RACK FOR REUSABLE CRATES
A rack for holding a plurality of crates includes a plurality of vertically-spaced support surfaces. Each support surface is configured to support a crate and may be an arm extending from a vertical support. The arms may be arranged in pairs so that each pair of support surfaces supports one crate. The arms may be retractable so that the rack can be collapsed after the crates have been removed.
Reusable crates are often used for shipping goods to grocery stores and merchandizing goods to the consumers. For example, beverage crates are used to ship beverage bottles or cans to the store. The customers view and select the goods from the crates. When empty, the crates are stacked or nested and returned to the distribution facility for reuse.
Typically, the crates are stacked on one another on a pallet to be shipped to the store. The pallet must then be unloaded at the store for customers to purchase the goods. Sometimes the goods are removed from the crates and sometimes the goods are merchandized directly from the crates. This is not always ideal for the customers to view and select the goods. Further, unloaded the pallets is additional work at the store.
SUMMARYA rack holds a plurality of crates, such a plastic beverage crates. Plastic beverage crates of many different types are well-known. The crates include a base, side walls and end walls. A plurality of bottles are received in each of the plurality of crates.
The racks may be loaded with beverage crates at the distribution facility and shipped as a unit to a store and placed on a floor in the store. It is not necessary to unload the crates or the goods from the rack. In the store, customers can view and select bottles from the crates on the racks. When empty, the crates can be removed from the racks and nested within one another to minimize volume and the rack is collapsed. The crates and rack are returned to the distribution facility for reuse.
Each rack 10 holds a plurality of beverage crates 30. The racks may be loaded with beverage crates 30, shipped to a store and placed on a floor in the store (optionally, all on top of a pallet—not shown). In the store, customers can view and select bottles 40 from the crates 30 on the racks 10. When empty, crates 30 are removed from the racks 10 and nested within one another to minimize volume (as is known) and the rack 10 is disassembled. The crates 30 and rack 10 are returned to the distribution facility for reuse.
Referring to
As shown, the crates 30 do not contact one another. Because the crates 30 are not stacked on one another, the customer is able to select a bottle 40 from any of the crates on the rack 10. For example, different goods, such as different flavors, or even different products altogether in different types of crates could be supported on different pairs of arms 16. For example, some pairs of arms 16 could support bakery trays, while some support beverage crates 30. In this application, the term “crates” includes trays, crates, totes, tubs, or any type of container unless otherwise specified.
A lower cross-bar 22 extends from one foot 12 and pole 14 to the other. The lower cross-bar 22 includes an outer bar 50 into which is inserted an inner bar 52. The outer bar 50 is connected at one end to a collar 56 slidably and rotatably secured to a cylindrical portion 54 at a lower end of the pole 14. The inner bar 52 is secured to a collar 56 slidably and rotatably secured to a cylindrical portion 54 at a lower end of the other pole 14. A cross-bracket 58 is secured at a lower end of each cylindrical portion 54 at the lower end of each pole 14. Each cross-bracket 58 includes a first rectangular recess 60 and a second rectangular recess 62 perpendicular to the first rectangular recess 60. As shown, in the assembled position, the feet 12 are received in the first rectangular recesses 60.
In
In order to collapse the rack 10 from the position shown in
The components of the rack 10 may be mostly metal (steel, aluminum, etc) however it would be possible to make a lighter-weight rack 10 of plastic or composite materials. The crates 30 are preferably each injection molded as a single piece of plastic.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims
1. A rack for holding a plurality of crates comprising:
- a plurality of vertically-spaced pairs of support surfaces, each pair of support surfaces configured to support a crate.
2. The rack of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pairs of support surfaces is formed on an arm.
3. The rack of claim 2 wherein the arms each extend from a vertical support.
4. The rack of claim 3 wherein the arms are retractable.
5. The rack of claim 4 wherein the arms are pivotably connected to the vertical support.
6. The rack of claim 1 further including a plurality of crates supported on the support surfaces, wherein one of the crates is supported above another of the crates.
7. The rack and crates of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of crates includes a base, side walls and end walls.
8. The rack and crates of claim 7 wherein the crates do not contact one another on the rack.
9. The rack and crates of claim 7 wherein the crates are beverage crates.
10. The rack and crates of claim 7 further including a plurality of bottles in each of the plurality of crates.
11. The rack and crates of claim 1 wherein the crates are beverage crates.
12. A rack for holding a plurality of crates comprising:
- at least one vertical support;
- a plurality of vertically-spaced arms extending from the at least one vertical support, each arm configured to support a crate.
13. The rack of claim 12 wherein the arms are selectively retractable.
14. The rack of claim 13 wherein the arms are rotatable about the at least one vertical support to move from a retracted position to a deployed position where it can support a crate.
15. The rack of claim 12 further including a plurality of crates supported on the arms, wherein one of the crates is supported above another of the crates.
16. The rack and crates of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of crates includes a base, side walls and end walls.
17. The rack and crates of claim 15 wherein the crates do not contact one another on the rack.
18. The rack and crates of claim 15 wherein the crates are beverage crates.
19. The rack and crates of claim 15 further including a plurality of bottles in each of the plurality of crates.
20. The rack and crates of claim 12 wherein the crates are beverage crates.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2015
Inventor: Ryan C. Meers (West Chester, PA)
Application Number: 14/455,149
International Classification: A47F 7/28 (20060101); A47F 5/00 (20060101);