Nestable and stackable document storage trays
Document storage trays are disclosed that may be stacked in at least two different configurations including a “nesting” stack where an upper tray fits within the storage area of a lower tray and, in turn, is also able to receive a tray within its own storage area so that multiple trays can be stacked nested together. The document storage trays may also be stacked in a vertical configuration and the trays include appropriately placed slots, detents, bosses and legs for a stable vertical stacking configuration so that multiple trays may be stacked one on top of another and form a stable structure. At least one embodiment further enables the trays to be stacked in a cascaded form so that front edges of the trays are staggered laterally from the bottom tray to the top tray. At least one embodiment includes a built-in collating function so that each tray is able to receive documents from one of two different and perpendicularly oriented sides.
This patent is related to and claims priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. Nos. 60/559,312, filed on Apr. 2, 2004, 60/590,146, filed on Jul. 22, 2004, and 60/592,366 filed on Jul. 29, 2004, and incorporating by reference herein all of the subject matter disclosed in said prior provisional applications.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field of the Disclosure
This present disclosure is generally directed to document storage and organizing products, and more particularly to stackable and nestable document storage trays.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organization and storage trays for documents are known in the art. These storage trays are intended either for stand alone use or for being vertically stacked with identical storage trays for multi-level use. However, such trays are often shipped and displayed in individual form or in the in-use stacked condition. Consequently, these known document or storage trays take up a relatively large amount of retail shelf space and also a significant amount of space during shipment.
The consumption of relatively large amounts of retail shelf space by plastic storage trays is problematic, as retail shelf space is extremely valuable and manufacturers compete vigorously for adequate shelf space to display their products. Any inefficient use of retail shelf space can lead to a manufacturer's products not being adequately displayed, as well as a reduction in the number of different products a manufacturer may be allowed to display in a given retail store. Further, because molded plastic document trays are relatively inexpensive items, the use of shelf space to display these items must be efficient.
Further, because the profit margins for these items can be relatively small, a means for packaging these items in a compact manner is important for reducing shipment and handling costs of such low margin products.
Typical document storage trays are not nestable with more than one identical storage tray. To stack a pair of such trays, one tray must be inverted and rotated 180 degrees relative to the other. The two trays can then be rested on top of one another, but no other trays can be nested with these two. Therefore, currently available document storage trays cannot be compactly stacked together in groups of more than two (or a pair).
Often, it is desirable to sell such document storage trays in groups of more than two to provide more than two levels of storage or for use by more than one person. Thus, currently available document storage trays cannot be efficiently displayed, stored or shipped in groups of more than two. Further, if more than two trays are packaged together or shipped together, additional packaging material such as cardboard, Styrofoam, plastic film and the like must be utilized to prevent product damage from relative movement between trays from scuffing or scratching during shipment and handling.
Because of the limitations of currently available document storage trays discussed above, their use is typically limited to a single pair, of stacked trays. While some available designs allow more than two trays to be stacked on top of each other, the design of such trays make them expensive to package and ship and inefficient to display in the retail environment.
Further, there is no currently available set of stackable document storage trays that also provide an effective collating function. Collating can be useful for storing different sizes of paper,(i.e., 8½×11, A4, 8½×14, 8½×17, etc.) or for storing documents of different types (i.e., incoming mail, outgoing mail, invoices, mail directed towards different people, etc.). Currently available stackable storage tray designs often require the user to work their way down the stack of trays searching for a particular paper size or document. A stackable storage tray system that provides a collating function and that addresses the space and packaging problems discussed above would most likely be well received by consumers and retailers.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn satisfaction of the aforenoted needs, stackable document storage trays are disclosed which address one or more of the aforenoted problems. In one embodiment, a plurality of trays may be stacked tightly together in a nested configuration for packaging, shipment, handling and for display in a retail environment. This embodiment also has at least two in-use stacked configurations including a vertical stacked configuration where the trays are stacked vertically one on top of another and a second cascaded configuration where the trays are stacked on top of each other but with each successive tray being displaced laterally from the bottom tray to provide a cascaded or stepped configuration. In this embodiment, the lateral displacement may be alternated to form a stacked forward and backward configuration as well.
Another disclosed embodiment includes a built-in collating function. In this embodiment, each tray includes only two walls with two open areas for receiving documents. A corner post structure is used to separate one receiving area from the other receiving area. The trays may be stacked in a vertical configuration and the user can alternate between one receiving area and the other receiving area upward or downward through the stack of trays. The collating trays can also be nested for shipping, storage, and display for sale.
Other advantages and features of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and forthcoming claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSCertain features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, wherein:
It will be understood that the drawings are not to scale and that, in some instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed embodiments or which render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments specifically illustrated in the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTSA letter tray or document storage tray device, hereinafter described as a document tray, for storing papers, files, documents, and the like, for storing and organizing such articles in a horizontal orientation is shown and described. The disclosed document trays can be stacked with like or identical storage trays during use in order to provide multiple storage levels. Alternatively, the disclosed trays can nest with one another in an alternative stacked configuration to reduce the amount of retail display shelf space and shipping space that is required of a large number of the document trays. The disclosed document trays can be both stacked and nested with a plurality of like trays so that when packaged and shipped or when on display for sale to consumers, the document trays take up relatively little shelf space and much less space than traditional document trays of similar type. Obviously, shipping costs are also reduced.
In at least one embodiment, the trays may be stacked in a cascaded or staggered orientation so that the forward edge of one tray is horizontally offset from the forward edge of a tray disposed therebelow or, conversely, the forward edge of the bottom tray is horizontally offset from the forward edges of the trays disposed thereabove. In at least one other embodiment, instead of the “cascaded” function described above, the trays can be designed with two open sides arranged at an angle relative to one another, such as at generally right angles or 90° from each other, thereby allowing the user to make controlled or collated stacks of documents. Specifically, proceeding from the bottom or top of a stack of this type of trays, the user can alternate into which side the documents are inserted thereby providing an alternating or collating function to storing documents.
Referring now to the drawings,
In the disclosed example, the document tray 20 has a generally horizontally oriented base panel 22 and a back wall 24 with a bottom edge that is coupled to and extends generally upward from a back edge 26 of the base panel. The tray 20 also has a pair of spaced apart and opposed side walls 28 with bottom edges that are coupled to respective side edges 30 of the base panel 22. The side walls 28 extend generally forward from respective side edges or corners 32 formed at the junction between the back wall 24 and side walls 28 and extend generally upward from the side edges 30 (see
In this example, a storage receptacle or space 33 (
Also, a portion of the top opening 40 can be covered by a short depth top wall (not shown) connected to the back wall and spanning between the side walls. A portion of the front opening can include an optional barrier or front wall (also not shown), which can extend to a height less than the height of the adjacent side walls 28. The front wall and/or the top wall can be optionally provided to assist in retaining documents within the front opening 34 and the storage receptacle 33 without first being grasped by a user. The front wall can also be provided as a depth of nesting stop or limiter, if desired.
The scooped region 52 can be added to provide some structural stability and rigidity to an otherwise flat base panel 22. The scooped region 52 can also be provided to assist a user in grasping documents or other articles stored within the storage receptacle 33. The scooped region 52 is recessed downwardly to create a small gap between an upper surface of the flat region 50 of the base panel 22 at the location of the scooped region 52 and a document or other article stored on the base panel 22. The space or gap will permit one to easily get beneath and lift the article. The scalloped area 54 can also be provided to expose a portion of an object or document in the storage receptacle 33 extending forward of the base panel forward edge 36 at the scalloped area 54. One can then easily grasp the exposed portion of the object.
The scooped or indented region 52 in this example extends more than half way into the depth of the base panel 22 and extends slightly less than half of the base panel 22 width. The disclosed scooped region 52 has a curved rearward end and generally straight sides extending from the curved end to the forward edge 38. However, as will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the scooped region 52, if provided, can vary in configuration, size, and construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. If provided, the scooped region 52 can be of limited width so as to permit the flat section 50 of the base panel 22 to support an entire object in a flat condition, thus creating the gap at the scooped region.
The base panel 22 can also be provided with ribs or other structures, formations, or the like on both or either of the upper surface or the lower surface. Such ribs or other formations can add structural rigidity and strength to the otherwise flat base panel. If raised ribs or other formations are provided on the upper surface of the base panel 22, these structures can also assist in elevating documents or other articles stored in the storage receptacle 33 above the base panel 22. This feature can be included to create a gap between the base panel and the stored objects so that he objects can be easily grasped and lifted from the document tray 20.
In the disclosed example of
In the example of
As shown in
The forward lean angle of the back wall 24 can be from about 1° to about 5-7° in this example, but the angle can vary. The front ends 36 of the side walls 28 can similarly lean slightly forwardly at the same angle, as in this example, also relative to a vertical reference. The forward edge 38 of the base panel 22 extends forward beyond the position of the front ends 36 of the side walls 28 at the point where they meet to provide front ledges or lateral extensions 76. In this example, the forward edge 38 extends forward beyond upper front corners 74 of the side walls as shown in the top view of
In the example of
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The angle of the front ends 36 of the side walls 28 and the back wall 24, as well as the extension distance of the rim 70, produces the novel result of the three permissible stacks shown in
The document trays 20 can be stacked on top of one another so that a space having a depth approximately the height of the side walls and back wall is defined between the stacked document trays 20 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When stacked in this configuration, a bearing surface 98 positioned longitudinally rearward of the rear legs 92 bears against the upper surface 72 of the rim 70 of the lower tray 20. The legs 92 will be captured within the boundary of the side walls 28 of the lower tray as a result of the upward and outward side wall divergence. The rear leg 90 will be positioned outside the boundary of the rim 70 in this configuration.
The size and shape of the tray 20 as well as the wall 24, 28 height can vary considerably without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. The configuration, shape, number, and position of the windows 60 and 62 as disclosed herein can vary considerably as well. No windows need be provided. Further, the base panel 22 can be perforated and/or include windows of its own for material reduction and/or to achieve desired characteristics.
The windows, 60, 62, if provided, can also be configured to act as handles for the document tray. A user can simply grasp a tray, whether empty of loaded, by one of the windows and place their fingers though that window making the document tray 20 easier to carry.
Another alternative embodiment of a document tray 120 is disclosed in
A front corner post structure 167 is formed from a pair of buttresses 180 that extend upward from the base panel 122. As shown in
As shown in
An additional feature of the trays 120 as shown in
As shown in
Similar to the tray 20 discussed above in connection with
Numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the design of the tray 120 shown in
In this example, the tray 250 has a pair of laterally outwardly extending wire-form lateral extensions or ears 260 positioned near a front end of the tray 250. Each of the ears 260 has an upwardly concave curve 262. Each tray also has a downturned, curved front edge 264 of the bottom panel 252. Each tray 250 further has a pair of spaced apart wire-form structures 266 attached to the rear wall 256 in laterally spaced apart relation. The bottom of each structure 266 extends below the bottom panel, forming a pair of depending wire loop rear feet 268. The tops of the structures bend outward and spaced away from the rear wall 256 to form a pair of rearwardly protruding wire loops 270. Each loop 270 creates an aperture 272 carried near the upper end of the rear wall. Each distal end of the front ears 260 terminates at a downturned front foot 274 that extends below the bottom panel 252 about the same distance as the rear feet 268. When in use, the tray 250 can rest on the feet 268, 274 on a support surface.
The wire support structure of the tray 250 includes a pair of side wall top wires 276, one running along each side wall 254. A rear wall top wire 278 runs along the top edge of the rear wall 256. The loops 270 and apertures 272 are spaced outward of the rear wall top wire 278. As in prior examples, the side walls 254 taper outward away from one another and the rear wall is tilted slightly inward. However, the rear wall need not be tapered or tilted inward but instead can alternatively be vertical or taper outward if desired. Further, in this example, the side walls do not diverge away from one another moving toward the front of the tray. Instead, the side walls are the same distance apart from the back wall to the tray front.
Turning to
As shown in
The ears 260 need not be wire-form. Instead, the ears can be bent, curved, solid tabs extending outward from the sides of the tray. Also, the structures 266 on the rear wall of the tray 250 need not be wire form. The structures can also be solid, flat strips of material, bent to form an upper receptacle to receive therein the rear feet of a tray stacked on top of the tray.
Turning to
In this example, the tray 300 has a pair of outwardly extending wire-form lateral extensions or ears 302. Each of the ears 302 has a stepped configuration terminating at a horizontal front foot portion 304. The front foot portion 304 extends below the bottom panel 252. The tray 300 also has a bottom wire loop 306 that extends around the bottom of the tray generally within the perimeter of the bottom panel 252. The wire loop 306 forms the feet 304 and ears 302. A rear bar 308 of the wire is stepped downward at stepped portions 309 from side bars 310 of the wire loop. The stepped portions 309 extend rearwardly and the rear bar 308 extends laterally across the tray 300. The rear bar 308 is spaced outwardly a distance from a plane of the rear wall 256. The rear bar 308 is positioned a distance below the bottom panel 252 about the same distance as the front foot portions 304. During use, the tray 300 can rest on the rear bar 308, stepped portions 310, and foot portions 304 on a surface.
The top wire 312 of each side wall 254 has a pair of front depressions 314 and 316 formed therein near the front edge of each side wall. The first depression 314 is spaced forward of the second depression 316. The top wire 318 of the rear wall 256 also has a pair of spaced apart depressions 320 formed therein and spaced apart along the top wire. As can be seen in FIGS. 19A-D, when two or more trays 300 are stacked and nested, the foot portions 304 of an upper tray sit forward of the front edge of the side walls 254 of a lower tray and rest on side supports 322 that rise from edges of the bottom panel 256 forward of the side walls 254. The rear bar 308 rests on the bottom panel 252 of the tray 300 as shown in
As shown in
As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the wire and mesh configurations shown herein are merely examples of many variations and modifications that can be made to the document trays disclosed herein. In one example, the trays can stack and nest. In another example, the trays can stack, nest, and cascade. In a further example, the trays can stack, nest, and offer collated storage. The means to accomplish such tray features can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. The rear walls can have one, two, or three or more notches, loops, or other features to facilitate stacking. The side walls can have a wide variety of notches, depressions, or the like to also facilitate stacking and cascading, as desired. The rolled mesh front edge can be added to provide rigidity as well to the structure.
Merchandisers and retailers of horizontal orientation document or letter trays typically provide shelf space and arrangements that vary from store to store and from retailer to retailer. Thus, a product configuration that is suitable for display in a shelf space at one store or retailer may not be suitable for a shelf space or configuration at another retailer or store. The disclosed document trays permit stacking and nesting of a large number of the products. The disclosed document trays can thus be displayed, packaged, shipped, stocked, stored, and the like within a relatively small amount of shelf space.
By maximizing packaging and shipping space as well as store shelf space by utilizing the disclosed tray configurations, one is able to ship and store a larger product volume per unit area. This creates more space within an existing product display in a limited shelf storage space that may have been originally suited for a completely different product. This can increase revenue dollars for the retailer per square foot of shelf space. The tight nesting products may also permit adding the disclosed document trays to an existing store shelf space without having to knock out another product from that same shelf space.
Document trays for storing items such as files, papers, letters, or the like in a horizontal orientation have not heretofore been designed having the nesting, stacking, and optional cascading and collating characteristics disclosed herein. Some solutions have been provided, but these typically require that the trays offered for sale be separately packaged or packaged only in pairs. Such products typically are packaged to protect the articles from being damaged by one another while being shipped or while on display for sale. Because a typical tray of this type does not tightly nest with like trays, the trays can become scuffed, scratched, or the like as they move and bang into one another.
