The present disclosure generally relates to stackable trays and crates, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to stackable trays and crates configured to hold jarred goods.
Jars used for canning purposes are often provided in various standard sizes, including pint-sized and quart-sized. Such canning jars are often stored in trays or crates. Some existing crates accommodate pint-sized jars and are stackable on themselves, while other existing crates accommodate quart-sized jars and are stackable on themselves. However, due to the difference in sizes of the pint-sized jars and the quart-sized jars, existing crates for pint-sized jars cannot be stacked with crates for quart-sized jars. For these reasons among others, there remains a need for further improvements in this technological field.
An exemplary system is provided for holding canning jars of varying sizes, and generally includes a first tray and a second tray. The first tray includes a first plurality of wells, including a first tray first well. The first tray first well includes a first engagement feature on an exterior surface thereof, and the first engagement feature has a first geometry. The second tray includes a second plurality of wells, including a second tray first well. The second tray first well includes a second engagement feature on an exterior surface thereof, and the second engagement feature has a second geometry configured to mate with the first geometry. Each well of the first plurality of wells has a greater diameter than each well of the second plurality of wells. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
Although the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the present disclosure and the appended claims.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. It should further be appreciated that although reference to a “preferred” component or feature may indicate the desirability of a particular component or feature with respect to an embodiment, the disclosure is not so limiting with respect to other embodiments, which may omit such a component or feature. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
Additionally, it should be appreciated that items included in a list in the form of “at least one of A, B, and C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Items listed in the form of “A, B, and/or C” can also mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Further, with respect to the claims, the use of words and phrases such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” and/or “at least one portion” should not be interpreted so as to be limiting to only one such element unless specifically stated to the contrary, and the use of phrases such as “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” should be interpreted as encompassing both embodiments including only a portion of such element and embodiments including the entirety of such element unless specifically stated to the contrary.
In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown in certain specific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not necessarily be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures unless indicated to the contrary. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may be omitted or may be combined with other features.
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The tray 200 generally includes a base portion 210 defining an outer perimeter of the tray 200, and a plurality of wells 220 extending from the base portion 210 such that the first side 202 defines a cavity 203. In the illustrated form, the first side 202 includes one or more snap mechanisms 230 formed in the base portion 210, and the second side 204 includes one or more first engagement features 240 and one or more second engagement features 250. As described herein, the engagement features 240, 250 occupy and define an engagement area 270 on the second side 204 of the tray 200.
Each well 220 is sized and shaped to receive a particular size of jar, and in the illustrated form is sized and shaped to receive a standard quart-sized jar. Each well 220 has an interior side 222 corresponding to the first side 202 of the tray and an exterior side 224 corresponding to the exterior side 204 of the tray 200. In the illustrated form, the tray 200 includes twelve wells 220 arranged in three rows and four columns. It is also contemplated that more or fewer wells 220 may be utilized, and that more or fewer rows and/or columns may be utilized. With the wells 220 arranged in a generally rectangular array, the tray 200 includes four “corner” wells 260. As described herein, the four corner wells 260 include a pair of first corner wells 264 and a pair of second corner wells 265. Each of the first corner wells 264 includes a corresponding first engagement feature 240, and each of the second corner wells 265 includes a corresponding second engagement feature 250.
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In the illustrated form, each well 420 is configured to hold a corresponding jar that is of a standard pint size. Thus, each well 420 is of a smaller size and a lesser diameter in comparison to the corresponding well 220 of the first tray 200. The four corner wells 460 include a pair of first corner wells 464 and a pair of second corner wells 465. Each of the first corner wells 464 includes a corresponding second tray first engagement feature 440, and each of the second corner wells 465 includes a corresponding second tray second engagement feature 450.
