AU2017314292A2 - A milk crate - Google Patents

A milk crate Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2017314292A2
AU2017314292A2 AU2017314292A AU2017314292A AU2017314292A2 AU 2017314292 A2 AU2017314292 A2 AU 2017314292A2 AU 2017314292 A AU2017314292 A AU 2017314292A AU 2017314292 A AU2017314292 A AU 2017314292A AU 2017314292 A2 AU2017314292 A2 AU 2017314292A2
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
milk crate
load bars
milk
sidewalls
load
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
AU2017314292A
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AU2017314292A1 (en
Inventor
Jason Edward Holm
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jrc Packing Solutions Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Jrc Packing Solutions Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2016903250A external-priority patent/AU2016903250A0/en
Application filed by Jrc Packing Solutions Pty Ltd filed Critical Jrc Packing Solutions Pty Ltd
Publication of AU2017314292A1 publication Critical patent/AU2017314292A1/en
Publication of AU2017314292A2 publication Critical patent/AU2017314292A2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a milk crate including: a four-sided base; four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle, preferably in the range of about 92 to 95 degrees, to allow nesting of a like milk crate; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position. The load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position. Preferably, the load bars are each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position via a snap-engage fitting. Preferably, the load bars are also releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position via a snap-engage fitting.

Description

A MILK CRATE
Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a milk crate.
Background of the Invention [0002] Milk crates are well-known products used in the delivery of bottles or other containers of milk. To date, commonly used milk crates are generally cube shaped containers with an open top that are stackable on each other when full or empty. They therefore occupy large amounts of space, even when empty. As a result, milk crates are often stored in unsecured areas, (e.g. outside a shop), leading to theft and damage.
[0003] A bread crate is known, which is both nestable and stackable. However, the mechanism providing both nestability and stackability is difficult to reliably operate and the nesting ratio is too low to significantly reduce space requirements when stacking empty crates.
Object of Invention [0004] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the above disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative.
Summary of Invention [0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a milk crate including: a four-sided base; and four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle to allow nesting of a like milk crate; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position; and each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position; wherein the load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position.
[0006] Preferably, the load bars are also releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position.
[0007] Preferably, the load bars are each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position via a snap-engage fitting. The snap-engage fitting is preferably provided by an elongate flange at the distal end of each load bar.
[0008] Preferably, the load bars are also releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position via a snap-engage fitting. The snap-engage fitting is preferably provided by a pair of tabs at the transverse ends of each load bar.
[0009] Preferably, the upwardly outwardly diverging angle is in the range of about 92 to 95 degrees. More preferably, it is 93.5 degrees.
[0010] Preferably, the sidewalls each have one or more outwardly facing stacking ribs to prevent wedging of a nested like milk crate.
[0011] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a milk crate including: a four-sided base; and four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle in the range of about 92 to 95 degrees to allow for a like milk crate to be nested therein; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position; wherein the load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position.
[0012] Preferably, the upwardly outwardly diverging angle is 93.5 degrees.
[0013] Preferably, the load bars are each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position, more preferably the load bars are also releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position.
[0014] Preferably, the load bars are each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position via a snap-engage fitting. The snap-engage fitting is preferably provided by an elongate flange at the distal end of each load bar.
[0015] Preferably, the load bars are also releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position via a snap-engage fitting. The snap-engage fitting is preferably provided by a pair of tabs at the transverse ends of each load bar.
[0016] Preferably, the sidewalls each have one or more outwardly facing stacking ribs to prevent wedging of a nested like milk crate.
[0017] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a milk crate including: a four-sided base; and four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle to allow for a like milk crate to be nested therein; the sidewalls each have one or more outwardly facing stacking ribs to prevent wedging of the milk crate when nested in or between other crates; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position; wherein the load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position.
[0018] Preferably, the load bars are each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position, most preferably via a snap-engage fitting. The snap-engage fitting is preferably provided by an elongate flange at the distal end of each load bar.
[0019] Preferably, the load bars are also releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position, most preferably via a snap-engage fitting. The snap-engage fitting is preferably provided by a pair of tabs at the transverse ends of each load bar.
[0020] Preferably the upwardly outwardly diverging angle is in the range of about 92 to 95 degrees. More preferably, it is 93.5 degrees.
[0021] In an embodiment, the base is a square. Preferably, the base includes a perimeter cavity that engages with the load bars of a like milk crate when stacked.
[0022] In one embodiment, the load bars are hinged at or near uppermost edges of their respective sidewalls. In another embodiment, the load bars include side ribbing, thereby preventing translation of a like milk crate supported on said load bars. In a further embodiment, the load bars are reinforced. Preferably, the reinforcement includes a load bar rod embedded therein. More preferably, the load bar rod is a steel rod.
Brief Description of Drawings [0023] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a milk crate, with load bars in the deployed position.