In contrast, the disclosed tray configurations may eliminate the need for utilizing foam, paper, corrugated elements, poly bags, or other such packing materials. Instead, the disclosed document trays can be shipped, stored, and displayed in tightly nested stacks. The stacks will provide stability to the shipped, stored, and displayed products. The products can stand alone without additional packing both in shipping containers and on a retailer's shelf storage space.
Some other existing office products of the type described herein are capable of nesting, unlike that disclosed here and with only one other like product. The two products must be inverted or turned upside down and rotated 180 degrees relative to one another in order to nest. If nestable, existing document trays are not known to offer the stacking options of the trays disclosed here. These known tray products also must still utilize additional packaging to prevent the products from moving relative to one another, which would otherwise cause scuffing or scratching. Such known products do not typically optimize product nesting and reduce shelf space to the degree accomplished by the disclosed document trays.
The disclosed document trays substantially reduce the necessary space required for shipping, storage, and retail sale, yet maintain the standard function for document tray products. The standard function is typically known to be that of horizontally storing letters, document, papers, files, folders, magazines, and other like sized objects. The disclosed trays can nest with one another while still meeting the aforementioned function and minimizing the possibility of product damaged during shipping.
The materials and processes used to manufacture the disclosed trays can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, in one example, the document trays disclosed herein can be manufactured using an injection molding process. The materials utilized in one example can be commodity plastics such as polystyrene or polypropylene. However, many other materials may be suitable for forming the disclosed tray configurations. For example, other materials may include engineering grade plastic materials such as polycarbonate, ABS or TPE. Other commodity thermoplastics, or even further alternative materials such as metal, wood, organic materials, leather, glass, or variations and combinations of these materials, as well as other secondary fabrics and woven materials. Material selection may assist in creating a higher impact strength, flexibility, improved resistance to scratching or scuffing, or enhanced appearance. The material selection can be undertaken with important characteristics in mind for a given application. However, engineering plastics such as polystyrene or polypropylene also lend themselves to reduce consumer cost.
The disclosed document trays can be painted, decorated, or in-molded with labels, graphics, or other layers or accents. These additional design characteristics can be employed to protect the surfaces of the document tray or to enhance the decorative nature of the product. Combinations of materials can be utilized and assembled in any suitable way, including forming a plastic underbody product with rubber over-molded on the plastic base material. Alternatively, metal parts can be mechanically fastened together or wood products can be covered with suitable decorative materials such as fabric, metal decorative and protective corner features, and the like.
Depending upon the materials selected, the manufacturing processes and methods used can also vary and be employed as needed. In one example, a plastic document tray disclosed herein can be molded using a simple two part mold. The draft angle of the side walls 28, 128, front edges 36, 136, and back wall 24 provide the necessary mold draft for easy formation and removal of parts from the mold cavities. The windows 60, 62, 162 in the walls 24, 28, 128 can be formed by providing shut-offs or surface to surface metal contact within the mold. By extending the windows 60, 62, 162 into both the side and back walls 24, 28, 128 and at least slightly into the bottom panel 22, 122, the shut-off can be provided and yet permit easy mold separation and part removal. The disclosed document tray configurations should be molded with mold separation occurring at an angle relative to a reference that is perpendicular to the base panel. This is because the back wall 24, 124 leans at an angle slightly inward toward the storage receptacle 33, 133. The mold separation direction should be such that the back wall 24, 124 is tilted at a slight draft angle away from the mold separation axis or direction.
The disclosed trays improve upon maximizing retail shelf space, accommodate variable shelf space and configurations, and enhance product nesting shipping, stock storage, and display for sale. Product nesting is accomplished in a slightly bi-directional manner whereby each tray is stacked vertically upward and offset slightly horizontally forward relative to its preceding tray in a stack. The stacked trays can be displayed and shipped without damage to the product due to scuffing, scrapping, and the like because the products will:be tightly nested. Additional packing can be negated. A number of the disclosed trays can also accommodate two alternative in-use stack orientations. These trays can be stacked in either a vertical in-use configuration or in a rearward cascading in-use configuration.
