Patent US3877599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3877599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Egg tray
Assignee: MULTIFAX CORP
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Filing: 1973-08-03
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-08-03
Abstract
Abstract Egg trays for containing and transporting eggs in successive layers. Each tray comprises a plurality of egg-supporting cups disposed in transverse and longitudinal rows. The cups have a solid bottom and are designed to receive the bottom tip of the egg. Lateral support for the eggs is provided by upstanding pedestals spaced around the cup at four corners. The pedestals are hollow and all except a selected few are open at the top and split longitudinally so as to provide a resilient flexible skirt for lateral support for the eggs. The selected few of the pedestals are closed at the top to engage against the bottoms of cups in the upwardly adjacent tray to support the latter. Selected pedestals and cups interlock to provide lateral support as well as vertical support. The trays are preferably a molded one-piece construction of resilient plastic material such as lowdensity polyethylene.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/30; B65D85/32; B65D85/321
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An egg tray comprising a base portion having a plurality of depending egg-supporting cups arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows therein, said cups being of uniform size at the top and having converging sidewalls terminating at the bottom in a closed bottom wall, said base having also upstanding projections thereon, said projections arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows intermediate the transverse and longitudinal rows of cups and staggered relative thereto whereby said projections are offset from both the longitudinal and transverse rows of cups, said upstanding projections comprising upwardly converging walls aligned with the downwardly converging walls of the cups at the points of intersection between said projections and said cups, the walls of a majority of said upstanding projections terminating at a level corresponding to the medial portion of the eggs supported in the cups and comprising frustoconical generally semicircular pairs of upstanding skirts spaced from one another to provide vertical slots therebetween for air circulation therethrough, said walls being open at the top to provide substantial air circulation around said eggs and providing convex arcuate surfaces having sufficient flexibility to cushion and resiliently support the sides of eggs of different sizes in the cups.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An egg tray comprising a base portion having a plurality of depending egg-supporting cups arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows therein, said cups being of uniform size at the top and having converging sidewalls terminating at the bottom in a closed bottom wall, said base having also upstanding projections thereon, said projections arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows intermediate the transverse and longitudinal rows of cups and staggered relative thereto whereby said projections are offset from both the longitudinal and transverse rows of cups, said upstanding projections comprising upwardly converging walls aligned with the downwardly converging walls of the cups at the points of intersection between said projections and said cups, the walls of a majority of said upstanding projections terminating at a level corresponding to the medial portion of the eggs supported in the cups and comprising frustoconical generally semicircular pairs of upstanding skirts spaced from one another to provide vertical slots therebetween for air circulation therethrough, said walls being open at the top to provide substantial air circulation around said eggs and providing convex arcuate surfaces having sufficient flexibility to cushion and resiliently support the sides of eggs of different sizes in the cups.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein selected projections comprise upstanding pedestals having a continuous converging frustoconical wall terminating at its upper end in a closed top above the level of the open tops of the remaining projections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A stack of identical trays according to claim 1, wherein an upper tray is supported on a lower tray, the bottoms of the egg-supporting cups being adapted to engage upon the tops of said pedestals, at least two of said bottoms having sockets therein for receiving said posts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein said tray is rectangular and the longitudinal side edges thereof are recessed to provide handholds, said base including ribs extending along the underside of said base transversely between the cups and united therewith to rigidify said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tray according to claim 4 including ribs extending along the underside of said base longitudinally between said cups to further rigidify said base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3282458A
Cited
US3451577A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |