Self-telescoping storage enclosure
AssigneeRubbermaid Incorporated
InventorChristopher L. Phan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-telescoping storage enclosure comprises a first tray that includes a bottom wall, and a major wall, a minor wall, a right wall, a left wall extending up from the bottom wall. The major wall and the minor wall each having an outer surface. The left wall and the right wall each have a notch. The outer surface of the major wall defines a first major outer width, and the outer surface of the minor wall defines a first minor outer width, the first major outer width being greater than the first minor outer width. The first tray can nest with a second tray substantially similar to the first tray that is inverted and oriented 180° relative to the first tray by the inter-engagement of their respective notches.
Claims17
A self-telescoping storage enclosure, comprising:
- a first tray, including a base wall, and a single contiguous sidewall extending up from the base wall, the single contiguous sidewall including a major wall and a minor wall opposite the major wall, and a right wall and a left wall opposite the right wall, wherein the major wall and the minor wall each have an outer surface;
- a left notch disposed in the left wall and a right notch disposed in the right wall;
- the outer surface of the major wall defining a first major outer width, and the outer surface of the minor wall defining a first minor outer width, the first major outer width being greater than the first minor outer width;
- and
- wherein the first tray can nest with a second tray that is substantially similar to the first tray and that is inverted and oriented 180° relative to the first tray by the inter-engagement of their respective notches.
A self-telescoping storage enclosure, comprising:
- a first tray including a first base wall and a first contiguous sidewall extending up from the first base wall, the first contiguous sidewall including a first major wall, a first minor wall opposite the first major wall, a first right wall and a first left wall opposite the first right wall, the first left wall and the first right wall each including a notch;
- the first major wall having a first outer surface that defines a first major outer width and the first minor wall having a first outer surface that defines a first minor outer width, the first major outer width being longer than the first minor outer width;
- a second tray including a second base wall and a second contiguous sidewall extending up from the second base wall, the second contiguous sidewall including a second major wall, a second minor wall opposite the second major wall, a second right wall and a second left wall opposite the second right wall, the second left wall and the second right wall each including a notch;
- the second major wall having a second outer surface that defines a second major outer width and the second minor wall having a second outer surface that defines a second minor outer width, the second major outer width being longer than the second minor outer width;
- and
- wherein the second tray is disposed on the first tray such that the second minor wall is inside the first major wall, and the first minor wall is inside the second major wall.
A method of assembling a self-telescoping storage enclosure, the enclosure including a first tray with a base wall and a contiguous sidewall extending up from the base wall, the contiguous sidewall including a major wall, a minor wall opposite the major wall, and two opposed sidewalls, the major wall being longer than the minor wall, the two sidewalls each including a notch disposed approximately midway along their respective lengths, the enclosure further comprising a second tray substantially identical to the first tray, the method comprising:
- inverting and orienting the second tray 180° relative to the first tray;
- and
- disposing the first tray on the second tray, the major wall of the first tray being disposed outside the minor wall of the second tray, the major wall of the second tray being disposed outside the minor wall of the first tray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.