Structure for detachable coupling of containers

Abstract

A container structure is provided for detachable coupling of containers. The detachable coupling structure of a first container includes a top portion with an upstanding perimeter having radial protrusions extending from a surface of the upstanding perimeter, and a container bottom portion having a complementary structure to engage the radial protrusions of the top portion of a second container for the purpose of detachably coupling two or more containers end to end. In one embodiment, two containers placed end to end with their respective structures aligned to be engaged are rotated in opposite directions to fully engage the protrusions of one container with the complementary structure of the other. A rim around the top portion of a container in a second embodiment has a larger diameter than the top portion. The rim may be pushed through a flexible opening into a recess in the bottom of another container.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a main body; a top portion having a narrower diameter than the main body and having an upstanding peripheral flange forming a mouth portion of the container, the upstanding peripheral flange having at least one protrusion extending radially from a surface; a bottom portion having a peripheral structure, the peripheral structure having an end face, an interior wall facing toward a recessed area, an exterior wall, and at least one groove circumferentially oriented on the interior or exterior wall to receive at least one protrusion of a second container, the at least one groove having a receiving portion which, when aligned with the at least one protrusion of the second container, receives the at least one protrusion of the second container upon rotation of the second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container; at least one outside spiral thread on an exterior wall of the mouth portion; a cap having at least one cap interior spiral thread to screw the cap onto the mouth portion; at least one cap exterior spiral thread disposed on an external wall of the cap; a cap diameter region extending to a first depth in the recessed area in the bottom portion of the container; at least one first inside spiral thread on an inside wall of the first depth of the recessed area, the at least one first inside spiral thread to receive the at least one cap exterior spiral thread; a mouth diameter region extending from the first depth to a second depth in the recessed area; and at least one second inside spiral thread on an inside wall of the mouth diameter region, the at least one second inside spiral thread to receive the at least one outside spiral thread on the exterior wall of the mouth portion, wherein the main body extends from the top portion to the bottom portion and the main body, in use, holds liquid, and the inside surface of the mouth diameter region of the recessed area has a groove or gap that allows air or liquid to escape through the groove or gap from a recessed area or a main body of the second container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled and the second container does not have a cap, the groove or gap being formed by a protruding rib of the inside wall, the protruding rib extending a cavity of the groove or gap upwardly in the direction of the top portion of the container, and the protruding rib extending the cavity radially outward beyond a radius of the mouth diameter region.

2. A container comprising: a main body; a top portion having an outside diameter smaller than the main body, at least one spiral thread around and protruding outwardly from an exterior face of the top portion, a neck section below the at least one spiral thread having a smaller diameter than the at least one spiral thread, and a cap portion, for receiving a cap, above the at least one spiral thread having a smaller diameter than the at least one spiral thread; and a bottom portion having an end face, and a cavity in the center of the end face, the cavity having an opening into which a top portion and a perimeter rim of a second container can be inserted, and having at least one spiral thread extending inwardly from inside walls of the cavity which, when aligned with at least one spiral thread on an exterior face of the top portion of the second container, receives the at least one spiral thread of the second container upon rotation of the second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container, wherein the main body extends from the top portion to the bottom portion, and the main body, in use, holds liquid, and when the at least one spiral thread of the bottom portion receives the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container, the at least one spiral thread of the bottom portion does not receive a cap or cap portion of the second container.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container or the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container has an obstructed end, the rotation of the second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container stops upon the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container reaching the obstructed end of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container or the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container reaching the obstructed end of the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container, the cap of the second container includes an object, the object being a straw or a statuette, and the cavity of the bottom portion of the container includes an insertable region such that when the container and the second container are detachably coupled upon reaching the obstructed end, the straw or the statuette is received in the insertable region.

4. The container according to claim 2, further comprising: at least one projection on an inside wall of the cavity, wherein the rotation of a second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container stops upon a top face of the top portion of the second container reaching the at least one projection on an inside wall of the cavity of the container, wherein a cap of the second container includes an object, the object being a straw or a statuette, and the cavity of the bottom portion of the container includes an insertable region such that when the container and the second container are detachably coupled upon reaching the at least one projection, the straw or the statuette is received in the insertable region.

5. The container according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: an outer part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container has a wider diameter than the cap and contacts the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, and an inner part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container includes a narrower diameter than the cap and does not contact the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, the inner part extending upwardly and forming a rim protruding outwardly from an exterior face of the top portion of the second container.

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein: the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container, the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container, and the at least one spiral thread of the bottom portion of the container each includes at least one gap that allows air or liquid to escape from the cavity or the main body of the container, and the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container is aligned with the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled.

7. The container according to claim 5, wherein the inner wall of the cavity has at least one rib protruding toward an inner space of the main body of the container.

