Modular container

Abstract

A modular container stores and/or displays various objects, such as, for example, cut flowers. The container comprises a body portion having a convoluted outer wall with alternating lobes and recesses spaced around the perimeter. The lobes and recesses are configured so that two or more of the containers may be interconnected. Various container configurations and accessories may be provided to create a wide variety of useful and decorative container arrangements.

1 . A container comprising:
 a body portion having a top, a bottom and a convoluted outer wall with alternating lobes and recesses spaced around the perimeter, the recesses configured to receive and interlockingly engage a lobe of an adjacent container;   a base portion disposed at the bottom of the body portion.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the body portion comprises an extruded length of material. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the base portion is formed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom of the body portion defines a plane perpendicular to an axis of the body portion. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom of the body portion defines a plane at an acute angle to an axis of the body portion. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the top of the body portion defines a plane at an acute angle to an axis of the body portion. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the top of the body portion is chamfered. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the base portion includes a means for draining liquid contents of the container. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lighting module configured to fit within a lobe of the body portion. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the lighting module comprises a power source, a light source and a switch electrically coupled between the power source and light source. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the lighting module further comprises means for varying an intensity of the light source. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a sound module configured to fit within a lobe of the body portion. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a connector accessory comprising a bridge portion and a pair of lobe portions, each of the lobe portions disposed at opposing ends of the bridge portion, each of the lobe portions configured to fit within recesses of the container. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the bridge portion comprises a picture frame. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a bracket accessory comprising a mounting portion for attachment to a surface and a lobe portion configured to fit within a recess of the container. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a bookend accessory comprising a generally thin, flat base portion and a lobe portion configured to fit within a recess of the container. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the body portion is generally cylindrical. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the body portion is generally rectangular. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the body portion is generally wedge-shaped. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lid portion releaseably engaging the top of the body portion. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the base portion is a separate component from the body portion and is in sealing engagement with the bottom of the body portion. 
   
   
       22 . A set of at least two containers, each of the containers comprising:
 a body portion having a convoluted outer wall with alternating lobes and recesses spaced around the perimeter, the recesses configured to receive and interlockingly engage a lobe of another container of the set;   a base portion disposed at a bottom of the body portion.   
   
   
       23 . The set of  claim 22  wherein the containers are of at least two different lengths. 
   
   
       24 . The set of  claim 22  further comprising a lighting module configured to fit within a lobe of the body portion. 
   
   
       25 . The set of  claim 22  further comprising a sound module configured to fit within a lobe of the body portion. 
   
   
       26 . The set of  claim 21  further comprising a connector accessory comprising a bridge portion and a pair of lobe portions, each of the lobe portions disposed at opposing ends of the bridge portion, each of the lobe portions configured to fit within recesses of the containers. 
   
   
       27 . The set of  claim 26  wherein the bridge portion comprises a picture frame. 
   
   
       28 . The set of  claim 22  wherein the body portion of at least one of the containers is generally cylindrical. 
   
   
       29 . The set of  claim 22  wherein the body portion of at least one of the containers is generally rectangular. 
   
   
       30 . The set of  claim 22  wherein the body portion of at least one of the containers is generally wedge-shaped. 
   
   
       31 . The set of  claim 22  further comprising a support dimensioned to fit within a recess of a first container and support a lobe of a second adjacent container such that the second container is elevated above the first container. 
   
   
       32 . The set of  claim 22  further comprising a plug dimensioned to fit within a recess of a first container and bear against a lobe of a second adjacent container, thereby resisting longitudinal separation of the first and second containers. 
   
   
       33 . The set of  claim 22  wherein the base portion of at least one of the containers is a separate component from the body portion and is in sealing engagement with the bottom of the body portion.