Modular and stackable tray assembly

Abstract

A system of open top trays of variable heights arranged to be stacked in any arrangement and with the trays in a stacked position defining a common interface datum plane between adjacent trays and releasably locked together. Each tray includes a bottom, longitudinal and transverse perimeter walls, with the perimeter walls being inclined outwardly and terminating in an upper rim, with the perimeter of each tray having the same dimensions regardless of its height. A latch handle is rotatably mounted on each transverse wall at a distance d 1 below the datum plane. A latch hook protrudes outwardly from each transverse wall at a distance d 2 above the datum plane with the latch handle having a locking tab for engaging an associated latch hook of an above positioned tray to releasably lock the trays together.

1 . A system of open top trays of variable heights arranged to be stacked and releasably locked together in any arrangement independent of the individual tray heights, the trays in a stacked position defining a common interface datum plane between adjacent trays, each tray comprising: 
 a bottom and longitudinal and transverse perimeter walls terminating in an upper rim defining an opening through which articles may be placed in and removed from the tray, the perimeter walls being inclined outwardly with respect to the vertical with the rim of each tray having the same dimensions regardless of the height of the tray;    an axle spaced outwardly from each transverse wall to accommodate a rotatable latch handle mounted thereon, the axle being located below the datum plane by a first predetermined distance d 1 ;    a latch hook protruding outwardly from each transverse wall and located above the datum line a second predetermined distance d 2 ; and    a latch handle rotatably mounted on each axle, the latch handle having a locking tab arranged to engage the associated latch hook of an above positioned tray when the latch handle is rotated to a closed position.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral walls include an inwardly stepped section joined to the bottom with the stepped section providing a mating interface with the upper edge of the peripheral walls of a below positioned tray and defining the datum plane so that when the trays are in a stacked relationship the peripheral walls of each container are substantially aligned.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the transverse walls have a recessed center section and wherein the axles and latch hooks are positioned in the center sections.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein each latch handle terminates at one end in the shape of an inverted j-hook defining a groove arranged to fit over the associated axle and terminates at the other end in a finger engaging surface with any intermediate inwardly extending locking tab, the j-hook portion defining a convenient handle for carrying one or several stacked trays.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the longitudinal peripheral walls of the tray define a plurality of vertically oriented opposing divider receiving guides.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein each guide is formed by a pair of elongated opposed generally semicylindrical sections defining a narrow slot therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the distance d 3  between the axles and the distance d 4  between the latch hooks are the same regardless of the height of the tray.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2  further including a cover having longitudinal and transverse perimeter sections with the transverse sections having a recessed center portion with a protruding latch hook on each transverse center portion section, the perimeter sections defining an overcut portion adjacent the bottom thereof with a horizontally oriented shelf arranged to engage the rim of an underlying tray, the latch hook being positioned above the shelf by the distance d 2 .  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the perimeter sections of the cover further define an overhanging vertically oriented skirt arranged to extend over the outside of the upper portion of the perimeter walls of an underlying tray.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein a rotatable handle is mounted on the top of the cover.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly of compartmentalized trays of variable heights arranged to be stacked and releasably locked together, each tray comprising: 
 a bottom and longitudinal perimeter walls and transverse perimeter walls with the perimeter walls being inclined outwardly at angle θ and terminating in an upper rim defining an opening through which articles may be placed in and removed from the tray, each transverse wall having a central section;    a plurality of dividers mounted in the tray to form individual compartments;    an axle positioned adjacent the upper edge and spaced from the central section of each transverse wall to accommodate a rotatable latch handle mounted thereon;    a latch hook protruding outwardly from each transverse wall adjacent the bottom in vertical alignment with the axle; and    a latch handle rotatably mounted on each axle, the latch handle having a locking tab arranged to engage the associated latch hook of an above positioned tray when the handle is rotated to a latched position.    
   
   
       12 . The container assembly of  claim 11  wherein θ is within the range of about 0.5° to 2°.  
   
   
       13 . The container assembly of  claim 12  wherein the peripheral walls include an inwardly stepped section joined to the bottom with the stepped section accommodating the rim of another container so that when the containers are in a stacked relationship the peripheral walls of each container are substantially aligned.  
   
   
       14 . The container assembly of  claim 13  wherein each latch handle defines a groove at one end which fits over the associated axle, a finger engaging surface at the other end and an intermediate locking tab.  
   
   
       15 . The container assembly of  claim 14  wherein each transverse perimeter wall is formed with an inwardly stepped center section with the axle extending across the center section adjacent the upper edge and an outwardly extending latch hook disposed in the center section adjacent the bottom.  
   
   
       16 . A system of open top trays of variable height arranged to be stacked and releasably locked together in any arrangement independent of the individual tray heights, the trays in a stacked position defining a common interface datum plane between adjacent trays, each tray comprising: 
 a bottom and longitudinal and transverse perimeter walls terminating in an upper rim defining an opening through which articles may be placed in and removed from the tray, the perimeter walls being inclined outwardly with respect to the vertical with the rim of each tray having the same dimensions regardless of the height of the tray;    a latch handle rotatably mounted on each transverse perimeter wall about an axis located below the datum plane by a first predetermined distance d 1 ; and    a latch hook protruding outwardly from each transverse wall and located above the datum line a second predetermined distance d 2 , the latch handle having a locking tab arranged to engage an associated latch hook of an above positioned tray when the latch handle is rotated to a closed position.    
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the latch handle is formed with a central section and a stub axle extending outwardly from the central section along the axis of rotation and wherein the transverse perimeter walls define opposed openings for receiving the stub axles.  
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the transverse perimeter walls include a recessed center section located between perpendicularly extending side walls, the side walls defining the openings for the latch handle stub axles.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the peripheral walls include an inwardly stepped section joined to the bottom with the stepped section providing a mating interface with the upper edge of the peripheral walls of a below positioned tray and defining the datum plane so that when the trays are in a stacked relationship the peripheral walls of each container are substantially aligned.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the longitudinal peripheral walls of the tray define a plurality of vertically oriented opposing divider receiving guides.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  further including a cover having longitudinal and transverse perimeter sections with the transverse sections having a recessed center portion with a protruding latch hook on each transverse center portion section, the perimeter sections defining an overcut portion adjacent the bottom thereof with a horizontally oriented shelf arranged to engage the rim of an underlying tray, the latch hook being positioned above the shelf by the distance d 2 .