Multi-height container

Abstract

A container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. A support includes a support portion connected to the walls by a pair of arms. The arms each include a first arm portion connected to the support portion and a second arm portion pivotably connected to the first arm portion. The second arm portion is pivotably connected to the walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall and an opposite second wall, the first wall and the second wall each including an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion;   a support including a support portion connected to one of the walls by a support arm between the first wall and the second wall, the support arm including a first arm portion connected to the support portion and a second arm portion pivotably connected to the first arm portion and pivotably connected to first wall, the second arm portion between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion, wherein the support is pivotable between a nesting position where the support portion does not extend over the base of the container, a low stack position where the support portion extends over the base of the container and a high stack position where the support portion extends over the base of the container at a height higher than the low stack position.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the second arm portion includes a pair of pivot pins received in holes in the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the support arm is a first support arm connected to the support portion near one end of the support portion, the support further including a second support arm connected to the support portion near an opposite end of the support portion, the second support arm including a first arm portion pivotably connected to a second arm portion, the second arm portion pivotably connected to the second wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the support is also movable to a middle stack position higher than the low stack position and lower than the high stack position, wherein an identical container can be stacked on the support in the low stack position, the middle stack position or the high stack position and wherein the identical container can be nested within the container when the support is in the nesting position. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the support is a first support, the container further including a second support connected to the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  in combination with the identical container stacked on the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         7 . The container and identical container of  claim 6  wherein the first support and the second support are in the low stack position. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the inner wall portion includes a high stack surface, a middle stack surface and a low stack surface, the support contacting the high stack surface in the high stack position, the middle stack surface in the middle stack position and the low stack surface in the low stack position. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are connected by a hinge, the hinge including a pivot pin snap-fit into an aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the second arm portion is pivotably connected to the first wall and the second wall at a fixed pivot axis. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the second arm portion is pivotably connected to the first wall and the second wall at a fixed pivot axis. 
     
     
         12 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls including a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls; and   a support pivotably connected to the pair of side walls about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is fixed relative to the side walls and fixed relative to the support, the support movable between a nesting position, a high stack position and a low stack position, wherein the support includes a support portion that is positioned over the base in the high stack position and the low stack position, wherein the support portion is positioned over one of the end walls in the nesting position.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein positions of the support portion in the high stack position and low stack position are vertically aligned with one another. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the support is a first support, the container further including a second support, wherein the second support is pivotably connected to the pair of side walls. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein each of the side walls includes a high stack surface, a middle stack surface and a low stack surface, wherein the high stack surface, the middle stack surface and the low stack surface are vertically aligned with one another, the first support and the second support contacting the high stack surface in the high stack position, the middle stack surface in a middle stack position and the low stack surface in the low stack position. 
     
     
         16 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base; and   a pair of supports each including a support portion connected by a pair of arms to the side walls such that one of the pair of arms is connected to one of the side walls and the other of the pair of arms is connected to the other of the side walls, each of the pair of arms on each of the pair of supports including a first arm portion connected to the support portion and a second arm portion pivotably connected to the first arm portion and pivotably connected to the respective side wall, wherein each support is movable between a nesting position, a high stack position and a low stack position, wherein the support portion of each support is positioned over the base in the high stack position and the low stack position, wherein the support portion of each support is positioned over the end wall in the nesting position.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the pair of opposed side walls each include an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, the second arm portion between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the second arm portion includes a pair of pivot pins received in holes in the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein positions of each support portion in the high stack position and low stack position are vertically aligned with one another. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the support is pivotably connected to the side walls about a pivot axis that is fixed relative to the side walls and fixed relative to the support.