8. The container according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container, the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container, and the at least one spiral thread of the bottom portion of the container each includes at least one gap that allows air or liquid to escape from the cavity or the main body of the container, and the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container is aligned with the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled.

9. The container according to claim 2, wherein the top portion of the second container includes a cap having an object, the object being a straw or a statuette, and the cavity further includes an insertable region configured to receive the top portion of the second container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled.

10. The container according to claim 2, wherein: an upper part of the inside wall of the cavity is tapered to provide various sized diameter widths, upon rotation of the second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container, the rotation stops upon a top face of the top portion of the second container reaching the tapered upper part of the inside wall of the cavity, a cap of the second container includes an object, the object being a straw or a statuette, and the cavity of the bottom portion of the container includes an insertable region such that when the container and the second container are detachably coupled upon stopping rotation upon the top face of the top portion of the second container reaching the tapered upper part of the inside wall of the cavity, the straw or the statuette is received in the insertable region.

11. The container according to claim 2, wherein: an upper part of the inside wall or a roof of the cavity is round, and upon rotation of the second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container, the rotation stops upon a top face of the top portion of the second container reaching the round upper part of the inside wall or the roof of the cavity, a cap of the second container includes an object, the object being a straw or a statuette, and the cavity of the bottom portion of the container includes an insertable region such that when the container and the second container are detachably coupled upon stopping rotation upon the top face of the top portion of the second container reaching the round upper part of the inside wall or the roof of the cavity, the straw or the statuette is received in the insertable region.

12. The container according to claim 10, wherein: the tapered upper part of the inside wall of the cavity has at least one groove or gap which allows air to escape through the groove or the gap from the cavity or the main body of the second container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled and the second container does not have a cap, and the groove or the gap includes a cavity, which is joined with each of at least one rib of the inner wall of the cavity of the bottom of the container.

13. The container according to claim 11, wherein: the round upper part of the inside wall or the roof of the cavity has at least one groove or gap which allows air to escape through the groove or the gap from the cavity or the main body of the second container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled and the second container does not have a cap, and the groove or the gap includes a cavity, which is joined with each of at least one rib of the inner wall of the cavity of the bottom of the container.

14. The container according to claim 10, wherein: an outer part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container has a wider diameter than the cap and contacts the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, and an inner part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container includes a narrower diameter than the cap and does not contact the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, the inner part extending upwardly and forming a rim protruding outwardly from the exterior face of the top portion of the second container.

15. The container according to claim 11, wherein: an outer part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container has a wider diameter than the cap and contacts the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, and an inner part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container includes a narrower diameter than the cap and does not contact the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, the inner part extending upwardly and forming a rim protruding outwardly from the exterior face of the top portion of the second container.

16. The container according to claim 14, wherein: the tapered upper part of the inside wall of the cavity has at least one groove or gap which allows air to escape through the groove or the gap from the cavity or the main body of the second container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled and the second container does not have a cap, and the groove or the gap includes a cavity, which is joined with each of at least one rib of the inner wall of the cavity of the bottom of the container.

17. The container according to claim 15, wherein: the round upper part of the inside wall or the roof of the cavity has at least one groove or gap which allows air to escape through the groove or the gap from the cavity or the main body of the second container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled and the second container does not have a cap, and the groove or the gap includes a cavity, which is joined with each of at least one rib of the inner wall of the cavity of the bottom of the container.

18. The container according to claim 14, wherein the cavity further comprises an insertable region configured to receive the top portion of the second container.

19. The container according to claim 15, wherein the cavity further comprises an insertable region configured to receive the top portion of the second container.

20. The container according to claim 14, wherein: the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container, the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container, and the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container each has at least one gap which can allow air or liquid to escape through the gap from the cavity or a main body of the container, and the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container is aligned with the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second are detachably coupled.

21. The container according to claim 15, wherein: the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container, the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container, and the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container each has at least one gap which can allow air or liquid to escape through the gap from the cavity or a main body of the container, and the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container is aligned with the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second are detachably coupled.

22. The container according to claim 2, wherein: an outer part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container has a wider diameter than the cap and contacts the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, and an inner part of the at least one spiral thread on the exterior face of the top portion of the second container includes a narrower diameter than the cap and does not contact the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled, the inner part extending upwardly and forming a rim protruding outwardly from an exterior face of the top portion of the second container.

23. The container according to claim 22, wherein: the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container, the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container, and the at least one spiral thread of the bottom portion of the container each includes at least one gap that allows air or liquid to escape from the cavity or the main body of the container, and the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the second container is aligned with the at least one gap of the at least one spiral thread of the cavity of the bottom portion of the container when the container and the second container are detachably coupled.