Additionally, freight cube size can be optimized and significantly reduce utilizing the disclosed nested document tray configuration. Products shipped in bulk can be directly unloaded from the master carton or shipping box onto a shelf. No additional reorientation of the product may be necessary, making the merchandiser's handling of the product easier. The nested trays also assist in retaining the displayed trays on a retail shelf space. The trays also look more organized when nested as disclosed herein. This reduces the amount of work required by the customer/merchandiser to keep the shelf display organized and arranged. An organized shelf space may effect the perception of the consumer and influence his or her decision to buy the displayed products.
Further, because more product can be displayed for sale in a given amount of shelf space, less restocking time and stocking space is necessary for the retailer. Having more product available for sale at any one time reduces the frequency of an item appearing to be out of stock, which can prevent a consumer from leaving the establishment to go elsewhere to find the desired product.
Although certain document trays that are nestable and stackable have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Claims
1. A document tray comprising:
- a bottom panel having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and an upper and lower surface;
- a rear wall extending upward near the back edge of the base panel and having a lower edge, an upper edge, and a pair of side edges;
- a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed relative to one another, one each extending generally upward relative to a respective one of the side edges of the bottom panel;
- a storage space defined above the bottom panel, forward of the rear wall, and between the side Walls;
- a rim which extends laterally outward from top edges of the side walls and rearwardly from the upper edge of the back wall forming a lip on the top edges of the side walls and the upper edge of the rear wall;
- a pair of lateral extensions, one each formed near the forward edge of the bottom panel extending laterally outward beyond the side edges of the bottom panel and protruding outward beyond an exterior perimeter of the rim.
2. The document tray of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel includes a downward recessed, scooped region partially surrounded by a flat section.
3. The document tray of claim 2, wherein the scooped region extends to the forward edge of the bottom panel.
4. The document tray of claim 2, wherein the forward edge of the bottom panel has a rearwardly recessed scalloped region.
5. The document tray of claim 1, wherein a window is located on each of the back wall and the side walls.
6. The document tray of claim 5, wherein each window extends downward to the bottom panel and at least partially into a respective edge of the bottom panel thereby creating an inwardly recessed edge at each window.
7. The document tray of claim 1, wherein the rear wall leans slightly creating an acute angle between the bottom panel and the rear wall.
8. The document tray of claim 7, wherein the acute angle is in the range of approximately 89 degrees to approximately 83 degrees.
9. The document tray of claim 1, further including a receptacle in the rim proximate the front edge of each side wall.
10. The document tray of claim 9, further including pair of receptacles on the side walls and a pair of downwardly depending ribs disposed on the bottom of the tray near bottom edge of the side walls, wherein the ribs are configured and oriented to align with and be received by the receptacles.
11. The document tray of claim 1, further including a rear receptacle on the rim above the back wall and a rear leg that extends downward from the bottom of the tray proximate the back wall.
12. The document tray of claim 1, including a pair of receptacles on each wall.
13. A document tray comprising:
- a bottom panel having a pair of front edges meeting at a front corner, a pair of rear edges meeting at a rear corner, an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a pair of walls extending generally upward from the rear edges of the bottom panel, each wall leaning at least slightly forming an acute angle with the bottom panel;
- a corner post extending generally upward near the front corner of the bottom panel;
- two front openings, one each between the corner post and one of the walls; and
- a pair of storage areas defined above the bottom panel and one each between each wall and the corner post,
- wherein the pair of storage areas at least partially overlap near the rear corner.
14. The document tray of claim 13, wherein the bottom panel includes a downwardly scooped region.
15. The document tray of claim 13, wherein each of the walls includes a window.
16. The document tray of claim 13, wherein the walls include an upper rim extending generally outwardly from the top edges of the walls and including at least one dimple disposed thereon.
17. The document tray of claim 13, including a plurality of feet disposed on the bottom of the tray and sized and shaped to stabilize the document tray when placed on a surface.
18. The document tray of claim 17, including a plurality of dimples on the upper edges of the walls and an upper edge of the corner post, wherein each of the plurality of feet has a boss on the bottom thereof.
