U.S. patent application number 11/263251 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-03 for crate.
This patent application is currently assigned to Norseman Plastics Ltd.. Invention is credited to Narayan Raghunathan.
Application Number | 20070095844 11/263251 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37994930 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070095844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Raghunathan; Narayan |
May 3, 2007 |
Crate
Abstract
A crate including a bottom, a plurality of sides extending
upwardly from the bottom, each of the plurality of sides being
joined with the bottom and the plurality of sides being joined with
one another to define an open top in the crate, at least one of the
plurality of sides including a first opening defining a handle, at
least one of the plurality of sides including a plurality of
secondary openings, wherein each of the plurality of secondary
openings is sized to prevent the insertion of a grabbing tool such
as a hook.
Inventors: |
Raghunathan; Narayan;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WIGGIN AND DANA LLP;ATTENTION: PATENT DOCKETING
ONE CENTURY TOWER, P.O. BOX 1832
NEW HAVEN
CT
06508-1832
US
|
Assignee: |
Norseman Plastics Ltd.
Ontario
CA
|
Family ID: |
37994930 |
Appl. No.: |
11/263251 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/676 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/22 20130101; B65D
1/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/676 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Claims
1. A crate comprising: a bottom; a plurality of sides extending
upwardly from said bottom, each of said plurality of sides being
joined with said bottom and said plurality of sides being joined
with one another to define an open top in the crate, at least one
of said plurality of sides including a first opening defining a
handle, at least one of said plurality of sides including a
plurality of secondary openings, wherein each of said plurality of
secondary openings is sized to prevent the insertion of a grabbing
tool.
2. A crate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of
secondary openings is smaller than said first opening.
3. A crate according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of
secondary openings has a largest dimension of about less than or
equal to 1 inch.
4. A crate according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of
ribs, each positioned within one of said plurality of secondary
openings.
5. A crate comprising: a bottom including an outer edge; a
plurality of sides extending upwardly from said bottom, each of
said plurality of sides being joined with said bottom, said
plurality of sides being joined with one another to define an open
top in the crate, at least one of said plurality of sides including
a first opening defining a handle, at least one of said plurality
of sides including a plurality of secondary openings; a plurality
of ribs, each positioned within one of said plurality of secondary
openings.
6. A crate according to claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of
ribs defines at least two smaller openings in one of said plurality
of secondary openings.
7. A crate according to claim 6, wherein each of said smaller
openings is smaller than said first opening.
8. A crate according to claim 6, wherein each of said smaller
openings is sized to prevent the insertion of a grabbing tool.
9. A crate according to claim 8, wherein each of said smaller
openings has a largest dimension of about less than or equal to 1
inch.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a crate having
sides with openings. In particular, the present invention is
directed to a dairy crate having openings sized to prevent the
insertion of a hook.
[0003] (2) Description of the Related Art
[0004] Crates are often used to transport dairy products such as
milk. At dairies and in stores where the products are sold,
grabbing tools such as hooks or similar instruments are often used
to move the plastic crates. For crates that have solid sides with
only a reinforced opening for a handle, the hooks are inserted
through the handle opening. However, for crates that have both
handle openings and other smaller openings on the side, the hooks
are sometimes inserted through the smaller openings rather than the
handle opening. However, smaller openings are typically not
reinforced and tend to break when pulled on by a grabbing tool or
instrument such as a hook.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One aspect of the present invention is a crate including a
bottom and a plurality of sides extending upwardly from the bottom.
Each of the plurality of sides are joined with the bottom and the
plurality of sides are joined with one another to define an open
top in the crate. At least one of the plurality of sides includes a
first opening defining a handle and a plurality of secondary
openings. Each of the plurality of secondary openings is sized to
prevent the insertion of a grabbing tool.
[0006] Another aspect of the invention is a crate including a
bottom having an outer edge and a plurality of sides extending
upwardly from the bottom. Each of the plurality of sides is joined
with the bottom and the plurality of sides are joined with one
another to define an open top in the crate. At least one of the
plurality of sides includes a first opening defining a handle and a
plurality of secondary openings. The crate also includes a
plurality of ribs, which are each positioned within one of the
plurality of secondary openings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings
show a form of the invention that is presently preferred. However,
it should be understood that the present invention is not limited
to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the
drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a crate according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of partial section of the
secondary openings in one embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a partial section of the
secondary openings in one embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring now to the drawings in which like reference
numerals indicate like parts, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, one
aspect of the present invention is a crate 20, which includes a
plurality of sides 22 (referred to as sides 22 hereafter) that each
have a plurality of secondary openings 24 (referred to as openings
24 hereafter) that are configured to prevent the insertion of a
grabbing tool such as a hook (not shown).
[0013] Crate 20 also includes a bottom 26, which is joined with
sides 22. Sides 22 extend upwardly from bottom 26. Typically, crate
20 includes four of sides 22. However, in other embodiments, other
numbers of sides 22 are possible, e.g., three, five, or more. Sides
22 are joined with one another to define an open top 28 in crate
20. Of course, in other embodiments, a lid (not shown) may also be
includes. At least one of the plurality of sides includes a first
opening 30 defining a handle. Each openings 24 is smaller than
first opening 30. Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, each of
openings 24 has a largest dimension that is less than or equal to 1
inch. Alternatively, openings 24 are sized according to the
dimensions of a particular grabbing tool, e.g., hook or similar
instrument.
[0014] As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in one embodiment, crate 20
includes a plurality of ribs 32 (referred to as ribs 32 hereafter),
which are each positioned within one of openings 24. Each of ribs
32 defines at least two smaller openings 34 (referred to as smaller
openings 34 hereafter) in one openings 24. Each of smaller openings
34 is sized to prevent the insertion of a hook (not shown) and is
generally smaller than first opening 30. Typically, each of smaller
openings 30 has a largest dimension that is less than or equal to 1
inch. Alternatively, smaller openings 30 are sized according to the
dimensions of a particular grabbing tool, e.g., hook or similar
instrument.
[0015] Crate 20 is typically used as a dairy crate and is generally
fabricated from a thermoplastic or the like, as sold by Norseman
Plastics Ltd. of Ontario, Canada. Aspects of the present invention
are not limited to a specific crate geometry, material, or use.
Rather, it is contemplated that the present invention may be
incorporated into any type of crate that is moved using a grabbing
instrument such as a hook or similar device.
[0016] A crate according to the present invention offers advantages
over prior art designs in that it reduces the damage caused to the
crate by pulling on unreinforced openings on the sides of the crate
inserting using grabbing tools such as hooks. Instead, a worker is
forced to insert the hook into larger, reinforced openings, thereby
reducing damage to the crate.
[0017] A crate according to the present invention that includes
ribs offers additional reinforcement over prior art crates. The
ribs help increase the strength of the crate sides thereby
increasing the amount of stress they can withstand without
failing.
[0018] Although the invention has been described and illustrated
with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and
various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein
and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the
scope of the following claims.
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