Containers and interlocking container assemblies

Abstract

A container assembly and method for forming the same with a first polymeric container and a second polymeric container. The first polymeric container includes a first body portion and a first rim. The first container forms a first and a second slot therethrough. The first rim has a first and a second generally horizontal area. The second polymeric container includes a second body portion and a second rim. The second container forms a third and a fourth slot therethrough. The second rim has a third and a fourth generally horizontal area. The first container and the second container are adapted to be attachable to each other by pressing the first and second rims together such that the generally horizontal areas of the first container insert into the slots of the second container, and the generally horizontal areas of the second container insert into the slots of the first container.

1 . A container assembly comprising: 
 a first polymeric container including a first continuous body portion and a first rim, the first rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the first body portion, the first rim having a first upwardly protruding slot portion and a second upwardly protruding slot portion, the first upwardly protruding slot portion forming a first slot therethrough, the second upwardly protruding slot portion forming a second slot therethrough, the first rim having a first generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the first upwardly protruding slot portion, the first rim having a second generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the second upwardly protruding slot portion; and    a second polymeric container including a second continuous body portion and a second rim, the second rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the second body portion, the second rim having a third upwardly protruding slot portion and a fourth upwardly protruding slot portion, the third upwardly protruding slot portion forming a third slot therethrough, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion forming a fourth slot therethrough, the second rim having a third generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the third upwardly protruding slot portion, the second rim having a fourth generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion,    wherein the first container and the second container are adapted to be releasably attachable to each other by pressing the first and second rims together such that the first generally horizontal area of the first container inserting into the third slot of the second container, the second generally horizontal area of the first container inserting into the fourth slot of the second container, the third generally horizontal area of the second container inserting into the first slot of the first container, and the fourth generally horizontal area of the second container inserting into the second slot of the first container.    
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second containers comprise a polymeric material.  
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second containers comprise a polymeric foam.  
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first container is generally identical to the second container.  
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second container are thermoformed.  
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first upwardly protruding slot portion further forms a fifth slot therethrough, the second upwardly protruding slot portion forming a sixth slot therethrough, the third upwardly protruding slot portion forming a seventh slot therethrough, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion forming an eighth slot therethrough, and wherein the first generally horizontal area of the first container further inserts into the seventh slot of the second container, the second generally horizontal area of the first container further inserting into the eighth slot of the second container, the third generally horizontal area of the second container further inserting into the fifth slot of the first container, and the fourth generally horizontal area of the second container further inserting into the sixth slot of the first container.  
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 6  wherein the first container is generally identical to the second container.  
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second containers are plates.  
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first container is a bowl and the second container is a plate.  
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first container is shaped substantially the same as the second container.  
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first container is a bowl and the second container is a bowl.  
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first rim is identical to the second rim.  
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a polymeric container assembly, the method of comprising the acts of: 
 providing a first polymeric container that includes a first continuous body portion and a first rim having a first surface, the first rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the first body portion, the first rim having a first upwardly protruding slot portion and a second upwardly protruding slot portion, the first upwardly protruding slot portion forming a first slot therethrough, the second upwardly protruding slot portion forming a second slot therethrough, the first rim having a first generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the first upwardly protruding slot portion, the first rim having a second generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the second upwardly protruding slot portion;    providing a second polymeric container that includes a second continuous body portion and a second rim having a second surface, the second rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the second body portion, the second rim having a third upwardly protruding slot portion and a fourth upwardly protruding slot portion, the third upwardly protruding slot portion forming a third slot therethrough, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion forming a fourth slot therethrough, the second rim having a third generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the third upwardly protruding slot portion, the second rim having a fourth generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion;    flipping one of the first container and the second container such that the first container and second container are generally aligned and the first rim and the second rim are adjacent to each other;    rotating one of the first container and the second container ninety degrees such that the first upwardly protruding slot portion of the first container generally aligns with the third generally horizontal area, the second upwardly protruding slot portion generally aligning with the fourth generally horizontal area, the third upwardly protruding slot portion aligning with the first generally horizontal area, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion aligning with the second generally horizontal area;    pressing the first and second rims together; and    inserting the third generally horizontal area into the first slot, the fourth generally horizontal area into the second slot, the first generally horizontal area into the third slot, and the second generally horizontal area into the fourth slot.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further including placing a food article on at least one of the first container and the second container before pressing the first and second rims together.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein at least one of the first and second containers comprises polymeric foam.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first container is generally identical to the second container.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first rim is generally identical to the second rim.  
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a polymeric container assembly, the method of comprising the acts of: 
 providing a first polymeric container that includes a first continuous body portion and a first rim having a first surface, the first rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the first body portion, the first rim having a first upwardly protruding slot portion and a second upwardly protruding slot portion, the first upwardly protruding slot portion forming a first slot and a second slot therethrough, the second upwardly protruding slot portion forming a third slot and a fourth slot therethrough, the first rim having a first generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the first upwardly protruding slot portion, the first rim having a second generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the second upwardly protruding slot portion;    providing a second polymeric container that includes a second continuous body portion and a second rim having a second surface, the second rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the second body portion, the second rim having a third upwardly protruding slot portion and a fourth upwardly protruding slot portion, the third upwardly protruding slot portion forming a fifth slot and a sixth slot therethrough, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion forming a seventh slot and an eighth slot therethrough, the second rim having a third generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the third upwardly protruding slot portion, the second rim having a fourth generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion;    flipping one of the first container and the second container such that the first container and second container are generally aligned and the first rim and the second rim are adjacent to each other;    rotating one of the first container and the second container ninety degrees such that the first upwardly protruding slot portion of the first container generally aligns with the third generally horizontal area, the second upwardly protruding slot portion generally aligning with the fourth generally horizontal area, the third upwardly protruding slot portion aligning with the first generally horizontal area, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion aligning with the second generally horizontal area;    pressing the first and second rims together; and    inserting the third generally horizontal area into the first slot and the second slot, the fourth generally horizontal area into the third slot and the fourth slot, the first generally horizontal area into the fifth slot and the sixth slot, and the second generally horizontal area into the seventh slot and the eighth slot.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including placing a food article on at least one of the first container and the second container before pressing the first and second rims together.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the first and second containers comprises polymeric foam.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first container is generally identical to the second container.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first rim is generally identical to the second rim.  
     
