CRATE

Abstract

Crates may be positioned in stacked arrangements for use and nested arrangements for storage. The nested arrangements may be more compact to facilitate more efficient storage of the crates when not in use. The crates may include one or more features that may be sized and configured to align and/or interlock the crates when in the stacked arrangement and/or the nested arrangement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to crates.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional milk crates have a rectangular-shaped bottom, four rectangular side walls and an open-ended top. Unfortunately, stacking such milk crates may take up a large amount of space, making them inefficient to store. Because they are inefficient to store, they are often stacked outside of buildings and other structures, making them susceptible to weather damage and to theft.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A need therefore exists for a crate that eliminates or diminishes the disadvantages and problems described above.

One aspect is a system that may include one or more crates. The crates may each include, for example, a floor and side walls. The crates may be arranged in a variety of relative positions and/or orientations. When in a first relative position, the crates may be arranged in a stacked arrangement in which the crates are positioned to hold and/or store items. When in a second relative position, the crates may be arranged in a nested, more compact arrangement in which at least a substantial portion of an upper crate may be disposed within an adjacent lower crate.

Another aspect is a plurality of crates that may be positioned in a stacked arrangement and a nested arrangement. The height of the crates 10 in the nested arrangement may be less than about 50 percent, 40 percent, 30 percent and/or 20 percent of the height of the crates in the stacked arrangement. Moreover, the ratio of the height of the crates 10 in the stacked arrangement to the height of the crates in the nested arrangement may be at least about 2, 3, 4 and/or 5 to 1. For example, in one embodiment, at least about one hundred fifty nested crates may fit into the space that thirty stacked crates may occupy. The crates may thus provide significant advantages. For example, items may be placed into crates for storage and the crates may then be stacked. When the crates are no longer being used to store and/or carry the items, the empty crates may be nested and stored in a much smaller area than they occupied when stacked. Significantly, this may allow more of the empty crates to be stored inside secured areas and/or areas out of the weather, which may help prevent weather damage to, and/or theft of, the crates

Yet another aspect is a crate that may include one or more alignment and/or interlocking portions. The alignment and/or interlocking portions may be sized and configured to align and/or interlock the crates when in the stacked arrangement and/or the nested arrangement.

A further aspect is the crates may include a support that may interconnect opposing side walls. When in the nested arrangement, the supports of a pair of adjacent crates may be aligned to allow the supports to nest within and/or interlock with each other. In addition, when the crates are in the stacked position, the supports of the pair of adjacent crates may be generally offset, which may allow the support of the lower crate to contact one or more portions of the upper crate to help stabilize the upper crate. In some instances, the support of a crate may extend along at least a substantial portion of the height of its side walls, which may advantageously help strengthen, stiffen and/or reinforce the side walls and the crate.

Another further aspect is the crates may include side walls that may include one or more projections and/or receiving portions. The projections and/or receiving portions may interlock with each other when the crates are in the nested arrangement. The projections may also help align, support and/or stabilize the crates when in the stacked arrangement. For example, when the crates are in the stacked arrangement, the projections of the lower crate may contact, abut and/or engage an exterior surface of the upper crate, which may help align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate. In some instances, the projections of a crate may extend along at least a substantial portion of the height of its side walls, which may advantageously help strengthen, stiffen and/or reinforce the side walls and the crate.

Yet another further aspect is that one or more portions of side walls of the crates may extend inwardly. When the crates are in the stacked arrangement, the inwardly extending portions of the side walls of the lower crate may contact, abut and/or engage an exterior surface of the side walls of the upper crate, which may help align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate. When the crates are in the nested arrangement, the inwardly extending portions of the side walls of the upper and lower crates may interlock with each other.

Still another aspect is a crate that may be constructed from plastic using a molding process, such as compression molding, injection molding and/or any other suitable molding process. Desirably, if the crate is constructed from plastic using a molding process, some or all of the crate's features may be quickly and easily integrally formed in the crates as part of unitary one-piece construction during the molding process. It will be appreciated, however, that the crates need not have a unitary, one piece construction. It will also be appreciated that the crates need not be constructed from plastic or using a molding process and may be constructed from plastic, wood, metal and/or any other desired material using any other desired manufacturing process.

