AU676192B2 - Goods crate - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: 4 *1 Complete Specification Lodged: SAccepted: Published: f 0 Priority Related Art: a 0 APPLICANT'S REF.: A P

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eq Name(s) of Applicant(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): J. GADSDEN PTY. LTD.

Maldon Street, Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia.

FRANCIS J. STIEGLER Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: GOODS CRATE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84 2 GOODS CRATE This invention relates to a goods support and transportation crate. It has been developed specifically for use in connection with milk and juice cartons but it sould be appreciated from the following that it has broad application for use in transporting, storing and displaying a diverse range of goods.

Crates for storing, displaying and transporting 10 beverage cartons are conventionally open topped containers

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comprising a base or floor and four similar side walls.

d The base of such crates is located at the bottom of the *06 S0 side walls and the beverage containers fit wholly within 0 00". the crate. Access to the beverage containers is through 15 the open top of the crate. Example of such crates can be seen in Australian Design Registration 114,242 and Australian Patent 502,998.

The conventional "milk crate" is of such design and one such crate popularly used in Australia is known in the 20 industry as the "Universal Crate". The Universal Crate is easy to stack and provides a protective and strong support for beverage containers when packaged therein. However, one of the shortcomings of the Universal Crate is its universal application. It can readily be used for storing 25 household items, toys and other such items and *o accordingly, the crates are popular targets of theft after use. This is a substantial problem in Australia. It has been estimated that more than one million crates are stolen or lost from retail outlets throughout Australia annually.

The Universal Crate and its like also suffer from less than adequate product access and the crate is unsuitable for product display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a crate suitable for supporting, transporting and displaying goods, particularly beverage cartons so to overcome some of the shortcomings of prior crate designs.

According to the present invention, there is provide -d an en c -en tp. -saab l crate for 3,n 0 2a provided an open topped stackable crate for transporting and displaying goods, said crate having two side walls, a rear wall and a goods support platform positioned between the two side walls and the rear wall so to partition the crate into upper and lower zones; the front of the crate being open both above and below the goods support platform and the goods support platform being located such that on stacking two such crates in the same orientation one on top of the other, a goods storage space is created by the upper zone of the lower crate and the lower zone of the upper crate and such that an opening is thereby formed at the front of the stacked crates with said opening being the only opening through which goods can readily be removed from the goods storage space.

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7- O' WC C:\WINWORDAVWENDYSPECIW47381 .OC l~ P I 3 ~I 6 I- rear wall and a goods support platform positio ebetween the two side walls and the rear wall so partition the crate into upper and lower zones2 e front of the crate being open both above and ow the goods support platform and the goods sup platform being located such that on stacking t uch crates one on top of the other, a goods sto e space is created by the upper zone of the lower f1 AI Ch t^ A rI- te and 4 he 1 fu -ee e -Ct uppm.-1. r 10 In this way, goods positioned on the goods support platform of the lower crate which stand taller than the side walls and rear wall (as extending above the goods support platform of the bottom crate) can extend upwardly into the lower zone of the upper crate. In this 15 configuration, one crate stacked upon another) the front opening above the support platform of the lower crate and the front opening below the support platform of the upper crate in combination form an access opening to the goods storage space through which the goods can 0 20 readily be removed from the goods storage space.

Whilst the side walls and rear wall may comprise apertures and slots so to provide, for instance, carry *0 handles and to reduce the amount of material used in the construction of the crate, -q xaryaty the se fer-med access 25 opening formed at the front of the crate is the only opening through which the goods can readily be removed S* from the goods storage space when two such crates are stacked one upon the other. In any stack of crates, ready access to the goods will, of course, also be possible through ti,e open top of the uppermost crate in the stack.

Preferably, the goods support platform of the crate is positioned so to create a lower zone large enough to accommodate a substantial portion of any goods which might extend upwardly into that zone when supported by a lower crate.

The underside of the goods support platform i usually positioned at least one quarter of the distance up OS from the base of the crate so to create a sizeable lower S, zone. Most preferably, it is positioned at least one 4 @0 e0 w

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The side walls and rear wall extend upwardly from the support platform and preferably also extend downwardly to the base of the crate. Alternatively, separate supporting legs may extend downwardly from the support platform so to create the lower zone.

It is not necessary for the purposes of this invention for the front of the crate to be entirely open.

For example, partial walls maa be provided at the front of 10 the crate extending for a short distance across the front of the crate from the side walls. Such partial walls may be provided either above or below the goods support platform. Where partial walls are provided both above and below the goods support platform, the are preferably shaped so to form a continuous frame or window for the access opening when two such crates are stacked one upon the other.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the front of the crate also includes a goods retention wall extending across the full width of the crate at a position located above the top of the goods support platform. The goods retention wall may comprise a solid panel extending from the edge of the goods support platform or alternatively may be formed by a bar or 25 channel extending across the front of the crate at a position spaced above but not connected to the top of that platform.

