Transport assembly for storage containers with lids

Abstract

A transport assembly has a stack of storage containers and a stack of lids sandwiched between upper and lower protective trays that are secured by straps that encircle the upper and lower trays and the lids and containers stacked therebetween. The containers are exposed between the upper and lower trays for ease of inspection by potential buyers and handling by a upper edge by which the containers can be lifted and carried. The top and bottom members are each advantageously constructed from a sheet of materials, e.g., corrugated cardboard, to minimize manufacturing costs, reduce weight for shipping and save resources. The straps are strategically wrapped around extrusions form in the containers that increase structure integrity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transport assembly, comprising:
 a stack of storage containers, each storage container having a bottom, first and second opposing side walls and first and second opposing end walls, and an upper edge extending around an opening of the container;   a stack of lids above the stack of storage containers;   a top member positioned above the stack of lids, the top member having a main top panel and first and second opposing side panels, the first side panels in general alignment with the first side walls of the stack of storage containers, the second side panels in general alignment with the second side walls of the stack of storage containers;   a bottom member positioned below the stack of storage containers, the bottom member having a main bottom panel, first and second opposing side panels, and first and second opposing end panels, the first side panels in general alignment with the first side walls of the stack of storage containers, the second side panels in general alignment with the second side walls of the stack of storage containers, the first end panels being in general alignment with the first end walls of the stack of storage containers, and the second end panels being in general alignment with the second end walls of the stack of storage containers; and   a strap extending circumferentially around the top member, the stack of lids, the stack of storage containers and the bottom member.   
     
     
         2 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each lid has first and second side flanges and first and second end flanges, and the first side panel of the top member covers the first side flanges of the stack of lids, and the second side panel of the top member covers the second side flanges of the stack of lids. 
     
     
         3 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge of at least one storage container is exposed. 
     
     
         4 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each side wall of at least one storage container has an extrusion, and the strap extends over the extrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , having a first strap and a second strap, and each side wall of at least one storage container has a first extrusion and a second extrusion, and the first strap extends over the first extrusion and the second strap extends over the second extrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bottommost storage container has a side wall with extrusions and the side panels of the bottom member remain below the extrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stack of storage containers consists of four storage containers and the stack of lids consists of four lids. 
     
     
         8 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top member and the bottom member are constructed of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         9 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top member has a construction of a sheet material with a main area that forms the main panel with two opposing sides, and an secondary area on each of two opposing sides that is folded into forming a side panel. 
     
     
         10 . The transport assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member has a construction of a sheet material with a main area that forms the main panel with four sides, and four secondary areas, each having one side that is contiguous with the main area wherein first and second secondary areas are folded into forming the first and second side panels, respectively and third and fourth secondary areas area folded into forming the first and second end panels. 
     
     
         11 . The transport assembly of  claim 10 , wherein adjacent edges of the first side panel and the first end panel are affixed together to form a corner. 
     
     
         12 . The transport assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each of the four secondary areas include an extended secondary area that overlaps an adjacent panel and is affixed thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A transport assembly, comprising:
 a stack of storage containers, each storage container having a bottom, first and second opposing side walls and first and second opposing end walls, and an upper edge extending around an opening of the container;   a stack of lids above the stack of storage containers;   a top tray positioned above the stack of lids, the top tray having a main top panel and first and second side panels extending downwardly, the first side panels in general alignment with the first side walls of the stack of storage containers, the second side panels in general alignment with the second side walls of the stack of storage containers;   a bottom tray positioned below the stack of storage containers, the bottom tray having a main bottom panel, first and second opposing side panels that extend upwardly, and first and second opposing end panels that extend upwardly, the first side panels in general alignment with the first side walls of the stack of storage containers, the second side panels in general alignment with the second side walls of the stack of storage containers, the first end panels being in general alignment with the first end walls of the stack of storage containers, and the second end panels being in general alignment with the second end walls of the stack of storage containers; and   a first strap and a second strap, each extending circumferentially around the top tray, the stack of lids, the stack of storage containers and the bottom tray.   
     
     
         14 . The transport assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a height of the side panels of the bottom tray ranges between about 10% to 50% of a height of a storage container. 
     
     
         15 . The transport assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a height of the side panels of the bottom tray ranges between 15% to 20% of a height of a storage container. 
     
     
         16 . A transport assembly, comprising:
 a stack of storage containers, each storage container having a bottom, first and second opposing side walls and first and second opposing end walls, and an upper edge extending around an opening of the container, each side wall having a first extrusion and a second extrusion;   a stack of lids above the stack of storage containers;   a top tray positioned above the stack of lids, the top tray having a main top panel and first and second side panels extending downwardly, the first side panels in general alignment with the first side walls of the stack of storage containers, the second side panels in general alignment with the second side walls of the stack of storage containers;   a bottom tray positioned below the stack of storage containers, the bottom tray having a main bottom panel, first and second opposing side panels that extend upwardly, and first and second opposing end panels that extend upwardly, the first side panels in general alignment with the first side walls of the stack of storage containers, the second side panels in general alignment with the second side walls of the stack of storage containers, the first end panels being in general alignment with the first end walls of the stack of storage containers, and the second end panels being in general alignment with the second end walls of the stack of storage containers; and   a first strap and a second strap, each extending circumferentially around the top tray, the stack of lids, the stack of storage containers and the bottom tray, the first strap extending over the first extrusion and the second strap extending over the second extrusion,   wherein the extrusions are exposed between the upper and lower trays.   
     
     
         17 . The transport assembly of  claim 16 , wherein a height of the side and end panels of the bottom tray are less than or equal to a distance between the bottom of the container and the extrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The transport assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the top and bottom trays include corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         19 . The transport assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the top tray is constructed from one sheet of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         20 . The transport assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the bottom tray is constructed from one sheet of corrugated cardboard.