Multi-level stacking container
View Patent ↗A container comprising a pair of bars extending across opposite sidewalls; wherein each one of the opposite sidewalls comprises an opening comprising a lower corner, an upper corner and an intermediate corner between said lower and upper corners the bars are movable between: i) a lower stacking bar position in which pivot ends thereof rest in the lower corner of the opening, ii) an upper stacking bar position in which the pivot ends rest in the intermediate corner of the opening and iii) a nesting position in which the pivot ends rest in the upper corner of the opening.
1. A container comprising:
a base;
a first and a second pairs of opposite sidewalls extending from the base to a lip, the lip running around the perimeter of the container and delimiting an upper collar extending to an upper rim of the container; and
a pair of bars operatively coupled to and extending across the first pair of opposite sidewalls;
wherein each one of the first pair of opposite sidewalls comprises an outer wall and an inner wall separated by a recess; said inner wall comprising an upper supporting surface, a lower supporting surface and a nesting surface; said outer wall comprising an opening located between the upper rim and the lip of the container, said opening comprising a lower corner, located at a first height from said lip; an intermediate corner, located at a second height from said lip, said second height being larger than said first height; and an upper corner, located at a third height from said lip, said third height being larger that said second height;
wherein each bar comprises an elongated member and first and second lateral arms extending at each end of the elongated member at a generally perpendicular angle from the elongated member and thereby forming an elbow, each arm comprising a pivot end at a free end thereof;
wherein, each bar is movable between:
i) a lower stacking bar position in which the pivot ends rest in the lower corner of said opening, the lateral arms of the bar are rotated down in the recess between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the elbows rest on the lower supporting surface;
ii) an upper stacking bar position in which the pivot ends rest in said intermediate corner of said opening, the lateral arms are rotated up in the recess between the outer wall and the inner wall and the elbows rest on the upper supporting surface; and
iii) a nesting position in which the pivot ends rest in said upper corner of said opening, the lateral arms are rotated up in the recess between the outer wall and the inner wall and the elbows rest on the nesting surface; and
wherein said lateral arms and said elbows of said bars are contained in between said outer wall and said inner wall in all said positions of the bars.
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein each one of the sidewalls of the first pair comprises, on a basal edge of the sidewall, a first outer recess proximal a lateral edge thereof, a first inner recess, laterally spaced from the first outer recess away from the lateral edge, a second outer recess proximal an opposite lateral edge and a second inner recess laterally spaced from the second outer recess away from the lateral edge.
3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls extend from the base at an obtuse angle.
4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the base and the sidewalls are injection-molded.
5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the bars are made in one of metal and plastic.
6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the bars are made in metal and the pivot ends are made in plastic.
7. The container of claim 1 , wherein said inner wall comprises structural ribs.
8. The container of claim 1 , wherein each bar is provided with stops protruding from the elongated member.
9. A method of producing a container, comprising:
injection-molding a base, a first and a second pairs of opposite sidewalls extending from the base to a lip delimiting an upper collar extending to an upper rim of the container; each one of the first pair of opposite sidewalls comprising an outer wall and an inner wall separated by a recess; the inner wall comprising an upper supporting surface, a lower supporting surface and a nesting surface; the outer wall comprising an opening located between the upper rim of the container and the lip, the opening comprising a lower corner located at a first height from the lip, an intermediate corner located at a second height from the lip, and an upper corner located at a third height from the lip, the second height being larger than the first height and the third height being larger than the second height;
providing a pair of bars, each bar comprising an elongated member and first and second lateral arms at each end of the elongated member at a generally perpendicular angle from the elongated member and thereby forming an elbow, each arm comprising a pivot end at a free end thereof; and
positioning the bars across the first pair of opposite sidewalls, each pivot end of a bar being received in the opening across the first pair of opposite sidewalls;
wherein, each bar is movable between:
i) a lower stacking bar position in which the pivot ends rest in the lower corner of said opening, the lateral arms of the bar are rotated down in the recess between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the elbows rest on the lower supporting surface;
ii) an upper stacking bar position in which the pivot ends rest in the intermediate corner of said opening, the lateral arms are rotated up in the recess between the outer wall and the inner wall and the elbows rest on the upper supporting surface; and
iii) a nesting position in which the pivot ends rest in said upper corner of said opening, the lateral arms are rotated up in the recess between the outer wall and the inner wall and the elbows rest on the nesting surface; and
wherein the lateral arms and the elbows of the bars are contained in between the outer wall and the inner wall in all the positions of the bars.