US3147882A

US3147882A - Stacking and nesting container

Info

Publication number: US3147882A
Application number: US234589A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred R Waters
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-11-05
Filing date: 1962-11-05
Publication date: 1964-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-08

Description

Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. 7,0647 WZW BY ()fl w 12%;

Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. fl/z rci/ z M Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 HIQ I IIIIIL .I II I l.. Winn.. 1..

C51 I I II I I I INVENTOR fl rwi if M2 674 Sept. 8, 1964 A. R. WATERS 3, 4

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 C E E U FJUULJE LJfJCJ-CJ INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,147,882 STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINER Alfred R. Waters, 539 Henley, Birmingham, Mich. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 234,589 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-97) The invention relates to containers and more particularly to stacking and nesting containers.

It often is desirable to use stackable and nestable containers for the storage and transportation of goods since such containers enable relatively large volumes of goods to be handled or stored therein when they are stacked one on the other and when the containers are empty they can be nested in a compact group that is storable in a relatively small space.

Such containers should be economical, strong and light weight and it has, therefore, been found desirable to fabricate such containers from suitable plastic materials. Such containers must include means for preventing buckling thereof when a large number of the containers are in a stacked position. Furthermore, it is desirable that the containers be interlocked when in a stacked position to eliminate movement therebetween which might cause one or more of the stacked containers to collapse on top of the contents of its supporting container.

Accordingly, primary objects of the present invention are to provide an improved container of the type that is associated with one or more like containers for stacking or nesting relative thereto; and to provide such a container having low cost, light weight and good strength characteristics.

Further objects of the present invention are to improve containers of the type that can be stacked or nested on a like container by providing means on such a container that will engage a like container when the containers are in a stacked relationship to positively interlock the containers together; and to provide such means including a pad on the bottom of such a container which inserts in an opening in the upper portion of a like container when the containers are in a stacked relationship.

Still further objects of the invention are to improve a container of the stacking and nesting type by including means thereon that enable such a container to be smoothly slid into supported relationship with a like container; and to provide for such smooth sliding in a plurality of endwise directions.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a container constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation looking toward the right end of the container in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation looking toward the left end of the container in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the bottom of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the mid-portion thereof being broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 55 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5A is an enlarged view in vertical section of detail 5A in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a view. in vertical section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5A.

FIGURE 7 is a View partially in section and partially in elevation of a plurality of containers of the type shown in FIGURES 1-6 in their nested positions;

FIGURE 8 is a view partially in section and partially 3,147,882 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 ice in elevation of a plurality of such containers in their stacked positions.

Referring now to the drawings, a substantially rectangular container 10 is shown that is preferably molded from a plastic material. The container has a bottom 12 integrally formed with

side walls

14, 16 on either side thereof and with end walls 18, 2 9 on either end thereof. The

side walls

14, 16 and

end walls

18, 20 are integrally formed at the end edges thereof to form the corners of the container and a continuous flange 22 directed outwardly of the upper edge of each of the side and end walls has a downwardly turned edge 24 thereon for reinforcing the container against buckling and for serving as a carrying handle when the container is moved about.

The bottom 12 of the container is representatively illustrated as being molded to have diagonal portions 26 therein directed outwardly thereof to further reinforce the container. Furthermore, the bottom and sides are representatively illustrated as including a plurality of apertures 28 and 30, respectively, for reducing the weight of the container.

Containers having the general configuration of that illustrated in the drawing have been found unusually Well suited for use in storing or transporting goods because of their relatively low cost and their good strength characteristics and light weight.

Furthermore, the illustrated container is of the type that is adapted to be either stacked or nested with a like container when it is desired to store and transport rela tively large volumes of objects within a minimum amount of floor space and when it is desired to have a container that can be nested within a like container to save space when the containers are not in use. Accordingly, the

sidewalls

14, 16 and the opposite end walls 18, 29 of the container are outwardly inclined with respect to the bottom 12 thereof and the

end Walls

18, 20 have support means in association therewith so that a plurality of containers can be either stacked one on the other or nested within each other depending upon the end-to-end relation thereof.

