U.S. patent application number 11/754458 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-04 for tray and dolly.
Invention is credited to Ryan C. Meers.
Application Number | 20080296183 11/754458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39670683 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080296183 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meers; Ryan C. |
December 4, 2008 |
TRAY AND DOLLY
Abstract
A container includes a card holder having a flap portion for
retaining a card against the exterior of one wall of the container.
The card holder is snap-fit to the wall and pivotable relative to
the wall. The flap portion is biased against the wall in order to
retain the card. A complementary dolly includes a deck having
recesses for receiving the casters of a similar dolly stacked
thereon. The recesses automatically align rotatable casters as they
are inserted.
Inventors: |
Meers; Ryan C.; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
39670683 |
Appl. No.: |
11/754458 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/232 ;
280/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 2202/12 20130101;
B62B 5/0093 20130101; B65D 25/205 20130101; B62B 2501/065 20130101;
B65D 21/045 20130101; B62B 3/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/232 ;
280/29 |
International
Class: |
B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a floor; a first wall extending upward
from the floor; and a card holder snap-fit to the first wall and
pivotable relative to the first wall, the card holder including a
flap portion.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the flap portion is clear.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the card holder is a clear
plastic.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein a similar container can be
nested therein when oriented similarly and can be stacked thereon
when oriented 180 degrees relative thereto.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the card holder is pivotably
secured to the first wall by a hinge, the hinge including a hinge
pin snap-fit into a hinge receiver.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein the hinge pin is integrally
molded with the card holder.
7. The container of claim 6 wherein the hinge receiver is formed in
the first wall.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein the first wall includes at
least one arm forming the hinge receiver.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the card holder includes at
least one integrally molded connector received in a slot in the
first wall.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein the slot in the first wall is
a vertical slot opening downward.
11. The container of claim 10 wherein the connector snap-fits past
the floor to connect the card holder to the container.
12. The container of claim 1 further including a card with indicia
between the card holder and the first wall.
13. The container of claim 1 further including second, third and
fourth walls extending upward from the floor to define an interior
compartment of the container with the first wall.
14. A dolly comprising: a deck having a plurality of recesses
formed in an upper surface thereof, the recesses each including two
curved portions partially separated by tapered dividers; and a
plurality of casters extending downward from the deck, each aligned
with one of the plurality of recesses.
15. The dolly of claim 14 wherein the casters are rotatable about
an axis perpendicular to the deck.
16. The dolly of claim 14 wherein the plurality of casters include
two casters rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the deck and
two fixed casters.
17. The dolly of claim 14 further including a plurality of locators
protruding upwardly from a periphery of the deck.
18. The dolly of claim 14 further including a substantially closed
peripheral portion about the periphery of the underside of the
deck.
19. The dolly of claim 18 wherein the deck includes an upper panel
down from which a plurality of ribs extend, the peripheral portion
corresponding to an upper periphery extending around the periphery
of the upper panel, the upper periphery being primarily open, with
ribs extending therethrough.
20. The dolly of claim 19 further including a plurality of locators
protruding upward from the upper periphery of the deck, the
locators opening downwardly.
21. A container comprising: a floor; a plurality of walls extending
upward from the floor to define an interior compartment, the
plurality of walls including a first wall, the first wall including
an integrally molded hinge receiver; and a card holder including a
flap portion and an integrally molded hinge pin snap-fit into the
hinge receiver.
22. The container of claim 21 wherein the flap portion is
clear.
23. The container of claim 21 further including a card having
indicia thereon, the card retained between the flap portion and the
first wall, the indicia readable through the flap portion.
24. The container of claim 21 wherein the hinge pin is connected to
the flap portion by a flexible arch, the arch biasing the flap
portion toward the first wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a stackable and
nestable tray.
[0002] There are known containers that are nestable when oriented
alike and stackable when oriented 180 degrees relative to one
another. Opposing walls of the containers are complementary, such
that walls of a lower container will support a similar container
stacked thereon in the 180 degree orientation.
[0003] One such container includes a holder for a card on the
exterior of one end wall. The holder includes a small, flexible,
clear plastic flap secured to the wall by rivets only at the lower
end. The flap can be bent downward to insert (or remove) a card
that identifies the contents of the container. Automated handling
equipment bends the card holder flap to remove and replace the
cards. Over time, the flap eventually breaks after repeated
flexing.
