Retaining collapsible totes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11136156-B1
Application number	US-202016834519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2020
Priority date	Mar 30, 2020
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

Aspects described herein include an apparatus for retaining a collapsible tote. The apparatus includes a wall member and one or more engagement members projecting from one or more surfaces of the wall member. The one or more engagement members are arranged and dimensioned to removably engage respective portions of the collapsible tote, suspending the collapsible tote beside a first surface of the one or more surfaces. The wall member is inclined such that, when the collapsible tote is suspended beside the first surface, the collapsible tote is gravitationally urged toward an uncollapsed configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for retaining a collapsible tote, the apparatus comprising:
a wall member formed in a sheet of metal; and
one or more engagement members projecting from one or more surfaces of the wall member,
wherein the one or more engagement members are formed from the sheet,
wherein the one or more engagement members are configured to removably engage respective portions of the collapsible tote, thereby suspending the collapsible tote beside a first surface of the one or more surfaces,
wherein the one or more engagement members comprise:
one or more biased members projecting from the first surface, the one or more biased members configured to engage an interior surface of a sidewall of the collapsible tote, and

wherein the wall member is inclined such that, when the collapsible tote is suspended beside the first surface, the collapsible tote is gravitationally urged toward an uncollapsed configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is inclined between seven (7) degrees and thirty (30) degrees less than a vertical orientation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more biased members comprise:
a plurality of clips arranged as one or more pairs of clips, wherein each pair of the one or more pairs of clips has a respective height along the first surface, and wherein, for each pair of the one or more pairs, the clips of the pair are configured to engage the interior surface of the sidewall when the sidewall is slid between the first surface and the clips of the pair.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein, for each pair of the one or more pairs, the clips of the pair are configured to engage the interior surface of the sidewall when the sidewall is slid upwardly.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the clips of each pair of the one or more pairs of cups is distributed on opposing sides of a midline of the wall member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an engagement assembly comprising:
one or more second engagement members arranged and dimensioned to removably engage respective portions of the collapsible tote; and
an extension member connected with the one or more second engagement members, wherein the extension member is adjustably connected with the wall member to arrange the one or more second engagement members at heights greater than a height of the wall member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more second engagement members comprise:
two second engagement members adjustably connected with the extension member to control a width between the two second engagement members.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more second engagement members projecting from the first surface, the one or more second engagement members arranged and dimensioned to removably engage respective portions of a single-use plastic bag, thereby suspending the single-use plastic bag beside the first surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base portion formed from the sheet,
wherein the base portion and the wall member are formed by bending the sheet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the base portion and the wall member are formed by bending the sheet along a bend axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more engagement members are formed using a forming die to bend the sheet.

12. An apparatus for retaining a collapsible tote, the apparatus comprising:
a wall member; and
one or more engagement members projecting from one or more surfaces of the wall member,
wherein the one or more engagement members are configured to removably engage respective portions of the collapsible tote, thereby suspending the collapsible tote beside a first surface of the one or more surfaces,
wherein the one or more engagement members comprise:
one or more hanger members at a second surface of the wall member opposing the first surface, the one or more hanger members configured to engage a handle of the collapsible tote,
wherein the wall member is inclined such that, when the collapsible tote is suspended beside the first surface, the collapsible tote is gravitationally urged toward an uncollapsed configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the handle of the collapsible tote, when engaged by the one or more hanger members, extends over a top of the wall member.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the one or more hanger members comprise either hooks, knobs, posts, or tabs that project outwardly from the second surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the one or more hanger members comprise:
a plurality of first hooks having downward-facing throats and distributed along a height of the wall member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of first hooks are arranged along a midline of the wall member, and
wherein the one or more hanger members further comprise:
a plurality of second hooks arranged as one or more pairs of second hooks, wherein the hooks of each pair of the one or more pairs of second hooks is distributed on opposing sides of the midline with a respective height along the second surface, and wherein the second hooks of each pair have laterally-facing throats.

17. An apparatus for retaining a reusable tote, the apparatus comprising:
a wall member defining a first surface and an opposing second surface;
one or more biased members extending from the first surface, the one or more biased members configured to engage an interior surface of a sidewall of the reusable tote, wherein engaging the interior surface with the one or more biased members suspends the reusable tote beside the first surface, wherein the one or more biased members comprise:
a plurality of clips arranged as one or more pairs of clips, wherein each pair of the one or more pairs of clips has a respective height along the first surface, wherein the clips of each pair are configured to engage the interior surface of the sidewall when the sidewall is slid upwardly between the first surface and the clips of the pair; and

one or more hanger members extending from the second surface, the one or more hanger members configured to engage a handle of the reusable tote that is connected with the sidewall, wherein engaging the handle of the reusable tote with the one or more hanger members suspends the reusable tote beside the first surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein one or both of: (i) the one or more biased members, and (ii) the one or more hanger members are integrally formed with the wall member.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the wall member is inclined such that, when the reusable tote is suspended beside the first surface, the reusable tote is gravitationally urged toward an uncollapsed configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the one or more hanger members comprise:
a plurality of first hooks having downward-facing throats and distributed along a height of the wall member, wherein the plurality of first hooks are arranged along a midline of the wall member, and
wherein the clips of each pair of the one or more pairs of clips is distributed on opposing sides of the midline.

Assignees

• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corp
• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions

Inventors

• Barr Rodney

Classifications

• B65B67/1227 Primary

  only by a part of the periphery, e.g. by single points or handles, or by one side or two opposite sides only (B65B67/1244 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47F9/042

  Shopping bags or carton-dispensing systems therefor · CPC title