Beverage tray with drop wall

Abstract

A nestable beverage tray includes a base and a first pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base and integrally molded with the base. A second pair of opposed walls extend upward from the base. At least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivotably connected to the base, such that it can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and a retracted position. In a disclosed method, bottles shipped in the tray can be slid from the base directly onto a shelf, or alternatively, from the base onto the open wall and then onto the shelf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nestable beverage tray comprising:
 a base;   a first pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base, wherein the first pair of opposed walls are integrally molded with the base; and   a second pair of opposed walls extending upward from the base, wherein at least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivotably connected to the base, such that the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and a retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 1  wherein the base is receivable between the first pair of opposed walls of a similar container when nested therein. 
     
     
         3 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 1  wherein both of the second pair of opposed walls are pivotably connected to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 1  further including at least one latch selectively securing the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls to at least one of the first pair of opposed walls. 
     
     
         5 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 1  wherein the first pair of opposed walls and the second pair of opposed walls include an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is offset inwardly relative to the upper portion such that the lower portion of the tray can be received within the upper portion of a similar tray. 
     
     
         6 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 5  wherein the upper portion of each wall includes an outer panel portion having a plurality of ribs projecting inward from an inner face of the outer panel portion. 
     
     
         7 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 6  further including hinges connecting the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls to the base. 
     
     
         8 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 7  wherein the hinges of the tray are receivable between the ribs of the similar tray when the tray is nested in the similar tray. 
     
     
         9 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 8  wherein the hinges each include a hinge pin and a hinge receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 9  wherein the hinge receivers are integrally molded with the base and substantially flush with an upper surface of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 10  wherein the lower portion of the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls is substantially flush with the base when the at least one of the second pair of opposed walls is pivoted to an open position substantially parallel to the base. 
     
     
         12 . A nestable beverage tray comprising:
 a base including an upper support surface for supporting beverage containers thereon;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, wherein the end walls are integrally molded with the base; and   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base, the side walls each including an upper band portion and a lower portion, the lower portion offset inwardly relative to the upper band portion, such that the lower portion of the tray could be received within the upper band portion of a similar tray, the side walls including a first side wall, the first side wall pivotably connected to the base, such that the first side wall can be selectively pivoted between an upright position and an open position.   
     
     
         13 . The nestable beverage tray of  claim 12  further including hinges connecting the first side wall to the base, wherein the hinges and the first side wall are substantially flush with the upper support surface of the base when the first side wall is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to the base. 
     
     
         14 . A method for delivering bottles including the steps of:
 a) transporting to a position proximate a shelf the bottles in a tray having a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls including a first wall;   b) pivoting the first wall downward to an open position;   c) sliding the bottles from the base to the shelf.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step c) further includes the step of sliding the bottles from the base onto the first wall and sliding the bottles from the first wall onto the shelf. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further including the step of nesting the tray within a similar tray after said step d).