Stack and nest bail container

Abstract

A container is provided for storing items and for being stacked upon and nested within like containers. The container includes a base having first and second pairs of spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls extending therefrom. The second pair of sidewalls is perpendicularly disposed between and interconnects the first pair of sidewalls to form a storage compartment. An inward projection is carried by one, and an outwardprojection is carried by the other, of the first pair of sidewalls. Each of a pair of support members is pivotally connected to a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls and is adapted for being moved between an inwardly-directed position residing within the storage compartment and an outwardly-directed position residing exterior to the storage compartment. The container can be positioned in a nesting position, first stacking position, or second stacking position relative to another like container.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A container for storing items and adapted for being stacked upon and nested within a like container, comprising: 
 (a) a base;    (b) first and second pairs of spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls extending upwardly and outwardly from said base, said second pair of sidewalls perpendicularly disposed between and interconnecting said first pair of sidewalls to form a storage compartment;    (c) an inward projection carried by one of said first pair of sidewalls and extending inwardly into the storage compartment;    (d) an outward projection carried by the other of the first pair of sidewalls and extending inwardly into the storage compartment;    (e) a pair of opposed support members, one of said support members pivotally connected to a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls and adapted for being moved between an inwardly-directed position residing within said storage compartment at a predetermined vertical position, and an outwardly-directed position residing exterior to the storage compartment;    said inward projection, outward projection and pair of support members cooperating together for defining: 
 (i) a nesting position wherein each of the support members is in said outwardly-directed position and in a non-interfering position relative to the storage compartment for permitting a like container to be received within the storage compartment, wherein the inward and outward projections on the container engage respective like inward and outward projections carried by the like container;  
 (ii) a first stacking position wherein each of the support members is in the inwardly-directed position for engaging a base of the like container for permitting the like container to be stacked upon the support members at a first predetermined stacking height in spaced-apart relation above said base of the container; and  
 (iii) a second stacking position wherein each of the support members is in the outward position and the like container is oriented for permitting like inward and outward projections of the like container to be stacked upon the respective outwardly and inward projections of said container at a second predetermined stacking height in spaced-apart relation above the base of the container.  
   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said first predetermined stacking height is greater than said second predetermined stacking height.  
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the pair of support members comprises a pair of bails.  
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 3 , and including a pair of shoulders formed on each of the second pair of sidewalls and adapted for receiving one of said pair of bales thereon for maintaining the bale in the inwardly-directed position.  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said pair of bails includes inwardly-turned free ends, each of said free ends adapted for being pivotally connected to a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls.  
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1 , and including a pair of horizontally-extending ribs formed on an exterior surface of each of the first pair of sidewalls, said ribs defining a groove extending therebetween adapted for receiving a respective one of the pair of support members therein for maintaining the support member in the outwardly-directed position.  
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , and including a pair of grooves defined in and extending transversely along the base of the container between the first pair of sidewalls, each of said pair of grooves adapted for receiving a respective one of a pair of support members of the like container therein for maintaining the container in the first stacking position relative to the like container.  
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said inwardly-directed projection comprises a first superposable ledge structure adapted for: 
 (i) complementary engagement with the inwardly-directed projection on the like container for maintaining the like container in said nesting position within the storage compartment; and    (ii) complementary engagement with the outwardly-directed projection on the like container for maintaining the like container in the second stacking position.    
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein said outwardly-directed projection comprises a second superposable ledge structure adapted for: 
 (i) complementary engagement with the outwardly-directed projection on the like container for maintaining the like container in the nesting position within the storage compartment; and    (ii) complementary engagement with the inwardly-directed projection on the like container for maintaining the like container in the second stacking position.    
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 5 , and including first and second pairs of bail socket members, wherein each of said pairs of bail socket members is carried by a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls and each bail socket member is adapted for receiving a respective one of said free ends of the pair of bails therein for permitting pivotal movement of each of the pair of bails between the inwardly-directed and outwardly-directed positions.  
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 5 , and including a bail socket connected to an upper rim of each of the first pair of sidewalls and adapted for receiving the free ends of a respective one of the pair of bails therein for permitting the bail to move between the inwardly-directed and outwardly-directed positions.  
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 1 , and including a plurality of holes defined by and extending through at least one of the sidewalls for providing ventilation to the storage compartment.  
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1 , and including a pair of handles, each of said handles defined by and extending through a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls for permitting the container to be moved from one location to another.  
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 11 , and including a pair of handles, each of said handles defined by and extending through a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls adjacent said upper rim for permitting the container to be moved from one location to another.  
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 14 , and including a plurality of holes defined by and extending through at least one of the sidewalls for providing ventilation to the storage compartment.  
     
