Spacer for nestable containers

Abstract

An improved nestable container arrangement. The arrangement involves the use of a spacer. The spacer is configured to fit between adjacent nested containers to keep a sufficient amount of space between adjacent top ends of the container to prevent the formation of a tight seal between the containers. The spacers are available as an aftermarket device and so can be retro-fitted to virtually any type of nestable containers. The spacers are held in position by a small amount of adhesive.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for allowing the jam free nesting of containers comprising:
 a substantially rectangular main body of unitary construction having upper and lower abutment surfaces, the main body having a predetermined radius of curvature;   a lattice work of support members formed in said main body, with at least some of said support members extending from said upper to said lower abutment surfaces;   a quantity of adhesive positioned on a rear surface of the device to allow the devices to be removably positioned on one of said containers;   whereby positioning at least one of said devices on each of said containers prevents the formation of airlock between vertically adjacent containers when vertically stacked.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the radius of curvature is zero. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive is peel and stick type. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a lattice of compression reducing support members extends from a front to a rear face of the device. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the radius of curvature is zero. 
     
     
         6 . A method of stacking two or more nestable containers comprising the steps of:
 providing a removable spacer device having upper and lower abutment surfaces on at least one of said two containers to produce a first container with a spacing device;   positioning said spacer device proximate an upper edge of said at least one of said containers;   placing the container with the spacer device within a lowermost container, and lowering said spacer device container into said lowermost container until said lower abutment surface comes into contact with said lowermost container, and;   providing additional containers with spacer elements for stacking.