24. The container according to claim 22, wherein the inner wall of the cavity has at least one rib protruding toward an inner space of the main body of the container.

25. The container according to claim 22, further comprising: a plurality of tapered projections on an inside wall of the cavity, wherein the rotation of a second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container stops upon a top face of the top portion of the second container reaching at least one projection of the a plurality of tapered projections on an inside wall of the cavity of the container.

26. The container according to claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of tapered projections on an inside wall of the cavity, wherein the rotation of a second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container stops upon a top face of the top portion of the second container reaching at least one projection of the a plurality of tapered projections on an inside wall of the cavity of the container.

27. A container comprising: a main body; a top portion having an outside diameter smaller than the main body, at least one spiral thread around and protruding outwardly from an exterior face of the top portion, a lip edge of a mouth of the container, an aluminum lid closing the mouth of the container, and a neck below the lip edge of the mouth; and a bottom portion having an end face and a first cavity in a center of the end face, the first cavity having an opening into which a top portion of a second container can be inserted, and the bottom portion having at least one spiral thread extending inwardly from an inside wall of the first cavity, and the bottom portion, when aligned with at least one spiral thread on an exterior face of the top portion of the second container, receives the at least one spiral thread of the second container upon rotation of the second container with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container, wherein the main body extends from the top portion to the bottom portion, the first cavity of bottom portion of the container includes an insertable region such that when the container and the second container are detachably coupled upon stopping the rotation, an object being a projection at the top portion of the second container is received in the insertable region, the inside wall of the first cavity or each of the at least one spiral thread of the top portion of the container, the at least one spiral thread of the top of the second container, and the at least one spiral thread of the bottom portion of the container includes at least one gap or groove that allows air or liquid to escape through the gap or the groove from the first cavity of the bottom portion of the container or the main body of the second container when the container and the second container are detachable coupled and the second container does not have a lid, and the gap or the groove includes a second cavity that joins the first cavity and is formed by at least one rib of the inner wall, the at least one rib of the inner wall extending the second cavity upwardly in the direction of the top portion of the container, and the at least one rib of the inner wall extending the second cavity radially outward beyond a radius of the mouth diameter.

28. The container according to claim 27, further comprising: a plurality of tapered inside walls on an inside wall of the first cavity of the container, wherein the rotation of the second container, with respect to the container to detachably couple the container and the second container, stops upon a top face of the top portion of the second container reaching at least one tapered inside wall of the plurality of tapered inside walls of the first cavity of the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features, and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of a first example of a can with a structure for detachable coupling of containers in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the bottom of the can of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view of two cans of the first example of the first embodiment, as in FIG. 1, showing the coupled state of the cans.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottom of a second example of a can with a structure for detachable coupling of containers in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the can of FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6A is a partially enlarged sectional view of two cans of the second example of the first embodiment, as in FIG. 4, showing the flared section of the flange of a second can located in the recessed area of the peripheral wall of a first can when the first can may be inserted concentrically into the center area of the flange of the second can only if the recessed areas are aligned with the flared sections.

(8) FIG. 6B is a partially enlarged sectional view of two cans of the second example of the first embodiment, as in FIG. 4, showing the coupled state of the cans.

(9) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first end of a container with a structure for detachable coupling of containers in accordance with a first example of a second embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second end of a container with a structure for detachable coupling of containers in accordance with a first example of a second embodiment of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 9 is a sectional view of two containers according to FIG. 7 in a near coupled position.

(12) FIG. 10 is a sectional view of two containers according to FIG. 7 detachably coupled according to the first example of the second embodiment.

(13) FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view of an innermost portion of the cavity in a first or a second example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a container according to a second example of the second embodiment of the present invention with a partial cutaway sectional view of the container.

(15) FIG. 13A is a partially enlarged sectional view of two containers coupled together according to the embodiment of a container shown in FIG. 12.

(16) FIG. 13B is a partially enlarged perspective and sectional view of a container according to the embodiment of a container shown in FIG. 12.

(17) FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a first container and a perspective view of a second container in a third example according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(18) FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a cavity for receiving a top portion of a second container, showing only a selected part in which the cavity and a cavity of each of at least one rib of the cavity wall are joined, in accordance with a third example of a first embodiment of the present invention.

(19) FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a container according to a first example of the second embodiment, showing a rim forming a lip edge of an opening of a container.

(20) FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a cavity of a modified container of the first example of the second embodiment, showing at least one projection on an inside wall of the cavity and at least one spiral thread of the cavity of a bottom portion.

(21) FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged side view of a modified container of the first example of the second embodiment, showing at least one spiral thread of a top portion of a container and an inner part of the at least one spiral thread extending upwardly and forming a rim protruding outwardly from an exterior face of a top portion of the container.