[0004] Some containers include a complementary dolly for
transporting a stack of loaded containers or empty containers. The
dolly has two fixed casters and two casters that pivot about a
vertical axis. The upper surface of the dolly includes recesses for
receiving the casters of a similar dolly, such that they can be
stacked when not in use. However, because two of the casters are
rotatable, the user often has to rotate the rotatable casters to
align them with the recesses on the dolly below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a container having an
improved card holder that is more durable and can withstand
repeated use without fatigue. The card holder in one embodiment
includes a flap for holding the card. The flap is connected to the
container by a hinge. The hinge includes a hinge pin and a hinge
receiver that permit the card holder to pivot, rather than bend.
Flexible arms bias the sheet toward the closed position to retain
the card.
[0006] A complementary dolly is also provided with recesses on its
upper surface for automatically rotating the rotatable casters of a
similar dolly stacked thereon to ensure proper alignment.
[0007] Although the card holder and the dolly are both disclosed in
the context of a 180 degree stack/nest container, both the card
holder and the dolly could be used with other types of containers
and both could be used with or without one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to a
first embodiment of the present invention, with the card holder in
the closed position.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view the container of FIG. 1, with the
card holder in the open position.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective interior view of the card holder of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective exterior view of the card holder of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the card holder of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective exterior view of the container of
FIG. 1 without the card holder.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective interior view of the container of
FIG. 6.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective exterior view of the container of
FIG. 1, with the card holder in the closed position.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a section view through the end wall of the
container of FIG. 1, with the card holder in the closed
position.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a section view through the end wall of the
container of FIG. 1, with the card holder in the closed
position.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a section view through the end wall of the
container of FIG. 1, with the card holder in the open position.
[0020] FIG. 12 is an upper perspective view of a container
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a lower perspective view of the container of FIG.
12.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view of the container of FIG.
12, without the card holder.
[0023] FIG. 15 is an enlarged bottom view of the end wall of the
container of FIG. 14.
[0024] FIG. 16 is a perspective interior view the container of FIG.
14.
[0025] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the interior surface of the
card holder of FIG. 12.
[0026] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the card holder of FIG. 17.
[0027] FIG. 19 is a side view of the card holder of FIG. 17.
[0028] FIG. 20 is an enlarged bottom view of the end wall of the
container of FIG. 12.
[0029] FIG. 21 is a section view through the center of the end wall
of FIG. 20.
[0030] FIG. 22 is an alternate section view through the end wall of
FIG. 20.
[0031] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a dolly that can be used to
carry a plurality of the containers of FIGS. 1-11 and/or FIGS.
12-22.
[0032] FIG. 24 is a top perspective view of the dolly of FIG.
23
[0033] FIG. 25 illustrates the alignment of casters from a dolly
stacked on the dolly of FIG. 23.
[0034] FIG. 26 is a bottom perspective view of the dolly of FIG.
23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a container 10 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. The container 10 includes a
base 12, a pair of opposed side walls including side wall 14, and a
pair of opposed end walls including end wall 16. In order to
provide the 180 degree stacking and nesting functionality, the side
walls and end walls include alternating inward and outward offset
portions 18. The offset portions 18 on the opposed side walls and
opposed end walls are arranged such that a like container will nest
in the container 10 if rotationally aligned and will stack on the
container if rotated 180 degrees relative to the container 10.
[0036] The container 10 includes a card holder 20 connected by a
hinge 22 at its lower end to the end wall 16. In FIG. 1, the card
holder 20 is shown in the closed position with a card 50 retained
between the card holder 20 and the end wall 16. The card 50
includes indicia 52 of the contents of the container 10. The
indicia 52 may be text and/or computer readable indicia, such as a
barcode. The card holder 20 is clear plastic so that the indicia 52
is readable through the card holder 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the
card holder 20 can be pivoted about the hinge 22 to an open
position so that a card can be inserted or removed from behind the
card holder 20.
[0037] The card holder 20 is shown in FIGS. 3-5. The card holder 20
includes a flap 26 connected to a hinge pin 28 by a plurality of
tabs 30. The tabs 30 extend at an obtuse angle from the flap
portion 26 and are spaced apart by openings 34 and arches 32.
[0038] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the container 10 without the card holder
20. Cantilevered arms 40 form hinge receivers between recesses 42.
Each of the recesses 42 is defined by a corresponding arch 32
protruding into the interior of the container 10. Each of the
arches 32 includes a center opening 44.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, the card holder 20 is attached to the
container 10 by snapping the hinge pin 28 under the hinge receivers
formed by the arms 40 on the container 10 (FIG. 9). The arches 32
of the card holder 20 are received in the openings 44 of the
recesses 42 on the container 10 (FIG. 10).
[0040] As shown in FIG. 11, in use the card holder 20 is pulled to
the open position (shown) so that a card 50 with information
printed or stored thereon can be inserted behind the flap 26. When
the card holder 20 is pivoted outward, the arches 32 of the card
holder 20 are compressed, such that the arches 32 bias the flap 26
back toward the closed position when the flap 26 is released. The
card 50 can then be read through the flap 26. Note that the flap 26
itself need not be flexible.
[0041] The card holder 20 is more durable than the previous card
holder, even after being opened and closed many times.
Additionally, if the card holder 20 does break, it is easily
replaced, unlike the previous card holder.
[0042] A container 110 and a card holder 120 according to a second
embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 12-22.
Referring to FIG. 12, the container 110 includes side walls 114 and
end walls 116, 117. The container 110 includes offset portions 118
such that the container 110 includes the 180 degree stack/nest
feature as does the previous embodiment. The card holder 120 is
clear plastic so that the indicia 52 on the card 50 is readable
through the card holder 120.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 13, the end wall 116 includes a plurality
of vertical slots 150 to which the card holder 120 is attached. The
container 110 includes a base cover 112 providing a smooth
lowermost surface.
[0044] FIGS. 14-16 show the container 110 without the card holder
120 and without the base cover 1 12. The container 110 includes
base wall 113 having a plurality of cross ribs 115 to which the
base cover 112 (FIG. 13) can be secured. The vertical slots 150 in
the end wall 116 open downward and are contiguous with openings 152
through the base wall 1 13.
[0045] FIGS. 17-19 show the card holder 120. The card holder 120 is
molded of a clear plastic and includes a flap 126 integrally molded
with connectors 156. Each connector 156 includes a rib 158
connecting a flange 156 to the flap 126. Each flange 156 includes
an enlarged base 168. The flap 126 includes a portion of increased
thickness 170 around each connector 156 to increase strength and to
make the flap 126 fit tightly against the tub end wall surface.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 20-22, the card holder 120 is connected
to the container 110 by sliding the connectors 156 into the
openings 152. The ribs 158 slide into the vertical slots 150 until
the enlarged base 168 of each connector 156 snaps past the base
wall 113 (FIG. 22).
[0047] In use, the card holder 120 is pulled outward away from the
end wall 116 so that a card 50 (FIG. 12) can be inserted.
[0048] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a dolly 80 that can be used
to carry a plurality of the containers 10, 110 of FIGS. 1-22. The
dolly 80 includes a deck 82 having a generally continuous center
upper wall 83 and plurality of protruding locators 84 located
around the periphery of the deck 82 and in the center of the deck
82. The locators 84 around the periphery are spaced apart by open,
ribbed areas 85. The upper surface of the deck 82 further includes
a plurality of recesses 86 each aligned with casters 88, 89 on the
lower side of the deck 82, such that the casters 88, 89 of a
similar dolly stacked thereon would be received in the recesses 86
as will be explained below. The casters 88 each freely rotate about
an axis perpendicular to the deck 82. The casters 89 are fixed in a
fixed orientation relative to the axis perpendicular to the deck
82. The dolly 80 could alternatively have four rotatable casters
88. As shown in FIG. 20, the recesses 86 each include a pair of
curved or spherical segments 90 separated by tapered dividers
92.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 25, when a similar dolly (only the casters
88', 89' are shown) is stacked on the dolly 80, the rotational
positions of the rotatable casters 88 will be re-aligned by the
tapered dividers 92 into the recesses 86. The fixed casters 89' on
the dolly will be received in the recesses 86 between the tapered
divides 92. Thus the dollies can be stacked without regard for
orientation of the casters 88, 89, which direction the dolly is
oriented and whether the dolly has four rotatable casters 88' or
two.
[0050] FIG. 26 is a bottom perspective view of the dolly 80. As
shown, the bottom of each of the locators 84 is open. However, the
open, ribbed areas 85 (FIG. 24) are open so that most of the
peripheral portions 93 of the bottom of the deck 82 can be
substantially closed (other than small drainage holes). The closed
peripheral portions 93 of the bottom of the deck 82 facilitates
handling by automated handling equipment. The closed peripheral
portions 93 correspond to the open, ribbed areas 85 (FIG. 23) on
the upper side of the deck 82. The closed locators 84 on the top of
the deck 82 (FIG. 23) correspond the open areas. The remainder of
the underside of the deck 82 is defined by ribs 95 extending
downwardly from the upper wall 83 (FIG. 23) of the deck 82.
[0051] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been
disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize
that certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied
to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
* * * * *