Box holding system

Abstract

A system for holding nested boxes, where each box features a lid and a bottom joined by a living hinge and where first and second notches are defined between the top and bottom of each box on opposite sides of the living hinge when each box is in an unfolded configuration. The system features a rack including a support adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface, a pair of generally parallel vertical members mounted to the support and a number of generally parallel horizontal members extending between the pair of vertical members. The system also features a box holder assembly including a base featuring a hook portion and a channel. The hook portion of the box holder assembly engages one of the horizontal members of the rack so that the box holder assembly is supported by the rack above the generally horizontal surface. A fixed arm is attached to the base and features a fixed arm guide. An adjustable arm features a sliding section positioned in the channel of the base and an adjustable arm guide positioned generally parallel to the fixed arm guide. A spring urges the adjustable arm guide towards the fixed arm guide so that the fixed arm guide engages the first notches of the nested boxes and the adjustable arm guide engages the second notches of the nested boxes.

1 . An assembly for holding nested boxes, each box featuring a lid and a bottom joined by a living hinge where first and second notches are defined between the top and bottom of each box on opposite sides of the living hinge when each box is in an unfolded configuration, the assembly comprising:
 a) a base featuring a channel;   b) a fixed arm attached to the base and featuring a fixed arm guide;   c) an adjustable arm featuring a sliding section positioned in the channel of the base and an adjustable arm guide positioned generally parallel to the fixed arm guide; and   d) a spring urging said adjustable arm guide towards said fixed arm guide so that the fixed arm guide is adapted to engage the first notches of the nested boxes and the adjustable arm guide is adapted to engage the second notches of the nested boxes.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the base features a slot and the spring features a hook portion that engages the slot and a coiled portion that engages the adjustable arm. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the spring is formed from a strip of metal. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a plurality of tabs that form the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a hook portion. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the base includes a shelf portion. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the base includes a skirt portion extending down from the shelf portion, said skirt portion adapted for gripping by fingers of a user. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the fixed arm includes a fixed arm outwardly extending portion with said fixed arm guide mounted to the fixed arm outwardly extending portion, a generally horizontal fastening portion secured to the outwardly extending portion and the base and a generally vertical fastening portion secured to the generally horizontal fastening portion and the base. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the fixed arm outwardly extending portion, generally horizontal fastening portion and generally vertical fastening portion are formed from a single piece of wire. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein a stop is formed on each of the distal ends of the fixed arm guide and the adjustable arm guide. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable arm features an adjustable arm outwardly extending portion with said adjustable arm guide mounted to the fixed arm outwardly extending portion and said adjustable arm sliding section includes a lower portion joined to said outwardly extending portion and an upper portion joined to the lower portion by a generally U-shaped portion, said upper and lower portions sliding within the channel of the base. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the adjustable arm outwardly extending portion, sliding section lower portion, sliding section upper portion and sliding section generally U-shaped portion are formed from a single piece of wire. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the adjustable arm includes a vertical wire segment connected between the upper and lower portions of the sliding section and wherein the base features a slot and the spring features a hook portion that engages the slot and a coiled portion that engages the vertical wire segment of the adjustable arm. 
     
     
         14 . A system for holding nested boxes, each box featuring a lid and a bottom joined by a living hinge where first and second notches are defined between the top and bottom of each box on opposite sides of the living hinge when each box is in an unfolded configuration, the system comprising:
 a) a rack including:
 i. a support adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface; 
 ii. a pair of generally parallel vertical members mounted to said support; 
 iii. a plurality of generally parallel horizontal members extending between said pair of vertical members; 
   b) a box holder assembly including:
 i. a base featuring a hook portion and a channel; 
 ii. a fixed arm attached to the base and featuring a fixed arm guide; 
 iii. an adjustable arm featuring a sliding section positioned in the channel of the base and an adjustable arm guide positioned generally parallel to the fixed arm guide; 
 iv. a spring urging said adjustable arm guide towards said fixed arm guide so that the fixed arm guide is adapted to engage the first notches of the nested boxes and the adjustable arm guide is adapted to engage the second notches of the nested boxes; 
   c) said hook portion of the box holder assembly engaging one of said generally parallel horizontal members of said rack so that said box holder assembly is supported by said rack above the generally horizontal surface.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the base includes a plurality of tabs that form the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the base includes a shelf portion adapted to engage one of said generally parallel horizontal members of the rack and a skirt portion extending down from the shelf portion, said skirt portion adapted for gripping by fingers of a user. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the fixed arm includes a fixed arm outwardly extending portion with said fixed arm guide mounted to the fixed arm outwardly extending portion, a generally horizontal fastening portion secured to the outwardly extending portion and the base and a generally vertical fastening portion secured to the generally horizontal fastening portion and the base. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein a stop is formed on each of the distal ends of the fixed arm guide and the adjustable arm guide. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the adjustable arm features an adjustable arm outwardly extending portion with said adjustable arm guide mounted to the fixed arm outwardly extending portion and said adjustable arm sliding section includes a lower portion joined to said outwardly extending portion and an upper portion joined to the lower portion by a generally U-shaped portion, said upper and lower portions sliding within the channel of the base. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the adjustable arm includes a vertical wire segment connected between the upper and lower portions of the sliding section and wherein the base features a slot and the spring features a hook portion that engages the slot and a coiled portion that engages the vertical wire segment of the adjustable arm.