GB1369660A - Stackable and nestable container - Google Patents

Abstract

1369660 Stackable and nestable containers VANGUARD INDUSTRIES Inc 6 Dec 1971 [22 Jan 1971] 56520/71 Heading B8P A stackable and nestable container comprises a rigid horizontal peripheral structure 12, side walls 22, 24 which are movable between a substantially vertical stacking position, as shown in Fig. 3, and an inwardly inclined nesting position, as shown in Fig. 4, and a bottom structure 14 comprising a central portion 50 and portions (56), 66 which are hingedly connected to the side walls at (62), 72 and to the central portion 50 at (64), 74 for movement between the stacking and nesting positions. The sides 22 each have a central stacking projection 84 at the top and a complementary recess (88) at the base and the sides 24, which are twice as long as sides 22, each have two stacking projections 86 and complementary recesses 90 so positioned that one container can be stacked in vertical alignment with an indentical container, or with one half of the container in vertical alignment with one half of an identical container, the other half of the container projecting outwardly from one end or either side of the other container. The corners of the sides are cut away as at 26, (36) to allow the sides to be moved to the resting position. The sides 22, 24 have downwardly facing stop surfaces (96), 98 which abut the projections 84, 86 of a similar container in which it is nested to prevent wedging. The lower parts of the sides 22, 24 are flared slightly outwardly at 94 to bring the recesses (88), 90 into alignment with the projections 84, 86 in the stacking position. The end edges of the connecting portions (56), 66, have inner edge structures (76, 80) respectively which interengage in the stacking position and outer end structures (78, 80) which interengage in the nesting position. The container is moulded in the nesting position and is thus self-biased towards this position by the phenomenon of plastic memory, but is also held in the stacking position by the inward torsional action of the structure 12 on the sides and connecting portions (56), 66, the latter being inclined at an angle of less than 180 degrees to the central portion 50 in this position. Hand holes 30 are provided in sides 22. The sides are of apertured construction, having strengthening ribs 28.