Egg incubating tray with rack and slide

Claim 2

An egg incubating tray comprising: means defining a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said rows being positioned to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the length of a cell from the cells in other proximate rows, an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows projecting by substantially half the length of a cell beyond the extremost cell in the other proximate rows to define a jagged edge of said tray, said jagged edge defined such that a second egg incubating tray having a jagged edge interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 3

An egg incubating tray comprising: a plurality of parallel struts a plurality of ribs interconnecting said struts to define a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said ribs being positioned between said struts to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the distance between the ribs from the egg cells in the proximate row, and an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in the other proximate rows to define a jagged edge of said tray, said jagged edge defined such that a second egg incubating tray having a jagged edge interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 4

An egg incubating tray comprising: a plurality of parallel struts a plurality of ribs interconnecting said struts to define a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said ribs being positioned between said struts to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the distance between the ribs from the egg cells in the proximate row, and an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in the other proximate rows to define a jagged edge of said tray, said jagged edge defined such that a second egg incubating tray having a jagged edge interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 5

The egg incubating tray of claim 2 wherein the projection of said extremost cells in alternate rows is trapezoidal in shape.

Claim 6

The egg incubating tray of claim 2 wherein the space between projections of said extremost cells in alternate rows is trapezoidal in shape.

Claim 7

The egg tray of claim 2 wherein an extremost egg cell in said proximate row projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in said one row to define a second jagged edge of said tray opposite to said jagged edge of said tray.

Claim 8

The egg tray of claim 5 wherein third and fourth edges of said tray are straight and parallel to said rows.

Claim 9

The egg tray of claim 6 wherein said jagged edges are formed by constructing said extremost edges of said extremost egg cells with leading walls arranged parallel to said ribs and with side walls formed as extensions of said struts and with angularly disposed walls interconnecting said leading walls and said side walls.

Claim 10

The egg tray of claim 6 wherein the jagged configuration is such that a second egg tray of the same configuration will interfit with said egg tray with the projecting egg cells in said egg tray fitting between the projecting egg cells in said second egg tray so that the rows in said trays are colinear.

Claim 11

The egg tray of claim 7 including tapered vertically disposed projections, mounted around said egg cells, to aid in supporting an egg and act as a shock absorber for the egg.

Claim 12

The egg tray of claim 9 wherein there are six projections mounted on said struts and said ribs.

Claim 13

The egg tray of claim 9 including a horizontally disposed projection means extending inwardly in said cell to support an egg.

Claim 14

The egg tray of claim 11 wherein the projection means has smooth edges with rounded corners to avoid pointed structures from contacting an egg placed in an egg cell.

Claim 15

The egg tray of claim 12 wherein the projection means comprises four projections having smooth straight leading edges with rounded corners at the ends of the leading edges.

Claim 16

The egg tray of claim 2 wherein there are seven rows.

Claim 17

The egg tray of claim 14 wherein there are six cells in each row.

Claim 18

The egg tray of claim 2 wherein there are eight rows.

Claim 19

The egg tray of claim 16 wherein there are seven cells in each row.

Claim 20

The egg tray of claim 6 wherein a plurality of posts extend vertically up from the top of the tray a distance sufficient to facilitate stacking of one tray upon the other when eggs are disposed therewithin and wherein post receiving means are provided on the underside of each tray to receive an upper end of said posts to facilitate stacking of the trays.

Claim 21

The egg tray of claim 18 wherien there are four posts and wherein they are disposed along the straight side edges of the trays.

Claim 22

The egg tray of claim 2 wherein slide means are provided for receiving and supporting the egg tray and for facilitating the placement thereof in an incubator rack.

Claim 23

The egg tray of claim 8 wherein slide means are provided for receiving and supporting the egg tray and for facilitating the placement thereof in an incubator rack.

Claim 24

The egg tray of claim 21 wherein said slide means will support three egg trays in interfitted relationship.

Claim 25

The egg tray of claim 22 wherein said slide means is formed from a substantially flat sheet of material with longitudinal edges thereof bent up to add rigidity to the slide.

Claim 26

The slide of claim 23 wherein said longitudinal edges extend beyond an edge of the slide to form handles therefor.

Claim 27

The egg incubating tray of claim 2 wherein the extremost egg cell in said other proximate rows projecting by substantially half the length of a cell beyond the other extremost cell in said alternate rows to deiine a second jagged edge of said tray opposite to said jagged edge of said tray.

Claim 28

The egg incubating tray of claim 6 wherein said tray will fit on a rectangular rack of an incubator having longer and shorter sides with said rows and said third and fourth edges parallel to longer sides of said rack.

