US3675815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bakery tray
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-16
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A stacking, cross nesting bakery tray molded from a single homogeneous mass of thermoplastic material and including a rectangular, open grid bottom panel, opposed upwardly extending end walls having vertically registering stacking means along their top and bottom edges, and opposed upwardly extending side walls having a vertical height no greater than half the height of the end walls to permit cross nesting of two vertical stacks of the trays. The end walls and side walls each include means facilitating filling of the tray with packages of bakery products.
Inventors
- 👤 Houston Rehrig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/04; B65D21/043; B65D21/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
In a molded plastic bakery tray including a rectangular bottom wall, opposed generally vertical end walls having vertically registering stacking means along their top and bottom edges, and opposed side walls having a height no greater than one-half the height of said end walls to permit cross nesting of two vertical stacks of the trays, the improvement comprising first outwardly inclined camming surface means extending along the top edge surface of said end walls for substantially the full length thereof, said first camming surface means forming an outwardly flaring extension of the inner surface of said end walls, and second outwardly inclined camming surface means on the top of said side walls and extending substantially the full length thereof, said second camming surface means forming an outwardly flaring extension of the inner surface of said side walls, said first and second camming surface means cooperating to cam bakery products inwardly when said products engage the top surface of said end walls and said side walls when the bakery products are being loaded into said tray whereby the tendancy of the bakery products to become fouled on the top of said end and side walls is greatly reduced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a molded plastic bakery tray including a rectangular bottom wall, opposed generally vertical end walls having vertically registering stacking means along their top and bottom edges, and opposed side walls having a height no greater than one-half the height of said end walls to permit cross nesting of two vertical stacks of the trays, the improvement comprising first outwardly inclined camming surface means extending along the top edge surface of said end walls for substantially the full length thereof, said first camming surface means forming an outwardly flaring extension of the inner surface of said end walls, and second outwardly inclined camming surface means on the top of said side walls and extending substantially the full length thereof, said second camming surface means forming an outwardly flaring extension of the inner surface of said side walls, said first and second camming surface means cooperating to cam bakery products inwardly when said products engage the top surface of said end walls and said side walls when the bakery products are being loaded into said tray whereby the tendancy of the bakery products to become fouled on the top of said end and side walls is greatly reduced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a bakery tray as defined in claim 1, the further improvement comprising a generally triangular handhold opening in said end walls, said triangular handhold openings each having one side edge extending generally parallel to and spaced below the top edge surface of its associated end panel and its remaining two side edges extending downwardly and inclined inwardly toward one another, and outwardly directed flange means reinforcing said end walls adjacent the periphery of said handhold openings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a bakery tray as defined in claim 2, the further improvement comprising a plurality of inspection openings formed in each of said end walls in spaced relation to said handhold opening, said inspection openings each having a pair of lower edges inclined toward one anothEr in the general configuration of an upwardly open V whereby the tendency of bakery products being loaded into said tray adjacent said end walls to become fouled on said inspection openings is reduced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a bakery tray defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein the stacking means extending along the top surface of said end walls comprises an outwardly and upwardly inclined flange, the inner inclined surface of said flange defining said first camming surface, and integrally molded webs reinforcing said flange at spaced intervals along the outer surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the bakery tray defined in claim 4, the further improvement comprising gusset means integrally molded with and extending downwardly from said bottom wall at spaced intervals around the outer periphery thereof, said gusset means connecting said bottom wall with said end walls and said side walls to reinforce said crate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the bakery tray defined in claim 5, the further improvement comprising shoulder means on said gussets adapted to engage the tops of said side walls to locate said tray with respect to a similar tray nested therebeneath and rotated 90* with respect thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a bakery tray as defined in claim 6, the further improvement wherein said bottom wall is of open grid construction and comprises a plurality of longitudinal beams extending parallel to said side walls and a plurality of transverse beams extending parallel to said end walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The bakery tray defined in claim 7, wherein said parallel and said transverse beams have a cross section in the general configuration of the letter M, and wherein said bottom walls are connected to said side walls and said end walls by beams offset with respect to other beams in said bottom wall parallel thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |