Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
-- 1059046
This application is a division of Canadian Serial No.
252,654, filed May 17, 1976.
BASKETS AND SUPPORT TIl~REFOR, FOR MASS
MERCHANDISING, HANDLING AND DISPLAY OF GOODS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a portable container or bin,
and more particularly, to a basket which may be stacked upon
another basket without obstructing the lading-carrying space
of the basket and which may be partially nested or telescoped
within another basket to occupy the other basket's lading-
carrying space.
There are many types of stackable and nestable baskets
available for use with a large variety of products. A common
characteristic of these baskets are that they are open-ended
or without a top to permit easy accessability. Generally,
these baskets are made of sheet material, wire or plastic,
in order to provide lightness and visual control of the COII-
tents. Engineering and design criteria generally necessitate
that the baskets occupy the least possible storage space during
nesting, for purpose of storage or shipping, and maximize the
lading-carrying space during stacking.
In an effort to achieve nesting, prior art contAiners
have heretofore been designed with tapered sidewalls or
end walls, resulting in diminished lading-carrying capacity
during stacking. It has therefore been found that baskets
having a plurality of perpendicular upright walls generally
optimize lading-carrying space and capacity during stacking.
However, such basket construction makes nesting difficult.
Stacking'baskets are old as disclosed in U.S. Patents
1,936,164;2,554,232 and 2,662,662. Some stackable baskets
have been designed with inwardly or upwardly projecting
shoulders for engaging or supporting the bottom frame of
another basket.
Others have heretofore sought to provide baskets that
selectively nest as well as stack upon each other. Such
prior constructions generally have used movable elements
5 :~oS~o46
or geometrical features that permit of alternate use,
but stability in such instances normally relies upon gravity
of interference between basket wall members. For example
see U.S. Patents 2,252,964, 2,931,535, and 3,409,163.
U.S. Patent Nos. 3,039,643, 3,481,507, and 3,622,031
disclose utility in rotating the basket either 90 or 180
about a vertical axis to effect stacking rather than nesting.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
_ _ _
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved, stackable basket which is constructed and arranged
to snap-fit and interlockingly stack upon another basket.
To this end, the end walls of the stackable basket are
arranged vertically and generally perpendicularly to a plane
defined by the basket bottom with each of the end walls
including an endless loop-like peripheral frame providing
upper and lower end runs. Stacking means in the form of a
resilient U-shaped bail and resilient shoulder-defining
feet are provided in each of the end walls, with the bail
extending above the upper run and portions of feet extending
below the lower run, so that during stacking the feet of
one basket enter the bail of another basket and snap-fittingly
engage the other basket's upper run, as the shoulders of one
basket interlockingly and resiliently engage the bail of
the other basket.
Another object of this invention is to provide baskets
having improved safety features for preventing the basket
from tipping over when a downward force is applied to tlle
front rim of the basket.
Still a further objec-t of this invention is to provide
(l) a nestable basket construction of improved character,
(2) where the nesting character is not achieved at the ex-
pense of the lading-carrying capacity of the basket, or at
--2--
1059~46
s
the expense of the ability of nested baskets to be readily
separated, (3) where the nesting character is ma~imized to the
extent that loss of vertical space during nesting is at a
minimum, (4) where the nesting character is accomplished
simply by turning one basket upside down relative to the
basket beneath and then.shifting the baskets laterally of
each other so that the end walls of the two baskets are
in adjacent planes, (5) where the nesting character includes
slideways or slots provided in each of the basket's end
walls for receiving a side wall of the other basket and
(6) where the nesting character assures nesting without
jamming.
