Stackable multi-component tote having upper lip

Abstract

A stackable tote may be stacked with other identical or similar totes and/or existing, prior tote designs. The tote is assembled from at least one box blank and a base. When folded into the appropriate shape, the box blank results in the sidewalls of the tote. To hold the erected box blank in an assembled relationship and to reinforce the top and bottom edges of the tote, an upper lip extends around the top edge of the tote and the bottom edge of the sidewalls is seated within a channel in the base. The base is secured to the sidewalls as the result of an inwardly extending hook in the associated channels which engages folded tabs of the sidewalls. One advantage of this invention is that a lightweight, stackable tote or container may be quickly and easily manufactured in a designed size or height. The tote may be stacked above or below the same or similar types of totes as well as existing tote designs.

1 . A tote container comprising: 
 a base having an upwardly open channel;    a plurality of sidewalls each having a plurality of lower tabs each projecting from a bottom edge of selected sidewalls, each tab being joined to the associated sidewall by a fold line permitting the tab to be folded relative to the associated sidewall, said upwardly open channel of said base being adapted to receive therein the lower tabs when folded along the associated fold lines toward the associated sidewalls to thereby mount the base to the sidewalls.    
   
   
       2 . The tote container of  claim 1  wherein the base of a first tote as recited in  claim 1  is adapted to mate with the sidewalls of a second tote as recited in  claim 1  to thereby stack the first and second totes.  
   
   
       3 . The tote container of  claim 1  wherein the base is a unitary structure and separate from the sidewalls until mounted thereto.  
   
   
       4 . The tote container of  claim 1  wherein a first set of the lower tabs project from a different sidewall than a second set of the lower tabs.  
   
   
       5 . The tote container of  claim 1  wherein each of the sidewalls has an upper lip.  
   
   
       6 . The tote container of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of spaced ribs spanning the channel in the base; and    a plurality of slits extending inwardly from the bottom edge of selected sidewalls;    wherein the ribs are inserted into the slits when the base is mounted to the bottom edge of the sidewalls.    
   
   
       7 . The tote container of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 indicia printed on a face of at least one of the sidewalls.    
   
   
       8 . The tote container of  claim 1  wherein the upwardly open channel extends substantially entirely around the base.  
   
   
       9 . The tote container of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 hooks projecting into the channel on the base;    wherein each of the hooks engages one of the tabs to secure the base and the sidewalls of the tote together.    
   
   
       10 . The tote container of  claim 1  wherein the base is removable from the sidewalls.  
   
   
       11 . The tote container of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of slots in the base in communication with the upwardly open channel;    wherein at least some of the slots in the base provide access to the lower tabs captured in the base channel so that the respective tabs can be manipulated to release the base from the sidewalls.    
   
   
       12 . A tote container comprising: 
 a plurality of sidewalls each having an upper lip and a bottom edge;    a plurality of tabs each projecting from the bottom edge of selected sidewalls;    wherein a first set of the lower tabs projects from a different sidewall than a second set of the lower tabs;    a base secured to the bottom edge of the sidewalls;    an upwardly open channel extending substantially entirely around the base and adapted to receive therein the lower tabs when folded to thereby mount the base to the sidewalls;    hooks projecting into the channel on the base;    wherein each of the hooks engages one of the tabs to retain the base onto the sidewalls of the tote.    
   
   
       13 . The tote container of  claim 12  wherein the base is adapted to mate with sidewalls of a similar tote for stacking the totes.  
   
   
       14 . The tote container of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a plurality of spaced ribs spanning the channel in the base;    a plurality of slits extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom edge of selected sidewalls;    wherein the ribs are inserted into the slits when the base is mounted to the bottom edge of the sidewalls.    
   
   
       15 . The tote container of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a plurality of slots in the base in communication with the upwardly open channel;    wherein at least some of the slots in the base provide access to the lower tabs captured in the base channel so that the respective tabs can be manipulated to release the base from the sidewalls.    
   
   
       16 . A method of assembling a tote container comprising the steps of: 
 erecting a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper lip spaced from a bottom edge;    bending a plurality of tabs each projecting from the bottom edge of selected sidewalls toward the associated sidewall;    mounting a base onto the bottom edge of the sidewalls by engaging the tabs projecting from the bottom edge of the sidewalls with at least one detent on the base to thereby retain the base on the bottom edge.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the base has an upwardly open channel and the mounting of the base step further comprises inserting the bottom edge and the tabs projecting therefrom into the base channel.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein each detent in the base comprises hooks projecting into the associated channel and the engaging steps each further comprise juxtaposing a terminal edge of each tab against the associated hook.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the erecting step further comprises: 
 folding at least one blank into a desired configuration of the sidewalls.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 inserting ribs in the base channel into slits projecting from the bottom edge of the sidewalls.