초록 ▼

A multi-level stacking container is disclosed. The container comprises: a base; a pair of opposed sidewalls extending from the base; and a pair of moveable support bars operatively coupled to and extending across the pair of opposed sidewalls, the pair of support bars being moveable between at least

A multi-level stacking container is disclosed. The container comprises: a base; a pair of opposed sidewalls extending from the base; and a pair of moveable support bars operatively coupled to and extending across the pair of opposed sidewalls, the pair of support bars being moveable between at least three positions such that the container is stackable in at least three positions with a second like container. In one aspect, the container comprises a base, a first pair of opposing sidewalls extending from the base, each of the sidewalls including a rim, an inner surface, an outer surface, the rim including first and second longitudinally-spaced apart pluralities of recesses formed therein, and first and second moveable support bars configured to extend across the pair of opposing sidewalls, each of the moveable support bars including an elongated rod configured to be received within any of the recesses of either of the first or second pluralities of recesses formed in the respective rims of each of the first pair of sidewalls, the rod including first and second inwardly-turned ends pivotally coupled to the respective outer surfaces of each of the sidewalls.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A container comprising: a base configured to provide vertical support to objects; a pair of side walls projecting above the base; a pair of opposing walls projecting above the base, each of the opposing walls presenting an exterior surface and having two receptacles def

The invention claimed is: 1. A container comprising: a base configured to provide vertical support to objects; a pair of side walls projecting above the base; a pair of opposing walls projecting above the base, each of the opposing walls presenting an exterior surface and having two receptacles defined within the exterior surface, each of the opposing walls including an upper edge, each of said opposing walls having two grooves and two pairs of notches provided in the upper edge; and two support members, each support member having two inwardly-turned ends which pivot within corresponding receptacles of the opposing walls so that each support member spans across the opposing walls, said support members extending beyond the exterior surfaces of the opposing walls, and each of the two inwardly-turned ends being pivotally mounted within the receptacles to cause the corresponding support member to be adjustable between outer, middle, and inner positions, the grooves of the opposing walls being disposed at outer portions of the upper edges thereof to support the support members in the outer position at a first height, a first pair of notches of the opposing walls being disposed respectively inward of said grooves to support the support members in the middle position at a second height, a second pair of notches of the opposing walls being disposed respectively inward of said first pair of notches to support the support members in the inner position at a third height lower than the first height, each notch of said first pair of notches and said second pair of notches having a notch depth measured perpendicular to the upper edge of the corresponding opposing wall adjacent the corresponding notch, the notch depth of each of said second pair of notches being greater than the notch depth of each of said first pair of notches, each opposing wall upper edge extending substantially vertically upward between the second pair of notches to a height equal to the topmost surfaces of the second pair of notches. 2. A container comprising: a base configured to provide vertical support to objects; a pair of sidewalls; a pair of opposing walls projecting above the base, each of the opposing walls presenting an exterior surface defining two receptacles therein, each receptacle comprising a downwardly-curved slot having (i) a curved, concave-shaped top portion, and (ii) a bottom portion which has a middle section extending substantially vertically above adjacent left and right side sections, each of the opposing walls including: an upper edge; and at least two grooves and at least four notches provided in the upper edge, two of the at least four notches having a notch depth, measured perpendicular to the upper edge adjacent the corresponding notch, which is greater than the notch depth of the remaining notches; two support members, each support member being pivotally mounted within the receptacle of each of the opposing walls to facilitate pivotal movement of said each support member relative to the opposing walls; wherein each support member is configured to rest within each of the corresponding opposing wall grooves and notches for effecting retention of said each support member at three different support member rest positions, one of said three different support member rest positions being lower than the other two support member rest positions. 3. A container comprising: a base configured to provide vertical support to objects; a pair of side walls extending above the base; a pair of opposing walls projecting above the base, each of the opposing walls presenting an exterior surface, each of the opposing walls including: an upper edge having (i) an outer pair of grooves, (ii) an outer pair of notches, and (iii) an inner pair of notches, the inner pair of notches extending deeper into the upper edge, when measured perpendicular to the upper edge adjacent the corresponding notch, than the outer pair of notches, each opposing wall also comprising two receptacles in the exterior surface thereof, each receptacle having a downwardly curved upper edge; and two support members, each support member being pivotally mounted to corresponding receptacles on the exterior surfaces of the opposing walls to facilitate pivotal movement of the corresponding support member relative to the corresponding opposing wall; wherein each support member is configured to register within corresponding pairs of notches for effecting retention of the support member at support member rest positions in the notches, wherein one support member rest position is below the other support member rest positions. 