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Nestable and stackable tote containers

  • US 4,919,267 A
  • Filed: 07/15/1988
  • Issued: 04/24/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A tote container which may be selectively nested or stacked in a vertical column with a like tote container, said tote container comprising:

  • a base panel having a first pair and a second pair of opposing edges and a length and a width, said length being greater than said width;

    a pair of end wall panels, each said end wall panel extending generally upwardly from and being connected to one of said first pair of opposing edges of said base panel;

    a pair of side wall panels, each said side wall panel extending generally upwardly from and being connected to one of said second pair of opposing edges of said base panel, each said side wall panel generally adjoining at least one of said end wall panels and being oriented generally perpendicular thereto such that said base panel, said side wall panels, and said end wall panels define a receptacle region having an open top and a bottom and a plurality of generally upright corners, said side wall panels and said end wall panels being generally outwardly tapered from said bottom of said receptacle region to said open top of said receptacle region such that the tote container may be nested within the like tote container and alternately the like tote container may be nested within the tote container; and

    a retaining rim member, said retaining rim member being connected to said end wall panels and said side wall panels and extending in a generally continuous path peripherally around the open top of the receptacle region, said retaining rim member defining a plurality of segments, said segments being exposed and extending upwardly and being oriented in a first direction, with at least one of said base panel or said side wall panels or said end wall panels of the tote container defining a plurality of stacking apertures extending at least partially therethrough and positioned proximate to the bottom of the receptacle region and oriented in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction in which said segments are oriented,whereby the tote container may be selectively nested within the like tote container with the generally upright corners of the tote container aligned with the generally upright corners of the like tote container, and whereby the tote container may be lifted from the nested position and rotated approximately 90°

    such that the length of the base panel of the tote container is generally perpendicular to the length of the base panel of the like tote container, the tote container thereby being selectively stacked in a stacked position on the like tote container and disposed over the receptacle region of the like tote container with the segments of the retaining rim member of the like tote container which are exposed removably received and engaged within the stacking apertures of the tote container, such that the base panel of the tote container partially obstructs the open top of the like tote container and the receptacle region of the like tote container may be accessed without removing the tote container from the stacked position.

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