US 7,320,405 B2
Multi-level stacking/nesting tray
Edward L. Stahl, Tyler, Tex. (US)
Assigned to Norseman Plastics, Ltd., Rexdale, Ontario (Canada)
Appl. No. 10/275,735
PCT Filed May 09, 2001, PCT No. PCT/CA01/00640
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jun. 17, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO01/85558, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 15, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2004/0060844 A1, Apr. 01, 2004
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65D 21/00 (2006.01); B65D 85/62 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 206—509  [206/519] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container comprising:
a base;
at least one pair of opposing sidewalls projecting normally from said base, said sidewalls including
a pair of stacking feet, each of said stacking feet including
a first and second substantially vertical surface,
a substantially horizontal surface substantially orthogonal to and joined to the first substantially vertical surface, and
an angled portion joined at a first end to the second substantially vertical surface and joined at a second end to the substantially horizontal surface, and
a pair of stacking feet receptacles, said stacking feet receptacles configured to receive the stacking feet and including
an angled portion substantially similar to the angled portion of each of a corresponding stacking foot;
at least one pair of opposing longwalls projecting normally from said base;
each of said sidewalls further including
a channel defining a rail edge distal from said base and having a plurality of runner receptacles;
said sidewalls having runners complementary to said runner receptacles and projecting from an edge adjacent to said base; and
a fulcrum at a junction of said rail edge and one of said runner receptacles and substantially centrally located between a center of the sidewall and one longwall such that said container has
a stacked position with an identical container when said runners are received in complementary runner receptacles of said identical container,
a sliding position when at least one of said runners is received within a channel of said identical container,
a levered position intermediate said stacked and sliding positions when said runner is pivoted with respect to a fulcrum of said identical container, and
a lifted position intermediate the stacked and levered position, wherein the container is lifted upwardly by the longwall furthest from said fulcrum to rotate the container about the stacking feet located closest to the fulcrum as a result of the angled portion of the stacking foot sliding with respect to the angled portion of the corresponding stacking foot receptacle.