Tote with side wall drain holes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12420984-B2
Application number	US-202418760197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2024
Priority date	Dec 15, 2021
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A tote with a drainage system for evenly distributing water through all four sides is provided. The tote includes a first end wall, a second opposing end wall, a first side wall, a second opposing side wall, and a bottom wall. A bumper extends outward around the periphery of the tote. A plurality of D-shaped drain holes are positioned a first distance above the upper surface of the bottom wall which allow liquid in the tote to drain evenly out of the tote through the bumper.

First claim

I claim:

1. A tote with a drainage system for enabling even flow of liquid comprising:
a container body having a first end wall, an opposing second end wall, a first side wall and an opposing second side wall extending upwards from a bottom wall;
a bumper extending outward from the first side wall proximate a lower portion of the container body, the bumper having a bottom horizontal wall spaced a first distance above a top surface of the bottom wall and a top horizontal wall spaced a second distance above the top surface of the bottom wall greater than the first distance, wherein the bumper extends outward from the first end wall, the second side wall and the second end wall to surround the container body;
a first drain hole in the first side wall spaced a third distance above the top surface of the bottom wall above the bottom horizontal wall of the bumper and below the top horizontal wall of the bumper allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

2. The tote of claim 1 further comprising a first drain hole in the second side wall spaced the third distance above a top surface of the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

3. The tote of claim 2 further comprising a first drain hole in the first end wall spaced the third distance above a top surface of the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

4. The tote of claim 3 further comprising a first drain hole in the second end wall spaced the third distance above a top surface of the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

5. The tote of claim 3 further comprising a second drain hole in the first side wall spaced from the first drain hole in the first side wall, the second drain hole in the first side wall the third distance above the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

6. The tote of claim 5 further comprising a second drain hole in the first end wall spaced from the first drain hole in the first end wall, the second drain hole in the first end wall the third distance above the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

7. The tote of claim 5 further comprising a second drain hole in the second side wall spaced from the first drain hole in the second side wall, the second drain hole in the second side wall the third distance above the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

8. The tote of claim 5 further comprising a second drain hole in the second end wall spaced from the first drain hole in the second end wall, the second drain hole in the second end wall the third distance above the bottom wall allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall.

9. The tote of claim 8 wherein each of the drain holes is D-shaped having a flat segment and an arcuate segment connected at a first end to a first end of the flat segment and at a second end to a second end of the flat segment.

10. The tote of claim 9 wherein the flat segment is oriented to a horizontal position with the arcuate segment above the flat segment.

11. The tote of claim 8 wherein the bumper includes a plurality of segments extending outwardly from the container body between the drain holes.

12. The tote of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ribs extending upward from the top surface of the bottom wall.

13. The tote of claim 12 wherein the plurality of ribs comprises a plurality of spaced apart parallel ribs extending from proximate the first end wall to proximate the second end wall.

14. The tote of claim 13 wherein the plurality of ribs comprises a plurality of spaced apart parallel ribs extending from proximate the first side wall to proximate the second side wall.

15. The tote of claim 1 wherein the tote is formed from plastic.

16. A tote with a drainage system for enabling even flow of liquid comprising:
a plastic container body having a first end wall, an opposing second end wall, a first side wall and an opposing second side wall extending upwards from a bottom wall;
a bumper extending outward from the first side wall proximate a lower portion of the container body, the bumper having a bottom horizontal wall and a top portion spaced a distance above the bottom horizontal wall, wherein the bumper extends outward from the first end wall, the second side wall and the second end wall to surround the container body; and,
a first plurality of drain holes above the bottom horizontal wall and below the top portion in the first side wall allowing liquid in the interior of the container to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top portion.

17. The tote of claim 16 comprising:
a second plurality of drain holes above the bottom horizontal wall and below the top portion in the second side wall allowing liquid in the interior of the container to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top portion;
a third plurality of drain holes above the bottom horizontal wall and below the top portion in the first end wall allowing liquid in the interior of the container to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top portion; and,
a fourth plurality of drain holes above the bottom horizontal wall and below the top portion in the second end wall allowing liquid in the interior of the container to exit through the bumper between the bottom horizontal wall and the top portion.

18. The tote of claim 17 comprising: a plurality of spaced apart parallel ribs extending from proximate the first end wall to proximate the second end wall.

Assignees

• Orbis Corp

Inventors

• Frankenberg Jason R

Classifications

• B65D25/08

  with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents · CPC title

• B65D1/243

  Crates for bottles or like containers · CPC title

• B65D81/261

  for draining or collecting liquids without absorbing them · CPC title

• B65D25/38 Primary

  Devices for discharging contents ({containers formed by folding or erecting paper blanks B65D5/72} ; incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured closure members B65D47/00; for discharging thin flat articles B65D83/08) · CPC title

• B65D25/06 Primary

  adapted to be fitted in two or more alternative positions · CPC title