U.S. patent application number 12/661266 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-15 for multi-purpose merchandise tray.
Invention is credited to Glenn Edward Moss.
Application Number | 20110220525 12/661266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44558925 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110220525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moss; Glenn Edward |
September 15, 2011 |
Multi-purpose merchandise tray
Abstract
A multi-purpose merchandise tray has base dimensions equal to
support surface of a standard transport pallet. A plurality of the
tray may be disposed in a stacked manner on the pallet with
merchandise prearranged therein. The merchandise tray with the
pallet may be readily transported and deposited at a selected
location such as an aisle of the shop floor of a retail location
for ready purchase of the merchandise by customers walking through
the aisle.
Inventors: |
Moss; Glenn Edward; (Maple,
CA) |
Family ID: |
44558925 |
Appl. No.: |
12/661266 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/386 ;
206/509; 206/561 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/2009
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/386 ;
206/561; 206/509 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/00 20060101
B65D019/00; B65D 1/34 20060101 B65D001/34; B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02 |
Claims
1-2. (canceled)
3. A multi-purpose merchandise tray comprising, a large rectangular
base panel having dimensions equal to dimensions of a 24 inches by
48 inches top supporting surface of a standard load supporting
pallet, two U-thaped side panels extending perpendicular to two
long side edges of said base panel, said U-shaped side panels
having an elongated portion and a vertical side portion extending
vertically upward at two ends of said elongated portion, a
reinforcing end panel extending outward from each vertical outer
edge a said vertical side portion, a plurality of foldable
reinforce panels formed on an upper edge of said elongated portion
of each one of said side panels, said foldable reinforcing panels
being foldable downward to a folded position lying juuxtaposed to
each corresponding one of said each one elongated portion of said
side panels, said foldable reinforcing panels having mounting tabs
formed at a free edge therein, a plurality of mounting slots formed
along said side edges of said base panel, said mounting slots being
engageable with said mounting tabs of said foldable reinforcing
panels for maintaining said foldable reinforcing panels in said
folded position, vertical slot openinsg formed by spacings between
neighboring foldable reinforcing panels in said folded position and
a pair of said vertical slot openings located at directly opposite
associated positions in said side panels, transverse slot openings
formed in said base panel, said transverse openings being located
at said associated positions aligned with two directly opposite
vertical slot openings between said side panels, two rectangular
support cases located adjacent an inner surface of two opposite end
panels of said tray, support cases having a height lower than said
end panels of said tray, an open transverse slot formed at a mid
point of an upper surface of each of said support cases, and said
open transverse slot being aligned with the longitudinal center of
said base panel, and being located directly opposite to one
another, four right angle mounting brackets located at four upper
corners of said tray, said right angle mounting brackets being
formed by an upper edge portion of said of said vertical side
portion at each end of said U-shaped side panels and an upper edge
portion of said reinforcing end panel, a plurality of longitudinal
mounting slots formed in said base panel, said longitudinal
mounting slots being located along the longitudinal center of said
base panel, two vertical transverse dividers mounted in said tray
for dividing interior area of said tray into separate divided
areas, each transverse divider having a generally I-shape in
vertical side view, including a rectangular main board having a
height equal to the height of said support cases and a width equal
to the width of said base panel of said tray, two rectangular
bottom rims extending perpendicularly to a bottom edge of two
opposite surfaces of said main board, two horizontal plates
extending outward perpendicular to an upper edge of said two
opposite surfaces of said main board, an upstanding tab extending
upwardly from a center portion of said upper edge of said main
board.
4: A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to claim 3 wherein
said rectangular main board is engageable with selected two
opposite vertical slot openings formed between said neighboring
foldable reinforcing panels, and are aligned with said transverse
slots formed on the base panel of the tray.
5: A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to claim 4 wherein a
plurality of said tray are removably and securely mountable in a
stack manner with four bottom corners of an upper tray slidably
engaging said four mounting bracket located at four upper corners
of a lower tray, two end portion of said upper tray resting on
upper edge of said support cases, and middle portion of said upper
tray resting on said horizontal plates of said transverse dividers
in said lower tray.
6-10. (canceled)
11: A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to claim 3 wherein
said tray and said support cases are formed with a single
configuration formed on a sheet material chosen selectively form
the group consisting of paperboard and corrugated paper board.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to relatively large size merchandise
trays having dimensions applicable conveniently for storage,
transport of a selected large amount of merchandise as well as for
displaying the merchandise at the sale location to facilitate easy
selection of items to purchase from the tray by purchasers. More
particularly, it relates to merchandise container trays made of
cardboard or corrugated paperboard and having compatible dimensions
suitable for being carried on common standard size pallets to
utilize the support surface of the pallet fully and to facilitate
transport of a selected large amount of merchandise as well as for
ready display of the merchandise at the point of sale without
requiring transfer of the merchandise to other display devices.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Containers such as corrugated boxes are commonly used for
storing and transporting merchandise from a manufacturing or
distribution facility to a sale or retail location. However, the
containers are not suitable for displaying the merchandise at the
sale or retail location, since the merchandise is not readily
accessible from the container by customers for selecting the items
to purchase. Accordingly, the merchandise, after transported to the
sale or retail location, must be unpacked from the containers and
be transferred to display shelves, stands, or show cases in order
that customers may select the items to purchase. This procedure is
time consuming and labor intensive to carry out.
[0005] Also, a plurality of generally rectangular merchandise
containers are normally placed on pallets for transportation. No
provisions are made in the construction of the container to ensure
the stability of the containers disposed on the pallet. Therefore,
with a large number of containers stacked on top of one another on
a pallet, often merchandise containers would fall off the stack
during transport causing breakage, spoilage or spillage of the
merchandise. Attempts have been made to incorporate interlocking
means between stacked containers such as providing rectangular
upstanding tabs at the middle at the top of their side panels and
complementary openings formed at the middle of the side edge of the
bottom panel of the container so that the complementary openings of
a container stacked above another container located below it would
engage with the tabs of the container below so as to hold the
stacked containers together to reduce the relative movement between
them for increasing the stability of the stacked containers during
transport. However, such upstanding tabs are flimsy in construction
and could easily be bent or crushed during handling of the
containers and therefore rendering such provision ineffective. The
drawback is further worsen by the fabrication of the containers
with cardboard or corrugated board for reducing their weight and
the cost and ease of their manufacture, because tabs made of
cardboard or corrugated board are lacking the required rigidity and
strength to withstand the inherent abuses they would be exposed to
during the handling of the containers and they would readily be
bent or mutilated.
[0006] Furthermore, in order to facilitate easy handling manually,
merchandise containers are made in relatively small convenient
sizes. Therefore for transporting a large quantity of required
merchandise, it is necessary to place and to stack a large number
of such relatively small convenient size containers on the pallet
for their transportation. Since the size of the containers are
commonly not designed to conform with the size of the load
supporting top surface of the pallet, they could not normally be
neatly arranged on the pallet; they may either not occupy the full
usable top surface of the pallet so that the transport capability
of the pallet is not fully utilized, or portions of some containers
may extend outside of the top surface of the pallet in a hazardous
manner thus making the load extremely unstable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is the principal object of the present invention to
provide multiple use container trays which are applicable for
transporting merchandise as well as be readily placed at a sale or
retail location for displaying the merchandise therein for purchase
by customers.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide
multiple use container trays having dimensions compatible with the
supporting top surface of standard pallets such that the complete
supporting top surface of the pallet can be efficiently
utilized.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide
container trays having strong rigidity which can be readily
fabricated with cardboard or corrugated paper board material
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide
container trays having strong interlocking means such that a
plurality of them may be disposed on a transport pallet with the
trays coupled and/or stacked together securely and safely.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
container trays having relatively large dimensions for carrying a
large number of merchandise. The trays have reinforced supports
therein for supporting the weight of the stack as well as the large
amount merchandise disposed therein.
[0012] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide container trays having various means for retaining the
merchandise therein securely during transport as well as displaying
for purchase at the retail location.
[0013] It is still another further object of the present invention
to provide container trays which can be fabricated with a single
piece of cardboard or corrugated paper board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other objects of the invention will become apparent in the
following description and appended claims, reference being made to
the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective elevation view of the
container tray of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a bottom and side perspective elevation view of
the container tray.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a top perspective elevation view of the
configuration formed on a single piece of cardboard or corrugated
paper board for fabricating the container tray according to the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top and side perspective elevation view of the
container tray with various portions therein folded and engaged
together during its fabrication.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top and side perspective elevation view of the
container tray with additional portions therein engaged together to
form the reinforced supports during its fabrication.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a front and top perspective elevation view showing
the container tray of the present invention provided with
transverse dividers for dividing the interior space of the tray
into various areas for holding merchandise of various varieties as
well as provided additional supports when at least two container
trays are stacked one on top of the other and placed on a standard
pallet.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front perspective elevation view showing a
plurality of container trays securely stacked together and placed
on a standard pallet.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a front and top perspective elevation view showing
an alternative elongated longitudinal divider mounted in the
container tray for dividing the interior space into two
longitudinal areas for holding various merchandise as well as
providing additional support when at least two container trays are
stacked together.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a front perspective elevation view showing a
plurality of container trays with each tray provided with the
longitudinal divider and stacked together and the stack is placed
on top of a pallet having standard dimensions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] With reference to the drawings in which like reference
numerals designate corresponding parts in the different views, the
container tray 10 of the present invention includes a rectangular
tray 11. The tray 11 may be conveniently fabricated with a
configuration 12 as best shown in FIG. 1 formed by stamping of a
single piece of cardboard or corrugated paper board. The tray 11
has a rectangular bottom panel 13 preferably having dimensions of
24 inches by 48 inches. The bottom panel 13 has two opposite longer
side edges 14 and 15, and two opposite shorter side edges 16 and
17. Six evenly spaced slot openings 18 are formed adjacent to and
along the longer side edge 14 and similar six evenly spaced slot
openings 19 are formed adjacent to and along the other longer side
edge 15. Three evenly spaced lengthwise slot openings 20, 21 and 22
parallel to the longer side edges are formed along the longitudinal
center of the bottom panel 13. Two transverse slot openings 23 and
24 parallel to and spaced from the shorter side edges as well as
spaced and parallel from one another are also formed in the bottom
panel 13. A rectangular first end panel 25 having the same width as
the shorter side edge 16 of the bottom panel 13, extends outward
from the short side edge 16 of the bottom panel 13 and it is also
foldable upward relative to the bottom panel 13 along the side edge
16. Two mutually parallel end panel slots 26 and 27 are formed in
the first end panel 25. The end panel slots 26 and 27 are parallel
and spaced from the adjacent side edges 28 and 29 respectively of
the first end panel 25. A narrow width rectangular support panel 30
extends outwards from the outer edge 31 of the first end penal 25,
and it is also foldable relative to the first end panel 25 along
this outer edge 31. A rectangular interior panel 32 equal in shape
and dimensions to the first side panel 25 extends outwards from an
intermediate outer edge 33 of the interior panel 32 and it is also
foldable along the outer edge 33 relative to the support panel 30.
A center slot opening 34A perpendicular to the edge 31 and 33 and
located at the middle of and adjacent to the outer edge 31 is
formed in both the support panel 30 and the edge portion of the
interior panel 32. Two additional mutually parallel slot openings
35A and 36A which are equally spaced from the center slot opening
34A are formed in both the support panel 30 and the edge portion of
the interior panel 32 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A first slot
opening 37 is located adjacent to and parallel to one side edge 38
of the interior panel 32 and a second slot opening 39 is also
located adjacent to the parallel to the other side edge 40 of the
interior panel 32. A rectangular first edge panel 41 equal in width
to the support panel 30 extends sideway from the side edge 38 of
the interior panel 32. A rectangular second edge panel 42 equal in
dimensions to the first edge panel 41 extends sideway from the side
edge 40. A first foldable rectangular panel 43 extends outwards
from the outer edge 44 of the first edge panel 41, and a second
foldable rectangular panel 45 extends outwards from the outer edge
46 of the second edge panel 42. A short open slot 47 is formed at
the middle of the outer edge of the first foldable rectangular
panel 43 and a similar short open slot 48 is formed at the middle
of the outer edge of the second foldable rectangular panel 45. Two
rectangular openings 49 and 50 are optionally formed at the two
outer corners of the interior panel 32, and an optional foldable
rectangular flap 51 extends outwards from the outer edge 52 of the
interior panel 32. The distance between the inner end of the open
slot 47 to the outer edge 44 of the first edge panel 41 is equal to
half of the length of the interior panel 32, and similarly the
distance between the inner end of the open slot 48 to the outer
edge 46 of the edge panel 42 is also equal to half of the length of
the interior panel 32.
[0025] A first U-shaped side panel 53 extends outwards from the
side edge 14 of the bottom panel 13. The first U-shaped side panel
53 has an elongated rectangular middle panel and two vertical side
panels 54 and 55 extending in a perpendicular manner from the two
end portions of the middle panel. The width of the middle panel is
much shorter than the length of the side edge 28 of the first end
panel 25, and the length of the vertical side panels 54 and 55 is
longer in length than the length of the side edge 28 of the first
end panel 25. A first reinforced end panel 56 extends sideways from
the outer edge 57 of the vertical side panel 53. The length of the
both the vertical side panel 54 and the first reinforced end panel
56 are longer than the side edge 28 of the first end panel 25. A
first foldable tab 58 extends outwards from the lower middle
portion of the outer edge 59 of the first reinforced end panel 56.
The first foldable tab 58 has a retaining tab 60 formed at its
outer edge and a retaining slot 61 is formed on the edge portion of
the edge 57 of the vertical side panel 54 and located directly
opposite to the retaining tab 60. The width of the first foldable
tab 58 is equal to the length of the slot 26 in the first end panel
25, and the length of the first foldable tab 58 is equal to the
distance between the slot 26 to the side edge 28 of the first end
panel 25. A second foldable tab 62 extends inwards from the inner
edge 63 of the vertical side panel 54, and the distance between its
upper edge 64 and the edge 14 of the base panel 13 is equal to the
length of the side edge 28 of the first end panel 25. A retaining
tab 65 is formed at the middle of the inner edge 66 of the second
foldable tab 62.
[0026] Three foldable reinforce side panels 67, 68, and 69 extends
upwards from the upper edge 70 of the elongated middle panel of the
U-shaped side panel 53, and retaining tabs are formed at the outer
edge of these reinforce side panels 67, 68 and 69. These foldable
side panels 67, 68 and 69 are foldable inwards and downward towards
the base panel 13 with their retaining tabs engaging with the slot
openings 18 to secure in place in a folded position lying against
the inner surface of the elongated middle panel of the side panel
53. A first vertical slot 71 is formed between the foldable side
panels 67 and 68, and a second vertical slot 72 is formed between
the foldable side panels 68 and 69.
[0027] Similarly, a second U-shaped side panel 73 equal in shape
and dimensions to the first U-shaped side panel 53, extends
outwards from the side edge 15 of the base panel 13. The U-shaped
side panel 73 has two vertical side panels 74 and 75 extending
upward from two end portions of the elongated middle panel. A
second reinforced end panel 76 extends sideways from the outer edge
77 of the vertical side panel 74. The length of the vertical side
panel 74 and the second reinforced end panel 76 is longer than the
length of the side edge 29 of the first end panel 25. A second
foldable tab 78 extends outward from the middle upper portion of
the outer edge 79 of the second reinforced end panel 76. The second
foldable tab 78 has a retaining tab 80 formed at its free edge and
a mounting slot 81 is formed at the outer edge 77 of the vertical
side panel 74 and located directly opposite to the retaining tab
80. A third foldable tab 82 extends sideway from the inner edge 83
of the vertical side panel 74, and a retaining tab 84 extends
inward from the inner edge of the third foldable tab 82. The
distance between the lower edge 85 and the edge 15 is equal to the
length of the edge 29 of the first end panel 25. Three foldable
reinforce side panels 86, 87 and 88 are formed along the outer edge
89 of the elongated middle panel of the side panel 73. The foldable
reinforce side panels 86, 87 and 88 are foldable along the outer
edge 89 inwardly and downwardly to lie juxtaposed to the inside
surface of the elongated middle panel of the side panel 73 with the
tabs formed at their outer free edge engaging with the slots 19
formed along the edge 15. A first vertical slot 90 is formed
between the foldable reinforce side panels 86 and 87, and a second
vertical slot 91 is formed between the foldable reinforce side
panels 87 and 88. The vertical slot 90 is located directly opposite
to the first vertical slot 71 formed between the foldable reinforce
side panels 67 and 68, and the second vertical slot 91 is located
directly opposite to the slot 72 formed between the foldable
reinforce side panels 68 and 69.