More particularly, the left end 18 of the container shown in the drawings includes a pair of spaced

portions

32, 34 directed inwardly of the bottom 12 of the container and joined together by a mid-portion 36 of the wall that is directed outwardly of the bottom 12. Outwardly directed portions 38, 40 are formed on either side of the end wall 18 for joining the

portions

32, 34 to the

container sidewalls

14, 16, respectively. The upper edges of the outwardly directed portions 36, 38, 40 of the end wall 18 are also integrally formed with the reinforcing flange 22 on the container as best illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Each of the inwardly directed

portions

32, 34 of the end wall 18 is tapered toward the upper flange 22 on the container where the upper edge thereof is integrally formed with an inverted U-shaped protuberance 42 located above the upper flange 22 of the container between the inner edge thereof and the inside surface of the tapered inwardly directed

Wall portions

32, 34. The protuberance 42 has a recess 44 formed therein that faces toward the inside of the container. The recess 44 is in part formed by a shelf portion 46 integrally formed with the protuberance 42 and the

tapered portions

32, 34. Each shelf 46 also has a slot or aperture 48 formed therein and is representatively illustrated as having a slight downward inclination from the end Wall 18 in the direction of the upper reinforcing flange 22 of its respective adjacent end Wall 18 as best illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Side portions 49 of the protuberance 42 form guiding abutments on either side of each shelf 46. Ribs 50 formed on the underside of each protuberance 42 on either side of the supporting shelf 4-6 extend between the underside of the peripheral reinforcing flange 22 and the front edge of the supporting shelf 46 for reinforcing this portion of the container against loads concentrated thereon.

Referring now to the bottom portion of the left end of the container, best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, it can be seen that the bottom edges of the inwardly and outwardly directed portions of the end wall 18 are integrally formed with the bottom 12 of the container. Furthermore, each of the outwardly directed portions 36, 38, 40 have a pair of projections 52, 54 thereon which are in alignment and directed downwardly of the bottom surface of the container.

More specifically, each of the projections 52, best shown in FIGURE A, is located adjacent the end wall 18 of the container and is formed as a pad having the bottom surface 56 thereof inclined upwardly in the direction of the end wall 18 of the container from the bottom edge of an inner surface 58 thereon. Each of the projections 54 is located in alignment with one of the projections 52 between it and the opposite end of the container. The projections 54 each have a surface 60 thereon facing the inner surface 58 of an adjacent projection 52 and includes a bottom surface 62 inclined upwardly away from the end wall 18 of the container. The projections 54 serve as supporting feet for the container.

Referring now to the opposite end wall 20 of the container, it can be seen that there are a pair of spaced por tions 64, 66 therein directed outwardly of the bottom 12 in line with the inwardly directed

portions

32, 34, respectively, in the end wall 18. Each of the in-line outwardly directed portions 64, 66 is tapered from the bottom thereof toward the upper end thereof as best illustrated in FIG- URE 2, and has the upper edge thereof integrally formed with the reinforcing flange 22 of the container and has the bottom edge thereof integrally formed with the bottom 12 of the container. A pad 68 and a foot 70 having the same characteristics as those formed on the bottom of the opposite end of the container are formed in the bottom 12 adjacent the end portions 64, 66.

There are, in addition,

portions

72, 74, 76 in the end wall 20 directed inwardly of the bottom 12 of the container in line with the outwardly directed portions 36, 38, on the opposite end wall 18, respectively, for joining the end wall portions 64, 66 to the rest of the container. Each of the inwardly directed

portions

72, 74, 76 has the bottom edges thereon integrally formed with the bottom 12 of the container, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2. An inverted U-shaped protuberance 78 is integrally formed with the upper edge of each of the

tapered portions

72, 74, 76 at a point above the reinforcing flange 22. Each of the protuberances 78 has a recess 80 therein facing in the direction of the inside of container 10, formed in part by a shelf portion 82 having a slot or aperture 84 extending transversely thereof and having reinforcing ribs 86 like the ribs on the opposite end of the container. As was the case in the opposite end wall 18-, the supporting shelves 82 on the end wall 20 are downwardly inclined toward the reinforcing flange 22 of its respective adjacent end wall 20 of the container and side portions 85 on the protuberances 78 form guiding abutments on sides of the shelf portions 82. The shelf portions 82 will support the bottom of the outwardly directed portions 36, 38, 40 on the opposite end of a like container when it is stacked thereon. Similarly, the shelf portions 46 on the end wall 18 will support the bottom of the outwardly directed portions 64, 66 in the end wall 20 of a like supported container.

