Nestable and stackable document storage trays

Abstract

Document storage trays are disclosed that may be stacked in at least two different configurations including a “nesting” stack where an upper tray fits within the storage area of a lower tray and, in turn, is also able to receive a tray within its own storage area so that multiple trays can be stacked nested together. The document storage trays may also be stacked in a vertical configuration and the trays include appropriately placed slots, detents, bosses and legs for a stable vertical stacking configuration so that multiple trays may be stacked one on top of another and form a stable structure. At least one embodiment further enables the trays to be stacked in a cascaded form so that front edges of the trays are staggered laterally from the bottom tray to the top tray. At least one embodiment includes a built-in collating function so that each tray is able to receive documents from one of two different and perpendicularly oriented sides.

1 . A document tray comprising: 
 a bottom panel having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and an upper and lower surface;    a rear wall extending upward near the back edge of the base panel and having a lower edge, an upper edge, and a pair of side edges;    a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed relative to one another, one each extending generally upward relative to a respective one of the side edges of the bottom panel;    a storage space defined above the bottom panel, forward of the rear wall, and between the side Walls;    a rim which extends laterally outward from top edges of the side walls and rearwardly from the upper edge of the back wall forming a lip on the top edges of the side walls and the upper edge of the rear wall;    a pair of lateral extensions, one each formed near the forward edge of the bottom panel extending laterally outward beyond the side edges of the bottom panel and protruding outward beyond an exterior perimeter of the rim.    
   
   
       2 . The document tray of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel includes a downward recessed, scooped region partially surrounded by a flat section.  
   
   
       3 . The document tray of  claim 2 , wherein the scooped region extends to the forward edge of the bottom panel.  
   
   
       4 . The document tray of  claim 2 , wherein the forward edge of the bottom panel has a rearwardly recessed scalloped region.  
   
   
       5 . The document tray of  claim 1 , wherein a window is located on each of the back wall and the side walls.  
   
   
       6 . The document tray of  claim 5 , wherein each window extends downward to the bottom panel and at least partially into a respective edge of the bottom panel thereby creating an inwardly recessed edge at each window.  
   
   
       7 . The document tray of  claim 1 , wherein the rear wall leans slightly creating an acute angle between the bottom panel and the rear wall.  
   
   
       8 . The document tray of  claim 7 , wherein the acute angle is in the range of approximately 89 degrees to approximately 83 degrees.  
   
   
       9 . The document tray of  claim 1 , further including a receptacle in the rim proximate the front edge of each side wall.  
   
   
       10 . The document tray of  claim 9 , further including pair of receptacles on the side walls and a pair of downwardly depending ribs disposed on the bottom of the tray near bottom edge of the side walls, wherein the ribs are configured and oriented to align with and be received by the receptacles.  
   
   
       11 . The document tray of  claim 1 , further including a rear receptacle on the rim above the back wall and a rear leg that extends downward from the bottom of the tray proximate the back wall.  
   
   
       12 . The document tray of  claim 1 , including a pair of receptacles on each wall.  
   
   
       13 . A document tray comprising: 
 a bottom panel having a pair of front edges meeting at a front corner, a pair of rear edges meeting at a rear corner, an upper surface and a lower surface;    a pair of walls extending generally upward from the rear edges of the bottom panel, each wall leaning at least slightly forming an acute angle with the bottom panel;    a corner post extending generally upward near the front corner of the bottom panel;    two front openings, one each between the corner post and one of the walls; and    a pair of storage areas defined above the bottom panel and one each between each wall and the corner post,    wherein the pair of storage areas at least partially overlap near the rear corner.    
   
   
       14 . The document tray of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom panel includes a downwardly scooped region.  
   
   
       15 . The document tray of  claim 13 , wherein each of the walls includes a window.  
   
   
       16 . The document tray of  claim 13 , wherein the walls include an upper rim extending generally outwardly from the top edges of the walls and including at least one dimple disposed thereon.  
   
   
       17 . The document tray of  claim 13 , including a plurality of feet disposed on the bottom of the tray and sized and shaped to stabilize the document tray when placed on a surface.  
   
   
       18 . The document tray of  claim 17 , including a plurality of dimples on the upper edges of the walls and an upper edge of the corner post, wherein each of the plurality of feet has a boss on the bottom thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The document tray of  claim 18 , wherein the corner post is hollow and open at a bottom thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The document tray of  claim 19 , further including a second like tray and wherein the document tray is placed adjacent the second like tray in a stacked in-use condition in which the bosses of the document tray are received by the dimples of the second like tray.  
   
   
       21 . The document tray of  claim 19 , further including a second like tray and wherein the document tray is placed adjacent the second like tray in a stacked nested condition in which the document tray is nested at least partly within the storage spaces of the second like tray and wherein the corner post of the second like tray is received through the hollow and open bottom of the corner post of the document tray.  
   
   
       22 . A plurality of stackable and nestable document trays each comprising: 
 a bottom panel having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and an upper and lower surface;    a rear wall extending upward near the back edge of the base panel and having a lower edge, an upper edge, and a pair of side edges;    a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed relative to one another, one each extending generally upward relative to a respective one of the side edges of the bottom panel;    a storage space defined above the bottom panel, forward of the rear wall, and between the side walls;    a rim which extends laterally outward from top edges of the side walls and rearwardly from the upper edge of the back wall forming a lip on the top edges of the side walls and the upper edge of the rear wall;    a pair of lateral extensions, one each formed near the forward edge of the bottom panel extending laterally outward beyond the side edges of the bottom panel and protruding outward beyond an exterior perimeter of the rim;    at least one receptacle formed in the rim proximate a front edge of each side wall; and    at least one downward facing protrusion on the bottom of each tray;    wherein each of the plurality of trays is stackable with others of the plurality of trays in both a nested stacked configuration and an in-use stacked configuration,    wherein the nested stacked configuration includes a first tray disposed at least partly within the storage space of a second tray and wherein both the first and second trays are arranged in generally similar orientations and wherein the pair of lateral extensions of the first tray are positioned forward of front edges of respective side walls of the second tray, and    wherein the in-use stacked configuration includes the pair of lateral extensions of the first tray resting on a portion of the rim above the side walls of the second tray and wherein a portion of the bottom panel of the first tray rests on a portion of the rim of the second tray above the rear wall and wherein the bottom:panel of the first tray is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the bottom panel of the second tray.    
   
   
       23 . The plurality of trays of  claim 22 , wherein the portion of the bottom panel of the first tray that rests on a portion of the rim of the second tray is a downwardly depending foot in the stacked in-use configuration.  
   
   
       24 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , wherein the protrusion of the first tray is received by the receptacle of the second tray in the stacked in-use configuration.  
   
   
       25 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , each tray including a plurality of protrusions and receptacles, wherein a pair of the protrusions rest on the rim within a pair of the receptacles in the stacked in-use configuration.  
   
   
       26 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the receptacles is located on the rim above the rear wall and at least one of the protrusions is positioned near the rear edge of the bottom panel.  
   
   
       27 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , wherein the receptacle is generally oriented perpendicular to the side wall and a way extends from the receptacle and is oriented generally parallel to the side wall and the protrusion further includes a key oriented generally perpendicular to the protrusion, wherein the key rests within the way in the stacked in-use configuration.  
   
   
       28 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , wherein the lateral extensions include an upward concave curve.  
   
   
       29 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , wherein each document tray in the plurality of trays includes a pair of spaced apart support structures affixed to the rear wall wherein the support structures extend below the bottom panel forming rear feet and the tops of the support structures bend outward, away from the rear wall forming a loop and wherein the rear feet of the first document tray are received by the loops of the second document tray in the stacked in-use configuration.  
   
   
       30 . The document tray stack of  claim 22 , wherein the lateral extensions are formed from a part of a continuous piece of wire that bears against the bottom side of the bottom panel and extends to the back edge of the bottom panel and steps downward and rearward to also form a rear foot beyond the rear wall and wherein the lateral extensions rest on the rim and the rear foot also rests on the rim in the stacked in-use configuration.