Like the engagement features 240, 250 of the first tray 200, the engagement features 440, 450 of the second tray 400 occupy and define an engagement area 470 corresponding to the engagement area 270. As with the above-described engagement features 240, 250, the engagement features 440, 450 are configured to mate with one another such that the tray 400 is stackable on itself in a manner analogous to that illustrated in
With additional reference to
As noted above, the first tray wells 220 are configured to receive quart-sized jars, and the second tray wells 420 are configured to receive pint-sized jars. Thus, the first tray wells 220 may have a first diameter d220, and the second tray wells 420 may have a second diameter d420 less than the first diameter d220. Each diameter d220, d420 may be measured at the base of the corresponding well 220, 420. Due to the larger diameters of the first tray wells 220 as compared to the second tray wells 420, it may be the case that the first tray 200 is larger than the second tray 400. For example, in the illustrated form, a plan-view area of the first tray 200 is larger than the plan-view area of the second tray 400. As used herein, the term “plan-view area” may be used to refer to the area of a component (e.g., a tray) when viewed from directly above the component.
It should be appreciated that although the first tray 200 is larger than the second tray 400, the trays 200, 400 can nonetheless be stacked with one another in a secure manner. This capability is provided at least in part by the ability of the first tray engagement features 240, 250 to mate with the second tray engagement features 440, 450, and in part by the arrangement of the engagement features in engagement areas 270, 470 that correspond to one another. The system 500 may thus facilitate stacking of various sizes of crates (and various sizes of jars) in stacks that include crates and jars of different sizes.
In the illustrated embodiments, the first tray 200 is configured to hold standard quart-sized canning jars, and the second tray 400 is configured to hold standard pint-sized canning jars. As such, the minimum diameter d220 of the first wells 220 is selected to correspond to the diameter of a standard quart-sized canning jar, and the minimum diameter d420 of the second wells 420 is selected to correspond to the diameter of a standard pint-sized canning jar. It is also contemplated that other sizes and diameters may be utilized. For example, the first diameter d220 may be selected to correspond to one of a 64-ounce canning jar, a 32-ounce canning jar, a 28-ounce canning jar, a 16-ounce canning jar, a 12-ounce canning jar, an 8-ounce canning jar, or a 4-ounce canning jar, and the second diameter d420 may be selected to correspond to another of a 64-ounce canning jar, a 32-ounce canning jar, a 28-ounce canning jar, a 16-ounce canning jar, a 12-ounce canning jar, an 8-ounce canning jar, or a 4-ounce canning jar.
Moreover, while certain embodiments have been described with specific reference to holding storage goods in the form of canning jars, it is also contemplated that trays according to other embodiments may be configured to hold other forms of storage goods. By way of non-limiting example, such trays may be configured to hold honey jars (e.g. 24-ounce honey jars, 16-ounce honey jars, or 12-ounce honey jars), honey bear bottles (e.g., 20-ounce honey bear bottles, or 12-ounce honey bear bottles), eggs (e.g., chicken eggs, duck eggs, or quail eggs), kombucha bottles, maple sugar jugs, or growlers. In certain embodiments, one or more trays or crates may be configured for use as seed planters, milking buckets, seed savers/holders, root cellar crates, or storage of bulk dry goods (e.g., flour, wheat, or sugar).
It should also be appreciated that the foregoing examples may be mixed and matched as desired. For example, the wells 220 of the first tray 200 may be configured to hold canning jars of a particular size, and the wells 420 of the second tray may be configured to hold honey bear bottles of a particular size.
With additional reference to
The process 600 generally includes a first crate assembly procedure 610, a second crate assembly procedure 620, a stacking procedure 630, and a storage procedure 640. As described herein, the first crate assembly procedure 610 generally involves assembling a first crate 100, and the second crate assembly procedure 620 generally involves assembling a second crate 300. The stacking procedure 630 generally involves stacking the first crate 100 on the second crate 300, and the storage procedure 640 generally involves disassembling one or both of the crates.
The first crate assembly procedure 610 may begin with two trays 200 operable to form a first crate 100. Of the two trays, one tray 200 may be designated as the first upper tray 110, and the other may be designated as the first lower tray 120. Each of the first upper tray 110 and the first lower tray 120 comprises a corresponding plurality of first wells 220. At least one first well 220 of the first bottom tray 120 (e.g., the corner well 264) comprises a corresponding first engagement feature (e.g., the engagement feature 240) on a bottom surface 224 thereof.
