Stackable tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to containers and, more specifically, to trays that can be arranged at angles over the range from 0 to 180° so that, through this rotation, different height positions can be obtained; that include ergonomic handholds, which allow an operator to identify, by touch, the proper side for stacking or stowing or adding trays, as required; a dual guide on the base of the feet, to prevent the feet from separating when the trays are stowed; a dual track or groove along the sides, to allow so-called “shoe” or “skate” elements to slide and to prevent the trays from departing from their position; socket parts (male-female), to ensure that the upper trays do not become disengaged during sudden movements and to allow the trays to be stacked to different heights; and stops or protuberances in both the upper part and the lower part of the tray, to prevent the upper trays from sliding freely along the groove of the lower tray or along its side, depending on their position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This invention claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Mexican Application No. PA / a / 2004 / 000921 filed Jan. 28, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to stackable containers and more specifically to stackable trays for storing or transporting articles or products with different dimensions, which trays may be oriented and safely placed on top of each other in accordance with the dimensions of the product or article to be stored or transported. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is known that one of the principal problems that currently exist in warehouses or transport vehicles is that of the space required to store or transport the largest possible quantity of articles or products without damaging them. Accordingly, users have developed, or have asked companies that are experts in the field to design, receptacles or containers that, depending on ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Yet another goal of the present invention is to provide trays that are narrower (but without their narrowness being a limiting factor), that can be stacke

Problems solved by technology

It is known that one of the principal problems that currently exist in warehouses or transport vehicles is that of the space required to store or transport the largest possible quantity of articles or products without damaging them.

It also describes the use of trays of different heights for stacking; however, it does not address the crosswise nesting of trays of different heights.

However, this patent has the disadvantage that when sudden movements occur due to handling by the operator, the upper trays are easily separated from the lower trays, thereby causing damage to the product and rendering it unacceptable to the purchaser.

Moreover, the trays have a very short sliding groove, which does not allow rapid alignment during the sliding operation, and also causes the trays easily to become separated.

The trays include handholds that can injure the operators or that simply are not convenient for the operators in terms of proper handling of the trays, and that are not designed to withstand rough handling by the operators or the conditions that are present in trucks when they encounter potholes, earthfills, winding roads, etc.

The result is that their useful lifetime is reduced significantly, and that the trays become separated while being transported by such trucks, which can cause damage to, and rejection of, the transported products.

The marks that the trays may contain in order to indicate to the operator the angle at which they are stacked tend to disappear rapidly as a result of the daily use and frequent cleaning that the tray must undergo, especially when the tray is used to transport food products that demand minimum levels of hygiene, thereby causing the ope

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