4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said opposing walls is configured to retain the objects vertically supported on the base. 5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said opposing walls is configured to provide lateral support to the objects vertically supported on said base. 6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive the support members to facilitate support of a second identical container at a first stacking height above the base, and wherein the second pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive the support members 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. 7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive and retain the support members at a first support member height above the base, and wherein the second pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive and retain the support members at a second support member height above the base, wherein the first support member height is higher than the second support member height. 8. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the opposing wall upper edges are substantially horizontal, and wherein each of the first pair of notches and the second pair of notches extends substantially vertically downward from the corresponding opposing wall upper edge. 9. The container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls defines a pair of peanut-shaped receptacles for effecting pivotal mounting of the support members to the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls. 10. The container as claimed in claim 9, 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 opposing walls, the inwardly-turned ends being moveable within the receptacles. 11. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles receives a respective one of the inwardly-turned ends to facilitate pivotal movement of the support member about a pivot axis which is moveable relative to the container. 12. The container as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the receptacles comprises a downwardly-curved peanut-shaped slot having an upwardly extending middle portion. 13. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles has a curved upper edge. 14. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper edge includes a first upper edge portion having a first edge height above the base, and a second upper edge portion having a second edge height above the base. 15. The container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive the support members to facilitate support of a second identical container at a first stacking height above the base, and wherein the second pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive the support members 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. 16. The container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive and retain the support members at a first support member height above the base, and wherein the second pair of notches in each opposing wall is configured to receive and retain the support members at a second support member height above the base, wherein the first support member height is higher than the second support member height. 17. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the opposing wall upper edges are substantially horizontal, and wherein each of the first pair of notches and the second pair of notches extends substantially vertically downward from the corresponding opposing wall upper edge. 18. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls defines a pair of peanut-shaped receptacles for effecting pivotal mounting of the support members to the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls. 19. The container as claimed in claim 18, wherein the support member includes a first inwardly-turned end and a second inwardly-turned end and, wherein each of the first inwardly-turned end and the second inwardly-turned end are disposed in a corresponding one of the receptacles provided in the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls, the inwardly-turned ends being moveable within the receptacles. 20. The container as claimed in claim 19, wherein each of the receptacles receives a respective one of the inwardly-turned ends to facilitate pivotal movement of the support member about a pivot axis which is moveable relative to the container. 21. The container as claimed in claim 20, wherein each of the receptacles comprises a downwardly-curved peanut-shaped slot having an upwardly extending middle portion. 22. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles has a curved upper edge. 23. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members are configured to vertically support the base of the second identical container when the support members are received and retained by either the inner pair of notches or the outer pair of notches. 24. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each support member comprises a substantially C-shaped bar with two inwardly turned ends. 25. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein two notches on each opposing wall are configured to receive the corresponding support member to facilitate support of a second identical container at a first stacking height above the base, and wherein two other notches on each opposing wall are configured to receive the corresponding 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. 26. The container as claimed in claim 25, wherein two notches on each opposing wall are configured to receive and retain the corresponding support member at a first support member height above the base, and wherein two other notches on each opposing wall are 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. 27. The container as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of the two notches on each opposing wall has a first notch depth, and wherein each of the other two notches has a second notch depth, wherein the first notch depth is shallower than the second notch depth. 