Stackable canning jar system

Abstract

A stackable canning jar assembly includes a canning jar extending axially from a first end to a second end thereof with first end of the canning jar including a rim and the second end of the canning jar forming a bottom portion thereof with the bottom portion of the canning jar including an annular detent feature projecting therefrom. A lid element includes a peripheral portion and a channel portion. The peripheral portion includes a sealing element configured to removably engage the rim of the canning jar and the channel portion is disposed radially inwardly of the peripheral portion and is configured to removably receive the detent feature of the canning jar therein to limit movement of the canning jar relative to the lid element with respect to directions arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the canning jar when the detent feature is received within the channel portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stackable canning jar assembly comprising:
 a canning jar extending in an interior axial direction from a first end to an opposing second end thereof, the first end of the canning jar including a rim leading into an interior of the canning jar and the second end of the canning jar forming a bottom portion thereof, the bottom portion of the canning jar including an annular detent feature projecting therefrom in the interior axial direction; and   a lid element having an annular peripheral portion and an annular channel portion, the peripheral portion including an annular sealing element disposed thereon that is configured to removably engage the rim of the canning jar, the channel portion disposed radially inwardly of the peripheral portion and configured to removably receive the detent feature of the canning jar therein to limit movement of the canning jar relative to the lid element with respect to directions arranged perpendicular to the interior axial direction of the canning jar when the detent feature is received within the channel portion.   
     
     
         2 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the detent feature is corrugated with respect to a circumferential direction thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the detent feature includes a plurality of alternating projecting portions and indented portions with respect to the circumferential direction thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the detent feature is tapered with respect to the interior axial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the detent feature includes a radially outer surface, a radially inner surface, and a base surface connecting the radially outer surface to the radially inner surface, wherein the radially outer surface tapers radially inwardly when extending in the interior axial direction away from the bottom portion of the canning jar, the radially inner surface tapers radially outwardly when extending in the interior axial direction away from the bottom portion of the canning jar, and the base surface extends in the radial direction. 
     
     
         6 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a radially outer segment of the channel portion extending at least partially in the interior axial direction is configured to engage a radially outer surface of the detent feature to limit the movement of the canning jar relative to the lid element with respect to the directions arranged perpendicular to the interior axial direction of the canning jar when the detent feature is received within the channel portion. 
     
     
         7 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum outer diameter of the detent feature is less than a diameter of a radially inner end of the peripheral portion transitioning to the channel portion to facilitate reception of the detent feature in the channel portion. 
     
     
         8 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the detent feature extends beyond an engaging segment of the peripheral portion with respect to the interior axial direction when the detent feature is received within the channel portion, wherein the engaging segment of the peripheral portion is configured to engage a retainer element configured for removable coupling to the canning jar adjacent the rim thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the detent feature extends beyond an apex of a domed portion of the lid element with respect to the interior axial direction when the detent feature is received within the channel portion. 
     
     
         10 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the canning jar is supported on the peripheral portion of the lid element when the detent feature is received within the channel portion of the lid element. 
     
     
         11 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the detent feature engages and is supported by a surface of the channel portion of the lid element when the detent feature is received within the channel portion. 
     
     
         12 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the detent feature includes a surface that is complimentary to a facing surface of the lid element when the detent feature is received within the channel portion. 
     
     
         13 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the canning jar includes an annular indentation formed therein at a position radially outwardly of the detent feature with the indentation indented into the bottom portion with respect to an exterior axial direction opposite the interior axial direction. 
     
     
         14 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral portion of the lid element is received within the indentation formed in the bottom portion of the canning jar when the detent feature is received within the channel portion. 
     
     
         15 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer element having an axially extending portion configured for removable coupling to the canning jar adjacent the rim and a radially extending portion having an opening formed therethrough, wherein the opening formed through the radially extending portion is configured to removably receive the detent feature of the canning jar therein to limit movement of the canning jar relative to the retainer element with respect to directions arranged perpendicular to the interior axial direction of the canning jar when the detent feature is received within the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the lid element is configured for removable reception within an interior of the retainer element with the peripheral portion of the lid element facing towards the radially extending portion of the retainer element, and wherein the detent feature is at least partially received in the channel portion of the lid element when the lid element is received within the interior of the retainer element and the detent feature is received through the opening of the retainer element. 
     
     
         17 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom portion of the canning jar includes an annular indentation formed therein at a position radially outwardly of the detent feature with the indentation indented into the bottom portion with respect to an exterior axial direction opposite the interior axial direction. 
     
     
         18 . The stackable canning jar assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the radially extending portion of the retainer element is received within the indentation formed in the bottom portion of the canning jar when the detent feature is received within the opening of the retainer element. 
     
     
         19 . A stack comprising a plurality of the stackable canning jar assemblies as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein a first stackable canning jar assembly of the plurality of the stackable canning jar assemblies includes the axially extending portion of the retainer element of the first stackable canning jar assembly coupled to the canning jar of the first stackable canning jar assembly adjacent the rim thereof, and wherein a second stackable canning jar assembly of the plurality of the stackable canning jar assemblies includes the detent feature of the canning jar of the second stackable canning jar assembly received within the opening of the retainer element of the first stackable canning jar assembly to form the stack. 
     
     
         20 . A stack comprising a plurality of the stackable canning jar assemblies as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a first stackable canning jar assembly of the plurality of the stackable canning jar assemblies includes the sealing element of the lid element of the first stackable canning jar assembly engaging the rim of the canning jar of the first stackable canning jar assembly, and wherein a second stackable canning jar assembly of the plurality of the stackable canning jar assemblies includes the detent feature of the canning jar of the second stackable canning jar assembly received within the channel portion of the lid element of the first stackable canning jar assembly to form the stack.