Claim 29

An egg tray comprising: a plurality of parallel struts a plurality of ribs interconnecting said struts to define a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said ribs being positioned between said struts to longitudinally offset the cells in one row by substantially half the distance between the ribs from the egg cells in the proximate row, and an extremost egg cell in said one row projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in the proximate row to define a jagged edge of said tray, wherein an extremost egg cell in said proximate row projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in said one row to define a second jagged edge of said tray opposite to said jagged edge of said tray, wherein third and fourth edges of said tray are straight and parallel to said rows, wherein said jagged edges are formed by constructing said extremost edges of said extremost egg cells with leading walls arranged parallel to said ribs and with side walls formed as extensions of said struts and with angularly disposed walls interconnecting said leading walls and said side walls, including tapered vertically disposed projections, mounted around said egg cells, to aid in supporting an egg and act as a shock absorber for the egg, wherein there are six projections mounted on said struts and said ribs, wherein four of said tapered vertically disposed projections are mounted two on each of two proximate struts and at an angle with respect to each other and the axis of the strut and wherein the other two tapered vertically disposed projections are mounted on said ribs parallel to the axis of said ribs, said vertically disposed projections forming a circular array and adapted to support a single egg, said projections adapted to aid in supporting six different eggs in adjacent cells, said vertically disposed projections mounted on the struts adapted to support eggs in egg cells in proximate rows and each of said vertically disposed projections mounted on said ribs adapted to support eggs in adjacent cells in the same row.

Claim 30

An egg tray comprising: a plurality of parallel struts a plurality of ribs interconnecting said struts to define a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said ribs being positioned between said struts to longitudinally offset the cells in one row by substantially half the distance between the ribs from the egg cells in the proximate row, and an extremost egg cell in said one row projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in the proximate row to define a jagged edge of said tray, wherein an extremost egg cell in said proximate row projecting by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond the extremost cell in said one row to define a second jagged edge of said tray opposite to said jagged edge of said tray, wherein third and fourth edges of said tray are straight and parallel to said rows, wherein said jagged edges are formed by constructing said extremost edges of said extremost egg cells with leading walls arranged parallel to said ribs and with side walls formed as extensions of said struts and with angularly disposed walls interconnecting said leading walls and said side walls, including tapered vertically disposed projections, mounted around said egg cells, to aid in supporting an egg and act as a shock absorber for the egg, wherein there are six projections mounted on said struts and said ribs, wherein four of said tapered vertically disposed projections are mounted two on each of two proximate struts and at an angle with respect to each other and the axis of the strut and wherein the other two tapered vertically disposed projections are mounted on said ribs parallel to the axis of said ribs, said vertically disposed projections forming a circular array and adapted to support a single egg, said projections adapted to aid in supporting six different eggs in adjacent cells, said vertically disposed projections mounted on the struts adapted to support eggs in egg cells in proximate rows and each of said vertically disposed projections mounted on said ribs adapted to support eggs in adjacent cells in the same row.

Claim 31

An egg incubating tray comprising: means defining a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said rows being positioned to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the length of a cell from the cells in other proximate rows, an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows having an outer surface which projects by substantially half the length of a cell beyond an outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows which together with said outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows defines an open space between said extremost cells in alternate rows of approximately a half cell in size, said outer surface defined such that a second egg incubating tray having and outer surface which interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray to a depth of approximately half a cell and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting into the defined open space between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 32

An egg incubating tray comprising: means defining a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said rows being positioned to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the length of a cell from the cells in other proximate rows, an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows having an outer surface which projects by substantially half the length of a cell beyond an outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows which together with said outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows defines an open space between said extremost cells in alternate rows of approximately a half cell in size, said outer surface defined such that a second egg incubating tray having and outer surface which interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray to a depth of approximately half a cell and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting into the defined open space between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 33

An egg incubating tray comprising: a plurality of parallel struts a plurality of ribs interconnecting said struts to define a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said ribs being positioned between said struts to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the distance between the ribs from the egg cells in the proximate row, and an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows having an outer surface which projects by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond an outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows which together with said outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows defines an open space between said extremost cells in alternate rows of approximately a half cell in size, said outer surface defined such that a second egg incubating tray having an outer surface which interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray to a depth of approximately half a cell and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting into the defined open space between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 34

An egg incubating tray comprising: a plurality of parallel struts a plurality of ribs interconnecting said struts to define a plurality of parallel rows of egg cells, said ribs being positioned between said struts to longitudinally offset the cells in alternate rows by substantially half the distance between the ribs from the egg cells in the proximate row, and an extremost egg cell in said alternate rows having an outer surface which projects by substantially half the distance between ribs beyond an outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows which together with said outer surface of the extremost cell in the other proximate rows defines an open space between said extremost cells in alternate rows of approximately a half cell in size, said outer surface defined such that a second egg incubating tray having an outer surface which interfits with said egg incubating tray with the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows fitting between extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray to a depth of approximately half a cell and the extremost projecting egg cells in said second egg incubating tray fitting into the defined open space between the extremost egg cells in said alternate rows.

Claim 35

The egg incubating tray of claim 29 wherein said cells in said alternate rows and said other rows forming a diagonal pattern which is such that a second egg incubating tray of the same configuration will interfit with said egg incubating tray with the diagonal pattern sugstantially continuous throughout the two trays.