[0024] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the milk crate shown in Fig. 1 with load bars in the undeployed position.
[0025] Fig. 3 is a side view of the milk crate shown in Fig. 1 with load bars in the deployed position.
[0026] Fig. 4 is a side view of the milk crate shown in Fig. 1 with load bars in the undeployed position.
[0027] Fig. 5 shows several of the milk crates shown in Fig. 1 in a nested configuration.
[0028] Fig. 6 shows several of the milk crates shown in Fig. 1 in a stacked configuration.
[0029] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the underside of a load bar of the milk crate shown in Fig. in Fig. 1.
[0030] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the topside of a load bar of the milk crate shown in Fig. 1.
[0031] Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the milk crate shown in Fig. 1 with load bars in the undeployed position.
Description of Embodiments [0032] Figs. 1-4 show an embodiment of a milk crate 10 including a square base 12 and four sidewalls 14, each with a webbed structure. As seen in Fig. 1, the base 12 also has a webbed structure and includes a perimeter cavity 13, as best seen in Fig. 4. The milk crate 10 is injection moulded from plastics material. The sidewalls 14 include a lower portion 14a, an upper portion 14b and an uppermost edge 14c. As shown in Fig. 4, the sidewalls 14 project at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle 15 of 93.5 degrees from the base 12.
[0033] As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, an opening 26 into the interior of the milk crate 10 is defined between the upper portions 14b of the sidewalls 14. Four columns 18 are located on the adjoining edges between two adjacent sidewalls 14 and are formed in a V-shape. As shown in Fig. 3, the columns 18 include an upper column portion 18b and several stacking ribs 16. The stacking ribs 16 are located at the upper column portion 18b and are outwardly facing.
[0034] Two load bars 20 are associated with the sidewalls 14, which each include a load bar surface 21 and a side ribbing 22. As best seen in Fig. 7, one side of each of the loads bars 20 includes an elongate flange 23a extending along their distal edges. As best seen in Fig. 8, the other side of each of the load bars 20 includes a pair of tabs 23b at each transverse edge. As shown in Fig. 1, the load bars 20 also include a steel load bar rod 25, embedded therein during injection moulding. The load bars 20 are mounted at the uppermost sidewall edge 14c by hinges 24 that allow the load bars 20 to pivot from an undeployed position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, to a deployed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
[0035] The use of the milk crate 10 will now be described.
[0036] Figs. 1 and 3 show the milk crate 10 with the load bars 20 in the deployed position. In this position the load bars 20 partially obstruct the opening 26. The tabs 23b of the load bars 20 snap-engage with the uppermost edge 14c of their respective adjacent sidewalls 14 to retain the load bars 20 in the deployed position.
[0037] Figs. 2 and 4 show the milk crate 10 with the load bars 20 in the undeployed position. In this position the opening 26 is unobstructed by the load bars 20. The elongate flanges 23a of the load bars 20 snap-engage with their respective sidewalls 14 to retain the load bars 20 in the undeployed position.
[0038] As seen in Fig. 5, several like milk crates 10, with their load bars 20 in the undeployed position, can be nested within one another. The stacking ribs 16 transfer the load of a nested milk crate 10 to the next milk crate 10 in a nested stack. As the load bars 20 are locked into the undeployed position by the elongate flange 23 a snap-engaging with the sidewalls 14, they remain in this nestable position during handling or transport.
[0039] As shown in Fig. 6, several like milk crates 10, with their load bars 20 in the deployed position, can be stacked atop one another. The load bars 20 distribute the load of a stacked milk crate 10 to the columns 18 of the milk crate 10. In this stacked configuration, the side ribbing 22 and elongate flange 23a of the load bar 20 engage with the perimeter cavity 13 of the base 12.
As the load bars 20 are locked into the deployed position by the tabs 23b snap-engaging with the uppermost sidewall edge 14c of their respective adjacent sidewalls 14, they remain in this stackable position during handling or transport.
[0040] The milk crate 10 has several advantages.
[0041] In the nested configuration, as shown in Fig. 5, the snap engagement of the elongate flanges 23 a with their respective sidewalls 14 ensures the load bars 20 do not move during handling thereby improving the logistics, particularly ease of use, of nesting and stacking like milk crates 10. Handling is further improved by the stacking ribs 16, which transfer the load of a stacked like milk crate 10 to the next in a nested stack. As the load is transferred using edge contacts, rather than surface contacts, wedging (e.g. jamming or locking together) of nested like milk crates 10 is far less likely to occur.
[0042] In the stacked configuration, as shown in Fig. 6, the engagement of the side ribbing 22 and the elongate flange 23a with the perimeter 13 prevent translation of stacked like milk crates 10, particularly for secure storage and transport during use. The snap-engagement between tabs 23b and uppermost sidewall edges 14c prevent unwanted movement of the load bars 20 from the deployed to an undeployed position, improving handling. The load bar rod 25 improves the load carrying capacity of the milk crate 10 by further distributing the load of a stacked like milk crate 10 to the V-shaped columns 18.
[0043] The upwardly outwardly diverging angle 15 is chosen to allow for a nesting ratio of about 3.5. The reduction in necessary storage space thereby achieved is a significant economic incentive to purchase and use the milk crate 10, and provides for empty storage in more secure locations.
[0044] The V-shape of columns 18 increases their structural strength and thus reduces the material required to produce the milk crate 10. Similarly, the webbed structure of the sidewalls 14 increases rigidity and structural strength while reducing material usage. The webbed structure of the base 12 also provides support to the goods contained in the milk crate 10 while reducing the material used to produce the milk crate 10.
[0045] Notwithstanding the provision of the load bars 20, which provide for stackability, and the upwardly outwardly diverging angle 15, providing nestability, the overall dimensions of the milk crate 10 are advantageously compatible with existing infrastructure.
[0046] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
[0047] The upwardly outwardly diverging angle can also be in the range of 92 to 95 degrees. Although the milk crate has been described as having a square base with four sidewalls, other variations including more or fewer sidewalls with a corresponding base can also be conceived. Further load bars may also be associated with the upper portion of the columns.
JRC Packing Solutions Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON

Claims (16)

1. A milk crate including: a four-sided base; and four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle to allow nesting of a like milk crate; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position; and each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position; wherein the load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position.
2. A milk crate according to claim 1, wherein the upwardly outwardly diverging angle is in the range of about 92 to 95 degrees.
3. A milk crate according to claim 2, wherein the upwardly outwardly diverging angle is 93.5 degrees.
4. A milk crate including: a four-sided base; and four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle in the range of about 92 to 95 degrees to allow for a like milk crate to be nested therein; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position; wherein the load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position.
5. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bars are each releasably engageable with their respective sidewall when in the undeployed position via a snap-engage fitting.
6. A milk crate according to claim 5, wherein the snap-engage fitting is provided by an elongate flange at the distal end of each load bar.
7. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bars are releasably engageable with their respective adjacent sidewalls in the deployed position via a snap-engage fitting.
8. A milk crate according to claim 7, wherein the snap-engage fitting is provided by a pair of tabs at the transverse ends of each load bar.
9. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sidewalls each have one or more outwardly facing stacking ribs to prevent wedging of a nested like milk crate.
10. A milk crate including: a four-sided base; and four sidewalls, each upstanding from each side of the base at an upwardly outwardly diverging angle to allow for a like milk crate to be nested therein; the sidewalls each have one or more outwardly facing stacking ribs to prevent wedging of the milk crate when nested in or between other crates; an opening defined between upper portions of the four sidewalls; and at least a pair of load bars, each associated with an opposed pair of side walls, movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position; wherein the load bars obstruct at least part of the opening when in the deployed position and thereby provide a surface for a like milk crate to be stacked thereon and the load bars do not substantially obstruct the opening to allow nesting of a like milk crate when in the undeployed position.
11. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is square.
12. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes a perimeter cavity that engages with the load bars of a like milk crate when stacked.
13. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bars are hinged at or near uppermost edges of their respective sidewalls.
14. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bars include side ribbing, thereby preventing translation of a like milk crate supported on said load bars.
15. A milk crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bars are reinforced.
16. A milk crate according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcement includes a load bar rod embedded therein, wherein the load bar rod is preferably a steel rod. JRC Packing Solutions Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON
AU2017314292A 2016-08-16 2017-08-16 A milk crate Abandoned AU2017314292A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2016903250A AU2016903250A0 (en) 2016-08-16 A milk crate
AU2016903250 2016-08-16

Publications (2)

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AU2017314292A1 AU2017314292A1 (en) 2018-04-19
AU2017314292A2 true AU2017314292A2 (en) 2018-05-17

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AU2017314292A Abandoned AU2017314292A1 (en) 2016-08-16 2017-08-16 A milk crate
AU2018200298A Abandoned AU2018200298A1 (en) 2016-08-16 2018-01-12 A milk crate

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AU2018200298A Abandoned AU2018200298A1 (en) 2016-08-16 2018-01-12 A milk crate

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AU2018200298A1 (en) 2018-03-08
AU2017314292A1 (en) 2018-04-19

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Date Code Title Description
DA3 Amendments made section 104

Free format text: THE NATURE OF THE AMENDMENT IS: AMEND THE PRIORITY DETAILS TO READ 2016903250 16 AUG 2016 AU

DA3 Amendments made section 104

Free format text: THE NATURE OF THE AMENDMENT IS AS SHOWN IN THE STATEMENT(S) FILED 15 JAN 2018

MK4 Application lapsed section 142(2)(d) - no continuation fee paid for the application