Tote with locking divider features

Abstract

The invention is directed to a container with divider panels that lock to prevent flexing or bulging. The container includes end to end divider panels and side to side panels that include aligned slots where the panels intersect. The panels include grooves or channels for holding the edges of the slots of the intersecting panel to hold the upper or lower portion of the intersecting panel in place.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A tote with dividers having locking features comprising:
 a container having a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, a first end wall, an opposing second end wall and a bottom extending between the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls;   a first divider extending between the first end wall and the second end wall of the container, the first divider having a first slot extending from a top edge of the first divider downward part way toward a bottom edge of the first divider, a first channel aligned with the first slot and extending downward from a bottom of the first slot on a first side of the first divider and a second channel aligned with the first slot and extending downward from the bottom of the first slot on a second side of the first divider; and,   a second divider extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the second divider having a first slot extending from a bottom edge of the second divider upward part way toward a top edge of the second divider, wherein the first slot of the second divider includes a first edge configured to engage the first channel of the first divider and a second edge configured to engage the second channel on the first divider to prevent flexing of the lower portions of the second divider.   
     
     
         2 . The tote of  claim 1  wherein the second divider includes a first channel aligned with the first slot of the second divider and extending upward from a top of the first slot on a first side of the second divider and a second channel aligned with the first slot and extending upward from the top of the first slot on a second side of the second divider wherein a first edge of the first slot of the first divider is configured to engage the first channel on the second divider and a second edge of the first slot of the first divider is configured to engage the second channel on the second divider. 
     
     
         3 . The tote of  claim 2  wherein the first edge of the first slot of the first divider includes a first projection and the second edge of the first slot of the first divider includes a second projection. 
     
     
         4 . The tote of  claim 3  wherein the first projection and the second projection have a generally T-shaped cross-sectional shape with the rest of the first divider. 
     
     
         5 . The tote of  claim 2  wherein the first channel on the first divider is formed from a first rib extending outward from the first side of the first divider and a second rib extending outward from the first side of the first divider and spaced from the first rib, and the second channel on the first divider is formed from a first rib extending outward from the second side of the first divider and a second rib extending outward from the second side of the first divider and spaced from the first rib on the second side of the first divider. 
     
     
         6 . The tote of  claim 5  wherein the first channel on the second divider is formed from a first rib extending outward from the first side of the second divider and a second rib extending outward from the first side of the second divider and spaced from the first rib, and the second channel on the second divider is formed from a first rib extending outward from the second side of the second divider and a second rib extending outward from the second side of the second divider and spaced from the first rib on the second side of the second divider. 
     
     
         7 . The tote of  claim 2  wherein the first divider having a second slot spaced from the first slot and extending from the top edge of the first divider downward part way toward the bottom edge of the first divider, a third channel aligned with the second slot and extending downward from a bottom of the second slot on the first side of the first divider and a fourth channel aligned with the second slot and extending downward from the bottom of the second slot on the second side of the divider. 
     
     
         8 . The tote of  claim 7  further comprising a third divider extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the third divider having a first slot extending from a bottom edge of the third divider upward part way toward a top edge of the third divider, wherein the first slot of the third divider includes a first edge configured to engage the third channel of the first divider and a second edge configured to engage the fourth channel on the first divider to prevent flexing of the lower portions of the third divider. 
     
     
         9 . The tote of  claim 1  wherein the first divider includes a first locking tab on a first end of the first divider for locking the first divider to the first end wall and a second locking tab on a second end of the first divider for locking the first divider to the second end wall. 
     
     
         10 . The tote of  claim 9  wherein the second divider includes a first locking tab on a first end of the second divider for locking the second divider to the first side wall and a second locking tab on a second end of the second divider for locking the second divider to the second side wall. 
     
     
         11 . The tote of  claim 2  wherein the first slot in the first divider extends halfway between the top edge and the bottom edge of the first divider. 
     
     
         12 . The tote of  claim 11  wherein the first slot of the second divider extends halfway between the top edge and the bottom edge of the second divider. 
     
     
         13 . The tote of  claim 1  wherein the container and the first divider and the second divider are formed from plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The tote of  claim 8  wherein the first divider having a third slot spaced from the first slot and second slot and extending from the top edge of the first divider downward part way toward the bottom edge of the first divider, a fifth channel aligned with the third slot and extending downward from a bottom of the third slot on the first side of the first divider and a sixth channel aligned with the third slot and extending downward from the bottom of the third slot on the second side of the first divider. 
     
     
         15 . A tote with dividers comprising:
 a container having a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, a first end wall, an opposing second end wall and a bottom extending between the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls;   a first divider extending between the first end wall and the second end wall of the container, the first divider having a first slot extending from a top edge of the first divider downward part way toward a bottom edge of the first divider;   a second divider extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the second divider having a first slot extending from a bottom edge of the second divider upward part way toward a top edge of the second divider wherein the second divider includes a first channel aligned with the first slot of the second divider and extending upward from a top of the first slot on a first side of the second divider and a second channel aligned with the first slot and extending upward from the top of the first slot on a second side of the second divider wherein a first edge of the first slot of the first divider is configured to engage the first channel on the second divider and a second edge of the first slot of the first divider is configured to engage the second channel on the second divider.   
     
     
         16 . The tote of  claim 15  wherein the first divider includes a first channel aligned with the first slot and extending downward from a bottom of the first slot on a first side of the first divider and a second channel aligned with the first slot and extending downward from the bottom of the first slot on a second side of the first divider wherein the first slot of the second divider includes a first edge configured to engage the first channel of the first divider and a second edge configured to engage the second channel on the first divider to prevent flexing of the lower portions of the second divider. 
     
     
         17 . The tote of  claim 16  wherein the first edge of the first slot of the first divider includes a first projection and the second edge of the first slot of the first divider includes a second projection. 
     
     
         18 . The tote of  claim 17  wherein the first projection and the second projection have a generally T-shaped cross-sectional shape with the rest of the first divider. 
     
     
         19 . The tote of  claim 15  wherein the first channel on the second divider is formed from a first rib extending outward from the first side of the second divider and a second rib extending outward from the first side of the second divider and spaced from the first rib, and the second channel on the second divider is formed from a first rib extending outward from the second side of the second divider and a second rib extending outward from the second side of the second divider and spaced from the first rib on the second side of the second divider. 
     
     
         20 . The tote of  claim 15  wherein the container, first divider and second divider are formed from plastic.