Enhanced tote system for facilitating retail pick-up orders

Abstract

A tote and tote system providing for more efficient retail order pick-ups is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a tote may include a rear panel, a front panel, and a bottom panel for supporting one or more retail items. The tote may further include a first and a second side panel. The tote may further include one or more hand holds disposed upon one or more of the first panel, the second panel, the rear panel, and the front panel. The tote may further include one or more bale arms positioned across a top of the tote and an opening for accessing the one or more retail items of the tote. The one or more bale arms may extend from the first side panel to the second side panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tote, comprising:
 a bottom panel for supporting one or more retail items;   a rear panel and a front panel, wherein the front panel comprises an opening for accessing the one or more retail items of the tote;   a first and a second side panel;   one or more hand holds disposed upon one or more of the first panel, the second panel, the rear panel, and the front panel; and   one or more bale arms positioned across a top of the tote, wherein the one or more bale arms extend from the first side panel to the second side panel.   
     
     
         2 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the bottom panel comprises a ridge. 
     
     
         3 . The tote of  claim 2 , wherein a bottom surface of the bottom panel comprises a groove. 
     
     
         4 . The tote of  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the ridge and the groove extends across substantially the entire width of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         5 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel is thicker than each of the rear panel, the front panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bale arms comprise molded plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more flaps disposed upon the top of the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the one or more flaps are folded over and attached to a body of the tote. 
     
     
         8 . The tote of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more flaps are attached to the body of the tote with sonic welds. 
     
     
         9 . The tote of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more bale arms resides within one or more indented portions disposed upon the one or more flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel comprises a frictional portion comprising a gridded pattern. 
     
     
         11 . A tote system, comprising:
 two or more totes, wherein each of the two or more totes comprise:
 one or more bale arms; and 
 one or more grooves, 
   wherein the one or more bale arms are rotatable between a first position and a second position;   wherein the two or more totes comprise a first tote and a second tote;   wherein the second tote is stacked on top of the first tote; and   wherein at least one of the one or more bale arms of the first tote is coupled to at least one groove of the second tote.   
     
     
         12 . The tote system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third tote stacked on top of the second tote, wherein at least one bale arm of the second tote is coupled to at least one groove of the third tote.   
     
     
         13 . The tote system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one bottom surface of a bottom panel of the two or more totes comprises one or more of:
 a raised frictional portion extending less than one-half an inch beyond the primary plane of the bottom surface, wherein the raised frictional portion is suitable to increase the force of friction between the bottom surface and an object adjacent to the bottom surface; and   a lowered frictional portion depressed less than one-half an inch into the primary plane of the bottom surface, wherein the lowered frictional portion is suitable to increase the force of friction between the bottom surface and the object adjacent to the bottom surface.   
     
     
         14 . A method of facilitating retail pick-up orders, comprising:
 stacking two or more totes in a first column of totes, wherein each of the two or more totes in the first column has
 an opening such that an operator may place retail items in each of the two or more totes while the two or more totes are stacked, and 
 one or more bale arms that are rotatable between a first position and a second position; and 
   placing retail items in at least one of the two or more totes corresponding to one or more retail orders for fulfillment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 removing one or more retail items from the at least one of the two or more totes such that the at least one of the two or more totes is a first empty tote;   rotating the one or more bale arms of the first empty tote from a first position to a second position; and   nesting the first empty tote in a second empty tote,   wherein the second empty tote is nested in a third empty tote.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing a bottom empty tote on a pallet, wherein the bottom empty tote comprises an empty tote in a column of totes, the column of totes comprising the third empty tote. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising moving one or more of the column of totes and the pallet from a first location to a second location via an industrial truck. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising lifting the at least one of the two or more totes via at least one hand hold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising coupling at least one of the one or more bale arms of the first tote with at least one groove of the second tote. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the two or more totes comprises molded plastic.