US3794208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tray
Assignee: DURACO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-26
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A tray comprising upstanding side and end walls and a gridwork bottom disposed between the lower edge portions of said walls. Each of said walls preferably comprises an essentially vertical lower section and an outwardly sloping upper section. Said gridwork bottom comprises a plurality of intersecting struts which form rows of rectangles generally parallel with said walls. Reinforcing strut members are provided in intersecting centrally disposed rows of said rectangles. A transverse strut member in at least one of said centrally disposed rows of rectangles provides a location for a denesting device to hook onto the gridwork bottom and remove a tray from a stack of nested trays.
Inventors
- 👤 G Roush
- 👤 H Fraser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:50
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
368 words
In a tray comprising, a pair of upstanding opposed first walls, a pair of upstanding opposed second transverse walls connected to said first walls along the upstanding edges thereof, and a gridwork bottom connected to the lower portions of said first walls and said second walls to provide a generally rectangular open top structure, the improvement of a gridwork bottom comprising: a first plurality of strut members and a second plurality of strut members which intersect said first strut members to form a first plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said second walls, and a second plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said first walls; said first plurality of rectangles including a first generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said first walls and generally centrally disposed with respect to said second pair of walls; a first reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said first central row of rectangles with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; said second plurality of rectangles including a second generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said second walls, generally centrally disposed with respect to said first pair of walls and intersecting said first central row of rectangles at a generally centrally disposed rectangle common to both of said central rows of rectangles; a second reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said second central row of rectangles, with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; and a transverse strut member disposed generally perpendicular to and intersecting one of said first and second reinforcing strut members in, and extending across, at least one rectangle, other than said common rectangle, in at least one of (a) said first central row of rectangles and (b) said second central row of rectangles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
368 words
In a tray comprising, a pair of upstanding opposed first walls, a pair of upstanding opposed second transverse walls connected to said first walls along the upstanding edges thereof, and a gridwork bottom connected to the lower portions of said first walls and said second walls to provide a generally rectangular open top structure, the improvement of a gridwork bottom comprising: a first plurality of strut members and a second plurality of strut members which intersect said first strut members to form a first plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said second walls, and a second plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said first walls; said first plurality of rectangles including a first generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said first walls and generally centrally disposed with respect to said second pair of walls; a first reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said first central row of rectangles with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; said second plurality of rectangles including a second generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said second walls, generally centrally disposed with respect to said first pair of walls and intersecting said first central row of rectangles at a generally centrally disposed rectangle common to both of said central rows of rectangles; a second reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said second central row of rectangles, with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; and a transverse strut member disposed generally perpendicular to and intersecting one of said first and second reinforcing strut members in, and extending across, at least one rectangle, other than said common rectangle, in at least one of (a) said first central row of rectangles and (b) said second central row of rectangles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A tray accordiNg to claim 1 wherein: the distances between said first reinforcing strut member and said strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto is within the range of from about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the distance between the adjacent pair of strut members in said first plurality of strut members; and the distance between said second reinforcing strut member and said strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto is within the range of from about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the distance between the adjacent pair of strut members in said second plurality of strut members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein each of said transverse strut members generally bisects the rectangle across which it extends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein a said transverse strut member is provided in at least one rectangle of each of said central rows of rectangles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein: a said transverse strut member is provided in at least one rectangle of said first central row of rectangles on each side of said common rectangle; a said transverse strut member is provided in at least one rectangle of said second central row of rectangles on each side of said common rectangle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein: one of said transverse strut members is provided in each of at least two adjacent rectangles in said first central row of rectangles, on each side of said common rectangle, which are spaced from said common rectangle by at least one rectangle; and one of said transverse strut members is provided in each of at least two adjacent rectangles in said second central row of rectangles, on each side of said common rectangle, which are spaced from said common rectangle by at least one rectangle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tray according to claim 5, further comprising: a pair of diagonally extending reinforcing struts, one extending generally diagonally across said tray between one pair of diagonally opposite corners thereof, and the other extending generally diagonally across said tray between the other pair of diagonally opposite corners thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A tray according to claim 7 wherein: the strut members of said first plurality of strut members, the strut members of said second plurality of strut members, said transverse strut members, said first reinforcing strut members, said second reinforcing strut member, and said diagonally extending reinforcing strut members are the sole load-bearing members in the rectangles formed by said intersecting first and second pluralities of strut members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A tray according to claim 7, further comprising: a third reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a first quadrant of said tray in a direction between one end portion of said first reinforcing strut and one end portion of said second reinforcing strut; a fourth reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a second quadrant of said tray in a direction between the other end portion of said first reinforcing strut and said one end portion of said second reinforcing strut; a fifth reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a third quadrant of said tray in a direction between said other end portion of said first reinforcing strut and the other end portion of said second reinforcing strut; and a sixth reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a fourth quadrant of said tray in a direction between said one end portion of said first reinforcing strut and said other end portion of said second reinforcing strut.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A tray according to claim 9 wherein: the strut members of said first plurality of strut members, the strut members of said second plurality of strut members, said transverse strut members; said first reinforcing strut member, said second reinforcing strut member, said diagonally extending reinforcing strut members, and said third, fourth, fifth, and sixth reinforcing struts are the sole load-bearing members in the rectangles formed by said intersEcting first and second pluralities of strut members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
