Stackable container and container blank (L corner)

Abstract

A tray-type container includes a bottom wall, longitudinally-extending outer side walls, and laterally-extending end walls, the outer side walls and the end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to form an inner cavity. A plurality of tray-type containers may be unitized in several stacked configurations. Typically, the plurality of unitized containers are placed upon a shipping pallet or slip sheet, or placed within a shipping container to facilitate shipping by large carriers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to shipping and display type containers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Cartons or containers formed from folded corrugated paperboard or similar flat sheet stock material are often stacked on one another during shipping and storage of products. In high volume retail stores, product is not only stored in stacked cartons, but frequently is presented to consumers in that form, e.g., with the stacked cartons disposed on pallets. Stacking is obviously efficient as to the use of space and pallets enable a number of cartons to be handled as a unit. [0003] Containers in stacks are subjected to various forces, not limited to vertical compression due to the weight of containers over them in a stack. Such forces (as well as vertical compressive forces) are aggravated by handling, for example transport of a stack on a pallet, manual handling of one or more containers in a stack, etc. Tension and / or compression applied in variou...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The result is a reduction of structural integrity, and may include crushing or other damage to the container contents.

In addition, when the walls of one or more containers in a stack are crushed, wholly or partly collapsed, or otherwise deformed, the deformed container may no longer provide a stable horizontal support for containers stacked over it.

A leaning “tower” of containers may fall, and even if there is no injury to persons, the contents of the containers may spill or be damaged.

Apart from instability due to partial collapse of the walls of one or more containers in a stack, instability leading to spills and possible collapse of a stack may be caused by containers being shifted horizontally relative to underlying containers.

Containers stacked on a pallet, however, may be difficult to maneuver easily or quickly, may be stacked in close proximity to each other and may be bulky and cumbersome when filled with merchandise.

If containers are stacked on open containers, which is sometimes desirable, the stack may have inadequate support.

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