Mushroom tray
OwnerGerald L. Cooninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mushroom tray comprising a tray portion having opposing sidewalls, opposing end walls and a substantially flat bottom sheet having a parallity of channels formed therein and extending therealong, corrosion-resistant I-beams positioned within the channels for strengthening and stiffening the bottom sheet, and a parallity of clips for securing the I-beams to the underside of the bottom sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the trays include downwardly projecting legs which are shaped enable the trays to be stacked vertically. Also in the preferred embodiment, the trays are made of a polyolefin and the I-beams are made of aluminum. The end walls also preferably include I-beams for re-enforcement; the I-beams are totally enclosed in the end wall structure to minimize exposure to a corrosive atmosphere.
Claims22
A lightweight, rigid mushroom tray comprising:
- a tray portion supporting mushroom growing media, said tray portion having opposing side walls, opposing end walls and a substantially flat bottom sheet having a plurality of downwardly-opening channels formed thereon and extending therealong said tray portion being made of a lightweight, plastic material which resists corrosion;
- a plurality of I-beams made of corrosion-resistant material, each being positioned within and extending along corresponding ones of said channels for strengthening and stiffening said bottom sheet, said I-beams being separated from and held out of contact with material in said tray by said channels;
- means for securing said I-beams within said channels;
- and
- means engaging said tray portion for enabling a plurality of said trays to be stacked vertically in a spaced relationship.
A lightweight, rigid mushroom tray comprising:
- a reinforced tray portion supporting mushroom growing media, said tray portion having opposing side walls, opposing end walls and a substantially flat bottom sheet, said end walls each including a longitudinal passage therethrough said tray portion and said end walls being made of a lightweight, plastic material which resists corrosion;
- end strut means including a plurality of I-beams made of a corrosion-resistant material extending through said passages for stiffening said end walls, said passages being shaped to separate said end strut means from, and hold said end strut means out of contact with, material carried in said tray;
- means for releasably securing said end strut means within said passages;
- and
- means engaging said tray portion for enabling a plurality of said trays to be stacked vertically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.