Collapsible letter tray kit

• US 5,624,037 A
• Filed: 07/12/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Office Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Office Products Inc.
• Inventors: Kozo, Maria J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US08/501,667
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 206/503, 206/509, 206/518, 206/511, 206/555, 206/557, 206/564, 206/565, 211/126, 211/128, 220/4.28, 220/4.31, 403/381, 403/244, 403/263
• US Class Current: 206/565
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/12 Stacked trays

Abstract

A letter tray kit (10) is disclosed comprising a floor panel (12) and two side panels (14, 16). The floor panel comprises outwardly projecting dovetail shaped projections (32, 36) at opposite sides and the side panels comprise dovetail shaped sockets (48, 50) that receive the projections (32, 36), whereby attaching the side panels in an upright manner to the floor panel. The sockets (48, 50) are defined by spaced apart canted cantilever flanges (52, 54) and each flange has associated therewith an elongate through aperture (58, 60) of like shape and size positioned adjacent the flange so that the flanges (52, 54) can be molded through the apertures (58, 60) by a single action mold.

Claims

1. A storage tray comprising:

a floor panel having a forward end and a rearward end, and oppositely facing sides, each side comprising at least one outwardly projecting dovetail-shaped protrusion, the protrusion comprising an outwardly facing surface and beveled side surfaces extending from the outward surface toward the panel side;

a side panel having a forward end and a rearward end and an inward and outward facing side, the inward facing side comprising at least one inwardly directed dovetail-shaped socket comprising elongate first and second convergent cantilever flanges spaced apart a distance and closely receiving the protrusion outward surface of one floor panel side therebetween, the first and second cantilever flanges having a respective aperture associated therewith extending through the side panel from the outward to the inward facing side, and the aperture extending coextensively in length with its respective cantilever flange from a top flange end to a bottom flange end.

2. A storage tray according to claim 1, wherein the side panel attaches to the one floor panel side by the floor panel protrusion residing within the side panel socket, and the side panel thereupon extends parallel to the floor panel one side.

3. A storage tray according to claim 2, wherein the apertures are separated by a side panel portion and are of elongate substantially rectangular configuration.

4. A storage tray according to claim 3, wherein the side panel socket moves downward and receives the floor panel protrusion as the side panel is positioned and moves downward against the floor panel one side.

5. A storage tray according to claim 4, wherein the side panel inward side and the floor panel one side have engaging locking means for preventing reverse movement of the side panel socket from the floor panel protrusion.

6. A storage tray according to claim 5, wherein the locking means comprising a detent within the floor panel one side and a rib projection extending from the side panel inward side positioned to enter the floor panel detent.

7. A storage tray comprising:

a floor panel having a forward end and a rearward end, oppositely facing sides, and at least one side comprising at least one outwardly projecting protrusion, the protrusion comprising an outward facing surface and side surfaces extending from the outward surface toward the panel side;

at least one side panel having a forward end and a rearward end and an inward and an outward facing side, the inward facing side comprising at least one inwardly directed socket defined by elongate first and second cantilever flanges spaced apart a distance and closely receiving the protrusion of one floor panel side therebetween, whereby attaching the side panel against the floor panel one side and enclosing the one floor panel side, the first and second cantilever flanges having a respective aperture associated therewith extending through the side panel from the outward to the inward facing side, and the aperture extending at least coextensively in length and width with its respective cantilever flange from a top flange end to a bottom flange end.

8. A storage tray according to claim 7, wherein the apertures are separated by a side panel portion and are elongate in a vertical direction.

9. A storage tray according to claim 8, wherein the one side panel and the floor panel one side having engaging locking means for preventing reverse movement of the floor panel protrusion from the one side panel socket.

10. A storage tray according to claim 9, wherein the locking means comprising a detent within the floor panel one side and a rib projection extending from the one side panel inward side and entering the floor panel detent.

11. A storage tray according to claim 10, wherein the protrusion and the socket have a complimentary dovetail shape.

12. A storage tray assembly comprising multiple component parts, the parts comprising:

a floor panel having a forward end and a rearward end, oppositely facing sides, and at least one outwardly projecting protrusion extending from each of the panel sides;

a first and a second detached side panel, each having a forward end and a rearward end and an inward and an outward facing side, the inward facing side comprising at least one outwardly directed socket defined by elongate first and second cantilever flanges, the flanges being spaced apart a distance and closely receiving a respective protrusion of a respective floor panel side therebetween, whereby attaching the side panel against the respective floor panel side, and the first and second cantilever flanges having a respective elongate aperture adjacently positioned thereto, the aperture extending at least coextensively in length and width as the cantilever flange adjacent thereto.

13. A assembly according to claim 12, wherein the apertures are separated by a side panel portion.

14. A assembly according to claim 13, wherein the protrusions and the side wall sockets have a complimentary dovetail shape.

15. A assembly according to claim 14, wherein the floor panel rearward end comprises an upturned concave panel segment for enclosing the rearward end of the floor panel and the concave panel segment, the floor panel, and the side panels defining an enclosure for containing articles upon the floor panel.

16. A assembly according to claim 15, wherein the side panels and the floor panel sides having engagement locking means for preventing reverse movement of the side panels out of attachment to the floor panel.

17. A assembly according to claim 16, wherein the locking means comprising a detent within each floor panel side and a rib projection extending from each side panel inward side positioned to enter a respective one of the floor panel detents.