CPC B65D 1/44 (2013.01) [A45F 3/20 (2013.01); A47G 19/03 (2013.01); A47G 19/23 (2013.01); B65D 1/00 (2013.01); B65D 1/26 (2013.01); B65D 1/265 (2013.01); B65D 1/42 (2013.01); B65D 21/02 (2013.01); B65D 21/0233 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
1. A container comprising:
a bottom wall;
an upwardly-extending frustoconical sidewall, said sidewall including a plurality of axially-extending alignment structures circumferentially spaced around said sidewall and extending at least a portion of a height of said sidewall, wherein each of said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures includes a lower edge spaced upwardly from said bottom wall;
an exterior surface of said sidewall; and
an interior surface of said sidewall, said interior surface radially and axially conforming to said exterior surface of said sidewall;
wherein each of said axially-extending alignment structures comprises first and second oppositely-sloping faces, said faces intersecting along a longitudinally-extending apex;
wherein said container is capable of being fully nested within a second identical container;
wherein said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures form a plurality of intermittent valleys in said exterior surface of said sidewall corresponding to a plurality of intermittent peaks on said interior surface of said sidewall;
wherein said sidewall comprises a plurality of sidewall panel sections, wherein each of said sidewall panel section at least partially includes one of said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures;
wherein said sidewall panel sections are oriented relative to one another so that said sidewall has a polygonal cross-sectional shape;
wherein said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures are configured to cause alignment of said container relative to said second container during nesting.
|