Another aspect is a first crate and a second crate that may be arranged in a plurality of stacked positions and a plurality of nested positions. In particular, the crates may be arranged in a first nested position in which the first crate is nested within the second crate and a second nested position in which the second crate is nested within the first crate. In addition, the crates may be arranged in a first stacked position in which the first crate is stacked upon the second crate and a second stacked position in which the second crate is stacked upon the first crate. The crates may, for example, be at least substantially interchangeable to allow the crates to be arranged in these various stacked and nested positions.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings contain figures of preferred embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present invention. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict only preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary crate;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two crates of FIG. 1, illustrating the crates in a stacked arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the crates shown in FIG. 2, illustrating the crates in a nested arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the crates shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of other exemplary crates;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the crates shown in FIG. 5, illustrating the crates in a stacked arrangement; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the crates shown in FIG. 6, illustrating the crates in a nested arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is generally directed towards crates. The principles of the present invention, however, are not limited to crates. It will be understood that, in light of the present disclosure, the crates disclosed herein can be successfully used in connection with other types of storage, shipping and/or organization systems.

Additionally, to assist in the description of the crate, words such as top, bottom, front, rear, right and left may be used to describe the accompanying figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. It will be appreciated, however, that the crate can be located in a variety of desired positions and/or orientations. A detailed description of the crate now follows.

As shown in FIG. 1, a crate 10 may include a floor 12 and side walls 14, 16, 18, 20. The crate 10 may be used to hold and/or store various items. The items may, for example, be placed into the crate 10 for storage and may be taken out of the crate when the stored items are needed.

The crate 10 may be sized and configured to hold and/or store containers, such as cartons, jugs, bottles, etc. For example, the crate 10 may be sized and configured to hold and/or store one or more containers that hold beverages (such as milk, water, orange juice or other beverages) and/or other liquids. The crate 10 may, for instance, may have a generally square or rectangular shape and may form a first, generally rectangular receptacle 22 sized and configured to receive one or two one-gallon-sized containers and a second, generally rectangular receptacle 24 sized and configured to receive one or two one-gallon-sized containers. It will be appreciated, however, that the crate 10 may form a single receptacle or two or more receptacles sized and configured to receive any number of larger or smaller capacity containers. It will also be appreciated that the crate 10 and/or the receptacles 22, 24 do not require generally square or rectangular shapes and may have other suitable shapes. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the receptacles of the crate 10 need not be sized and configured to receive containers and, instead, may be sized and configured to receive any other desired item that the crate 10 is intended to hold and/or store.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two or more of the crates 10 may be arranged in a variety of relative positions and/or orientations. When a pair of adjacent crates are in a first relative position shown in FIG. 2, the crates 10 may be arranged in a stacked arrangement in which the crates are positioned to hold and/or store items. When the pair of adjacent crates are in the stacked position, the upper crate may be at least substantially disposed outside of the lower crate. For example, at least about 80 percent, 85 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent or more of the height of an upper crate may be disposed outside of the lower crate.

When the pair of adjacent crates are in a second relative position shown in FIG. 3, the crates 10 may be arranged in a nested, more compact arrangement in which at least a substantial portion of an upper crate is disposed within an adjacent lower crate. For example, at least about 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent or more of the height of an upper crate may be disposed within an adjacent lower crate.

Desirably, the height of the crates 10 in the nested arrangement may be substantially less than the height of the crates in the stacked arrangement. For example, the height of the crates 10 in the nested arrangement may be less than about 50 percent, 40 percent, 30 percent and/or 20 percent of the height of the crates in the stacked arrangement. Moreover, the ratio of the height of the crates 10 in the stacked arrangement to the height of the crates in the nested arrangement may be at least about 2, 3, 4 and/or 5 to 1. For instance, in one embodiment, at least about one hundred fifty nested crates 10 may fit into the space that thirty stacked crates may occupy. It will be appreciated, however, that the heights of the stacked or nested crates 10 and/or the ratios thereof may be larger or smaller depending, for example, upon the particular size and configuration of the crates.

The crates 10 may include one or more alignment and/or interlocking portions. As discussed below, the alignment and/or interlocking portions may be sized and configured to align and/or interlock the crates when in the stacked arrangement and/or the nested arrangement.

