US 12,319,470 B2
Stackable crate
Nickolas Reinhart, Sarasota, FL (US); and Jacob H. Whitta, Bluffton, OH (US)
Assigned to CREATIVE PLASTIC CONCEPTS, LLC, Sycamore, OH (US)
Filed by CREATIVE PLASTIC CONCEPTS, LLC, Sycamore, OH (US)
Filed on May 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/748,271.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/190,263, filed on May 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0371777 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B65D 21/04 (2006.01); B65D 1/38 (2006.01); B65D 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 21/046 (2013.01) [B65D 1/38 (2013.01); B65D 21/0216 (2013.01); B65D 21/0233 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crate comprising:
a sidewall, wherein the entire-sidewall is tapered toward the bottom of the crate, the sidewall including:
a first complementary structure including a first exterior channel and a first interior rib;
a second structure including a second exterior channel;
the first interior rib configured to be received by the first exterior channel from another crate in a nested position;
the first interior rib configured to be received by the second exterior channel of said another crate in a stacked position;
a flange disposed adjacent to an open end of the crate and including a first reinforced handle opening, a second reinforced handle opening, a third reinforced handle opening, and a fourth reinforced handle opening, each reinforced handle opening disposed through the flange, the first reinforced handle opening and the second reinforced handle opening are positioned as a first pair of opposed handle openings, the third reinforced handle opening and the fourth reinforced handle opening are positioned as a second pair of opposed handle openings;
the crate being of a shape such that in a nested position of the crate with said another crate, the first interior rib of the crate is aligned with the first exterior channel of said another crate, and a first length of the first interior rib of the crate extends into the first exterior channel of said another crate;
the crate being of a shape such that in a stacked position of the crate with said another crate, the first interior rib of the crate is aligned with the second exterior channel of said another crate, a second length of the first interior rib of the crate extends into the second exterior channel of said another crate, and the bottom of the crate is above the first and second pairs of opposed handle openings of said another crate such that the first and second pairs of opposed handle openings of said another crate are unobstructed in the stacked position;
the second length being shorter than the first length,
wherein each of the first exterior channel and the second exterior channel extend from a bottom of the crate and along only a portion of a length of the sidewall,
wherein the flange limits the length of the first interior rib received by the first exterior channel in the nested position.