Spacer for nestable containers

Abstract

An improved nestable container arrangement. The arrangement involves the use of a spacer. The spacer is configured to fit between adjacent nested containers to keep a sufficient amount of space between adjacent top ends of the container to prevent the formation of a tight seal between the containers. The spacers are available as an aftermarket device and so can be retro-fitted to virtually any type of nestable containers. The radius of curvature of the spacer is adjustable. The spacers are held in position by a small amount of adhesive.

1 . A device for allowing the-jam free nesting of containers comprising:
 a substantially rectangular main body of unitary construction having upper and lower abutment surfaces, the main body formed of two hingedly attached halves and initially having a predetermined radius of curvature;   a hinge formed between said two halves, said hinge formed centrally of said main body and including a gap for allowing for adjusting said radius of curvature;   a lattice work of support members formed in said main body, with at least some of said support members extending from said upper to said lower abutment surfaces;   a quantity of adhesive positioned on a rear surface of the device to allow the device to be removably positioned on one of said containers;   whereby positioning at least one of said devices on each of said containers prevents the formation of airlock between vertically adjacent containers when vertically stacked.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the radius of curvature is zero. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive is a peel and stick type. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a lattice of compression reducing support members extends from a front to a rear face of the device. 
     
     
         5 . A method of stacking two or more nestable containers having a vertical surface comprising the steps of:
 providing a removable spacer device having upper and lower abutment surfaces and a central hinge said central hinge including a gap allowing for bi-directional bending of said spacer device, said spacer device having an adjustable radius of curvature, and placing said spacer device on at least one of said two containers to produce a first container with a spacing device, said first container having a predetermined radius of curvature;   positioning said spacer device proximate an upper edge of the vertical surface of said first container and adjusting the radius of curvature of said spacer device to conform to said predetermined radius of curvature, and attaching the spacer device to said first container;   placing the container with the spacer device within a lowermost container, and lowering said spacer device container into said lowermost container until said lower abutment surface comes into contact with said lowermost container, and;   providing additional containers with spacer elements for stacking.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including the step of depressing a central portion of a top side of the device to cause a central portion of a bottom side of the device to come into contact with said vertical surface.