Stack and fold dairy shelves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185486-A1
Application number	US-201514837607-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shelving system includes a plurality of collapsible containers stacked on one another and on a pallet or dolly. Each collapsible container includes a base and a pair of opposed side walls pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Each collapsible container further includes a rear wall pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. The rear wall may include a pair of opposed flange portions with a lower central portion therebetween. A front wall is pivotably connected to the base opposite the rear wall and is movable between an upright position and a retracted position outward of the container. The pallet accommodates the stack of collapsible containers and has thin outer columns so that the shelving system can fit into existing store refrigerators.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A collapsible container comprising:
a base; a pair of opposed side walls pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base; a rear wall pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, the rear wall including a pair of opposed flange portions with a lower central portion therebetween; and a front wall pivotably connected to the base opposite the rear wall, wherein the front wall is movable between an upright position and a retracted position outward of the container.

2 . The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the front wall cannot pivot inwardly of the container.

3 . The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein each of the base, side walls, rear wall and front wall is injection molded as a single piece of plastic.

4 . The collapsible container of claim 3 wherein each of the side walls includes at least one side reinforcement member, wherein the at least one side reinforcement member is of a material different from that of the side walls.

5 . The collapsible container of claim 4 wherein the base includes at least one base reinforcement member of a material different from that of the base.

6 . The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the front wall has a height that is less than one-third a height of the side walls.

7 . The collapsible container of claim 6 wherein the lower central portion is less than half a height of the flange portions.

8 . The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the lower central portion is less than half a height of the flange portions.

9 . The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the front wall in the upright position is substantially flush with the side walls in the collapsed position.

10 . The collapsible container of claim 1 further including a pair of opposed side flanges projecting upwardly from side edges of the base and integrally molded with the base, wherein the side walls are pivotably connected to the side flanges and wherein the front wall is selectively latched to the side flanges.

11 . A plurality of collapsible containers of claim 1 symmetrically stacked on one another.

12 . The plurality of stacked collapsible containers of claim 11 in combination with a pallet, wherein the plurality of stacked collapsible containers are stacked on the pallet.

13 . The combination of claim 12 further in combination with a plurality of plastic milk containers filling each of the plurality of collapsible containers.

14 . The combination of claim 13 wherein the plurality of wherein the plastic milk containers can be removed over the front wall from a lower one of the plurality of collapsible containers on which an upper one of the plurality of collapsible containers is stacked.

15 . A pallet comprising:
a deck; a central support below the deck; and outer columns below the deck, spaced outwardly of the central support to define fork tine openings therebetweeen.

16 . The pallet of claim 15 wherein the outer columns are approximately one inch thick.

17 . The pallet of claim 15 wherein the outer columns include metal reinforcement members.

Assignees

• Rehrig Pacific Co

Inventors

• Baltz Kyle L
• Zelek John B

Classifications

• B65D2519/00069

  Plastic · CPC title

• B65D2519/00129

  Metal · CPC title

• B65D2519/00268

  made of one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00333

  contact surface having a stringer-like shape · CPC title

• B65D2519/00442

  on the base surface · CPC title