(22) FIG. 19 is partially enlarged side view of a modified container of the first example of the second embodiment, showing a cap including an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(23) The First Example of the First Embodiment

(24) With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, parts shown in multiple figures have the same identifier in each figure, and where an identifier is shown in multiple figures it is intended to identify the same part in each figure. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a can 1 with a structure for detachable coupling of cans in accordance with a first example of a first embodiment of the present invention. The can 1 comprises a main body 15, a top 5, and a bottom with a peripheral wall 7. A flange 3 is an upstanding peripheral flange around the top 5 at which the top 5 and the main body 15 are seamed together. At the internal base of the flange 3 is a trough 11, at the base of the flange 3, into which small amounts of liquid on the top 5 of the can 1 settle. The top 5 includes an opening or removable tap 5a that is nearest to the flange 3 at a pouring section 20 where the user's lips would touch the can 1 when drinking a liquid. A tap handle 5b , used for opening the removable tap 5a , is attached to the top 5. The flange 3 extends upward a distance from the surface of top 5. The flange 3, has a flange inner diameter which is shown in FIG. 1 with flared sections 9 radially flaring inwardly toward the center of the top 5. Each of the flared sections 9 is formed by bending a section of the flange 3 inwardly toward the center of the top 5 such that the innermost points of the flared sections 9 are inward faces 9a . The distance between the inward faces 9a defines a flare inner diameter. FIG. 1 is an example of the first embodiment with only two flared sections 9 in the flange 3. However, the use of more flared sections 9, formed to have the same flare inner diameter, is possible. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the flare inner diameter is smaller than the flange inner diameter.

(25) As shown in FIG. 2, at the bottom end of the main body 15 of the can 1 is the peripheral wall 7 extending from a shoulder 8 to an end face 7e . The peripheral wall 7, comprises an outer wall surface as shown from the side view in FIG. 2, and an inner peripheral wall surface. Both the inner and outer wall surfaces of peripheral wall 7 are shown in cross section in FIG. 3. The outer surface has a sloping profile from the shoulder 8 to the end face 7e with a smaller outer diameter than the main body 15. Instead of sloping, the profile of the outer wall surface may be substantially parallel to the main body of the can. A center area 2, inside the peripheral wall 7 at the bottom end of the can 1, is recessed from the end face 7e.

(26) At equally spaced positions disposed around the outer surface of the peripheral wall 7, ridges 12 extend circumferentially around a portion of the outer surface of the peripheral wall 7. The number of the ridges 12 corresponds to the number of the flared sections 9 on the top 5 of the can 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, two ridges 12 at the bottom of can 1 correspond to the flared sections 9. Each of the ridges 12 is of at least approximately the same shape and size, so only one ridge will be described herein. The ridges 12 run at least approximately parallel to and below the shoulder 8 along the outer surface of the peripheral wall 7 so as to define a void area 14 between the ridge 12 and the shoulder 8. The void area 14 (i.e. groove) has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ridges 12 and the main body 15.

(27) At one end of each ridge 12 (shown as the right end in FIG. 2), a short segment 13 of the ridge 12 turns sharply upwardly toward the shoulder 8 so as to form an L shape in the end of the ridge 12 and to create an ending point 14c of the void area 14. The short segment 13 may be separated from the main part of the ridge 12 but still positioned to terminate the length of the void area 14. At a ridge mid-point 12b along the length of the ridge 12 is a void mid-point 14b of the void area 14. At the other end of the void area 14 formed by the adjacent ridge 12 is a receiving point 14a of the void area 14. At a position adjacent to the end of the ridge 12 and the receiving point 14a , a section 7a of the peripheral wall 7 may have the regular sloping profile shown in FIG. 2 without any of the ridges 12.

(28) As shown in FIG. 3, which is a cross sectional view at the plane A-A of the can 1 of FIG. 1, the ridge outer diameter of the ridges 12 is greater than the outer diameter of the peripheral wall 7 within the void area 14. The flare inner diameter, between the inward faces 9a shown in FIG. 1, is about the same as the outer diameter in the void area 14 and smaller than the outer diameter around the ridges 12.

(29) When a first can 1 is longitudinally aligned end-to-end with a second can 1 according to FIG. 3 such that the flared sections 9 of the first can 1 are aligned with the wall sections 7a , and the peripheral wall 7 of the second can is inserted concentrically into the interior of the flange 3 of the first can 1, the end face 7e of the peripheral wall 7 of the second can 1 is near to or touching the top 5 of the first can 1. If the cans 1 are appropriately rotated in opposite directions with respect to each other, the flared sections 9 will enter the receiving points 14a . As the rotation continues, the flared sections 9 of the first can 1 move toward the ending points 14c of the second can 1. Since the flare inner diameter between the inward faces 9a is smaller than the outer diameter of the ridges 12, the cans, having been rotated into this position, cannot be pulled longitudinally apart without first reversing the rotation of the cans such that the flared sections 9 return to the wall sections 7a , to release the flared sections 9 from the void areas 14.

