Stackable tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to containers and, more specifically, to trays that can be arranged at angles over the range from 0 to 180° so that, through this rotation, different height positions can be obtained; that include ergonomic handholds, which allow an operator to identify, by touch, the proper side for stacking or stowing or adding trays, as required; a dual guide on the base of the feet, to prevent the feet from separating when the trays are stowed; a dual track or groove along the sides, to allow so-called “shoe” or “skate” elements to slide and to prevent the trays from departing from their position; socket parts (male-female), to ensure that the upper trays do not become disengaged during sudden movements and to allow the trays to be stacked to different heights; and stops or protuberances in both the upper part and the lower part of the tray, to prevent the upper trays from sliding freely along the groove of the lower tray or along its side, depending on their position.

1 . A tray that can be stacked on another, identical tray, or on trays of a different size, which tray includes: 
 a front side that has a recess in the shape of a half-moon, with internal ribs or reinforcements and holes, in which the upper portion of said front side has, at each corner, spatially distributed recesses that serve as a guide and support for an upper tray; protruding sides which are higher than the front and back sides, and each of which has three spatially distributed handholds for the handling of said tray in various orientations,    a continuous groove or slideway located in the upper portion thereof, upon which rests slidably a single foot and a compound foot, of different dimensions, of an upper tray of identical or different size, depending on the desired orientation thereof, with said single and compound feet being located in the lower portion of each of said sides of greater height; the internal portion of each of said sides of greater height having recesses, one of which is located in a first corner and the other near a second corner, each of which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receives one of the single and compound feet;    a back side that has two slots located in its lower portion, each of which is near each corner, which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receive vertical elements or rods, which vertical elements or rods form an integral part of the front side of the tray on the exterior thereof, and the dimensions of each of which allow them to mate with each of said slots.    
   
   
       2 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein when the feet of an upper tray mate with the groove of a lower tray, and the feet and rods of an upper tray mate with the recesses and slots of a lower tray, different heights are produced.  
   
   
       3 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the central handholds located at the balance point of a side of greater height has an ergonomic (anatomical) shape, and the other central handhold located at the balance point of the other side of greater height has a convex curve.  
   
   
       4 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein, of the handholds located near each of the extremities of each of the sides of greater height, one handhold is angled inward and the other is approximately vertical, so that the tray can be manipulated at different angles.  
   
   
       5 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the sliding element or groove has an external reinforcement with which the protrusions of the compound foot mate, and an internal reinforcement with which the single foot mates, thus reducing the deformation stresses applied to the sliding element due to the weight of the product.  
   
   
       6 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the base of the sliding element includes protuberances that prevent the undesired sliding of an upper tray when it is stacked.  
   
   
       7 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the tray has two protrusions located on each of the corners, which serve as stops when the trays are in a given orientation.  
   
   
       8 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein each compound foot forms a set of dual and parallel shoes or skates, which, when sliding along the length of the sliding element or rail, serve as a guide for maintaining the proper direction of the displacement of the upper tray, and are converted into supports and reinforcements for the guide.  
   
   
       9 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the corners with which the user-operator has contact are rounded or chamfered, and all the corners in the inner portion of the tray have an arc that prevents the accumulation of residues of the product.  
   
   
       10 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess in the shape of a half-moon has ribs or reinforcements that allow an insert to be installed in order to strengthen said side.  
   
   
       11 . The tray according to  claim 10 , wherein the insert includes rods that correspond to the holes that are located in the front side of reduced height.  
   
   
       12 . The tray according to  claim 10 , wherein the insert is installed mechanically, and heat is then applied to ensure its firm fixation.  
   
   
       13 . An insert intended to be installed in the front side of a tray, wherein said tray can be stacked on another, identical tray, or on trays of a different size, which tray includes: 
 a front side that has a recess in the shape of a half-moon, with internal ribs or reinforcements and holes, in which the upper portion of said front side has, at each corner, spatially distributed recesses that serve as a guide and support for an upper tray; protruding sides which are higher than the front and back sides, and each of which has three spatially distributed handholds for the handling of said tray in various orientations,    a continuous groove or slideway located in the upper portion thereof, upon which rests slidably a single foot and a compound foot, of different dimensions, of an upper tray of identical or different size, depending on the desired orientation thereof, with said single and compound feet being located in the lower portion of each of said sides of greater height; the internal portion of each of said sides of greater height having recesses, one of which is located in a first corner and the other near a second corner, each of which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receives one of the single and compound feet;    a back side that has two slots located in its lower portion, each of which is near each corner, which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receive vertical elements or rods, which vertical elements or rods form an integral part of the front side of the tray on the exterior thereof, and the dimensions of each of which allow them to mate with each of said slots.    
   
   
       14 . The insert according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the rods mates with each of the holes in the front side.  
   
   
       15 . The insert according to  claim 13 , wherein said insert has a useful surface area located on its front, on which labels, trademarks, logos, and other distinctive symbols can be placed.  
   
   
       16 . A tray system, consisting of trays of the same size or a combination of trays of different sizes, which may be oriented in different positions, with each tray including male-female socket elements for joining an upper tray and a lower tray, supporting elements for supporting an upper tray, displacement elements for allowing the displacement of an upper tray on a lower one, handhold elements for mounting an upper tray directly on a lower tray or for grasping an upper tray to be slid on a lower tray, and stop elements.  
   
   
       17 . A nominally longitudinal tray, wherein said tray includes single and compound feet for sliding on a sliding element or groove of a lower tray, said feet mating with a female recess or socket located in the inner part of a lower tray, and a vertical element or shaft that mates with a slot located in the inner part of a lower tray when the tray has a desired orientation for its storage or a different orientation for transporting a product.  
   
   
       18 . The trays according to  claim 17 , wherein said trays can be interleaved between other trays, wherein said other trays can be stacked on additional identical trays, or on additional trays of a different size, which other trays include: 
 a front side that has a recess in the shape of a half-moon, with internal ribs or reinforcements and holes, in which the upper portion of said front side has, at each corner, spatially distributed recesses that serve as a guide and support for an upper tray; protruding sides which are higher than the front and back sides, and each of which has three spatially distributed handholds for the handling of said other tray in various orientations,    a continuous groove or slideway located in the upper portion thereof, upon which rests slidably a single foot and a compound foot, of different dimensions, of an upper tray of identical or different size, depending on the desired orientation thereof, with said single and compound feet being located in the lower portion of each of said sides of greater height; the internal portion of each of said sides of greater height having recesses, one of which is located in a first corner and the other near a second corner, each of which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receives one of the single and compound feet;    a back side that has two slots located in its lower portion, each of which is near each corner, which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receive vertical elements or rods, which vertical elements or rods form an integral part of the front side of the tray on the exterior thereof, and the dimensions of each of which allow them to mate with each of said slots.    
   
   
       19 . A combined system consisting of: 
 a first tray that can be stacked on another, identical tray, or on trays of a different size, which first tray includes:    a front side that has a recess in the shape of a half-moon, with internal ribs or reinforcements and holes, in which the upper portion of said front side has, at each corner, spatially distributed recesses that serve as a guide and support for an upper tray; protruding sides which are higher than the front and back sides, and each of which has three spatially distributed handholds for the handling of said first tray in various orientations,    a continuous groove or slideway located in the upper portion thereof, upon which rests slidably a single foot and a compound foot, of different dimensions, of an upper tray of identical or different size, depending on the desired orientation thereof, with said single and compound feet being located in the lower portion of each of said sides of greater height; the internal portion of each of said sides of greater height having recesses, one of which is located in a first corner and the other near a second corner, each of which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receives one of the single and compound feet;    a back side that has two slots located in its lower portion, each of which is near each corner, which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receive vertical elements or rods, which vertical elements or rods form an integral part of the front side of the tray on the exterior thereof, and the dimensions of each of which allow them to mate with each of said slots and    a nominally longitudinal second tray, wherein said second tray includes single and compound feet for sliding on a sliding element or groove of a lower tray, said feet mating with a female recess or socket located in the inner part of a lower tray, and a vertical element or shaft that mates with a slot located in the inner part of a lower tray when the second tray has a desired orientation for its storage or a different orientation for transporting a product,    wherein the first and second trays can be interleaved among each other.    
   
