Nest And Stack Container

Abstract

A nest and stack container adapted to nest in a like oriented lower container of like construction, or to stack in said lower container when turned with respect thereto. The walls of the container comprise inclined bars which extend between the bottom and an upper rim of the container. Said inclined bars are arranged such that the bars of an upper container parallel the bars of a lower container during nesting. Opposite ends or sides of the container are provided with guide means which make possible "blind stacking" of the containers, even at heights greater than the height of the person stacking the containers.

Description

This invention relates to a nest and stack container.

Nest and stack containers, e.g., containers so constructed that an upper container will nest within a like oriented lower container, or an upper container will stack on a lower container when said upper container is turned with respect to said lower container, are well known in the art. Such prior art containers of which we are aware are usually provided with stacking means so constructed, and/or so located, as to require rather precise registering or engagement between the stacking feet on the upper container and the corresponding stacking saddles on the lower container.

Said precise registering or engagement has, at least in many instances, created problems in stacking and has lessened the utility of such containers. For example, said required precise registering of the stacking means slows the stacking operation. Another difficulty which is encountered with the prior art containers is that said required precise registering of the stacking means makes it necessary for the operator stacking the containers to visually observe the stacking means during the stacking operation. This limits the height to which an operator can ordinarily stack the containers without making special provisions. For example, when the height of a stack of stacked containers approaches or is greater than eye level, the operator must start a new stack or else employ a ladder.

The present invention solves the above problems by providing a container having stacking lugs adjacent the bottom of the container and stacking saddles adjacent the top of the container which do not require the precise registering therebetween which is required of the prior art containers. The stacking lugs adjacent the bottom of an upper container of the invention can engage the stacking saddles adjacent the top of a lower container of the invention over a relatively broad area. Furthermore, in preferred embodiments, the containers of the invention are provided with guide means on said stacking lugs and said stacking saddles, and other guide means, which cooperate to facilitate "blind stacking". An operator stacking the containers of the invention can stack same as high as he can reach without having to visually observe and precisely register the stacking means on the containers.

Thus, according to the invention, there is provided a generally rectangular nesting and stacking container, comprising: a generally horizontally disposed bottom; first stacking means projecting outwardly from a first side of said bottom; second stacking means projecting outwardly from an opposite second side of said bottom; a first guide and saddle rail, provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said first stacking means, disposed generally vertically above said first side of said bottom, and forming a portion of a first wall of said container; said first wall further comprising a plurality of inclined bars extending upwardly between said first side of said bottom and said first rail; a second guide and saddle rail, provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said second stacking means, disposed generally vertically above said second side of said bottom, and forming a portion of a second wall of said container; said second wall further comprising a plurality of inclined bars extending uwpardly between said second side of said bottom and said second rail; the location, arrangement, and inclination of said bars of said first wall and said bars of said second wall with respect to each other, the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said first rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said first stacking means, and the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said second rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said second stacking means, being such that said container will nest with a like oriented container of like construction; and said first and second stacking means, and said first and second rails, being adapted to support said container in stacked relation upon a lower container of like construction when said container is turned with respect to said lower container so as to align said first and second walls with the second and first walls, respectively, of said lower container, with said first stacking means registering with said second rail and said second stacking means registering with said first rail.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one presently preferred container of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the right-hand end of the container illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be understood that the left-hand end of said container is a mirror iamge of the right-hand end.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of one side of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the other side of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross section views taken along the lines 7--7 and 8--8, respectively, of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a cross section view taken along the line 9--9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a cross section view taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a cross section view taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a cross section view taken along the line 12--12 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another container of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of another container of the invention, similar to the container of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an end elevation view showing two of the containers of FIG. 2 in nested relationship.

FIG. 16 is an end elevation view showing two of the containers of FIG. 2 in stacked relationship.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are emloyed to denote like elements, the invention will be more fully explained. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the container there illustrated comprises, in one embodiment, a generally rectangular and horizontally disposed bottom. Said bottom can preferably comprise a gridwork denoted generally by the reference numeral 10, or can comprise any other suitable bottom means such as a planar sheet, a perforated planar sheet, etc. Preferably, a first border flange 12 extends along a first side of said bottom. A first stacking means preferably projects outwardly from said first border flange 12. Said first stacking means can comprise a plurality of spaced apart stacking lugs which project outwardly from said first border flange. As here illustrated, said first stacking means comprises a first stacking lug 14 located adjacent but spaced apart from one end of said first border flange 12, and a second stacking lug 16 located at or adjacent the other end of said first border flange 12. Preferably, a second border flange 18 extends along a second side of said bottom, and a second stacking means preferably projects outwardly from said second border flange. As here illustrated, said second stacking means comprises first and second stacking lugs 14' and 16' projecting from said second border flange in like locations corresponding to the locations of said stacking lugs 14 and 16 which project from said first border flange 12. A first guide and saddle rail 20, provided with nesting clearway means A and B therein to accommodate said first stacking means, is disposed generally vertically above and preferably extends substantially the length of said first side of said bottom and forms a portion of a first wall of said container. Said first wall further comprises a plurality of inclined bars 22, 24, 26, and 28 which extend upwardly between said first side of said bottom and said first rail 20. When a border flange 12 is provided on said first side of said bottom, the lower ends of said inclined bars are secured to the outer surface of said first border flange. A second guide and saddle rail 30, provided with nesting clearway means (like said clearway means A and B) therein to accommodate said second stacking means, is disposed generally vertically above and preferably extends substantially the length of said second side of said bottom and forms a portion of a second wall of the container. Said second wall further comprises a plurality of inclined bars 22', 24', 26', and 28', preferably located, arranged, and inclined in the same manner and direction as said inclined bars in said first wall of the container, which extend upwardly between the second side of said bottom and said second rail 30. When a second border flange 18 is provided along the second side of said bottom, said inclined bars 22', 24', 26', and 28' are secured to the outer surface of said second border flange.

Preferably, a first upper rim 32 is disposed generally vertically above and has a length which is at least substantially the same as the length of said first side of said bottom. When said first upper rim is provided, said first guide and saddle rail 20 is secured to the inner surface of said first upper rim, and the upper ends of said inclined bars 22, 24, 26, and 28 are secured to the inner surface of said first rail 20. Likewise, a second upper rim 34 is preferably disposed generally vertically above and has a length which is at least substantially the same as the length of said second side of said bottom. When said second upper rim is provided, said second guide and saddle rail 30 is secured to the inner surface of said second upper rim 34, and the upper ends of said inclined bars 22', 24', 26', and 28' are secured to the inner surface of said second rail 30.

It will be noted that the location, arrangement, and inclination of the inclined bars of said first wall and the inclined bars of said second wall with respect to each other, the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said first rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said first stacking means, and the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said second rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said second stacking means are such that said container will nest with a like oriented container of like construction. Similarly, said first and second stacking means, and said first and second rails, are adapted to support said container in stacked relationship upon a lower container of like construction when said container is turned with respect to said lower container so as to align said first and second walls with the second and first walls, respectively, of the lower container, with said first stacking means registering with said second rail and said second stacking means registering with said first rail.

As here illustrated, said inclined bars in each of said first and second walls comprise two pairs of bars, with one pair providing a truncated V form and the other pair providing an inverted truncated V form. Preferably, said first stacking lug on each of said first and second border flanges projects therefrom at a location between the bars of said truncated V form, e.g., bars 22' and 24' of said second wall. Preferably, said second stacking lug on each of said first and second border flanges projects therefrom at a location between the other end of said border flanges and the end of one bar, e.g., bar 28', of said inverted truncated V form.

It is also preferred that the top of said first guide and saddle rail 20 and said second guide and saddle rail 30 are each provided with an elevated crown 36. See FIG. 6. It is also preferred that each of said stacking lugs 14, 14', 16, and 16' is provided with a groove 38 (see FIG. 6) in the bottom thereof which has a shape corresponding to the shape of said crowns 36 on the tops of said guide and saddle rails.

The above-described container comprising said bottom, said first wall, and said second wall comprises one embodiment of a nest and stack container in accordance with the invention.

