Container with Dividers

Abstract

The invention provides a container having a peripheral wall defining a chamber and having an open top. A plurality of vertically extending grooves extend radially inwardly of the container from an inner surface of the peripheral wall. Two grooves of the plurality of grooves are on opposed portions of the peripheral wall and are in registration with one another to define a pair of grooves in registration. A divider is positioned in the pair of registered grooves and is retained therein by a protuberance in the groove and a tab extending from a lateral end portion of the divider.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a container having dividers configured to interlock in a pair of grooves in registration extending from an inner surface of the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of containers are formed to accommodate adjustable dividers to provide compartments in the container and allow for adjusting the size of such compartments.

The present system provides an improved container with dividers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container or container system having a container body and one or more dividers, or a divider with one or more divider walls. The container includes an upper rim with slots for securing the divider(s). The container body can include a bottom having non-uniform structure (e.g., upwardly extending ribs). In this instance, the divider is configured to accommodate such non-uniform structure (e.g., by having complimentary structure) to enable the divider to be secured to both the top of the container body and the bottom of the container body.

In accordance with one embodiment, a container with dividers is provided. The container comprises a container body having a bottom, a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, an upper portion of the first side wall having a first tab slot and an upper portion of the second side wall having a first tab slot aligned with the first tab slot on the upper portion of the first side wall. The container includes a divider having a first upper tab configured to fit in a tab slot of the container body and a second upper tab configured to fit in a tab slot of the container body. The divider also includes a plurality of downwardly extending tabs from a bottom of the divider. The downwardly extending tabs are separated by one or more slots. The downwardly extending tabs of the divider can extend into recesses in the bottom to lock the divider in place.

In accordance with another embodiment, a container with dividers is provided. The container with dividers has a container body having a bottom, a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, a first end wall and an opposing second end wall. The container body can be substantially rectangular and formed from plastic. An upper portion of the first side wall has a first tab slot and an upper portion of the second side wall has a first tab slot aligned with the first tab slot on the upper portion of the first side wall. The bottom has a plurality of ribs extending upward. The container further comprises a divider having a first upper tab configured to fit in a tab slot of the container body and a second upper tab configured to fit in a tab slot of the container body. The first upper tab and the second upper tab of the divider are preferably T-shaped. The divider also includes rib slots in a lower portion configured to accommodate the ribs in the bottom of the container body.

In addition to the first tab slots, the upper portion of the first side wall can also include a second tab slot and a third tab slot where the first tab slot, second tab slot and third tab slot are spaced apart along the first side wall. Similarly, the upper portion of the second side wall can also include a second tab slot aligned with the second tab slot of the first side wall, and a third tab slot aligned with the third tab slot of the first side wall.

The ribs in the bottom can include a plurality of ribs extending linearly from the first side wall to the second side wall. The ribs in the bottom can also include a plurality of ribs extending linearly from the first end wall to the second end wall. In this configuration, the ribs extending linearly from the first side wall to the second side wall and the ribs extending linearly from the first end wall to the second end wall form rectangular recesses (such as square recesses) in the bottom.

The divider includes lower tabs formed between the rib slots. The lower tabs can be configured to fit in the rectangular recesses of the bottom.

The bottom can also include a central flat region without ribs. The central flat region can be at a height substantially equal to a height of the ribs in the bottom. In this instance, the divider would include a central straight portion positioned to accommodate the central flat region of the bottom.

The container body can also include a first tab slot in the first end wall, and a first tab slot in the second end wall aligned with the first tab slot in the first end wall. Similarly, the container body can include a second tab slot in the first end wall, and a second tab slot in the second end wall aligned with the second tab slot of the first end wall.

The divider can be positioned to extend from the first side wall to the second side wall (when the side walls are provided with one or more tab slots). Alternatively, the side wall can be positioned to extend from the first end wall to the second end wall (when the end walls are provided with one or more tab slots). When one or more tab slots are provided, the divider can be adjusted by moving it into another set of slots (or more compartments can be made by using more than one divider).

Alternatively, the divider can include a first divider wall sized to extend between the first side wall and the second side wall, and a second divider wall substantially perpendicular to the first divider wall sized to extend between the first end wall and the second end wall. In a further alternative, the divider can include more than one walls extending between the side walls, and/or more than one walls extending between the end walls.

The first upper tab can be positioned at a first side of the first divider wall and a second upper tab is positioned at a second side of the first divider wall. Additionally, the second divider wall can include a third upper tab configured to fit in a tab slot of the container body on a first side of the second divider wall and a fourth upper tab configured to fit in a tab slot of the container body on a second side of the second divider wall.

The first divider wall and the second divider wall can include at least one or more of the plurality of rib slots. Alternatively, the slots can all be on one of the divider walls.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a container and divider system is provided. The container and divider system comprise a container body having a generally rectangular bottom having a plurality of ribs extending upward. The container body also includes a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, an upper rim portion formed in the first and second side walls and first and second end walls having a plurality of sets of aligned tab slots. The system also includes a divider having upper tabs for securing the divider to the rim portion of the container body and rib slots for securing the divider to the bottom of the container body.

The invention further provides a container having a peripheral wall defining a chamber and having an open top. A plurality of vertically extending grooves extend radially inwardly of the container from an inner surface of the peripheral wall. Two grooves of the plurality of grooves are on opposed portions of the peripheral wall and are in registration with one another to define a pair of grooves in registration. A plurality of protuberances extend radially inwardly of the inner surface and one of each protuberance is positioned in a groove of the plurality of grooves. A divider is positioned in the pair of grooves in registration and spans between opposed portions of the peripheral wall. A tab extends from each of a pair of opposed lateral end surfaces of the divider and one of each is positioned below one of each of two protuberances in the pair of grooves in registration, the divider is retained in the pair of grooves in registration by the protuberances.

The divider can be securely retained in the pair of grooves in registration or can be releasably retained. A securely retained divider cannot be removed from the container without damaging the container or the divider. A releasably retained divider is held in place with sufficient force to stop inadvertent releases of the divider during use of the container but can be removed by application of a force to the divider without damaging the container or the divider.

Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the Figures and are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with a divider in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 focusing on the divider;

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 showing a forward face of the divider;

FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 showing a back of the divider;

FIG. 5 is a perspective close-up view of the connection of the divider with the rim of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container with a divider in both the width and length direction in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is an isometric view of a container without dividers;

FIG. 7B is an isometric view of a container with dividers;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the area marked 8-8 in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a divider;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a lip or tab on the divider;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of a protuberance positioned in a groove in the bin; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a protuberance positioned in a groove in the bin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is directed to a container that includes a divider with one or more divider walls that connect to the upper rim of the container. The divider also includes protrusions to fit a non-uniform bottom, such as a bottom having ribs.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 discloses a generally rectangular container body 10 having an open top. The container body 10 shown is typically referred to as a “tote.” The container body 10 includes a first side 12, and opposing second side 14, a first end 16 and an opposing second end 18. A first divider 20 is shown extending from the first side 12 to the second side 14. The first divider 20 (in the embodiment shown) spans a width of the container body 10 (alternatively, the dividers can span a length of the container or both the width and length as discussed below and shown in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 2, the container body 10 includes a rectangular bottom 22 having a centrally located flat portion 24. The remainder of the bottom 22 is a portion with a plurality of ribs 26 extending upward from a lower surface. Other than at the centrally located flat portion 24, the ribs 26 extend from the first side 12 to the second side 14, and from the first end 16 to the second end 18 to create generally squared off sections or recesses. The centrally located flat portion 24 of the bottom 22 includes an upper surface that is flush with the top edge of the ribs 26.

The container body 10 includes an upper rim portion 28 about each of the side walls 12, 14 and each of the end walls 16, 18. The upper rim portion 28 includes one or more sets of matching or corresponding slots 30 on each side wall 12, 14 (three sets of matching slots 30 are shown on the container body 10 of FIG. 1). Similarly, the upper rim portion 28 also includes one or more sets of matching slots 30 on each of the end walls 16, 18 (one set of matching slots 30 is shown on the container body 10 of FIG. 1). More or fewer sets of slots 30 can be provided as needed or desired.

The divider 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 extends from the first side wall 12 to the second side wall 14. The divider 20 includes a first upper tab 32 on one side of the sheet 20, and a second upper tab on the other side of the sheet 20. As evident in FIG. 5, the tabs 32 have a T-shape configuration (when viewed from the top of the divider sheet 20). The T-shape corresponds to the shape of the slot 30.

As shown in cross-section in FIG. 3, the divider 20 includes a plurality of tabs 34 separated by rib slots 36 extending downward at the bottom of the divider 20. The rib slots 36 are sized to accommodate the ribs 26 extending upward from the bottom 22. As shown in the

Figure, the divider 20 includes a first set of tabs 34 proximate the first side wall 12 and a second set of tabs 34 proximate the second side wall 14. The divider 20 includes a central straight portion 38 between the two sets of tabs 34 and rib slots 36. The central straight portion 38 is at the height of the rib slots 36 (i.e., also the height of the ribs 26).

The tabs 34, slots 36 and central straight portion 38 of the divider 20 is designed to match the contour of the bottom 22 at the flat central portion 24. The tabs 34 fit into the square shapes defined by the ribs 26. This helps (along with the tabs 32) keep the divider 20 securely in place in the container body 10.

The same divider 20 can also be used in areas of the container body 20 having ribs extending from the first side wall 12 to the second side wall 14. In such areas the central straight portion 38 will rest on top of the ribs 26 and be above the square recesses. Alternatively, a divider 20 having tabs 34 extending across the entire bottom of the divider 20 can be used. The alternative divider would be limited to regions of the container having space to accommodate all of the tabs.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a container body 40 (in this instance substantially similar or identical to the container body 10 of FIGS. 1-5) is shown with a T-shaped divider 42. The divider 42 includes a first divider wall 44 that spans between a first side wall 46 and an opposing second side wall 48, and a second divider wall 50 that spans between a first end 52 and an opposing second end 54. The divider 42 effectively creates four separate compartments in the interior of the container 40 (as opposed to two compartments created by the divider of FIGS. 1-5). The first and second divider walls 44, 50 are perpendicular to each other. While the divider 42 is shown having a single divider wall spanning the side walls and a single divider wall spanning the end walls, an alternative divider can be configured with two or more walls spanning the side walls, and/or two or more walls spanning the end walls.

The divider 42 is provided with tabs 56 at the ends of each divider wall 44, 50. The tabs 56 fit into slots 58 on one of the side walls 46, 48 or end walls 52, 54 of the container body 42 in the same manner as that shown with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The top of the side walls and end walls form a rim portion 60.

One or both of the divider walls 44, 50 of the divider 42 is provided with downwardly extending tabs (not shown) separated by slots similar to the tabs 34 and slots 36 shown in the embodiment of the divider 20 of FIG. 3. The tabs fit into recesses or openings formed between ribs in the bottom of the container 40.

The combination of the rim structure and bottom structure (i.e., the ribs/slots/flat portion) help lock the divider 20 or 42 in place so that it does not fall out or slide out of place when product is loaded and transported in the container.

While the container body is shown having a bottom with a central flat portion 24 surrounded by square depressions formed by ribs 26, other bottom configurations (having different rib patterns or bottom structures) can be utilized with corresponding dividers having slots aligned with such ribs or otherwise have configurations to accommodate any other such bottom structures.

The side walls, end walls and bottom of the container body 10, 40 are preferably integrally connected. The container body can be plastic formed in a mold or other similar material. The divider can also be a molded plastic or other similar material.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an alternate embodiment of a generally rectangular container 100 having an open top 101 and a peripheral wall 102 defining a chamber 104. The container 100 includes a first side wall 112, an opposing second side wall 114, a first end wall 116, an opposing second end wall 118, and a bottom wall 119. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending grooves 120 are provided on an interior surface of the first and second side walls 116,118 and one of each of the grooves 120 on the first sidewall 112 is in registration with one of each of the grooves on the second side wall 114 to define a pair of registered grooves. Seven pairs of registered grooves are shown but a different number of pairs of registered grooves could be used.

The grooves 120 extend vertically between an upper flange 122 and a lower flange 124. While grooves are only shown on the side walls they could also be provided, instead, on the end walls or on both the side walls and the end walls. The container also does not have to be rectangular but could also be square or other shape without departing from the present invention.

