The present invention relates to an interlocking container. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interlocking container that can be laid in rows, to build a multi-row structure, in a similar manner as bricks are laid.

Various interlocking containers are known. For instance:

DE1 ,849,931 to Schwenningen, FR2,395,905 to Mira Lanza SPA, W096/16874 to Stoner, WO2006/084453 to Olaf, WO201 1/020128 to Muller et al, WO201 1/103438 to Pawl, USD412.646 to Credle, USD412.662 to Giskoedegaard et al, US4,656,840 to Loobourrow and US6,276,549 to Fasci et al describe containers with protrusions and recesses on their side walls for securing adjacent containers to each other in a manner similar to LEGO blocks. USD635,460 to Dorn et al, US2.641 ,374 to Deryuen and US2, 960,248 to Kuhlman describe a stackable container with a cavity defined by the base for receiving the neck of an adjacent stackable container therein. Furthermore, WO2005/1 10874 to Darr and US2009/0255893 to Zummo et al describe formations associated with such cavity for securing the neck of an adjacent stackable container therein.

CN2016781 10 to Shaojie, WO2010/145700 to Michel et al and US2012/0325766 to Boisvert describe a stackable container with a plurality of cavities defined by the base and side walls for receiving the neck of an adjacent stackable container therein. US2014/0335753 to Weiss describes a container with corresponding protrusions and channels defined by the side walls for securing adjacent containers to each other. However, the neck of the container is oversized relative to the channels.

A drawback of known interlocking containers is that, should a row of containers be connected to each other, a container that is to be added to a superjacent row requires either: the newly added container to be slid relative to the subjacent row of containers; or an adjacent previously interlocked container in the same row to be tilted relative to its neighbouring containers, in order to secure the newly added container thereto. It is not possible to interlock prior art interlocking containers to each other to form layers of rows in the same manner as bricks are laid, i.e. by simply vertically lowering a newly added interlocking container in place relative to its neighbouring containers in the same row and the subjacent row. It is an object of the present invention to address this drawback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided an interlocking container that includes: a substantially cuboid hollow body having a pair of opposing end panels and two pairs of opposing side panels; a neck defining an inlet to / outlet from the body at a first end panel of the opposing end panels; at least one protrusion on a first side panel of a first pair of opposing side panels; at least one recess defined by a second side panel of the first pair of opposing side panels, which at least one recess is sized and shaped to receive the at least one protrusion therein; at least one side channel defined by a first side panel of the second pair of opposing side panels, which side channel extends from one of the first or second side panels of the first pair of opposing side panels towards the other of the first or second side panels of the first pair of opposing side panels; and an end channel defined by a second end panel of the opposing end panels, which end channel extends from one of the first or second side panels of the first pair of opposing side panels towards the other of the first or second side panels of the first pair of opposing side panels, wherein, each of the side channel and the end channel: (i) is sized to receive a portion of the neck of an adjacent interlocking container therein and thereaiong; and (ii) is open at at leasi one axial end to permit the neck of an adjacent interlocking container to be received within the channel via such open axial end.

Typically, the neck has an enlarged head that is defined by a portion of the neck and/or a cap securable to the neck.

Generally, each of the side channel and the end channel defines a constriction to capture the enlarged head of an adjacent interlocking container within the channel, permitting such enlarged head only to enter the channel and escape therefrom at the channel open axial end.

Preferably, the interlocking container further includes at least one side channel defined by a second side panel of the second pair of opposing side panels, which side channel: (i) extends from one of the first or second side panels of the first pair of opposing side panels towards the other of the first or second side panels of the first pair of opposing side panels; (ii) is sized to receive a portion of the neck of an adjacent interlocking container therein and therealong; (iii) is open at at least one axial end to permit the neck of an adjacent interlocking container to be received within the channel via such open axial end; and (iv) defines a constriction to capture the enlarged head of an adjacent interlocking container within the channel, permitting such enlarged head only to enter the channel and escape therefrom at the channel open axial end.