In another embodiment of the invention, the container further comprises a third wall positioned between and generally prependicular to said first and second walls. Said third wall preferably comprises a third border flange 40 extending along a third side of the bottom of the container with the ends thereof connected to adjacent ends of said first border flange 12 and said second border flange 18. A third upper rim 42 is disposed generally vertically above and has a length slightly greater than the length of said third side of the bottom of the container. Said upper rim 42 is connected at its ends to adjacent ends of said first upper rim 32 and said second upper rim 34. A plurality of inclined bars 44, 46, 48, and 50 extend upwardly between said third side of the bottom and said third upper rim 42. When said third border flange 40 is provided, the lower ends of said inclined bars are secured to the outer surface thereof. As here illustrated, the inclined bars in said third wall comprise two pairs of bars with the pair 44 and 46 forming one inverted truncated V form. The pair 48 and 50 form another inverted truncated V form. A third stacking means can project outwardly from said third border flange 40. As here illustrated, said third stacking means can comprise a first stacking lug 52 located at one end of said third border flange 40. Preferably, said stacking lug 52 is secured to stacking lug 16 which projects outwardly from first border flange 12. It is convenient for said stacking lugs 16 and 52 to be integrally formed, as illustrated. A second stacking lug 54 can be located at the other end of said third border flange 40, and preferably secured to stacking lug 16' which projects outwardly from second border flange 18. It is convenient for said stacking lugs 16' and 54 to be molded integrally, as illustrated. A third stacking lug 56 can project outwardly from said third border flange 40 at a location intermediate the ends thereof, preferably at about the midpoint of said third border flange 40. A third saddle rail 58, provided with nesting clearways C, D, and E therein to accommodate said third stacking means, can be secured to the inner surface of said third upper rim 42. When said third saddle rail 58 is provided, the upper ends of the inclined bars 44, 46, 48, and 50 are secured to the inner surface of said third rail.

Said last-described embodiment of the invention provides a three-walled container wherein one side of the container is open. Said open side is convenient for reaching into a loaded container in a stack of containers to remove articles therefrom without having to remove the loaded container from the stack of containers. A more preferred embodiment of said three-walled container is described hereinafter.

In the present most preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a fourth wall which is disposed opposite said third wall and which is positioned between and generally perpendicular to said first and second walls. Said fourth wall preferably comprises a fourth border flange 58 which extends along a fourth side of the bottom of the container with the ends thereof being connected to adjacent ends of said first and second border flanges 12 and 18. A fourth upper rim 60 is disposed generally vertically above and has a length slightly greater than the length of said fourth side of said bottom. The ends of said fourth upper rim 60 are connected to adjacent ends of said first and second upper rims 32 and 34. A plurality of inclined bars 62, 64, 66, and 68 extend upwardly between said fourth border flange 58 and said fourth upper rim 60. When said fourth border flange 58 is provided, the lower ends of said inclined bars are secured to the outer surface thereof. Preferably, the inclined bars in said fourth wall are inclined oppositely from the inclined bars in said third wall, as illustrated. A fourth stacking means can project outwardly from said fourth border flange 58. As here illustrated, said fourth stacking means can comprise a first stacking lug 70 located adjacent but spaced apart from one end of said fourth border flange, and a second stacking lug 72 located adjacent but spaced apart from the other end of said fourth border flange 58. A fourth saddle rail 74 provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said fourth stacking means can be secured to the inner surface of said fourth upper rim 60. When said fourth saddle rail is provided, the upper ends of inclined bars 62, 64, 66, and 68 are secured to the inner surface of said support rail 74.

Preferably, said first border flange 12 extends below the plane of the bottom of the container to provide a first foot 76 at one end of the container. Similarly, said second border flange 18 preferably extends below the plane of the bottom of the container to provide a second foot 78 at the other end of the container. Said third and fourth upper rims 42 and 60 are each provided with a first guide recess 80 and 80', respectively, located in the upper edge thereof vertically above said foot 76 on first border flange 12. Each of said upper rims 42 and 60 is also provided with a second guide recess 82 and 82', respectively, located in the upper edges thereof vertically above said foot 78 on the bottom of second border flange 18. Said first guide recesses 80 and 80' are adapted to receive said first foot 76, and said second guide recesses 82 and 82' are adapted to receive said second foot 78 while a like container is being moved into stacked relationship above another like container, as described further hereinafter.