In accordance with certain of the principles of the present invention, the pads 52, 68 on the bottom of either end of one of the improved nesting and stacking containers will fit in the

slots

84, 48, respectively, on the top of the ends of a like supporting container when said one container is turned end-for-end with respect to the supporting container. The protuberances 42, 78 on either end of the container serve to align the pads as they are inserted into 4- the slots. Once they are interconnected, the pads and slots will positively interlock the containers so that the ends of the supporting container will not pull away from the ends of the supported container and thereby cause the supported container to fall off its supporting shelves and crush the contents of the supporting container.

Furthermore, in accordance with certain other of the principles of the present invention, the coacting means on the supporting and supported containers which interlock them together will not interfere with the stacking of one or more of such containers on top of other like containers. More particularly, when one of the containers is slid across the top of a like container into supported relationship therewith, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, the inclined bottom surfaces 56, 62 on either the pads 52, 68 or feet 54, 7%) allow the supported container to smoothly slide across the tops of the end walls of a supporting container until the pads 52, 68 on the supported container are in alignment with the

slots

48, 84 in the supporting container and inserted into interlocking relationship therewith, as discussed above. The

feet

54, 70 on either end of the bottom of the supported container are shaped to prevent the pads 52, 68 on either end thereof from catching on the reinforcing flange 22 or protuberances 42, 78 raised thereabove no matter in which endwise direction the supported container is slidingly moved across the top of the supporting container.

If it is desired to store containers of the above described type, it is only necessary to put like ends of the containers above one another and nest the containers as shown in FIGURE 7. The outward inclination of the side and end walls and the taper of the concavo-convex portions described above provides necessary clearance between the containers for nesting. The

end walls

18, 20 are bent inwardly as shown at 88 and 90, respectively, in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 and the containers are supported by the ribs 50 to prevent jamming together of the containers once they are in their nested positions.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent to those familiar with stacking and nesting containers, and While it will be apparent that the embodiment of the present invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container stackable on a like container and nestable therein when turned end-for-end relative thereto comprising:

a bottom,

a first wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having at least one inwardly extending portion and at least one outwardly extending portion,

a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge thereof opposite to said one edge having at least one inwardly extending portion adapted to be vertically matable with an outwardly extending portion of a first wall of a like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder and at least one outwardly extending portion adapted to be vertically matable with an inwardly extending portion of a first wall of a like container when turned end-forend relative thereto and stacked thereunder,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions at an upper extremity thereof formed with inclined surfaces that extend upwardly and inwardly from each respective adjacent wall,

said surfaces having apertures formed therein intermediate the sides thereof,

said apertures having at least one side extending generally parallel to the respective wall and a pair of ends extending generally perpendicular to the respective wall, and

a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of 3,147,882 6 said outwardly extending portions and depending a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of from said bottom, each said projection having a subsaid outwardly extending portions and depending stantially vertical inner surface for positively enfrom said bottom, gaging one side of apertures of a like container when each said projections having a substantially vertical turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked there- 5 inner surface for positively engaging the one side of on to preclude lateral movement of said projections apertures of a like container when turned end-for-end in the apertures and a pair of end surfaces adapted relative thereto and stacked thereon to preclude to engage the pair of aperture ends of the like conlateral movement of said projection relative to the tainer to preclude transverse movement of said proaperture and a pair of end surfaces adapted to enjections in the apertures. 10 gage the pair of aperture ends of the like container 2. A container stackable on a like container and nestto preclude transverse movement of said projections able therein when turned end-for-end relative thereto comin the apertures. prising: 4. A container stackable on a like container and nesta bottom, able therein when turned end-for-end relative thereto a first wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having two inwardly extending portions and at least one outwardly extending portion,

