Stackable tray having anti-pivot stop and wash apertures

Abstract

A multi-purpose tray including a front, a back, a first side, a second side, and a bottom. The tray can include beams extending from the front of the tray and slots defined in the back of the tray. When two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another, the beams are received by the slots. The tray also includes a domed bottom. The domed bottom has a convex profile with respect to the interior of the tray and can include transverse ribs or longitudinal ribs. The tray also includes drain apertures positioned along the front and back of the tray. The drain apertures can enhance cleaning of the tray by communicating fluid from channels defined by the front and back. The tray also includes a stop for projection for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray when two trays are stacked in a similar orientation with respect to one another. The tray also includes handles in the first and second side and a gripping portion on one of the first and second handles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front wall having a front apron and a front channel defined by the front wall and the front apron; 
 a back wall spaced from the front wall and having a back apron and a back channel defined by the back wall and the back apron; 
 first and second sides each having an outer face and an inner face; 
 at least one foot extending from the outer face of one of the first and second sides, the at least one foot including a surface facing forward toward the front wall and adjoining the outer face and an outward facing surface adjoining the forward facing surface, the entire outward facing surface spaced away from and outboard of the outer face; 
 at least one pocket recessed into the inner face of a corresponding one of the first and second sides, the at least one pocket including a forward facing surface adjoining the inner surface and an inward facing surface adjoining the forward facing surface, the entire inward facing surface spaced away from and outboard of the inner face, where the at least one pocket is correspondingly shaped with respect to the at least one foot; 
 a bottom extending between the front wall and the back wall and between the first and second sides, where the front wall, back wall, first and second sides, and the bottom are integrally formed; and 
 a plurality of ribs disposed along the inward facing surface of the at least one pocket, the ribs engageable with the outward facing surface of the at least one foot when two like trays are stacked in opposite directions rotated 180° with respect to one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The tray of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one drain aperture disposed along at least one of the front wall and back wall of the tray for communicating fluid from the channel. 
 
     
     
       3. The tray of  claim 2  further comprising:
 at least one rib disposed in the channel for defining, at least in part, the at least on aperture. 
 
     
     
       4. The tray of  claim 3  wherein the rib is arcuate. 
     
     
       5. The tray of  claim 3  wherein the rib is elongate. 
     
     
       6. The tray of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an opening defined by the at least one of the front wall and back wall and having a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces, the at least one aperture disposed in one of the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface. 
 
     
     
       7. The tray of  claim 6  wherein the opening further comprises:
 at least one secondary bottom surface adjoining one of the first and second side surfaces; and 
 at least one secondary side surface adjoining the bottom surface and the at least one secondary bottom surface, the at least one aperture disposed in one of the at least one secondary bottom surface and the at least one secondary side surface. 
 
     
     
       8. The tray of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a notch defined by the at least one of the front wall and back wall, the at least one aperture disposed in the notch. 
 
     
     
       9. The tray of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first handle disposed in the first side of the tray, the first handle having a first gripping portion; 
 a second handle disposed in a corresponding position in the second side of the tray, the second handle having a second gripping portion, wherein the first gripping portion has a different contour than the second gripping portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are operable to support a top tray during sliding movement of the top tray relative to a bottom tray during stacking of the top and bottom trays in the same direction relative to one another. 
     
     
       11. The tray of  claim 1  wherein one of the ribs is tapered to enhance sliding movement of the top tray relative to the bottom tray during stacking. 
     
     
       12. The tray of  claim 11  wherein the tapered rib is positioned closest to the center of the tray relative to the other ribs to minimize binding between the two trays being stacked relative to one another. 
     
     
       13. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front wall; 
 a back wall spaced from the front wall; 
 first and second sides each having an outer face and an upper edge; 
 a recessed channel longitudinally disposed along the upper edge of one of the first and second sides; 
 at least one foot extending from the outer face of one of the first and second sides, the at least one foot including a runner extending from a lower portion of the at least one foot, the runner slideably engageable with the recessed channel of a like tray when the two trays are stacked in the same direction with respect to one another; 
 a bottom extending between the front wall and the back wall and between the first and second sides, where the front wall, back wall, first and second sides, and the bottom are integrally formed; and 
 a stop disposed within the recessed channel for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray in a first direction when the top and bottom trays are stacked relative to one another. 
 