28. The container as claimed in claim 27, wherein the exterior surface of each of the receptacles is configured to provide pivotal mounting of the corresponding support member to the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls. 29. The container as claimed in claim 28, wherein each support member includes a single-piece, substantially C-shaped bar having two inwardly-turned ends and, wherein each of the inwardly-turned ends is disposed in a corresponding one of the receptacles provided in the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls, the inwardly-turned ends being moveable within the receptacles. 30. The container as claimed in claim 29, 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. 31. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer pair of notches in the opposing walls are configured to receive and retain the support members to facilitate support of a second identical container at a first stacking height above the base, and wherein the inner pair of notches in the opposing walls are configured to receive and retain the support members to facilitate support of the second identical container at a second stacking height above the base, wherein the first stacking height is higher than the second stacking height. 32. The container as claimed in claim 31, wherein the outer pair of notches in the opposing walls are configured to receive and retain the support members at a first support member height above the base, and wherein the inner pair of notches in the opposing walls are configured to receive and retain the support members at a second support member height above the base, wherein the first support member height is higher than the second support member height. 33. The container as claimed in claim 32, wherein the outer pair of notches and the outer pair of grooves have the same notch depth. 34. The container as claimed in claim 33, wherein the support members are configured to vertically support the base of the second identical container when the support members are received and retained by either the outer pair of notches or the inner pair of notches. 35. The container as claimed in claim 34, wherein the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls defines a receptacle for effecting pivotal mounting of the support member to the exterior surface of each of the opposing walls. 36. The container as claimed in claim 35, wherein each support member is substantially C-shaped with two inwardly turned ends. 37. The container as claimed in claim 36, 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. 38. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein substantially an entire length of each of the upper edges of the side walls is substantially horizontal. 39. A container comprising: a base configured to provide vertical support to objects; a pair of end walls, each having a groove along an upper portion thereof; a first retainer means; a second retainer means being spaced apart and opposing the first retainer means; wherein each of the first and second retainer means projects above the base and has an exterior surface, and wherein each of the first and second retainer means includes: a first sidewall portion defining an outer pair of notches and an inner pair of notches, the inner pair of notches extending deeper into the first sidewall portion, when measured perpendicular to a top of the first sidewall portion on opposite sides of the corresponding notch, than the outer pair of notches; a second sidewall portion disposed between the inner pair of notches and extending upward between the inner pair of notches to a height above the bottommost surface of any notch; a pair of openings disposed in the exterior surfaces of each of the first and second sidewall portions, each of the pair of openings having a concave-shaped upper portion and a convex-shaped lower portion, the convex-shaped lower portion having a middle section which extends vertically above adjacent left and right side sections; and at least one support member pivotally mounted in the openings disposed in the respective first and second sidewall portions, wherein said openings are configured to facilitate pivotal movement of the support members relative to each of the respective first and second sidewall portions, and wherein each support member is configured to register within respective grooves and pairs of notches for effecting retention of the support member at three different support member rest positions, and further wherein the inner pair of notches is configured to receive and retain the support members to facilitate support of a second identical container at a first stacking height above the base, and wherein the outer pair of notches is configured to receive and retain the support members to facilitate support of a second identical container at a second stacking height above the base, wherein the first stacking height is different than the second stacking height. 40. The container as claimed in claim 39, wherein the support members are configured to vertically support the base of the second identical container when the support members are received and retained by either the inner pair of notches or the outer pair of notches. 41. The container as claimed in claim 40, wherein each support member is substantially C-shaped with two inwardly turned ends. 42. The container as claimed in claim 41, wherein each of the openings receives a respective one of the inwardly turned ends to facilitate pivotal movement of each support member about a pivot axis which is moveable relative to the container. 43. The container as claimed in claim 42, wherein each of the first and second sidewall portions is configured to oppose the objects vertically supported by the base. 44. The container as claimed in claim 43, wherein each of the first and second sidewall portions is configured to provide lateral support to the objects vertically supported by the base. 45. The container as claimed in claim 44, wherein the inner pair of notches is configured to receive and retain the support members at a first support member height above the base, and wherein the outer pair of notches is configured to receive and retain the support members at a second support member height above the base, wherein the first support member height is different than the second support member height. 46. The container as claimed in claim 45, wherein each notch of the inner pair of notches has the same notch depth.