US3385465A - Canister set - Google Patents

Description

May 28,1968 B. BLISS 3,385,465

CANI STER SET Filed Dec. 16, 1966 .INVENTOR. BEATRICE BLISS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,385,465 CANISTER SET Beatrice Bliss, P.O. Box 47607 Los Angeles, Calif. 90047 Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,341 8 Claims. (Cl. 22023.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A set of canisters, each canister having a container portion of substantially triangular horizontal cross-section and a handle portion of substantially arcuate horizontal crosssection, whereby an assembly of the set of canisters has a horizontal cross-section through the container portions of a regular polygon and a horizontal cross-section through the handle portions of a circle having substantially the same diameter as the polygon. Each handle portion includes an upwardly directed digit receiving recess. The set may be disposed on a rotatable tray having substantially the same diameter as the polygon.

Background of the invention (1) Field of the invention This invention pertains to receptacles generally, and more particularly to containers, each having a handle, which are disposed in an assembly or set, which occupy and interfere with a minimum of shelf area, while providing a maximum storage volume.

(2) Description of the prior art Canister sets are well known, and may be found in almost any kitchen. They are customarily used to store dry, granular material, such as flour, sugar, salt, coffee, tea, etc. Commonly, the canisters are arranged in a rectilinear row. Since most pantry shelves are deeper from front to rear than the canister is, the difference in depth is either wasted, or inconveniently utilized. Some other article may be placed in front of or behind the canister, and one must be removed to get at the other. If the canisters do not have handles, they cannot be conveniently stored on an upper shelf above the user, as the user must grasp the canister across its diameter to move it safely.

Summary of the invention Objects of this invention are to provide a set of canisters which will require a minimum of shelf space, will make maximum use of the depth of the shelf, will provide a maximum storage volume, and which will be accesssible when disposed above the user.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a set of canisters which when assembled or arranged together as a set provide maximum storage volume for the shelf area occupied or interfered with. Each canister is formed with a container portion of substantially triangular horizontal cross-section and a handle portion of a substantially arcuate horizontal cross-section, whereby the shelf occupied by the assembly is substantially fully utilized in storage volume. The set is disposed on a rotatable tray so that each canister may be presented to the front of the shelf. Each handle is formed with an upwardly directed digit receiving recess so that the user may conveniently move a canister by inserting one or more digits upwardly into the recess.

Brief description of the drawing These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Patented May 28, 1968 Description of the preferred embodiment As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of this invention comprises an assembly of five canisters 10 disposed on a rotatable tray 12. Each canister has a body portion 14, a handle portion 16 and a removable lid 18. The

body portion 14 is substantially triangular in horizontal cross-section, having two flat, apex proximal, walls 20 and 22, and a slightly arcuate, apex remote wall 24. The radius of curvature of the wall 24 is less than the width of the wall 20 or 22. The upper portion of the wall 24 is stepped outwardly at 26 into a curvature of slightly greater radius than the lower remaining portion. A wall 28 is joined to an merges into the upper portion 26 of the wall 24, and the upper portions of the side corners 30 and 32 of the wall 24. The wall 28 has a radius of curvature substantially equal to the width of the wall 20 or 22, and is bowed outwardly in the downward direction. The wall 28 in combination with the wall 24 forms the handle portion and the gap 34 between the two walls serves as an upwardly directed, digit receiving recess. The joining of the wall 28 to the body portion along three of its margins provides the wall with relatively great strength against excessive flexing, and permits a relatively thin wall to support a heavily loaded canister. The lid 18 has a flat wall 36 which overlies the top of the body portion and a downwardly extending annular wall 38 of substantially triangular shape which conforms to and fits within the three walls of the body portion. The width of the marginal portions of the flat wall 36 which overlie the walls 20 and 22 is made equal to the thickness of these walls so that adjacent canisters may be disposed in wall t9 wall abutment without obstruction by their lids. The width of the marginal portion 36a of the flat wall 36 which overlies the wall 24 is made greater than the thickness of that wall, advantageously of equal radius within the bottom edge 28a. This overextending marginal portion 36c provides a convenient handle for the lid.

The assembly of canister may be disposed on a rotatable tray 40, sometimes known as a Lazy Susan. The tray here shown includes a fiat circuilar portion 42 having annular, upstanding rim 44, an annular foot and raceway 46, and a plurality of spherical bearings 48 captured between the raceway and the flat portion.

When the canisters are on the tray, the tray may be rotated to present any one of the canisters to the user. A canister may be conveniently removed from and placed upon the tray by the user by the insertion of one or more digits into the recess 34. This may be accomplished even when the set is on a relatively high shelf above the user who must engage in a maximum body extension to reach the recess.

Other articles may be safely disposed on the same shelf closely adjacent the assembly without fear of an upset, since there are no elongated projections on the assembly which might swing around to knock another article.

It will be appreciated that the assembly is not limited to use on shelves with a rotatable tray, but may also be used in open, accesible areas, with a fixed tray or without atray.

The canisters may advantageously be made of a translucent plastic, so that the level of the contents is readily visible through the walls thereof.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A canister, comprising:

a body portion having a horizontal, substantially triangular, cross-section provided by three upstanding side walls;

those two of said side walls which are proximal to and merge to form the apex corner being substantially planar;

that one of said side walls which is remote from said apex corner being substantially cylindrical and having a radius of curvature which is less than the width of either of the apex corner proximal side walls; and

an additional wall, secured to said apex corner remote side of said body portion, along the top and two side marginal portions thereof, having a lower edge spaced up from the bottom of said body portion, and having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the width of either of the apex corner proximal side walls;

thereby providing an upwardly extending recess between said additional wall and the companion upper portion of said apex corner remote side wall.

2. A canister according to claim 1, further including:

a lid disposed on top of said body portion having a flat, horizontal annular portion overlying said side walls of said body portion and a downwardly extending, annular rim portion conforming to and disposable within said body portion;

the parts of said horizontal portion overlying said two apex corner adjacent sidewalls being equal in width respectively to the thickness of said two sidewalls;

and the part of said horizontal portion overlying said apex corner remote sidewall extending beyond the upper part of said additional sidewall.

3. A canister according to claim 2, wherein:

said substantially cylindrical additional sidewall is slightly tapered downwardly outwardly, the lower portion of said additional sidewall having said radius of curvature which is substantially equal to the width of either of said apex corner proximal sidewalls;

said part of said horizontal portion of said lid overlying said apex corner remote sidewall being substantially congruent with said lower portion of said additional sidewall.

additional wall of substantially a regular polygon,

and having a cross-sectional area through said additional wall of substantially a circle.

6. An assembly of canisters according to claim 5 wherein:

said canisters are disposed on a circular tray having an upstanding annular rim conforming to said circle.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said tray has a base means which supports the tray for rotation.

8. A canister comprising:

a body portion having a horizontal, substantially triangular cross-section provided by three upstanding side walls;

an additional wall, secured to the apex corner remote side wall of said body portion, along the top and two side marginal portions thereof, having a lower edge spaced up from the bottom of said body portion, and having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the width of either of the apex corner proximal side walls, thereby providing an upwardly extending recess between said additional wall and the companion upper portion of said apex corner remote side wall; and

the upper margin of said apex corner remote side wall being stepped outwardly to conform to the radius of curvature of said additional wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1938 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Examiner.

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