Patent US3734309A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3734309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double stack interlocking trays
Assignee: Plastics Inc
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Filing: 1970-11-27
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1990-11-27
Abstract
Abstract Serving trays of generally rectangular form are constructed to interlock along adjacent edges as the trays are moved together. The trays also stack and nest together. One corner of each adjacent tray raises over a suitable connecting means on the cooperable tray during the interlocking operation.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bateman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:03
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G23/00; A47G23/06; B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/34; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/0201; B65D21/0204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A tray including: a generally rectangular bottom panel, side walls comprising one pair of walls extending along the sides of said bottom panel, end walls comprising another pair of walls extending along the ends of said bottom panel, said side and end walls extending upwardly from the edges of said bottom panel and being connected at the corners thereof, outwardly extending flanges on one end portions of the walls of one of said pairs of walls adjoining diagonally opposite corners of said tray and terminating short of the remaining diagonally opposite corners of the tray, hook flanges extending downwardly from said outwardly extending flanges parallel to, and spaced from, the outer surfaces of said walls of said one pair, cooperable means on the other end portion of the walls of said one of said pairs of walls adjoining the other diagonally opposite corners of said tray, said cooperable means being at a lower level relative to the plane of the surface of said bottom panel than said outwardly extending flanges and interlockable with the hook flanges of a similar tray while the bottom panel of the similar tray is coplaner with the bottom panel of the first tray, said construction providing interlocking means adjoining each end of said walls of one of said pairs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A tray including: a generally rectangular bottom panel, side walls comprising one pair of walls extending along the sides of said bottom panel, end walls comprising another pair of walls extending along the ends of said bottom panel, said side and end walls extending upwardly from the edges of said bottom panel and being connected at the corners thereof, outwardly extending flanges on one end portions of the walls of one of said pairs of walls adjoining diagonally opposite corners of said tray and terminating short of the remaining diagonally opposite corners of the tray, hook flanges extending downwardly from said outwardly extending flanges parallel to, and spaced from, the outer surfaces of said walls of said one pair, cooperable means on the other end portion of the walls of said one of said pairs of walls adjoining the other diagonally opposite corners of said tray, said cooperable means being at a lower level relative to the plane of the surface of said bottom panel than said outwardly extending flanges and interlockable with the hook flanges of a similar tray while the bottom panel of the similar tray is coplaner with the bottom panel of the first tray, said construction providing interlocking means adjoining each end of said walls of one of said pairs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 1 and in which said cooperable means comprises portions of the upper edges of the walls of said one pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 1 and including interengaging means on the walls of said other pair of walls interlocking together when similar trays are nested together to hold tHe similar trays in superimposed relation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 3 and in which said interengaging means include downwardly extending flange means, and notch means in the upper portions of said other pair of walls into which said downwardly extending flange means of a similar tray may extend.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 1 and in which said cooperable means include outwardly extending flanges on said one pair of walls adjoining said other diagonally opposite corners of the tray, and upwardly extending hook flanges on said last named outwardly extending flanges interlockable with said downwardly extending hook flanges of a similar tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure of claim 5 and in which said other pair of walls also includes outwardly extending flanges supporting downwardly extending hook flanges at diagonally opposite corners of said tray, and outwardly extending flanges supporting upwardly extending hook flanges at the other diagonally opposite corners of said tray, whereby said trays may be interlocked in side-by-side relation or in end-to-end relation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure of claim 5 and in which said upwardly extending hook flanges are bevelled to automatically interlock with said downwardly extending hook flanges when similar edges of similar trays are urged together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 1 and in which said other pair of walls also includes outwardly extending flanges supporting downwardly extending hook flanges at diagonally opposite corners of said tray, and cooperable means on the remaining diagonally opposite corners of said tray.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 8 and in which the outwardly extending flanges on said other pair of walls adjoin the outwardly extending flanges on said one pair of walls at said first named diagonally opposed corners of said tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 1 and in which the outer surfaces of said hook flanges are bevelled downwardly and inwardly toward the walls supporting them to provide cam surfaces to automatically lift the hook flanges over said cooperable means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
A tray including: a bottom panel of generally rectangular form, side walls forming one pair of walls extending along opposite sides of said bottom panel, end walls forming another pair of walls extending along opposite ends of said bottom panel, one wall of one of said pairs having an outwardly projecting flange supporting downwardly extending interlocking means in spaced relation to said one wall, said interlocking means having a bevelled outer surface forming an inwardly and downwardly inclined cam surface, the other wall of said one pair of walls having an outwardly extending flange supporting upwardly extending interlocking means in spaced relation to said other wall, said upwardly extending interlocking means having a bevelled outer surface forming an upwardly and inwardly inclined cam surface engageable with said downwardly extending interlocking means, whereby when two similar trays are urged together, said inclined cam surface on said downwardly extending interlocking means engages said inclined cam surface of said upwardly extending interlocking means of the similar tray to raise the edge of the one tray to interlock with the similar tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
178 words
A tray including: a bottom panel of generally rectangular form, side walls forming one pair of walls extending along opposite sides of said bottom panel, end walls forming another pair of walls extending along opposite ends of said bottom panel, one wall of one of said pairs having an outwardly projecting flange supporting downwardly extending interlocking means in spaced relation to said one wall, said interlocking means having a bevelled outer surface forming an inwardly and downwardly inclined cam surface, the other wall of said one pair of walls having an outwardly extending flange supporting upwardly extending interlocking means in spaced relation to said other wall, said upwardly extending interlocking means having a bevelled outer surface forming an upwardly and inwardly inclined cam surface engageable with said downwardly extending interlocking means, whereby when two similar trays are urged together, said inclined cam surface on said downwardly extending interlocking means engages said inclined cam surface of said upwardly extending interlocking means of the similar tray to raise the edge of the one tray to interlock with the similar tray.
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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) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |