Special receptacle or package – Shrink film package
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2001-05-08
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Shrink film package
C206S509000, C229S120330, C229S120360
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227370
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This U.S. patent application claims the benefit and priority of British patent application No. 9816388.4, filed Jul. 29, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tiered pack for use with a pallet and/or palletised or unpalletised containers. When used with a pallet, the tiered pack may be shrink-wrapped thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tiered packs for use in transit packages are known, an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,285 to Main.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tiered pack comprising a plurality of tiers each comprising a generally planar base and a plurality of compartment defining dividers supported thereon, wherein one or more dividers of at least one of the tiers and the base of an adjacent tier include respective complementary engaging means for enhancing the stability and rigidity of the pack.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a tier for use in a tiered pack, which tier comprises a generally planar base upon which is supported a plurality of compartment-defining dividers, wherein at least one of the dividers comprises means engaging or arranged to engage complementary means associated with the base of another such tier stacked thereupon.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a tier for use in a tiered pack, which tier comprises a plurality of compartment-defining dividers upon which is supported a generally planar base, wherein at least one of the dividers comprises means engaging or arranged to engage complementary means associated with the base.
Preferably that part of the complementary engaging means associated with the at least one divider, is arranged at or adjacent the top edge thereof and, in the embodiment to be described hereinbelow, takes the form of at least one tab upwardly therefrom. More preferably, a plurality of such tabs is provided on respective upper edges of two or more spaced, parallel dividers.
Such engaging means, and particularly when in the form of one or more tabs projecting upwardly from the upper edge(s) of at least one divider, is arranged to engage a correspondingly-shaped aperture, such as a slot or slit, in the base of the next, upper tier, in which case, the base of the lower tier is also provided with its corresponding part of complementary engaging means for engagement by the corresponding part associated with one or more of the dividers of a tier beneath the lower tier.
The invention also provides a transit package comprising a product-filled, tiered pack in accordance with the first aspect of the invention defined above, mounted upon a pallet and preferably shrink-wrapped thereto. Additionally or alternatively, the invention provides a transit package comprising a product-filled tiered pack in accordance with the first aspect of the invention defined above, when accommodated within an outer transit container.
The inventive tiered pack may also be used for product storage and/or display purposes and when used in respect of the latter, each successive upper tier may be removed, once displayed products have been removed from their respective compartments defined by the associated dividers.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2077588 (1937-04-01), Schaefer
patent: 2633285 (1953-03-01), Kells
patent: 2643810 (1953-06-01), Fleming
patent: 2690285 (1954-09-01), Main
patent: 2736483 (1956-02-01), Moore
patent: 2749011 (1956-06-01), Lebow
patent: 3486680 (1969-12-01), Negus, Jr.
patent: 4046256 (1977-09-01), Congleton
patent: 5011013 (1991-04-01), Meisner et al.
patent: 5040681 (1991-08-01), Grusin
patent: 5050738 (1991-09-01), McAdams
patent: 5316207 (1994-05-01), Ross et al.
patent: 5339957 (1994-08-01), Carstens
patent: 5361975 (1994-11-01), Droste et al.
patent: 5415344 (1995-05-01), Harrelson
patent: 5669498 (1997-09-01), Fierek et al.
Earnshaw Nigel William
Hartley Michael
Hartman Domenica N. S.
Hartman Gary M.
Linpac Containers Limited
Luong Shian
Sewell Paul T.
LandOfFree
Tiered pack does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tiered pack, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tiered pack will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2551122