US3734341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nestable and stackable container
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
•
Filing: 1971-07-12
•
Granted: 1973-05-22
•
Expires: 1991-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An open top integral container capable of being either nested or stacked with another similar container. The container has a substantially horizontal bottom and four substantially upright sides. Each of the sides are connected to the bottom and to two other of the sides. First means are formed on the interior surfaces of the sides to support the similar container when the similar container is received within the container in either a nested or a stacked position. Second means are formed along the exterior surfaces of the sides for being contacted by the similar container to support the container when the container is received within the similar container in either a nested or a stacked position. Thickened reinforcing means are located at strategic positions on the container structure to reinforce the container against damage caused by both externally originating impacts occurring during container handling and by loading forces caused when the containers are stacked with high weight density loads or are nested many times high in large load producing columns.
Inventors
- 👤 A Levenhagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/04; B65D21/043; B65D21/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
An open top integral container capable of being either nested or stacked with another similar container, said container having a substantially horizontally extending bottom interconnecting four substantially upright sides, at least one of said sides extending angularly outward away from said bottom, a first of said sides having a substantially vertical first pillar extending from the inner surface thereof for the height of said first side and a second pillar extending from the inner surface thereof from said bottom to a point spaced from the top of said first side, the top of said second pillar comprising an upwardly facing first ledge, a second of said sides opposite said first side having an inner surface formed as the mirror image of the inner surface of said first side and including third and fourth pillars similar to the first and second pillars respectively and located opposite therefrom and second ledge on said fourth pillar, a third of said sides having a substantially vertical fifth pillar extending from the inside surface thereof for the height of said third side, the fourth of said sides being opposite said third side and having a substantially vertical sixth pillar extending from the inside surface thereof for the height of said fourth side and substantially vertical seventh and eighth pillars extending from the inner surface thereof on opposite sides of said fourth pillar from said bottom to points spaced from the top of said second side, the tops of said seventh and eighth pillars comprising upwardly facing third and fourth ledges respectively, the top surfaces of said first, third, and fifth pillars supporting said similar container when said similar container is supported by said container in a stacked position, and said first, second, third and fourth ledges supporting said similar container when said similar container is received in said container in a nested position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
An open top integral container capable of being either nested or stacked with another similar container, said container having a substantially horizontally extending bottom interconnecting four substantially upright sides, at least one of said sides extending angularly outward away from said bottom, a first of said sides having a substantially vertical first pillar extending from the inner surface thereof for the height of said first side and a second pillar extending from the inner surface thereof from said bottom to a point spaced from the top of said first side, the top of said second pillar comprising an upwardly facing first ledge, a second of said sides opposite said first side having an inner surface formed as the mirror image of the inner surface of said first side and including third and fourth pillars similar to the first and second pillars respectively and located opposite therefrom and second ledge on said fourth pillar, a third of said sides having a substantially vertical fifth pillar extending from the inside surface thereof for the height of said third side, the fourth of said sides being opposite said third side and having a substantially vertical sixth pillar extending from the inside surface thereof for the height of said fourth side and substantially vertical seventh and eighth pillars extending from the inner surface thereof on opposite sides of said fourth pillar from said bottom to points spaced from the top of said second side, the tops of said seventh and eighth pillars comprising upwardly facing third and fourth ledges respectively, the top surfaces of said first, third, and fifth pillars supporting said similar container when said similar container is supported by said container in a stacked position, and said first, second, third and fourth ledges supporting said similar container when said similar container is received in said container in a nested position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The container of claim 1, further including a thickened rim extending about the periphery of said container at the top of said sides and projecting outwardly from the outer surfaces of said sides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The container of claiM 1, further including a thickened corner reinforcing portion located at each of the four corners whereat said side walls meet, each of said reinforcing portions projecting from the inner surface of at least two of said sides and extending upwardly from said bottom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
225 words
The container of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of said first side is formed with a first downwardly facing ledge positioned opposite said first pillar and a second downwardly facing ledge positioned opposite said second pillar and spaced from said bottom a distance less than the distance from said first downwardly facing ledge to said bottom, said second side being formed with a third downwardly facing ledge positioned opposite said third pillar and a fourth downwardly facing ledge positioned opposite said fourth pillar and spaced from said bottom a distance less than the distance of said third downwardly facing ledge from said bottom, the outer surface of said third side being formed with spaced apart fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges, the outer surface of said fourth side being formed with spaced apart seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges spaced from said bottom a distance less than the distance of said fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges from said bottom, said first, third, fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges being contacted by said similar container to support said container when said container is received within said similar container in a nested position, said second, fourth, seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges being contacted by said similar container to support said container when said container is placed upon said similar container in a stacked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container of claim 4, wherein said first, third, fifth and sixth ledges are positioned equidistant from said bottom and said second, fourth, seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges are positioned equidistant from said bottom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
259 words
An open top integral container capable of being either nested or stacked with another similar container, said container having a substantially horizontally extending bottom interconnecting four substantially upright sides at least one of said sides extending angularly outwardly away from said bottom, a first of said sides being formed with an outer surface having a first downwardly facing ledge and a second downwardly facing ledge spaced from said first ledge and located from said bottom a distance less than the distance from said first ledge to said bottom, a second of said sides being formed with an outer surface having a third downwardly facing ledge and a fourth downwardly facing ledge spaced from said first ledge and located at a distance from said bottom less than the distance from said third ledge to said bottom, a third of said sides being formed with an outer surface having spaced apart fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges, the fourth of said sides having an outer surface formed with spaced apart seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges positioned at a distance from said bottom less than the distance of said fifth and sixth ledges from said bottom, said first, third, fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges being contacted by said similar container to support said container when said container is received within said similar container in a nested position, and said second, fourth, seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges being contacted by said similar container to support said container when said container is placed upon said similar container in a stacked position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
259 words
An open top integral container capable of being either nested or stacked with another similar container, said container having a substantially horizontally extending bottom interconnecting four substantially upright sides at least one of said sides extending angularly outwardly away from said bottom, a first of said sides being formed with an outer surface having a first downwardly facing ledge and a second downwardly facing ledge spaced from said first ledge and located from said bottom a distance less than the distance from said first ledge to said bottom, a second of said sides being formed with an outer surface having a third downwardly facing ledge and a fourth downwardly facing ledge spaced from said first ledge and located at a distance from said bottom less than the distance from said third ledge to said bottom, a third of said sides being formed with an outer surface having spaced apart fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges, the fourth of said sides having an outer surface formed with spaced apart seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges positioned at a distance from said bottom less than the distance of said fifth and sixth ledges from said bottom, said first, third, fifth and sixth downwardly facing ledges being contacted by said similar container to support said container when said container is received within said similar container in a nested position, and said second, fourth, seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges being contacted by said similar container to support said container when said container is placed upon said similar container in a stacked position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The container of claim 6, further including a thickened rim extending about the periphery of said container at the top of said sides and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of said sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The container of claim 6, further including a thickened corner reinforcing portion located at the inside of each of the four corners whereat said side walls meet, each of said reinforcing portions projecting from the inner surface of at least two of said sides and extending upwardly from said bottom along a portion of the height of said sides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container of claim 6, wherein said first, third, fifth and sixth ledges are positioned equidistant from said bottom and said second, fourth, seventh and eighth downwardly facing ledges are positioned equidistant from said bottom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |