Abstract: A two-part container has a base and a ring. Latches along the lower part of the ring secure the ring to the base and the container is assembled in an upright position in which a flowable material is charged into the container. To dispense the material, a center outlet is provided in the base and the interior walls of the base are slanted toward the outlet. A cutoff device slides across the opening to control the flow of material through the outlet, and the cutoff device can be blocked into place. Once the container is emptied, the ring can be removed and inverted in its orientation and placed over top of the base for assembling the ring and base in a collapsed position in which the container can be returned to the distributor or distribution center. The container is stackable in both the upright and collapsed positions, and the lid sits over the top of the ring when it is assembled in the upright position and over the bottom of the ring when it is assembled in the collapsed position.

Abstract: A bulk box has a base with side and end wall panels pivotally attached to the base for moving between a collapsed position and an upright position. The bulk box has an insert positioned in the interior of the base for receiving a flowable material. In a foot portion of the base, two outlets for the flowable material are provided. A first outlet permits flow of the material to a side of the base and a second outlet permits flow of the material through a bottom wall of the base. A cutoff device is movable between a first position blocking the flow of the material through the outlets. A diverter is movable between a first position permitting flow of the material through the side outlet and a second position permitting flow of the material through the bottom wall of the base.

Abstract: A keyed, two part container for shipping or storing associated articles. The container includes a box portion having a generally planar base member, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and a pair of end walls defining an open area adapted to access a central cavity for receiving the associated articles. Lid receiving means is formed on the box portion, specifically, on the end walls. A lid portion is adapted for receipt over the open area of the box portion. The outer surface of the lid portion is provided with a preselected design that receives, in turn, a preselected pattern defined on an outer surface of the base member of another container. A first keyed means is defined by a continuous flange in the lid portion which matingly engages with the lid receiving means of a compatible box portion and interferes with the lid receiving means of a comparable box portion. Also, a second keyed means is defined by selected ridges extending from recessed areas of the box portion.

Abstract: A tote box system employs two sets of nesting boxes that are identical except for side wall height that provides different volumes and except for bottom configuration that prevents bottom damage when a tall container is nested within a short container. The bottom configuration is such that there are flat engaging horizontal surfaces supporting the tall box on the short box without substantial engagement between reinforcing channels or like slanted vertical portions of the bottom that would otherwise have a strong wedging action if they fully engaged, particularly with a large stack of nested boxes.

Abstract: In a plastic molded tote box having one lid or opposed lids that will shingle with other lids in the open position when the box and like boxes are nested, the maximum horizontal dimension for the shingled lids, as measured outwardly from the adjacent box side wall (lid flare), is reduced by tapering the lid rib structure toward the hinge, and/or by tapering the outboard lid skirt toward the hinge, and/or by flaring one or more lid flanges, particularly the inboard flange. The latter two structural features permit increased nesting of the lid side skirts or channels, which in the closed position of the lid overlie the box side walls.

Abstract: The crustacean trap, particularly for a lobster, is molded of separate bottom, opposite side, opposite end and top panels that are thereafter assembled by sliding edge channel joints together for the sides and ends, after which the tops and bottoms are assembled through snap joints. The edge joints are provided with vertically extending channels formed of flanges that permit only vertical assembly or disassembly, and the snap joints for the top and bottom panels are hook-shaped pins received in trapping type apertures to thereafter prevent disassembly of the sides and ends. Crustacean ingress is facilitated and egress inhibited by a funnel formed of molded rigid parallel sides and pivotally adjusted non-parallel sides, with the adjustment being an arcuate array of apertures on the parallel sides to selectively mate with apertures on the non-parallel sides. The parallel sides have cross beams snap assembled to the top and disposed to form a lobster removal opening adjacent the funnel opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crustacean trap (20) formed by a plurality of monolithic molded panels (24-30) serially interconnected via coupled pairs of interlocking channels integral to side margins of the panels to form a substantially non-deformable frame defining an unimpeded access portal while retaining elements (124, 132) along base margins of the panels provide a frame for a cast-in-place base (134). A lid (22) providing limited access into the interior and more limited egress from the interior of the trap is pivotally positionable within the portal between the serially interconnected panels to control access through the portal. Counter-rotating latches, lost motion and elongated brackets for the pivotal elements of the lid enhance the trap's reliability by requiring particular manual motions to pivot the lid between its closed and open positions.

Abstract: A bakery basket is molded of synthetic resin, plastic, and is provided with three levels: a fully nested level, and two different upper stacked levels, one being formed by rigid stacking surfaces engaging when the trays are rotated 180 degrees from their nesting position and the other stacking level being provided by flipping bails for either rotated position of the trays. A particular bail hinge construction is disclosed and bail position retainers in the middle of the bail to hold one of its positions, for example, the nesting position.

Abstract: A plurality of identical open top containers may be vertically stacked or vertically adjacent containers may be rotated 180.degree. relative to a vertical axis and nested, for the transport of items, such as fish, involving liquid that is desirably drained from each container. Drainage from one container into a lower container and therefore contamination of the lower container is prevented by drain holes in each of the stacking feet communicating directly with the upper inlet end of a downwardly and outwardly sloping channel in the support portion of the next lower container, in the stacked position, with an integral flange extending continuously around the entire top periphery of each box overlying the channel for strength and continuity.

Abstract: In a plastic molded tote box having one lid or opposed lids that will shingle with other lids in the open position when the box and like boxes are nested, the maximum horizontal dimension for the shingled lids, as measured outwardly from the adjacent box side wall (lid flare), is reduced by tapering the lid rib structure toward the hinge, and/or by tapering the outboard lid skirt toward the hinge, and/or by flaring one or more lid flanges, particularly the inboard flange. The latter two structural features permit increased nesting of the lid side skirts or channels, which in the closed position of the lid overlie the box side walls.