Container

Abstract

An embodiment of a container is provided. The container includes a lower portion including a sidewall extending from a first end to a second end and an end wall closing the second end of the sidewall. The sidewall includes first and second sides spaced apart and each extending between third and fourth sides. The sidewall includes a first corner portion located between the first and fourth sides. The first corner portion extends from a first junction to a second junction. The first side curves outwardly from the first junction. The first corner portion curves outwardly from the first junction. The first junction extends non-parallel to a central vertical axis of the sidewall. The container includes an upper portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a cover defining a dispensing aperture and a lid configured to close the dispensing aperture.

1 . A container comprising:
 a lower portion including a sidewall extending from a first end to a second end and an end wall closing the second end of the sidewall, the sidewall including first and second sides spaced apart and each extending between third and fourth sides, a first corner portion located between the first and fourth sides, the first corner portion extending from a first junction formed between the first side and the first corner portion to a second junction formed between the fourth side and the first corner portion, wherein the first junction and the second junction are separated by a first distance proximate the end wall, wherein the first junction and the second junction are separated by a second distance proximate the first end of the sidewall, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, the first side curving outwardly from the first junction, the first corner portion curving outwardly from the first junction, the first junction extending non-parallel to a central vertical axis of the sidewall; and   an upper portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion, the upper portion including a cover defining a dispensing aperture and a lid pivotally coupled to the cover configured to close the dispensing aperture when the lid is in a closed configuration relative to the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth side curves outwardly from the second junction, wherein the first corner portion curves outwardly from the second junction, and wherein the second junction extends non-parallel to the central vertical axis of the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first corner is continuously curved between the first junction and the second junction. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising a second corner portion continuously curved between the first side and the second side, a third corner portion continuously curved between the second side and the third side, and a fourth corner portion continuously curved between the third side and the fourth side. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , comprising first, second, third, and fourth ribs each extending inwardly from one of the corner portions. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , comprising a fifth rib extending inwardly from the first side between the first and second ribs, and a sixth rib extending inwardly from the second side between the third and fourth ribs. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each of the ribs includes a lower portion and an upper portion extending from the lower portion, the upper portion having an inner peripheral edge including a concave portion, the ribs being configured to support stacking of another container thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lower peripheries of each of the third and fourth sides of the sidewall each include an arched portion. 
     
     
         10 . A stack of containers comprising:
 a first container, including a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion, the lower portion including a sidewall extending from an upper periphery to a second end and an end wall closing the second end of the sidewall, the sidewall including first, second, third, and fourth corner portions, the first container including a first rib extending inwardly from the first corner portion, a second rib extending inwardly from the second corner portion, a third rib extending inwardly from the third corner portion, and a fourth rib extending inwardly from the fourth corner; and   a second container including a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion, the lower portion including a sidewall extending from a first end to a second end and an end wall closing the second end of the sidewall, the end wall of the second container being supported by the ribs of the first container;   wherein the sidewall of the first container and the sidewall of the second container define a gap therebetween between the first and second corner portions at the upper periphery of the sidewall of the first container.   
     
     
         11 . The stack of containers of  claim 10 , wherein the sidewall of the first container includes first and second sides spaced apart and each extending between third and fourth sides, a first corner portion located between the first and fourth sides, the first corner portion extending from a first junction to a second junction, the first side curving outwardly from the first junction, the first corner portion curving outwardly from the first junction, the first junction extending non-parallel to a central vertical axis of the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The stack of containers of  claim 11 , wherein the sidewall of the second container includes first and second sides spaced apart and each extending between the third and fourth sides, a first corner portion located between the first and fourth sides, the first corner portion extending from a first junction to a second junction, the first side curving outwardly from the first junction, the first corner portion curving outwardly from the first junction, the first junction extending non-parallel to a central vertical axis of the sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The stack of containers of  claim 12 , wherein the gap is located at the first junction of the first container at the upper periphery of the sidewall, the gap configured to allow air to pass between the sidewall of the first container and the sidewall of the second container to the end wall of the first container. 
     
     
         14 . The stack of containers of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall of the first container includes a second corner portion extending from a third junction to a fourth junction, the first side curving outwardly from the third junction, the second corner portion curving outwardly from the third junction, the third junction extending non-parallel to the central vertical axis of the sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The stack of containers of  claim 14 , wherein the sidewall of the second container includes a second corner portion extending from a third junction to a fourth junction, the first side curving outwardly from the third junction, the second corner portion curving outwardly from the third junction, the third junction extending non-parallel to the central vertical axis of the sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The stack of containers of  claim 15 , wherein a second gap is located at the third junction of the first container at the upper periphery of the sidewall, the gap configured to allow air to pass between the sidewall of the first container and the sidewall of the second container to the end wall of the first container. 
     
     
         17 . The stack of containers of  claim 15 , wherein the eight gaps are defined between the sidewall of the first container and the sidewall of the second container at the upper periphery of the sidewall of the first container, with one of the gaps being located on each side of each of the corner portions. 
     
     
         18 . A container comprising:
 a lower portion including a sidewall extending from a first end to a second end and an end wall closing the second end of the sidewall, the lower portion including a plurality of ribs each extending inwardly from the sidewall, the ribs each including a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an inner peripheral edge including a concave portion extending away from the lower portion; and   an upper portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion, the upper portion including a cover portion defining a central aperture and a lid pivotally coupled to the cover portion.   
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the inner peripheral edge of the upper portion of each of the ribs includes a convex portion extending upwardly from the concave portion. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall includes four corner portions with one of the plurality of ribs extending inwardly from each of the corner portions. 
     
     
         21 . The stack of containers of  claim 10 , wherein the sidewall defines a first side between the first and second corner portions, a second side between the second and third corner portions, a third side between the third and fourth corner portions, and a fourth side between the fourth and first corner portions, wherein each corner portion forms a first junction with one adjacent side of the sidewall and a second junction with another adjacent side of the corner portion, wherein the first and second junctions of each corner portion are separated by a first distance proximate the end wall, wherein the first and second junctions of each corner portion are separated by a second distance proximate the first end of the sidewall, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall includes first, second, third, and fourth corner portions, wherein the sidewall defines a first side between the first and second corner portions, a second side between the second and third corner portions, a third side between the third and fourth corner portions, and a fourth side between the fourth and first corner portions, wherein each corner portion forms a first junction with one adjacent side of the sidewall and a second junction with another adjacent side of the corner portion, wherein the first and second junctions of each corner portion are separated by a first distance proximate the end wall, wherein the first and second junctions of each corner portion are separated by a second distance proximate the first end of the sidewall, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.