(30) At the void ending point 14c , near the short section 13, a locking section 12c of each ridge 12 is created by a change in the shape or position of that ridge 12 to increase the frictional contact between that ridge 12 and the corresponding flared section 9, or between other parts of the structure. The locking position 12c secures the detachable coupling of the cans until sufficient reverse rotational force is applied to overcome the frictional resistance created by locking position 12c . The secure detachable coupling allows multiple cans 1 to be carried easily without the cans 1 becoming unintentionally detached.

(31) Alternatively, the locking portion 12c of the first example of the first embodiment may have at least one protuberance to create an increased frictional resistance in the locking portion 12c . Instead, near the position of the locking portion 12c , the ridge 12 may have a swell for increased friction to prevent unintended decoupling by reverse rotation under a small force. Further, each ridge 12 may have a number of prominences on outer surface of the ridge 12 to increase the frictional resistance in either direction of rotation with respect to the corresponding flared section 9 of a first can 1.

(32) Second Example of First Embodiment

(33) A stack of vertically adjacent cans without interlocking the adjacent cans is commonly used by manufacturers and stores to save space and/or display beverage cans that may be easily separated. Thus, stacking, without interlocking, adjacent cans provides an important aspect to the commercial value of beverage containers.

(34) In the second example of this embodiment, the coupling structure permits stacking in two ways: with interlocking cans and without interlocking cans. Thus, stacking with or without interlocking cans allows manufacturers and stores, for example, to save space and/or display the cans that may be easily separated.

(35) The second example of the first embodiment uses the same structure at the top end of the can 1, shown in FIG. 1, as the first example of the first embodiment. However, rather than using the bottom structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second example uses a bottom structure shown in FIGS. 4-6B.

(36) To simplify the description of the second example, the structure shown in FIGS. 4-6B will be described with reference to the first example of the first embodiment. In the first example, the outside diameter of the peripheral wall 7 is smaller than the inside diameter at the inward faces 9a of the flared sections 9, and the ridges 12, protruding from the outer surface of the peripheral wall 7, have a larger outside diameter than the peripheral wall 7.

(37) In the second example of this embodiment, the outer diameter of the peripheral wall 7 is larger than the flare inside diameter. However, in the second example, void areas 16, with receiving areas 17 and end points 16d , circumferentially extend around the peripheral wall 7 to accommodate the corresponding flared sections 9. Areas 19 are recessed into the peripheral wall 7, between the end face 7e at the bottom and the shoulder 8 at the top, in an area wide enough to accommodate the width of the flared sections 9. Thus, the peripheral wall 7 of a first can 1 may be inserted concentrically into the center area of the flange 3 of a second can 1 only if the recessed areas 19 are aligned with the flared sections 9. In addition, the void areas 16 of the second example are recessed into the surface of the peripheral wall 7 such that, with the appropriate rotation described with respect to the first example, the flared sections 9 enter the void areas 16 to detachably couple the respective cans 1.

(38) In the first example, as shown in FIG. 3, an upper surface 12d of each ridge 12 contacts the corresponding flared section 9 when the cans 1 are coupled together. In contrast, in the second example, a sloping surface 16b of each void area 16 contacts the inside of the corresponding flared section 9.

(39) In addition, the downward slope of lower surface 16b allows dirt or other particles to easily fall out of the circumferential voids 16. Accordingly, the circumferential voids 16 are unlikely to contain particles that could interfere with the insertion of flared sections 9 into the circumferential voids 16.

(40) Further, the recessed areas 19 at the front side of the receiving area 17 of the void area 16 (i.e. groove 16) allow for over-sized heights of flared sections 9 of a variety of manufactured beverage cans 1. Thus, a variety of different sized cans 1 can be stacked together and save space and/or be displayed and also be easily separated.

(41) Third Example of First Embodiment

(42) The third example of the first embodiment, like the first and second examples, is a container having structures at both ends for the purpose of detachable coupling of at least two containers. Also, as in the prior examples, after a first and second container are longitudinally aligned, a structure on a first end of the first container is inserted into a structure on a second end of a second container, a protrusion from an inner diameter of the structure on the second end of the second container engages a void on an outer diameter of a structure on the first end of the first container, and, by appropriately rotating the respective containers in opposite directions, the protrusion on the second container further engages the void on the first container to provide a secure detachable coupling of the containers.

