US 4,759,451 AGranted

Multi-level-stacking/nesting tray

AssigneeRehrig Pacific Company

InventorWilliam P. Apps

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Abstract

A multi-level stacking/nesting tray is disclosed in which the trays are configured to permit multi-level stacking through an interlocking stacking leg/slot configuration. A plurality of slots are formed at an angle from the vertical and are disposed in groups in two end locations of two opposing end walls of the tray. The slots in a selected group have progressively lower terminating points to thus permit varying levels of stacking/nesting. The slots are also configured so that the terminating point of each of the slots with a group lies along the same vertical line. Stacking legs are disposed on the exterior surface of the end walls of the tray at the location of the slots and are appropriately angled so as to permit insertion of the legs of a first tray into the corresponding slots of a second tray positioned below the first tray. By proper selection of a particular slot having the desired terminating point, various levels of stacking may be obtained.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A multi-level stacking/nesting tray comprising:

a base having a plurality of upwardly extending walls forming an upwardly open receptacle, each of said walls having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface;
a first set of substantially parallel, angled, slots formed in one of said walls and a second set of substantially parallel, angled, slots formed in a second wall, each slot in each of said sets having an upper end being open adjacent a top edge of the respective wall and having a progressively lower closed terminating end to permit varying levels of stacking/nesting and said closed terminating ends of each slot of each of said sets substantially aligned along a single vertical axis relative to said base, thereby defining slots having different lengths within each set, the length of each slot of said first set being substantially the same length as a corresponding slot of said second set;
and
a first stacking leg extending outwardly from an exterior surface of one wall and a second stacking leg extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said second wall, wherein said legs are adapted for insertion into a corresponding slot of each set of a similar tray.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.