U.S. patent application number 11/074088 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for three-way tray.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard C. Kruyer, Donald Verna.
Application Number | 20060070906 11/074088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36124478 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060070906 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Verna; Donald ; et
al. |
April 6, 2006 |
Three-way tray
Abstract
A tray for providing at least three levels of stacking between
vertically adjacent trays includes a tray having four walls, a
bottom, and an adjustment member. The adjustment member can be a
pin. The tray includes multiple grooves, multiple extensions,
multiple recesses, and multiple projections for engagement with
another vertically adjacent stacked tray. The adjustment member in
combination with the multiple grooves, multiple extensions,
multiple recesses, and multiple projections define a first stacking
level, a second stacking level, and a third stacking level, which
is intermediate to the first stacking level and the second stacking
level. An additional stacking level is defined when vertically
adjacent stacked trays are rotated 90.degree. with respect to each
other.
Inventors: |
Verna; Donald; (Wixom,
MI) ; Kruyer; Richard C.; (Swartz Creek, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & BASILE, P.C.
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD
SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084
US
|
Assignee: |
Pinckney Molded Plastics,
Inc.
Howell
MI
|
Family ID: |
36124478 |
Appl. No.: |
11/074088 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60615807 |
Oct 4, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/509 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/041 20130101;
B65D 21/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/509 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A tray for vertically stacking a plurality of identical trays
and providing at least three levels of stacking between two
vertically adjacent stacked trays comprising: a first wall; a
second wall located opposite from the front wall; a first side
wall; a second side wall located opposite from the first side wall;
a bottom connectible between the four walls; and means for
adjustably stacking vertically adjacent containers.
2. The tray of claim 1 further comprising at least one aperture
associated with each of the first side wall and the second side
wall to allow at least one of gripping the tray by an operator and
viewing items contained in the tray.
3. The tray of claim 2 wherein the aperture has at least one of a
rectangular shape and a plurality of rounded corners.
4. The tray of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is formed of a plastic
material.
5. The tray of claim 4 wherein the plastic material further
comprises an injection molded plastic.
6. The tray of claim 4 wherein the plastic material further
comprises at least one of a virgin plastic material, a reprocessed
plastic material, and any mixture thereof.
7. The tray of claim 1 wherein the bottom is integrally formed with
the first wall, the second wall, the first side wall, and the
second side wall.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second side wall is a
mirror image of the first side wall.
9. The tray of claim 1 wherein the bottom further comprises a
plurality of apertures.
10. The tray of claim 9 wherein the plurality of apertures are
arranged in at least one of a grid pattern, a honeycomb pattern,
and a parallel slotted pattern.
11. The tray of claim 1 wherein the adjustably stacking means
further comprises: a plurality of grooves located proximate to a
top edge of the first side wall and the second side wall and having
a continuous outer ledge and a discontinuous inner ledge spaced
from and oriented parallel to the outer ledge to form each groove;
a plurality of recesses located proximate to the top edge of the
first side wall and the second side wall; a plurality of extensions
located proximate to a bottom edge of the first side wall and the
second side wall and having a corresponding shape, a corresponding
location, and a corresponding number to the plurality of recesses
and each extension including a protrusion having a complementary
shape to the groove and located proximate to the bottom edge; at
least one adjustment member associated with at least one of the
first side wall and the second side wall and having a plurality of
steps located along a top edge of the adjustment member and
corresponding to a plurality of stacking levels and; at least one
channel formed in at least one of the first side wall and the
second side wall for receiving the at least one adjustment member
and located proximate to the plurality of recesses.
12. The tray of claim 11 wherein the plurality of recesses further
comprise a plurality of recesses non-uniformly spaced along the top
edge of each side wall.
13. The tray of claim 11 wherein the at least one adjustment member
further comprises a slidable pin.
14. The tray of claim 11 wherein the at least one adjustment member
further comprises detent means for defining a plurality of stop
positions for the adjustment member.
15. The tray of claim 11 wherein the at least one adjustment member
further comprises means for retaining the adjustment member
relative to the at least one channel.
16. The tray of claim 15 wherein the retaining means further
comprises at least one retaining member of the at least one
adjustment member receivable by at least one aperture of at least
one of the first side wall and the second side wall proximate to
the at least one channel.
17. The tray of claim 1 wherein the adjustable stacking means
further comprises: a first stacking level defined when the
vertically adjacent stacked trays are in an identical orientation
with respect to one another and a plurality of protrusions of one
tray are received by a plurality of complementary grooves of
another tray; a second stacking level defined when one tray is
rotated one-hundred eighty degrees (180.degree.) with respect to
another vertically adjacent stacked tray, an at least one
adjustment member of the one tray is in a first position, and a
plurality of protrusions of the another tray are fully received by
a plurality of recesses of the one tray; and a third stacking level
intermediate with respect to the first stacking level and the
second stacking level and defined when one tray is rotated
one-hundred eighty degrees (180.degree.) with respect to another
vertically adjacent stacked tray, the at least one adjustment
member of the one tray is in a second position, and the extensions
of another tray are partially received by the complementary
recesses of the one tray to a depth limited by the at least one
adjustment member.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjustable stacking means
further comprises a stacking level defined when one container is
rotated ninety degrees (90.degree.) with respect to another
vertically adjacent stacked container, and the first side wall and
the second side wall of the one container is received by at least
one complementary notch of the first wall and the second wall of
the tray.
19. A container for stacking a plurality of identical containers
and providing at least three levels of stacking between two
vertically adjacent stacked containers comprising: a first wall; a
second wall located opposite from the front wall; a first side
wall; a second side wall located opposite from the first side wall;
a bottom connectible between the four walls; and means for
adjustably stacking vertically adjacent containers comprising a
first stacking level defined when the vertically adjacent stacked
containers are in an identical orientation with respect to one
another and a plurality of protrusions of one container are
received by a plurality of grooves of another container, a second
stacking level defined when one container is rotated one-hundred
eighty degrees (180.degree.) with respect to another vertically
adjacent stacked container, an at least one adjustment member of
the one container is in a first position, and a plurality of
extensions of the another container are fully received by a
plurality of recesses of the one container, and a third stacking
level intermediate with respect to the first stacking level and the
second stacking level and defined when one container is rotated
one-hundred eighty degrees (180.degree.) with respect to another
vertically adjacent stacked container, the at least one adjustment
member of the one container is in a second position, and the
extensions of another container are partially received by the
recesses of the one container to a depth limited by the at least
one adjustment member.
20. The container of claim 19 further comprising at least one
aperture associated with each of the first side wall and the second
side wall to allow at least one of gripping the container by an
operator and viewing items contained in the container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/615,807 filed on Oct. 4, 2004, and
provisional patent application Ser. No. (awaiting reporting from
United States Patent Office) filed on Feb. 23, 2005, which are
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to containers and more
particularly to bakery trays or baskets, which can be vertically
stacked or nested.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Stackable and nestable tray-like containers are available in
various sizes and designs. In general, these tray-like containers
are most widely used in the bakery industry for transporting mass
quantities of baked goods such as bread loaves and buns. Generally
stacking and nesting containers are known in the art. Typically the
trays can be stacked on top of each other and nested within each
other. The prior art discloses a number of ways this can be
accomplished, including stacking with and without an aligning means
and nesting of trays when aligned relative with one another and
when rotated 180.degree. relative to one another. Such trays are
desirable for their ability to stack when loaded for maximum
packing and their ability to nest when empty for minimal use of
storage space. A three position tray allows the trays to be
positioned between a stacking and nesting position for the loading
of goods with a lower height. The trays allow the use of a single
tray design for differing product sizes, while efficiently
utilizing available space.
[0004] Incorporated by reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,274.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention is a three-way tray or container that
provides at least three levels of stacking between vertically
adjacent stacked trays. The tray includes a first wall, a second
wall located opposite from the first wall, a first side wall, a
second side wall located opposite from the first side wall, a
bottom connectible between the four walls, and means for adjustably
stacking vertically adjacent containers. The adjustably stacking
means can include, a plurality of complementary extensions and
grooves, a plurality of complementary protrusions and recesses, and
at least one adjustment member.