(43) In this example, the container may be a plastic bottle or can. However, a container 51 will be described in the context of a plastic bottle having a top portion with an opening 65 and a top outer diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the main body of the container 51. The outer surface of the top portion is threaded with a spiral thread 66 around the outside of the top portion over a height 61h , such that a cap 52, having a corresponding threaded protrusion on its inside perimeter face, can be placed over and rotated (screwed) onto the outside surface of the bottle top down to a cap band 52p allowing the cap 52 to be securely fastened to seal the top of the container 51 in a well known manner. The outer surface of the cap 52 has a spiral thread 64, similar to the spiral thread 66, running spirally around the cap 52.

(44) On a bottom 54 of the container 51 in the third example, shown in cross-section in FIG. 14, is a cavity 61 with a cylindrical shape having a first region 61b and a second region 61c . The cavity 61 extends up into the internal volume of the bottle from the center of the bottom 54. Both of the regions, 61b and 61c , having an inside wall 63 and at least one threaded protrusion extending inwardly from their inner surfaces. The inside wall 62 of the first region 61b has at least one threaded protrusion 67 that is complementary to the thread 64 on the outer surface of the bottle cap 52, and it has an inside diameter such the bottle cap 52 may be screwed into the first region 61b.

(45) The second region 61c extends deeper into the internal volume of the container 51 from the innermost depth of the first region 61b . The inside wall 63 of the second region 61c has a threaded protrusion 68 complementary to the thread 66 on the outer surface of the top portion of the container 51, and it has an inside diameter such that the top portion of the container 51 may be screwed into the second region 61c.

(46) According to the third example of the first embodiment, a first container 51 and a second container 51 may be connected by a structure in which the cap 52 attached to the first container 51 is screwed into the first region 61b of the second bottle. Alternatively, a first container 51 and a second container 51 may be connected by a second structure in which the top portion of the first container 51, without the cap 52, is screwed into the second region 61c of the second bottle.

(47) The total depth of the cavity 61 is approximately the sum of the depth 61h of the first region 61b and the depth of the second region 61c . Since the outer diameter of a rim 53 is larger than the outer diameter of the cap 52, the rim 53 will not fit into the first region 61b . Thus, if the maximum depth of the cavity 61 is greater than the distance from the rim 53 to the opening 65 of the top portion of the container 51, the rim 53 will stop further progress when it strikes the bottom surface 54 of the container 51. The total depth of the cavity 61 is shared between the first region 61b and the second region 61c so each region will be able to engage enough of the threads 64 and 66 to provide a secure, detachable coupling between the first and the second bottles 51 either with or without the cap 52.

(48) In another particular case, the first region 61b may also be used as a mouth diameter region when a top portion of a container 51 is suitable to couple with the mouth diameter region or when the top portion of the container 51 has a thin cap 52 or a resilient spiral thread 66.

(49) Additionally, the second region 61c may used, for example, to allow an object on the cap of a second container, such as a straw or a statuette, to be inserted into an insertable region of the cavity of the container 51.

(50) The cavity 61 may be limited to either the first region 61b or the second region 61c , rather than the combination described above.

(51) FIG. 15 shows the wall of cavity 61 or 55 of the bottom 54 of the container 51 having a pair of ribs 70. The ribs 70 may be formed in a well known manner by a mold. The mold may have a center which helps to form cavity 71 as well as cavity 61 or 55, which exists at the center of bottom 54 of the container 51 for receiving the cap portion of the second container 51.

(52) The ribs 70 may be formed in various shapes by using variously shaped or positioned molds.

(53) The ribs 70 connect with a side wall of the cavity 61 or 55 that exists at the center of the bottom 54 of the container 51. Thus, the cavity 71 of the rib 70 is able to join with the cavity 61 or 55 and can be used, for example, to release air or liquid that may remain in the coupled second container 51 when the second container 51 is coupled without cap 52 being closed. Furthermore, when the rib 70 extends to the top of the cavity 61 or 55 of the bottom 54 that receives the cap portion or the top portion of the second container 51, then air or liquid in the coupled second container 51 escapes through the cavity 71 of rib 70 more easily.

(54) The First Example of the Second Embodiment

(55) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a top of the container 51 according to the first example of the second embodiment. The top portion of the container includes the removable cap 52 and a neck 52a , with both the cap 52 and the neck 52a having an outside dimension that is smaller than the main body 51. The neck 52a extends up from the main body of the container 51 to the rim 53, which protrudes radially outward from the outer periphery of the top portion at a position above the neck 52a , as shown in FIG. 7, and a portion of the neck 52a , having a smaller outside dimension than the rim 53, extends below the rim 53 to the main body.

