Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
25019
THREE-LEVEL STACKING CONTAINER
This inventlon relates to a three-level stacking container.
Nesting and stacking containers are well known in the art. In gen-
eral, such containers comprise an open top, commonly rectangular, container so
constructed that in one position of orientation an upper container will nest
within a like oriented identical lower container for storage purposes. Com-
mercially available nest and stack containers of the prior art commonly nest
substantially completely within another like container. This is desirable for
storage purposes, but is of little value for utility. When an upper container
is rotated to another position of orientation it will stack vertically on said
, . . . .
lower container, usually on top or essentially on top of the lower container.
Nest and stack containers are being employed in increasing numbers
in a wide variety of application such as product containers in the baking
industry, lug boxes in the fruit and vegetable industry, storage bins for
parts, etc. In many of these uses it will be desirable to have a container
which can be usefully stacked with another container at more than one level or
elevation. Such a container would have much greater utility than a container
which can be stacked on another container at only one level or elevation.
The present invention solves this problem by providing a container
which can be usefully stacked with another like container at three different
levels or elevations. ~or example, in one position of orientation of an upper
container with respect to a like lower container, an upper container of the
invention will stack within a said like lower container at a low-stack posi-
tion or relationship. In this position the bottom of the upper container is
above the bottom of the lower container a significant distance sufficient to
provide worthwhile utility for transporting products having a low height.
Then, in a second position of orientation said upper container will stack
within said lower container in an intermediate-stack position or relationship.
In this position the bottom of the upper container is above the bottom of the
lower container a greater distance, leaving more room for products having a
greater height. Means are also provided for stacking an upper container on
-1- 7~
- : -
: .
'; : ~ ` ' .' ' . -: .,
.: , - .
10657'78
top of a lower container. In this pos~tlon maximum utilization of the con-
tainer interior is possible. Thus, for example, a bakery operator can employ
the containers of the invention in multiple uses, and eliminates the need for
stocking several different types of containers for different types of products.
Other advantages of the containers of the lnvention will be discussed below
in connection with the more detailed description of the containers.
A three-level stacking container somewhat similar to the present
invention is disclosed and claimed by James C. Carroll in U. S. Patent
3,951,265 issued April 20, 1976. In the container of the present invention, -
however, the means for stacking an upper container on top of a lower con-
tainer in a high stack position is of a different and unique construction
which provides advantages not possessed or suggested by the container dis-
closed in U. S. 3,951,265. Other novel features and advantages of the pres-
ent invention will be apparent from the following disclosure and the accom-
panying drawings.
According to the present invention, there is provided a generally
rectangular container capable of three-level stacking with a like container,
said container comprising a generally horizontally disposed bottom; opposed
first and second sidewalls respectively proJecting upwardly from first and
second opposed sides of said bottom. Each of the first and second sidewalls
comprises a lower border flange, an upper rim, and a plurality of bar members
extending in an upwardly direction between said flange and said rim. Each of
the first and second sidewalls also comprises a plurality of spaced-apart
stacking feed on the outer surface of the sidewall bottom flange and a plu-
rality of stacking saddles on the inner surface of the sidewall rim. Each of
the first and second sidewalls also comprises a pivotable bar means which
extends along and is mounted to said first and second sidewall rims. The
pivotable bar means is capable of resting upon at least some of the stacking
saddles inside the rim to which it is mounted-and is of such dimensions that
when said bar means so rests upon said stacking saddles, another like ori-
ented or reversely oriented like container will stack upon the container in
a high stack position. The pivotable bar means are further characterized
-2-
.
. ... .
.
1L()65~78
in being capable of being pivoted to a point which will allow a like con- -
tainer to be stacked in said container in either a low stack or intermediate
stack position. The location, arrangement, and directional disposition of
said bar members of said first wall structure and said bar members of said
second wall structure with respect to each other and with respect to the
locations and ~pacings of said stacking feet and stacking saddles are such
that an upper said container will stack within a like lower container and
on said border flange thereof in a low stack position when said upper con-
tainer is in one of the positions of (1) identical orientation with respect
to æaid lower container or (2) rotated orientation with respect to said lower
container; and said stacking feet and said stacking saddles of said wall
structures being adapted to register and support an upper said container
within a like lower container in an intermediate stack position when said
upper container i8 in the other of said positions (1) and (2).
In addition to the first and second opposet sidewalls, the con-
tainer of this invention can have a third sidewall extending upwardly from a
third side of the bottom, or third and fourth opposed sidewalls extending
upwardly from the third and fourth opposed sides of the bottom. The only
requlrement on these additional sidewalls is that they not prevent the stack-
ing of two such containers in the low stack, intermediate stack, and high
stack position, as above described. ~ -
The plvotable bar means associated with said first and second side-
walls can comprise one pivotable bar or a plurality of suitable pivotable
bars. The bar means can be allowed to pivot from its position of resting
upon the stacking saddles outward until it contacts the outer surface of the
respective sidewall rim or to any suitable point less than that which would
result in its contacting the outer surface of said respective sidewall rim.
In a preferred embodiment, the pivotable bar means is adapted to pivot out-
wardly in the range of about 120 to about 180 from its position of resting
upon stacking saddles. In an especially preferred embodiment, the pivotable
bar means is adapted to pivot outwardly from resting upon said stacking
saddles no less than 90 and no more than about 120. It is also within the
- : ............................. .: -
. . - . ~ : .::
10~577t~
scope of this invention to have said bar means pivot only from resting upon
said stacking saddles to a vertical position.
Additional understanding of the present invention and the advantages
of various embodiments will be provided by a study of the accompanying FIGURES.
FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of one presently preferred con-
tainer of the invention.
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the container of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of the first sidewall of the container
of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the fourth sidewall of the con-
tainer of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the third sidewall of the con-
tainer of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 8 is a top perspective view of two other containers of this
invention in the low stack position.
FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of another type of sidewall that
can be employed as third or fourth sidewalls in containers of the instant
lnvention.
FIGURES 10 and 11 are elevational views of opposite first and
second sidewalls of a container of the instant invention which allows low ~ ~a
stacking of like oriented like containers and intermediate stacking of re-
versely oriented like containers.
In the FIGURES like reference numerals are employed to denote like
elements. The container illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a generally rectangular
container having four sidewalls, one of which is lower in its central portion
than the other three. In this embodiment, the bottom 10 comprises a grid-
work. It shoult be noted that it is within the scope of this invention to
employ any other suitable bottom means such as a planar sheet, a perforated
planar sheet, etc.
- : - : .:.- ~
io6s~
The container illustrated in FIGURE 1 has first and second opposed
sldewalls 1 and 2 which project upwardly from opposing first and second sides
of said bottom 10. Each of said first and second sidewalls comprises a
border flange 12 in a first vertical plane which extends along the respective
side of said bottom and projects upwardly above the plane of the upper surface
of the bottom and downwardly below the plane of the lower surface of the
bottom. See FIGURES 6 and 7. Disposed generally vertically above each said
border flange 12 is an upper rim 14 in a second vertical plane outside and
parallel to that of said first vertical plane. Extending between the border
flange 12 and the upper rim 14 are a plurality of spaced-apart bar members 16
which extend vertically in an upwardly direction from the outer surface of
the border flange 12 to the inner surface of the upper rim 14. The plurality
of bar members 16 are thus dispo~ed in a third vertical plane which is located
ad~acent but outside (with respect to the container) said first vertical plane.
The bar members 16 of sidewall 1 are of such size and are so spaced
with respect to the bar members 16 of sidewall 2 that when another like con-
tainer is placed inside said container in reverse orientation thereto the
bar members of the sidewalls of the upper container will be received into
the spaces between the bar members in the lower container to allow low stack-
ing, and when another like container is placed inside said container in like
orientation the bottoms of the bar members of the upper container will rest
on the tops of bar members of the lower container to provide intermediate
stacking.
With such an arrangement, the bottoms and the tops of the bar
members 16 comprises stacking feet and stacking saddles, respectively. In
the container illustrated in FIGURE 1, the bottoms of said bar members 16 are
provided with an upwardly extending open recess 33. Also the tops of said
bar members 16 are provided with an elevated crown 34 for registering in
recesses 33 in the bottoms of the bar members 16 of a like container.
It should be noted that it is within the scope of the invention
for said plurality of stacking feet to be provided at locations other than
on the lower ends of said bar members. For example, the number of said bar
': . . . ' - : :
106S~7~
members can be reduced and a stacking foot only provided on said border flange,
e.g., at location(s) here illustrated as occupied by a bar member. Similarly,
sald plurallty of stacking saddles can be provided at locatlons other than
on the lower ends of sald bar members. For example, the number of said bar
members can be reduced and a stacklng saddle only provlded at location(s)
here lllustrated as occupied by a bar member. If stacking sadtles and stack- -
ing feet are provided at locations other than on the tops and bottoms, re-
spectively, of said bar members, it is preferred that they be provided re-
spectively with crowned structure 34 and recessed structure 33 as in the con-
tainer illustrated in FIGURE 1.
The container illustrated in FIGURE 1 also contains third and fourth
opposed sidewalls 3 and 4 extending along the respective third and fourth op-
posite sides of said bottom 10. The sidewall 4 includes a border flange 28
which extends along the fourth side of said bottom 10. The sidewall 3 in-
cludes a border flange 26 which extends along the third side of the bottom
10. The lowermost portions of the border flanges 26 and 28 throughout their
length, with the exception of the portions including grooves 42, lie in the
same horizontal plane as the lowermost portions of the border flanges 12. ~ Ir
The significance of the grooves 42 will be described in more detail below.
The uppermost portions of border flanges 12 and 28 throughout their length
lie in the same horizontal plane. Border flange 26, i.e., the third sidewall
borter flange, has a central portion of its length lower than the uppermost
portions of the border flanges 12 and 28. The end portions of border flange
26 are, however, of the same height as the border flanges 12 and 28.
It is to be noted that arrangement of border flanges in the con-
tainer illustrated in FIGURE 1 is ~ust a preferred embodiment. None of the
border flanges need pro~ect either above or below the bottom of the container.
The border flanges can thus be merely the sides of the bottom. Preferably,
however, the border flanges of at least the first and second sidewalls extend
below the lower surface so that said flanges can cooperate with the pivotable
bar to provide an especially preferred means of stacking one such container
in a high stack position on another; such preferred high stacking means will be
.. - .. . : .. , . .. ... ., . :
~065778
described in more detail below.
Turning back to the specific container lllustrated in FIGURl~ 1, it
will be noted that the sidewall 3 includes a pair of partial upper rim members
25 and 27 disposed above and in a second vertical plane outside the first
vertical plane in which said border flange 26 lies. Partial upper rim member
25 ad~oins upper rim 14 of sidewall 1 and partial upper rim member 27 ad~oins
upper rim 14 of sidewall 2. Each said partial upper rim member is of such
length that it does not extend over the low central portion of the border
flange 26. Each partial upper rail member, ad~acent the end opposite the end
which at~oins the regpective first or second side, has a vertically tisposed
bar 17 extending from its inner surface to the outer surface of border flange
26 in a third vertical plane.
The sidewall 4 includes an upper rim l5 disposed above and in a
second vertical plane outside the first vertical plane in which border $1ange
28 i8 disposed. Extending between border flange 28 and upper rim 15 are a
plurality of spaced-apart bar members 19 which extend in an upwardly direction
in a third vertical plane from the outer surface of border flange 28 to the
inner surface of upper rim 15. The plurality of bar members 19 are of such
size and are 80 spacet with respect to the bar members 17 of said sidewall
3 that when another like container is placed inside said container in reverse
orientation thereto, the bar members 17 of the lower container will be re-,
ceived into the spaces between the bar members 19 of the upper container and
the bar members 17 of the upper container will be received into spaces between
bar members 19 of the lower container 80 that the two containers can be posi-
tioned in the low stack position. The bar members 19 and 17 are also of such
size and are so spaced that when another like container is placed upon said
container in like orientation, the bottoms of bar members 19 of the upper
containers will rest on the tops of bar members 19 of the lower container and
the bottoms of bar members 17 of the upper container will rest on the tops of
the bar members 17 of the lower container to allow intermediate stacking.
In the container illustrated in FIGURE 1, the bar members 19 and 17
have on their bottoms recesses 33 and on their tops elevated crowns 34 as
. .
--7--
.'' . ' ' ,, " ' . ', . '. . .
. . . . . '
~065778
provided for bar members 16.
The first and second opposed sidewalls l and 2 each have a pivot-
able bar means 20 extending along and mounted to the respective sidewall rim
14. The pivotable bar means 20 is capable of resting in a horizontal position
upon the stacking saddles of the bars 16 of the respective sidewall. The bar
means 20 includes stop means 21 which prevent the bar means from being pivoted
outwardly more than about 120 from the above-described horizontal position.
Such an arrangement has been found to possess especially desirable utility.
It is not uncommon for containers to be placed upon a conveyor
means for continuous filling and transportation to some point for stacking.
Containers of this invention having bar means 20 adapted to pivot outwardly
only about 120 from the horizontal can be placed upon a conveyor with the
bars pivoted outwardly without any likelihood that the vibration caused by
the conveyor will cause the bars to fall into their horizontal position be-
fore the container is fillet. Also the 120 pivotable nature of the bar
means makes it a very simple matter to associate means with a conveyor which,
after the filling qf the conveyor, will cause the bar means to be auto-
matically pivoted to their horizontal position so that such containers can
be stacket in the high stack po6ition as desired. It should be recognized
that the container illustrated in FIGURES 1-7 is only one preferred embodi-
ment of the present invention. As indicated above, the pivotable bar of the
container of this invention can be adapted to pivot from its horizontal
position to any position which allows a like container to be stacked in the
container in either the low stack or intermediate stack position. It should
also be noted that the stop means 21 in the container of FIGURE 1 could be
replaced partly or totally by suitable stop means on the upper rim of the
respective first and second sidewalls. In yet another embodiment, the stop
means could be dispensed with entirely, resulting in a container in which
the bar is adapted to pivot outwardly so that it rests flush against the
outer surface of the respective upper rim.
In the container illustrated in FIGURES 1-7, the bar means 20 in-
cludes a slot 23. The slots 23 and the aforementioned grooves 42 are so
. . -: : ~. .
1065~78
positioned that when said bar means 20 is in its horizontal positlon, the
bottom of the border flanges of the first and second sidewalls of another
like container can be fitted inside the slots 23. Such an arrangement as-
sures a more stable high stack arrangement, which is particularly i~portant
when one is handling large numbers of such high-stacked containers. Since in
the container illustrated in FIGURE 1 the border flanges of all four sides ex-
tend downwardly to the same extent, it will be recognized that the grooves 42
are necessary if the border flange 12 were to fit inside the slots 23. Of
course, if the border flanges 26 and 28 of the upper container did not ex-
tend downwardly as far as the border flanges 12, the grooves 42 would be un-
necessary for such stacking.
While in the container of FIGURE 1, the pivotable bar means 20 in-
cludes slots 23, it is to be recognized that it is within the scope of this
invention to employ any suitable solid pivotable bars which in the horizontal
position will support another like container in a stacked position higher
than that of the intermediate stacked position. Thus a bar without a slot
can be employed.
The pivotable bar mean6 in the container of FIGURE 1 pivots around
a pln 50 which extends through said bar means 20 and into sidewalls 3 and 4.
The structure showing how a passageway is provided through the bar means 20
for the pin 50 is best illustrated by referring to FIGURES 1 and 6. Each
hinging portion of the bar means 20 contains two slots 51. The two slots 51
are on opposite sides of the hinge portion of the bar means 20. They each
extend only part of the length of the hinge portion to a point where they
meet. This structure thus provides a passageway for the pin 50 without having
to mold or drill such through each of the hinge portions of the bar means 20.
It is to be recognized that it is within the scope of the present invention
to make the bar means pivotable by any known technique.
Attention is now directed to item 60 of FIGURES 2 and 6. It will
be noted in FIGURE 2 that each bar member 17 of sidewall 3 and each bar
member 19 is connected to the upper rim 14 by means of three vertical webs 60.
Although not visible in FIGURE 2 because of the placement of the pivotable
_g_
.
- 106577~
bar means, preferably each of the bar members 16 of sidewalls 1 and 2 would
be similarly attached to the upper rim 14. One of the webs 60 in sidewall 1
is shown in FIGURE 6. By connecting the bar members 16, 17, and 19 to the
upper rim in this manner, one obtains a container that i8 more easily cleaned
than one in which the bar members are connected to the upper rim by total
contact with said upper rim throughout the total wldth of the bar member. Such
a technique would provide surface for the trapping of undesirable materials
during a washing operation.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE
8, which shows two inventive containers in the low stack position. In the
containers of this embodiment, the pivotable bar 20 is adapted to move only
from the horizontal position to a vertical position. With such containers in
the low stacking position, the lower portion of the upper rim 14 of the upper
container contacts the upper portion of the vertically disposed pivotable bar
means 20 of the lower containers. The upper rim 15 of sidewall 4 has depend-
ing portions 61 such that with such containers in the low stacking position,
the lowermost portion of the upper rim 15 of the upper container rest upon the
uppermost portions of the partial rim members 25 and 27 of the lower container.
Also, the partial upper rim members 25 and 27 have depending portions 62 such
that with such containers in the low stacking position the lowermost portions
of the partial upper rim members of the upper container each rest upon the
uppermost portions of the rim 15 of the lower container. Such an arrangement
allows weight in the upper container to be more evenly dis~ributed over the
lower container than if the weight of the upper container were supported
solely by the vertically disposed pivotable bar members of the lower container.
Instead of employing sidewalls 3 and 4 of the type possessed by the
container of FIGURE 1, it is also within the scope of the present invention to
have sidewalls 3 and 4 be of the type illustrated and described as the sides
extending along the third and fourth sides of the bottom in the container of
the aforementioned U.S. Patent 3,951,265. Such a sidewall is illustrated in
FIGURE 9 of the instant disclosure. The sidewall of FIGURE 9 includes a
border flange 52 extending along the respective side of the bottom, a pair of
.
--10--
1065778
partial upper rim members 53 and 54 disposed above and in a vertlcal plane
outside the plane in which the border flange lies, one of said partial upper
rim members ad~oining the upper rim of sidewall 2 and the other adJoining the
upper rim of sidewall 1, and a pair of inclined brace members 55 and 56 each
lying in the same vertical plane as the partial upper rim members and extend-
ing from the end of the partial upper rim members opposite that which ad~oins r
the respective first and second sidewall downward toward the other to ad~oin
the border flange. Of course positioning of the brace members 53 and 54
would have to be such that a like container could be placed inside said con-
tainer in a reverse orientation to obtain a low stack position.
Further, while the bar members 16, 17, and 19 in the containers
illustrated in FIGURES 1-8 are vertically disposed, it is also within the
scope of the present invention to employ inclined bar members such as those
illustrated in FIGURES 14-16 of U.S. 3,951,265 and FIGURES 2-5 of U.S.
3,934,724, the disclosures of which are incorported herein by reference.
Preferably, if inclined bar members are employed, at least some
are successively inclined in opposite directions with respect to each other,
with ad~acent bar members being ~oined at the ad~acent ends thereof to pro-
vlde a series of alternate generally V-shaped forms and inverted generally
V-shaped forms.
When ad~acent inclined bar members are ~oined at ad~acent ends
thereof to form such V-shaped forms and inverted V-shaped forms, the apex
area of each said inverted generally V-shaped form can comprise a stacking
saddle to provide a plurality of stacking saddles at spacet-apart locations
along the respective upper rim. The upper end of any single inclined bars
can also comprise a stacking saddle. Similarly, the apex area of each of
said generally V-shaped form can comprise a stacking foot to provide a
plurality of stacking feet at spaced-apart locations along the respective
border flange. The lower ends of single inclined bar~ can also comprise a
stacking foot.
The inclined bar members in such an embodiment are positioned such
that a like oriented like container can stack inside such a container in a
--11--
. . .
:-.. . - . : -
10657~8
position lower than the intermediate stack position, to be de~cribed. The
inclined bar members are further positioned such that when a reversely
oriented like container i8 placed in such a container, it will be supported
in an intermediate stacking position in which stacking feet of the upper con-
tainer rest in stacking saddles of the lower container. FIGURES lO and 11
illustrate opposite end walls of the type ~ust described.
Preferably, when inclined bars are employed, each stacking foot is
provided with a recess and each stacking saddle is provided with a crown as
described above in connection with containers having sidewall bars which are
vertical rather than inclined.
It should be noted that by varying the placement and/or dimensions
of one or more of the components of the sidewalls of containers of this in-
vention, i.e., the border flange, the upwardly directed bars, the upper rim,
the pivotable bar, it is possible to obtain containers having different low,
intermediate, and high stacking heights. In one preferred embodiment of con-
tainers having vertically directed sidewall bars, the containers' sidewall
components are arranged such that when a first container has a like second
container stacked therein in the low stack position and then a third like
container is placed in the second container in reverse orientation to that
second container, the bottom of the bars of the third container will fit down
in said second container the same distance as the second container sits down
in the first container. In other words, such preferred containers are con- ?
structed so that when three such containers are stacked in the low stack
position the stacking feet of the third, or uppermost, container and the
stacking saddles of the first container, or lowermost container, do not con-
tact in a way which would cause the third container to be unable to fit down
in the second container as far as the second container fits down in the first
container. Any number of such containers can be so stacked so long as alter-
nate upper containers are rotated 180 with respect to the ad~acent lower
container.