Typically, the interlocking container includes a pair of protrusions, a pair of recesses, a pair of side channels defined by the first side panel of the second pair of opposing side panels, and a pair of side channels defined by the second side of the second pair of opposing side panels.

Generally, the side channels and the end channel extend between the first pair of opposing side panels.

Preferably, the side channels and the end channels are substantially parallel, extending substantially orthogonally between the first pair of opposed side panels.

Typically, the spacing of the opposing end panels is twice the spacing of the second pair of opposing side panels. Generally, (i) the centreline of the side channels are spaced from the end panels by a distance substantially equal to half the spacing of the second pair of side panels; and (ii) the end channel extends centrally along the second end panel. Optionally, the protrusions and recesses are tapered so as to facilitate mechanical locking of the protrusions within the recesses of an adjacent interlocking container. Furthermore, the peripheral edges of the protrusions and recesses may be castellated. And, the outer surface of the first pair of side panels may have a higher coefficient of friction than the outer surface of the second pair of side panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a first perspective view of an interlocking container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the interlocking container in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of interlocking containers in Figure 1 connected to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, an interlocking container 10 is in the form of a substantially cuboid hollow body that defines a pair of opposing end panels 12, a first pair of opposing side panels 14, and a second pair of opposing side panels 16. The spacing of the opposing end panels 12 is substantially twice the spacing of the second pair of opposing side panels 16.

A first side panel 14a of the first pair of opposing side panels 14 includes a pair of projections 18 that are aligned midway between the second pair of opposing side panels 16, with their centres spaced from the end panels 12 a distance equal to half the spacing of the second pair of opposing side panels 16. In axial cross section, the projections 18 are preferably circular, square, equilateral or in the shape of a cross. Optionally, but not shown, the projections 18 may be tapered, being narrowest at its point of intersection with the first side panel 14a of the first pair of opposing side panels 14. A second side panel 14b of the first pair of opposing side panels 14 defines recesses 20 that are sized and shaped to receive projections 18 of an adjacent interlocking container 10 therein. The recesses 20 are aligned midway between the second pair of opposing side panels 16, with their centres spaced from the end panels 12 a distance equal to half the spacing of the second pair of opposing side panels 16. In axial cross section, the recesses 18 are preferably circular, square, equilateral or in the shape of a cross. Optionally, but not shown, the projections 18 may be tapered, being narrowest in axial cross section at the face of the second side panel 14b of the first pair of opposing side panels 14. Tapering of the projections 18 and recesses 20 facilitates mechanically locking of projections 18 within recesses 20 of an adjacent interlocking container 20. Alternatively, the projections 18 are secured within recesses of an adjacent interlocking container 10 by way of an interference fit.

Optionally, but not shown, the radial peripheral edges of the protrusions 18 and recesses 20 could be castellated so as to facilitate release of the interlocking container 10 from the mould during moulding.

A neck 22 extends orthogonally from the centre of a first end panel 12a of the opposing end panels 12. The neck 22 defines the inlet / outlet of the interlocking container 10 body. The neck 22 has an enlarged head that is defined by a portion of the neck 22 (e.g. ring 26) and/or a cap 24 securable to the neck 22 by corresponding male and female threaded portions on defined by the cap 24 and neck 22.

First and second side panels 16a and 16b of the second pair of opposing side panels 16 define side channels 28. Each side channel 28 extends from one of the first and second side panel 14a and 14b of the first pair of opposing side panels 14 towards the other of the first and second side panel 14a and 14b of the first pair of opposing side panels 14. The Figures show the side channels 28 extending all the way between the opposing first pair of opposing side panels 14, with the axial ends of the side channels 28 being open. However, it will be appreciated that the side channels 28 could alternatively terminate after extending just over half this distance, with only one axial end of the side channels 28 being open. All the side channels 28 are linear, parallel to each other and extend substantially orthogonally from the first pair of side panels 14. Furthermore, the centreline of each side channel 28 is spaced from the proximal opposing end panel 12 by a distance substantially equal to half the spacing of the second pair of side panels 16. In this specification "substantially" permits a deviation of 5%, and "spacing" is intended to mean orthogonal displacement.