In further detail, the crates 10 may include one or more supports 26 shown in FIG. 1, and when in the nested arrangement, the supports may be aligned to allow the supports to nest within and/or interlock with each other. The support 26 may, for example, at least partially form a receiving portion 28, which may be aligned with and/or positioned below the support 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving portion 28 of the support 26 of an upper crate 10a may be sized and configured to receive and/or interlock with at least a portion of the support 26 of a lower crate 10b.

In contrast, when a pair of adjacent crates are in the stacked position, the support 26 of the upper crate 10a and the support 26 of the lower crate 10b may be generally offset, for example, at about 90 degrees offset from each other. This may allow the support 26 of the lower crate 10b to contact one or more portions of the upper crate 10a to help support and/or stabilize the upper crate 10a. In greater detail, the floor 12 of the crates 10 may include one or more receiving portions 30 (such as grooves, channels, slots or other receiving portions) that may receive and/or interlock with one or more supports 26. To help support and/or stabilize the upper crate 10a, the lower crate's support 26 may contact, abut and/or engage the receiving portion 30 of the upper crate. When more than two crates are in the stacked position, the orientations of the supports 26 of the crates may alternate—such that the supports of adjacent crates may be generally offset, but the supports of odd-numbered-positioned crates may be generally aligned and the supports of even-numbered-positioned crates may be generally aligned.

The side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 of the crates 10 may include one or more projections 32 and receiving portions 34 that may interlock with each other when the crates are in the nested arrangement. In further detail, as shown in FIG. 1, an interior surface of the side walls 14, 18 may include one or more elongated projections 32 that may project inwardly. An exterior surface of the side walls 14, 18 may include one or more elongated receiving portions 34 (such as grooves, channels, slots or other receiving portions). When the crates 10 are in the nested arrangement, the receiving portions 34 may receive and/or interlock with at least a portion of the projections 32.

The projections 32 may also be sized and configured to help align, support and/or stabilize the crates 10 when in the stacked arrangement. For example, when the crates are in the stacked arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, the projections 32 of the lower crate 10b may contact, abut and/or engage an exterior surface of the upper crate 10a, which may help align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate. In addition, the projections 32 of the lower crate 10b may form ledges 36. As shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the upper crate 10a may contact, abut and/or rest upon the ledges 36 of the lower crate 10b, which may help further align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate.

As shown in FIG. 1, the crates 10 may include one or more ribs 38, 40, 42 that may extend around all or at least a substantial portion of an outer periphery of the crate 10. In addition, the ribs 38, 40, 42 may have a generally horizontal orientation. The ribs 38, 40, 42 may help strengthen, stiffen and/or reinforce the crate 10. In addition, when the crates are in the nested arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, the rib 42 of the upper crate 10a may contact, abut and/or rest upon the rib 38 of the lower crate 10b, which may help further align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate. Moreover, when the crates are in the nested arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, the rib 42 of the upper crate 10a may contact, abut and/or rest upon one or more of the projections 32 and/or ledges 36 of the lower crate 10b, which may even further align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate.

As shown in FIG. 1, portions 44, 46 the side walls 16, 20 of the crates 10 may extend inwardly. When the crates are in the stacked arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, the inwardly extending portions 44, 46 of the side walls 16, 20 of the lower crate 10b may contact, abut and/or engage an exterior surface of the side walls 14, 18 of the upper crate 10a, which may help align, support and/or stabilize the upper crate. When the crates are in the nested arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, the inwardly extending portions 44, 46 of the side walls 16, 20 of the upper and lower crates 10a, 10b may interlock with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support 26 may interconnect a pair of opposing side walls 16, 20. In addition, the support 26 and/or the receiving portion 28 may also extend along at least a substantial portion of the height of the side walls 16, 20. The support 26 and/or the receiving portion 28 may, for example, extend along at least about 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent or more of the height of the side walls 16, 20. Desirably, if the support 26 interconnects the side walls 16, 20 and/or extends along at least a substantial portion of the height of the side walls 16, 20, the support may advantageously strengthen, stiffen and/or reinforce the side walls and the crate 10.

The support 26 may also be located in a generally central portion of the crate 10 and may interconnect generally central portions of the side walls 16, 20. Significantly, if the support 26 is located in a generally central portion of the crate 10 and interconnects generally central portions of the side walls 16, 20, the support may provide balanced strength to and/or reinforcement of the side walls and the crate 10. Moreover, if the support 26 is located in a generally central portion of the crate 10, the support 26 may help form a pair of at least substantially equal-sized receptacles 22, 24, each of which can, as discussed above, be optionally sized and configured to hold two one-gallon-sized containers. It will be appreciated, however, that the support 26 need not be located in a generally central portion of the crate and may be positioned in any other desired location. It will also be appreciated the support 26 is not required.

As shown in FIG. 1, the projections 32 and/or the receiving portions 34 may have an elongated shape that may extend along at least a substantial portion of the height of the side walls 14, 18. The projections 32 and/or the receiving portions 34 may, for example, extend along at least about 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent or more of the height of the side walls 14, 18. Desirably, if the projections 32 extend along at least a substantial portion of the height of the side walls 14, 18, the projections may advantageously strengthen, stiffen and/or reinforce the side walls. It will be appreciated, however, that the projections 32 and the receiving portions 34 do not require an elongated shape and may have other suitable shapes, sizes and/or configurations. It will also be appreciated the projections 32 and the receiving portions 34 are not required.

The projections 32 on the interior surface of a single side wall may be generally aligned with the receiving portions 34 on the exterior surface of that side wall. Desirably, if the projections 32 on the interior surface of the side wall are generally aligned with the receiving portions 34 on the exterior surface of that side wall, this may allow the projections and receiving portions to be more quickly and easily manufactured. For example, where the crate is formed from plastic using a molding process and the projections 32 and the receiving portions 34 of the side wall are generally aligned, the projections 32 and the receiving portions 34 of the side wall may be formed using a single feature of a mold. Moreover, if the projections 32 of the side walls 14, 18 are generally aligned and project towards each other as shown in FIG. 1 and the projections and receiving portions of each individual wall are generally aligned, this may help the projections and receiving portions interlock with each other when the crates are in the nested arrangement.

To further help the projections help the projections and receiving portions interlock with each other when the crates are in the nested arrangement, the side walls 14, 18 may include a first projection 32 and a second projection 32 shown in FIG. 1, and the first and second projections may be at least substantially equally spaced apart from the side walls 16, 18. It will be appreciated, however, that the first and second projections 32 of the side walls 14, 18 need not be at least substantially equally spaced apart from the side walls 16, 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, side walls 48, 50 of crates 52a, 52b may include first and second projections 54 that may be spaced apart at substantially different distances from side walls 56, 58. For example, the first projection 54 may be spaced apart from the wall 56 at a distance that is at least two, three or more times the distance that the second projection 54 is spaced apart from the wall 58.

If desired, the crates 52a, 52b may have the same features as, or similar features to, the crates 10a, 10b and/or may have other features. Thus, for example, the crates 52a, 52b may be stacked as shown in FIG. 6 and nested as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, the projections 54 may have the same features as, or similar features to, the projections 32 and/or other features. Thus, for instance, the projections 54 may facilitate stacking and nesting of the crates 52a, 52b. To help further facilitate nesting, the crates 52a, 52b may include receiving portions (such as elongated slots 60 that may extend through the side walls 48, 50 and/or the floor 62), which may receive and/or interlock with at least a portion of the projections 54 when the crates 52a, 52b are nested as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the crates 10, 52 may have a generally tapered configuration that tapers from an upper portion of the crates to a lower portion of the crates. Desirably, this may help facilitate nesting of the crates. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, to accommodate the generally tapered configuration of the crates, the projections 32, 54 may also have a generally tapered configuration. It will be appreciated, however, that the crates 10, 52 and projections 32, 54 do not require any generally tapered configuration and may have other suitable configurations.

The crates 10, 52 may also include one or more vents. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a crate 10 can optionally include one or more vents 64 that may extend through the floor 12; the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20; and/or the support 26. The vents 64, however, are not required.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 6-7 and discussed above, a first crate 10a, 52a may be positioned above a second crate 10b, 52b, and thus, the crate 10a, 52a may be referred to the upper crate and the crate 10b, 52b may be referred to as the lower crate. It will be appreciated, however, the crates 10, 52 may be sized and configured to be interchangeably nested and/or stacked with the crate 10b, 52b above the crate 10a, 52a, such that the crate 10b, 52b is the upper crate and the crate 10a, 52a is the lower crate.

