Compartmentalization system for industrial totes and compartmentalizable totes

Abstract

A compartmentalization system for an industrial tote includes a base, side walls, which include recesses for retaining bins within the tote and end walls. The tote may include eight recesses in each side wall for receiving a pair of inserts on a bin. The bins typically include two or four tabs. The bins that are used with the tote system include a base opposed side walls and end walls that define the interior of the bin. Typically, a lip formed at the top of the side and end walls to improve strength and stability. The tabs are formed on the exterior of at least one side wall. The tab is inserted into the recess in the tote. Each tab includes a riser that is substantially normal to the sidewall and a tab formed at the end of the riser so that the tab is spaced apart from the sidewall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tote for a compartmentalization system, comprising:
 a base;   first and second side walls, each of side walls including a plurality of recesses for retaining a bin insert within the tote; and   first and second end walls, the base, side walls and end walls defining a tote interior.   
     
     
         2 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein each recess comprises:
 a first side surface proximate the tote interior;   a second side surface distal to the tote interior; and   edge surfaces between the first and second side surfaces, whereby the first and second side surfaces and the edge wall define the recess.   
     
     
         3 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first side surface proximate the tote interior;   a second side surface distal to the tote interior; and   edge surfaces between the first and second side surfaces, whereby the first and second side surfaces and the edge wall define a generally trapezoidal recess.   
     
     
         4 . The tote of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a channel in the first side surface proximate the tote interior; and   edge surfaces between the first and second side surfaces, whereby the first and second side surfaces and the edge wall define the recess.   
     
     
         5 . The tote of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a plurality of recesses in each side wall; and   a plurality of channels in the first side surface proximate the tote interior.   
     
     
         6 . The tote of  claim 3 , wherein the recesses are tapered from top to bottom such that the bottom is narrower than the top. 
     
     
         7 . The tote of  claim 3 , wherein the recesses are generally trapezoidal. 
     
     
         8 . The tote of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 eight recesses in each side wall, the recesses being grouped in pairs such that each pair of recesses receives a pair of inserts on a bin suitable for being received within the tote.   
     
     
         9 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the tote is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of thermoforming, injection molding, blow molding and rotocasting. 
     
     
         10 . A bin for use in a compartmentalizable tote system, comprising:
 a base;   first and second side walls;   first and second end walls, the base, side walls and end walls defining a bin interior.   a tab formed on the exterior of at least a first side wall, the tab being suitable for insertion into a recess formed in a first sidewall of a compartmentalizable tote system.   
     
     
         11 . The bin of  claim 10 , further comprising a lip formed at the top of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The bin of  claim 10 , further comprising a lip formed at the top of the side and end walls. 
     
     
         13 . The bin of  claim 10 , wherein the tab comprises:
 a riser, substantially normal to the first sidewall;   a tab section formed with the riser and spaced apart from the first sidewall.   
     
     
         14 . The bin of  claim 13 , wherein the tab section is tapered from the top portion to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         15 . The bin of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of tabs, each tab comprising:
 a riser, substantially normal to the first sidewall;   a tab section formed with the riser and spaced apart from the first sidewall.   
     
     
         16 . The bin of  claim 15 , wherein the tab section is generally trapezoidal. 
     
     
         17 . A compartmentalizable tote and bin system, comprising:
 a tote having:
 a tote base; 
 a first tote sidewall including a plurality of recesses for retaining a bin insert within the tote; 
 and a second tote sidewall; 
 first and second tote end walls, the tote base, the tote side walls and tote end walls defining an tote interior; 
 the first tote sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface with edge surfaces between the interior and exterior surfaces, defining a recess; and 
   a bin having:
 a bin base; 
 first and second bin side walls; 
 first and second bin end walls, the bin base, bin side walls and bin end walls defining a bin interior. 
 at least one tab formed on the exterior of at least a first bin side wall, the tab being suitable for insertion into the tote recess. 
   
     
     
         18 . The compartmentalizable tote and bin system, of  claim 17 , wherein the tabs comprise:
 a riser, substantially normal to the first sidewall;   a trapezoidal tab section formed with the riser and spaced apart from the first sidewall.   
     
     
         19 . The compartmentalizable tote and bin system, of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of recesses each having:
 a channel in the interior surface; and   edge surfaces between the first and second side surfaces, whereby the first and second side surfaces and the edge wall define a trapezoidal recess.   
     
     
         20 . The compartmentalizable tote and bin system of  claim 17 , wherein the second tote sidewall includes a plurality of recesses for retaining a bin insert within the tote.