These objects are attained by the invention which
contemplates a stacking basket construction wherein the
basket includes spaced upright end walls extending upwardly
from a basket bottom, with the end walls of similar stacked
baskets being substantially vertically aligned, and frame
means for each end wall defining substantially horizontal
upper and lower frame runs such that a lower run of an
upper basket is positioned vertically adjacent an upper
run of a lower basket when the baskets are stacked. The
construction comprises, in combination, resilient upright
stacking means fixedly secured to each end wall frame means
including an elongated inverted U-shaped bail extending
above the upper frame run and inclined outwardly therefrom,
and at least one depending foot disposed in substantially
vertical alignment beneath the bail and spanning a horizolltal
distance less than the minimum interior length of the
bail. The foot extends beneath the lower frame run and
is cantilevered slightly outward therefrom and carries an
outwardly-projecting shoulder element above the lower
frame run so that the foot of one basket may enter the
bail of another basket and be snap-fittingly engaged
--3--
lOS9046
therewith. The foot engages the other basket's upper
run on the outer side thereof with another portion of the
foot engaging the bight of the bail on its inner side
thereof and with the shoulder element of the one basket
interlockingly resiliently engaging the underside of the
bail of the other basket so as to provide a substantially
rigid, snap-together, stacking assemblage.
In another embodiment the invention contemplates a
nesting basket construction wherein the basket includes a
basket bottom, spaced upright side walls, and spaced,
substantially vertical end walls. This construction
comprises in combination, upright slot-defining means
provided in each of the end walls, adjacent the uppermost
ends of one side wall for slidably-receiving the upper end
of the other side wall of a similar-type basket during
nesting. Thus, when two such baskets are inverted by
rotation of 180 about a longitudinal axis parallel to the
basket bottom and are shifted laterally so that the end
walls of two baskets are in adjacent planes, the two
baskets may be partially telescoped into a nesting relation-
ship.
In a further embodiment, the invention contemplates
a tier of stacked baskets wherein each basket includes
a basket bottom, spaced upright side walls and spaced,
sukstantially vertical end walls with stacking means
thereon. The tier includes, in combination, a base basket,
the side walls of which each include horizontal frame
means above the basket bottom and a support base including
upright resilient bail means for snap-fitting, interlocking
engagement with the horizontal frame means of the base basket.
1059(~46
In a still further embodiment, the invention
contemplates a tier of stacked baskets wherein each basket
is stacked on and held in position by a basket therebelow,
the lower basket of the tier being a base basket that is
supported on a support base, and wherein each basket includes
a basket bottom, spaced upright side walls and spaced,
substantially vertical end walls with stacking means
thereon for cooperative engagement with a basket thereabove.
The tier includes, in combination, a base basket having
side walls which each include a plurality of spaced upright
wires extending upwardly from the basket bottom, a horizontal
frame means secured to the side walls and spaced above the
basket bottom and extending outwardly of the side walls
of the basket, and a support base including upright resilient
bail means thereon for snap-fitting, releasable, interlocking
engagement with the outwardly extending horizontal frame
means of the base basket.
. -4a-
lOS9(~46
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a double
dolly supporting two base baskets and a plurality of stackable
baskets arranged in stacking relationship;
FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic end view of Figure 1
illustrating different size stackable baskets;
FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a
single dolly supporting a base basket and a plurality of
stackable baskets arranged in stacking relationship;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of two stackable
baskets in preparation for nesting;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective end-
view of two stackable baskets positioned in nesting
relationship;
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective end-
view of two stackable baskets in stacking relationship;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front view of a stackable
basket with a wire divider or partition;
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end view of a stackable
basket with a wire divider or partition taken substantially
along line 8-8 of Figure 7;
FIGURE 9 illustrates in solid line an end view of a
stackable basket and in broken line or phantom a fragmentary
portion of another stackable basket in stacking relationship
therewith;
FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary rearward view of a stackable
basket taken substantially along line 10-10 of Figure 9;
--5--
~059046
FIGURE 11 is an end view of a base basket in accordance
- with principles of the present invention;
FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary rearward view of a base basket
taken substantially alony line 12-12 of Figure 11;
FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the
single capacity dolly shown in Figure 3;
FIGU~E 14 is an end view of the single capacity dolly;
FIGURE 15 is a front elevational view of the single
capacity dolly;
FIGUR~ 16 is a top plan view of the double capacity dolly
shown in Figure l; and
FIGURr. 17 is a front elevational view of the double capa-
city dolly.
DETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF TIIE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
Stackable Baskets
Referring now to the drawings, Figure 6 shows two iden-
tical wire baskets, or bins, stacked one u~on the other, while
Figure 5 shows two identical baskets nested. Since the baskets
are identical, the same numerals will be used to describe iden-
tical elements of the basket. To distinguish the baskets, the
top basket will sometimes be referred to as the "A" basket, and
the lower basket will sometimes be called "B" basket. As seen
in tile figures, the basket is generally indicated at 20 and
includes a generally rectangular basket bottom 22 defilled by
a grid of cross wires that are welded together at their point
of contact. One set of wires of the grid may be part of the
wires that form the vertical end walls 2~ and 26 of the basket,
and another set may include portions of the wires that form the
upright front and rear sidçwalls 28 and 30, respectively, of
the basket.
--6--
lOS9046
In tlle particular construction illustrated, the front
wall is inclined outwardly from the basket bottom and is of
a lesser vertical height than the vertical rear wall and end
walls so as to define an access opening into the interior
lading-carrying space of the basket, the top edge of the front
wall being defined by the forward run or rail 32 of an end-
less, generally horizontal frame member 34, which is of a
larger gauge size and dimension than the cross wires of the
basket bottom. The horizontal frame member serves to ricjidify
and strengthen the upright walls of the basket, with the ends
of the forward rail bent to extend horizontally and continually
across the end walls, until reaching the rear wall where they
extend generally upright to provide the ends 36 and 38 of the
rear wall. The horizontal frame member further includes a
rearward run or rail 40 horizontally interconnecting the uppcr-
most ends of the rear wall to provide the rear wall's top edge.
A second rigidifying frame member 42, of a similar gauge
size as the horizontal frame member, defines a horizontal loop-
like rib extending along the upright walls of the basket at a
position slightly above the basket bottom. The 1OW-~r rigidif~
ing frame member 42 is formed by an endless or continuous wire,
as does the horizontal frame member, and is located in A hori-
zontal plane spaced parallel and below a horizontal plane de-
fined by the end portions and forward rail of tlle horizontal
frame member.
In the illustrative embodiment, the rear wall includes a
series of equally spaced, parallel, vertical wires 44 located
generally along aliquot horizontal sub-portions of the rear
wall, each of the vertical wires being welded to the inner
surfaces of the horizon-tal frame member 34 and the lower
`\
1059~46
rigidifying frame member 42 and turned inwardly and horizon-
tally along the basket bottom at 46 until reachinc3 the front
wall where it is inclined upwardly at 48 to the height of the
forward rail or upper front edge 32. The inclined wires of the
front wall are welded to the inner surfaces of the horizontal
frame member 34 and the lower rigidifying frame mcmber 42 and
lie in a common vertical plane witll the rearward vertical wires
44. '
The vertical wires of the rear wall may also include a pair
of parallel, closely adjacent vertical wires 44a and 44b, lying
in a common vertical plane with a pair of parallel, closely
adjacent inclined wires, 48a and 48b, respectively, of the front
wall so as to provide means for receiving a wire partition or
divider S0. Each of the partition-receivill(J vertical wirc~ and
is inclined wires are bent inward to define and carry an inwardly-
projecting shoulder element 52 and are located longitudinally
between and parallel to the end walls. In the illustrative
embodiment the vertical wires 44a and 44b and the inclined wires
48a and 48b generally vertically biscct ~lle ~ron~ and rcar w.llls,
so that the wire partition or divider 50 will sub-divide the
lading-carrying space into two generally equal sub-compartments,
but it is to be understood that these wires could be located
closer to one end wall than the other.
