Special receptacle or package – Structural features for nesting identical receptacles or... – Noncircular receptacles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-02-13
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
Structural features for nesting identical receptacles or...
Noncircular receptacles
C206S564000, C206S821000, C220S517000, C220S509000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186328
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a low depth, nestable tray for transporting and storing beverage containers having substantially equal diameters, such as twelve-ounce aluminum beverage cans. Cans for soft drinks, beer and other beverages are often stored and transported during the distribution stages thereof in trays or boxes. These trays or boxes are also used in the retail setting to display the cans, typically in a stack of loaded trays or boxes. Can trays made of plastic are frequently used since they are reusable and recyclable and do not contribute to the solid waste problem of cardboard or paperboard boxes.
Plastic trays wherein the side walls are lower than the height of the stored containers are referred to as low depth trays. Since containers placed in the cases would extend above the side walls, the containers in a lower case support the weight of the other cases stacked on top of them. Metal cans generally have the structural integrity to bear the compressive loads of loaded and stacked trays.
Many prior can trays are configured to be nestable with one another when they are empty to reduce the amount of space they take up during transport back to a wholesaler or bottler. Examples of returnable and reusable can trays are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,932,532; 4,823,955; 5,031,774 and 5,445,273. These prior patents are assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and their disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference. The trays disclosed in these prior patents comprise a floor, a band spaced from the floor and a plurality of columns interconnecting the floor and band. In general, the columns are arranged at the corners and along the end walls and side walls of the trays.
Previous can trays have vertical columns or pillars provided between every two container rest areas. It has been found that the column and band construction of prior trays interfere with handling of cans that are bundled together with a secondary packaging such as an overwrap or paperboard wrap. The corners and the longer side walls present the most critical areas in which interference with secondary packaging has been experienced. There is a need for a tray that is structurally sound but whose construction does not interfere with secondary packaging.
Can trays must also have sufficient structural integrity and strength so that the wall structure can resist spreading or fraying of side wall structures when a large number of empty trays are nested. The side walls of trays near the bottom of a nested stack bear more of the weight of the nested stack, and have a tendency to spread or splay outward. This damage has a cumulative effect and results in a shorter service life for the trays, and thus additional expense for replacement.
Another aspect of can tray construction is the provision of structural supports for the cans on the floor of the tray to retain the cans in spaced relation to one another and the wall structure. Excessive jostling of loaded cans can cause damage to the cans ranging from slight scratches to more severe dents and even ruptures. Simply the operating vibration of a truck containing the loaded trays can cause damage to the cans if there is excessive contact and rubbing between the tray walls and the cans.
Since can trays that are loaded with cans are stacked on top of one another, can trays include downwardly extending elements on the bottom of the floor surface to aid in stable stacking and movement of stacks. These downward elements are arranged so that some are placed within the top rims of cans in a loaded tray therebeneath, and others are placed between top rims of adjacent cans in the lower loaded tray.
While prior art trays for beverage cans have addressed some of the problems of can handling and stack stability, typically the results have been trays that are relatively bulky and heavy which adds to transportation costs and increases the handling burden of handling stacks of loaded trays. There has been a need for a lighter tray which provides all of the structural features and advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a nestable, low depth tray for storing, displaying and transporting containers that is light weight but still provides the necessary structural integrity and strength for repeated use and handling.
Another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure that does not interfere with secondary packaging over cans.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a low depth, nestable tray which has sufficient structural features to prevent the side walls of the tray from spreading or fraying due to the weight of trays nested above it.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tray that has straight wall portions at the corners so that the outside dimensions of the tray at both the top and bottom of the tray are the same to facilitate tray handling by automated equipment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a low depth tray which is securely supported when loaded and stacked on another loaded tray beneath, but can easily be moved along the tops of the containers, particularly can tops.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a low depth nestable tray which makes efficient use of space both when loaded and stacked and when empty and nested.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low depth, nestable tray which holds the containers spaced apart from one another and from the wall structure of the tray to prevent any damage to the containers from excessive contact.
Directed to achieving these objects, a new, light weight low depth, nestable tray for containers is herein provided. The preferred configuration is for single serve sized cans. This tray is formed by integrally molding from plastic, two basic components—a wall structure and a floor.
The wall structure is contoured, substantially upright and extends around the periphery of the tray. The wall structure is of a low depth configuration, that is, lower than the tops of the loaded cans, but high enough to prevent the cans from tipping. The wall structure comprises a band that extends around the periphery and a plurality of columns that interconnect the band to the floor at certain points. The band is contoured at a number of points along the periphery of the tray to reduce the number of columns as compared to the prior art trays which generally have columns at each of the corners and along the end walls and side walls. The reduction in the number of columns reduces the weight of the tray and therefore is more economical. The contour is V-shaped and the band actually connects directly to the floor at those points. The contoured wall structure provides a lighter tray that can be stacked, nested and handled in the same way as prior trays and while maintaining the structural integrity of the heavier trays. Each of the four corners of the tray also has contoured V-shaped walls. The V-shaped walls, besides reducing the weight of the tray, provide interior surfaces that do not interfere with secondary packaging around cans, and also ensure that the top and bottom outside dimensions of the tray are the same.
The floor preferably has an open lattice construction which not only allows unwanted fluids to drain out of the tray, but also requires less material and thus is lighter than a solid floor design. The floor also has container support areas sized to receive cans, and includes a shallow groove for engaging the bottoms of cans of varying bottom rim diameter. The floor of the tray has an outer or bottom surface which is configured for accommodating the tops of cans in a tray underneath. The floor bottom surface preferably has two sets of downwardly projecting redoubts, one set which are located to be disposed within the top rims of cans in a tray therebeneath and a second set which are located to be disposed between the top rims of adjacent cans in a tray therebeneath. The redoubts also block a tray from sliding along
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Castellano Stephen
Rehrig Pacific Company
LandOfFree
Nestable can tray with contoured wall structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Nestable can tray with contoured wall structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nestable can tray with contoured wall structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580334