Container Storage System for Flexible Containers

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a container storage system including base tray with a flat platform having a polygonal shape and an array of spaced-apart holes, the flat platform defining a perimeter edge. The base tray also includes a substrate beneath the flat platform. The substrate defines a peripheral edge and a sidewall extends upward from the peripheral edge. A plurality of flexible containers are on the flat platform. Each flexible container has four panels, the four panels forming a body portion, a neck portion with a closure, and a tapered transition portion between the body portion and the neck portion. Each flexible container is inverted such that the neck portion extends downward through a respective hole and the tapered transition portion contacts the flat platform to support the inverted flexible container. One panel of at least one inverted flexible container contacts a panel of another inverted flexible container.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container storage system comprising:
 A. a base tray comprising
 i. a flat platform with a polygonal shape comprising an array of spaced-apart holes, the flat platform defining a perimeter edge; 
 ii. a substrate beneath the flat platform, the substrate defining a peripheral edge, and a sidewall extending upward from the peripheral edge; and 
   B. a plurality of flexible containers on the flat platform, each flexible container having four panels, the four panels forming
 i. a body portion; 
 ii. a neck portion with a closure; and 
 iii. a tapered transition portion between the body portion and the neck portion; 
   each flexible container inverted such that the neck portion extends downward through a respective hole and the tapered transition portion contacts the flat platform above the closure to support the body portion of inverted flexible container; and   one panel of at least one inverted flexible container contacts a panel of another inverted flexible container.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base tray further comprises
 a support platform comprising a support array of spaced-apart holes, the support platform having the same polygonal shape as the flat platform. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein two panels of each inverted flexible container contact a respective panel from two other inverted flexible containers, and the body portion of each flexible container is a gusseted body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the neck portion of each flexible container extends downward through a respective hole in the array;
 the flat platform is covered by inverted flexible containers; and 
 the container storage system has a space utilization of greater than 35%. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base tray has four corners and the system further comprises
 an upright post at each corner. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  comprising a capboard having the same polygonal shape as the flat platform, the capboard supported by the upright posts. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  comprising a band element around the base tray, flexible containers, the upright posts, and the capboard. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  comprising:
 C. a retainer tray comprising 
 i. a retainer platform comprising a retainer array of spaced-apart holes, the retainer platform defining a retainer perimeter edge; 
 ii. a retainer sidewall extending upward from the retainer perimeter edge; 
 
       the retainer platform extending across bottom segments of the inverted flexible containers; and
 D. a second set of flexible containers on the retainer tray, each flexible container of the second set inverted such that the neck portion extends downward through a respective hole of the retainer platform; and 
 the closure of at least one flexible container in the second set contacts a base segment of an inverted flexible container on the flat platform. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the tapered transition portion of each flexible container in the second set contacts the retainer platform to support the inverted flexible container. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein one panel of at least one inverted flexible container in the second set contacts a panel of another inverted flexible container in the second set. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein two panels of each inverted flexible container of the second set contacts a respective panel from two other inverted flexible containers in the second set. 
     
     
         12 . A container storage system comprising:
 A. a base tray comprising
 i. a flat platform with a polygonal shape comprising an array of spaced-apart holes, the flat platform defining a perimeter edge; 
 ii. a substrate beneath the flat platform, the substrate defining a peripheral edge, and a sidewall extending upward from the peripheral edge; 
   B. a first set of flexible containers on the flat platform, each flexible container having four panels, the four panels forming
 i. a body portion; 
 ii. a neck portion with a closure; and 
 iii. a tapered transition portion between the body portion and the neck portion; 
   each flexible container of the first set is inverted such that the neck portion extends downward through a respective hole and the tapered transition portion contacts the flat platform above the closure to support the body portion of the inverted flexible container;   C. a retainer tray extending across bottom segments of the inverted flexible containers of the first set, the retainer tray comprising
 i. a retainer platform, comprising a retainer array of spaced-apart holes, the retainer platform defining a retainer perimeter edge; and 
 ii. a retainer sidewall extending upward from the retainer perimeter edge; and 
   D. a second set of flexible containers on the retainer tray, each flexible container of the second set inverted such that the neck portion extends downward through a respective hole of the retainer platform; and   the closure of at least one flexible container in the second set contacts a base segment of an inverted flexible container on the flat platform.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein for each inverted flexible container, the body portion is above its respective closure. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein one panel of at least one inverted flexible container in the first set contacts a panel of another inverted flexible container in the first set. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the tapered transition portion of each flexible container in the second set contacts the retainer platform to support the inverted flexible container. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein one panel of at least one inverted flexible container in the second set contacts a panel of another inverted flexible container in the second set. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the base tray and the retainer platform each has four corners and the system further comprises
 an upright post at each corner of the base tray, each upright post extending upward from the corner of the base tray to a corner of the retainer platform. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  comprising a capboard having the same polygonal shape as the flat platform, the capboard above the second set of flexible containers and supported by the upright posts. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  comprising a band element around the base tray, the retaining tray, the flexible containers, the upright posts, and the capboard. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the container storage system has a space utilization of greater than 35%.