US-12623811-B2 - Stackable storage crate

US12623811B2US 12623811 B2US12623811 B2US 12623811B2US-12623811-B2

Abstract

A stackable storage crate has a main body with a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, an upper section, and a bottom section. The upper section has a top lip and an inner surface. The inner surface has a repeating sequence of lands and channels. The bottom section has a ridge with a matching shape that corresponds with and is configured to be disposed adjacent the repeating sequence of lands and channels of the inner surface of another stackable storage crate when in a stacked assembly.

Inventors

Jacob H. Whitta
Ben Sayalith
Eric Hummel
Tony Vilay

Assignees

CREATIVE PLASTIC CONCEPTS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221108

Claims (11)

1 . A stackable storage crate, comprising: a main body having a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, an upper section, and a bottom section, the upper section having a top lip and an inner surface with a repeating sequence of lands and channels, and the bottom section having a ridge with a plurality of alternating inset wall portions and projecting wall portions, the plurality of alternating inset wall portions and projecting wall portions correspond to the lands and channels such that when the stackable storage crate is stacked atop a second crate identical to the stackable storage crate then the inset wall portions of the stackable storage crate are adjacent the lands of the second crate and the projecting wall portions of the stackable storage crate are adjacent the channels of the second crate; wherein the repeating sequence of lands and channels of the inner surface of the upper section is defined by a plurality of support panels, the support panels spaced apart along a length of each of the first side wall and the second side wall; wherein the support panels extend outwardly from each of the first side wall and the second side wall to form the channels on the inner surface of the upper section of the main body; wherein an area of the first side wall and the second side wall disposed between adjacent pairs of the support panels form the lands on the inner surface of the upper section of the main body; and wherein the top lip of the main body is defined by an uppermost surface of each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the rear wall of the main body, and each of the lands has a chamfered upper surface that is disposed adjacent the top lip of the upper section of the main body.
2 . The stackable storage crate of claim 1 , wherein the top lip of the main body is disposed on a first plane, and the chamfered upper surface of each of the lands is disposed on a second plane, the second plane disposed at a downward angle relative to the first plane.
3 . The stackable storage crate of claim 2 , wherein each of the lands has a substantially trapezoidal profile including a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, the third wall connecting the first wall and the second wall, and each of the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall connected to the chamfered upper surface, and the chamfered upper surface is bounded entirely by the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the top lip of the main body.
4 . The stackable storage crate of claim 3 , wherein the ridge of the bottom section is disposed on a bottom wall of the main body, and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall.
5 . The stackable storage crate of claim 4 , wherein the ridge is continuous and circumscribes a central area of the bottom surface of the bottom wall.
6 . The stackable storage crate of claim 5 , wherein the main body has a plurality of corner sections that join the first side wall and the second side wall to the front wall and the rear wall.
7 . The stackable storage crate of claim 6 , wherein each of the corner sections has a first inner surface, a second inner surface, and a third inner surface, the third inner surface connecting the first inner surface and the second inner surface.
8 . The stackable storage crate of claim 7 , wherein the ridge has a plurality of matching corners, each of the matching corners corresponds with and is configured to be disposed adjacent one of the corner sections of the second crate when the stackable storage crate is stacked atop the second crate.
9 . The stackable storage crate of claim 8 , wherein the first inner surface of each of the corner sections is configured to be disposed adjacent one of the projecting wall portions of the second crate when the second crate is stacked atop the stackable storage crate.
10 . The stackable storage crate of claim 1 , wherein there is a consistent gap between the entirety of the inner surface of the upper section and the ridge of the bottom section when the stackable storage crate and the second crate are aligned and the stackable storage crate is stacked atop the second crate.
11 . The stackable storage crate of claim 1 , further comprising a first handle and a second handle disposed opposite each other, the first handle disposed in the front wall, and the second handle disposed in the rear wall, and each the first handle and the second handle are formed centrally in the upper section of the main body and have a hollow section with an opening beneath the hollow section to accommodate lifting by hand, and the hollow section has a plurality of support ridges spaced apart along a length of the hollow section and extending vertically between the top lid and the opening beneath the hollow section.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/277,270, filed on Nov. 9, 2021. The entire disclosure of the above application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to storage crates and, more particularly, to stackable storage crates. INTRODUCTION This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. Storage crates are commonly used in residential, and commercial settings to store objects like files, supplies, office materials, recreational equipment, or food. Often, multiple storage crates are used in a single setting together, so storage crates that can be stored in an organized and stable configuration are ideal. Storage crates are also commonly used in settings where the capability to transport many stored objects at once is necessary, and efficient. Such storage crates may be stored and transported in various arrangements, for example, by stacking storage crates on top of one another. However, some storage crates lack the stability required to stack with other storage crates. Further, some storage crates may not be configured to hold each other in place while in a stacked formation during transport, which may result in broken items, and additional hassle. Using storage crates to store, and transport items effectively is further complicated by the integrity of a storage crate's handles. Storage crates are often used to carry heavy items, and handles may break after continued or strenuous use, reducing user satisfaction. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an improved stackable storage crate that is durable, and which is easily stored and transported in stacked formations in combination with other stackable storage crates. Desirably, the storage crate is constructed with a main body configured to support stable stacking, with extra support of the main body, and durable handles. SUMMARY In concordance with the instant disclosure, a durable stackable storage crate that can be easily stored and transported in stacked formations in combination with other storage crates, and which is constructed with a main body configured to support stable stacking, with extra support of the main body, and durable handles, has surprisingly been discovered. In one embodiment, a stackable storage crate has a main body with a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, an upper section, and a bottom section. The upper section has a top lip and an inner surface. The inner surface has a repeating sequence of lands and channels. The bottom section has a ridge with a matching shape that corresponds with and is configured to be disposed adjacent the repeating sequence of lands and channels of the inner surface of another stackable storage crate when in a stacked assembly. In another embodiment, a stacked assembly is provided by a stackable storage crate being disposed on another stackable storage crate. Each of the stackable storage crate and the another stackable storage crate has a main body with a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, an upper section, and a bottom section. The upper section has a top lip and an inner surface. The inner surface has a repeating sequence of lands and channels. The bottom section has a ridge with a matching shape. The stackable storage crate also abuts the another stackable storage crate. The matching shape of the ridge of the stackable storage crate corresponds with and is disposed adjacent the repeating sequence of lands and channels of the inner surface of the another stackable storage crate. In a further embodiment, a method of forming a stacked assembly of storage crates includes a step of providing the stackable storage crate and the another stackable storage crate as described. The method further includes a step of aligning the stackable storage crate with the another stackable storage crate. The stackable storage crate is then disposed in a next step on the another stackable storage crate such that the stackable storage crate abuts the another stackable storage crate. The matching shape of the ridge of the stackable storage crate corresponds with and is disposed adjacent the repeating sequence of lands and channels of the inner surface of the another stackable storage crate. Advantageously, the placement of the ridge of the stackable storage crate relative to the inner surface of the upper section of the another stackable storage crate thereby militates against lateral movement of the stackable storage crate relative to the another stackable storage crate in both a side-to-side direction and a forward-to-backward direction. In yet one more embodiment, a storage crate has a main body including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom section, and an upper section. The storage crate includes a plurality of support p