[0028] The rectangular second end panel 92 and all associated parts
attached thereto are identical in construction to the rectangular
first end panel 25 and the associated parts 26 to 81 described
above.
[0029] The tray 11 may be fabricated by first folding the U-shaped
side panels 53 and 73 upwards along the foldable edges 14 and 15
respectively until they are perpendicular to the bottom panel 13.
The foldable reinforce side panels 68 and 87 may then be folded
inwardly and downwardly to lie juxtaposed to the inner surface of
the elongated middle panel of the side panels 53 and 73 with the
mounting tab at their free edges engaging with the associated slot
openings 18 and 19 respectively formed along the edges 14 and 15 of
the bottom panel 13 so as to maintain the side panels 53 and 73
securely mounted in the vertical position perpendicular to the
bottom panel 13 to form rugged side panels for the tray 10. As best
shown in FIG. 4, the first end panel 25 is then folded upwards
along the side edge 16 until it is perpendicular to the bottom
panel 13. The first reinforced panel 56 and the second reinforced
panel 76 are folded along the edges 57 and 77 respectively while
the first foldable tab 58 and the second foldable tab 78 are folded
along edges 59 and 79 respectively to insert through the slot
openings 26 and 27 respectively located in the end panel 25 into
the interior of the tray. After having been inserted through the
slot openings 26 and 27, the foldable tabs 58 and 79 are bent and
folded towards the side panels 53 and 73 until their retaining tabs
60 and 80 engage with the retaining slots 61 and 81 respectively
located at the edges 57 and 77 respectively, thus maintaining the
side panels 25 mounted in the erected vertical position as best
shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5.
[0030] The first edge panel 41 and the second edge panel 42 are
folded upwards along fold lines 38 and 40 respectively until they
are perpendicular to the interior panel 32. The first foldable
rectangular panel 43 and the second foldable rectangular panel 45
are the folded along fold lines 44 and 46 respectively toward one
another and are mounted to one another by slidably engaging the
open slot 47 and 48 with one another so that they form a combined
panel equal in shape and dimension to the interior panel 32 and
spaced therefrom of a distance equal to the width of the edge
panels 41 and 42. The interior panel 32 is then folded along the
line 33 until the interior panel 32, the combined panel, the edge
panels 41 and 42 and the support panel 30 together form a
rectangular case 93 as best shown in FIG. 5. The rectangular
foldable flap 51, if provided, is folded rearward until it extends
perpendicular to the interior panel 32 to cover the bottom of the
rectangular case 93. The rectangular case 93 is then folded along
line 31 inwardly and downwardly until the combined panel lies in a
vertical position juxtaposed to the first end panel 25 with the
optionally provided rectangular foldable flap 51, if provided,
abutting the bottom panel 13. The rectangular case 93 is secured in
place with the foldable tabs 62 and 82 from the side panels 53 and
73 bent and folded against the interior panel 32 and the retaining
tabs 65 and 84 are bent to engaged with the slot openings 37 and 39
respectively formed in the interior panel 32. Since the vertical
panel 54 and reinforced panel 56 as well as the vertical panel 74
and the reinforced panel 76 have a length longer than the side edge
28 of the end panel, the upper end portions of the vertical panel
54 and reinforced panel 56 in combination form a rugged first right
angle mounting bracket 94 at one upper corner of the tray 11 while
the upper end portions of the vertical panel 74 and the reinforced
panel 76 in combination form a rugged second right angle mounting
bracket 95 at the other upper corner of the tray 11. The foldable
side panels 69 and 88 are then folded inwardly and downwardly to
lie juxtaposed to the elongated middle panel of the side panels 53
and 73 respectively with their mounting tabs engaging with the
slots 18 and 19 respectively formed along the side edges 14 and 15
of the bottom panel 13 respectively. The folded foldable side
panels 69 and 88 not only reinforce the strength of the side panels
53 and 73, their end portions also press the rectangular case 93
firmly in place against the end panel 25 as best shown in FIG.
2.
[0031] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, a second rectangular case 96
is formed by folding the various panels associated with the second
end panel 92 as described above for the formation of the
rectangular case 93 with a center slot opening 34B formed in the
middle of its upper top edge. Also, a rugged third right angle
mounting bracket 97 and a fourth right angle mounting bracket 98
are formed at the two upper corners of the tray 11 in the same
manner as best shown in FIG. 2 as the formation of the first and
second right angle mounting brackets 94 and 95 described above.
[0032] Since the bottom panel 13 of the container tray 10 of the
present invention has dimensions of 24 inches by 48 inches, it is
compatible with the dimension of a standard 24 by 48 pallet such
that it may be securely placed on the standard 24 by 48 pallet to
utilize the usable support surface of the pallet fully as shown in
FIG. 6. Two containers may be placed securely back to back on a
standard 48 by 48 pallet.
[0033] As best shown in FIG. 6, two transverse dividers 99 and 100
may be mounted in the tray 11 for separating its interior space
into three separated areas for holding various different varieties
of merchandise as well as providing additional support of the
middle portion of the tray. Each transverse divider has a generally
cross sectional I-shape consisting of a vertical rectangular board
101 having a width equal to the width of the bottom panel 13 of the
tray 11, and a thickness equal to each one of the slots 71, 72, 90
and 91. The height of the transverse divider is equal to the height
of the each of rectangular cases 93 and 96. Two rectangular bottom
rims 102 and 103 are formed at its two opposite bottom edges and
extending outward perpendicular to its front and rear rectangular
surfaces respectively. Two rectangular horizontal plates 104 and
105 are formed at its upper edges and extending also perpendicular
to its front and rear rectangular surfaces. An upstanding tab 106
is formed at the middle of its upper surface. Four rectangular
retaining tabs may optionally be provided at its four lower corners
and are extending perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces. The
transverse divider may be mounted in the tray 11 by slidably
engaging its side edges with the opposite vertical slot openings 71
and 90, or 72 and 91 on the side of the tray 11 with the bottom
rims 102 and 103 resting on the base panel 13, the side edges of
the bottom rims 102 and 103 also would snappingly engage in the
space between the lower edge of the foldable reinforce side panels
67, 68, 69 and the bottom panel 13 for securing and maintaining the
transverse divider in the secure vertical mounted manner in the
tray 11.
[0034] A plurality of container trays 10 with the transverse
dividers mounted therein may be stacked together as shown in FIG. 7
with the lower corner portions of the upper container tray slidably
engaging within the right angle mounting brackets of the lower
container tray until the end portion of the upper tray is resting
securely on the upper edge of the rectangular cases 93 and 96 of
the bottom tray. Thus, the rectangular cases 93 and 96 provide firm
supports for the two end portions of the upper container tray. The
upstanding tab 106 of the transverse dividers 99 and 100 in the
lower tray engage with the transverse slots 23 and 24 at the base
panel 13 of the upper tray to align firmly two trays stacked
together. The horizontal plates 104 and 105 of the transverse
dividers in the lower tray also abut against the bottom of the
bottom panel 13 of the upper container tray to provide additional
support for the upper container. Thus, the two containers may be
securely and removably stacked together. The right angle mounting
brackets facilitate the ease of stacking of the container trays by
engaging with the lower corners of the upper tray with the
corresponding mounting bracket of the lower tray. A plurality of
container 10 may be securely and easily stacked together in this
manner and disposed on a pallet. A rectangular top cover 107 may be
provided for covering over the top of the top container tray 10 as
best shown FIG. 7.
[0035] Alternatively, an elongated longitudinal rectangular divider
board or case 108 may be mounted in the tray 11 as shown in FIG. 8
to divide its interior space into two separate longitudinal areas
for holding different varieties of merchandise. The longitudinal
rectangular divider board or case 108 has a height equal to the
height of the rectangular cases 93 and 96 and a length equal to the
distance between the rectangular cases 93 and 96. In the case of a
divider case, the width of the case is wider than the width of the
lengthwise slot openings 20, 21 and 22 formed in the base panel 13
of the tray. Two downwardly extending mounting hooks 109 and 111
are provided at its upper side corners. Two rectangular bottom
flanges 112 and 113 extends sideways from the bottom edge of its
two opposite rectangular surfaces. The rectangular bottom flanges
112 and 113 preferably have dimensions equal to half of the base
panel 13 of the tray 11. The longitudinal rectangular divider board
or case 108 may be mounted in the tray 11 by engaging the mounting
hooks 109 and 111 with the center slot openings 34A and 34B formed
at the middle of the top surface of the rectangular cases 93 and
96, with the rectangular bottom flanges 112 and 113 resting on the
base panel 13 of the tray. The top edge of the longitudinal
rectangular divider 108 is aligned with the top edge of the
rectangular cases 93 and 96. Three spaced top mounting slots 114,
115, and 116 are formed in the top edge of the divider 108 when it
is in the form of a rectangular case. The top mounting slots 114,
115 and 116 are aligned with the lengthwise slot openings 20, 21
and 22 when two trays are stacked together one on top of the
other.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of transverse slidable
dividers 118 having a height equal to the height of the
longitudinal rectangular divider 108 and a lower edge equal to the
distance between the longitudinal rectangular divider 108 and the
side panels 53 and 73. The transverse slidable divider 118 consists
of a trapezoidal or rectangular shape board 119 mounted at its
inner vertical edge to a rectangular slider board 120. The
trapezoidal board 119 and the slider board 120 have a height equal
to the height of the longitudinal rectangular divider 108. A
selected number of slidable transverse dividers 118 may be slidably
mounted in each longitudinally divided half areas of the tray 11 by
slidably abutting the inner surface of the slider board 120 against
longitudinal rectangular divider 108 and the outer edge of the
trapezoidal board 119 slidable abutting the inner surface of the
side panels of the tray 11. Two slidable dividers 118 may be
mounted fixedly in the tray with the outer edge of the trapezoidal
board 119 engaging with the slots 70, 72 and 90, 91 to divide each
longitudinal divided half to three sub-divided areas in the
tray.
[0037] A selected number of the merchandise tray 10 with the
longitudinal divider and slidable transverse dividers mounted
therein may be stacked together and placed on a standard supporting
pallet as shown in FIG. 9. The upper edge of the longitudinal
divider 108 and the support cases 93 and 96 provide completely
secure support of the weight of the upper tray. The bottom corner
portions of the upper container tray also slidably and securely
engaged with the right angle mounting brackets of the lower
container tray as in the above embodiment to maintain the trays
securely mounted together.
[0038] In use, a selected number of the container trays may be
stacked and placed on a standard transport pallet having a load
supporting surface same as the bottom dimensions of the tray, at
the merchandise manufacturing facility or at a distribution
facility with the required merchandise placed into the trays. The
stack of trays together with the pallet may then be covered with an
outer protective wrap and be transferred to the transport vehicle
by a forklift engaging the pallet in the common manner for delivery
to the retail location. At the retail location the tray stack is
unloaded from the transporting vehicle again with a forklift
engaging the pallet in the common manner and placed at a desired
floor area in the retail location. The desired area commonly is an
aisle in the shop floor of the retail location. The outer wrap is
then removed such that the merchandise is readily visible and
available for purchase by customers walking through the aisle. The
low height of the side panels of the tray 11 renders the
merchandise clearly visible and easy access of the merchandise by
the customers. When two stacks of the trays are located back to
back on a 48 by 48 pallet, the merchandise are available to
customers walking through both sides of the aisle. Therefore, the
container tray of the present invention, greatly reduces the labor
cost and time commonly required for having to pack the merchandise
in transporting containers, stacking the containers in an
inefficient manner on pallets, and then unloading the containers in
the retail location, and unpacking the merchandise from the
containers and rearranging them in or on other display devices.
[0039] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described above. It will be recognized and understood that various
modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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