U.S. patent application number 15/495053 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-02 for tray system for stacking layers of non-structural bottles.
The applicant listed for this patent is ORBIS Corporation. Invention is credited to Stephen Roland Howe, Benjamin Joel Thompson.
Application Number | 20170313487 15/495053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60158065 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170313487 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thompson; Benjamin Joel ; et
al. |
November 2, 2017 |
TRAY SYSTEM FOR STACKING LAYERS OF NON-STRUCTURAL BOTTLES
Abstract
A tray system for stacking layers of non-structural bottles is
provided. The system includes a plurality of generally rectangular
plastic trays for supporting bottles, and a plurality of sleeves,
where each sleeve is positioned about the perimeter of a tray to
support a like tray above it.
Inventors: |
Thompson; Benjamin Joel;
(Johnson Creek, WI) ; Howe; Stephen Roland;
(Cottage Grove, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ORBIS Corporation |
Oconomowoc |
WI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60158065 |
Appl. No.: |
15/495053 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62329667 |
Apr 29, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2501/24598
20130101; B65D 85/305 20130101; B65D 2501/24184 20130101; B65D
19/0004 20130101; B65D 2501/2435 20130101; B65D 2501/24019
20130101; B65D 2501/24216 20130101; B65D 2501/24133 20130101; B65D
2501/24101 20130101; B65D 2501/24171 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 71/00 20060101
B65D071/00; B65D 19/00 20060101 B65D019/00 |
Claims
1. A tray system for transporting bottles comprising: a plurality
of rectangular trays, each tray having a first side, an opposing
second side, a first end and an opposing second end, and a support
surface formed from a plurality of ribs extending between the first
side and the second side and a plurality of ribs extending between
the first end and the second end wherein select ribs of the
plurality of ribs extending between the first side and the second
side and the plurality of ribs extending from the first end to the
second end extend upward above the remaining ribs to form bottle
pockets; and, a plurality of sleeves interposed between the
plurality of trays, each sleeve having a portion extending along
the first side, a portion extending along the second side, a
portion extending along the first end, and a portion extending
along the second end wherein each portion of the sleeve is
proximate a perimeter of the tray.
2. The tray system of claim 1 wherein the tray is formed from
plastic.
3. The tray system of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is formed from
plastic.
4. The tray system of claim 1 wherein the sleeves are
collapsible.
5. The tray system of claim 1 wherein each tray includes a channel
on an upper surface proximate the perimeter to hold a lower edge of
one of the plurality of sleeves.
6. The tray system of claim 5 wherein each tray includes a channel
on a lower surface proximate the perimeter to contact an upper edge
of a lower one of the plurality of sleeves.
7. The tray system of claim 1 wherein each sleeve includes a first
window in the portion extending along the first side, a second
window in the portion extending along the second side, a third
window in the portion extending along the first end, and a fourth
window in the portion extending along the second end.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pallet for supporting
the trays and sleeves.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a dolly for supporting
the trays and sleeves.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is collapsible.
11. A tray system for stacking layers of bottles comprising: a
generally rectangular tray having a first side, an opposing second
side, a first end and an opposing second end, and an upper support
surface between the first and second sides and first and second
ends, the tray having a channel along a periphery of the support
surface; and, a first sleeve configured to be supported in the
channel.
12. The tray system of claim 11 wherein the support surface is
formed from a plurality of ribs.
13. The tray system of claim 12 wherein the ribs form pockets for
supporting bottles.
14. The tray system of claim 11 wherein the sleeve includes a first
panel, a second panel, a third panel and a fourth panel.
15. The tray system of claim 14 wherein the first panel of the
sleeve includes a first window.
16. The tray system of claim 15 wherein the second panel includes a
second window, the third panel includes a third window and the
fourth panel includes a fourth panel.
17. The tray system of claim 11 wherein the tray includes a lower
surface and a channel along a periphery of the lower surface to
receive an upper edge of a lower sleeve.
18. The tray system of claim 11 further comprising a second tray
and a second sleeve, the second tray configured to be supported on
the first sleeve.
19. The tray system of claim 11 wherein the tray is formed from
plastic.
20. The tray system of claim 11 wherein the sleeve is formed from
plastic.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/329,667 filed Apr. 29, 2016, the contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] N/A
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a tray system
having a plurality of trays and intervening support sleeves for
stacking layers of non-structural bottles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Currently, metal carts referred to as "bossy" carts--are
typically used to transport and present milk to customers via a
series of rigidly connected racks on each cart.
[0005] The present invention provides an improved tray and sleeve
structure for transporting layers of non-structural bottles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a tray system having a
plurality of trays and a plurality of sleeves that can be used to
form layers of bottle supports.
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a tray
system for transporting bottles is provided. The tray system
includes a plurality of rectangular plastic trays. Each tray has a
first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing
second end, and a support surface formed from a plurality of ribs
extending between the first side and the second side and a
plurality of ribs extending between the first end and the second
end. Certain select ribs of the plurality of ribs extending between
the first side and the second side and the plurality of ribs
extending from the first end to the second end can extend upward
above the remaining ribs to form bottle pockets or areas on the
upper surface of the tray.
[0008] The system also includes a plurality of sleeves interposed
between the plurality of trays. Each sleeve has a portion or panel
extending along the first side, a portion or panel extending along
the second side, a portion or panel extending along the first end,
and a portion or panel extending along the second end of each tray.
Each portion or panel of the sleeve is positioned around the
periphery of the upper surface proximate a perimeter of the
tray.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a tray
system for stacking layers of bottles comprises a generally
rectangular tray having a first side, an opposing second side, a
first end and an opposing second end, and an upper support surface
between the first and second sides and first and second ends. The
tray includes a channel along a periphery of the support surface.
The tray system also includes a first sleeve configured to be
supported in the channel.
[0010] The support surface can be formed from a plurality of ribs.
The ribs can be sized to form pockets for supporting bottles.
[0011] The sleeve can include a first panel, a second panel, a
third panel and a fourth panel. The first panel of the sleeve can
include a first window. Similarly, the second panel can include a
second window, the third panel can include a third window and the
fourth panel can include a fourth panel.
[0012] The tray can include a lower surface and a lower channel
along a periphery of the lower surface to receive an upper edge of
a like sleeve from a lower tray.
[0013] The tray system can further comprise a second tray and a
second sleeve, the second tray configured to be supported on the
first sleeve. Additional trays and sleeves can also be added to the
system.
[0014] Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the
Figures, and are described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] To understand the present invention, it will now be
described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system having a plurality
of trays and sleeves for transporting bottles in accordance with
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 in a
collapsed state without the bottles;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray of the present system
with a single bottle positioned thereon;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray of the present system
fully loaded with bottles and including a peripheral support
sleeve; and,
[0020] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the system of
FIG. 1 showing part of a layer of bottles and trays.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is directed
to a tray system 10 comprising a plurality of trays 12 configured
to support a plurality of bottles 14. The plurality of trays 12
interact with a plurality of support sleeves 16. The trays 12 and
support sleeves 16 allow for stacking a plurality of layers of
bottles 14 on a pallet 18 (or dolly or other support structure).
FIG. 1 shows four layers of bottles 14 supported on the pallet 18.
One tray 12 is placed on the top of the layers of bottles 16 to act
as a top cap for the system 10. However, other top caps can be
utilized.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a collapsed system 10 without the bottles 14.
The trays 12 are supported on the pallet 18. The sleeves 16 can be
collapsed or folded and placed on top of the trays 12 and pallet
18. In this manner, the system can be easily shipped back after
transporting bottles to a destination. The reduced volume of the
collapsed system 10 provides for cost effective and efficient
shipping.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the trays 12 are generally rectangular
and include a first side 20, a second side 22, first end 24 and a
second end 26. Each of the sides 20, 22 and ends 24, 26 is a
generally rectangular shaped panel. The tray 12 includes a
plurality of ribs 28 that extend between the first and second sides
20, 22 and the first second ends 24, 26 to form an upper support
surface for the bottles 14. Certain of the ribs can extend upward
higher than others to form separate bottle pockets 30 or areas on
the upper surface. The upper surface of the tray 12 can also
include a channel 32 (again by varying the height of certain ribs)
or other support structure along a perimeter to support a sleeve 16
on the upper surface of the tray 12. The sleeve 16 can then be used
to support another like tray 12 above the tray 12 at issue. In this
manner, the trays 12 and sleeves 16 can be stacked to form a
plurality of layers as shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] The lower surface of each tray 12 can also include a channel
34 or other structure to enable an upper tray to rest on and be
supported by an upper edge of a lower sleeve 16. The upper and
lower channels 34, 32 help keep the sleeves in the proper locations
along the perimeter of the tray 12. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the
sleeves 16 can be sized so that bottles 14 on a lower tray 12 do
not contact or otherwise support an upper tray 12. This keeps
pressure (from the weight of upper layers) off of the bottles
14.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a single layer of bottles 14 supported on the
tray 12 of FIG. 3. The bottles 14 can be one gallon bottles (such
as plastic milk bottles), however, other sizes and shapes can be
used. A sleeve 16 is shown around the bottles 14 along the
periphery of the tray 12. The sleeve 16 includes four side panels
36. Each side panel 36 of a sleeve 16 shown in FIG. 4 includes a
window 38 for visual inspection of the bottles 14 on the tray 12
(however, the sleeve 16 can include more than one window 38 per
panel 36, or have no windows 36 on one or more of the panels 36).
The window 38 is important when other layers of trays 12 are
stacked on top of the tray 12, which limit inspection from the top
of the tray 12.
[0027] Each sleeve 16 can be of one-piece construction. That is,
the sleeve 16 can be formed from a single blank of material having
four panels 26. The two ends of the blank can be connected to form
a rectangular opening or shape for placement of the sleeve 16 in
the channel 32 of the tray 12. The sleeve 16 can be folded (e.g.,
bringing two opposing corners together) to collapse the sleeve 16
when not being used. In use, the sleeve 16 is opened and positioned
along the perimeter of a first or lower tray to support one or more
upper trays (or a top cap for the uppermost tray/sleeve
combination).
[0028] The plurality of stacked trays 12 and sleeves 16 can be
supported on a pallet 18, dolly or other like structure for
transport. When empty, the trays 12 can be stacked on the pallet 18
or dolly, and the sleeves 16 can be collapsed and placed thereon
for return.
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a stack of trays 12
holding bottles 14. As is evident in the top tray 12 certain of the
ribs 40 extend upward higher than others 42 to form the pockets 30
for each bottle 14. Similarly, ribs 44 along the perimeter are
small than other ribs to form the channels 32, 34. While the
channels 32, 34 can extend uninterrupted around the perimeter, some
of the ribs crossing the channels 32, 34 can extend upward higher
than the channel rib 44. The sleeve 16 can be provided with slots
to accommodate such cross-ribs. The slots can then be used to align
the sleeve on the tray 12 (this can be useful for proper placement
of the sleeve if it is in two or more parts that do not extend to
the corners).
[0030] Preferably, the trays are formed from a molded plastic or
other suitable material. The sleeve is preferably plastic, such as
a corrugated plastic, or other suitable material (such as a
paperboard or corrugated paper).
[0031] Many modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to
be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention
may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.
* * * * *