[0006] The adjustably stacking means can comprise a first stacking
level defined when vertically adjacent stacked trays are in an
identical orientation with respect to one another and a plurality
of protrusions of one tray are received by a plurality of grooves
of another tray, a second stacking level defined when one tray is
rotated one-hundred eighty degrees (180.degree.) with respect to
another vertically adjacent stacked tray, an at least one
adjustment member of the one tray is in a disengaged position, and
a plurality of extensions of the another tray are fully received by
a plurality of recesses of the one tray, and a third stacking level
intermediate with respect to the first stacking level and the
second stacking level and defined when one tray is rotated
one-hundred eighty degrees (180.degree.) with respect to another
vertically adjacent stacked tray, the at least one adjustment
member of the one tray is in an engaged position, and the
extensions of another tray are partially received by the recesses
of the one tray to a depth limited by the at least one adjustment
member.
[0007] The at least one adjustment member can be a pin receivable
by a channel of at least one of the first side wall and the second
side wall. The pin can include detent means for defining a
plurality of stop positions relative to the channel.
[0008] Other applications of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description
of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray according to the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a side of the tray;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of multiple vertically adjacent
stacked trays;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of multiple stacked
trays;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of multiple stacked
trays;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an adjustment member
of the tray; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the adjustment
member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring to the drawings, a container or tray 10 is shown
in FIGS. 1-7. The tray 10 has four vertical walls including a first
wall 12, a first side wall 14, a second wall 16, and a second side
wall 18, and has a lower planar surface or bottom 20 connected
between the four walls 12-18. The first side wall 14 and the second
side wall 18 are mirror images of each other and, therefore, only
one side will be discussed.
[0018] As best seen in FIG. 3-5, multiple trays 10A-10D can be
stacked such that an operator can select between multiple stacking
levels between each pair of vertically adjacent trays 10A-10D. The
stacking levels are each associated with a relative distance
between the bottoms 20 of each pair of adjacent trays 10. When the
top tray 10A is oriented in a stacked position such that the first
wall 12 of the tray 10B is facing in the same direction as the
first wall 12 of the tray 10A, then the distance between the
bottoms 20 will be at one level. When the tray 10D is oriented in a
reversed manner with respect to the tray 10C such that the second
wall 16 of the tray 10D is facing in the same direction as the
first wall 12 of the tray 10C and the pin 22C is in a retracted
position, then the distance between the bottoms 20 of the trays
10A-B will be at a different level. Additionally, if the tray 10C
has a reversed orientation with respect to the bottom tray 10B and
the pin 22B is in an engaged position, the distance between the
bottoms 20 will be at a middle or intermediate level as compared to
the two distances described above. Thus, the invention provides for
at least three levels of stacking.
[0019] Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, the bottom 20 can include a
plurality of apertures 24 to allow ventilation between the trays
10. By way of example and not limitation, the apertures 24 can be
arranged in at least one of a grid pattern, a honeycomb pattern,
and a parallel slotted pattern.
[0020] In a preferred configuration, the first wall 12 and the
second wall 16 have lower heights relative to the first side wall
14 and the second side wall 18. The first wall 12 can include an
angular step portion 26 proximate to each corner 28 with a lower
ledge 30 therebetween. The second wall 16 can include an angular
step portion 31 proximate to each of the corners 28. On an upper
surface 32 of each of the angular portions 26, 31 of the first wall
12 and the second wall 16, respectively, and adjacent to the side
walls 14, 18 is a first notch 34 and a first rail lip portion 36,
which commences a non-continuous inner rail 38 for guidance along
the side walls 14, 18 when stacking one tray 10 vertically adjacent
to another tray 10. Adjacent to the first rail lips 36 and inboard
from the side walls 14, 18 is a second notch 40. Each second notch
40 is sized to accommodate one of the side walls 14, 18 when one
tray 10 is stacked vertically adjacent to and positioned rotated
(90.degree.) ninety degrees relative to another tray 10 for storage
of the unloaded trays 10.
[0021] As discussed above, the first side wall 14 and the second
side wall 18 are mirror images of each other. An upper continuous
wall portion extends the entire length of the side walls 14, 18,
herein referred to as the outer rail 42. A groove 44 extends
between the inner rail 38 and the outer rail 42. The first wall 14
includes multiple extensions or feet 46. The feet 46 can have
non-uniform spacing with respect to the length of the first side
wall 14. The foot proximate to the first wall 12 is referred to as
46A, and the foot proximate to the second wall 16 is referred to as
46B. Each foot 46A, 46B is generally rectangular in shape and can
include at least one angled corner or chamfer 47A, 47B. At the
bottom of each foot 46A, 46B, there is a protrusion 48A, 48B
respectively, where the protrusions 48A, 48B have a complementary
shape and a complementary spacing with respect to the groove 44.
