Multi-function storage bin

Abstract

A storage bin having two side walls, each having an upper channel and a lower channel. The upper and lower channels have a point of entry that is partially blocked by a tab. The storage bin also has a pair of feet, which are insertable into the upper channels to stack the bins, or the lower channels to nest the bins. The tabs partially block the points of entry and act as a barrier to inhibit removal of the feet from the channels. Removal of the feet from the channels generally requires a vertical force to lift the feet over the tab and a horizontal force to slide the feet out of the channel. The channel and tab configuration therefore reduces the risk that the bins will fall into one another, tip over and separate or crack from placing unnecessary stress on the side walls of the bin when inserting and removing the feet from the channel. These as well as other features of the storage bin, are described more fully below.

1 . A storage bin comprising:
 a pair of side walls separated from each other by a rear portion and a bottom portion, the rear portion and the bottom portion extending between the side walls,   a channel in each side wall, each channel having a point of entry,   a tab partially blocking a portion of at least one channel such that the tab impedes removing a foot of a second storage bin when the foot is inserted in the channel.   
     
     
         2 . A storage bin according to  claim 1  wherein the channel extends from a front portion of the storage bin towards the rear portion of the storage bin, and the point of entry is near the front portion of the storage bin. 
     
     
         3 . A storage bin according to  claim 1  wherein the channel has an upper wall having an upper front edge and a lower wall having a lower front edge, and the upper front edge is offset from the lower front edge. 
     
     
         4 . A storage bin according to  claim 3  wherein the channel is tapered such that the channel is wider near the point of entry and narrower near the rear portion of the storage bin. 
     
     
         5 . A storage bin according to  claim 3  wherein the channel is tapered such that the channel is wider near the point of entry facilitating insertion of a foot of a second storage bin into the channel and narrower near the rear portion of the storage bin tending to retain in the channel the feet of a second storage bin. 
     
     
         6 . A storage bin according to  claim 3  wherein the upper wall of the channel is sloped relative to the lower wall of the channel to center the foot of the second storage bin in the channel. 
     
     
         7 . A storage bin according to  claim 6  wherein the upper wall of the channel is further comprised of a lateral portion to restrict the vertical movement of the foot in the channel. 
     
     
         8 . A storage bin according to  claim 1  wherein the tab partially blocks the point of entry of at least one channel. 
     
     
         9 . A storage bin according to  claim 1  further comprising a second storage bin, wherein the foot on the second storage bin is insertable into the channel to stack the storage bins on top of one another or to nest one storage bin at least partially within the other storage bin. 
     
     
         10 . A storage bin comprising:
 a pair of side walls separated from each other by a rear wall and a bottom surface, the rear wall and bottom surface extending between the side walls,   an upper channel in each side wall, each upper channel having a point of entry and a tab partially blocking the point of entry such that the tabs impede removal of a pair of feet on a second storage bin when the feet are inserted into the upper channels to stack the storage bins on top of one another, and   a lower channel in each side wall, each lower channel having a point of entry and a tab partially blocking the point of entry such that the tabs impede removal of the feet on the second storage bin when the feet are inserted into the lower channels to at least partially nest the storage bins together.   
     
     
         11 . A storage bin according to  claim 10  wherein at least one of the upper or lower channels has an upper wall having an upper front edge and a lower wall having a lower front edge and the upper front edge is offset from the lower front edge. 
     
     
         12 . A storage bin according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one upper or lower channel is tapered such that the channel is wider near the point of entry and narrower near the rear portion of the storage bin. 
     
     
         13 . A storage bin according to  claim 11  wherein the tab extends from the lower front edge of the channel to restrict the horizontal movement of the foot in the channel. 
     
     
         14 . A storage bin according to  claim 13  wherein the upper wall of the at least one channel is further comprised of a lateral portion to restrict the vertical movement of the foot in the channel. 
     
     
         15 . A storage bin according to  claim 14  wherein the lateral portion is a flange-like lateral extension of the side walls. 
     
     
         16 . A storage bin according to  claim 14  wherein the upper wall of at least one channel is angled relative to the lower portion of the channel. 
     
     
         17 . A storage bin comprising:
 a pair of side walls separated from each other by a rear portion and a bottom portion, the rear portion and bottom portion extending between the side walls,   a channel in each side wall, each channel having an upper portion having an upper front edge and a lower portion having a lower front edge,   a point of entry defined by the upper front edge and the lower front edge, and   a tab at least partially blocking the point of entry of at least one channel such that the tab impedes removal of a foot on a second storage bin when the foot is inserted into the channel.   
     
     
         18 . A storage bin according to  claim 17  wherein the tab extends from the lower front edge of the channel. 
     
     
         19 . A storage bin according to  claim 17  wherein the upper front edge is offset from the lower front edge. 
     
     
         20 . A storage bin according to  claim 17  wherein the upper portion of the channel is sloped relative to the lower portion of the channel. 
     
     
         21 . A storage bin according to  claim 20  wherein the upper portion of the channel has a lateral portion. 
     
     
         22 . A storage bin according to  claim 21  wherein the lateral portion is a flange-like lateral extension of the side walls. 
     
     
         23 . A storage bin according to  claim 22  wherein the foot is comprised of an angular portion and a lateral portion. 
     
     
         24 . A storage bin according to  claim 22  further comprising a second channel in each side wall. 
     
     
         25 . A method of arranging storage bins comprising the steps of:
 inserting a foot of a first storage bin into a channel of a second storage bin, impeding the movement of the first storage bin at least partially blocking a point of entry to the channel.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the storage bins are stacked on top of one another. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the storage bins are at least partially nested within each other. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of lifting the foot to unblock it from removal from the channel.