Collapsible crate

Abstract

A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base. The base includes a plurality of container support areas each defined by a rectangular perimeter defined by a plurality of vents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crate comprising:
 a base including a generally horizontal panel;   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base, generally perpendicular to the panel;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, generally perpendicular to the panel, a handle opening formed through each of the opposed end walls; and   the panel of the base including a plurality of rectangular container support areas of the same size each having four sides, one of the plurality of rectangular container support areas positioned between two others of the plurality of rectangular support areas, wherein the container support areas are arranged in a 3×3 array substantially completely occupying the generally horizontal panel of the base from one of the side walls to the other of the side walls and from one of the end walls to the other of the end walls, each side intersected by a plurality of elongated vents each elongated along an axis perpendicular to the each side, the elongated vents formed through the panel of the base, one row of the elongated vents arranged adjacent each side wall, one column of the elongated vents arranged adjacent each end wall.   
     
     
         2 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the side walls and the end walls are hingeably connected to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having a plurality of lower ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area. 
     
     
         4 . The crate and containers of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of lower ventilation openings are formed through tapered side walls and a lower wall of a base of each of the containers. 
     
     
         5 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion, an outer panel portion above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion above the outer panel portion, wherein the lower panel portion and the upper panel portion are disposed in an inner plane and the outer panel portion is disposed in an outer plane spaced outward of the inner plane. 
     
     
         6 . The crate of  claim 5  wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion to the outer plane and inward from the outer panel portion to the inner plane. 
     
     
         7 . The crate of  claim 5  wherein vertically-oriented vents are formed in the lower panel portion, horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the upper panel portion. 
     
     
         8 . The crate of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having an upper portion hingeably connected to a lower portion, the upper portion including a rim portion extending around a periphery of a lid portion, a plurality of connectors connecting the rim portion of the upper portion to the rim portion of the lower portion and defining a gap between the rim portions, wherein the vents in the outer panel portion of the crate align with the gap between the upper portion and the lower portion of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The crate of  claim 8  wherein the lower portion of each of the containers has ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area. 
     
     
         10 . The crate of  claim 9  further including horizontally-oriented lower vents formed in the lower panel portion below the vertically-oriented vents. 
     
     
         11 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the side walls and the end walls include vents that are arranged such that when one of the end walls of the crate is placed against one of the side walls of an identical crate, the vents in the one of the end walls are aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate. 
     
     
         12 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of identical containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having a plurality of lower ventilation openings aligned with the elongated vents on each of the four sides of the respective container support area. 
     
     
         13 . The crate and containers of  claim 12  wherein the containers are arranged in a 3×3 arrangement on the base of the crate. 
     
     
         14 . A crate comprising:
 a base;   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, each of the end walls including a handle opening therethrough; and   the base including a plurality of container support areas of the same size each defined by a rectangular perimeter having four sides, a plurality of vents arranged along each of the sides of each of the perimeters, wherein the plurality of vents are each elongated along an axis perpendicular to its respective side of the respective perimeter, wherein the container support areas are arranged in a 3×3 array substantially completely occupying the base from one of the side walls to the other of the side walls and from one of the end walls to the other of the end walls.   
     
     
         15 . A crate comprising:
 a base;   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base; and   wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion extending from one end wall to the other end wall, an outer panel portion above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion above the outer panel portion, wherein an inner surface of each of the side walls is defined by the lower panel portion and the upper panel portion, and wherein the inner surface circumscribes the outer panel portion, wherein the outer panel portion is spaced outwardly of the upper panel portion and the lower panel portion, wherein lower vents are formed in the lower panel portion, outer vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and upper vents are formed in the upper panel portion, wherein the lower vents are elongated in a vertical direction, the outer vents are elongated in a horizontal direction and the upper vents are elongated in a direction generally parallel to the outer vents.   
     
     
         16 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion and inward from the outer panel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the vents of the side walls and the end walls are arranged such that when one of the end walls of the crate is placed against one of the side walls of an identical crate, the vents in the one of the end walls would be aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate. 
     
     
         18 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the lower panel portion and the upper panel portion are disposed in an inner plane and wherein the outer panel portion is disposed in an outer plane, spaced outward of the inner plane. 
     
     
         19 . The crate of  claim 18  wherein a first plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion to the outer plane. 
     
     
         20 . The crate of  claim 19  wherein a second plurality of ribs extend inward from the outer panel portion to the inner plane. 
     
     
         21 . The crate of  claim 20  wherein a third plurality of ribs extend outward from the upper panel portion to the outer plane. 
     
     
         22 . A crate comprising:
 a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges;   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the side edges of the base;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base, a handle opening formed through each of the pair of opposed end walls; and   the base including a plurality of first vents adjacent each of the side edges, the first vents elongated along axes perpendicular to the side edges, the base including a plurality of second vents adjacent each of the end edges, the second vents elongated along axes perpendicular to the end edges, the base including a plurality of third vents arranged in a plurality of rows parallel to the side edges, wherein the third vents are elongated along axes perpendicular to the side edges, the base including a plurality of fourth vents arranged in columns parallel to the end edges, wherein the fourth vents are elongated along axes perpendicular to the end edges.