(56) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view from a bottom of the container 51 according to the first example of the second embodiment, including the outline of the cavity 55 in the container bottom 54. The diameter of the cavity 55 at an interior wall 55a is larger than the outside dimension of the rim 53. At the opening of the cavity 55, extending in approximately a same plane as the bottom 54, flexible protrusions or tabs 57 extend radially inward toward the center of the bottom 54, collectively forming a resilient flexible opening that is smaller than the outer dimension of the rim 53. The tabs 57 may be made of a same material as the container, or may consist of a different material than the container. In either case, the tabs 57 may be formed by casting, attached by gluing, welding or other techniques, or fitted to the other elements of the structure. The number of tabs 57 forming the flexible opening may vary. There is a gap 58 between adjacent tabs 57.

(57) According to this example, the containers are coupled by longitudinally aligning (i.e., aligning the longitudinal axes of) them, as in FIG. 9, and inserting the top portion of a first container 51 into the cavity 55 in the bottom 54 of a second container 51, as in FIG. 10. As the top portion of the first container 51 is inserted into the flexible opening, the rim 53 comes into contact with the tabs 57. When sufficient force is provided, the tabs 57 are deflected inward (into the cavity 55) and the rim 53 will push into the flexible opening. The gaps 58 between the respective tabs 57 allow air, otherwise trapped inside the cavity 55 when a top portion of the container 51 is inserted, to escape when the containers are pushed together. The inner diameter and the depth of the cavity 55 are large enough to allow the rim 53 and the top portion, including the cap 52, above the rim 53 to enter the cavity 55 far enough that the rim 53 pushes past the tabs 57. The cavity 55 may include an outer region 55b having a diameter large enough to fit the rim 53, and an inner region 55c having a diameter only large enough to fit the cap or top portion above the rim 53. Reserve space 56 in each of the outer region 55b and the inner region 55c , provides the room needed so the rim 53 can push past the flexible tabs 57 when the tabs 57 bend into the cavity 55. Additionally, the reserve space 56 may, for example, allow an object on the cap of the second container, such as a straw or a statuette, to be inserted into an insertable region of the cavity of the first container 51.

(58) In general, as shown in FIGS. 8-10, the inside profile of cavity 55 conforms to the outside profile of the top portion, except for the reserve space 56. The reason for this will be explained in more detail below.

(59) Once the rim 53 has been forced through the flexible opening, the tabs 57 will resiliently rebound, to the extent possible, back toward their undeflected positions in the plane of the bottom 54, but may come to rest against the outside of the neck 52a , as in FIG. 10, if the diameter of the neck 52a is also larger than the inner diameter of the flexible opening when the tabs 57 are in their undeflected position. The tabs 57 are flexible enough to allow the diameter of the rim 53 to be inserted into the cavity 55 as described above. However, the rigidity of the tabs 57 determines how easily the containers 51 can be attached and detached in the manner described above. Therefore, depending on the material, the tabs 57 may not be rigid enough to prevent the unintentional decoupling of the containers 51 under a small force, or too rigid to allow the easy attachment and detachment of the containers 51. It is preferable that a minimum force necessary to pull the rim 53 through the flexible opening is large enough to provide a secure detachable coupling while still allowing the containers to be pulled apart without a need for excessive effort.

(60) As stated above, the interior of the cavity 55 conforms closely to the exterior shape of the top portion, such that the top portion fits snugly into the cavity 55. Frictional resistance between the cap 52 and the inner walls 55e of the inner region 55c of the cavity 55 increases the minimum force required to attach and detach the containers 51. To increase this resistance, the interior walls 55e of the cavity 55 may include deformable sections 55f , having the horizontal cross section shown in FIG. 11, such that the inner diameter defined by the deformable sections 55f is smaller than the outer diameter of the top portion (i.e. cap 52). Due to the smaller diameter of the deformable sections 55f , insertion of the top portion into the cavity 55 requires temporary resilient deformation of the deformable sections 55f . The resilient deformable sections 55f squeeze the exterior of the top portion, increasing the holding force of the connection, and opposing the unintended withdrawal of the top portion from the cavity 55. The spaces 55h between the deformable sections 55f allow air, otherwise trapped inside the region 55c when a top portion of the container 51 is inserted, to escape from the cavity 55.

(61) Characteristics affecting the rigidity of the tabs 57 also affect the strength of the coupling. For example, varying the composition, number, shape, length, width and/or thickness of the tabs 57 or varying the geometries of the gaps 58 between the tabs 57, affects the strength of the coupling. Similarly, the characteristics of the deformable sections 55f affect the frictional resistance provided against insertion, removal, or rotation of the top portion of the containers 51 coupled according to this example. The coupling and decoupling of the containers 51 according to this example may be performed repeatedly without damage to the containers 51 or deterioration of the coupling parts.