Each side channel 28 is sized to receive a portion of the neck 22 (including the enlarged head 24 and 26) of an adjacent interlocking container 10 therein and therealong. The open axial ends of the side channels 28 permit a portion of the neck 22 (including the enlarged head 24 and 26) of an adjacent interlocking container 10 to be received within the side channels 28 via such open axial ends. The side channels 28 also define a constriction adjacent the second pair of opposing side panels 16 (i.e. near the radial opening of the side channels 28) to capture the enlarged head 24 and 26 of an adjacent interlocking container 10 within the side channels 28, permitting such enlarged head 24 and 26 only to enter the side channels 28 and escape therefrom at the side channel 28 open axial ends.

Importantly the side channels 28 are all open at a common axial end (i.e. the axial end at the first side panel 14a of the first pair of side panels 14; the second side panel 14b of the first pair of side panels 14; or at both such first and second side panels 14a and 14b of the first pair of side panels 14). This must be contrasted with the open axial ends of the side channels described in US2012/0325766, which axial openings are opposed.

The second end panel 12b of the opposing end panels 12 defines an end channel 30. The end channel 30 extends from one of the first and second side panel 14a and 14b of the first pair of opposing side panels 14 towards the other of the first and second side panel 14a and 14b of the first pair of opposing side panels 14. The Figures show the end channel 30 extending all the way between the opposing first pair of opposing side panels 14, with the axial ends of the end channel 30 being open. However, it will be appreciated that the end channel 30 could alternatively terminate after extending just over half this distance, with only one axial end of the end channel 30 being open. The end channel 30 is linear, parallel to the side channels 28 and extends substantially orthogonally from the first pair of side panels 14. Furthermore, the centreline of the end channel 30 is spaced substantially midway between the second pair of opposing side panels 16. As with the side channels 28, the end channel 30 is sized to receive a portion of the neck 22 (including the enlarged head 24 and 26) of an adjacent interlocking container 10 therein and therealong. The open axial ends of the end channel 30 permit a portion of the neck 22 (including ihe enlarged head 24 and 26) of an adjacent interlocking container 10 to be received within the end channel 30 via such open axial ends. The end channel 30 also defines a constriction adjacent the second end panel 12b (i.e. near the radial opening of the end channels 30) to capture the enlarged head 24 and 26 of an adjacent interlocking container 10 within the end channel 30, permitting such enlarged head 24 and 26 only to enter the end channel 30 and escape therefrom at the end channel's 30 open axial ends.

It will be appreciated that the interlocking container 10 (in its basic form as shown in the Figures) has specifically been designed to be moulded using a 2-part (as compared to a complex) mould.

Optionally, but not shown, the outer surface of the first pair of side panels 14 could have a higher coefficient of friction than the outer surface of the second pair of side panels 16.

Referring specifically to Figure 3, the interlocking containers 10 may be laid in the same manner as bricks, i.e. by simply vertically lowering a newly added interlocking container 10 in place relative to a subjacent previously interlocked row of interlocking containers 10. The projections 18 on interlocking containers 10 in a subjacent layer extend into the recesses 20 of the newly added interlocking container 10 and the neck 22 of an adjacent interlocking container 10 in the same row is received within the end channel 30 of the newly added interlocking container 10. The newly added container 10 need not be slidably received by the adjacent and subjacent interlocking containers 10, neither do the adjacent and subjacent interlocking containers 10 need to be tilted relative to receive the newly added container 10. Should the newly added container 10 be added with its axis oriented orthogonally to the axes of its adjacent interlocking container 10 in the same row, to form a corner, the neck 22 (including the enlarged head 24 and 26) of the adjacent interlocking container 10 in the same row is received within one of the side channels 28 of the newly added interlocking container 10 (instead of its end channel 30). Due to the spacing of the side channels 28 along the second pair of opposing side panels 16, when the interlocking containers 10 are stacked to form a wall, the side channels 28 of row layers are axially aligned. This facilitates securing of cladding to the wall (not shown).