19. The document tray of claim 18, wherein the corner post is hollow and open at a bottom thereof.
20. The document tray of claim 19, further including a second like tray and wherein the document tray is placed adjacent the second like tray in a stacked in-use condition in which the bosses of the document tray are received by the dimples of the second like tray.
21. The document tray of claim 19, further including a second like tray and wherein the document tray is placed adjacent the second like tray in a stacked nested condition in which the document tray is nested at least partly within the storage spaces of the second like tray and wherein the corner post of the second like tray is received through the hollow and open bottom of the corner post of the document tray.
22. A plurality of stackable and nestable document trays each comprising:
- a bottom panel having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and an upper and lower surface;
- a rear wall extending upward near the back edge of the base panel and having a lower edge, an upper edge, and a pair of side edges;
- a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed relative to one another, one each extending generally upward relative to a respective one of the side edges of the bottom panel;
- a storage space defined above the bottom panel, forward of the rear wall, and between the side walls;
- a rim which extends laterally outward from top edges of the side walls and rearwardly from the upper edge of the back wall forming a lip on the top edges of the side walls and the upper edge of the rear wall;
- a pair of lateral extensions, one each formed near the forward edge of the bottom panel extending laterally outward beyond the side edges of the bottom panel and protruding outward beyond an exterior perimeter of the rim;
- at least one receptacle formed in the rim proximate a front edge of each side wall; and
- at least one downward facing protrusion on the bottom of each tray;
- wherein each of the plurality of trays is stackable with others of the plurality of trays in both a nested stacked configuration and an in-use stacked configuration,
- wherein the nested stacked configuration includes a first tray disposed at least partly within the storage space of a second tray and wherein both the first and second trays are arranged in generally similar orientations and wherein the pair of lateral extensions of the first tray are positioned forward of front edges of respective side walls of the second tray, and
- wherein the in-use stacked configuration includes the pair of lateral extensions of the first tray resting on a portion of the rim above the side walls of the second tray and wherein a portion of the bottom panel of the first tray rests on a portion of the rim of the second tray above the rear wall and wherein the bottom:panel of the first tray is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the bottom panel of the second tray.
23. The plurality of trays of claim 22, wherein the portion of the bottom panel of the first tray that rests on a portion of the rim of the second tray is a downwardly depending foot in the stacked in-use configuration.
24. The document tray stack of claim 22, wherein the protrusion of the first tray is received by the receptacle of the second tray in the stacked in-use configuration.
25. The document tray stack of claim 22, each tray including a plurality of protrusions and receptacles, wherein a pair of the protrusions rest on the rim within a pair of the receptacles in the stacked in-use configuration.
26. The document tray stack of claim 22, wherein at least one of the receptacles is located on the rim above the rear wall and at least one of the protrusions is positioned near the rear edge of the bottom panel.
27. The document tray stack of claim 22, wherein the receptacle is generally oriented perpendicular to the side wall and a way extends from the receptacle and is oriented generally parallel to the side wall and the protrusion further includes a key oriented generally perpendicular to the protrusion, wherein the key rests within the way in the stacked in-use configuration.
28. The document tray stack of claim 22, wherein the lateral extensions include an upward concave curve.
29. The document tray stack of claim 22, wherein each document tray in the plurality of trays includes a pair of spaced apart support structures affixed to the rear wall wherein the support structures extend below the bottom panel forming rear feet and the tops of the support structures bend outward, away from the rear wall forming a loop and wherein the rear feet of the first document tray are received by the loops of the second document tray in the stacked in-use configuration.
30. The document tray stack of claim 22, wherein the lateral extensions are formed from a part of a continuous piece of wire that bears against the bottom side of the bottom panel and extends to the back edge of the bottom panel and steps downward and rearward to also form a rear foot beyond the rear wall and wherein the lateral extensions rest on the rim and the rear foot also rests on the rim in the stacked in-use configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 4, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2005
Inventors: Timothy Killinger (Plainfield, IL), Matthew Lerch (Chicago, IL), Aaron Smith (Plainfield, IL), Gilberto Cavada (Melrose Park, IL), Melanie Conklin (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/098,060