Containers, sleeves and lids therefor, assemblies thereof, and holding structure therefor

Abstract

Containers, lids, and sleeve structures are disclosed. Particularly, sleeve structures configured for insulating, stabilizing, or both insulating and stabilizing a container are disclosed. Further, a sleeve structure including a plurality of circumferentially adjacent, longitudinally extending sections and a sleeve structure including one or more frustoconical regions are disclosed. Containers, lids, and sleeve structures including at least one stabilizing feature are disclosed. Assemblies including a lower container, associated lid and sleeve structure, wherein at least one of the lower container, the lid, or the sleeve structure includes at least one stabilizing feature for engaging at least a portion of a sleeve structure associated with an upper container, wherein the upper container is positioned longitudinally above and is substantially aligned or centered with respect to a lower container, are disclosed. Circumferentially separated stabilizing features, individually installable stabilizing features, integral stabilizing features, and removable stabilizing features are also disclosed.

1 . A lid, comprising: 
 a first feature configured to engage at least a portion of a container; and    and at least one stabilizing feature configured to engage at least a portion of a sleeve structure associated with another container.    
   
   
       2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature comprises an inwardly oriented radial protrusion configured to engage a rolled rim formed on a lower longitudinal end of the sleeve structure.  
   
   
       3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature is positioned to lie radially beyond the opening of the container.  
   
   
       4 . A sleeve structure, comprising: 
 a side wall configured to encompass at least a portion of a first container and to form a space between the first container and the side wall; and    at least one stabilizing feature configured to bias against and engage at least a portion of another sleeve structure associated with a second container.    
   
   
       5 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the side wall comprises a substantially flat sheet that is constrained to assume a frustoconical shape.  
   
   
       6 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature is positioned to lie radially beyond an opening of the first container.  
   
   
       7 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature is positioned to lie generally proximate to a rolled rim of the first container.  
   
   
       8 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature is sized and configured to engage at least a portion of a rolled rim of the another sleeve structure.  
   
   
       9 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature comprises an inwardly oriented radial protrusion.  
   
   
       10 . The sleeve structure of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature comprises an upwardly oriented arcuate recess sized and configured to conformably engage at least a portion of a rolled rim of the another sleeve structure.  
   
   
       11 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature comprises an upwardly oriented arcuate recess.  
   
   
       12 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature comprises an upwardly oriented arcuate recess sized and configured to conformably engage at least a portion of the rolled rim of the another sleeve structure.  
   
   
       13 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature is integrally formed with the sleeve structure.  
   
   
       14 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature is configured to be removed from the sleeve structure.  
   
   
       15 . The sleeve structure of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing feature comprises two or more circumferentially separated stabilizing features.  
   
   
       16 . The sleeve structure of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the two or more stabilizing features each comprise an upwardly oriented arcuate recess; and    each upwardly oriented arcuate recess is sized and configured to engage at least a portion of a rolled rim formed on a lower longitudinal end of the another sleeve structure.    
   
   
       17 . A sleeve structure, comprising: 
 a side wall configured to encompass at least a portion of a container and to form a space between the container and the side wall; and    an upper longitudinal end including two or more circumferentially separated longitudinally extending sections, the two or more sections configured to bend radially outward to engage and support a portion of the container.    
   
   
       18 . The sleeve structure of  claim 17 , further comprising tabs formed in the side wall of the sleeve structure configured to be bendable in relation to the side wall.  
   
   
       19 . The sleeve structure of  claim 17 , wherein the side wall comprises a substantially flat sheet that is constrained to assume a frustoconical shape.  
   
   
       20 . The sleeve structure of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the sleeve structure longitudinally below the two or more circumferentially separated sections is frustoconical.  
   
   
       21 . The sleeve structure of  claim 17 , wherein the two or more sections are configured to bend radially outward so that upper longitudinal ends thereof are positioned to engage a rolled rim formed on an upper longitudinal end of the container.  
   
   
       22 . The sleeve structure of  claim 17 , wherein the two or more sections are configured to bend radially outward so as to form a radially outwardly tapered region, in relation to an upward longitudinal direction, the region configured to engage and support a side wall of a container.  
   
   
       23 . A container assembly, comprising: 
 a lower container comprising a side wall and a lower wall, an upper longitudinal end of the side wall forming an opening;    an upper container comprising a side wall and a lower wall, an upper longitudinal end of the side wall of the upper container forming an opening, the upper container disposed longitudinally above the lower container;    a first sleeve structure disposed about at least a portion of the side wall of the lower container and forming a space between the first sleeve structure and the lower container;    a lid, positioned proximate the opening of the lower container and assembled thereto; and    at least one stabilizing feature disposed on at least one of the lower container, the lid, and the first sleeve structure, the at least one stabilizing feature configured to engage a second sleeve structure disposed about the at least a portion of the side wall of the upper container.    
   
   
       24 . A container, comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending sidewall being closed at a first longitudinal end and open at a second longitudinal end; and    two or more stabilizing features comprising an inwardly oriented radial protrusion configured to engage at least a portion of a sleeve structure associated with another container.    
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the two or more stabilizing features are circumferentially separated.