Stackable and nestable article holder

Abstract

An article holder for holding articles in a generally horizontal orientation includes a base, and a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other and extending upwardly in relation to a respective one of side edges of the base, and a rear wall extending upwardly near a rear edge of the base. A pair of opposed lower rims extend outwardly from near respective lower edges of the side walls, and a leg extend downwardly from each of the lower rims. A pair of upper rims extend outwardly from respective top edges of the side walls, and include slot elements defining a space and adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder when the two holders are in a stacked configuration. In addition, the slot element is adapted such that a portion of the slot element of an upper holder at least partially overlies the slot element of a like underlying article holder when the two holders are in a nested configuration.

1 . An article holder comprising:
 a base having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and upper and lower surfaces;   a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other, wherein each of the side walls extends upwardly in relation to a respective one of the side edges of the base;   a rear wall extending upwardly near the rear edge of the base;   a pair of lower rims extending outwardly from respective lower edges of the side walls, wherein each of the lower rims includes a leg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lower rim; and   a pair of upper rims extending outwardly from respective top edges of the side walls, wherein each of the upper rims includes a slot element defining a space, wherein the slot element is adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder in the space when the two holders are in a stacked configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein each of the side walls includes a side wall portion which, with the lower and upper rims, defines an open region for grasping the holder. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper rims are disposed, in a transverse direction of the holder extending from one of the side walls to the other side walls, further from the base than the lower rims. 
     
     
         4 . A plurality of article holders, each of the holders being stackable with, and nestable in, another of the holders, wherein each of the holders comprises:
 a base having a rear edge, a forward edge, a pair of opposed side edges and upper and lower surfaces;   a pair of side walls spaced apart and opposed to each other, wherein each of the side walls extends upwardly in relation to a respective one of the side edges of the base;   a rear wall extending upwardly near the rear edge of the base;   a pair of lower rims extending outwardly from near respective lower edges of the side walls, wherein each of the lower rims includes a leg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the lower rim; and   a pair of upper rims extending outwardly from respective top edges of the side walls, wherein each of the upper rims includes a slot element defining a space, wherein the slot element is adapted to receive the leg of a like article holder in the space when the two holders are in a stacked configuration, and   wherein the slot element is adapted such that a portion of the slot element rests on the upper rim and at least partially overlies the slot element of a like article holder when the two holders are in a nested configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The plurality of holders of  claim 4 , wherein each of the side walls includes a side wall portion which, with the lower and upper rims, defines an open region for grasping the holder. 
     
     
         6 . The plurality of holders of  claim 4 , wherein the upper rims are disposed, in a transverse direction of the holder extending from one of the side walls to the other side walls, further from the base than the lower rims.