Special receptacle or package – Structural features for vertical stacking – i.e. – similar... – Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-08-14
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
Structural features for vertical stacking, i.e., similar...
Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
C206S509000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273259
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to injection molded containers. In particular, the present invention relates to a transport and storage container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many transport and storage containers are known. Certain containers are used to transport and store goods such as bread or buns and other foods. Containers are typically injection molded plastic and rectangular in shape.
Containers for transportation and storage of bread products commonly have a base with a protruding base edge, a pair of opposing long sidewalls, and a pair of opposing short sidewalls. The sidewalls protrude in the opposite direction of the base edge. The opposing long sidewalls generally do not protrude as far from the base as the short sidewalls and may have a merchandiser or open section for viewing the contents held therein. The containers are stackable such that the base edge of one container is typically received by a complimentary configuration on the opposing short sidewalls of a second container. The base of the container can have a plurality of apertures for material and weight reduction. Similarly, each short sidewall commonly has a plurality of apertures and a handle in the centre for gripping the container.
When stacking, the container is gripped by placing one hand on each handle. The container is centred above a second container and placed directly down such that the base edge of the first container is received by the footprint of the second container. Similarly, when removing one container from a stack, the container is gripped by placing one hand on each handle. The container is then lifted away from and in a direction normal to the complimentary container. Because of the configuration of the container, stacking and destacking can be awkward and ergonomically unsafe as the person lifting the container can experience lower back strain. The operator carries the load with extended arms to place the container into a stack or when removing from a stack. The container is even more awkward to destack when full. If the operator removes more than one container when destacking, the potential for back strain is further increased.
When moving many containers at one time, a two wheeled cart is typically used. In order to slide the blade edge of the cart under the container it is generally preferred to tilt the stack of containers so that the blade will run under the stack. A stack of containers can be difficult to tilt forward while manoeuvring a two wheeled cart into place. It can be even more difficult to tilt the stack of containers due to lack of space in a packed truck. The cart also applies pressure to the base of the bottom container of the stack. This causes flexing of the base of the container thus crushing the contents of the bottom container. Overall, using a two wheeled cart to lift a stack of containers can be awkward and/or can damage the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel container that obviates or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
In one aspect of the invention there is provided a container with a base and at least one pair of opposing sidewalls. The sidewalls have a rail edge distal from the base and a plurality of receptacles. The sidewalls have runners complementary to the receptacles that project from an edge adjacent the base. The sidewalls also have a fulcrum at the junction of a rail edge and one of the receptacles. The container has a stacked position with an identical container when the runners are received in complementary receptacles of the identical container. The container has a sliding position when the runners abut a rail edge of the identical container. The container has a levered position intermediate the stacked and sliding positions when the runner respective to a fulcrum of the identical container is pivoted thereon. In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, there are two outer runners, or feet, and a central runner respective to the fulcrum.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a container with a base and at least one pair of opposing sidewalls projecting normally from the base. The sidewalls have a base edge proximal to the base and a distal edge opposite the base edge. One of the base edge and the distal edge has a plurality of receptacles and the opposite one has a plurality of runners complementary to the receptacles. The sidewalls also have a fulcrum at a junction of one of the receptacles and the respective edge. The container has a stacked position with an identical container when the runners are received in complementary receptacles of the identical container. The container has a sliding position when the runners abut the opposite edge of the identical container. The container has a levered position intermediate the stacked and sliding positions when the runner respective to the fulcrum of the identical container is pivoted thereon.
In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a container with a base and a pair of opposing sidewalls projecting normally from the base. A pair of opposing long walls project normally from the base and extend between the pair of opposing sidewalls. A skirt around the periphery of the base interconnects the base with the sidewalls and the base with the long walls. The skirt is further defined by an outward taper and a pair of notches between each of the long sides and the base. The base comprises a grid of interconnected, inverted u-shaped channels. The unshaped channels have at least one closed end and two opposing sides. The sidewalls have a rail and a rail edge distal from the base. The rail edge has a plurality of foot receptacles with a bevelled edge and at least one runner receptacle. The sidewalls have feet with a bevelled edge that are complementary to the foot receptacles and project from an edge proximal to the base. The sidewalls have at least one runner complementary to the runner receptacle that projects from the edge proximal to the base. Each of the opposing sidewalls have at least one handle with finger grips on one of the opposing sidewalls. One of the opposing sidewalls also has a serrated edge distal from the base and adjacent to the rail. The container has a fulcrum at a junction of the rail edge and the runner receptacle. The container has a first stacked position with an identical container when the feet are received in complementary foot receptacles of the identical container and the runner is received in complementary runner receptacle of the identical container. The container has a first sliding position, in relation to a second identical container, when the runner abuts the rail edge of the identical container. The container also has a first levered position, in relation to a second identical container, that is intermediate the first stacked and first sliding positions and the runner respective to a fulcrum of the identical container is pivoted thereon. The container has a second stacking position when the feet are received in complementary foot receptacles of an opposite sidewall of the identical container. The container has a second sliding position when the feet abut the rail on the opposite sidewall of the identical container. The container also has a second levered position intermediate the second stacked and second sliding positions when one of the feet respective to one foot receptacle on the opposite sidewall of the second container is pivoted thereon.
A novel container for transport or storage of products such as bread, buns, or other goods. In one embodiment, there is provided a nestable container with a base and sidewalls that can be stacked in two positions for different products and can be nested when empty for compact storage. The container has levered positions for lifting out of each stacking position and into a corresponding sliding position. The sliding positions can be used to offset the container or containers from the stack and reduce the strain on the operator when lifting for destacking. Alternatively, the container can slide
Katten Muchin & Zavis
Moy Joseph M.
Norseman Plastics Limited
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