Stackable Container System

Abstract

A stackable container system is described comprising modular containers that may be removably attached to each other to provide a container with multiple independently accessed containers.

1 . A modular container comprising:
 a plurality of container units, wherein each container unit comprises a base, a cylindrical side wall extending upwardly from the base to an upper edge of the side wall, said upper edge defining a top opening of the container, a side opening in the cylindrical side wall, and a removable cover for the side opening;   a lid component;   wherein the upper edge of the side wall of each of the plurality of container units may be removably attached to the base of another of the plurality of container units forming a stack; and   wherein the lid component is removably attached to the top container unit in the stack.   
     
     
         2 . The modular container of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a panel having a base wall extending downwardly from the panel for receiving the top edge of the cylindrical side wall of another container unit. 
     
     
         3 . The modular container of  claim 2  wherein the side opening in each container unit comprises:
 a hole in the cylindrical side wall of each container unit; 
 a wall extending outwardly from the cylindrical side wall adjacent to and around the edge of the hole in the side wall. 
 
     
     
         4 . The modular container of  claim 3  wherein the base wall is provided with an engagement mechanism for attaching to an engagement mechanism provided on the upper edge of the side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The modular container of  claim 4  wherein the engagement mechanism on the base wall and the upper edge of the side wall are screw threads. 
     
     
         6 . The modular container of  claim 5  wherein the screw threads are disposed so that when a first unit container is attached to another unit container the side openings are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the containers. 
     
     
         7 . The modular container of  claim 6  wherein a notch is disposed in the screw threads on the upper edge of the side wall and a block is disposed in the screw threads of the base wall, wherein the notch receives the block to align the side openings along the longitudinal axis of the containers. 
     
     
         8 . The modular container of  claim 7  further comprising at least one lid insert for inserting into at least one of the plurality of container units adjacent to the upper edge thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using the device of  claim 1  to store and dispense products comprising the steps of:
 providing a first and a second container unit, and a lid component; 
 disposing the products into the first and the second container units; 
 attaching the lid component to the upper edge of the side wall of the first container unit; 
 attaching the base of the first container unit to the upper edge of the side wall of the second container unit. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of:
 selectively removing the cover from the side opening of one of the first and second container units; 
 dispensing the product from the selected container unit through the side opening. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 providing additional container units; 
 disposing additional products into the additional container units; 
 attaching the upper edge of each additional container unit to the base of another container unit. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein when the container units are attached to each other the side openings on each container unit align along the longitudinal axis of the container units.