The above-described embodiment of the invention wherein the container is provided with three walls has valuable utility in many instances. In a presently more preferred embodiment of said three-walled container, there is provided a partial fourth wall which is disposed opposite the third wall of the container. Said partial fourth wall can comprise a lower border flange 58 like in the above-described four-walled container. A segment of an upper rim 84 can be connected at one end thereof to the end of said first upper rim 32 which is not connected to said third upper rim 42. An inclined bar 86 extends between said fourth border flange 58 and said upper rim segment 84. Another segment of an upper rim 88 can be connected at one end thereof to the end of said second upper rim 34 which is not connected to said third upper rim 42. Another inclined bar 90 extends between said fourth border flange 58 and said upper rim segment 88. Preferably, each of said upper rim segments 84 and 88 has a segment of a saddle rail secured to the inner surface thereof. When said saddle rail segments are provided, the upper ends of said inclined bars 86 and 90 are secured to the inner surfaces of said saddle rail segments. Preferably, a pair of spaced apart stacking lugs 92 and 94 project outwardly from fourth border flange 58.

In all the containers of the invention, it is preferred that the bottom border flanges 12, 18, 40, and 58 extend above the plane of the container bottom a small finite distance. The stacking lugs 14, 16, 14', and 16', and the guide and support rails 20 and 30, provided on the opposite first and second walls, respectively, comprise the primary stacking means and are provided in all the containers of the invention. The stacking lugs which can project from third and fourth border flanges 40 and 58, and the third support rail 58 and fourth support rail 74, comprise supplementary stacking supports in the three- and four-walled containers. Said supplementary stacking supports can be omitted, if desired, in "light duty" containers. Said supplementary stacking supports are preferred in "heavy duty" containers, particularly when loaded containers are to be stacked to considerable heights.

The nesting of the containers of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 15. As there shown, in nesting the corresponding wall of a like oriented upper container fits directly downward into the corresponding wall of a lower container. For example, the truncated V form of inclined bars 22 and 24 of an upper container fit into the like truncated V form of the inclined bars 22 and 24 of the lower container with the bars of said V forms paralleling each other. A similar fit is obtained with the inverted truncated V forms of inclined bars 26 and 28. The stacking lugs 14 and 16 are accommodated by and passed through nesting clearways B and A, respectively. See FIG. 2. During nesting, the feet 76 and 78 on the bottom of border flanges 12 and 18 of an upper container abut and rest on top of border flanges 12 and 18 of a lower container.

The stacking of the containers of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 16. The stacking operation is initiated by turning an upper container 180.degree. with respect to a like lower container. If the lower container is at a low level, e.g., on the floor or on a low table, the upper container can be placed directly onto the lower container. In stacked position, the grooves 38 in the primary stacking lugs 14 and 16, and 14' and 16', register with crowns 36 on guide and support rails 20 and 30 of the first and second walls, respectively. The upper container is thus supported over the entire length of said rails 20 and 30. When supplemental stacking supports are provided on the side walls of heavy duty containers, e.g., the third and fourth walls, the stacking lugs projecting from said third and fourth walls rest on support rails 74 and 58, respectively. In all instances, the bottom periphery of the upper container is positioned well below the periphery of the top edge of the upper rims 32, 42, 34, and 60 of the lower container, thus locking the upper container with respect to lateral movement in any direction.

As mentioned above, an outstanding feature of the containers of the invention is the blind stacking which the construction of the containers of the invention makes possible. This feature of the invention is of great value when the containers are being stacked at any height at which it is inconvenient to lift the upper container to a position directly above the lower container. In such instances, the stacking operation can be initiated by placing the feet 76 and 78 on the bottom of border flanges 12 and 18 of the upper container in register with one of guide recesses 80 and 80', and one of guide recesses 82 and 82', of one of the upper rims 42 and 60 of the lower container. The upper container is then moved across the lower container, preferably at a slight tilt so as to bring grooves 38 in the stacking lugs 14 and 14', or 16 and 16', in register with crowns 36 of the guide and support rails 20 and 30, until the bottom periphery of the upper container is within the top periphery of the lower container. Said grooves 38 and crowns 36 thus cooperate with said guide recesses 80 and 82 (or 80' and 82') and feet 76 and 78, in guiding the upper container into proper stacked position. The above-described blind stacking can be readily carried out without visual observation of the guide means by an operator because feet 76 and 78 will readily drop into guide recesses 80 and 82 (or 80' and 82') when an upper container is placed on an upper rim 42 or 60 of a lower container. If necessary, said guide recesses can be readily located with said feet by a slight back and forth lateral movement of the upper container.

The containers of the invention can be fabricated in any suitable manner known to the art. Injection molding, for example, is one presently preferred method for fabricating said containers. Said containers can be fabricated from any suitable material. High density polyethylenes are especially desirable materials from which to fabricate said containers. The high density polyethylenes and other polyolefins prepared by the methods disclosed and claimed by J. P. Hogan et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,721, issued Mar. 4, 1958, are one group of presently preferred materials. Said containers can also be fabricated from butadiene-styrene copolymers, and other plastic materials. If desired, a reinforcing fibrous material, such as asbestos or glass fibers, can be incorporated in the plastic material. While the various plastics are presently preferred for the manufacture of the containers, it is within the scope of the invention to fabricate said containers from other materials, e.g., lightweight metals such as aluminum, reinforced pulp materials, etc.

As an example, one model of a container fabricated in accordance with the invention had an overall length of 237/8 inches, an overall width of 203/4 inches, and an overall height of 51/2 inches. Stacking lug 14 had a length of approximately 13/4 inches. Stacking lug 16 had a length of approximately 21/2 inches. The inclined bars in the wall of the container were approximately 4 inches in length. The upper surface of the T bars in the gridwork bottom was approximately one-fourth inch wide. The dimensions of the other elements of the container were generall proportional in size.

Herein and in the claims, the word "rectangular" has been employed generically to include four-sided structures which are generally square and four-sided structures wherein one pair of sides is longer than the other pair of sides.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative purposes, the invention is not limited thereto. Various other modifications or embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. Such modifications or embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

We claim:

1. A generally rectangular nesting and stacking container, comprising:

a generally horizontally disposed bottom;

first stacking means projecting outwardly from a first side of said bottom;

second stacking means projecting outwardly from an opposite second side of said bottom;

a first wall means comprising a first guide and saddle rail, provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said first stacking means, disposed generally vertically above and extending substantially the length of said first side of said bottom;

said first wall means further comprising a plurality of inclined bars extending upwardly between said first side of said bottom and said first rail;

a second wall means comprising a second guide and saddle rail, provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said second stacking means, disposed generally vertically above and extending substantially the length of said second side of said bottom;

said second wall means further comprising a plurality of inclined bars extending upwardly between said second side of said bottom and said second rail;

the location, arrangement, and inclination of said bars of said first wall and said bars of said second wall with respect to each other, the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said first rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said first stacking means, and the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said second rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said second stacking means, being such that said container will nest with a like oriented container of like construction; and

said first and second rails being adapted to receive said first and second stacking means in a sliding engagement and then support said container in stacked relation with a lower container of like construction when said container is turned with respect to said lower container so as to align said first and second walls with the second and first walls, respectively, of said lower container, with said first stacking means registering with said second rail and said second stacking means registering with said first rail.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein:

a first upper rim is disposed generally vertically above said first side of said bottom;

said first guide and saddle rail is secured to the inner surface of said first upper rim;

the upper ends of said inclined bars of said first wall are secured to the inner surface of said first guide and saddle rail;

a second upper rim is disposed generally vertically above said second side of said bottom;

said second guide and saddle rail is secured to the inner surface of said second upper rim; and

the upper ends of said inclined bars of said second wall are secured to the inner surface of said second guide and saddle rail.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein:

a first border flange extends along said first side of said bottom;

the lower ends of said bars of said first wall are secured to the outer surface of said first border flange;

a second border flange extends along said second side of said bottom; and

the lower ends of said bars of said second wall are secured to the outer surface of said second border flange.

