Multi-height container

Abstract

A container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. A support includes a support portion connected to the walls by a pair of arms. The arms each include a first arm portion connected to the support portion and a second arm portion pivotably connected to the first arm portion. The second arm portion is pivotably connected to the walls.

1 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base;   a support including a support portion connected to the walls by an arm, the arm including a first arm portion connected to the support portion and a second arm portion pivotably connected to the first arm portion and pivotably connected to the walls.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the arm is a first arm connected to the support portion near one end of the support portion, the support further including a second arm connected to the support portion near an opposite end of the support portion, the second arm including a first arm portion pivotably connected to a second arm portion pivotably connected to the walls. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall, the arm is connected to the first wall, the first wall including an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, the second arm portion between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the second arm portion includes a pair of pivot pins received in holes in the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the support is pivotable between a nesting position where the support portion does not extend over the base of the container and a stack position where the support portion extends over the base of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the stack position is a high stack position, the support also movable to a low stack position. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the support is also movable to a middle stack position higher than the low stack position and lower than the high stack position, wherein an identical container can be stacked on the support in the low stack position, the middle stack position or the high stack position and wherein the identical container can be nested within the container when the support is in the nesting position. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall, the arm is connected to the first wall, the first wall including an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, the second arm portion between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the inner wall portion includes a high stack surface, a middle stack surface and a low stack surface, the support contacting the high stack surface in the high stack position, the middle stack surface in the middle stack position and the low stack surface in the low stack position. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are connected by a hinge, the hinge including a pivot pin snap-fit into an aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the second arm portion is pivotably connected to the plurality of walls at a fixed pivot axis. 
     
     
         12 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base; and   a support pivotably connected to the walls about a fixed pivot axis, the support movable between a nesting position, a high stack position and a low stack position, wherein the support includes a support portion that is positioned over the base in the high stack position and the low stack position, wherein the support portion is not positioned over the base in the nesting position.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein positions of the support portion in the high stack position and low stack position are vertically aligned with one another. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of walls include a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls and wherein the support is a first support, the container further including a second support, wherein the first support and the second support are each pivotably connected to the pair of side walls. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein each of the side walls includes a high stack surface, a middle stack surface and a low stack surface, the first support and the second support contacting the high stack surface in the high stack position, the middle stack surface in the middle stack position and the low stack surface in the low stack position.