Containers and systems for material transport and storage

Abstract

Containers and container systems for transporting and storing materials are described. The containers are configured to enable efficient placement within a larger vessel, while maintaining sealed separation between contents of each respective container.

1 . An angled container comprising:
 a first generally planar wall;   a second generally planar wall, the second wall adjacent to the first wall;   an arcuate wall extending between and adjoining the first and second planar walls;   a top wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls;   a bottom wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls;   wherein the first, second, arcuate, top, and bottom walls define an interior region;   a selectively removable cap assembly providing selective access to the interior region of the container;   at least one compression rib extending along a majority of the height of the container, wherein the rib provides increased load bearing capacity of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The angled container of  claim 1  wherein the top wall defines a first locating boss and the bottom wall defines a second locating boss, the second locating boss positioned on the bottom wall such that if the angled container is stacked on a second identical angled container having the first and second locating bosses, the second locating boss of the angled container mates with and contacts a first locating boss of the second identical angled container. 
     
     
         3 . The angled container of  claim 1  wherein the top wall includes an upwardly extending handle, and the bottom wall defines a recessed tunnel extending along at least a portion of the bottom wall, wherein the depth of the tunnel is greater than the height of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The angled container of  claim 3  wherein the recessed tunnel is located on the bottom wall such that if the angled container is stacked on a second identical angled container having the handle and the tunnel, the handle of the second angled container is received within a tunnel of the angled container. 
     
     
         5 . The angled container of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of graduations along the arcuate wall. 
     
     
         6 . The angled container of  claim 1  further defining at least one label panel along at least one of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         7 . The angled container of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of feet along the bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The angled container of  claim 1  wherein an angle A defined between the first wall and the second wall ranges from 180° to about 10°. 
     
     
         9 . The angled container of  claim 8  wherein the angle A is selected from the group consisting of 180°, 120°, 90°, 72°, 60°, 45°, 40°, and 36°. 
     
     
         10 . An angled container comprising:
 a first generally planar wall;   a second generally planar wall, the second wall adjacent to the first wall;   an arcuate wall extending between and adjoining the first and second planar walls;   a top wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls;   a bottom wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls;   wherein the first, second, arcuate, top, and bottom walls define an interior region;   wherein the top wall defines a first locating boss and the bottom wall defines a second locating boss, the second locating boss positioned on the bottom wall such that if the angled container is stacked on a second identical angled container having the first and second locating bosses, the second locating boss mates with and contacts a first locating boss of the second identical angled container.   
     
     
         11 . The angled container of  claim 10  further comprising at least one compression rib extending along a majority of the height of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The angled container of  claim 10  wherein the top wall includes an upwardly extending handle, and the bottom wall defines a recessed tunnel extending along at least a portion of the bottom wall, wherein the depth of the tunnel is greater than the height of the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The angled container of  claim 12  wherein the recessed tunnel is located on the bottom wall such that if the angled container is stacked on a second identical angled container having the handle and the tunnel, the handle of the second angled container is received within a tunnel of the angled container. 
     
     
         14 . The angled container of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of graduations along the arcuate wall. 
     
     
         15 . The angled container of  claim 10  further defining at least one label panel along at least one of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         16 . The angled container of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of feet along the bottom wall. 
     
     
         17 . The angled container of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a selectively removable cap assembly providing selective access to the interior region of the container. 
 
     
     
         18 . The angled container of  claim 10  wherein an angle A defined between the first wall and the second wall ranges from 180° to about 10°. 
     
     
         19 . The angled container of  claim 18  wherein the angle A is selected from the group consisting of 180°, 120°, 90°, 72°, 60°, 45°, 40°, and 36°. 
     
     
         20 . An angled container comprising:
 a first generally planar wall;   a second generally planar wall, the second wall adjacent to the first wall;   an arcuate wall extending between and adjoining the first and second planar walls;   a top wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls;   a bottom wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls;   wherein the first, second, arcuate, top, and bottom walls define an interior region;   wherein the top wall includes an upwardly extending handle, and the bottom wall defines a recessed tunnel extending along at least a portion of the bottom wall, wherein the depth of the tunnel is greater than the height of the handle.   
     
