Stackable container with internal divider

Receptacles – Compartmented container – Compartment partition is movable or removable

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C220S528000, C220S532000, C206S517000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06213335

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCES
There are no applications related to this application filed in this or any foreign country.
BACKGROUND
Multi-chamber containers are well known in certain applications. For example, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,052 issued to McGee in 1997, a baby bottle with two separate fluid chambers is known. Such a bottle allows two fluids, such as milk and juice, to be dispensed from a single container having a single nipple.
Similarly, a number of multi-compartment containers, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,277,000, 4,065,536 and 4,279,349, all disclose rigid containers which may be used to store two distinct fluids.
Nevertheless, known two-compartment containers have failed to disclose a divider structure which is highly adapted for conversion between a stackable container, a two-compartment container or a four-compartment container.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for stackable container with an internal divider that is adapted for the formation of two or more individual compartments within the container.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the above needs. A novel stackable container with internal divider is disclosed that is adapted for transformation of a container between modes in which the container is adapted for stacking, the container is adapted for containment of two distinct fluids and the container is adapted for defining four fluids compartment areas.
The stackable container with internal divider of the present invention provides some or all of the following structures.
(A) A container body having a tapered sidewall, optionally a bottom panel, and an upper rim. A preferred container is made of a paper-based material, typically having a wax-based water resistant coating.
(B) A first divider panel has an upper edge sized incrementally shorter than the diameter of the upper rim of the container body. A lower edge is incrementally shorter than the diameter of the bottom panel. Opposed first and second side edges connect first and second opposed ends of the upper and lower edges, respectively. Where no bottom panel is present, and the sidewalls of the container body taper in a conical configuration to a point, the lower edge may be replaced by a point or very short edge from which the side edges of the panel extend.
A first divider panel slot is defined along a center line, from a middle portion of the panel to a middle point of the lower edge.
(C) A second divider panel has an upper edge sized incrementally shorter than the diameter of the upper rim of the container body. A lower edge is incrementally shorter than the diameter of the bottom panel. Opposed first and second side edges connect first and second opposed ends of the upper and lower edges, respectively. Where no bottom panel is present, and the sidewalls of the container taper in a conical configuration to a point, the lower edge may be replaced by a point or very short edge from which the side edges of the panel extend.
A second divider panel slot is defined along a center line, from a middle portion of the panel to a middle point of the upper edge.
(D) The divider panels are assembled together in a manner in which the first divider panel slot is slid over the center line of the second divider panel, and in which the second divider panel slot is slide over the center line of the first divider panel.
(E) The assembled divider panels are inserted into the container body in either a stacking mode or a use mode. In the stacking mode, the first and second divider panels are moved together, against one side of the inside surface of the container body. In the use mode, the assembled divider panels are separated and oriented perpendicularly to each other.
It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention to provide a novel stackable container with internal divider that is easily stackable in a nested manner.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel stackable container with internal divider that is easily converted from a stacking mode to two-compartment or four-compartment modes.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel stackable container with internal divider that may be manufactured in pointed-bottom or squared-off bottom designs.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1912505 (1933-06-01), Weston
patent: 3689051 (1972-09-01), Miller
patent: 4272768 (1981-06-01), Rookard, Jr.
patent: 4538737 (1985-09-01), Delaney
patent: 4572374 (1986-02-01), Sirotkin
patent: 5198127 (1993-03-01), Tilley et al.
patent: 5806708 (1998-09-01), Schwab
patent: 527986 (1957-01-01), None
patent: 262021A1 (1988-03-01), None

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