Unitizing and locking multi-pot carrier tray

Abstract

A carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or more pots. In particular embodiments, the carrier tray includes a base and a pot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured to receive and store a pot. The tray also includes a ledge arranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray, and a pot-locking tab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location along the inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A carrier tray configured to retain and carry one or more pots, the tray comprising:
 a base;   a pot-receiving aperture arranged within the base and configured to receive and store a pot;   a ledge arranged along an inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to receive a rim of a pot for storage in the carrier tray;   a pot-locking tab formed in the base and extending radially inward at a location along the inner perimeter of the aperture, the pot-locking tab is spaced above the ledge to form a cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the rim.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a top surface through which the pot-receiving aperture extends. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier tray of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more outer sidewalls extending in a generally vertical direction around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the base, configured to strengthen the tray and to form a means of handling or grasping the tray. 
 
     
     
         4 . The carrier tray of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more inner walls extending vertically from the inner perimeter of the aperture and configured to strengthen the tray and the base for retaining any pot within the aperture. 
 
     
     
         5 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a top surface through which the pot-receiving aperture extends. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , where the cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, a lip extending outwardly from the rim of the pot. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , where the cavity between the pot-locking tab and ledge is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, a full-height of the rim of the pot. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , where the aperture is configured to receive the pot from a top of the tray. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , where the aperture is configured to receive the pot from a bottom of the tray. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray, the rim of the pot being arranged within the cavity and between the pot-locking tab and ledge, the rim arranged along an open end of the pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier tray of  claim 6 , wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray, the lip of the rim being arranged within the cavity and between the pot-locking tab and ledge, where the cavity is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, the lip extending outwardly from the rim of the pot, the rim arranged along an open end of the pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier tray of  claim 7 , wherein the pot is arranged within the aperture of the carrier tray, the rim of the pot being arranged within the cavity and between the pot-locking tab and ledge, where the cavity is configured to receive, and the pot-locking tab is configured to secure, the a full-height of the rim of the pot, the rim arranged along an open end of the pot atop one or more sidewalls of the pot. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier tray is a molded tray formed by a molding process. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture includes a plurality of pot-locking tabs spaced apart around the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier tray of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier tray includes a plurality of apertures.