     
         16 . A container for storing items and adapted for being stacked upon and nested within a like container, comprising: 
 (a) a base;    (b) first and second pa+irs of spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls extending upwardly and outwardly from said base, said second pair of sidewalls perpendicularly disposed between and interconnecting said first pair of sidewalls to form a storage compartment;    (c) an inward projection carried by one of said first pair of sidewalls and extending inwardly into the storage compartment;    (d) an outward projection carried by the other of the first pair of sidewalls and extending inwardly into the storage compartment;    (e) a pair of opposed bails, one of said bails pivotally connected to a respective one of the first pair of sidewalls and adapted for being moved between an inwardly-directed position residing within said storage compartment at a predetermined vertical position, and an outwardly-directed position residing exterior to the storage compartment;    said inward projection, outward projection and pair of support members cooperating together for defining: 
 (i) a nesting position wherein each of the bails is in said outwardly-directed position and in a non-interfering position relative to the storage compartment for permitting a like container to be received within the storage compartment, wherein the inward and outward projections on the container engage respective like inward and outward projections carried by the like container;  
 (ii) a first stacking position wherein each of the bails is in the inwardly-directed position for engaging a base of the like container for permitting the like container to be stacked upon the support members at a first predetermined stacking height in spaced-apart relation above said base of the container; and  
 (iii) a second stacking position wherein each of the bails is in the outward position and the like container is oriented 180 degrees from said first stacking position for permitting like inward and outward projections of the like container to be stacked upon the respective outwardly and inward projections of said container at a second predetermined stacking height in spaced-apart relation above the base of the container.  
   
     
     
         17 . A container for storing items and adapted for being stacked upon and nested within a like container, comprising: 
 (a) a base;    (b) complementary pairs of spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls extending upwardly and outwardly from said base and interconnected to form a storage compartment;    (c) an inward projection carried by one of a selected pair of said complementary sidewalls and extending inwardly into the storage compartment;    (d) an outward projection carried by the other of said selected pair of sidewalls and extending inwardly into the storage compartment;    (e) a pair of opposed support members, one of said support members pivotally connected to a respective one of the selected pair of sidewalls and adapted for being moved between an inwardly-directed position residing within said storage compartment at a predetermined vertical position, and an outwardly-directed position residing exterior to the storage compartment;    said inward projection, outward projection and pair of support members cooperating together for defining: 
 (i) a nesting position wherein each of the support members is in said outwardly-directed position and in a non-interfering position relative to the storage compartment for permitting a like container to be received within the storage compartment, wherein the inward and outward projections on the container engage respective like inward and outward projections carried by the like container;  
 (ii) a first stacking position wherein each of the support members is in the inwardly-directed position for engaging a base of the like container for permitting the like container to be stacked upon the support members at a first predetermined stacking height in spaced-apart relation above said base of the container; and  
 (iii) a second stacking position wherein each of the support members is in the outward position and the like container is oriented 180 degrees from said first stacking position for permitting like inward and outward projections of the like container to be stacked upon the respective outwardly and inward projections of said container at a second predetermined stacking height in spaced-apart relation above the base of the container.