a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge thereof opposite to said one edge having at least with inwardly extending portions of a first wall of a like container when turned end-for-end relatlve comprising:

a bottom,

one inwardly extending portion adapted to be vertia second wall attached to said bottom at an edge therecany Illa-table With an outwardly extending Portion of opposite to said one edge having at least one inof a first wall of a like container when turned endwardly extending portion adapted to be vertically for-end realtive thereto and stacked thereunder and t bl ith an outwardly extending portion of a at least two outwardly extending Portions adapied t0 first wall of a like container when turned end-for-end be Vertically matable With inwardly extending P relative thereto and stacked thereunder and at least tions of a first Wall of a like container when turned one outwardly extending portion adapted to b dlat thereto and Stacked thereunder, tically matable with an inwardly extending portion of Said inwardly extending Portions having Shelf Portions a first wall of a like container when turned end-forat an pp extremity thereof formed with inclined end relative thereto and stacked thereunder, Surfaces that extend p y and inwardly from said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions each respective adjacent t at an upper extremity thereof formed with inclined said surfaces having apertures formed therein intersurfaces h extend upwardly d inwardly from mediate the edges thereof, each respective adjacent wall, said apertures having at least one side extending said surfaces having apertures therein intermediate the erally parallel to the respective wall and a pair of edges th r of ends extending generally Perpendicular to the respec' a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of five Wall, and said outwardly extending portions and depending a plurality of projectionsvertically aligned with each f Said bottom,

of Said Ohtwardly extending Portions and depending said projections being adapted to positively engage aperfI'Om Said bottom, 40 tures of a like container when turned end-for-end releach Said Projections having a substantially Vertical ative thereto and stacked thereon to preclude lateral inner surface for positively engaging the one side of or transverse movement f id j ti i the apertures of a like continer when turned end-for-end apertures relative thereto and stacked thereon to preclude Said projections having an Outer urfa thereon i lateral movement of said projection relative to the dined upwardly and outwardly toward i respective aperture and a Pair of end Surfaces aqapted to adjacent wall for smoothly guiding said bottom up gage the P of aperture ends of the like container and over the wall of a like supporting container as to preclude transverse movement of said projections said bottom is slid in one direction across h top of m the aPFrturesthe supporting container, and 3. A container stackable on a like container and nesta second projection depending f said bottom m l ablg b when turned endfor'end relatlve them) with said first projection between said first projection comprlslnsr and the opposite respective wall having an outer sur- & bottom, face thereon inclined downwardly and outwardly toa first wall attached to said bottom at one edge there- Ward its respective wall for smoothly guiding id of having two inwardly extending portions and three bottom up and Over the Wall of a like Supporting outwardly extendmg P container as said bottom is slid across the top of the a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge there Supporting container in a direction opposite to id of opposite to said one edge having three inwardly one (region ejltending portions adiPted to.be Vertically Ina/[able 5. A container stackable on a like container and nest- Wlth outwardly extending Portlons of first Wall able therein when turned end-for-end relative thereto coma like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder nad two outwardly Pnsmg: extending portions adapted to be vertically matable a bottom a first wall attached to said bottom at one edge thereof having at least one inwardly extending portion and thereto and stacked thereunder, at least one outwardly exthhdlhg Portion,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions a second 3 atiachfid to sand bottom at an edge thereat an upper extremity thereof formed with inclined of PP edge havmg at least h surfaces that extend upwardly and inwardly from Wafdly eXtFhdmg POThOh adaptedto he Yeftlcahy h respective adjacent wall, matable with an outwardly extending portion of a said surfaces having apertures formed therein interfirst W of a llke contamer when turned end'for'ehd di t th edges th f relative thereto and stacked thereunder and at least said apertures having at least one side extending genone outwardly exiehdlhgjmhoh p to be P erally parallel to the respective wall and a pair f tically matable with an inwardly extending portion ends extending generally perpendicular to the reof a first wall of a like container when turned endspective wall, and for-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder,

said surfaces having apertures therein intermediate the edges thereof,

a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of said outwardly extending portion and depending from said bottom,

said projections being adapted to positively engage apertures of a like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereon to preclude lateral or transverse movement of said projections in the apertures, and

a protuberance raised above the side walls having side portions forming abutments adapted to engage an outwardly extending portion of a second side wall of a like container as the like container is slid across said side walls for guiding the outwardly extending portion into stacked engagement with said inwardly extending portion of said first side wall when the container is slid across the top of said plurality of side walls.