     
         23 . A first polymeric container for use in a container assembly the first polymeric container comprising: 
 a continuous body portion; and    a rim, the rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the body portion, the rim having a first upwardly protruding slot portion and a second upwardly protruding slot portion, the first upwardly protruding slot portion forming a first slot therethrough, the second upwardly protruding slot portion forming a second slot therethrough, the rim having a first generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the first upwardly protruding slot portion, the rim having a second generally horizontal area at a periphery thereof generally ninety degrees from the second upwardly protruding slot portion,    wherein the first polymeric container is adapted to be releasably attachable to a second container having at least a second rim having a third upwardly protruding slot portion and a fourth upwardly protruding slot portion, the third upwardly protruding slot portion forming a third slot therethrough, the fourth upwardly protruding slot portion forming a fourth slot therethrough.    
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the container comprises polymeric foam.  
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the first container is a plate.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the first upwardly protruding slot portion further forms a fifth slot therethrough, the second upwardly protruding slot portion forming a sixth slot therethrough.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the first slot and the second slot are single generally horizontal slots adapted to deform thereby creating an opening when the second rim of the second container contacts the first slot and the second slot.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the first slot and the second slot are single generally horizontal hinged slots adapted to hingedly displace thereby creating an opening when the second rim of the second container contacts the first slot and the second slot.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the first slot and the second slot are dual generally horizontal slots adapted to deform thereby creating an opening when the second rim of the second container contacts the first slot and the second slot.