4. A container according to claim 3 wherein said first and second border flanges each extend generally vertically above and below the plane of said bottom.

5. A container according to claim 3 wherein:

said first stacking means comprises a plurality of spaced apart stacking lugs projecting outwardly from said first border flange; and

said second stacking means comprises a plurality of spaced apart stacking lugs projecting outwardly from said second border flange.

6. A container according to claim 5 wherein:

the top of said first guide and saddle rail and the top of said second guide and saddle rail are each provided with an elevated crown; and

each of said stacking lugs is provided with a groove therein which has a shape corresponding to the shape of said crowns on the tops of said guide and saddle rails.

7. A container according to claim 5 wherein:

said first stacking means comprises a first stacking lug located adjacent but spaced apart from one end of said first border flange and a second stacking lug located adjacent the other end of said first border flange;

said second stacking means comprises first and second stacking lugs projecting from said second border flange in like locations corresponding to the locations of said stacking lugs projecting from said first border flange; and

corresponding bars of said inclined bars in said first and second walls are inclined in the same directions.

8. A container according to claim 3 wherein there is also provided a third wall positioned between and generally perpendicular to said first and second walls, said third wall comprising:

a third border flange extending along a third side of said bottom with the ends thereof connected to adjacent ends of said first and second border flanges;

a third upper rim disposed generally vertically above said third side of said bottom, and connected at its ends to adjacent ends of said first and second upper rims; and

a plurality of inclined bars extending upwardly between said third border flange and said third upper rim.

9. A container according to claim 8 wherein said inclined bars in said third wall comprise two pairs of bars, with each pair of bars providing an inverted truncated V form.

10. A container according to claim 8 wherein there is also provided a fourth wall which is disposed opposite said third wall and between and generally perpendicular to said first and second walls, said fourth wall comprising:

a fourth border flange extending along a fourth side of said bottom with the ends thereof connected to adjacent ends of said first and second border flanges;

a fourth upper rim disposed generally vertically above said fourth side of said bottom, and connected at its ends to adjacent ends of said first and second upper rims; and

a plurality of inclined bars extending upwardly between said fourth border flange and said fourth upper rim.

11. A container according to claim 10 wherein said inclined bars in said fourth wall and inclined oppositely from said inclined bars in said third wall.

12. A container according to claim 10 wherein:

third stacking means project outwardly from said third border flange;

fourth stacking means project outwardly from said fourth border flange;

a third saddle rail provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said third stacking means is secured to the inner surface of said third upper rim, and the upper ends of the inclined bars of said third wall are secured to the inner surface of said third rail; and

a fourth saddle rail provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said fourth stacking means is secured to the inner surface of said fourth upper rim, and the upper ends of the inclined bars of said fourth wall are secured to the inner surface of said fourth rail.

13. A container according to claim 12 wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth stacking means comprises a plurality of spaced apart stacking lugs which project outwardly from said first, second, third, and fourth border flanges, respectively.

14. A container according to claim 13 wherein:

said first stacking means comprises a first stacking lug located adjacent but spaced apart from one end of said first border flange, and a second stacking lug located at the other end of said first border flange;

said second stacking means comprises first and second stacking lugs projecting from said second border flange in like locations corresponding to the locations of said stacking lugs projecting from said first border flange;

said third stacking means comprises a first stacking lug located at one end of said third border flange and secured to said second stacking lug of said first stacking means located at said other end of said first border flange, a second stacking lug located at the other end of said third border flange and secured to said second stacking lug of said second stacking means located at said other end of said second border flange, and a third stacking lug projecting outwardly from said third border flange at a location intermediate the ends thereof; and

said fourth stacking means comprises a first stacking lug located adjacent but spaced apart from one end of said fourth border flange, and a second stacking lug located adjacent but spaced apart from the other end of said fourth border flange.