6. A container stackable on a like container and nestable therein when turned end-for-end relative thereto comprising:

a bottom,

a second wall attached to said bottom at an edge thereof opposite to said one edge having at least one inwardly extending portion adapted to be vertically matable with an outwardly extending portion of a first wall of a like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder and at least one outwardly extending portion adapted to be vertically matable with an inwardly extending portion of a first wall of a like container when turned endfor-end relative thereto and stacked thereunder,

said inwardly extending portions having shelf portions at an upper extremity thereof formed with inclined 8- surfaces that extend upwardly and inwardly from each respective adjacent wall,

said surfaces having apertures therein intermediate the edges thereof,

a plurality of projections vertically aligned with each of said outwardly extending portions and depending from said bottom,

said projections being adapted to positively engage apertures of a like container when turned end-for-end relative thereto and stacked thereon to preclude lateral or transverse movement of said projections in the apertures,

said projections having an outer surface thereon inclined upwardly and outwardly toward its respective adjacent wall for smoothly guiding said bottom up and over the wall of a like supporting container as said bottom is slid in one direction across the top of the supporting container,

a second projection depending from said bottom in line with said first projection between said first projection and the opposite respective wall having an outer surface thereon inclined downwardly and outwardly toward its respective wall for smoothly guiding said bottom up and over the wall of a like supporting container as said bottom is slid across the top of the supporting container in a direction opposite to said one direction, and

a proturberance raised above the side Walls having side portions forming abutments adapted to engage an outwardly extending portion of a second side wall of a like container as the like container is slid across said side walls for guiding the outwardly extending portion into stacked engagement with said inwardly extending portion of said first side wall when the container is slid across the top of said plurality of side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A CONTAINER STACKABLE ON A LIKE CONTAINER AND NESTABLE THEREIN WHEN TURNED END-FOR-END RELATIVE THERETO COMPRISING: A BOTTOM, A FIRST WALL ATTACHED TO SAID BOTTOM AT ONE EDGE THEREOF HAVING AT LEAST ONE INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION AND AT LEAST ONE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION, A SECOND WALL ATTACHED TO SAID BOTTOM AT AN EDGE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE EDGE HAVING AT LEAST ONE INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ADAPTED TO BE VERTICALLY MATABLE WITH AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF A FIRST WALL OF A LIKE CONTAINER WHEN TURNED END-FOR-END RELATIVE THERETO AND STACKED THEREUNDER AND AT LEAST ONE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ADAPTED TO BE VERTICALLY MATABLE WITH AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF A FIRST WALL OF A LIKE CONTAINER WHEN TURNED END-FOR END RELATIVE THERETO AND STACKED THEREUNDER, SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTIONS HAVING SHELF PORTIONS AT AN UPPER EXTREMITY THEREOF FORMED WITH INCLINED SURFACES THAT EXTEND UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM EACH RESPECTIVE ADJACENT WALL, SAID SURFACES HAVING APERTURES FORMED THEREIN INTERMEDIATE THE SIDES THEREOF, SAID APERTURES HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIDE EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE RESPECTIVE WALL AND A PAIR OF ENDS EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE RESPECTIVE WALL, AND A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH EACH OF SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTIONS AND DEPENDING FROM SAID BOTTOM, EACH SAID PROJECTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL INNER SURFACE FOR POSITIVELY ENGAGING ONE SIDE OF APERTURES OF A LIKE CONTAINER WHEN TURNED END-FOR-END RELATIVE THERETO AND STACKED THEREON TO PRECLUDE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PROJECTIONS IN THE APERTURES AND A PAIR OF END SURFACES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE PAIR OF APERTURE ENDS OF THE LIKE CONTAINER TO PRECLUDE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID PROJECTIONS IN THE APERTURES.