Containers with tapered sidewalls and stacking tabs
First Claim
1. A stackable container comprising a base panel, two opposing sidewalls, two opposing end walls, and an open top, wherein:
- the base panel of one container is adapted to rest on the open top of another container when they are stacked on top of one another;
each of the opposing sidewalls subtends an acute angle with the base panel, whereby the sidewalls lean inwardly; and
one of said angles is greater than the other, whereby one of said sidewalls leans in more than the other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stackable container has a bottom panel, upstanding sidewalls, upstanding end walls, and an open top. According to one aspect of the invention, narrow reinforcing flaps are attached to the upper edge of at least one of the side and end walls, defining a stacking ledge and reinforcing the walls against outward bulge. The reinforcing flaps extend over only a small portion of the height of the side or end wall, and corner post flaps extend from opposite ends of the reinforcing flaps, extending diagonally across interior corners of the container. According to another aspect, the side and/or end walls lean inwardly, defining a narrower footprint at the top of the container than at the bottom. In a specific embodiment one of the walls leans in more than the other. According to a further aspect, an indexing and aligning tab extends upwardly from an upper edge of the container, and a complementary notch is formed in a lower edge for receiving the tab when the containers are stacked. According to a still further aspect, stacking tabs extend upwardly from the upper edge of the container, and slots are formed in the bottom panel for receiving the tabs when containers are stacked. Locking flaps extend into the slots to frictionally engage and hold the tabs.
54 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A stackable container comprising a base panel, two opposing sidewalls, two opposing end walls, and an open top, wherein:
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the base panel of one container is adapted to rest on the open top of another container when they are stacked on top of one another;
each of the opposing sidewalls subtends an acute angle with the base panel, whereby the sidewalls lean inwardly; and
one of said angles is greater than the other, whereby one of said sidewalls leans in more than the other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, 22, 23)
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3. A stackable container as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
at least one stacking tab extends outward from the upper edge of at least one of the opposing sidewalls;
- View Dependent Claims (6)
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10. A container comprising a base panel, two opposing sidewalls, two opposing end walls, and an open top, said container formed from a unitary blank, wherein:
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the sidewalls and end walls each have an upper edge;
a relatively narrow reinforcing flap is foldably joined to the upper edge of at least one of the side and end walls, said reinforcing flap extending over only a minor portion of the height of the associated side or end wall; and
a small corner post flap is foldably joined to each of opposite ends of said reinforcing flap, said corner post flaps extending diagonally across interior corners of the container at the upper edges of the sidewalls and end walls, in spaced relation to the base panel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 20, 21)
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12. A stackable container comprising a base panel with opposite side edges and opposite end edges, opposed sidewalls upstanding from the opposite side edges, opposed end walls upstanding from the opposite end edges, and an open top, wherein:
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said sidewalls and end walls each have an upper edge and a lower edge;
a single indexing and aligning tab extends upwardly from at least one of said side and end walls; and
a complementary notch is cut into an outer panel of at least one of said side and end walls in a position to receive said indexing and aligning tab when two of said containers are stacked on top of one another. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
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24. A container comprising a base panel, two opposing sidewalls and two opposing end walls formed from a unitary blank, wherein:
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the two opposing end walls connect to the base panel at substantially a 90°
angle, each of the opposing sidewalls has a width or height and an upper edge and is connected to the base panel at an angle less than 90°
, whereby said sidewalls are inclined relative to said base panel, and wherein a first at least one sidewall of the two opposing sidewalls further comprises two side flaps connected to the first at least one sidewall on opposing fold lines;
at least one stacking tab extending outward from the upper edge of the first at least one sidewall; and
one of said sidewalls is inclined a greater extent than the other sidewall.
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Specification