Nestable pails with nesting alignment means

Abstract

The invention provides like pails with like means for aligning the pails in a stack of nested pails so that their handles are aligned with one another. The aligning means comprises a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from the side wall of each pail, a radial slot in that peripheral flange displaced circumferentially from the pivot points of the pail's handle, and a depending tab projecting from that side wall. The slot and tab are aligned but displaced vertically from one another. When the pails are stacked in nested relation with the depending tab on one pail received by the radial slot in the next lower pail in the stack, the handles of the stacked pails will be aligned with one another.

1 . A plurality of pails each comprising a nestable container with a handle pivotally attached to said container at two points, each container comprising a side wall, means including a radially-extending slot projecting outwardly from said side wall, said slot being spaced circumferentially from said two points, and a depending tab attached to and spaced from said side wall, said tab being spaced circumferentially from said two points and aligned with but spaced vertically from said radial slot so that when said pails are stacked with their containers nested inside one another, said depending tab on one container will be received by the radial slot in the next lower container in the stack, whereby the handles of the stacked pails will be aligned with one another.  
   
   
       2 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 1  wherein each container comprises a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said side wall, and further wherein said depending tab is formed integral with said peripheral flange.  
   
   
       3 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 1  wherein said means including a radially-extending slot comprises a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said side wall.  
   
   
       4 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 3  wherein said peripheral flange has an outer edge and said slot intersects said outer edge.  
   
   
       5 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 1  wherein said container has a top end and a bottom end and said means including a radially-extending slot comprises a first peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said side wall, and further wherein said tab is formed integral with a second peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said side wall, said first peripheral flange being located between said top end and said second peripheral flange.  
   
   
       6 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 1  wherein said tab has a top end and a bottom end, and further wherein said tab is tapered so that its said bottom end is narrower than its said top end.  
   
   
       7 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 1  wherein said containers are made of a resilient plastic.  
   
   
       8 . A pail comprising a container and a handle pivotally attached to said container at two points, each container comprising a side wall, at least one peripheral flange projecting outwardly from its side wall, a radially-extending slot in said peripheral flange spaced circumferentially from said two points, and a depending tab attached to and spaced from said side wall, said tab being spaced circumferentially from said two points and aligned with but spaced vertically from said radial slot so that when a plurality of said pails are stacked with their containers nested inside one another, said depending tab on one container will be received by the radial slot in the next lower container in the stack, whereby the handles of the stacked pails will be aligned with one another.  
   
   
       9 . A pail according to  claim 8  wherein said container comprises a second peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said side wall, and further wherein said depending tab is formed integral with said second peripheral flange.  
   
   
       10 . A pail according to  claim 9  wherein said container has a top end and a bottom end, and said second peripheral flange is located between said bottom end and said first-mentioned peripheral flange.  
   
   
       11 . A pail according to  claim 8  wherein said tab has a top end and a bottom end, and further wherein said tab is tapered so that its said bottom end is narrower than its said top end.  
   
   
       12 . A pail according to  claim 8  wherein said flange has an outer edge and said radially-extending slot intersects said outer edge.  
   
   
       13 . A pail according to  claim 8  wherein said container has a top end and a bottom end, and said side wall is tapered with its bottom end having a smaller diameter than its top end.  
   
   
       14 . A plurality of pails each comprising a nestable container, each container comprising a side wall, first and second mutually spaced handle pivot anchors formed integrally with and projecting outwardly of said side wall, said first and second handle pivot anchors being adapted to pivotally receive and hold the opposite ends of a handle, at least one peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said side wall, a slot in said peripheral flange spaced circumferentially from said handle pivot anchors, and a depending tab attached to and spaced outwardly from said side wall, said tab being spaced circumferentially from said first and second handle pivot anchors and aligned with but spaced vertically from said slot so that when said pails are stacked with their containers nested inside one another, said depending tab on one container will be received by the slot in the next lower container in the stack, whereby the handle pivot anchors of the stacked pails will be aligned in a common vertically-extending plane.  
   
   
       15 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 14  wherein each container has a bottom end and a top end, and further wherein each container has a second peripheral flange extending outwardly from said side wall, said second peripheral flange being located between first mentioned peripheral flange and said bottom end of said container and said tab being formed integral with said second flange.  
   
   
       16 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 14  wherein said first and second pivot anchors are spaced from one another by an angle of 180°.  
   
   
       17 . A plurality of pails according to  claim 13  wherein each pail comprises a handle pivotally attached to said first and second handle pivot anchors.