TITLE: IMPROVED CONTAINER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority under 35 U. S. C. § 1 19 to a provisional application Serial No. 60/823,610 filed August 25, 2006, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved container. More specifically, the present invention relates to an easy-open square-shaped container which is easy to carry. Generally, square containers are more efficient for storing products, such as food, because they stack closer together with less wasted space outside of the container between adjacent containers. Thus, it is desirable to use square containers in food products, such as ice cream, to utilize the most space within the freezer in store freezer cases. However, one problem with square containers is that it is generally difficult to get the lids off of the container. Thus, the user generally has to pull from a corner of the lid because pulling from the side of the lid simply pulls the adjacent corners closer together and makes it more difficult to remove the lid. Additionally with cold food products, such as ice cream, the containers are cold and possibly wet with condensation and slippery when the user tries to remove the lid. Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved container which has efficient use of storage space but is easy to open.

In view of the foregoing, a primary feature or advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved container. Another feature or advantage of the present invention is to provide a container with a lid that is easy to grip and remove from the square container.

Another feature or advantage of the present invention is a container which is easy to carry and provide structure on both the container and lid for ease of opening a square lid on the square container. Another feature or advantage of the present invention is a method of removing a square-shaped Hd from a square-shaped container.

These and or other features or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, an improved container and lid combination is disclosed. The improved container and lid combination includes a container body having a base and sidewalls extending upward from the base to form the container, a bail pivotally attached to opposite corners of the container, and a lid body having a top and sides extending downward from the top to form the lid, wherein the lid is adapted to mate to the container. In the preferred form, the lid includes a tab which extends outward and downward from a corner portion of the lid whereby a user may pull downward on the bail and upward on the tab to lift the lid from the container, the container includes an ear on opposite corners having a slot adapted to pivotally secure the bail to the container, the bail has terminal ends with a pin extending perpendicularly inward there from being securable within the slot, the sidewalls terminate in a mouth opposite the base having a lip adapted to seat against a slot in the lid, inner sides of the lid have one or more ridges adapted to secure the lid to the lip of the container, the top of the lid has a recess adapted to receive the base of another container when one or more of the containers are stacked together, the lid also has a rim near the outer periphery, and the rim is adapted to secure sides of another lid when one or more lids are stacked together.

A new method for an improved container and lid combination is disclosed. The method includes taking the container having a base and sidewalls and the lid having a top and sides and removing the lid from the container by pushing downward against the container on a bail pivotally attached to opposite corners of the container while lifting upward on the lid. In the preferred form, the method also includes the step of inserting one or more fingers underneath a tab integrally formed in a comer of the lid for lifting up on the tab to remove the lid and the step of balancing forces exerted while removing the lid by pushing downward on the bail against the container and lifting upward on the tab at the same time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a top view of one embodiment of the container with the lid in place showing a bail connected to ears on the container, and a tab on the lid;

Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 with the bail positioned upward for carrying or moving the container; Figures 3 is a plan view of the container without showing the bail attached;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container taken along line 5-5 in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of one container nested or stacked with another container; Figure 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of the lid superimposed on the container and having a tab for removing the lid from the container;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the Hd taken along line 8-8 in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lid taken along line 9-9 in Figure 7; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of one lid stacked or nested on top of another lid;

Figure 1 1 is a side cross-sectional view of one lidded container stacked on top of another lidded container;

Figure 12 is a top perspective view of the lid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 is a bottom perspective view of the lid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 is another top perspective view of the lid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 15 is another bottom perspective view of the lid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the tab according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 17 is a perspective view of two lids stacked on top of one another where the bottom lid is placed upon the top of one of two stacked containers showing the bail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 and 2 show a top view of the container 10 and lid 30 combination of the present invention with the lid 30 situated in a sealed position on the mouth 22 of the container 10. Figure 1 shows the bail 24 positioned down and along the corner 16 and two sidewalls 14 of the container 10. The bail 24 is connected to the container 10 by ears 18 located on opposite corners 16 of the container 10. The Hd 30 locates on the container 10 so that a tab 44 on the lid 30 is on the corner 38 of the Hd 30 which is not connected to the bail 24 so that as the user removes the Hd 30, the user can pull downward on the bail 24 and place their fingers under the tab 44 to lift upward on the tab 44, creating opposite forces. Thus, the corner portion 38 of the lid easily lifts and thereby lifts the adjacent sides 36 of the lid 30. Once the corner of the Hd 30 with the tab 44 is raised from the container 10 and the sides 36 adjacent the tab 44 are raised, the remaining portion of the lid 30 easily lifts off of the container 10.

Figure 2 shows the bail 24 in an upright position, positioned over the Hd 30. The bail 24 will be in this position during carrying of the container 10. In this way, a user can carry the container 10 by the bail and avoid getting their fingers cold if the container 10 holds cold products, such as ice cream. The bail 24 has the ability of pivoting in the ears 18 on the container 10 from one corner 16 of the container 10 over the top of the container 10 and down over the corner 16 on the other side of the container 10 until it rests against the corner 16 and two sidewalls 14 of the container 10. In this way, the bail 24 can be positioned out of the way when two or more containers 10 are stacked together as shown in Figure 11. Additionally, the Hd 30 may have more than one tab 44. For example, another tab (not shown) may be configured into the corner 38 opposite tab 44 in the Hd 30 so that no matter which way the bail 24 is positioned down, the user can pull down on the bail 24 and have a tab 44 available for pulling upward to open the Hd 30.

