REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS AS PACKAGING MATERIAL FOR DISPOSABLE PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS CONTAINED THEREIN AND METHOD OF PACKAGING WITH REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS AS PACKAGING MATERIAL.

摘要

A multi-purpose container (10) is provided. The container has a lid (14) having an edge (60) and a ridge (54) rising from a top surface of the lid (14). The multi-purpose container also has a container portion (12) defining an opening (25) for the container (10). The container portion (12) includes a base (16) having a recess (82) defined in one surface (80) of the base (16). The container portion also includes first (22) and second (24) sides joined to the other surface of the base (16). Each side (22 and 24) has a lid channel (48) along a top inside edge (46) for receiving the lid's edge. The back (18) is joined to the base (16) and sides (22 and 24) and has a back ridge (72) rising from an outside surface (70) and a lid channel (61) along its top inside edge for receiving the lid's edge. The container portion (12) also includes a front (20) joined to the base (16) and sides (22 and 24) and has a front ridge (28) rising from its outside surface. The lid's edge slides into the lid channel of the sides (48) and back (61) so as to secure the lid (14) in the container portion's opening (25). Additionally, the lid's ridge (54) can interlock with the base recess (82) of another similarly constructed container and the front ridge (28) can interlock with the back ridge (72) of another similarly constructed container. The preferred embodiments of reusable plastic containers can be used as packaging for a second product, such as disposable plastic trash bags, which together are sold as a unit at a point of purchase display. Once sold, the bags are removed so that the container can now be used for storage of other products within an office or household environment. In a further embodiment, the container is provided with a detachable main lid having two differently sized pour openings selectively covered by an auxiliary closure detachably secured to the main lid. After purchase, the container can be used for both liquid and dry food storage and is formed with features for stackability and side-by-side interlocking display. A method of packaging dry products is also disclosed.