The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 08, 1997
Roy Hammett, Odessa, FL (US);
International Container Systems, Inc., Tampa, FL (US);
Abstract
A beverage can tray floor has a plurality of redoubts on its bottom surface for cooperation with the rims of cans in a sub-adjacent tray to impede free sliding movement of an upper tray over the rims of cans in a sub-adjacent tray, while enabling the upper tray to be slid over the cans in the lower tray. The redoubts include at least one elongate, tapered redoubt that extends in spanning relationship to the rim of a can to facilitate initial lateral sliding movement. The tray also has peripheral heel protector bands extending around a bottom portion thereof to protect the heels of cans, and upstanding can spacer members between can seating areas to maintain cans in the tray spaced from one another and prevent displacement of the cans from their seating areas when the tray is tilted. The sidewall includes a plurality of spaced pillars extending upwardly from the floor and supporting a peripheral top rail. The pillars are omitted and/or shortened in some areas to provide smooth, uninterrupted portions of the top rail which serve as handles. Spaces are defined between the upper ends of at least some of the pillars and the top rail, and upwardly projecting tabs on the upper ends of some of the pillars extend into the spaces when the trays are stacked to prevent wedging of the trays.