IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0457398
(2003-06-10)
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우선권정보 |
CA-2331202(2001-01-15); CA-2431444(2003-06-09) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Norseman Plastics, Limited
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대리인 / 주소 |
Katten Muchin Rosenman, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
20 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
The present invention provides a container comprising a base configured to vertically support at least one object, a pair of opposed sidewalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having a top surface, an e
The present invention provides a container comprising a base configured to vertically support at least one object, a pair of opposed sidewalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having a top surface, an exterior surface, and a receptacle, wherein the exterior surface merges with the top surface to define an upper exterior edge, and wherein the exterior surface further merges with the receptacle to define a receptacle edge, and a support member pivotally mounted within the receptacles to facilitate pivotal movement of the support member relative to each of the sidewalls, the support member being configured to support a second identical container, wherein the upper exterior edge and the receptacle edge of at least one of the opposed sidewalls are configured to simultaneously oppose the support member during at least a portion of the pivotal movement such that the clearance between the support member and the upper edge is greater than the clearance between the support member and the receptacle. The present invention provides a container comprising a base configured to vertically support at least one object, a pair of opposed sidewalls and a pair of opposed endwalls, each of the sidewalls and the endwalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having an exterior surface defining a receptacle, and a support member pivotally mounted within the receptacles to facilitate pivotal movement of the support member relative to each of the sidewalls, the support member configured to support a second identical container, wherein at least one of the endwalls includes a support surface configured to support the support member, the support surface including at least two notches configured to permit application of a force to the support member by fingers of a human hand when the support member is resting on the support surfaces such that the application of the force displaces the support member from the support surface.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A container comprising: a base configured to vertically support at least one object; a pair of opposed sidewalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having a top surface, an
The invention claimed is: 1. A container comprising: a base configured to vertically support at least one object; a pair of opposed sidewalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having a top surface, an exterior surface, and a receptacle, wherein the exterior surface meets the receptacle to define a bottom receptacle outer edge and a top receptacle outer edge, wherein the bottom receptacle outer edge is closer to the base than the top receptacle outer edge, and each of the opposed sidewalls having a support surface, a first pair of notches, and a second pair of notches provided in the top surface; and a pair of support members, each support member being pivotally mounted within the receptacles to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member relative to each of the sidewalls, each support member being configured to support a second identical container; wherein the support surfaces of the opposed sidewalls are disposed at outer portions of the top surfaces thereof to support each of the support members in a corresponding outer position such that the container can receive a second identical container so that the second identical container is in a fully nested position relative to the container, such that the base of the second identical container clears each of the support members when the second identical container is in the fully nested position; and wherein each of the first pair of notches of each opposed sidewall is disposed respectively inward of each of said support surfaces to support the corresponding support member such that the second identical container can be received by the container at a first stacking position; and wherein each of the second pair of notches of each opposed sidewall is disposed respectively inward of each of said first pair of notches to support the corresponding support member such that the second identical container can be received by the container at a second stacking position lower than the first stacking position, each of the second pair of notches extending deeper into the opposed sidewalls with respect to the base than each of the first pair of notches, each opposed sidewall top surface extending vertically upward between each of the first pair of notches and each of the second pair of notches; and wherein the top receptacle outer edges of the opposed sidewalls are closer together than the bottom receptacle outer edges of the opposed sidewalls. 2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each support member includes a first portion extending across the opposed sidewalls and configured to engage the base of the second identical container to effect support of the second identical container when the first portion is received and retained by the corresponding notches in the opposed sidewalls, and an inwardly turned end received within the receptacle to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member about a pivot axis. 3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pivot axis is moveable relative to the container. 4. The container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposed endwalls projecting above the base and configured to retain at least one vertically supported object on the base, wherein the sidewalls and endwalls define a space configured to receive the second identical container in the fully nested position, and each endwall including a support surface that merges with the support surfaces of the opposed sidewalls and provides additional support to the corresponding support member in the outer position. 5. A container comprising: a base configured to vertically support at least one object; a first pair of opposed sidewalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having a top surface, an exterior surface, and a receptacle, wherein the exterior surface meets the top surface to define an upper exterior edge, and wherein the exterior surface meets the receptacle to define a bottom receptacle outer edge and a top receptacle outer edge, wherein the bottom receptacle outer edge is closer to the base than the top receptacle outer edge, and each of the opposed sidewalls having a support surface, a first pair of notches, and a second pair of notches provided in the top surface, wherein the upper exterior edge meets each of the first pair of notches to define a first notch upper exterior edge; and a pair of support members, each support member being pivotally mounted within the receptacles to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member relative to each of the sidewalls, each support member being configured to support a second identical container; wherein the support surfaces of the opposed sidewalls are disposed at outer portions of the top surfaces thereof to support each of the support members in a corresponding outer position such that the container can receive the second identical container so that the second identical container is in a fully nested position relative to the container, such that the base of the second identical container clears each of the support members when the second identical container is in the fully nested position; and wherein each of the first pair of notches of each opposed sidewall is disposed respectively inward of each of said support surfaces to support the corresponding support member such that the second identical container can be received by the container at a first stacking position; and wherein each of the second pair of notches of each opposed sidewall is disposed respectively inward of each of said first pair of notches to support the corresponding support member such that the second identical container can be received by the container at a second stacking position closer to the base than the first stacking position, each opposed sidewall top surface extending vertically upward between each of the first pair of notches and each of the second pair of notches; and wherein the first notch upper exterior edges of the opposed sidewalls are closer together than the bottom receptacle outer edges of the opposed sidewalls. 6. The container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bottom receptacle outer edge projects further outwardly with respect to an interior of the container than the top receptacle outer edge. 7. The container as claimed in claim 5, wherein each support member includes a first portion extending across the opposed sidewalls and configured to engage the base of the second identical container to effect support of the second identical container when the first portion is received and retained by the corresponding notches in the opposed sidewalls, and an inwardly turned end received within the receptacle to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member about a pivot axis. 8. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pivot axis is moveable relative to the container. 9. The container as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a pair of opposed endwalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, wherein the sidewalls and endwalls define a space configured to receive the second identical container in the fully nested position, and each endwall including a support surface that merges with the support surfaces of the opposed sidewalls and provides additional support to the corresponding support member in the outer position. 10. A container comprising: a base configured to vertically support at least one object; a pair of opposed sidewalls projecting above the base and configured to retain the at least one vertically supported object on the base, each of the sidewalls having a top surface, an exterior surface, and a receptacle, wherein the exterior surface meets the receptacle to define a bottom receptacle outer edge and a top receptacle outer edge, wherein the bottom receptacle outer edge is closer to the base than the top receptacle outer edge, and each of the opposed sidewalls having a support surface, a first pair of notches, and a second pair of notches provided in the top surface; and a pair of support members, each support member being pivotally mounted within the receptacles to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member relative to each of the sidewalls, each support member being configured to support a second identical container; wherein the support surfaces of the opposed sidewalls are disposed at outer portions of the top surfaces thereof to support each of the support members in a corresponding outer position such that the container can receive a second identical container so that the second identical container is in a fully nested position relative to the container, such that the base of the second identical container clears each of the support members when the second identical container is in the fully nested position; and wherein each of the first pair of notches of each opposed sidewall is disposed respectively inward of said support surfaces to support the corresponding support member such that the second identical container can be received by each support member to facilitate support of the second identical container at a first stacking height above the base; and wherein each of the second pair of notches of the opposed sidewalls are disposed respectively inward of each of said first pair of notches to support the corresponding support member such that the second identical container can be received by each support member to facilitate support of the second identical container at a second stacking height above the base, wherein the first stacking height is different than the second stacking height; and wherein the top receptacle outer edges of the opposed sidewalls are closer together than the bottom receptacle outer edges of the opposed sidewalls. 11. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the bottom receptacle outer edges of the opposed sidewalls projects further outwardly with respect to an interior of the container than the first pair of notches of the opposed sidewalls. 12. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the first pair of notches is configured to receive and retain the corresponding support member at a first support member height above the base, and wherein each of the second pair of notches is configured to receive and retain the corresponding support member at a second support member height above the base, wherein the first support member height is higher than the second support member height. 13. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the first pair of notches in each of the opposed sidewalls has a first depth, and wherein each of the second pair of notches in each of the opposed sidewalls has a second depth, wherein the first depth is shallower than the second depth. 14. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the exterior surface of each of the opposed sidewalls defines a pair of peanut-shaped receptacles for effecting pivotal mounting of each of the support members to the exterior surface of each of the opposed sidewalls. 15. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each support member includes two inwardly-turned ends which pivot within the corresponding receptacles of the opposed sidewalls so that the corresponding support member spans across the opposed sidewalls, wherein each of the support member inwardly-turned ends is disposed in a corresponding one of the receptacles provided in the exterior surface of each of the opposed sidewalls, the inwardly-turned ends being moveable within the receptacles. 16. The container as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the receptacles receives a respective one of the inwardly-turned ends to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member about a pivot axis which is moveable relative to the container. 17. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the receptacles comprises a downwardly-curved peanut-shaped slot having an upwardly extending middle portion. 18. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the receptacles is substantially circular. 19. The container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the receptacles is substantially circular with a bump in a lower portion thereof. 20. A three-level stacking container, comprising: a bottom; two end walls; a pair of support bars, each support bar having two inwardly-turned ends; two sidewalls, each sidewall comprising: (i) a top edge; (ii) a pair of ledges on the top edge; (ii) a pair of outer notches extending downward from the top edge; (iii) a pair of inner notches extending downward from the top edge, each inner notch extending downward from the top edge by a greater distance than any one of the outer pair of notches; (iv) a pair or receptacles configured to contain inwardly-turned ends of the pair of support bars, each receptacle having a top outer edge and a bottom outer edge, each receptacle top outer edge being disposed in a different vertical plane than the corresponding receptacle bottom outer edge, the pair of support bars being configured to be rotatable within the sidewall receptacles so that the support bars rest in (i) the ledges so that an identical container nests within said three-level stacking container, (ii) the outer notches of opposing sidewalls so that the identical container stacks within said three-level stacking container at a first height, and (iii) the inner notches of opposing sidewalls so that the identical container stacks within said three-level stacking container at a second height lower than the first height. 21. A container, comprising: a bottom layer; a pair of end walls, each end wall comprising (i) a top end wall portion, (ii) an inner end wall portion, (iii) an outer end wall portion, and (iv) a support surface located on the top end wall portion; a pair of opposing walls, each opposing wall comprising (i) a top opposing wall portion, (ii) an inner opposing wall portion, and (iii) an outer opposing wall portion, each opposing wall further comprising (iv) an outer pair of notches extending downwardly from the corresponding top opposing wall portion, and (v) an inner pair of notches extending downwardly from the corresponding top opposing wall portion, and wherein each outer opposing wall portion comprises (i) a pair of receptacles, and (ii) a recessed portion recessed inwardly from the outer opposing wall portion, each recessed portion including a top edge of the corresponding receptacle and the corresponding outer notch; and a pair of support members, each support member comprising (i) a pair of inwardly turned ends that are rotationally received within the corresponding receptacle of the opposing wall, (ii) a pair of crank members located adjacent to the inwardly turned ends, and (iii) a first engaging portion located between the pair of crank members, wherein when the first engaging portions of both support members are placed on the support surfaces of each end wall, the container is configured to stack a second identical container in nested position, the support members being configured such that (i) when the support members are placed in the inner set of notches of the opposing walls, the container is configured to stack the second identical container in a first stacking position that is higher than the nested position, and (ii) when the support members are placed in the outer set of notches of the opposing walls, the container is configured to stack the second identical container in a second stacking position that is higher than the first stacking position.
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