Dual container system and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

Provided is a container system adapted to withstand repeated impacts. The container system features a first container having a first container body and a second container having a second container body. The second container defines a second body height and a second body wall thickness. A body recess which is adapted to releasably engage the first container body of the first container is formed on the second container body and is extended along the second body height. The body recess defines at least one recess bottom corner having a recess bottom corner wall thickness which is at least identical to the second body wall thickness of the second container body. This specified bottom corner wall thickness of the body recess allows the second container to withstand the single impact or repeated impacts. Polyethylene, extrusion blow-moldable copolyester, polycarbonate, and clarified polypropylene may be used to fabricate the second container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 614,438 entitled RECESS CONTAINER DISPENSER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME and filed on Jul. 3, 2003, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT [0002] (Not Applicable) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to dual container systems, and more particularly to an improved dual container system featuring an impact-resistant container which possesses one uniform wall thickness throughout the entirety of its body and provides a unique horizontal support for its counterpart container that engages therewith. [0004] It is a common practice for manufacturers and / or retailers to employ the use of containers for packaging their products and making them available in the marketplace. These containers not only protect the products from contamination, b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system effectively withstands repeated impacts and prevents inadvertent slippage, maintaining product containment and enhancing structural integrity while allowing clear visibility of the contents.

Problems solved by technology

Although the current dual container systems may achieve their primary objective of product user-friendliness, they possess certain deficiencies which detract from their overall utility.

Perhaps the greatest deficiency of the conventional dual container systems is the inability to withstand repeated or repetitive impacts originating from their environment.

The dual container systems of the conventional art are frequently subjected to tear and / or rupture as many of them are repeatedly dropped and / or mishandled during their shipment and / or storage.

In particular, the recess of the larger container which is used for engaging the smaller container is vulnerable to tear and / or rupture as its edges forming the outer boundaries thereof are not sufficiently thickened.

Even more vulnerable than the recess edges are the corners formed on the bottom portion the recess.

More particularly, these bottom corners of the recess are extremely thin compared to the other portions of the larger container.

This is understood to be a result of a manufacturing deficiency in which insufficient amounts of preform materials are distributed to that region.

As such, while the rest of the larger container is uniformly thickened to a sufficient degree, it is often the case that the bottom corners of its recess fail to reach the same, or even similar, thickness.

In this regard, the bottom recess corners are especially prone to being torn or ruptured.

Obviously, this has the inevitable negative effect of spilling or discharging some, if not all, of the products contained within the larger container.

The product loss resulting from such structural failure may become burdensome when translated into dollars and cents in lost profits.

Another significant deficiency that casts a shadow upon the dual container systems of the conventional art is the inability of the larger container to provide an adequate horizontal support for the smaller container.

However, those mechanisms cannot account for certain situations such as the smaller container being inadvertently slipped out through the underside of the recess due to the force of gravity.

This scenario is more likely to happen over time since the mechanisms for engaging the smaller container would eventually become weakened.

As such, the risk of container slippage is a possibility which can detrimentally undermine the overall utility and value of the dual container system.

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