The bail 24 may affix to the container 10 by any type of connection which allows the bail 24 to pivot. One example is where the bail 24 has a tab or pin 28 extending inward which mates with a corresponding friction fit slot 26 in the ear 18 and the ear 18 is integrally connected to the container 10. The tab or pin 28 extending from the bail 24 fits in the slot 26 in the ear 18 yet pivots around the pin 28.

The container 10, lid 30, and bail 24, can be made from any material which is desired for the intended purpose. However, it is preferred that these items be formed from a plastic material. In addition, if the container assembly is to contain food, the plastic material should be food grade. Figures 3-6 show various views of one embodiment of the container 10. It is noted, however, that the container is not shown with the bail 24 attached as shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, the bail 24 can attach to the container as described above or any other desirable way. According to one aspect of the container 10, the container 10 is formed having a base 12 with sidewalls 14 extending upward from the base 12 terminating in a mouth 22. The sidewalls 14 are connected together by a corner 16 that may be radiused (viewing the container 10 from the outside) or chamfered (viewing the container 10 from the inside). The sidewalls 14 may also connect to form a corner 16 that is square, filleted, or otherwise. The mouth 22 of the container 10 has a lip 20 as best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The lip 20 is adapted to mate with a corresponding slot 40 in lid 30 for sealing the lid 30 to the container 10 as best shown in Figures 8-11 and 13. Ears 18 are fashioned into opposite corners 16 near the mouth 22 of the container 10 for holding the bail 24. Figure 5 illustrates how one container 10 may be staked or nested inside another container 10 for ease in shipping and storing.

Figures 7-1 1 show various views of one embodiment of the lid 30 adapted to mate with container 10. Figure 7 shows lid 30 superimposed over container 10, where container 10 has ears 18 sticking outward on opposite corners 16 of the lid 30, with tab 44 fashioned into lid 30 on a corner 38 between ears 18 on the container 10. Figure 8 and 9 shows the lid 30 having a top 32 terminating in an outer periphery 34. Sides 36 extend away from the top 32 in a generally perpendicular direction. Tab 44 is configured to extend downward and outward from sides 36 of lid 30. Thus, tab 44 extends away from container 10 creating a gap between the corner 16 of the container 10 and tab 44 whereby the user may easily put

their fingers under the tab 44 and pull outward and upward to separate the lid 30 from the container 10. The user may position the bail 24 on the corner 16 of the container 10 commensurate with the corner 38 of the lid 30 having the tab 44. In this manner, the user may offset or balance the torque/moment exerted on the tab 44 with the torque/moment exerted on the bail 24 making it much easier to remove the lid 30 by lifting on tab 44 while pressing down on the bail 24 against the container 10. The bail 24 and tab 44 provide surfaces that are easily gripped. For example, if the container 10 is used to hold ice cream, the outside of the container 10 may be difficult to grip, restrain or hold in position as a result of condensation and the temperature of the container 10. Thus, the bail 24 and tab 44 provide surfaces for gripping that are not so intimately associated with the container 10, making lid 30 removal easier. Figure 10 illustrates how one lid 30 may be stacked or nested on top of another lid 30. Extending upward in a generally perpendicular direction away from top 32 of lid 30 is rim 46. Rim 46, as additionally illustrated in Figures 12, 14, 16 and 17, is spaced inward from the outer periphery 34 of lid 30 at a distance at least the side 36 thickness of lid 30 to help secure lids 30 when stacked together as shown in Figures 10 and 17. Figure 11 illustrates how one container 10 may be staked or nested on top of another container 10 for ease in stocking, storing and shipping. In particular, base 12 of container 10 on top is shaped to fit within recess 46 in Hd 30 of bottom container 10.

Figures 12-16 show perspective views of the lid 30 and its corresponding tab 44 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Inside the lid 30 on one of more of the sides 36 are one or more raised ridges 42 extending inward in a generally perpendicular direction from sides 36 so that the ridges 42 interfere with a lip 20 extending outward on the mouth 22 of container 10 to provide a positive seal or friction fit between the lid 30 and the container 10. Additionally, the lid 30 and the container 10 have surfaces which may contain product labels or other indicia (not shown). Applied labels, mold in place labels, or other types of labels or indicia may be used on container 10 and lid 30.

Figure 17 shows two empty containers 10 nested within one another having a bail 24 hanging downward at an angle, such as when a user pulls the bail 24 downward toward the corner 16 of the container 10. Additionally, Figure 17 shows two lids 30 nested on top of one another. As shown, the lid 30 easily mates with and frictionally fits with lip 20 on the mouth 22 of container 10 for sealing product inside the container 10.

It is easily understood how advantages of the present invention allow for a more efficient storage of goods and containers because of the square size of the container 10 which stack closer together leaving less wasted space outside and between the containers 10. However, square containers generally are somewhat difficult to open because of the square lids. Thus, the present invention solves these problems by providing a square- shaped container 10 with an easy-open lid 30 and a bail 24 on the container 10 to aid in opening the lid 30. Other useful and nonobvious benefits of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the following claims.

Another advantage of the present design is that square containers which have bails generally have the bails attached to a side portion rather than a corner. This allows the bail to be approximately centered to the center of gravity for the container allowing for easy carry of the container when product is in the container. However, when bails are placed on opposite sides of the container rather than on opposite corners of the container, one cannot easily open a square lid because, as discussed above, square lids generally need to be pulled from a corner, rather than a side to open easily. The shape, radius of corners, and size of the container may vary depending on desired use of the container.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.