Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02919176 2016-01-28
STACKABLE INTERLOCKING TRAY SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 62/108,981 entitled "STACKABLE INTERLOCKING TRAY SYSTEM"
filed January 28, 2015 and U.S. Patent Application 15/008,170 entitled
"STACKABLE
INTERLOCKING TRAY SYSTEM" filed January 27, 2016, which are herein
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This application generally relates to a tray system that allows a
plurality
of trays to be interlocked with one another and stacked in various
configurations.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Traditionally, trays may be utilized as placement of shoes such as
work
boots. In this way, the tray may form a protective barrier between the floor
and objects
(e.g., shoes) placed on the trays to reduce the chance of unwanted dirt,
water, or debris
from such objects contaminating the floor.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems (e.g.,
apparatuses)
and methods for providing stackable interlocking trays, the system includes
various
configurations of upper and lower tray assemblies that include one or more
trays. The
tray assemblies may be operatively coupled to one another via a support
assembly that
includes one or more struts. The present invention is advantageous because the
stackable
configuration allows for a reduction in space occupied by the trays.
Furthermore, the
design of the trays reduces the chance of unwanted dirt, water, or debris
dripping from a
tray onto a lower tray or surface.
[0005] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces a
stackable
interlocking tray system that includes a support assembly having a plurality
of struts,
wherein each of the plurality of struts define a first end and a second end.
The stackable
interlocking tray system also includes an upper tray assembly having one or
more first
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trays operatively coupled to the support assembly. Each of the one or more
first trays
typically has a bottom surface having a plurality of lower attachment
locations
configured to be coupled with the first end of one of the plurality of struts.
In addition,
the stackable interlocking tray system includes a lower tray assembly having
one or more
second trays operatively coupled to the support assembly. Each of the one or
more
second trays may have a top surface having a plurality of upper attachment
locations
configured to be coupled with the second end of one of the plurality of
struts. Each of
the one or more first trays may include a plurality of sidewalls configured to
be coupled
with a complementary sidewall of an adjacent one of the first trays.
Additionally, each
of the one or more second trays may include a plurality of sidewalls
configured to be
coupled with a complementary sidewall of an adjacent one of the second trays.
[0006] In one particular embodiment, each of the first trays may include a
first
sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, the
first sidewall
being configured to be coupled with the second sidewall of a first adjacent
one of the
first trays, the second sidewall being configured to be coupled with the first
sidewall of a
second adjacent one of the first trays, the third sidewall being configured to
be coupled
with the fourth sidewall of a third adjacent one of the first trays, the
fourth sidewall being
configured to be coupled with the third sidewall of a fourth adjacent one of
the first trays.
[0007] In another particular embodiment, either alone or in combination
with any
of the foregoing embodiments, each of the second trays may include a first
sidewall, a
second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, the first sidewall
being
configured to be coupled with the second sidewall of a first adjacent one of
the second
trays, the second sidewall being configured to be coupled with the first
sidewall of a
second adjacent one of the second trays, the third sidewall being configured
to be
coupled with the fourth sidewall of a third adjacent one of the second trays,
the fourth
sidewall being configured to be coupled with the third sidewall of a fourth
adjacent one
of the second trays. The first sidewall may include a first hooking mechanism
configured to be coupled with the second sidewall of the first adjacent one of
the second
trays, and the second sidewall may include a second hooking mechanism
configured to
be coupled with the first sidewall of the second adjacent one of the second
trays.
Furthermore, the third sidewall may include a third hooking mechanism
configured to be
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coupled with the fourth sidewall of the third adjacent one of the second
trays, and the
fourth sidewall may be configured to be coupled with the third hooking
mechanism of
the third sidewall of the fourth adjacent one of the second trays.
[0008] In another particular embodiment, either alone or in combination
with any
of the foregoing embodiments, each of the lower attachment locations may
include a
female receptacle configured for receiving the first end of one of the
plurality of struts.
The female receptacle of each of the lower attachment locations may define a
recess
configured for receiving the first end of one of the plurality of struts.
[0009] In another particular embodiment, either alone or in combination
with any
of the foregoing embodiments, each of the upper attachment locations may
include a
female receptacle configured for receiving the second end of one of the
plurality of
struts. The second end of each of the plurality of struts may include a
plurality of
protrusions, and the female receptacle of each of the upper attachment
locations may
define a plurality of slots, each slot being configured to receive one of the
protrusions of
the second end of one of the plurality of struts.
[0010] In another aspect, the present invention embraces stackable
interlocking
tray that includes (i) a bottom surface, the bottom surface defining a
plurality of lower
attachment locations, each lower attachment location being configured to be
coupled
with a first end of a strut, and (ii) a top surface, the top surface defining
a plurality of
upper attachment locations, each upper attachment location being configured to
be
coupled with a second end of a strut. The stackable interlocking tray also
includes (i) a
first sidewall, the first sidewall being configured to be coupled with a
second sidewall of
a first adjacent tray, (ii) a second sidewall, the second sidewall being
configured to be
coupled with a first sidewall of a second adjacent tray, (iii) a third
sidewall, the third
sidewall being configured to be coupled with a fourth sidewall of a third
adjacent tray,
and (iv) a fourth sidewall, the fourth sidewall being configured to be coupled
with a third
sidewall of a fourth adjacent tray.
