Utility tray having foldable handle
OwnerJames E. Byrnsinventor
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OwnerJames E. Byrnsinventor
Estimating the term…
A portable utility tray formed from a resilient thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene. The tray is provided with one or more continuous upward protrusions, of generally inverted V-shape, with one of the protrusions defining a raised rib running centrally and longitudinally of the tray. The top of the rib is provided with sockets to receive pintles carried by a handle pivotally mounted on the rib top, the handle being rotatable over approximately 180.degree.. The handle and rib are provided with cooperating dimple and detent elements to releasably hold the handle in an upright position. The handle may be swung in either of two substantially flat positions, with the handle being releasably held in either of its two extreme, substantially flat positions. The tray is formed by blow molding a preform, to form a double-wall tray, and then cutting off and removing the inner bottom one of double walls.
A portable and generally rectangular utility tray formed from a resilient thermoplastic material, the tray having bottom and side walls and having an open top, an integral, longitudinally and upwardly extending raised central rib reunning from one end wall to the opposite end wall, to thereby divide the tray interior, the upwardly extending rib being substantially V shaped in inverted transverse cross-section and being formed from the bottom wall of the tray and forming an integral portion of the bottom wall, the upper portion of the upwardly extending rib carrying a hinged handle, the lower portion of the handle being hingedly mounted on the top edge of the upwardly extending central rib, the handle being mounted for swinging movement from a first angular position wherein the upper end of the handle engages and is releasably retained by a portion of one sidewall of the tray to a second angular position wherein the upper end of handle engages and is retained by a portion of the sidewall of the tray which is opposite to said first mentioned tray sidewall, said handle carrying means to releasably maintain it in an upright position, said means being defined by at least one pintle integral with a lower portion of the handle and by a corresponding and aligned depression on the upper portion of the centrally running rib, the pintle fitting into the depression when the handle is in its upright position, the resiliency of the plastic material permitting the handle to be swung away from its upright position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.