Referring now to the end walls 24 and 26, an irregularly-
shaped vertically elongated wire loop of a gauge size and dim-
ension similar to the horizontal frame mcmbcr 34 is wcldcd to
the end portions of horizontal frame member and the lower rigid-
ifying frame member 42, so as to define an u~ricJht, peripheral
end frame member 54 or 56 which is bent to provide an upper
horizontal end runner 58, providing the upper edge of the end
1059046
wall, and a lower horizontal end runller 60 descen~ing below
the basket bottoM to provide the lcwer edge of the end wall.
The upper and lower horizontal runners lie generally in a
common vertical plane with both .he horizontal frame member
and the lower rigidif~ing frame member, with the forward end
of the upper horizontal runner turned and inclined downwardly
toward the upper edge and corner of the front wall. Thc for-
ward end of the lower horizontal runner is also turned and
inclined upwardly toward the upper edge and corner of the
front wall to form a rounded apex 62 welded to the outer sur-
face of the horizontal frame member 34 adjacent said upper edge
and corner. Rearwardly, the upper and lower horizontal runners
are bent to provide an upright generally-vertical rearward
extension 64 extending above upper edge 40 of the rear wall and
welded to the outer,rearward side of the horizontal frame mem-
ber.
An important feature of this invention is that the upright
extensions 64 are spaced forwardly of the rear wall and coop-
erate with the endwise elements and the upright rearward ele-
ments 36 and 38 of the horlzolltal frame mem~er 3~ so as to
define a pair of downwardly extendillg slots or slideways 66
and 6~ in the end walls. The vertical extent and forward edge
of each slot is defined by that portion of the upright rear-
ward extension 64 extending above the horizontal frame member
34. The botton~ost extent of each slot is formed by a horizon-
tal bight portion 70 provided by the endwisc clemcllts of the
horizontal frame member extending rearwardly of thc upri~Jht
rearward extension 64, while the upright rearward edge of each
slot is defined by the end or upright rearward elements 36 or
38 of the rear wall. The horizontal spacing or span between
1059~46
the upright extension 64 and the rear wall is slightIy
greater than the thickness o the upper end of the front
sidewall 28 and defines the horizontal s~an of the slot.
Mo,,re particularly, the upright extension is spaced from the
ends 36 and 38 of the rear wall at a distance slightly
greater than the horizontal traces formed by the projection
of the inclined wires 48 of the front wall extending above
the lower rigidifying frame member 42 upon a horizolltal plalle
coinciding with the lower rigidifying frallle mcmber. rl`hus, eacll
slot is of a size and dimension to receive the upper end of the
front wall of another basket "B" during nesting.
The left-hand end wall 24 (as viewed looking toward the
front wall) includes a series of parallel vertical wires 72
which are welded along aliquot horizontal sub-portions of tlle
inner surfaces of the upper horizontal end runner 58, the hor-
izontal frame member 34 and the lower rigidifying frame member
42. These vertical end wires 72 are of a similar gauge,size a'nd
dimension as the upright side wires 44 and are turned to long-
itudinally extend along the underside of the basket bottom,
until reaching the rig}lt-iland end wall wllele the wires are bent
upward to provide a set of vertical end wires 74 along the
right-hand end wall 26.
An important feature of this invention is tllat each cnd
, wall 24 and 26 is provided with an inverted vertically-
elongated U-shaped resilient wire-frame member 76 whose upper
bigllt defines a U-shaped horizontally-elon~ated bail 78 and
whose legs B0 and 82 diverge downwardly to provide a pair of
upright reverse-bent U-shaped feet 84 and 86 extending beneath
the lower rigidifying frame member 42. The feet are deformed
or bent outwardly at a point slightly above the basket bottom
10-
~OS9~346
.
and below the lower rigidifyin~ frame member to provide
outwardly-extending shoulders 88. Preferably, the inverted
U-shaped end member 76 is formed of wire havil-~c3 some sprinc3-
.
like elasticity or resilience and is of a c3auge, size and
dimension similar to the peripheral end members 56 and the
horizontal frame member 34. The inclined legs 89 and 82 of
the U-shaped end member lie generally in a common vertical
plane and are welded to the outer surfaces of the peripheral
end frame member's upper runner 58 as well as the endwise
elements of the horizontal and lower rigidifying frame mem-
bers 34 and 36.
In the embodiments shown, the bail is positioned slightly
closer the rear wall than the front wall and spans about 3/5ths
the length of the peripheral end frame's upper runner 58. The
bail itself extends above the upper runner 58 and is inclincd
slightly outwardly thereof so as to lie vertically above the
feet 84 and 86.
Tlle legs 80 and 82 of the U-shaped frame member 76 are
tapered or inclined so that the maximum exterior length of
the feet spans a distance less thall the interior lcn-~th of
the bail. The unattached end of cach foot is ill ~cllcral
horizontal alignment with the outwardly-extending shoulders
88 and are spaced intermediate the lcgs of the U-shaped
frame member, with each foot being welded to the outer surface
of the peripheral end member's lower runner 60 so that the
lowermost extent of the foot extends below the lower runller,
while the shoulder element 88 is located above thc lower
runner. The lowermost extent of each foot is cantilevered and
inclilled slightly outwardly of thc lower runller so as to snap-
fittingly engage the upper runner 58 of another basket "A"
during stacking.
~L059~46
Referring now to the rear sidewall 30, a rearward
continuous or endless irregularly-shaped vertically-elongated
wire-frame member 90 defines a safety or stability-enhancing
loop-like frame whose upper end or bight provides an inverted,
horizontally-elongated U-shaped rearward bail ~2 witll depelld-
inq inclined legs 93 converging downwardly to provide a lower,
inwardly-extending horizontal bail or hooked foot 94 beneath
the basket bottom in general horizontal alignme;lt witll the
lower end runners 58 and 60. The upper rearward bail extends
above the upper edge of the rear wall and is inclined slightly
inward to lie generally in a common vertical plane with the
upper edge or rearward horizontal runner 40 of the horizontal
frame member 34. The leg elements 93 of the rearward frame
90 are welded to the outer surfaces of the upper rearward
horizontal runner 40 as well as rearward portions of the
lower rigidifying frame member 42. These leg elements are
located generally in a common upright plane along central
portions of the rear wall and extend below the lower rigidify-
ing frame member 42 and basket bottom, so that the hooked foot
94 has an external longitudinal length sliglltly less tllall the
interior longitudillal length of the rear~ard bail 92.
In the illustrative embodiment, the endless or contilluous
rearward frame member '~0 is formed by bending an elongated
wire into an irregular loop-like configuration and butt-
welding or joining the ends of the loop toc3ether. The loops
comprising the peripheral end frame members 54 and 56 as well
as the horizontal and rigidifying frame members 34 and 42 can
bc formed in a similar manllc!r.
In order to stack the baskets upon each other, the
upper basket A is first vertically aligned abovc lower basket
-12-
1059046
B, so that the hooked foot 94 and downwardly-extending end
feet 84 and 86 of upper basket respectively enters the con-
fines of the interior space defined by the respective rear-
ward and endwise bails 92 and 78 of the lower basket. After
this is accomplished, the next step in stacking is to move
the baskets A and B toward each other with suf~icient force
so that the lower end runs 60 of the upper basket contact
the upper end runs 58 of the lower basket. Such inter press-
fittlng action between the baskets A and B will cause the
end feet 84 and 86 of the upper basket to snap-~ittil1-~ly en-
gage against the outer surfaces of the upper el1d runs of tl1e
lower basket while the outwardly projecting shoulders 88
carried by the end feet of the upper basket snap-fittingly
interlocks and supports the inward underside of the side
bails 78 of the lower basket. Such interaction will further
cause the crotch of the upper basket's rearwaL-d hoo~e-l foot
94 to engage the outer surface of the lower basket's rearward,
upright bail 92. Stacking between two baskets is now com-
plete. Such interaction between foot 94 and bail 92 provides
a safety feature deterring separation of an upper basket from
its support, such as the lower basket, wl1el1 a downward force
is applied to the front rim of the up~er basket.
The stacked baskets form a substantially rigid stacked
assemblage which substantially prevents relative shifting
between the stacked baskets both laterally and in front to
rear directions. Such an assemblage, furthermore, enables
the lower basket to be carried by the upper basket when the
upper basket is lifted off the ground. It can be appreciated
that numerous baskets can be stacked upon each other in 1.his
manner. Furthermore, different size/capacity baskets, such
as 20a in Figure 2, can bc stacked UpOI1 eacl1 o-l1er in this
manner. The stacked basket can be removed from a stacked
- -13-
1059(~46
position by reversing the aboveforesaid procedure.
Another advantage of the particular basket construction,
is that during stacking, the lading-carryin-3 intelior S~ C~
afforded by the stacked bas]cets are enlarged. The vcrtical
extent of this enlarged interior space is dependent on the
vertical extent o the peripheral end frame member 54 and 56
extending below the basket bottom.
In order to nest a pair of baskets as seen in the Fig-
ures 4 and 5, the upper basket is rotated about a longitudinal
axis parallel to the basket bottom to an inverted position
and is shifted or maneuvered laterally so that the end walls
of the upper basket are in adjacent planes and offset from the
end walls of the lower basket. The upper basket is then
lowered into the lower basket so that each basket substantially
lS occupies the interior lading-carrying space of the other bas-
ket. When the baskets are in the nested position, the par-
tially telescoping basket assemblage is arranged to provide a
left-hand pair of end walls and a right-llalld pair of end walls,
one of each pair belonging to the upper basket and the other
belonging to the lower basket and with the innermost end wall
at one end of the nesting basket belonging to the lower basket
and the other innermost end wall of the ncsting basket belong-
ing to the upper basket. During nestincJ the innermost inverted
end wall of the upper basket cooperates with the lower basket
such that the upper basket's innermost endwise bail 78 engages
and is supported by the lower basket's bottom wall 22, concom-
itantly, as the upper basket's innermos-t slot 66 or 68 receives
the upper end of the lower basket's front wall 28. Concurrelltly,
during nesting, the innermost upright slot of the lower bas-
ket receives the upper end of the upper basket's inverted
-14-
~osso46
front wall, as the lower basket~s innermost end bail engages
and supports the upper basket's bottom wall. ~hus, the vol-
ume occupied by a pair of baskets can be substantially reduced
--when storing or transporting the baskets by nesting the bas--
kets in inverted relationship to each other.
Base Basket
While a plurality of stackable baskets 20 can be stacked
upon each other, it is generally desirable that the bottommost,
or base, basket be constructed without downwardly extending
feet. Thus, the lowermost basket in a column or tier of
stacked baskets is preferably a base basket 96 as best shown
in Figures 11 and 12.
The base basket 96 is substantially identical with the
stacking baskets 20, heretofore described, witll similar parts
being identified with similar numerals. There docs exist,
however, some differences between the base basket 96 and the
stacking basket 20. First, the inverted U-shaped end frame
member 98 along each end wall of the base basket does not ex-
tend below the lower end runner 100 so that the base basket
does not include end feet 84 and 86 nor need it include out-
wardly extending shoulder elements such as 88 as foulld in
the stacking basket 20. Similarly, the rearward frame member
99, of the base basket does not descend below the lower rigid-
ifying frame 42, thereby eliminating the rearward hooked foot
94.
Furthermore~ in the base basket 96, tl~e l~wer el~d rullllel-s
100 extend to a horizontal position intcrmediatc thc front of
the basket bottom 22 and the top edge 32 of the front wall 28
with the forward tips of the lower end runner turned upward to
-15-
10~46
provide forwardly vertical end extensions 102 joining the
apex of the peripheral end frame member 103, the forward
upright extension 102 lying generally in a conunon plane Witi
- and is parallel to the rearward upric3ht extension 69 of the
peripheral end frame member 103t secause of the increascd
length of the lower end runners 100, the lower end runners
serve to increase resistance to the base basket 96 tipping
over when the front side wall 28 is subjected to a downward
load, such as when a child stands UpOII the upper rail 32 of
the front wall.
The base basket further includes a horizontal wire-frame
element 105 along each end wall 24 and 26 welded to the inner
surfaces of the forward and rearward upward extensions 102
and 64 of the peripheral end frame member 103, and positioned
generally horizontally at a height coincidill-3 witll the pOillt
where the forward upright extensions 102 intersect thc front
wall.
The endwise and rearward upright bails, 78 and 92, of
the base basket cooperate with the endwise and rearward ~eet
84 and 94 of a stackable basket 20 to achieve stacking in a
manner similar to the stacking solcly betwcon sta~k.l~le bas-
kets. Nesting between a pair of base baskets is also accom-
plished in a manner similar to the nesting of the stackable
baskets 20.
_he _artition
In order to separate the lading carrying space of the
basket into two compartments a wire divider or partition 50
may be provided to fit into the vertical partition receiving
wires 44a and 44b of the rearwall 30 and into the inclined
-16-
1~59~46
partition~receiving wires 48a and 48b of the front wall 28.
The periphery of the partition or divider is generally of
the same shape and gauge as the peripheral end frame member
- 56 of the end wall. The peripheral or divider wire-frame
member 108 is slightly thicker or greater than the horizontal
spacing of the vertical wires 44a and 44b and the inclined
wires 48a and 48b, so that the parti-tion or divider snaps
into and out of the partition-receivinq wires of the basket.
The divider can be inserted into the basket to form two
separate compartments or can be removed from the basket to
provide a unitary non-compartmentalized lading-carrying
space.
The peripheral frame member 108 includes upper and
lower rails 110 and 112 substantially equal in length to
the horizontal endwise extent of the basket bottom 22. A
set of parallel, vertical partition wires 11~ of a gau~e,
size and dimension similar to the cross wires of tlle basket
bottom are welded along aliquot sub-portions of one side of
the upper and lower rails 110 and 112. When positioned, the
partition 50 is substantially parallel to the cnd walls 24
and 26 of the basket.
It is to be understood, of course, that the basket can
be constructed and designed to accommodate more than one
partition along pre-selected intervals of the lading-carrying
space to provide a multitude of compartments.
Basket-Supporting Dollies
For conveniently moving a tier of stacked haskets, the
base basket 96 may preferably be mounted upon a mobile sup-
port or dolly 116 or 118, Figs. 1 and 16 illustrate a wide
10590~6
dolly 116 capable of having two base baskets positioned
thereon, end-to-end, while Figs, 3 and 13 illustrate a
dolly 118 for a single base basket. As the goods in the
basket are to be pxesented to the customers through the
open front wall thereof, reference to the various sides
of the dollies herein described follow the corresponding
reference to sides of the baskets.
Referring to Figure 13, each single dolly 118 includes
a pair of forwardly and rearwardly elongated, longitudinal
loop-like wire frames 120 and 122, that are spaced in par-
allel relationship to each other. The forwardly and rear-
wardly wire frames 120 and 122 each include a pair of parallel
elongated legs comprising an inwardly-positioned longitudinal
leg 124 and an outwardly-positioned longitudinal leg 126. The
ends of the legs are interconnected and turned upward to pro-
vide substantially vertical bail-like retainers 128 and 130,
to be located outwardly of, but adjacent, the end walls of
the base baskets positioned on the dolly frame.
The forwardly and rearwardly wire frames are rigidly
interconnected by and supporting carry two pairs of parallel
endwise cross-wires 132 and 134 positioned inward of the bail-
like retainers 128 and 130. The cross-wires extend across
and are welded to the top surfaces of the frame legs 124 and
126 to fixedly carry four support plates 136 for carrying
downwardly-extending casters 138, one caster plate and one
wheel being located adjacent each corner of the dolly.
Positioned parallel to the forward and rearward frame
legs are a pair of sidewise longitudinal wire elements 140
spaced adjacent the outward longitudinal frame legs 124.
The wire elements are welded to the top surfaces of the
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cross-wires 130 and 132 and terminate adjacent the bail-
like end retainers 128 and 130.
Welded to the top surfaces of the inward lon~itudi
frame legs 1'4 is a crosswise loop~like wire frame 142
positioned between the pairs of cross-wires 132 and 134.
The crosswise frame defines a pair of transverse parallel
crosswise legs 144 which extend to a position inward of the
sidewise longitudinal elements 140. The crosswise legs have
ends turned upward to provide forwardly and rearwardly side
bails 146 and 148. Each of the side bails are inclilled
slightly inwardly to provide portions that cooperate with
side portions of the lower rigidifying frame member 42 adja-
cent the front and rear walls of the base baskets.
The wire-like parts of the single capacity dolly should
be of a wire gauge, size and dimensioll sufficient to support
the weight of a column of baskets. When it is desired to
accommodate two columns of tiered baskets in side-by-side
relationship, a mobile double-capacity dolly 116 may be pro-
vided as shown in Figs. 1 and 16. The mobile double dolly
is substantially similar to the single dolly 118 except the
sides 150 and forwardly and rearwardly loop-li~e wire frames
152 and 154 are longer to accommodate two base baskets. The
double dolly further includes two crosswise loop-like wire
frames 156 and 158 spaced parallel to each other intermediate
the endwise crosswires 160 and 162 so as to provide two sets
of forwardly and rearwardly side bails 164 and 166, one set
for each base basket. The double dolly shown in Figure 16
further includes a central pair of cross-wires 168 between
the two crosswise wire frames 156 and 158 to fixedly carry
another pair of caster wheels 170 so that the double dolly is
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provided with six wheels. When desired the double dolly
may include eight caster wheels as shown in Figure 1.
~mong the advantages of the mobile stac~ 3 assemblac~e
are:
1. From one to five stackable baskets may be tiered
on a base basket for increased versatility in store layout
and merchandising.
2. The baskets secure together with substantial sta
bility without tools or special attachin~ hardware.
3. The mobile basket module does not require shelving
for supporting the baskets.
4. Multi-tiered baskets permit the transporting of
merchandise on mobile display units directly from storeroom
to the selling area, thereby eliminating piece-by-piece stock-
ing and costly multiple handling.
5. The mobile stacked assemblage makes it easier and
faster for stockers to replenish displays without the use of
stock trucks congesting the aisles
6. The press-fit construction of the baskets insures
rigidity and stability of the stacked baskets while moving
or in position for display. Furthermore the mobile stackable
baskets permit interchangeability and flcxibility of display.
7. An inverted U-shaped sign holder of extruded scratch
resistant plastic or the like may engagingly hook the front
wall s top edge or horizontal frame member of the stackable
or base basket and include an elongated readily-visible pocket
of transparent plastic for displaying a price tag product
identification or inventory code from t:he basket's front walls
to avoid when desired individual marking or pricing of the
merchandise in the basket. I~hen desired a rectangular self-
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clamping display frame may be attached to the front wall's
top edge in either an upward or inverted position for hold-
ing a rectangular sign or the like.
It will ~e appreciated that numerous changes and modi
fications can be made to the embodiments shown herein witll-
olt departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
