Patent Application
20100126896
The present invention relates generally to a container, which in one orientation is nestable inside a similar container, and in another orientation stacks on top of the similar container. The container is useful, for example, for shipping cartons of eggs.
Containers, such as egg crates, that are nestable with one another in one orientation and stackable on one another in another orientation, are known. One particular egg crate includes a base wall and an upper band around the periphery of the container. A plurality of vertical slats extend from the upper band to the base. These slats are spaced and arranged such that the slats of one container will fit between the slats of another container in one orientation to provide nesting when the containers are empty. By rotating one container one-hundred-eighty degrees, the slats of the container will interfere and rest on the slats of the lower container, thus providing the ability to stack the containers without damaging goods (such as eggs or egg cartons) stored in the lower container. The container also includes a middle band connecting the slats to one another at a point between the upper band and the base, in order to increase the strength and stability of the slats.
When oriented similarly to a similar crate on which the crate is stacked, the slats of the upper crate rest on the slates of the lower crate. When one crate is rotated one-hundred-eighty degrees relative to the other, the crates nest to reduce storage space. When nested, the middle band of an upper crate rests on the upper band of the lower crate.
The nestable crate according to one embodiment of the present invention provides increased protection to the goods stored inside the crate. Panel portions are provided on each of the walls to protect the goods more than the slats alone. The crate is still compatible (i.e. can nest and stack) with the known crate.
These and other features of the application can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
A crate 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in
A middle band 22 extends around the periphery of the crate 10, connecting the upper panel portions 14B, 16B, 18B, 20B. An upper band 26 at the upper most edge of the crate 10 extends around the entire periphery of the crate 10. The upper band 26 includes a recess 24 in its upper most edge aligned with each wall 14, 16, 18, 20. As a visual and tactile indicator of orientation, the recesses 24 on the end walls 14, 16 may have curved edges, while the recesses 24 on the side walls 18, 20 may have straight, angled edges (or vice versa, or some other visual and/or tactile distinction). Handle openings 28 are formed through the upper panel portions 14B, 16B of the end walls 14, 16.
A plurality of vertical slats 30 are spaced about the periphery of the crate 10 and extend from the exterior side of the lower panel portions 14A, 16A, 18A, 20A then along the interior side of the middle band 22 and the upper band 26. The slats 30 include upper ends 32 that are tapered toward the interior and lower ends 34 tapered toward the exterior of the crate 10.
The upper and lower panel portions may include openings as shown to decrease weight and increase ventilation, but are more closed than the slats. In particular, the panel portions extend horizontally as well as vertically, and thus provide more protection than the slats alone, as in the known crate. As a visual indicator of orientation of the crate 10, the upper panel portions 14B, 16B and the lower panel portions 14A, 16A on the end walls 14, 16 may have vertically elongated openings, while the upper panel portions 18B, 20B and the lower panel portions 18A, 20A on the side walls 18, 20 may have horizontally elongated openings (or vice versa, or some other visible distinction).
Corner supports 38 join the end wall 14 to the side wall 20 and the end wall 16 to the side wall 18 from the lower panel portions to the middle band 22. Gussets 40 optionally connect the lower panel portions 14A, 16A, 18A, 20A to the upper panel portions 14B, 16B, 18B, 20B.
The example crate 10 shown is integrally molded as a single piece of plastic, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or other suitable material, via an injection molding process or other suitable process.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
