Receptacles – Closures – Closure guided in reciprocating movement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-29
2001-07-03
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Closure guided in reciprocating movement
C220S004010, C220S676000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253948
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a stackable and nestable container having a lid, and in particular to a container with a replaceable, preferably expendable closure panel covering an access opening in one or more walls of the container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Stackable and nestable containers are well known, particularly reusable injection molded plastic containers. Containers such as these are used for shipping goods, for example from a manufacturer or supplier of goods at a distribution center to an end user, such as a distribution outlet, retail store, restaurant, grocer or the like. The goods may be emptied from the container for restocking the end user's supplies or for display on shelves in a retail outlet, or they may be displayed without being removed from the containers such as in a warehouse, stock room or retail outlet. Eventually the containers are emptied of the contents and the containers are returned to the manufacturer or supplier from where they originated. During return shipment, the containers are empty, so it has been well recognized that it is advantageous to reduce the cargo space or volume occupied by such empty containers by permitting nested stacking of the containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,055 to Box is representative of a container that is used for shipping goods to a retail distribution outlet and displaying the goods from the container for retail sale. In this example, the containers are milk carton transport cases and the display of the cartons of milk is accomplished by the removal one or more panels, such as an end panel that is releasably fastened to the case. The removable panel is formed of the same type of plastic molded structure as that of the remainder of the container. As a result, after removal of the panels, the panels must be stored separately from the transport cases when the cases are used for displaying the milk cartons in a retail setting.
In the use of containers such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,055, the need to maintain storage of the removable panels during use of the cases for retail display is disadvantageous in that most retail outlets do not have adequate space for storage of such panels. Accordingly, the panels can become misplaced, broken or otherwise forgotten when it comes time for return shipment of the cases. Further, upon emptying the cases that have been used for display, it is necessary to retrieve the panels from wherever they are stored and fit them back into place before the cases are shipped back to the dairy. Finally, the cases disclosed by Box are not suitable for nested stacking, so the return shipment of the containers occupies as much cargo space (volume) in a transport vehicle, such as a truck, as the original shipment of the cases, which is disadvantageous as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome the problems associated with containers used for shipping goods, in which the containers have removable panels that cover access openings in the walls of the container for permitting display and picking of the goods from the container without opening the top of the container.
In particular, it is an object of the invention to overcome the problems with the prior art containers having removable panels in which the panels must be separately stored during use of the containers for display and then retrieved from storage and replaced or re-fit into the walls of the containers before return shipment thereof to the manufacturer. Associated with this problem in the prior art, is the need to replace any missing or broken panels with new ones, which becomes expensive and burdensome.
It is a further object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of using containers intended for access of the goods contained therein by removal of a panel in a wall of the container by providing such a container that is capable of return shipment in a nested stack.
According to the present invention, these objects are achieved and the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a container of unitary plastic molded construction having an open top with a separate lid wherein at least one of the side and/or end walls has an access opening coverable by a panel that when removed permits display of the goods in the container as well as removal of the goods from the container when the container is used for display. In particular, according to the invention, the panels that cover the access openings are intended to be expendable so that if the container is used for display at a retail outlet, for example, the panels can be removed and discarded thereby overcoming the need to reserve storage space for the panels and also thereby overcoming the need to replace the panels before return shipment of the containers. Further, use of the containers constructed according to the invention by manufacturers or suppliers is made advantageous by enabling nested stacking of the containers during return shipment thereof. Upon return of the containers to their origin, new expendable panels can be fit into the access openings for reuse of the containers.
It is another object of the invention to provide expendable panels for covering the access panels of the container that are constructed of a lightweight, inexpensive material, such as cardboard, that includes a display area for displaying commercial messages, advertising or indicia related to the contents of the goods. In this manner, the expendable panels can be printed with specific information related to the goods to be transported in the containers, and the types of panels can be readily changed depending on the goods shipped in the containers. This enable flexibility by allowing the display of indicia on the containers of the goods to be readily changed without the need for otherwise marking the container either temporarily or permanently. This has the further advantage that the containers constructed according to the invention can be manufactured for many different customers and uses, and the individual users can independently customize their use of the containers with use of the panels.
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Buckhorn, Inc.
Mattingly Stanger & Malur, P.C.
Merek Joe
Shoap Allan N.
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