It is also contemplated that a pair of adjacent dividers 140 could themselves support a set of registered grooves to further subdivide the chambers.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the sidewalls 112,114 have a top edge 125 that extends between the end walls 116,118. A generally V-shaped notch 133 proximate the first end wall 116 forms a transition from the top edge 125 to the first end wall 116. At the opposite end, a generally rounded section 134 provides a transition from the top edge 125 to the second end wall 118. The first end wall 116 has a front surface that can bear a label of the contents of the tray. A top portion 135 of the first end wall can serve as a handle to carry the tray. The tray can also be used as a drawer and the top portion 135 and the V-shaped notch 133 can act as a drawer pull. The V-shaped notch 133 provides a space for a user to grasp, carry and otherwise manipulate the tray. The second end wall 118 has a height dimension, extending vertically, less than that of the first end wall 116. The lower height dimension and the rounded end 134 are provided for ease of inserting the tray into a rack or other structure.

FIG. 7B shows the tray with seven dividers 140 one of each inserted into one of each of the seven pairs of registered grooves to define eight sub-chambers. The upper flange 122 extends above the dividers 140 and defines a head space to increase the storage volume of the tray and to prevent, or reduce the tendency of, spillage of stored items from its chambers 104.

FIG. 8 shows further details of one form of the groove 120 having two horizontally spaced walls 126 extending radially inwardly into the container defining an opening 129 into the groove. In this embodiment the groove is defined by upstanding groove walls 126, but it is contemplated by forming the groove 120 by forming a groove in the depth of the sidewall, or a combination of an indentation in the sidewall combined with a groove wall 126 or a pair of groove walls 126 on opposed sides of the indentation. In one exemplary container, the groove 120 has a protuberance 128 for engaging a tab 165 extending from the divider 140 to securely retain or releasably retain a divider 140 in the groove 120. The protuberance 128 is positioned proximate a top of the groove 120. The horizontally spaced walls 126 extend at an angle to the wall 114 and form a generally triangular shaped chamber in horizontal cross-sectional dimension. The groove can be dimensioned to extend radially beyond the inner surface of the top flange such that the divider can be inserted from the top of the groove in a vertical direction. The groove can also be dimensioned to terminate short of the radial reach of the inner surface of the top flange such that the top flange partially or completely blocks the opening 129 into the groove. If fully blocked, the divider 140 cannot be inserted into the groove from the top of the groove, but must be inserted into the groove by moving the divider horizontally, that is in a direction along the length dimension of the tray, over the groove wall 126 and snapped into place in the groove 120. The divider 140 will have sufficient flexibility to allow for bowing or flexing of the divider momentarily during insertion into the groove. When inserted into such a channel 120, the divider is locked in place from vertical movement by the upper flange 122.

The bottom wall 104 can have a continuous surface or more preferably the bottom wall has a plurality of slots 130, one of each slot 130 in alignment with a pair of grooves 120 in registration and extends between the first and second sidewalls 112,114. Each slot 130 is dimensioned to receive a bottom edge 146 of a divider 140.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the divider 140 has a main panel 142, a top edge 144, a bottom edge 146, and opposed lateral edge 148. Each lateral edge 148 has three segments in vertical alignment. A first segment 150 has a width greater than that of the main panel 142 forming a flange 160 extending beyond a front surface 162 and a rear surface of the panel 142. A tab 165 extends radially outward from the first segment 150 to engage a protuberance 128 positioned in each of the grooves. The second segment 152 and the third segment 154 have the same width as the main panel 142. The third segment 154 is axially inset from the second segment 152 through a transition 166 and has a decreased length dimension when compared to the first and second segments 150,152. The transition area of the divider rests on a top surface 137 of the lower flange 124 to provide support to the divider 140. The third segment 154 extends axially downwardly from the second segment and does not engage the groove 120. Rather it abuts or is proximate the outer surface of the lower flange 124. The decreased length accommodates the shorter distance that exists between the lower flanges 124 of the opposed sidewalls when compared to the greater distance spanned by the first and second segments between the depths of the grooves. The lower flange 122 extends a distance radially inwardly of the inner wall preferably greater than the walls 126 that define the grooves and also preferably greater than the distance the upper flange extends from the interior surface. The bottom edge 146 of the divider 140 has a generally semi-circular cutout 147 for ease of handling and insertion into the container 100.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a groove 120 with a groove wall 126 and the protuberance 128 positioned near a top of the groove. The protuberance 128 has a generally oval-shaped cross-sectional dimension that is generally convex or domed. The protuberance 128 extends from the inner surface a distance less than a height of the groove walls 126. The relative dimensions of the groove 120, the groove walls 126 and the protuberance 128 can be selected to either releasably retain a divider 140 or to securely retain a divider 140. A releasably retained divider can be inserted into the tray and removed from the tray without damaging either. A securely retained divider cannot be removed without damaging the divider, the tray or both.