It is, however, also within the scope of the invention to produce
containers having vertically directed sidewall bars, which containers are
-12-
106577~
constructed so that when three such containers are stacked with each in re-
verse orientation to the immediately lower container, the stacking feet on
the bars of the thirt, or uppermost, container contact the stacking saddles
on the first, or lowermost, container so that said third container does not
fit down into said second container as far as the second container fits down
into the first container. Even with this type of container, any number can
be so stacked so long as alternate upper containers are rotated 180 with
respect to each other. From this it should be understood that the term "low
stacking position" i8 used herein to denote any position in which the lower
surfaces of the stacking feet of an upper container are lower than the upper
surfaces of the stacking saddles of an immediately lower container.
The stacking of the containers o the invention provided with in-
clined bar members in the opposing first and second wall structures thereof
differs from that of the containers of the invention provided with vertical
bar members in said wall structures. Said containers of the invention having
inclined bar members in said wall structures will stack at said low-level
stack position, e.g., with the bottoms of the border flange of the upper con-
tainer re8istering with the tops of the border flange of the lower container
when sait upper contsiner is in a position of like orientation with respect
to the lower container. Any number of the containers can be 80 stacked 80
long as the upper container is in said position of like orientation with
respect to the lower container. The V-shapet forms coincide with each other
with the inclined bar members comprising said V-shaped forms paralleling each
other. The use of inclined bar members permits the low-level stack height
to be less than one-half the intermediate-level stack height.
The containers of the invention provided with said inclined bar
members in said wall structures thereof will stack at said intermediate-
level position on the tops of the inclined bars, e.g., the apex areas formed
by ~oining of at~acent ends of ad~acent bars, when an upper container i~ in ~
rotated orientation, i.e., 180, with respect to a lower container. Any
number of said containers can be 80 stacked 80 long as alternate upper con-
tainers are rotated 180 with respect to the ad~acent lower container.
--13--
106577~
The containers of the invention provided with said inclined bar
members in said wall structures thereof will stack at the high-level stack
po~ition in the same manner as described above in connection with the con-
tainers having vertical bar members in said wall structures thereof.
From the above descriptions of the containers of the invention, and
the stacking features thereof, it is clear that the location, arrangement,
and directional disposition of said bar members of said first wall structure
and said bar members of said second opposing wall structure, with respect to
each other, together with the location, arrangement, and lateral spacing of
said stacking feet and said stacking saddles in said first wall structure,
and said stacking feet and said stacking saddles in said second wall struc-
ture, with respect to each other, are such that an upper said container will
stack within a like lower container and on the border flange thereof in a low-
stack position or relationship when said upper container is in one of the
positions of (1) identical orientation with respect to said lower container
and (2) rotated orientation with respect to said lower container, and an upper
said container will stack within alike lower container in an intermediate-
stack position or relationship when said upper container is in the other of
said positions (1) and (2).
The containers of the invention can be fabricated in any suitable
manner known to the art. In~ection molding, for example, is one presently
preferred method for fabricating said containers. Said containers can be
fabricated from any suitable material. High density polyethylenes are
especially desirable materials from which to fabricate said containers. The
high density polyethylenes prepared by the methods disclosed and claimed by
J. P. Hogan et al in U.S. Patent 2,825,721, issued March 4, 1958, comprise
one group of presently preferred materials. Said containers can also be
fabricated from butadiene-styrene copolymers and other plastic materials. If
desired, a reinforcing fibrous material, such as asbestos or glass fibers,
can be incorporated in the plastic material. While the various plastics are
presently preferred for the manufacture of the containers, it is within the
scope of the invention to fabricate said containers from other materials, e.g.,
.: ~ . . . . . .
.. . .~
1065778
lightweight metals such as aluminum, reinforced pulp materlals, etc.
Herein and in the claims, the word "rectangular" has been employed
generically to include four-sided structures which are generally square and
four-sided structures wherein one pair of sldes is longer than the other
pair of sides.
While certain embodiments of the invention have been described for
illustrative purposes, the invention is not limited thereto. Various other
modifications or embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art in view of thiæ disclosure. Such modifications or embodi-
ments are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
.
