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Nesting and stacking storage crate

a storage crate and stacking technology, applied in the field of molded plastic storage crate, can solve the problems of less than the number of crates that can be stored in a closet or another area with limited floor space, and the difficulty of stacking one upon another, so as to reduce the storage space required

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-08-17
UNITED COMB & NOVELTY
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a storage crate that nests with other crates when empty, and in which the crates can be stacked one upon another. The nesting is accomplished by making the top rim define an open top that is larger than the bottom of the crate. As a result, the sidewall is tapered inwardly from top to bottom. This allows the crates to be nested one within the other to thereby decrease the storage space required for multiple crates, a feature useful both for the retailer and the purchaser. The crates are designed to be stacked one on top of another, even when essentially filled. This is accomplished by a pair of shelves formed into the sidewalls, near the rim. The shelves are sized and spaced so that the bottom of another identical crate can rest on the shelves, with the upper crate spanning the open top between the shelves and rotated ninety degrees relative to the crate on which it rests.

Problems solved by technology

When crates are filled with objects, the surface is irregular, which makes stacking filled crates one upon another difficult to accomplish.
As a result, the number of crates that can be stored in a closet or another area with limited floor space is less than it could be.
Another issue with crates is that retailers desire to display a maximum number of crates in a minimal floor or shelf space.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0021] Nesting and stacking storage crate 10 may be made from injection-molded plastic material such as copolymer-polypropylene. Crate 10 comprises generally rectangular bottom 42, and generally rectangular top rim 40 that defines an open top that is larger than bottom 42. The sidewall connecting the bottom and top comprises inwardly-tapered sidewall portions 43-46. In this preferred embodiment, sidewall portions 43 and 44 are essentially planar and parallel, as are sidewall portions 45 and 46. However, this is not a limitation of the invention, as will become apparent below.

[0022] Sidewall portions 43 and 44 define near their tops shelves 12 and 14, respectively. Shelf 14 is shown in detail in FIG. 6 and defines an essentially flat, planar top surface on which one end of bottom 42 of another identical crate can rest. Preferably, interior lip 14a, which projects above the plane of the shelf, is included to help seat the bottom of another crate on shelf 14. The bottom can have a sma...

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PUM

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Abstract

A nesting and stacking storage crate having a bottom, a top rim, a sidewall connecting the bottom and the top rim, and a pair of shelves formed into the sidewall, the shelves adapted to support the bottom of another identical storage crate.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority of Provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 652,710, filed on Feb. 14, 2005.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a molded plastic storage crate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Plastic open-top storage crates find great utility. Many times, such crates are used to store toys, crafting supplies, household articles and other irregularly-shaped objects. When crates are filled with objects, the surface is irregular, which makes stacking filled crates one upon another difficult to accomplish. As a result, the number of crates that can be stored in a closet or another area with limited floor space is less than it could be. [0004] Another issue with crates is that retailers desire to display a maximum number of crates in a minimal floor or shelf space. It is thus advantageous to have crates nest one within another. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provid...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D21/00
CPCB65D21/046
Inventor ZEPHIR, DAVID E.AUDET, RONALD M.FOSTER, REBECCA B.
Owner UNITED COMB & NOVELTY