STACKABLE AND NESTABLE ARTICLE HOLDER

Abstract

An article holder for holding articles in a generally horizontal orientation includes a base, and a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other and extending upwardly in relation to a respective one of side edges of the base, and a rear wall extending upwardly near a rear edge of the base. A pair of opposed lower rims extend outwardly from near respective lower edges of the side walls, and a leg extend downwardly from each of the lower rims. A pair of upper rims extend outwardly from respective top edges of the side walls, and include slot elements defining a space and adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder when the two holders are in a stacked configuration. In addition, the slot element is adapted such that a portion of the slot element of an upper holder at least partially overlies the slot element of a like underlying article holder when the two holders are in a nested configuration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stackable and nestable article holder for containing articles, such as magazines, documents, folders and like items, in a generally horizontal orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art holders to contain a plurality of articles, such as documents, magazines, folders or like items, in a generally horizontal orientation are known. The holders usually have a relatively large width and length, so that the articles may be stored completely or almost completely within a storage region of the holder. Many such prior art holders are configured so that the holders may be arranged one over the other in a vertically stacked, multi-level configuration, to provide that articles may be stored at multiple storage levels.

Space needed to transport these holders, and also the retail shelf space needed to display and sell the holders, is valuable. Therefore, it is desirable that the holders may be packaged for transport, and also arranged for display in a retail store, to occupy a minimum amount of space.

In the prior art, stackable holders to contain documents in a generally horizontal orientation are constructed so that the holders also may be nested within one another in a nested configuration, so as to minimize the space the holders occupy when the holders are transported or displayed for sale. Oftentimes, however, such holders, due to their construction, cannot be easily arranged in a stacked or nested configuration, or separated from one another when in the stacked or nested configuration. Also, some prior art holders have a construction that makes it difficult for a user to arrange the holders in a vertically stacked, multi-level configuration, and then separate one or more of the holders from another of the holder(s) from the multi-level stack of the holders.

Accordingly, there is a need for a holder to contain articles in a generally horizontal orientation and that, with relative ease, may be arranged with a like holder in a vertically stacked, multi-level configuration, and also in a nested configuration to minimize space occupied by the holders, and may be removed from a stacked, multi-level configuration or a nested configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a stackable and nestable holder for holding articles in a generally horizontal orientation. The holder may include a base having a rear edge, a forward edge and a pair of opposed side edges. The holder also may include a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other and extending upwardly near a respective one of the side edges of the base. A rear wall of the holder may extend upwardly near the rear edge of the base. The holder further may include a pair of opposing lower rims coupled to respective lower edges of the side walls, and each of the lower rims includes a leg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lower rim. Also, the holder may include a pair of opposing upper rims coupled to respective upper edges of the side walls. Each of the upper rims may include a slot element defining a space and adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder in the space when the two holders are in a stacked configuration.

In a further aspect of the invention, the slot element of the holder is adapted such that a portion of the slot element rests on the upper rim and at least partially overlies the slot element of a like holder when the two holders are in a nested configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an article holder, in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of the article holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the article holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the article holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of article holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a top isometric view of a front portion of the article holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is bottom isometric view of the front portion of the article holder shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is side isometric view of a rear portion of the article holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is a side perspective view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 positioned above each other for arrangement in a nested configuration;

FIG. 7B is a side perspective view of the two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 positioned with a first holder partially nested within a second holder;

FIG. 8A is a side view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 positioned above each other for arrangement in a nested configuration;

FIG. 8B is a side view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 positioned with a first holder partially nested within a second holder;

FIG. 8C is a side view of three article holders as shown in FIG. 1 in a nested configuration;

FIG. 9A is a side view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 positioned aligned with each other for arrangement in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 9B is a side view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 arranged in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 1 positioned aligned with each other for arrangement in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of another embodiment of an article holder, in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a bottom isometric view of the article holder of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 11 positioned with a first holder partially nested within a second holder;

FIG. 14 is a side view of three article holders as shown in FIG. 11 arranged in a stacked and nested configuration;

FIG. 15 is a side view of two article holders as shown in FIG. 11 arranged in a stacked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a holder for storing articles, such as magazines, documents and the like, in a generally horizontal orientation, where the holder may be stacked with a like holder in a vertically stacked, multi-level configuration to provide that articles may be stored on multiple storage levels, and also nested within a like holder to minimize an amount of space occupied by the holders when the holders are arranged in a nested configuration.