If desired, the upper and lower crates may have at least substantially the same sizes, shapes, configurations and/or features, which may advantageously help the upper and lower crates be at least substantially interchangeable when nested and/or stacked. It will be appreciated, however, the upper and lower crates may have substantially different sizes, shapes, configurations and/or features and need not be interchangeable.

The crates 10, 52 may be constructed from plastic using a molding process, such as compression molding, injection molding and/or any other suitable molding process. Desirably, if the crates 10, 52 are constructed from plastic using a molding process, some or all of the crates' features may be quickly and easily integrally formed in the crates as part of unitary one-piece construction during the molding process. For example, the floors 12, 62; the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20, 48, 50, 56, 58; the receptacles 22, 24; the support 26; the receiving portions 28, 30, 34; the projections 32, 54; the ledges 36; the ribs 38, 40, 42; the inwardly extending portions 44, 46 the side walls 16, 20; the slots 60; the vents 64; and/or any other features may be integrally formed in the crates as part of unitary one-piece construction during the molding process. It will be appreciated, however, that the crates 10, 52 need not have a unitary, one piece construction. It will also be appreciated that the crates 10, 52 need not be constructed from plastic or using a molding process and may be constructed from plastic, wood, metal and/or any other desired material using any other desired manufacturing process.

In view of the foregoing, the crates 10, 52 may have significant advantages. For example, items may be placed into crates 10, 52 for storage and the crates may then be stacked. When the crates 10, 52 are no longer being used to store and/or carry the items, the empty crates may be nested and stored in a much smaller area than they occupied when stacked. Significantly, this may allow more of the empty crates 10, 52 to be stored inside secured areas and/or areas out of the weather, which may help prevent weather damage to, and/or theft of, the crates.

Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a first crate including a floor and a plurality of side walls;a second crate including a floor and a plurality of side walls;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a first stacked arrangement in which the first crate is positioned adjacent to and above the second crate and in which at least about eighty (80) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed outside of the second crate;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a second stacked arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate and in which at least about eighty (80) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed outside of the first crate;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a first nested arrangement in which the first crate is positioned adjacent to and above the second crate and in which at least about ten (10) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed within the second crate; andwherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a second nested arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate and in which at least about ten (10) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed within the first crate.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first stacked arrangement, at least about eighty five (85) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed outside of the second crate; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second stacked arrangement, at least about eighty five (85) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed outside of the first crate.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first stacked arrangement, at least about ninety (90) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed outside of the second crate; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second stacked arrangement, at least about ninety (90) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed outside of the first crate.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first nested arrangement, at least about twenty (20) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed within the second crate; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second nested arrangement, at least about twenty (20) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed within the first crate.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first nested arrangement, at least about thirty (30) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed within the second crate; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second nested arrangement, at least about thirty (30) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed within the first crate.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first nested arrangement, at least about forty (40) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed within the second crate; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second nested arrangement, at least about forty (40) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed within the first crate.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first nested arrangement, at least about fifty (50) percent of the height of the first crate is disposed within the second crate; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second nested arrangement, at least about fifty (50) percent of the height of the second crate is disposed within the first crate.

8. A system comprising: a first crate including: a floor;a plurality of side walls including a first side wall and a second side wall;a generally centrally located support that extends between the first and second side walls of the first crate to form a pair of receptacles in the first crate; anda first receiving portion; anda second crate including: a floor;a plurality of side walls including a first side wall and a second side wall;a generally centrally located support that extends between the first and second side walls of the second crate to form a pair of receptacles in the second crate; anda first receiving portion;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a first stacked arrangement in which the first crate is positioned adjacent to and above the second crate and the generally centrally located supports of the first and second crate are generally offset;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a second stacked arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate and the generally centrally located supports of the first and second crate are generally offset;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a first nested arrangement in which the first crate is positioned adjacent to and above the second crate, the generally centrally located supports of the first and second crate are generally aligned, and the first receiving portion of the first crate receives at least a portion of the generally centrally located support of the second crate; andwherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a second nested arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate, the generally centrally located supports of the first and second crate are generally aligned, and the first receiving portion of the second crate receives at least a portion of the generally centrally located support of the first crate.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the first stacked arrangement, the generally centrally located supports of the first and second crate are offset about ninety (90) degrees from each other; and wherein, when the first and second crates are arranged in the second stacked arrangement, the generally centrally located supports of the first and second crate are offset about ninety (90) degrees from each other.

10. The system as in claim 8, wherein the first receiving portion of the first crate is positioned below and is at least partially formed by the generally centrally located support of the first crate; and wherein the first receiving portion of the second crate is positioned below and is at least partially formed by the generally centrally located support of the second crate.

11. The system as in claim 8, wherein the floor of the first crate includes a channel that receives a portion of the generally centrally located support of the second crate when the first and second crate are in the first stacked arrangement; and wherein the floor of the second crate includes a channel that receives a portion of the generally centrally located support of the first crate when the first and second crate are in the second stacked arrangement.

12. The system as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of side walls of the first crate further includes: a third side wall including an interior surface and an exterior surface;one or more projections projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the third side wall;a fourth side wall; andone or more projections projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the fourth side wall;wherein, when the first and second crate are in the second stacked arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate, the projections projecting inwardly from the interior surfaces of the third and fourth side walls of the first crate abut the first and second side walls of the second crate to stabilize the second crate.

13. The system as in claim 8, wherein the floor of the first crate includes a channel that receives a portion of the generally centrally located support of the second crate when the first and second crate are in the first stacked arrangement; and wherein the floor of the second crate includes a channel that receives a portion of the generally centrally located support of the first crate when the first and second crate are in the second stacked arrangement.

14. The system as in claim 8, wherein the pair of receptacles in the first crate include a first receptacle sized and configured to receive two one-gallon-sized containers and a second receptacle sized and configured to receive two one-gallon-sized containers.

15. A system comprising: a first crate including: a floor;a plurality of side walls including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;a first set of projections projecting inwardly from an interior surface of the first side wall of the first crate;a first set of receiving portions formed in an exterior surface of the first side wall of the first crate;a second set of projections projecting inwardly from an interior surface of the second side wall of the first crate; anda second set of receiving portions formed in an exterior surface of the second side wall of the first crate; anda second crate including: a floor;a plurality of side walls including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;a first set of projections projecting inwardly from an interior surface of the first side wall of the second crate;a first set of receiving portions formed in an exterior surface of the first side wall of the second crate;a second set of projections projecting inwardly from an interior surface of the second side wall of the second crate; anda second set of receiving portions formed in an exterior surface of the second side wall of the second crate;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a first stacked arrangement in which the first crate is positioned adjacent to and above the second crate and in which one or more portions of the first crate rest upon ledges formed by the first and second sets of projections of the second crate;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a second stacked arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate and in which one or more portions of the second crate rest upon ledges formed by the first and second sets of projections of the first crate;wherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a first nested arrangement in which the first crate is positioned adjacent to and above the second crate, the first set of receiving portions of the first crate receive at least a portion of the first set of projections of the second crate, and the second set of receiving portions of the first crate receive at least a portion of the second set of projections of the second crate; andwherein the first and second crates are sized and configured to be arranged in a second nested arrangement in which the second crate is positioned adjacent to and above the first crate, the first set of receiving portions of the second crate receive at least a portion of the first set of projections of the first crate, and the second set of receiving portions of the second crate receive at least a portion of the second set of projections of the first crate.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the first set of projections projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the first side wall of the first crate are generally aligned with the first set of receiving portions formed in the exterior surface of the first side wall of the first crate; and wherein the second set of projections projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the second side wall of the first crate are generally aligned with the second set of receiving portions formed in the exterior surface of the second side wall of the first crate.

17. The system as in claim 15, wherein the first set of receiving portions formed in the exterior surface of the first side wall of the first crate include elongated slots that extend through the first side wall of the first crate; and wherein the second set of receiving portions formed in the exterior surface of the second side wall of the first crate include elongated slots that extend through the second side wall of the first crate.

18. The system as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of side walls of the first crate further includes a third side wall and a fourth side wall; and wherein the first crate further includes an elongated support that extends between and interconnects the first and second side walls of the first crate to form a pair of receptacles in the first crate.

19. The system as in claim 18, wherein the floor of the second crate includes a channel that receives a portion of the elongated support of the first crate when the first and second crate are in the second stacked arrangement.

20. The system as in claim 18, wherein the pair of receptacles in the first crate include a first receptacle sized and configured to receive two one-gallon-sized containers and a second receptacle sized and configured to receive two one-gallon-sized containers.