(62) FIG. 16 shows a modification in which the rim 53 of the top portion of the container 51 forms a lip edge 153 of the opening 65 (i.e. mouth 65) of the container 51.

(63) Second Example of the Second Embodiment

(64) In the second example of the second embodiment, the top portion of the container 51 is the same as in the first example of the second embodiment. However, in the structure at the bottom of the container 51 in the second example, shown in a cut-away perspective view in FIG. 12, the tabs 57 of the first example are replaced by flexible flanges 59, which extend from the opening of the cavity 55, into the depth of the cavity 55 along the inside walls of the region 55b . A number of the flexible flanges 59 are spaced apart around the inside wall of the region 55b . The spaces between the respective flexible flanges 59 allow air, otherwise trapped inside the cavity 55 when a top portion of the container 51 is inserted, to escape when two containers 51 are attached by this structure.

(65) As shown in a partial cross section view in FIG. 13a , the flexible flanges 59 include a projection 60 having a tapered face 60a such that the flexible flange 59 is thin at the opening of the cavity 55 and becomes gradually thicker with the increasing depth of the outer region 55b , until a seated position 55k in which the thickness of the flexible flange 59 abruptly becomes thin again. FIG. 13b illustrates an example container top portion prior to insertion into the outer region 55b of the container illustrated in FIG. 13a . As the container top portion is inserted into the outer region 55b by moving the container top portion in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 13b , the flexible flanges 59 are gradually deformed in a direction A by the rim 53 until the rim 53 pushes past a thickest portion 60b of the flexible flanges 59 into the position 55k . As the rim 53 moves past the thickest point 60b to the seated position 55k , the thickness of the flexible flanges 59 sharply decreases, the diameter of the region 55b increases to accommodate the rim 53, the deformed flange 59 moves in a direction B toward the neck 52a , and the rim 53 is moved into the seated position 55k . The gradually increasing slope of tapered face 60a provides gradually increasing resistance as the rim 53 is inserted. However, when withdrawing the top portion from the position 55k , a relatively high resistance is immediately encountered at the thickest portion 60b of the flexible flanges 59, due to the sharply decreasing diameter encountered when exiting the region 55k . Thus, the force required to insert the top portion of the first container 51 into the bottom structure of the second container 51 is much lower than the force required to pull the containers apart. The second example of the second embodiment performs in a similar manner to the first example using another structure and method for securely and detachably coupling containers.

(66) Third Example of the Second Embodiment

(67) In the third example of the second embodiment, the structure of container 51 is similar to the container 51 as in the first example of the second embodiment. However, a modification is made, as shown in FIG. 17, in which at least one spiral thread 69 replaces the flexible protrusions or tabs 57 of the cavity 55. Spiral thread 69 may include a broken spiral thread so as to provide at least one gap to allow air or liquid, otherwise trapped, to escape from the cavity or main body of the container 51. For example, when containers are detachably coupled, longitudinally aligned gaps allow air or liquid to escape from the cavity or main body of the container 51.

(68) At least one spiral thread 253 of the container 51 corresponds with the at least one spiral thread 69 of the cavity 55, as shown in FIG. 18. The at least one spiral thread 253 replaces the rim 53 of the top portion of the container 51.

(69) In practice, the first and second examples of the second embodiment allow for detachable coupling of the containers 51, whether or not the container 51 has a cap 52.

(70) Furthermore, the inside wall of the cavity 55 of the container 51 has at least one projection 80. As a result, when rotating the containers to detachably couple the first container 51 and the second container 51, the rotation stops upon a top face of the second container 51 reaching the at least one projection 80 on the inside wall of the cavity 55 of the first container 51. Thus, air or liquid in the second container 51 is able to escape while detachably coupled to the first container 51. For an even greater effect, this aspect may be combined with the longitudinally aligned gaps described above to allow air or liquid to escape from the cavity of main body of the container 51.

(71) The inner end wall of the at least one projection 80 may also be tapered, to provide variously sized diameter widths, so that the at least one projection 80 is able to meet different sized diameters of the top face of the second container 51 which may result from having a cap 52 or not having a cap 52. Further, when there are a plurality of projections 80 that are tapered, the plurality of tapered projections 80 reduce or prevent shaking of the detachably coupled second container 51.

(72) FIGS. 18 and 19 further show an inner part of the at least one spiral thread 253 extending upwardly and forming a rim 91 protruding outwardly from an exterior face of the top portion of the container 51.

(73) A cap band 52p may sit on a cap band seating portion 52j.

(74) Although the preferred examples and embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

(75) FIG. 19 further shows a cap 52 including an object 90. As described in the examples of this second embodiment, the object 90 may be, for example a straw (as shown) or a statuette, inserted in a reserve space of the cavity of the container.