초록
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A container assembly (1) having a container body (11) and exterior shelf structures (41, 44) that are each reversibly attached to exterior surfaces (35, 38) of first (17) and second (20) sidewalls of the container body (11), is described. Each exterior shelf structure (41, 44) has a shelf base (47), and a forward shelf portion (56) and a rear shelf portion (62) that each extend upwardly from the shelf base (47). Each exterior shelf structure has a shelf space (77) that resides between and is defined in part by the forward (56) and rear (62) shelf portion...
A container assembly (1) having a container body (11) and exterior shelf structures (41, 44) that are each reversibly attached to exterior surfaces (35, 38) of first (17) and second (20) sidewalls of the container body (11), is described. Each exterior shelf structure (41, 44) has a shelf base (47), and a forward shelf portion (56) and a rear shelf portion (62) that each extend upwardly from the shelf base (47). Each exterior shelf structure has a shelf space (77) that resides between and is defined in part by the forward (56) and rear (62) shelf portions. The forward shelf portion (56) of each exterior shelf structure (41, 44) has an open front or face (86) that is in communication with a recessed chamber (89) of the forward shelf portion (56). The exterior shelf structures (41, 44) may each be reversibly attached to the container body sidewalls (17, 20) by means of tabs (98) that are received within tab apertures (110) of the sidewalls. The exterior shelf structures (41, 44) may be removed from the container body sidewalls (17, 20) and stored within the container interior (32), allowing the container body to be compactly stored and/or shipped. The container assembly, including the container body and exterior shelf structures, may be used to store items, such as personal items, e.g., toys and/or clothing.
대표
청구항
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1. A container assembly comprising: (a) a container body comprising, a container base, a first container sidewall, a second container sidewall, a front container wall and a rear container wall, said first container sidewall, said second container sidewall, said front container wall and said rear container wall each extending upwardly from said container base and together defining an open container top and a container interior, said first container sidewall and said second container sidewallbeing laterally spaced apart and opposed from each other and each...
1. A container assembly comprising: (a) a container body comprising, a container base, a first container sidewall, a second container sidewall, a front container wall and a rear container wall, said first container sidewall, said second container sidewall, said front container wall and said rear container wall each extending upwardly from said container base and together defining an open container top and a container interior, said first container sidewall and said second container sidewallbeing laterally spaced apart and opposed from each other and each having an exterior surface;(b) a first exterior shelf structure removably attached to said exterior surface of said first container sidewall; and(c) a second exterior shelf structure removably attached to said exterior surface of said second container sidewall,wherein said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure each comprise, a shelf base having an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward shelf portion having a rear surface, a rear shelf portion having a forward surface, and a shelf inner wall having a first surface and a second surface, said forward shelf portion, said rear shelf portion and said shelf inner wall, each extending upwardly from said shelf base,said forward shelf portion and said rear shelf portion being laterally spaced apart and opposed to each other, said rear surface of said forward shelf portion and said forward surface of said rear shelf portion being in facing opposition to each other,said upper surface of said shelf base, said rear surface of said forward shelf portion, said forward surface of said rear shelf portion and said first surface of said shelf inner wall together defining a shelf space, an open shelf top and an open shelf side, said open shelf top being opposed from said upper surface of said shelf base, and said open shelf side being opposed from said first surface of said shelf inner wall,said forward shelf portion having an open front that is in communication with a recessed chamber of said forward shelf portion,further wherein,at least a portion of said second surface of said shelf inner wall of said first exterior shelf structure, and a portion of said exterior surface of said first container sidewall abutting each other, andat least a portion of said second surface of said shelf inner wall of said second exterior shelf structure, and a portion of said exterior surface of said second container sidewall abutting each other. 2. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein for each of said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure, said shelf inner wall extends between and is connected to said forward shelf portion and said rear shelf portion. 3. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein said container body is a substantially unitary container body. 4. The container assembly of claim 3 wherein said first exterior shelf structure is a substantially unitary first exterior shelf structure, and said second exterior shelf structure is a substantially unitary second exterior shelf structure. 5. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein, for each of said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure, said second surface of said shelf inner wall comprises at least one tab extending outward therefrom, each tab having a lower tab shoulder and a lower tab portion, said lower tab portion having an inner tab surface and extending below said lower tab shoulder and said lower surface of said shelf base,said first container sidewall comprises at least one tab aperture being defined in part by a lower edge, said tab of said first exterior shelf structure being received through said tab aperture, said lower tab portion extending below said lower edge of said tab aperture, said lower edge of said tab aperture and said lower tab shoulder abutting each other, and said inner tab surface and a portion of an inner surface of said first container sidewall abutting each other, andsaid second container sidewall comprises at least one tab aperture being defined in part by a lower edge, said tab of said second exterior shelf structure being received through said tab aperture, said lower tab portion extending below said lower edge of said tab aperture, said lower edge of said tab aperture and said lower tab shoulder abutting each other, and said inner tab surface and a portion of an inner surface of said second container sidewall abutting each other. 6. The container assembly of claim 5 wherein, said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure each comprise two of said tabs, said tabs being laterally spaced from each other, andsaid first container sidewall and said second container sidewall each comprise two tab apertures, said tab apertures being spaced apart and positioned so as to receive one tab therein. 7. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein for each of said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure, said forward shelf portion has a first extension extending upwardly from an upper surface of said forward shelf portion, said first extension having an aperture extending there-through and a second surface, andsaid rear shelf portion has a second extension extending upwardly from an upper surface of said rear shelf portion, said second extension having an aperture extending there-through and a second surface,further wherein,for said first exterior shelf structure, said second surface of said first extension abuts said exterior surface of said first container sidewall, and said aperture of said first extension is aligned with a first aperture in said first container sidewall, a first fastener being received through said aperture of said first extension and said first aperture of said first container sidewall, and said second surface of said second extension abuts said exterior surface of said first container sidewall, and said aperture of said second extension is aligned with a second aperture in said first container sidewall, a second fastener being received through said aperture of said second extension and said second aperture of said first container sidewall,for said second exterior shelf structure, said second surface of said first extension abuts said exterior surface of said second container sidewall, and said aperture of said first extension is aligned with a first aperture in said second container sidewall, a first fastener being received through said aperture of said first extension and said first aperture in said second container sidewall, and said second surface of said second extension abuts said exterior surface of said second container sidewall, and said aperture of said second extension is aligned with a second aperture in said second container sidewall, a second fastener being received through said aperture of said second extension and said second aperture of said second container sidewall. 8. The container assembly of claim 7 wherein said first container sidewall and said second container sidewall each comprise a container sidewall upper portion and a container sidewall lower portion, said container sidewall upper portion extending outward relative to said container sidewall lower portion and defining an overhang having an exterior lower surface, a portion of said upper surface of said forward shelf portion of said first exterior shelf structure abutting a portion of said exterior lower surface of said overhang of said first container sidewall, and a portion of said upper surface of said rear shelf portion of said first exterior shelf structure abutting a portion of said exterior lower surface of said overhang of said first container sidewall, anda portion of said upper surface of said forward shelf portion of said second exterior shelf structure abutting a portion of said exterior lower surface of said overhang of said second container sidewall, and a portion of said upper surface of said rear shelf portion of said second exterior shelf structure abutting a portion of said exterior lower surface of said overhang of said second container sidewall. 9. The container assembly of claim 8 wherein, an upper edge of said shelf inner wall of said first exterior shelf structure abuts a portion of said lower surface of said overhang of said first container sidewall, andan upper edge of said shelf inner wall of said second exterior shelf structure abuts a portion of said lower surface of said overhang of said second container sidewall. 10. The container assembly of claim 7 wherein, for each of said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure, said second surface of said shelf inner wall comprises at least one tab extending outward therefrom, each tab having a lower shoulder and a lower tab portion, said lower tab portion having an inner tab surface and extending below said lower tab shoulder and said lower surface of said shelf base,said first container sidewall comprises at least one tab aperture being defined in part by a lower edge, said tab of said first exterior shelf structure being received through said tab aperture, said lower tab portion extending below said lower edge of said tab aperture, said lower edge of said tab aperture and said lower tab shoulder abutting each other, and said inner tab surface and a portion of an inner surface of said first container sidewall abutting each other, andsaid second container sidewall comprises at least one tab aperture being defined in part by a lower edge, said tab of said second exterior shelf structure being received through said tab aperture, said lower tab portion extending below said lower edge of said tab aperture, said lower edge of said tab aperture and said lower tab shoulder abutting each other, and said inner tab surface and a portion of an inner surface of said second container sidewall abutting each other. 11. The container assembly of claim 10 wherein, said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure each comprise two of said tabs, said tabs being laterally spaced from each other, andsaid first container sidewall and said second container sidewall each comprise two tab apertures, said tab apertures being spaced apart and positioned so as to receive one tab therein. 12. The container assembly of claim 4 wherein said container body, said first exterior shelf structure, and said second exterior shelf structure each being independently fabricated from a plastic material selected independently from the group consisting of thermoset plastic materials, thermoplastic materials and combinations thereof. 13. The container assembly of claim 12 wherein said plastic material is a thermoplastic material selected independently from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, thermoplastic polyimide, thermoplastic polyamide, thermoplastic polyamideimide, thermoplastic polyester, thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polysulfone, thermoplastic polyketone, thermoplastic polyolefins, thermoplastic (meth)acrylates, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, thermoplastic styrene-acrylonitrile, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-stryrene-acrylate and combinations thereof. 14. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein said container further comprises a closable lid that reversibly closes said open container top. 15. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure each further comprise a closeable shelf lid that reversibly closes said shelf space, said closeable shelf lid having a first edge that is hingedly attached to said shelf inner wall. 16. The container assembly of claim 15 wherein said first exterior shelf structure and said second exterior shelf structure each further comprise an outer shelf wall having an upper edge, said upper edge of said outer shelf wall having a vertical height that is less than a vertical height of an upper edge of said inner shelf wall, and said closeable shelf lid having a second edge that abuts said upper edge of said outer shelf wall. 17. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein said first container sidewall, said second container sidewall, said front container wall and said rear container wall each have an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, in each case said upper wall portion extending outward relative to said lower wall portion and together defining a container overhang extending substantially entirely around said container body and having an exterior lower surface and an interior upper surface residing within said container interior, said container assembly further comprising an interior container comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a sidewall structure extending upwardly from said base of said interior container and defining an open top thereof, and an upper lip extending laterally outward from an upper portion of said sidewall structure,at least a portion of a lower surface of said upper lip abutting at least a portion of said interior upper surface of said container overhang, thereby suspending said lower surface of said base of said interior container above an upper surface of said base of said container body.