     
         21 . The angled container of  claim 20  further comprising at least one compression rib extending along a majority of the height of the container. 
     
     
         22 . The angled container of  claim 20  wherein the top wall defines a first locating boss and the bottom wall defines a second locating boss, the second locating boss positioned on the bottom wall such that if the angled container is stacked on a second identical angled container having the first and second locating bosses, the second locating boss mates with and contacts a first locating boss of the second identical angled container. 
     
     
         23 . The angled container of  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of graduations along the arcuate wall. 
     
     
         24 . The angled container of  claim 20  further defining at least one label panel along at least one of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         25 . The angled container of  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of feet along the bottom wall. 
     
     
         26 . The angled container of  claim 20  wherein the recessed tunnel is located on the bottom wall such that if the angled container is stacked on a second identical angled container having the handle and the tunnel, the handle of the second angled container is received within a tunnel of the angled container. 
     
     
         27 . The angled container of  claim 20  further comprising:
 a selectively removable cap assembly providing selective access to the interior region of the container. 
 
     
     
         28 . The angled container of  claim 20  wherein an angle A defined between the first wall and the second wall ranges from 180° to about 10°. 
     
     
         29 . The angled container of  claim 28  wherein the angle A is selected from the group consisting of 180°, 120°, 90°, 72°, 60°, 45°, 40°, and 36°. 
     
     
         30 . A container system, the system comprising:
 a first angled container including:
 a first generally planar wall; 
 a second generally planar wall, the second wall adjacent to the first wall; 
 an arcuate wall extending between and adjoining the first and second planar walls; 
 a top wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls; 
 a bottom wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls, the bottom wall defining a recessed tunnel; 
 wherein the first, second, arcuate, top, and bottom walls define an interior region; 
   a second angled container including:
 a first generally planar wall; 
 a second generally planar wall, the second wall adjacent to the first wall; 
 an arcuate wall extending between and adjoining the first and second planar walls; 
 a top wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls, the top wall including an upwardly extending handle; 
 a bottom wall extending between the first, second, and arcuate walls; 
 wherein the first, second, arcuate, top, and bottom walls define an interior region; 
 wherein the recessed tunnel has a depth greater than the height of the handle, the tunnel located along the bottom wall of the first container such that if the first container is stacked on the second container, the handle of the second container is received within the tunnel of the first container. 
   
     
     
         31 . The container system of  claim 30  wherein the top wall of the second container defines a first locating boss and the bottom wall of the first container defines a second locating boss, the second locating boss positioned on the bottom wall of the first container such that if the first angled container is stacked on the second container, the second locating boss of the first container mates with and contacts the first locating boss of the second container. 
     
     
         32 . The container system of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the first and second containers further comprise at least one compression rib extending along a majority of the height of the container. 
     
     
         33 . The container system of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the first and second containers further comprise a plurality of graduations along the arcuate wall. 
     
     
         34 . The container system of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the first and second containers define at least one label panel along at least one of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         35 . The container system of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the first and second containers further comprise a plurality of feet along a bottom wall. 
     
     
         36 . The container system of  claim 30  further comprising:
 a vessel defining an interior region sized to receive at least both of the first container and the second container. 
 
     
     
         37 . The container system of  claim 36  wherein the interior region of the vessel is sized to receive the first container and the second container in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         38 . The container system of  claim 36  wherein the interior region of the vessel is sized to receive the first container and the second container in an aligned configuration. 
     
     
         39 . The container system of  claim 30  further comprising a plurality of additional containers. 
     
     
         40 . The container system of  claim 36  wherein the vessel includes at least one wall that encloses the interior region of the vessel and precludes access to the interior region. 
     
     
         41 . The container system of  claim 36  wherein a packing efficiency of the container system is greater than 70%.