Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A unitary egg tray comprising: a plurality of integrally connected egg-holding tubular receptacles arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows in said tray, said tubular receptacles in each row being staggered with respect to the tubular receptacles in the immediately adjacent parallel rows on either side of it, said transverse amd longitudinal rows of tubular receptacles occuppying in alternate sequence an upper horizontal plane and a lower horizontal plane, said tubular receptacles being of uniform size and shape at their upper perimeter so that they can receive and abut the lower midportion of an egg, each said receptacle having an orifice at its lower perimeter of such size and shape to provide clearance between the orifice and the lowermost part of the pointed tip of an egg nested in the receptacle, whereby each receptacle is adapted to hold in stable position eggs of varying size distribution, leg means positioned at two parallel opposed sides of said tray to support the tray, said leg means protruding to aa support level slightly below the horizontal plane tangent to the bottom of the lowermost egg tip held in said tray and also below the lowermost part of the receptacles; stacking means protruding above the tubular receptacles in the upper plane of the tray for supporting and releasably interlocking with an adjacent tray disposed in such closely-spaced horizontal relation immediately above it so that the upper tray will not contact eggs in the lower tray; and socket means on the underside of said tray adapted to receive the stacking means of a downwardly adjacent lower tray, said socket means being above the support level of said leg means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A unitary egg tray comprising: a plurality of integrally connected egg-holding tubular receptacles arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows in said tray, said tubular receptacles in each row being staggered with respect to the tubular receptacles in the immediately adjacent parallel rows on either side of it, said transverse amd longitudinal rows of tubular receptacles occuppying in alternate sequence an upper horizontal plane and a lower horizontal plane, said tubular receptacles being of uniform size and shape at their upper perimeter so that they can receive and abut the lower midportion of an egg, each said receptacle having an orifice at its lower perimeter of such size and shape to provide clearance between the orifice and the lowermost part of the pointed tip of an egg nested in the receptacle, whereby each receptacle is adapted to hold in stable position eggs of varying size distribution, leg means positioned at two parallel opposed sides of said tray to support the tray, said leg means protruding to aa support level slightly below the horizontal plane tangent to the bottom of the lowermost egg tip held in said tray and also below the lowermost part of the receptacles; stacking means protruding above the tubular receptacles in the upper plane of the tray for supporting and releasably interlocking with an adjacent tray disposed in such closely-spaced horizontal relation immediately above it so that the upper tray will not contact eggs in the lower tray; and socket means on the underside of said tray adapted to receive the stacking means of a downwardly adjacent lower tray, said socket means being above the support level of said leg means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An egg tray according to claim 1 wherein said tubular receptacles are frustoconical skirts having downwardly converging side walls terminating at a circular orifice at the base of said skirt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An egg tray according to claim 1 whrein said tray is made from a plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An egg tray according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly protruding stacking means comprises pedestals extending above the level of said eggs and slightly below the plane defined by the lower perimeters of the lower receptacles, the lower part of said pedestals containing said socket means which interlocks with the upper ends of said pedestals of a lower adjacent tray to prevent lateral movement of said trays when stacked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An egg tray according to claim 1 wherein said leg means comprises integral flanges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An egg tray according to claim 1, including lateral support means located about the periphery of the tray and integral thereto for restraining the outward movement of eggs held on the perimeter of the tray during handling or tilting of said tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An egg tray according to claim 1 wherein the lower perimeter of each lower skirt has a horizontal annular reinforcing web containing a central orifice large enough to allow the lower tip of an egg to protrude therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An egg tray according to claim 3 wherein aid plastic tray is made by injection molding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An egg tray according to claim 4 wherein said pedestals are integral with and protrude above and below said skirts, and said socket means are formed in the bottom end of the pedestal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An egg tray according to claim 8 wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of linear polyethylene and polypropylene.