15. A container according to claim 14 wherein:

said first border flange extends below the plane of said bottom to provide a first foot at one end of said container;

said second border flange extends below the plane of said bottom to provide a second foot at the opposite end of said container;

said third and fourth upper rims are each provided with a first guide recess located in the upper edge thereof vertically above said foot on said first border flange, and are each provided with a second guide recess located in the upper edge thereof vertically above said foot on said second border flange, with said first guide recesses being adapted to receive said first foot and said second guide recesses being adapted to receive said second foot while a like container is being moved into stacked relationship above said container.

16. A container according to claim 8 wherein there is also provided a partial fourth wall, disposed opposite said third wall, and comprising:

a fourth border flange extending along a fourth side of said bottom with the ends thereof connected to adjacent ends of said first and second border flanges;

a segment of an upper rim connected at one end thereof to the end of said first upper rim which is not connected to said third upper rim;

an inclined bar extending between said fourth border flange and said upper rim segment;

another segment of an upper rim connected at one end thereof to the end of said second upper rim which is not connected to said third upper rim; and

another inclined bar extending between said fourth border flange and said another upper rim segment.

17. A container according to claim 16 wherein:

each of said upper rim segments has a segment of a saddle rail secured to the inner surface thereof;

the upper ends of said inclined bars are secured to the inner surfaces of said saddle rail segments; and

a pair of spaced apart stacking lugs project outwardly from said fourth border flange.

18. A generally rectangular nesting and stacking container, comprising:

a generally horizontally disposed bottom;

a first border flange extending along a first side of said bottom;

a second border flange extending along an opposite second side of said bottom;

a first stacking means comprising a first stacking lug projecting outwardly from and located adjacent, but spaced apart from, one end of said first border flange and a second stacking lug projecting outwardly from and located adjacent the other end of said first border flange;

a second stacking means comprising first and second stacking lugs projecting outwardly from said second border flange in like locations corresponding to the locations of said stacking lugs projecting from said first border flange;

a first upper rim disposed generally vertically above said first side of said bottom;

a first guide and saddle rail, provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said first stacking means, secured to the inner surface of said first upper rim, and together with said rim forming a portion of a first wall of said container;

a second upper rim disposed generally vertically above said second side of said bottom;

a second guide and saddle rail, provided with nesting clearway means therein to accommodate said second stacking means, secured to the inner surface of said second upper rim, and together with said rim forming a portion of a second wall of said container;

said first wall further comprising two pairs of inclined bars, with one pair providing a truncated V form and the other pair providing an inverted truncated V form, extending between said first rail and said first border flange with the upper ends of said bars secured to the inner surface of said first rail and the lower ends of said bars secured to the outer surface of said first border flange;

said second wall further comprising two pairs of inclined bars, with one pair providing a truncated V form and the other pair providing an inverted truncated V form, extending between said second rail and said second border flange with the upper ends of said bars secured to the inner surface of said second rail and the lower ends of said bars secured to the outer surface of said second border flange;

corresponding bars of said inclined bars in said first walls second wall being inclined in the same directions;

the top of said first guide and saddle rail and the top of said second guide and saddle rail each being provided with an elevated crown;

each of said stacking lugs being provided with a groove in the bottom thereof and having a shape corresponding to the shape of said crowns on the tops of said guide and saddle rails;

said first stacking lug on each of said first and second border flanges projecting therefrom at a location between the bars of said truncated V form;

said second stacking lug on each of said first and second border flanges projecting therefrom at a location between said other end thereof and the end of one bar of said inverted truncated V form;

the location, arrangement, and inclination of said bars of said first wall and said bars of said second wall with respect to each other, the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said first rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said first stacking means, and the spacing and lateral placement of said nesting clearway means in said second rail with respect to the spacing and lateral placement of said second stacking means, being such that said container will nest with a like oriented container of like construction; and

said first and second stacking means, and said first and second rails, being adapted to support said container in stacked relation upon a lower container of like construction when said container is turned with respect to said lower container so as to align said first and second walls with the second and first walls, respectively, of said lower container, with said first stacking means registering with said second rail and said second stacking means registering with said first rail.