System for interconnecting containers

Abstract

A system of interconnected containers is provided having a male connector with a body and a hook supported by the body affixed with an adhesive to an exterior wall of a first container and a female connector having a body and a loop supported by the body affixed to an exterior wall of a second container, wherein the hook of the male connector is inserted in the loop of the female connector such that the containers are connected with one container able to support the other.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A system of interconnected containers, comprising:
 (a) a first container having a vertical wall, the wall having an exterior;   (b) a first female connector having a body and a loop supported by the body, the body of the first female connector having an inner face affixed to the exterior of the wall of the first container with an adhesive, and wherein the loop is spaced away from the wall of the first container;   (c) a second container having a vertical wall, the wall having an exterior;   (d) a first male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body, the body of the first male connector having an inner face affixed to the exterior of the wall of the second container with an adhesive, and the hook having an end spaced away from the wall of the second container; and   (e) the hook of the first male connector is inserted in the loop of the first female connector, thereby joining together the first and second containers.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hook of the first male connector is resilient and is biased towards the wall of the first container, and the end of the hook is able to pivot away from the wall of the first container. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hook of the first male connector is oriented downward, and a liquid is held in the first container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first container has the shape of a conical frustum and the body of the first female connector conforms to the exterior of the wall of the first container. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hook of the first male connector is oriented upward, and a liquid is held in the second container. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loop of the first female connector comprises a tab with a hole therein. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising (i) a second male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body and oriented upward, the body of the second male connector having an inner face affixed to the exterior of the wall of either the first container or the second container with an adhesive; (ii) a sealed bag having an interior containing food, the bag having a seam with an aperture therein; and (iii) the hook of the second male connector is inserted in the aperture of the bag, whereby the bag hangs from the hook. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising (i) a second male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body and oriented upward, the body of the second male connector having an inner face affixed to the exterior of the wall of either the first container or the second container with an adhesive; (ii) a third container having an interior containing food, the third container having an aperture therein; and (iii) the hook of the second male connector is inserted in the aperture of the third container, whereby the third container hangs from the hook. 
     
     
         9 . A method of interconnecting containers, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first container having a vertical wall, the wall having an exterior;   (b) affixing a first male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body to the exterior of the wall of the first container with an adhesive, the body of the first male connector having an inner face and the hook having an end spaced away from the wall of the first container;   (c) providing a second container having a vertical wall, the wall having an exterior;   (d) affixing a first female connector having a body and a loop supported by the body to the exterior of the wall of the second container with an adhesive, the body of the first female connector having an inner face, and wherein the loop is spaced away from the wall of the second container; and   (e) joining together the first and second containers whereby the hook of the first male connector is inserted in the loop of the first female connector.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hook of the first male connector is resilient and the first male connector is biased towards the wall of the first container, and the end of the hook is able to pivot away from the wall of the first container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hook of the first male connector is oriented upward, and a liquid is held in the first container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first container has the shape of a conical frustum and the body of the first male connector conforms to the exterior of the wall of the first container. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hook of the first male connector is oriented downward, and a liquid is held in the second container. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the loop of the first female connector comprises a tab with a hole therein. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of (i) affixing a second male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body and oriented upward to the exterior of the wall of either the first container or the second container with an adhesive, the body of the second male connector having an inner face; (ii) providing a sealed bag having an interior containing food, the bag having a seam with an aperture therein; and (iii) inserting the hook of the second male connector in the aperture of the bag, whereby the bag hangs from the hook. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of (i) affixing second male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body and oriented upward to the exterior of the wall of either the first container or the second container with an adhesive, the body of the second male connector having an inner face; (ii) providing a third container having an interior containing food, the third container having an aperture therein; and (iii) inserting the hook of the second male connector in the aperture of the third container, whereby the third container hangs from the hook. 
     
     
         17 . A system of interconnected containers, comprising:
 (a) a first container having a vertical wall, the wall having an exterior;   (b) a first male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body, the body of the first male connector having an inner face affixed to the exterior of the wall of the first container with an adhesive, and the hook having an end, wherein the end of the hook is oriented upward;   (c) a second container having an aperture therein; and   (d) the hook of the first male connector is inserted in the aperture of the second container, whereby the first container is supported by the second container.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (e) a second male connector having a body and a hook supported by the body, the body of the first male connector having an inner face affixed to the exterior of the wall of the first container with an adhesive, and the hook having an end, wherein the end of the hook is oriented upward;   (f) a third container having an aperture therein; and   (g) the hook of the second male connector is inserted in the aperture in the third container, whereby the third container is supported by the first container.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first container has the shape of a conical frustum, and the inner face of the first male connector conforms to the exterior of the wall of the first container. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first male connector is able to flatten against the wall of the container to a thickness of 3 mm, prior to the hook being inserted in the aperture of the second container.