Collapsible crate

Abstract

A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base. The base includes a plurality of container support areas each defined by a rectangular perimeter defined by a plurality of vents.

1 . A crate comprising:
 a base;   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base; and   the base including a plurality of container support areas each defined by a rectangular perimeter defined by a plurality of vents.   
     
     
         2 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of vents are elongated. 
     
     
         3 . The crate of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of vents are oriented perpendicularly to the perimeter of the container support areas. 
     
     
         4 . The crate of  claim 3  wherein the side walls and the end walls are hingeably connected to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The crate of  claim 3  wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having lower ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area. 
     
     
         6 . The crate and containers of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of lower ventilation openings are formed through tapered side walls and a lower wall of a base of each of the containers. 
     
     
         7 . The crate of  claim 2  wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion on an inner surface of the side wall, an outer panel portion at an outer surface of the side wall and above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion at an inner surface of the side wall and above the outer panel portion. 
     
     
         8 . The crate of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion and inward from the outer panel portion. 
     
     
         9 . The crate of  claim 7  wherein vertically-oriented vents are formed in the lower panel portion, horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the upper panel portion. 
     
     
         10 . The crate of  claim 9  wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having an upper portion hingeably connected to a lower portion, the upper portion including a rim portion extending around a periphery of a lid portion, a plurality of connectors connecting the rim portion of the upper portion to the rim portion of the lower portion and defining a gap between the rim portions, wherein the vents in the outer panel portion of the crate align with the gap between the upper portion and the lower portion of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The crate of  claim 10  wherein each of the containers have ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area. 
     
     
         12 . The crate of  claim 11  further including horizontally-oriented lower vents formed in the lower panel portion below the vertically-oriented vents. 
     
     
         13 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the side walls and the end walls include vents that are arranged such that when one of the end walls of the crate is placed against one of the side walls of an identical crate, the vents in the one of the end walls are aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate. 
     
     
         14 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein the container support areas are arranged in a 3×3 array. 
     
     
         15 . A crate comprising:
 a base;   a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base;   a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base; and   wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion on an inner surface of the side wall, an outer panel portion at an outer surface of the side wall and above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion at an inner surface of the side wall and above the outer panel portion, wherein vertically-oriented vents are formed in the lower panel portion, horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the upper panel portion.   
     
     
         16 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion and inward from the outer panel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The crate of  claim 15  wherein the vents of the side walls and the end walls are arranged such that when one of the end walls of the crate is placed against one of the side walls of an identical crate, the vents in the one of the end walls are aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate.