includes an upper terminal edge positioned above the lowermost edge of the annular skirt such that a lower portion of the annular skirt contacts and is overlapped with an upper portion of the hem. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a first distance is defined by a vertical distance between the lowermost edge of the sidewall and a bottom surface of the bottom panel portion, wherein a second distance is defined by a vertical distance between a lowermost edge of the annular skirt and the bottom surface of the bottom panel portion, and wherein the first distance is at least 1.5 times the second distance. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first gap is at least 0.1 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed from a paperboard material. 
     
     
         10 . A container comprising:
 a bottom including a bottom panel portion and a downwardly folded annular skirt;   a sidewall including an upper rim and a lowermost edge and forming a frustoconical shape around a central axis;   an outer sleeve surrounding and affixed to the sidewall; and   a projection extending outwardly from the outer sleeve proximate the upper half of the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein at least part of the projection extends outwardly to a first distance as measured perpendicularly from the central axis that is approximately equal to a second distance as measured perpendicularly from the central axis to the upper rim of the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein when a first container is stacked within a second identical container, the projection of the first container rests on the upper rim of the second identical container. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the projection includes a lower seating portion that projects outwardly from the outer sleeve and an upper return portion that projects outwardly from an upper portion of the outer sleeve to connect with the lower seating portion, and wherein the lower seating portion and upper return portion are formed as a continuous component integral to the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the outer sleeve includes a horizontal slit, and wherein the projection is formed by a portion of the outer sleeve directly above the slit. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the horizontal slit is one of a plurality of horizontal slits, and wherein the projection is one of a plurality of projections formed by a corresponding portion of the outer sleeve directly above the plurality of slits. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the container is constructed from a paperboard material. 
     
     
         17 . A stacked arrangement of containers, the stacked arrangement comprising:
 a first container comprising:
 a sidewall including an upper rim and a lowermost edge and forming a frustoconical shape around a central axis, the frustoconical shape defining an interior volume; and 
 a bottom including a bottom panel portion and a downwardly folded annular skirt, the downwardly folded annular skirt extending a first vertical distance below the bottom panel portion, an outer surface of the annular skirt attached to an inner surface of the sidewall; and 
   a second container comprising:
 a sidewall including an upper rim and a lowermost edge and forming a frustoconical shape around a central axis, the frustoconical shape defining an interior volume; and 
 a bottom including a bottom panel portion and a downwardly folded annular skirt, an outer surface of the annular skirt attached to an inner surface of the sidewall, an outer surface of the annular skirt attached to an inner surface of the sidewall; 
   wherein the first container is positioned within the interior volume of the second container and the lowermost edge of the sidewall of the first container contacts the bottom panel portion of the second container such that the second container supports the first container;   wherein the upper rim of the first container is positioned a second vertical distance above the upper rim of the second container, wherein the second vertical distance is greater than the first vertical distance.   
     
     
         18 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the second vertical distance is at least 1.5 times the first vertical distance. 
     
     
         19 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the first container includes an outer sleeve surrounding and affixed to the sidewall of the first container, wherein an exterior of the outer sleeve of the first container contacts an interior of the sidewall of the second container. 
     
     
         20 . The stacked arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein an exterior of the sidewall of the first container contacts an interior of the sidewall of the second container.