The procedure 610 may begin with block 612, which generally involves placing one or more storage goods in the first lower tray 120. For example, block 612 may involve placing one or more quart-sized jars in one or more corresponding wells 220 of the first lower tray 120. In the illustrated form, block 612 may involve positioning up to twelve quart-sized jars in the twelve wells 220. It is also contemplated that more or fewer wells 220 may be provided to the tray 200 to accommodate more or fewer jars.
The procedure 610 may include block 614, which generally involves engaging the first upper tray 110 with the first lower tray 120. For example, block 614 may involve positioning the trays 110, 120 in opposite orientations such that the female first sides 202 face one another, and placing the base portions 210 in contact with one another to thereby enclose the one or more jars within the enclosed cavity 203.
The procedure 610 may include block 616, which generally involves engaging a snap mechanism 230 of the first upper tray 110 with a corresponding snap mechanism 230 of the first lower tray 120. For example, block 616 may involve engaging the snap mechanisms 230 such that each protrusion 233 of one tray 200 is received in a corresponding recess 235 of the other tray 200.
The second crate assembly procedure 620 may begin with two trays 400 operable to form a second crate 300. Of the two trays, one tray 400 may be designated as the second upper tray 310, and the other may be designated as the second lower tray 320. Each of the second upper tray 310 and the second lower tray 320 comprises a corresponding plurality of second wells 420. At least one second well 420 of the second upper tray 320 (e.g., the corner well 465) comprises a corresponding second engagement feature (e.g., the engagement feature 450) on an upper surface 424 thereof. Each of the second wells 420 has a different size than a corresponding one of the first wells 220. In the illustrated form, each of the second wells 420 is configured to receive a pint-sized jar, and is accordingly smaller than the corresponding one of the first wells 220 for receiving quart-sized jars.
The procedure 620 may begin with block 622, which generally involves placing one or more storage goods in the second lower tray 320. For example, block 622 may involve placing one or more pint-sized jars in one or more corresponding wells 420 of the second lower tray 320. In the illustrated form, block 622 may involve positioning up to twelve pint-sized jars in the twelve wells 420. It is also contemplated that more or fewer wells may be provided to the tray 400 to accommodate more or fewer jars.
The procedure 620 may include block 624, which generally involves engaging the second upper tray 310 with the second lower tray 320. For example, block 624 may involve positioning the trays 310, 320 in opposite orientations such that the female first sides 402 face one another, and placing the base portions 410 in contact with one another to thereby enclose the one or more jars within the enclosed cavity 403.
The procedure 620 may include block 626, which generally involves engaging a snap mechanism 430 of the second upper tray 310 with a corresponding snap mechanism 430 of the second lower tray 320. For example, block 626 may involve engaging the snap mechanisms 430 such that each protrusion of one tray 400 is received in a corresponding recess of the other tray 400 in a manner analogous to that described above with reference to engagement of the snap mechanisms 230.
The stacking procedure 630 generally involves stacking the first crate 100 on the second crate 300. More particularly, the procedure 630 includes block 632, which generally involves engaging the engagement feature 240 of the first lower tray 120 with the engagement feature 450 of the second upper tray 310 to thereby discourage relative shifting of the first crate 100 and the second crate 300.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the first crate assembly procedure 610 and/or the second crate assembly procedure 620 may be repeated as desired to form additional crates 100, 300 of selected sizes. Moreover, such additional crates 100, 300 may be stacked atop one another as desired, for example according to the stacking procedure 630. Due to the congruence of the engagement areas 270, 470, the crates 100, 300 may be stacked in any desired order.
In certain embodiments, the process 600 may involve a storage procedure 640, which generally involves disassembling and storing one or more crates. For example, the procedure 640 may include block 642, which generally involves disassembling the first crate 110. Block 642 may, for example, involve disengaging the snap mechanisms 230 and removing the first upper tray 110 from the first lower tray 120 such that the jars may be removed. The procedure 640 may include block 644, which generally involves reversing the orientation of one of the first trays 200 such that the female first side 202 of one tray 200 faces the male second side 204 of the other tray 200. The procedure 640 may then continue to block 646, which involves nesting the trays 200 within one another, for example as illustrated in
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions are desired to be protected.
It should be understood that while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
The present application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/215,663, filed Jun. 28, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63215663 | Jun 2021 | US |