FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 OF 1970)
&
PATENTS RULES, 2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION (SECTION 10; RULE 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION: STACKABLE CONTAINERS
2. APPLICANT:
(a) Name: FUTURING DESIGN PRIVATE LIMITED
(b) Nationality: INDIAN
(c) Address: A55, NANDJYOT INDUSTRIAL PREMISES, SAFEED
POOL, SAKI NAKA, ANDHERI (E), MUMBAI 400 072, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA,
3. PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION: THE FOLLOWING
SPECIFICATIONS DESCRIBES THE NATURE OF THE INVENTION
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

TECHNICAL WELD;
The present invention relates to stackability of containers wherein the lid of the containers does not play any role in the stacking, and the containers can be nested when required.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Historically, storage of substances, for example water or grains, was done using large rounded containers; typically called "Kalsi" in India. These containers were typically large bodied & narrow necked. This configuration was a very effective solution for storage & transportation. These vessels could be stacked over one another, thereby utilising valuable space efficiently. However use of containers posed a problem as the containers would not nest within one another and consequently occupied substantial volume or space. Further, the stacking of such containers was fraught with inherent instability and constant danger of consequential damages to life and property.
The introduction of buckets, especially plastic buckets, offered a new level of practical handling convenience to the users. These buckets could nest when empty thereby offering a huge benefits during transportation, in the course of retail display and also during the course of consumer use. However, when required to be stacked, these buckets/containers are stackable only when provided with a suitable lid/cover. Consequently, the presence of a lid was, and is, absolutely essential to enable stackability of such containers.
While some differently shaped containers, which may be made out of materials such as plastic, steel, aluminum, asbestos, etc., can be stacked
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without lid support; however such stacking is inherently unstable and there is always the danger of a stack collapse causing loss and injury to goods and people.
Hence a need was felt for containers which could be stacked without lid/cover wherein the stacking could be multiple and concurrently also useful, practical and stable. Further, containers had also to be nestable towards making them further useful and practical from a manufacturing, distribution and the user point of view..
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
It is the object of the present invention to provide a container that (a) can be stacked without the presence of a lid/cover; (b) would provide structural stability to a stack of such containers; (c) would provide structural stability to each container when the containers are stacked over one another; and (d) would nest with other such containers; thus saving valuable space during transportation and use.
Further, the present invention also makes actual using of the container practically easy and unproblematic, especially during discharging a container filled with any material or substance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION;
The present invention relates to a container with a bottom, and side walls projecting upwards from the bottom and forming an opening having circumscribing edges, and atleast one engageable member, such that the top of the first container gets engaged with the bottom of the second container to enable stacking.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures accompanying the specification wherein:
Figure 1 shows the perspective view of the container. Figure 2 shows the top view of the container. Figure 3(a) and 3( b) show the side views of the container. Figure 4 shows the perspective view of the containers when the two containers are stacked on top the other.
Figure 5 shows the top view of the containers when containers are stacked.
Figure 6 shows a detailed bottom-corner view of the container in engagement with the top edge of the container when stacked. Figure 7 shows the containers nested within one another. Figure 8(a) to 8 (p) shows detailed views of the various different types and features of the engageable members to enable the engagement between the top and the bottom of the container.
Figure 9 shows some of the various types of shapes in which the containers can be made..
Referring to the figures, the present invention relates to a container with a bottom, and side walls projecting upwards from the bottom and forming an opening having circumscribing edges. The container used in the present invention can be of any shape, except a frusto-conical shape.
In a more preferred embodiment, the container is a tapered polygonal container.
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The container used in the present invention is without the lid or cover.
Particularly, the containers are stacked on top of each other by rotating the second container along its vertical axis and thereafter engaging the two containers by placing the bottom of the second container on top of the first container. Preferably, the angle of rotation may be in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.
The present invention includes atleast one engageable member/ interlocking member which securely attach the top of the first container to the bottom second container. This ensures proper stacking and prevents accidental toppling of the stacked buckets.
The edge of the container can have plurality of notches or grooves such that the bottom of the second container can interlock with the respective notches or grooves for effective stacking. The bottom of the container may also be provided with another locking element which, when the top bucket is placed on the bottom container does not allow the edge of the first container to flare out, thereby ensuring effective load transfer. Another alteration may be that the bottom of the container has ribs which get locked to the top of the container. There are various alterations which can be used for the engageability of the two containers. Some of the variations have been disclosed in Figures 8 (a) to 8 (p).
The edge of the container can be sufficiently strengthened with the additions of ribs or by varying thickness of the material.
The vertical edges of the container are also provided with fillets to allow for easy pouring of the contents contained in the container.
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Moreover, these containers maximize space utilization as they can be placed at the corners of the wash areas.
The height of a container can be increased by stacking numerous containers of the same type, but without the bottom; using the engageable members as disclosed above.
The containers, when not in use, can be nested inside each other (Figure 7), which eliminates the wasted space when the containers are placed side by side.
The container is also provided with the handle. This handle is fixed with the container with a simple pivot arrangement or by any other known methods.
Dated this 2nd day of August 2007.

To:
The Controller of Patents, Patent Office, Mumbai 400 037