초록 ▼

Each tray in a plurality of 90 degree nestable and stackable trays is formed with a specific key portion along the upper edge of the end walls and a corresponding specific groove and web structure along the lower edge of the end walls. A first group of trays has a specific key structure different fr

Each tray in a plurality of 90 degree nestable and stackable trays is formed with a specific key portion along the upper edge of the end walls and a corresponding specific groove and web structure along the lower edge of the end walls. A first group of trays has a specific key structure different from a second group of the trays, each group of trays having its own key structure. Trays of a first group cannot be stacked in vertical alignment with trays of the second group, since the key structure of the first group is adapted to be received by the web structure of the first group, and not by the web structure of the second group, and vice versa.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plurality of trays, comprising: each tray being of a one piece construction molded from synthetic resin material, having a rectangular structure, parallel opposed side walls, a bottom wall and parallel opposed end walls, said side walls and said end walls extending vertically upward from sai

1. A plurality of trays, comprising: each tray being of a one piece construction molded from synthetic resin material, having a rectangular structure, parallel opposed side walls, a bottom wall and parallel opposed end walls, said side walls and said end walls extending vertically upward from said bottom walls, said end walls having a height greater than said side walls, and said end walls having free upper and lower edges: said side walls and said end walls having surface means formed thereon for enabling said trays to be stacked in a vertically aligned position, and for enabling said trays to be stacked in a nested position when one of said trays is rotated at least 90 degrees relative to another of said trays about an axis perpendicular to said bottom walls from said stacked position; said surface means including upper stacking elements formed integrally with said end walls extending along said upper edges of said end walls, and lower stacking elements formed integrally with said end walls at said lower edges of said end walls; one of said upper and lower stacking elements comprising a ridge and the other of said upper and lower stacking elements comprising groove means wide enough and deep enough to receive said ridge; web means extending across the width of said groove means for preventing the seating in said groove means of portions of said ridge which are vertically aligned with said web means when said upper and said lower stacking elements of adjacent stacked trays engage; said ridges including notches having dimensions that correspond with the dimensions of said web means such that the engagement of said web means within said notches permits the seating of said ridge within said groove means of adjacent stacked trays; a first plurality of said trays being identical and having a unique pattern of said web means and corresponding said notches of said upper and said lower stacking elements so that when said first plurality of said trays are stacked on and vertically aligned with one another each of said web means will be received within a notch of the adjacent tray; a second plurality of said trays being identical to each other and differing from said first plurality of said trays substantially only in having a second unique pattern of said web means and corresponding said notches of said upper and said lower stacking elements so that when said second plurality of said trays are stacked on and vertically aligned with one another each of said web means will be received within a notch of the adjacent tray; and said first plurality of said trays unique pattern having a difference between said second plurality of said trays unique pattern such that said difference prevents the seating of said ridge of any one of said first plurality of said trays within said groove means of any one of said second plurality of said trays. 2. A plurality of trays, comprising: a single piece construction molded from synthetic resin material having a generally rectangular shape and having a bottom wall, parallel opposed side walls, and parallel opposed end walls, said end walls having upper and lower edges, said side walls and said end walls being substantially vertical and perpendicular to said bottom wall, said end walls being greater in height than said side walls; said side walls and said end walls having surface means formed thereon for enabling said trays to be stacked in a vertically aligned position, and for enabling said trays to be stacked in a nested position when one of said trays is rotated at least 90 degrees relative to another of said trays about an axis perpendicular to said bottom walls from said stacked position; upper stacking elements formed integrally with one of said end and said side walls and extending along said upper edge of that one of said walls, and lower stacking elements formed integrally with one of said walls at said lower edge of that one of said walls; key means on one of said stacking elements and groove means on the other of said stacking elements providing for the telescoping interlocking of said upper and said lower stacking elements of a first plurality of said trays when stacked in vertical alignment on one another and said key means and said groove means providing for the telescoping interlocking of said upper and said lower stacking elements of a second plurality of said trays when stacked in vertical alignment on one another; said key means cooperting with said groove means to prevent the shifting between said trays of said first plurality when said trays of said first plurality are aligned in a vertical stack and said key means cooperating with said groove means to prevent the shifting between said trays of said second plurality when said trays of said second plurality are aligned in a vertical stack, in directions parallel to and perpendicular to said end walls; and said first plurality of said trays being substantially identical to and differing only from said second plurality of said trays in that said key means cooperating with said groove means acts to prevent the stacking with telescoping interlocking of said trays of said first plurality with said trays of said second plurality. 3. The trays according to claim 2, wherein said stacking elements further comprise: a ridge on one of said stacking elements, and said groove means on the other of said stacking elements dimensioned to telescopingly receive said ridge; webs extending across said groove means so as to prevent the seating of said ridge within said groove means when one of said stacking elements of one tray engages with the other of said stacking elements of another tray in a vertically aligned stack; notches along said ridge for each of said first and said second plurality of said trays which are spaced so as to be vertically aligned with said webs so as to permit the seating of the rest of said ridge within the portions of said groove means that do not have said webs extending across said groove means for adjacent stacked trays and so as not to be vertically misaligned in a vertically aligned stack. 4. The trays according to claims 1 or 3, wherein said end walls further comprise an inner upper stacking rail integrally formed with said end wall extending along said upper edge parallel to and spaced from said ridge; an inner lower stacking groove integrally formed with said end walls and having outer and inner side walls; said inner upper stacking rail of any of said trays being engageable with said lower inner stacking groove of any other of said trays when any of said trays are stacked on and vertically aligned with one another in a vertical stack. 5. A tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said side walls further have leg portions spaced closely near said opposed end walls and extending downwardly so as to be flush with the downwardmost extension of the said lower stacking elements; said leg portions being spaced apart from each other to provide a space having a width sufficient to accommodate a hand truck; and said leg portions further dimensioned in depth so as to provide a vertical space between said bottom wall and a surface upon which said trays rest sufficient to accommodate a hand truck. 6. The trays according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said end walls further comprise: opposed substantially vertical stop surfaces formed integrally with said end walls, at the upper edge of said end walls, and formed at the corners of said trays. 7. The trays according to claim 6, wherein said ridge further comprises at least two middle ridge surfaces adjacent to each of said stop surfaces, at least two cam surfaces adjacent to each of said middle ridge surfaces, said cam surfaces sloping upwardly from each of said middle ridge surfaces to at least two upper ridge surfaces, at least one lower ridge surface forming the bottom of said notches, and opposed upwardly sloping notch cam surfaces extending from said lower ridge surface to said upper ridge surfaces. 8. The trays according to claim 7, wherein said web means includes: full depth webs extending fully across said groove means and extending the full depth of said groove means, middle depth webs extending fully across said groove means and extending only half the depth of said groove means, and lower depth webs of substantially V-shaped cross section, said lower depth webs having web cam surfaces extending from the opening of said groove means to the full depth of said lower depth web; said full depth webs being positioned in said groove means to engage with the intersections of said lower ridge surfaces and said notch cam surfaces, said middle depth webs positioned in said groove means to engage with the intersections of said ridge cam surface and said middle ridge surface and positioned to engage with the intersection of said middle ridge surface with said stop surface, and said lower depth webs positioned along said groove means so as to receive said upper ridge surfaces; and said web cam surfaces engaging with said upper ridge surfaces to align said upper ridge surfaces of one of said trays within said lower depth webs of another of said trays stacked in vertical alignment adjacent one another in a direction perpendicular to said ridge, and said notch cam surfaces of one of said trays engaging said full depth webs of another of said trays when said trays are stacked adjacent one another in a vertically aligned stack acting to align trays in a direction parallel to said ridge, and said ridge cam surfaces of one of said trays acting with said middle depth webs of another of said trays stacked adjacent one another in a vertically aligned stack to additionally provide for centering of said tray relative to the other of said trays in a direction parallel to said ridge.