UNITIZING AND LOCKING MULTI-POT CARRIER TRAY

Abstract

A carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or more pots. In particular embodiments, the carrier tray includes a base and a pot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured to receive and store a pot. The tray also includes a ledge arranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray, and a pot-locking tab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location along the inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to containers and trays, and more specifically to a carrier tray used to store and carry one or more pots. In more specific embodiments, the carrier tray unitizes and locks the one or more pots within the carrier tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pots are generally used to grow a variety of plants, transport seedlings, plants, or trees, as well as for other agricultural or commercial purposes. There is a need for a mechanism that allows for secured, unitary transportation of one or multiple pots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a carrier tray having one or more apertures formed in a base for receiving a pot, the inner perimeter of the aperture having one or more locking tabs to secure the pot within the aperture and the tray. In particular embodiments, a carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or more pots includes a base and a pot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured to receive and store a pot. The tray also includes a ledge arranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray, and a pot-locking tab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location along the inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.

These and other exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail by the drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more exemplary embodiments of the carrier tray for securely storing one or more pots are described below with reference to the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a pot arranged within an aperture of a carrier tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the carrier tray and pot shown in FIG. 1 above.

FIG. 3A is a sectional side view showing the securement of the pot within the tray according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is an additional sectional side view showing the securement of the pot within the tray according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3C is still another sectional side view showing the securement of the pot within the tray according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a carrier tray 1 retaining a pot 2 within a pot-receiving aperture 3 arranged in the carrier tray. In the figure, one pot is shown arranged in one aperture. It is understood that one or more (i.e., multiple) apertures may be arranged within the tray to each receive and store a pot for securement and storage.

The tray 1 includes a base 4 having a top surface 5 through and which aperture 3 extends. One or more outer sidewalls 6 extend in a generally vertical direction around at least a portion of an outer perimeter 7 of base 4 to strengthen the tray and to form a means of handling or grasping the tray. Furthermore, one or more inner walls 8 extend vertically from an inner perimeter 9 of aperture 3 to strengthen the tray and the base for retaining any pot within the corresponding aperture.

Arranged along the inner perimeter 9 is a ledge 10 configured to receive a rim 11 of a corresponding pot 2. The rim 11 is arranged along an open end 12 of the pot 2 atop sidewalls 13. In particular locations around the inner perimeter, the ledge 10 includes a pot-locking tab 15 extending radially inward. The tab 15 is spaced above ledge 10 to form a cavity or recess 16 between the tab and ledge for receiving a lip 14, the lip extending outwardly from the rim of the pot. The tab 15 is sized such that when the pot 2 is arranged within the tray, the lip 14 or rim 11 extends into cavity 16 such that tab 15 locks the lip or rim between the ledge 10 and tab 15. In FIG. 3A, tab 15 is configured such that the lip 14 is secured within cavity 16. In FIG. 3B, tab 15 is arranged further from ledge 10 such that a side portion of the rim 11 extends within cavity 16. In FIG. 3C, tab 15 is arranged even further from ledge 10 such that the full height of the rim arranged within cavity 16. Accordingly, it is understood that these locking tabs 15 may be located at the top of the pot rim 11, a return or side of the pot rim 11, and/or at the projection outward 14 from the return on the rim 11.

It is understood that the tray may be formed of any material, including plastic, and may be formed using any known process, including any molding process, such as thermoforming, injection molding, or blow molding. It is also understood that the pot may comprise any size or shape, and the corresponding tray aperture for receiving said pot may also comprise any shape, and may be similarly shaped to receive a corresponding pot. The locking tabs 15 may be designed to hold a pot with any shape, diameter, or height so that it may be secured in the carrier tray 1. An additional feature of the locking tabs 15 is that they may be manufactured in a way that would allow a pot 2 to be inserted into the carrier tray 1 from either the top or the bottom of the carrier tray 1 in order to promote ease of use for a user.

Particular embodiments of the invention may include one or more various options for handle attachment hole(s) and tag attachment hole(s) which may be of a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the shape and size of the handle or tag. Further, the shape of the base or carrier top surface may be can be flat, sloped towards the pot, or sloped away from the pot in order to either promote or reject water from running into the pot 2 from the top of the tray 1.

Claims

1. A carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or more pots, the tray comprising: a base;a pot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured to receive and store a pot;a ledge arranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray;a pot-locking tab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location along the inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.

2. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the base has a top surface through which the pot-receiving aperture extends.

3. The carrier tray of claim 1 further comprising: one or more outer sidewalls extending in a generally vertical direction around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the base, configured to strengthen the tray and to form a means of handling or grasping the tray.

4. The carrier tray of claim 1 further comprising: one or more inner walls extending vertically from the inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to strengthen the tray and the base for retaining any pot within the aperture.

5. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the base has a top surface through which the pot-receiving aperture extends.

6. The carrier tray of claim 1, where the cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, a lip extending outwardly from the rim of the pot.

7. The carrier tray of claim 1, where the cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, a full-height of the rim of the pot.

8. The carrier tray of claim 1, where the aperture is configured to receive the pot from a top of the tray.

9. The carrier tray of claim 1, where the aperture is configured to receive the pot from a bottom of the tray.

10. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray, the rim of the pot being arranged within the cavity and between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the rim arranged along an open end of the pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot.

11. The carrier tray of claim 6, wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray, the lip of the rim being arranged within the cavity and between the pot-locking tab and ledge, where the cavity is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, the lip extending outwardly from the rim of the pot, the rim arranged along an open end of the pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot.

12. The carrier tray of claim 7, wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray, the rim of the pot being arranged within the cavity and between the pot-locking tab and ledge, where the cavity is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, the a full-height of the rim of the pot, the rim arranged along an open end of the pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot.

13. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the carrier tray is a molded tray formed by a molding process.

14. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a plurality of pot-locking tabs spaced apart around the aperture.

15. The carrier tray of claim 1, wherein the carrier tray includes a plurality of apertures.