To use one of the trays 100 described herein, a user will grasp a divider 140 and align and insert the bottom edge 146 into a top of the groove 120 and press downwardly to move the divider 140 into a position where bottom edge 146 is positioned in a groove 120 and the tab 165 is positioned below the protuberance 128. When in this position, the divider is locked in place and cannot be removed without damaging the divider or the container, or is securely retained. In another embodiment, the divider can be removed by a user but the divider is held with sufficient force that the divider does not disengage from the groove during normal usage, or is releasably retained.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a peripheral wall defining a chamber having an open top;

a plurality of vertically extending grooves extend radially inwardly of the container from an inner surface of the peripheral wall, two grooves of the plurality of grooves are on opposed portions of the peripheral wall and are in registration with one another to define a pair of grooves in registration;

a plurality of protuberances extend radially inwardly of the inner surface and one of each protuberance of the plurality of protuberances is positioned in one of each groove of the plurality of grooves;

a divider is positioned in the pair of grooves in registration spanning between the opposed portions of the peripheral wall, the divider has a pair of opposed lateral end surfaces; and

a tab extending from each of the opposed lateral end surfaces and is positioned below the one of each of the protuberances to retain the divider in the pair of grooves in registration.

2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a bottom wall closing an end of the peripheral wall and supporting a plurality of parallel slots extending between opposed portions of the peripheral wall and one of each slot being in registration with a pair of grooves in registration.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the divider is securely retained in the pair of grooves in registration.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the divider is releasably retained in the pair of grooves in registration.

5. The container of claim 1 further comprising a top flange extending radially from an inner surface of the peripheral wall by a first height dimension.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the top flange is proximate a top end of each of the plurality of vertically extending grooves.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of grooves comprises a pair of groove walls spaced from one another to define the groove therebetween.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the groove walls are elongate having a second height dimension measured from an inner surface of the sidewall to a distal edge of the groove wall and a length dimension perpendicular to the first height dimension.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the first height dimension is less than or equal to the second height dimension.

10. The container of claim 9 further comprising a lower flange extending radially from an inner surface of the peripheral wall by a third height dimension.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the lower flange is proximate a bottom end of each of the plurality of vertically extending grooves.

12. A container comprising:

a peripheral wall defining a chamber having an open top and an inner surface;

a plurality of vertically extending grooves extend radially inwardly of the inner surface by a first distance and axially between a top end and a bottom end and are horizontally spaced from one another, two grooves of the plurality of grooves are on opposed portions of the peripheral wall and are in registration with one another to define a pair of grooves in registration;

a top flange extending radially inwardly of the inner surface by a second distance and proximate a top end of each of the plurality of grooves;

a divider positioned in the pair of grooves in registration spanning between the opposed portions of the peripheral wall, the divider has a pair of opposed lateral end surfaces, and a top surface; and

a tab extending from each of the opposed lateral end surfaces and is positioned in the groove to retain the divider in the pair of grooves in registration.

13. The container of claim 12 further comprising a lower flange extending radially inwardly of the inner surface by a third distance and proximate the bottom end of each of the plurality of grooves.

14. The container of claim 12 wherein a portion of the divider extends axially beyond the bottom end of each of the plurality of grooves.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein the divider has a portion with a reduced length dimension extending between the lower flange extending from opposing portions of the peripheral wall.

16. The container of claim 12 wherein the peripheral wall has a first end wall portion defining a hand hold.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the hand hold includes a notch in the peripheral wall proximate the first end wall portion.

18. The container of claim 16 wherein the peripheral wall has a second end wall portion opposed to the first end wall portion and has a height dimension less than a height dimension of the first end wall portion.

19. The container of claim 12 wherein the peripheral wall is rectangular.

20. The container of claim 12 further comprising a bottom wall closing an end of the peripheral wall.