The side walls 14, 18 each can include multiple recesses 50A, 50B.
The recesses 50A, 50B can have a complementary shape to the feet
46A, 46B, respectively. The number of the recesses 50A, 50B and
spacing of the recesses 50A, 50B along the first side wall 14 are
complementary to the number and spacing of the feet 46A, 46B,
respectively. The first side wall 14 can include at least one
window or aperture 52 in order to allow at least one of gripping
the tray 10 by an operator and viewing of items or merchandise
contained in the tray 10. The aperture 52 can be generally
rectangular in shape and can include rounded corners 54.
[0022] The first side wall 14 can include a channel 56 for
receiving the pin 22, as can be seen in FIGS. 1-5. The channel 56
can intersect the recesses 50A, 50B and can be positioned between
the aperture 52 and the rail 42. The channel 56 can include
retaining means 58 for retaining the pin 22 in the channel 56. By
way of example and not limitation, the retaining means 58 can
include at least one aperture 60 for receiving at least one
retaining member 62 of the pin 22. The aperture 60 can be a
longitudinally extending slot.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pin 22 can include multiple
steps 64. The pin 22 can include a first end 66 and a second end
68. The at least one retaining member 62 can be generally
cylindrical in shape. A first step 70 is located proximate to the
first end 66 and is equal in height to a second step 72, which is
located proximate to the second end 68. A corner 74 can be
chamfered and is located between the first step 70 and an upper
portion 76. A notch 78 is located between the upper portion 76 and
the second step 72 and is lower in height than the second step 72.
The length of the pin 22 is shorter than the length of the channel
56 allowing movement of the pin 22 within the channel 56. The first
end 66 of the pin 22 is inserted into the channel 56 first. The
distance from the second end 68 of the pin 22 to the notch 78 is
equal to the distance between the first end 66 to the corner 74.
The shape of the corner 74 can be complementary to the angled
corners 47A, 47B of the feet 46A, 46B, respectively. The pin 22 can
include detent means for defining a plurality of stop positions
80A, 80B of the pin 22 relative to the channel 56. The detent means
can be a detent member 82 for engaging one of a plurality of detent
apertures 84A, 84B of the channel 56 where each detent aperture
corresponds to a stop position 80A, 80B.
[0024] Referring again to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown a first
stacking level, which is defined when the tray 10B is in the same
orientation as the tray 10A. When the first level of stacking is
selected, the protrusions 48 of the feet 46 are received by the
groove 44 of the tray 10A. This results in a maximum distance
between the bottoms 20 of the trays 10A, 10B relative to other
stacking levels described herein.
[0025] A second stacking level is shown where the tray 10D is in a
reversed or 180.degree. orientation with respect to the tray 10C
where the second wall 16 of the tray 10D faces the same direction
of the first wall 12 of the tray 10C, and the pin 22C of the tray
10C is in a first position where the detent member 82 is engaged
with the detent aperture 84B. When in this stacking level, the feet
46 of the tray 10D are received in their entirety by the recesses
50 of the tray 10C. This results in a minimum distance between the
bottoms 20 of the trays 10C, 10D relative to other stacking levels
discussed herein.
[0026] A third stacking level is defined, as discussed above, when
the tray 10C is in the reversed or 180.degree. orientation relative
to the tray 10B, and the pin 22B of tray 10B is in a second
position where the detent member 82 is engaged with the detent
aperture 84A. When the pin 22B is in the second position, it is
moved relative to the channel such that the steps 70, 72 of the pin
22B of the tray 10B are in a corresponding location to the recesses
50 of the tray 10B. This limits the depth of the recesses 50 so
that when the tray 10C is stacked vertically onto the tray 10B the
feet 46 of the top tray 10C rest on the steps 72, 70 of the pin 22B
and are only partially received by the recesses 50 of the tray 10B.
This results in a middle or intermediate distance between the
bottoms 20 of the trays 10B, 10C relative to the first stacking
level and the second stacking level described above.
[0027] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which
scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is
permitted under the law.
* * * * *