The crate of the invention may be modified so to accommodate mechanical handling means. This can be achieved by a long aperture in the rear wall immediately below the bottom of the goods support platform.

Alternatively, or in addition, similar such apertures may extend along the side walls at opposite locations beneath the goods support platform. The apertures so described in either the rear wall or the side walls can be specifically configured to accommodiate mechanical handling means such as a fork lift.

A description of one preferred form of a crate falling within the scope of the present invention is

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6 *o C p hereafter described with reference to the following drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate made in accordance with the invention viewed from the front; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the crate as illustrated in Figure 1 viewed from the rear; Figure 3 is a front view illustrating in cross section a portion of the goods support platform and a side wall; Figure 4 is a rear plan view; Figure 5 is a top view looking down onto a portion of the goods support platform; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of two such crates stacked one on top of the other with beverage cartons supported on the goods support platforms of both crates.

With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a crate generally designated 1. The crate has two side walls 2 and 3 and a rear wall 4. The side walls and rear wall each extend upwardly from a goods support platform 20 The goods support platform 5 partitions the crate into upper compartment 6 and lower compartment 7. Side walls 2 and 3 and rear wall 4 each include elongate apertures 8 suitable for use as carry handles.

It is desirable in some instances to also include a 25 valve opening or aperture 8a in the rear wall. Such an aperture may be used for bulk bags containing liquids or beverages. The bulk bag would be supported on goods support platform 5 with the valve of the bulk bag inserted through the aperture 8a for easy dispensing of the product held within the bulk bag.

Support legs 9 extend downwardly from the goods support platform 5 to the base of the crate at each corner. Support legs 9 may be connected by partial walls along the side and rear sections of the crate. These sections, beneath the goods support platform, may be partial walls as shown, or full panel walls extending up to the base of the goods support platform. In the embodiment shown, partial walls 10 connect support legs 9 along the side and rear near the base of the said legs and C 0

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elongate apertures 11 are formed in the sides and rear of the crate. Elongate apertures 11 are intended for use with mechanical handling devices such as fork lift apparatus.

Preferably, the crate is square in transverse cross-section through the goods support platform and is between 320 to 360 mm wide. In order to accommodate standard size 1 litre beverage cartons, it is preferred that the height of the crate be approximately 280 to 320 mm from base to top with the top of the goods support platform 5 being between about 80 to 130 mm from the bottom of the support legs 9. Most preferably in a 300 mm high crate, the top of the goods support platform is located about 100 mm from the base of the support legs 9.

At the front of the crate, the walls are open both above and below the goods support platform 5. A solid panel wall 12 forms a goods retention lip or barrier as is conveniently seen in Figure 2. Partial walls 13 and 14 extend from the corners of both respective side walls for 20 a short distance along the front plane of the crate.

Turning to Figure 3, there is illustrated the rear wall profile in greater detail. As is illustrated, the rear wall is comprised of a number of vertical bars extending upwardly from the goods support platform to a horizontal panel 16 which extends across the top of the rear wall 4. Side walls 2 and 3 are similarly configured. Top panel 16 flares outwardly in stepped fashion as is illustrated in the cross sectional view shown at the top right hand corner of the crate shown in Figure 3. Top edge face 17 is configured to form a seat for an appropriately dimensioned flange 18 at or near the base of a similar crate. In this embodiment, a flange 18 is provided about the periphery of the side walls, the rear wall and the partial front wall, a short distance above the base 19 of the support legs 9. A skirt portion depends from partial walls 10 to the base of the crate.

Preferably skirt portion 20 is reinforced with a number of angled ribs 20a which provide reinforcement and 0@ S

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0 also act as guides for the insertion of one crate into the top of another.

As can be seen in Figure 6, when like crates are stacked one on top of the other, skirt portion 20 is shaped to fit within the outwardly flaring panels 16 and the upper crate 21 is supported on the lower crate 22 by flange 18 which abuts and sits upon top edge face 17 around each of the walls of the crate. It should be appreciated that this arrangement is simply one nesting arrangement which can be used to enable stacking of similar crates. Other configurations well known in the art can be adopted so to permit for stacking of crates of the invention whilst embodying the other essential features of this invention as previously described.

The goods support platform can be of any convenient structure. In the embodiment shown, a grid profile is utilized to enable satisfactory drainage as is depicted in Figure 5. Turning to Figure 6, there is illustrated two crates each substantially identical to the crate shown in 20 Figure 1. Crate 21 is stacked on top of crate 22. The upper crate nests within the lower crate in manner as described above. Beverages containers 23 are supported on the goods support platform 5 and a substantial portion of the beverage container 23 extends upwardly into the lower 25 compartment 7 of crate 21. Inner faces 13a and 14a of partial front walls 13 and 14 of crate 22 are angled and dimensioned so to form a continuous border with the side faces 9a and 9b of support legs 9 and so form access opening 24.

It will be readily appreciated that in use two stacked crates of the present invention present a single access opening to goods supported on the lower crate through which goods may be readily removed from the goods storage space formed by the upper and lower compartments of the respective crates.

This enables the use of the crate as a convenient display shelf. Because ready access to the goods can only be made from the front of the crates, beverage containers or similar products being stacked within the crate can be o se 400.: 5 8 deliberately oriented with trade information, trade marks, "use-by" dates, etc. facing outwardly for easy recognition by a customer. The manufacturer of goods can confidently pack the goods in the crates for transportation to a retail outlet knowing that the goods will be correctly oriented for the desired impact on prospective purchasers. Because the goods support platform is positioned well above the base of the crate, the platform provides improved rigidity to the side and rear walls. It 0 is not necessary to otherwise reinforce the side walls by cross members or the like across the front of the crate oe which might obstruct the access opening. The location of *6 o a a Sa the goods support platform also reduces the utility of the crate for general domestic applications such as for 15 storing toys, household utensils, etc., as there is less room to the top of the container than in conventional crates and goods are also prone to fall out of the front.

Thus, the present invention provides an alternative crate design having enhanced suitability for transporting a 20 and displaying goods, particularly goods such as beverage cartons.

It should be understood that various modifications and/or additions may be made to the foregoing description without departing from the spirit or ambit of the 25 invention as previously described.

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Claims (10)

1. An open topped stackable crate for transporting and displaying goods, said crate having two side walls, a rear wall and a goods support platform positioned between the two side walls and the rear wall so to partition the crate into upper and lower zones; the front of the crate being open both above and below the goods support platform and the goods support platform being located such that on stacking two such crates in the same orientation one on top of the other, a goods storage space is created by the upper 7zone of the lower crate and the lower zone of the upper crate and such that an opening is thereby formed at the front of the stacked crates with said opening being the only opening through which goods can readily be removed from the goods storage space.

2. A crate as claimed in claim 1 in which said side walls and said rear wall are of substantially the same height. 15 3. A crate as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the goods support platform is positioned so to create a lower zone large enough to accommodate a substantial portion of any goods which might extend upwardly into that zone when supported on a goods support platform of a lower like crate when stacked thereon. oo 20 4. A crate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the goods support platform is positioned at least one quarter of the distance up from the base of the crate. A crate as claimed in claim 4 wherein the goods support platform is positioned at least one third of the distance up from the base of the crate.

6. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein partial walls are provided at the front of the crate which extend for a short distance across the front of the crate from the respective side walls.

7. A crate as claimed in claim 6 wherein partial walls are provided both above and below the goods support platform.

8. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the front of the crate also includes a goods retention wall which extends across the full width of the front of the crate at a position located above the top of the goods support platform. WC C\WMNWOR A-WENDY SPECCP47381DOC

9. A crate as claimed in claim 8 wherein said goods retention wall comprises a solid panel which extends upwardly from the edge of the goods support platform. A crate as claimed inr any one of the preceding claims wherein an aperture is provided in the rear wall immediately below the goods support platform so to accommodate mechanical handling means.

11. A crate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to what is shown in any one of figures 1 to

12. A stack of crates wherein at least two adjacent crates within the stack are crates in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11 hereof and wherein in such adjacent crates the front opening above the support platform of one such crate and the front opening below the support platform of the crate stacked thereupon in combination form an access opening to the goods storage space through which goods can readily be removed from the goods storage space.

13. A stack of crates as claimed in claim 12 wherein each said crate within the stack is a crate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11. A stack of crates as claimed in either one of claims 12 or 13 wherein goods are positioned on the goods support platform of at least a first crate and wherein 20 said goods stand taller than fie side walls and rear wall of the said first crate and :°}:.extend upwardly into the lower zone of the crate stacked immediately above said first crate.

15. A stack of crates substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to what is shown in figure 6. DATED: 7 January, 1997 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: J. GADSDEN PTY. LTD. WC C 'NI NORRD-W NODYSPECIP47381 DOC ABSTRACT An open topped stackable crate for transporting and displaying goods, said crace having two side walls, a rear wall and a goods support platform positioned between the two side walls and the rear wall so to partition the crate into upper and lower zones; the front of the crate being open both above and below the goods support platform and the goods support platform being located such that on stacking two such crates one on top of the other, a goods storage space is created by the upper zone of the lower S c ate and the lower zone of the upper crate. o 6« Q s 9989 L«C I T