A tray according to claim 9 wherein: one end of said third reinforcing strut is connected to said one end portion of said first reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof, and the other end of said third reinforcing strut is connected to said one end portion of said second reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof; one end of said fourth reinforcing strut is connected to said other end portion of said first reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof, and the other end of said fourth reinforcing strut is connected to said one end portion of said second reinforcing strut adjacent the other end thereof; one end of said fifth reinforcing strut is connected to said other end portion of said first reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof, and the other end of said fifth reinforcing strut is connected to said other end portion of said second reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof; and one end of said sixth reinforcing strut is connected to said one end portion of said first reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof, and the other end of said sixth reinforcing strut is connected to said other end portion of said second reinforcing strut adjacent the outer end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A tray according to claim 9 wherein: an outwardly extending turned-down flange is connected to the upper edges of said walls and extends around the periphery of said tray; a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided between the turned-down portion of said flange and the tray wall adjacent thereto; and each of said strut members and each of said reinforcing strut members is generally T-shaped, and the crossbar of said T is disposed facing the open top of the tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A tray according to claim 11 wherein: an outwardly extending turned-down flange is connected to the upper edges of said walls and extends around the periphery of said tray; a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided between the turned-down portion of said flange and the tray wall adjacent thereto; and each of said strut members and each of said reinforcing strut members is generally T-shaped, and the crossbar of said T is disposed facing the open top of the tray.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A tray according to claim 9 wherein: each said first wall and each said second wall comprises an essentially vertical lower section and an outwardly sloping upper section connected to said lower section; like sections of said second walls are connected to like sections of said first walls along the upstanding edges thereof; said gridwork bottom is connected to said lower sections of said first walls and said lower sections of said second walls; and an outwardly extending flange is connected to the upper edges of said upper wall sections and extends around the periphery of said tray.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A tray according to claim 14 wherein: said outwardly extending flange is a turned-down flange; a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided between the turned-down portion of said flange and the tray wall adjacent thereto; and each of said strut members and each of said reinforcing strut members is generally T-shaped, and the crossbar of said T is disposed facing the open top of said tray.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
267 words
A tray according to claim 6, further comprising: a pair of diagonally extending reinforcing struts, on extending generally diagonally across said tray between one pair of diagonally opposite corners thereof, and the other extending generally diagonally across said tray between the other pair of diagonally opposite corners thereof; a third reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a first quadrant of said tray in a direction between one end portion of said first reinforcing strut and one end portion of said second reinforcing strut; a fourth reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a second quadrant of said tray in a direction between the other end portion of Said first reinforcing strut and said one end portion of said second reinforcing strut; a fifth reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a third quadrant of said tray in a direction between said other end portion of said first reinforcing strut and the other end portion of said second reinforcing strut; a sixth reinforcing strut extending generally diagonally across a fourth quadrant of said tray in a direction between said one end portion of said first reinforcing strut and said other end portion of said second reinforcing strut; an outwardly extending turned-down flange is connected to the upper edges of said walls and extends around the periphery of said tray; a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided between the turned-down portion of said flange and the tray wall adjacent thereto; and each of said strut members and each of said reinforcing strut members is generally T-shaped, and the crossbar of said T is disposed facing the open top of the tray.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
356 words
In a tray comprising, a pair of upstanding opposed first walls, a pair of upstanding opposed second transverse walls, and a gridwork bottom connected to the lower portions of said first walls and said second walls to provide a generally rectangular open top structure, the improvement of a gridwork bottom comprising: a plurality of strut members and a second plurality of strut members which intersect said first strut members to form a plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said second walls, and a second plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said first walls; said first plurality of rectangles including a first generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said first walls and generally centrally disposed with respect to said second pair of walls; a first reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said first central row of rectangles with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; said second plurality of rectangles including a second generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said second walls, generally centrally disposed with respect to said first pair of walls and intersecting said first central row of rectangles at a generally centrally disposed rectangle common to both of said central rows of rectangles; a second reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said second central row of rectangles, with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; and a transverse strut member disposed generally perpendicular to and intersecting one of said first and second reinforcing strut members in, and extending across, at least one rectangle, other than said common rectangle, in at least one of (a) said first central row of rectangles and (b) said second central row of rectangles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
356 words
In a tray comprising, a pair of upstanding opposed first walls, a pair of upstanding opposed second transverse walls, and a gridwork bottom connected to the lower portions of said first walls and said second walls to provide a generally rectangular open top structure, the improvement of a gridwork bottom comprising: a plurality of strut members and a second plurality of strut members which intersect said first strut members to form a plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said second walls, and a second plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said first walls; said first plurality of rectangles including a first generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said first walls and generally centrally disposed with respect to said second pair of walls; a first reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said first central row of rectangles with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; said second plurality of rectangles including a second generally central row of said rectangles extending across said tray between said second walls, generally centrally disposed with respect to said first pair of walls and intersecting said first central row of rectangles at a generally centrally disposed rectangle common to both of said central rows of rectangles; a second reinforcing strut member extending longitudinally across said second central row of rectangles, with the distances between said reinforcing strut and the strut members generally parallel and adjacent thereto which form two sides of said rectangles being less than the distances between said side struts and the adjacent strut members of said plurality of strut members; and a transverse strut member disposed generally perpendicular to and intersecting one of said first and second reinforcing strut members in, and extending across, at least one rectangle, other than said common rectangle, in at least one of (a) said first central row of rectangles and (b) said second central row of rectangles.
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) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |