Assembly of interconnected containers and containers for use therein

Abstract

An assembly of interconnected containers includes a plurality of containers each of which has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel generally downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers have either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels are preferably open at at least one end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. The channels are disposed closer to each other than are the flanges. In one embodiment the upper portion has the upper sidewalls diverging downwardly therefrom and the lower wall has a pair of lower sidewalls diverging upwardly therefrom. The containers may be transparent and molded as a unit with integrally formed hinges. Support structures may be provided within the container to support one or more articles disposed therein. Individual containers for use in such an assembly are disclosed.