Stacking feature for containers

Abstract

A first container is provided for stacking with a second container. Each of the container include a base portion and one or more walls extending upwardly from the base portion, terminating in a flange, and defining an interior volume. Each of the containers also includes an upper portion of the one or more walls that is disposed adjacent to the flange, and one or more stacking features extend from the upper portion toward the interior volume. Each of the stacking features has a top surface and a bottom surface. The one or more stacking features of the first container are arranged in a first configuration, and the one or more stacking features of the second container are arranged in a second configuration. The first configuration is different from the second configuration such that containers are prevented from nesting together when stacked.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A first container for stacking with a second container, the first container comprising:
 a base portion;   one or more walls extending upwardly from the base portion, terminating in a first flange, and defining a first upper portion of the one or more walls disposed adjacent the first flange, wherein the one or more walls and the base portion form a first interior volume; and   one or more first stacking features extending from the first upper portion toward the first interior volume of the first container, wherein each of the one or more first stacking features has a top surface,   the second container comprising:   a base portion;   one or more walls extending upwardly from the base portion, terminating in a second flange, and defining a second upper portion of the one or more walls disposed adjacent the second flange, wherein the one or more walls and the base portion form a second interior volume; and   one or more second stacking features extending from the second upper portion toward the second interior volume of the second container, wherein each of the one or more second stacking features has a top surface,   wherein the one or more first stacking features are arranged in a first configuration on the first upper portion, wherein the one or more second stacking features are arranged in a second configuration on the second upper portion, and wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are each outwardly extending from their respective one or more walls. 
     
     
         3 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper portion is perpendicular to a surface of the base portion of the first container, and wherein the second upper portion is perpendicular to a surface of the base portion of the second container. 
     
     
         4 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one top surface of the one or more second stacking features is configured to be able to rest on a bottom wall of the first container when the first container is stacked on top of the second container, and wherein the bottom wall is defined by an outwardly extending portion of the first upper portion. 
     
     
         5 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first stacking features extend from the first upper portion toward the first interior volume of the first container with a length that is less than 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first stacking features each have a width that is less than 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 1 , wherein the first container and the second container are each comprised of APET. 
     
     
         8 . A first container for stacking with a second container, the first container comprising:
 a base portion;   one or more walls extending upwardly from the base portion, terminating in a first flange, and defining a first upper portion of the one or more walls disposed adjacent the first flange, wherein the one or more walls and the base portion form a first interior volume; and   one or more first stacking features extending from the first upper portion toward the first interior volume of the first container, wherein each of the one or more first stacking features has a top surface,   the second container comprising:   a base portion;   one or more walls extending upwardly from the base portion, terminating in a second flange, and defining a second upper portion of the one or more walls disposed adjacent the second flange, wherein the one or more walls and the base portion form a second interior volume; and   one or more second stacking features extending from the second upper portion toward the second interior volume of the second container, wherein each of the one or more second stacking features has a top surface,   wherein at least one of the top surfaces of the one or more second stacking features is configured to rest against a bottom wall of the first upper portion of the first container when the first container is stacked onto the second container, wherein the bottom wall is defined by an outwardly extending portion of the first upper portion, and wherein the first container and the second container are configured such that, when the first container and the second container are stacked, the at least one top surface of the one or more second stacking features of the second container is at least partially offset from each of the one or more first stacking features of the first container.   
     
     
         9 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 8 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are each outwardly extending from their respective one or more walls. 
     
     
         10 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 8 , wherein the first upper portion is perpendicular to a surface of the base portion of the first container, and wherein the second upper portion is perpendicular to a surface of the base portion of the second container. 
     
     
         11 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more first stacking features are arranged in a first configuration on the first upper portion, wherein the one or more second stacking features are arranged in a second configuration on the second upper portion, and wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more first stacking features extend from the first upper portion toward the first interior volume of the first container with a length that is less than 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more first stacking features each have a width that is less than 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The first container for stacking with the second container of  claim 8 , wherein the first container and the second container are each comprised of APET. 
     
     
         15 . A plurality of stackable containers, each container of the plurality of stackable containers comprising:
 a base portion;   one or more walls extending upwardly from the base portion, terminating in a flange, and defining an upper portion of the one or more walls disposed adjacent the flange, wherein the one or more walls and the base portion form an interior volume; and   one or more stacking features extending from the upper portion toward the interior volume of the container,   wherein each of the one or more stacking features has a top surface, wherein the top surface is configured to be able to rest on a bottom wall of an upper portion of another container of the plurality of stackable containers when the plurality of stackable container are stacked, and   wherein the one or more stacking features of each of the plurality of stackable containers are differently spaced along the upper portions such that the plurality of stackable containers are prevented from nesting together when the plurality of stackable containers are stacked.   
     
     
         16 . The plurality of stackable containers of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more stacking features of each of the plurality of stackable containers have different configurations with respect to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The plurality of stackable containers of  claim 15 , wherein the upper portion is perpendicular to the base portion. 
     
     
         18 . The plurality of stackable containers of  claim 15 , wherein the top surface of each of the one or more stacking features is configured to be able to rest on a bottom wall of an upper portion of another container when the plurality of stackable containers are stacked, and wherein the bottom wall is defined by an outwardly extending portion of the upper portion of the another container. 
     
     
         19 . The plurality of stackable containers of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more stacking features extend from the upper portion toward the interior volume of the container with a length that is less than 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         20 . The plurality of stackable containers of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more stacking features each have a width that is less than 4 millimeters.