Column and cross stacking containers and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220975-B2
Application number	US-201615169360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2016
Priority date	May 31, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

Containers for column or cross stacking and related methods. In some embodiments, the top wall of the container may comprise a first plurality of vent openings and the bottom wall may comprise a second plurality of vent openings. One or more of the first plurality of vent openings is configured to be aligned with one or more of a plurality of vent openings formed in a bottom wall of an adjacent container positioned above the container in a column-stacked configuration, and one or more of the first plurality of vent openings is configured to be aligned with one or more of the plurality of vent openings of the adjacent container in a cross-stacked configuration. Various stacking tabs/openings may also be provided, which may be configured to facilitate either cross or column stacking, as desired.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A container, comprising:
a first plurality of vent openings formed in a top wall of the container;
a second plurality of vent openings formed in a bottom wall of the container,
wherein at least a subset of the first plurality of vent openings is configured to be aligned with at least a subset of a plurality of vent openings formed in a bottom wall of an adjacent container positioned above the container in a column-stacked configuration, and
wherein at least a subset of the first plurality of vent openings is configured to be aligned with at least a subset of the plurality of vent openings formed in the bottom wall of the adjacent container in a cross-stacked configuration;

a plurality of stacking tabs; and
a plurality of stacking tab openings,
wherein each of the plurality of stacking tabs is configured to be received in a stacking tab opening of an adjacent container in a column-stacked configuration,
wherein each of the plurality of stacking tabs is configured to be received in a stacking tab opening of an adjacent container in a cross-stacked configuration,
wherein at least a subset of the plurality of stacking tabs comprises a plurality of adjacent locking tabs configured to fit within a locking tab slot formed within a panel defining the container for securing the panel defining the container in place,
wherein each of the plurality of stacking tab openings is configured to receive a stacking tab of an adjacent container in a column-stacked configuration, and
wherein each of the plurality of stacking tab openings is configured to receive a stacking tab of an adjacent container in a cross-stacked configuration.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container is configured such that none of the first plurality of vent openings is blocked by an adjacent container in the column-stacked configuration, and wherein the container is configured such that none of the first plurality of vent openings is blocked by an adjacent container in the cross-stacked configuration.

3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the container is configured such that none of the second plurality of vent openings is blocked by an adjacent container in the column-stacked configuration, and wherein the container is configured such that none of the second plurality of vent openings is blocked by an adjacent container in the cross-stacked configuration.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein each stacking tab of the at least a subset of the plurality of stacking tabs comprises a stacking tab assembly comprising:
a first locking tab positioned on a first panel of the container;
a second locking tab positioned on a second panel of the container; and
a third locking tab positioned on a third panel of the container.

5. The container of claim 4 , wherein the third locking flap comprises a door, wherein the door is configured to open to expose a slot for receiving the first locking tab and the second locking tab upon bending the door with respect to the third panel.

6. A container, comprising:
a top wall comprising a first plurality of vent openings;
a bottom wall comprising a second plurality of vent openings,
wherein at least a subset of the first plurality of vent openings is configured to be aligned with at least a subset of a plurality of vent openings formed in a bottom wall of an adjacent container positioned above the container in a column-stacked configuration, and
wherein at least a subset of the first plurality of vent openings is configured to be aligned with at least a subset of the plurality of vent openings formed in the bottom wall of the adjacent container positioned above the container in a cross-stacked configuration;
a first locking tab extending from the top wall; and
a first locking tab slot formed in the bottom wall,
wherein the first locking tab is configured to be received in a locking tab slot formed in a first adjacent container positioned above the container in a first cross-stacked configuration along with a locking tab from a second adjacent container extending adjacent and parallel to the container in an end-to-end configuration such that both the first locking tab of the container and the locking tab of the second adjacent container are received within the locking tab slot of the first adjacent container.

7. The container of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first side panel, wherein the first locking tab is formed in the first side panel;
a second side panel positioned adjacent and at least substantially parallel to the first side panel; and
a second locking tab extending from the second side panel adjacent to the first locking tab,
wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are configured to be received in the locking tab slot formed in the first adjacent container positioned above the container in the first cross-stacked configuration along with two locking tabs corresponding to the first locking tab and the second locking tab from the second adjacent container extending adjacent and parallel to the container in an end-to-end configuration.

8. The container of claim 7 , further comprising a first door configured to extend adjacent and parallel to the first locking tab and second locking tab such that the first door, the first locking tab, and the second locking tab are configured to be received in the locking tab slot formed in the first adjacent container positioned above the container in the first cross-stacked configuration along with two locking tabs and a door corresponding to the first locking tab, the second locking tab, and the first door from the second adjacent container extending adjacent and parallel to the container in an end-to-end configuration.

9. The container of claim 6 , wherein the first locking tab slot is one of the second plurality of vent openings, and wherein the first locking tab slot is configured to be aligned with a vent opening formed in a top wall of an adjacent container in a second cross-stacked configuration shifted relative to the first cross-stacked configuration.

10. The container of claim 6 , wherein the first plurality of vent openings comprises a first subset of vent openings having a first shape, and wherein the first plurality of vent openings comprises a second subset of vent openings having a second shape distinct from the first shape.

11. The container of claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of vent openings comprises a first subset of vent openings having a third shape, and wherein the second plurality of vent openings comprises a second subset of vent openings having a fourth shape distinct from the third shape.

12. The container of claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of vent openings comprises a third subset of vent openings having a fifth shape distinct from the third shape and distinct from the fourth shape.

13. The container of claim 12 , wherein the third shape is at least substantially identical to the first shape, wherein the fourth shape is at least substantially identical to the second shape, and wherein the fifth shape is rotated by ninety degrees relative to the fourth shape.

14. The container of claim 6 , wherein the top wall is defined by a first top wall panel and a second top wall panel, and wherein the first top wall panel is coplanar with the second top wall panel when the top wall is in a closed configuration.

15. The container of claim 14 , wherein the top wall comprises an open region positioned between the first top wall panel and the second top wall panel.

16. A sheet for folding into a container, comprising:
a first top panel comprising a first plurality

Assignees

• Inteplast Group Corp

Inventors

• Carman Gregory A

Classifications

• B65D5/6632

  the lid-halves being held in closed position by flaps or tabs provided at their side edges only (B65D5/6644, B65D5/6647 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/4295

  Ventilating arrangements, e.g. openings, space elements · CPC title

• B65D5/02

  by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body (specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections B65D5/36) · CPC title

• B65D5/0015 Primary

  the container being formed by folding up portions connected to a central panel · CPC title