     
     
       14. The tray of  claim 13  wherein the stop comprises:
 a ramp surface inclined to a bottom surface of the recessed channel, the ramp surface being engageable with the runner to permit sliding movement of one tray relative to the other in a second direction. 
 
     
     
       15. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front having a wall, an apron and a channel defined by the wall and the apron; 
 a back spaced from the front and having a second wall, a second apron and a second channel defined by the second wall and the second apron; 
 first and second sides each having an outer portion and inner portion, and at least one foot extending from the outer portion and at least one pocket defined by the inner portion where the at least one foot is correspondingly shaped with respect to the at least one foot pocket, each of the first and second sides operably associated with the front and the back; 
 a bottom extending along a first path between the front and the back and along a second path between the first and second sides, where the front, back, first and second sides, and the bottom are integrally formed; 
 at least one beam extending from the front of the tray; and 
 at least one slot formed in the back of the tray to receive the beam when two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another. 
 
     
     
       16. The multi-purpose tray of  claim 15 , wherein the beam adjoins the front apron. 
     
     
       17. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front having a wall, an apron and a channel defined by the wall and the apron; 
 a back spaced from the front and having a second wall, a second apron and a second channel defined by the second wall and the second apron; 
 first and second sides each having an outer portion and inner portion, and at least one foot extending from the outer portion and at least one pocket defined by the inner portion where the at least one foot is correspondingly shaped with respect to the at least one pocket, each of the first and second sides operably associated with the front and the back; and 
 a bottom extending along a first path between the front and the back and along a second path between the first and second sides, where the front, back, first and second sides, and the bottom are integrally formed, and wherein one of the first and second paths is arcuate at least in part, 
 wherein the bottom comprises at least one transverse rib extending from the first side to the second side and aligned substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first and second sides. 
 
     
     
       18. The tray of  claim 17  wherein the first and second paths are arcuate. 
     
     
       19. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front having a wall, an apron and a channel defined by the wall and the apron; 
 a back spaced from the front and having a second wall, a second apron and a second channel defined by the second wall and the second apron; 
 first and second sides each having an outer portion and inner portion, and at least one foot extending from the outer portion and at least one pocket defined by the inner portion where the at least one foot is correspondingly shaped with respect to the at least one pocket, each of the first and second sides operably associated with the front and the back; and 
 a bottom extending along a first path between the front and the back and along a second path between the first and second sides, where the front, back, first and second sides, and the bottom are integrally formed, and wherein one of the first and second paths is arcuate at least in part, 
 wherein the bottom comprises at least one longitudinal rib extending from the front wall to the second wall and aligned substantially perpendicular to at least one of the front and second walls. 
 
     
     
       20. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front wall;   a back wall spaced from the front wall;   first and second sides each having an outer face and an inner face;   at least one foot extending from the outer face of one of the first and second sides, the at least one foot including a surface facing forward toward the front wall and adjoining the outer face and an outward facing surface adjoining the forward facing surface, the entire outward facing surface spaced away from and outboard of the outer face;   at least one pocket recessed into the inner face of a corresponding one of the first and second sides, the at least one pocket including a forward facing surface adjoining the inner face and an inward facing surface adjoining the forward facing surface, the entire inward facing surface spaced away from and outboard of the inner face, where the at least one pocket is correspondingly shaped with respect to the at least one foot;   a bottom extending between the front wall and the back wall and between the first and second sides, where the front wall, back wall, first and second sides, and the bottom are integrally formed; and   a plurality of ribs disposed along the inward facing surface of the at least one pocket, the ribs engageable with the outward facing surface of the at least one foot when two like trays are stacked in opposite directions rotated 180° with respect to one another.    
     
     
       21. A tray according to claim 20 further comprising:
 a first handle disposed in the first side of the tray, the first handle having a first gripping portion; and   a second handle disposed in a corresponding position in the second side of the tray, the second handle having a second gripping portion, wherein the first gripping portion has a different contour than the second gripping portion.    
     
     
       22. A tray according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of ribs are operable to support a top tray during sliding movement of the top tray relative to a bottom tray during stacking of the top and bottom trays in the same direction relative to one another.  
     
     
       23. A tray according to claim 20 wherein one of the ribs is tapered to enhance sliding movement of the top tray relative to the bottom tray during stacking.  
     
     
       24. A tray according to claim 23 wherein the tapered rib is positioned closest to the center of the tray relative to the other ribs to minimize binding between the two trays being stacked relative to one another.  
     
     
       25. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front wall:   a back wall spaced from the front wall;   first and second sides each having an outer face and an upper edge;   a channel longitudinally disposed along the upper edge of one of the first and second sides;   at least one foot extending from the outer face of one of the first and second sides, the at least one foot including a runner extending from a lower portion of the at least one foot, the runner slidably engageable with the channel of a like tray when the two trays are stacked in the same direction with respect to one another;   a bottom extending between the front wall and the back wall and between the first and second sides, where the front wall, back wall, first and second sides and the bottom are integrally formed; and   a stop associated with the channel for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray in a first direction when the top and bottom trays are stacked relative to one another.    
     
     
       26. A tray according to claim 25 wherein the stop comprises a ramp surface inclined to a bottom surface of the channel, the ramp surface being engageable with the runner to permit sliding movement of one tray relative to the other in a second direction.  
     
     
       27. A multi purpose tray comprising a front, back, first and second sides, and a bottom integrally formed with the front, back and sides, each side having at least one downwardly extending foot and one upwardly opening pocket offset with respect to the foot, the pocket of the first side configured to receive the foot of the second side and the pocket of the second side configured to receive the foot of the first side, the feet and pockets being configured and relatively disposed such that with two trays stacked in the same direction the trays are vertically spaced with the feet of the upper tray supported on upper edges of the lower tray and with two trays stacked in opposite directions the trays are nested with the foot of the first side of the upper tray nested in the pocket of the second side of the lower tray and the foot of the second side of the upper tray nested in the pocket of the first side of the lower tray, characterized in that:
 the tray further includes at least one vertical beam extending from the front of the tray and at least one vertical slot formed in the back of the tray and configured to receive the beam; and   with the two trays stacked in the same direction, the beam of the upper tray is supported on an upper edge of the lower tray and with the two trays stacked in opposite directions the beam of the upper tray is positioned in the slot of the lower tray.    
     
     
       28. A multi-purpose tray according to claim 27 wherein each side has at least two spaced feet and at least two spaced upwardly opening pockets.  
     
     
       29. A multi-purpose tray according to claim 27 wherein:
 each front has at least two spaced beams; and   each back has at least two spaced slots.    
     
     
       30. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front;   a back;   first and second sides each defining a plurality of downwardly extending feet and each defining a plurality of upwardly opening pockets to receive the feet when two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another;   a bottom integrally formed with the front, back and first and second sides;   at least one beam extending from the front of the tray; and   at least one slot formed in the back of the tray to receive the beam when two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another.    
     
     
       31. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front;   a back;   first and second sides;   a bottom extending along a first path between the front and the back and along a second path between the first and second sides, where the front, back, first and second sides and the bottom are integrally formed and wherein one of the first and second paths is arcuate at least in part; and   wherein the bottom comprises at least one transverse rib extending from the first side to the second side and aligned substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first and second sides.    
     
     
       32. A tray according to claim 31 wherein the first and second paths are arcuate.  
     
     
       33. A multi-purpose tray comprising:
 a front;   a back;   first and second sides; and   a bottom extending along a first path between the front and back and along a second path between the first and second sides, where the front, back, first and second sides and the bottom are integrally formed and wherein one of the first and second paths is arcuate at least in part;   wherein the bottom comprises at least one longitudinal rib extending from the front to the back and aligned substantially perpendicular to at least one of the front and back.