Poultry crate

Abstract

A collapsible poultry crate comprising a base defining a peripheral edge; a plurality of side walls, each side wall being mounted on the base along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base each side wall pivoting between a closed position and an open position; each side wall having a respective top surface, two or more tabs extending from a respective top surface of the side walls; and a plurality of end walls, each end wall being mounted on the base along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base; the base having a width and a length such that M poultry crates arranged in a predetermined pattern exhibit a footprint substantially the same as the footprint of N meat crates disposed in a predetermined pattern.

1 . A collapsible poultry crate comprising:
 a base defining a peripheral edge;   a plurality of side walls, each side wall being mounted on the base along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base each side wall pivoting between a closed position and an open position; each side wall having a respective top surface, two or more tabs extending from a respective top surface of the side walls; and   a plurality of end walls, each end wall being mounted on the base along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base;   the base having a width and a length such that N poultry crates arranged in a predetermined pattern exhibit a footprint substantially the same as the footprint of M meat crates disposed in a predetermined pattern, each meat crate having a different footprint than each poultry crate.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 1 , wherein M=N−1. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 1 , having a base, wherein the base has a first edge and a second edge opposed from the first edge and further comprising at least a first pocket formed along the first edge and a second pocket formed in the second edge. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 1 , each sidewall having a respective corner, and a first rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewall substantially at the corner. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 3 , wherein each sidewall has a length, and a respective second rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewalls, the second rib structure disposed at a position spaced about one third of the length of the sidewall from the corner of the sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the two or more tabs extends from the top surface of the sidewall at a position disposed along the length of the sidewall between the first rib and the second rib structure. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 2 , wherein the first rib structure includes a first longitudinal rib and a second longitudinal rib spaced from the first longitudinal rib, each of the first longitudinal rib and second longitudinal rib extending along the height of the sidewall, and a plurality of horizontal ribs extending between the first longitudinal rib and the second longitudinal rib. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 1 , wherein each tab is tapered. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 4 , wherein each sidewall has a second corner, a third rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewall substantially at the second corner. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 9 , further comprising a support structure extending along the sidewall adjacent the top surface, and at least between the first rib structure and the third rib structure. 
     
     
         11 . The support structure of  claim 10 , wherein the support structure is one of a lattice, horizontal rib, vertical rib and combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible poultry crate comprising:
 a base defining a peripheral edge;   a plurality of side walls, each side wall being mounted on the base along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base each side wall pivoting between a closed position and an open position; each side wall having a respective top surface, two or more tabs extending from a respective top surface of the side walls;   a plurality of end walls, each end wall being mounted on the base along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base, the plurality of side walls and plurality of end walls defining an interior space having a length of about 22.85 inches ±0.25 inches and a width of about 14.878 inches ±0.25 inches; and   wherein each end wall has a thickness, the thickness of each end wall being about 0.525 inches ±0.25 inches, and each side wall has a thickness, the thickness of each side wall being about 0.500 inches ±0.25 inches.   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 12 , wherein each tab has a thickness, the thickness of the tab being less than the thickness of the side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 12 , wherein the base has a first edge and a second edge opposed from the first edge and further comprising at least a first pocket formed along the first edge and a second pocket formed along the second edge. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 12 , wherein each sidewall has a respective corner, and a first rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewall substantially at the corner. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 12 , wherein each sidewall has a length, and a second rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewalls, the second rib structure disposed at a position spaced about one third of the length of the sidewall from each corner. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the two or more tabs extends from the top surface of the sidewall at a position disposed along the length of the sidewall between the first rib structure and the second rib structure. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 15 , wherein the first rib structure includes a first longitudinal rib and a second longitudinal rib spaced from the first longitudinal rib, each of the first longitudinal rib and the second longitudinal rib extending along the height of the sidewall, and a plurality of horizontal ribs extending between the first longitudinal rib and the second. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 12 , wherein each tab is tapered. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 12 , wherein each sidewall has a respective corner, and a third rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewall substantially at the second corner. 
     
     
         21 . The collapsible poultry crate of  claim 20 , further comprising a support structure extending along the sidewall adjacent the top surface, and at least between the first rib structure and the third rib structure. 
     
     
         22 . The support structure of  claim 21 , wherein the support structure is one of a lattice, horizontal rib, vertical rib or combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A pallet of crates having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising: 
       M poultry crates, each poultry crate having a base defining a peripheral edge, a plurality of side walls, each side wall being mounted on the base, along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement relative to the base each side panel pivoting between a closed position and an open position; a plurality of side walls, each side wall being pivotally mounted on the bottom panel, each side wall having a respective top surface, two or more tabs extending from a respective top surface of the end walls;
 the second layer being formed of N meat crates where N is less than M; and 
 the base of the poultry crate having a width and a length such that M poultry crates arranged in a predetermined pattern exhibit a footprint substantially the same as the footprint of N meat crates disposed in a predetermined pattern. 
 
     
     
         24 . The pallet of  claim 23 , wherein the base of the poultry crate has a first edge and a second edge opposed from the first edge and further comprising at least a first pocket formed along the first edge and a second pocket formed in the second edge. 
     
     
         25 . The pallet of  claim 23 , wherein each sidewalk of the poultry crate has a respective corner, and a first rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewall substantially at the corner. 
     
     
         26 . The pallet of  claim 25 , wherein each sidewall of the poultry crate has a length, and a respective second rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewalls, the second rib structure disposed at a position spaced about one third of the length of the sidewall from the corner of the sidewall. 
     
     
         27 . The pallet of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the two or more tabs of the poultry crate extends from the top surface of the sidewall at a position disposed along the length of the sidewall between the first rib and the second rib structure. 
     
     
         28 . The pallet of  claim 24 , wherein the first rib structure of the poultry crate includes a first longitudinal rib, and a second longitudinal rib spaced from the first longitudinal rib, each of the first longitudinal rib and second longitudinal rib extending along the height of the sidewall, and a plurality of horizontal ribs extending between the first longitudinal rib and the second longitudinal rib. 
     
     
         29 . The pallet of  claim 23 , wherein each tab is tapered. 
     
     
         30 . The pallet of  claim 25 , wherein each sidewall of the poultry crate has a second corner, a third rib structure extending along a height of the respective sidewall substantially at the second corner. 
     
     
         31 . The pallet of  claim 30 , further comprising a support structure extending along the sidewall of the poultry crate adjacent the top surface, and at least between the first rib structure and the third rib structure. 
     
     
         32 . The pallet of  claim 31 , wherein the support structure is one of a lattice, horizontal rib, vertical rib and combination thereof.