   
       20 . A nominally transverse tray, wherein said tray includes single and compound feet for sliding on a sliding element or groove of a lower tray, said feet mating with a female recess or socket located in the inner part of a lower tray, and a vertical element or shaft that mates with a slot located in the inner part of a lower tray when the tray has a desired orientation for its storage or a different orientation for transporting a product.  
   
   
       21 . A combined system consisting of: 
 a first tray that can be stacked on another, identical tray, or on trays of a different size, which first tray includes:    a front side that has a recess in the shape of a half-moon, with internal ribs or reinforcements and holes, in which the upper portion of said front side has, at each corner, spatially distributed recesses that serve as a guide and support for an upper tray; protruding sides which are higher than the front and back sides, and each of which has three spatially distributed handholds for the handling of said first tray in various orientations,    a continuous groove or slideway located in the upper portion thereof, upon which rests slidably a single foot and a compound foot, of different dimensions, of an upper tray of identical or different size, depending on the desired orientation thereof, with said single and compound feet being located in the lower portion of each of said sides of greater height; the internal portion of each of said sides of greater height having recesses, one of which is located in a first corner and the other near a second corner, each of which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receives one of the single and compound feet;    a back side that has two slots located in its lower portion, each of which is near each corner, which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receive vertical elements or rods, which vertical elements or rods form an integral part of the front side of the tray on the exterior thereof, and the dimensions of each of which allow them to mate with each of said slots and    a nominally transverse second tray, wherein said second tray includes single and compound feet for sliding on a sliding element or groove of a lower tray, said feet mating with a female recess or socket located in the inner part of a lower tray, and a vertical element or shaft that mates with a slot located in the inner part of a lower tray when said second tray has a desired orientation for its storage or a different orientation for transporting a product,    wherein said first tray can only be placed on top of said transverse second trays.    
   
   
       22 . A combined system consisting of: 
 a first tray that can be stacked on another, identical tray, or on trays of a different size, which first tray includes:    a front side that has a recess in the shape of a half-moon, with internal ribs or reinforcements and holes, in which the upper portion of said front side has, at each corner, spatially distributed recesses that serve as a guide and support for an upper tray; protruding sides which are higher than the front and back sides, and each of which has three spatially distributed handholds for the handling of said first tray in various orientations,    a continuous groove or slideway located in the upper portion thereof, upon which rests slidably a single foot and a compound foot, of different dimensions, of an upper tray of identical or different size, depending on the desired orientation thereof, with said single and compound feet being located in the lower portion of each of said sides of greater height; the internal portion of each of said sides of greater height having recesses, one of which is located in a first corner and the other near a second corner, each of which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receives one of the single and compound feet;    a back side that has two slots located in its lower portion, each of which is near each corner, which, depending on the desired orientation of an upper tray, receive vertical elements or rods, which vertical elements or rods form an integral part of the front side of the tray on the exterior thereof, and the dimensions of each of which allow them to mate with each of said slots,    a nominally longitudinal second tray, wherein said second tray includes single and compound feet for sliding on a sliding element or groove of a lower tray, said feet mating with a female recess or socket located in the inner part of a lower tray, and a vertical element or shaft that mates with a slot located in the inner part of a lower tray when said second tray has a desired orientation for its storage or a different orientation for transporting a product, and    a nominally transverse third tray, wherein said third tray includes single and compound feet for sliding on a sliding element or groove of a lower tray, said feet mating with a female recess or socket located in the inner part of a lower tray, and a vertical element or shaft that mates with a slot located in the inner part of a lower tray when said third tray has a desired orientation for its storage or a different orientation for transporting a product,    wherein said first tray can only be placed on top of said transverse trays, and not under them.    
   
   
       23 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the handholds are designed to allow the tray to be handled by a disabled or handicapped person.  
   
   
       24 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the loads applied to the tray are distributed among the structural elements.  
   
   
       25 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner corners of the tray are slightly rounded or chamfered, for distribution of the concentration of stresses and easy removal of product wastes, grease, or any other undesirable material.  
   
   
       26 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein when the feet of an upper tray mate with the groove of a lower tray, or the feet and rods of an upper tray mate with the recesses and slots of a lower tray, different heights are produced.