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of an embodiment of an article holder 10 for holding articles in a generally horizontal orientation, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 10 is a document tray configured to have a width or transverse dimension that is greater than a depth or longitudinal dimension, so that the long dimension of articles, such as paper, stored in the holder extends transversely to a front opening of the holder through which articles may be inserted into and removed from holder.

Further referring to FIGS. 2-5, the holder 10 includes a substantially flat horizontally oriented base 12 having a forward edge strip 14, opposing side edges 16 and a rear edge 18. The side edges 16 desirably are straight linear edges which are parallel to each other, and are also perpendicular to the rear edge 18, which is also a straight linear edge. The holder 10 also includes a substantially flat rear wall 20 extending generally upwardly from near, and diverging at a slight angle, such as about 5 degrees, from, the rear edge 18. The rear wall 20 includes a straight linear upper edge 21, which is parallel to the edge 18, and extends between opposing side edge portions 23 of the rear wall 20. The side edge portions 23 are desirably straight linear edges, and the side edge portions 23 extend generally upwardly in a direction toward the side edges 16 of the base 12.

The holder 10 also includes a pair of spaced apart and opposing side wall units 22 extending generally upwardly and diverging away from the opposing side edges 16 of the base 12. The side wall units 22 extend generally forward from corners 24 that constitute a junction between the rear wall 20 and a rear side wall 26 of the side wall units 22. The side wall units 22 further include a pair of opposing substantially flat strips 28 extending generally upwardly from near and coupled to the edges 16. The strips 28 also desirably diverge away from base 12 as they extend upwardly.

The side wall units 22 also include a pair of substantially flat rear lower rims 30 and a pair of substantially flat forward lower rims 32. The rims 30 and 32 are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the holder, have a generally horizontal orientation and are coupled to rear and forward edges 34 and 36 of the strip 28.

In addition, the side wall units 22 include forward and rear risers 38, 40. The rear riser 40 includes the rear side wall portion 26 and a forward wall 42. Outer facing surfaces of the forward wall 42 and the wall portion 26 are substantially perpendicular to each other, and the forward wall 42 is coupled to a forward edge 44 of the wall portion 26 and a rear edge 46 of the lower rim 30. The forward wall 42 extends generally upwardly from the lower rim 30 and toward the forward edge strip 14 of the base 12 at an angle A with respect to a plane in which the rim 30 generally lies, where the angle A is less than 90 degrees.

The forward riser 38 includes a rear wall 48, a side wall 50 and a forward wall 52, each of which is substantially flat. The lower rim 30 extends between a forward edge 54 of the rim 30 and the edge 46. The rear wall 48 extends generally upwardly from near the forward edge 54 of the lower rim 30 toward the forward edge strip 14 of the base 12 at an angle B with respect to the plane in which the rim 30 lies. The angle B desirably is less than the angle A. The side wall 50 extends generally upwardly continuing from the strip 28, and is coupled to the rear wall 48 and the forward wall 52. The forward wall 52 extends generally upwardly from near a rear edge 56 of the rim 32 and toward the forward strip 14 of the base 12 at an angle A with respect to the plane in which the rim 32 lies. Outer facing surfaces 60 and 64 of the respective rear and forward walls 48 and 52 of the forward riser 38 are substantially flat and lie in planes which are perpendicular to the plane in which substantially flat outer surface 62 of the side wall 50 lies.

In addition, the holder 10 includes a pair of spaced apart and opposing substantially flat upper rims 66 that extend in the longitudinal direction forward from near the rear wall 20 to near the forward strip 14 of the base 12. The rims 66 include a forward tab portion 68 coupled to top edges of the walls 48, 50 and 52 of the forward riser 38, and a rear tab portion 70 coupled to top edges of the walls 26, 42 and the corner 24. The forward and rear tab portions 68, 70 extend to a top portion 72 of the rim 66. The upper facing surfaces of the top portion 72 and the tab portions 68, 70 desirably are substantially flat and lie in a same plane which extends parallel to the plane in which substantially flat outer facing surfaces of the lower rims 30, 32 lie.

The upper rims 66 further include intermediate and forward portions 74, 76. The intermediate portion 74 extends from the top portion 72 vertically downwardly toward the base 12 to the forward portion 76. The forward portion 76 has a substantially flat outer surface lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane in which an outer surface of the top portion 72 lies. A forward wall 78 of the side wall units 22 extends inwardly from the forward portion 76. Outer surfaces of the forward walls 78 desirably are substantially flat and lie in substantially the same plane in which a substantially flat outer surface of the forward portion 76 lies.

An article storage region 86 is formed in the space above the base 12, forward of the rear wall 20 and between the side wall units 22. The opposing intermediate and forward rim portions 74, 76 and the forward strip 14 of the base 12 define a forward opening 85 through which articles may be inserted into and removed from the storage region 86. In addition, a top opening 88 through which articles may be inserted into and removed from the storage region 86 is defined between the opposing side wall units 22, forward of an upper edge 21 of the rear wall 20 and rearward of the forward strip 14 of the base 12. Further, a rear opening 90 through which articles may be inserted into and removed from the storage region 86 is defined above the upper edge 21 and between the opposing side edge portions 23 of the rear wall 20. The plurality of openings of the holder 10 provides a user with a variety of alternatives to insert articles into the storage region 86 for storage in a generally horizontal orientation, and also to remove articles from the storage region 86.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2 and 4, the forward strip 14 includes opposing side portions 80 extending from near and coupled to the forward wall 78, opposing connecting portions 82 extending toward the rear edge 18 from near and coupled to the portions 80, and a middle portion 84 extending between and coupled to the connecting portions 82. The side, connecting and middle portions 80, 80, 84 desirably include outer surfaces that are substantially flat. The outer surface of the middle portion 84 lies in a plane that is parallel to a plane in which the outer surface of the portion 80 lies. The connection portions 80 and the middle portion 84, thus, create a gap 87 at the forward opening 85 at which a portion of an article, such as a document, stored in the storage region 86 may be exposed. The gap 87 provides that a user can easily grasp exposed portions of an article stored in the storage region from the downward facing side, so as to lift the article and remove it from the storage region 86.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 12 desirably has substantially flat outer surfaces and includes a plurality of recessed regions 92. The recessed regions 92 are generally rectangular, and have opposing longer length sides 94 extending between the side wall units 22 and opposing shorter length sides 96 extending in the longitudinal direction of the holder 10. The recessed regions 92 desirably are spaced from the edges of the base 12 to provide rigidity to the base 12, which is otherwise substantially flat. In addition, the recessed regions 92 provide that a user may easily grasp an article stored in the storage region 86 by placing his fingers underneath the article in the space defined by the recessed regions 92.

Also, referring to FIGS. 2 and 4-5, feet 160 project downwardly from a bottom surface 162 of the base 12 adjacent the corners 24 and terminate at a substantially flat bottom surface 164 which is co-planar with a lower edge 15 of the forward strip 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the forward riser 38 of the side wall units 22 is spaced in the longitudinal direction from the rear riser 40 to define a window 98 between the risers 38, 40, the lower rim 30 and the portion of the upper rim 66 extending between the risers 38, 40. The risers 38, 40 are desirably sized and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction to provide that the window 98 is of a size such that a reduced amount of materials may be used to manufacture the holder 10, articles stored in the storage region 86 may viewed through the window 98, and the adjoining portions of the upper and lower rims are of sufficient length in the longitudinal direction of the holder to permit the user to grasp the rims by hand, so as to carry the holder 10 or remove the holder from a nested configuration, or a stacked multi-level configuration, of like holders, as described below in the text accompanying the description of FIGS. 6-10.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4-5, 6A and 6B, the forward tab portions 68 of the upper rims 66 include a slot element 100 extending generally downwardly toward the base 12 and defining a gap or space 102. The slot element 100 extends between upper edges 53 and 49, respectively, of the forward and rear walls 52, 48, and desirably is spaced from at least one of the upper edges 53 and 49. Referring to FIG. 6A, the tab portion 68 may include a first portion 104 between the gap 102 of the slot element 100 and the edge 53 of the forward wall 52 and a second portion 106 between the gap 102 and the edge 49 of the rear wall 48. The slot element 100 is formed by a portion of the forward wall 52, a wall 108 opposing the forward wall 52, a portion of the side wall 50, a wall 110 opposing the side wall 50 and an optional base wall 112 coupled to the walls 50 and 52 and lower edges of the walls 110, 108. The walls 108, 110, 112 and the portions of the walls 42, 50 define the gap 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the slot element 100 generally has rectangular prism shape having longer sides extending from forward to rear of the holder 10. Further, the walls 48, 50, 52 and the tab portion 68 define a nesting region 116 which contains the slot element 100 and is for receiving the forward riser 38 of a like holder, as discussed in detail below.

Similar to the forward tab portion 68, the rear tab portion 70 includes a slot element 114 having a similar and desirably identical construction to the slot element 100. The slot element 114 is formed from portions of the walls 42 and 26 and includes walls 109, 111 and 113 having a similar configuration to the walls 108, 110 and 112, respectively, of the slot element 100, where the portions of the walls 42, 26 and the walls 109, 111 and 113 define a gap 115. The tab portion 70 further includes a forward portion 105 extending between the gap 115 and an upper edge 43 of the forward wall 52. The walls 42, and the tab portion 70 define a nesting region 118 which contains the slot element 114 and is for receiving the rear riser 40 of a like holder, as discussed in detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the forward and rear risers 38, 40 and the slot elements 100, 114 are adapted so the holder 10 and a like holder may be arranged in a nested configuration, where the risers 38, 40 of one holder are vertically aligned with and received within the nesting regions 116 and 118, respectively, of another like holder. In an exemplary embodiment, two holders may be arranged in a nested configuration by positioning an upper holder forward of a lower holder, so that the tab portion 68 of the lower holder is positioned, in the longitudinal direction of the holder 10, between the edges 54 and 56 of the respective walls 48 and 52, and also the tab portions and 70 of the upper holder is generally vertically aligned with the tab portions 68 and 70 of the lower holder. The two holders may then be moved toward each other, for example, by moving the upper holder vertically downward onto the lower holder, so that the tab portion 68 of the lower holder moves upwardly through the nesting region 116 of the upper holder, and also the tab portion 70 of the lower holder moves upwardly through the nesting region 118 of the upper holder, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B. The upper and lower holders can continue to be moved vertically toward each other, until the optional base wall 112 or at least a portion of the lower edges of the walls 108, 110 of the slot element 100 of the upper holder rests on a portion of the tab portion 68, including the portion 104, of the lower holder and a portion of the slot element 100 of the upper holder at least partially overlies the gap 102 of the slot element 100 of the lower holder, and the optional base wall 113 or at least a portion of the lower edges of the walls 109, 111 of the slot element 114 of the upper holder rests on a portion of the rear tab portion 70, including the portion 105, of the lower holder and a portion of the slot element 114 of the upper holder at least partially overlies the gap 115 of the slot element 114 of the lower holder. When the slot elements of the upper holder rest on the underlying tab portions of the lower holder, the upper and bottom holders are in a nested configuration, as shown in FIG. 8C which shows three like holders in a nested configuration. In one embodiment, facing surfaces of the walls of the risers of the upper and lower holders contact each other in a nested configuration of the holders. Referring to FIG. 8C, in a nested configuration, the base, rear wall and side wall units of an upper holder are received substantially within the storage region of an adjacent underlying lower holder. When like holders are arranged in a nested configuration and placed on a substantially flat surface, such as a desk, the lower surface 164 of the feet 160 and the lower edge 15 of the forward strip 14 rest flat on the desk, to provide that the lowermost holder in a nested configuration of like holders is substantially horizontally oriented. Consequently, a large number of holders may be arranged in a nested configuration to form a vertical stack of nested holders which is stable and not easily toppled over if, for example, a lateral force were applied thereto, such as may be common in a retail setting where the holders are displayed in a nested configuration.

In one embodiment, the holder 10 is adapted so that, in a nested configuration of like holders, spaces 170 are defined between the respective lower rims 30, 32 of adjacent holders to provide for ease of separation of the holders from each other at the spaces 170.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 6A, 6B and 6C, a leg 130 extends downwardly from a bottom surface 132 of the forward lower rim 32. The leg 130 is desirably adapted to have a shape and size matching the gap 102 within the slot element 110, so that the entirety of the leg 130 may be received in the gap 102 of the slot element 110. In addition, a leg 134 extends downwardly from a bottom surface 136 of the rear lower rim 30. The leg 134, similar to the leg 130, is adapted to have a shape and size matching the gap 102 within the slot element 114, so that the entirety of the leg 134 may be received in the gap 115 of the slot element 110.

In one embodiment, the legs and the slot elements of a holder are adapted such that the leg of one holder does not contact an underlying lower rim of another like holder when the holders are arranged in a nested configuration.

Further, referring to FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10, the holder is adapted so that the legs 130 and 134 are suitably positioned in the longitudinal direction of the holder and extend downwardly from the lower rims 32 and 30 to provide that when a first (upper) holder is vertically aligned with a like lower holder, the legs 130, 134 of the upper holder are vertically aligned with the gaps 102, 115 of the slot elements 100, 114, respectively of the lower holder. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 10, like holders may be arranged in vertical alignment to obtain a vertically stacked, multi-level configuration, by positioning the upper and lower holders vertically aligned with each other. The upper holder may then be moved vertically downward onto the lower holder, so that the legs of the upper holder (shown using phantom lines in FIG. 9B) are received within the gaps of the slot elements of the underlying the bottom holder. With the legs of the upper holder received within the respective slot elements of the lower holder, the two adjacent holders are mated to each other and portions of the lower rims of the upper holder surrounding the legs of the upper holder rest on opposing portions of the upper rim of the lower holder, to provide for a sturdy and stable arrangement of the holders vertically in a stacked, multi-level configuration. The vertical stack of holders desirably does not extend over a greater horizontal area than the horizontal area over which a single holder extends when resting on a flat surface, such as a desk.

In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 11-15, an article holder 200 may be configured to hold articles in a generally horizontal orientation where the longitudinal dimension of the articles extends in the longitudinal direction of the holder. The article holder 200 desirably includes many of the same elements as the article holder 10, and the same reference numerals as used to describe the holder 10 are used herein to describe corresponding elements in the holder 200. Referring to FIG. 11, the holder 200 has a depth in the longitudinal direction that is longer, and a transverse width that is shorter, than the respective depth and transverse width of the article holder 10. The holder 200 includes a base 12, a forward strip 14, a rear wall 20 and side wall units 22 that define a storage region 86. The side wall units 22 include a rear riser 40, a forward riser 38 and a middle riser 238. The middle riser 238 desirably has a construction identical to the forward rise 38, and is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the holder 200 between the forward and rear risers 38 and 40. A middle lower rim 240 extends between the risers 238 and 38. The walls 48, 50 and 52 of the middle riser 238 define a nesting region 256 having a configuration similar to the nesting region 116. In addition, the middle riser 238 and the first riser 38 define an additional window 98 therebetween for a user to grasp the holder 200, such as by the portion of the upper rim 66 extending therebetween or by the rim 240.

In addition, the base 12 of the holder 200 may include an additional recessed region 92, based on the increased distance in the longitudinal direction between the forward strip 14 and the rear wall 18 for the holder 200 in comparison to the holder 10. The base 12 also may include opposing center feet 270 projecting downwardly from the bottom surface 162 of the base 12 from adjacent the middle riser 238 and terminating at a substantially flat bottom surface 272. The surface 272 is desirably co-planar with the lower edge 15 of forward strip 14 and the bottom surface 164 of the feet 160.

Referring to FIGS. 11-12, the upper rim 66 includes a tab portion 252 at the riser 238, and a slot element 250 having a construction similar to the slot element 100 provided at the tab portion 252. The tab portion 252 and the slot element 250, which defines a gap 251, have a construction and arrangement similar to that of the tab portion 68 and the slot element 100, respectively, to provide that like holders 200 may be arranged in a nested configuration, where the slot element 250 of an upper holder rests on the tab portion 252 of, and at least partially overlies the gap 251 of the slot element 250, of a like lower holder, as shown in FIGS. 13-14. In addition, when the holders 200 are in a nested configuration and placed on a substantially flat surface, the bottom surfaces 164 and 272 of the feet 160, 270 and the bottom surfaces 15 of the forward strip 14 of the lower holder advantageously rest flat on the surface, to provide stability for the vertically stacked holders arranged in a nested configuration.

In addition, the holder 200 includes a leg 254 extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the rim 240. The leg 254 has a similar construction to the leg 130 and is positioned on the holder 200 to be received substantially within the space 251 of the slot element 250, similarly as the leg 130 may be received substantially in the space 102 of the slot element 100, to provide that like holders 200 may be arranged in a vertically stacked, multi-level configuration to provide for multiple level storage.

In a desired embodiment, one or more of the edges of the holder desirably is a straight linear edge.

In one embodiment, the upper rims are spaced from the lower rims of a holder in the transverse direction of the holder.

It is to be understood that any number of holders 10 may be arranged in a nested configuration. Also, it is to be understood that any desired number of holders 10 may be arranged in a stacked, multi-level configuration.

In addition, the walls of the holder 10 desirably are formed from a flexible material, such as plastic, to ease separation of one holder from another holder in which the one holder is nested, and also may include materials to provide structural strength and durability to the holder.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article holder comprising:

a base having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and upper and lower surfaces;

a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other, wherein each of the side walls extends upwardly in relation to a respective one of the side edges of the base;

a rear wall extending upwardly near the rear edge of the base;

a pair of lower rims extending outwardly from respective lower edges of the side walls, wherein each of the lower rims includes a leg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lower rim; and

a pair of upper rims extending outwardly from respective top edges of the side walls, wherein each of the upper rims includes a slot element defining a space, wherein the slot element is adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder in the space when the two holders are in a stacked configuration.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein each of the side walls includes a side wall portion which, with the lower and upper rims, defines an open region for grasping the holder.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the upper rims are disposed, in a transverse direction of the holder extending from one of the side walls to the other side walls, further from the base than the lower rims.

4. A plurality of article holders, each of the holders being stackable with, and nestable in, another of the holders, wherein each of the holders comprises:

a base having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and upper and lower surfaces;

a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other, wherein each of the side walls extends upwardly in relation to a respective one of the side edges of the base;

a rear wall extending upwardly near the rear edge of the base;

a pair of lower rims extending outwardly from near respective lower edges of the side walls, wherein each of the lower rims includes a leg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lower rim; and

a pair of upper rims extending outwardly from respective top edges of the side walls, wherein each of the upper rims includes a slot element defining a space, wherein the slot element is adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder in the space when the two holders are in a stacked configuration, and

wherein the slot element is adapted such that a portion of the slot element rests on the upper rim and at least partially overlies the slot element of a like article holder when the two holders are in a nested configuration.

5. The plurality of holders of claim 4, wherein each of the side walls includes a side wall portion which, with the lower and upper rims, defines an open region for grasping the holder.

6. The plurality of holders of claim 4, wherein the upper rims are disposed, in a transverse direction of the holder extending from one of the side walls to the other side walls, further from the base than the lower rims.