[0011] In one embodiment, the first sidewall may include a first hooking
mechanism configured to be coupled with the second sidewall of the first
adjacent tray,
the first sidewall being configured to be coupled with a second hooking
mechanism of
the second sidewall of the first adjacent tray, and the second sidewall may
include a
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second hooking mechanism configured to be coupled with the first sidewall of
the
second adjacent tray, the second sidewall being configured to be coupled with
a first
hooking mechanism of the first sidewall of the second adjacent tray.
[0012] In another particular embodiment, either alone or in combination
with any
of the foregoing embodiments, the third sidewall may include a third hooking
mechanism configured to be coupled with the fourth sidewall of the third
adjacent tray,
and the fourth sidewall may be configured to be coupled with a third hooking
mechanism
of the third sidewall of the fourth adjacent tray
[0013] In another particular embodiment, either alone or in combination
with any
of the foregoing embodiments, each of the lower attachment locations may
include a
female receptacle configured for receiving a first end of a strut. The female
receptacle of
each of the lower attachment locations may define a recess configured for
receiving a
first end of a strut.
[0014] In another particular embodiment, either alone or in combination
with any
of the foregoing embodiments, each of the upper attachment locations may
include a
female receptacle configured for receiving a second end of a strut. The female
receptacle
of each of the upper attachment locations may define a plurality of slots,
each slot being
configured to receive a protrusion defined by a second end of a strut.
[0015] The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed may
be
achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may
be
combined with yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with
reference to the following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, where:
[0017] Figure 1A depicts a perspective illustration of a stackable
interlocking
tray system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0018] Figure 1B depicts a perspective illustration of the stackable
interlocking
tray system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
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[0019] Figure 2 depicts a top side perspective view of a portion of the
stackable
interlocking tray system illustrated in Figure 1A in accordance with one
embodiment of
the invention;
[0020] Figure 3 depicts a bottom side perspective view of a portion of the
stackable interlocking tray system illustrated in Figure 1A in accordance with
one
embodiment of the invention;
[0021] Figure 4 depicts a bottom side perspective view of a disassembled
portion
of the stackable interlocking tray system illustrated in Figure 1A in
accordance with one
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] Figure 5A depicts an inverted rear view of a stackable interlocking
tray in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0023] Figure 5B depicts a top view of the stackable interlocking tray
illustrated
in Figure 5A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0024] Figure 5C depicts a front view of the stackable interlocking tray
illustrated in Figure 5A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0025] Figure 5D depicts a side view of the stackable interlocking tray
illustrated
in Figure 5A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0026] Figure 5E depicts a bottom view of the stackable interlocking tray
illustrated in Figure 5A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0027] Figure 6 depicts two adjacent interlocking trays in accordance with
one
embodiment of the invention;
[0028] Figures 7A-7B illustrate a strut in accordance with one embodiment
of the
invention;
[0029] Figure 8A depicts a perspective view of two stacked trays in
accordance
with one embodiment of the invention;
[0030] Figure 8B depicts a side view of the two stacked trays illustrated
in Figure
8A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0031] Figure 9A depicts an inverted exploded perspective view of the
struts and
the top tray depicted in Figure 8A in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0032] Figure 9B depicts an exploded perspective view of the two stacked
trays
depicted in Figure 8A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
CA 02919176 2016-01-28
[0033] Figure 9C depicts a cross-sectional view a strut coupled to the top
tray
depicted in Figure 8A in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0034] Figure 9D depicts a cross-sectional view a strut coupled to the
bottom tray
depicted in Figure SA in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0035] Figure 10A depicts a top view of a tray in accordance with an
alternative
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 10B depicts a cross-sectional front view of the tray
illustrated in
Figure 10A in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] Figure 10C depicts a perspective view of the tray illustrated in
Figure 10A
in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and
[0038] Figure 11 depicts interlocking trays in accordance with an
alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Embodiments of the present invention now may be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but
not all,
embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied
in
many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments
set
forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure
may satisfy
applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0040] In one aspect, the present invention embraces a stackable
interlocking tray
system. In this regard, Figures 1-9 illustrate an exemplary stackable
interlocking tray
system 100, and the various components thereof, in accordance with the present
invention. As illustrated in Figures 1A-1B, the stackable interlocking tray
system 100
includes, in general, three assemblies: (1) a base or lower tray assembly
200a, (2) an
upper tray assembly 200b, and (3) a support assembly 300 that operatively
couples the
upper tray assembly 200b with the base tray assembly 200a. The various
assemblies,
and components thereof, of the stackable interlocking tray system 100 of
Figure 1 are
illustrated in Figures 2-9 and described in further detail throughout this
specification. In
general, the lower tray assembly 200a is located at the base of the stackable
interlocking
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tray system 100 and is configured to be implemented as the foundation of a
plurality of
tray configurations. Although, it should be noted, that as used herein, the
phrase
stackable interlocking tray system 100 may refer to at least one of the lower
tray
assembly 200a or upper tray assembly 200b. For example, in one embodiment, the
stackable interlocking tray system 100 may include only an upper tray assembly
200b
that is upheld via the support assembly 300. To this extent, in such an
embodiment the
support assembly 300 may function as the sole foundation of the upper tray
assembly
200b. In another embodiment, the stackable interlocking tray system 100 may
include
only a lower tray assembly 200a. The components of the stackable interlocking
tray
system 100 may be formed of polyurethane, rubber, plastic, metal, or another
suitable
material not explicitly mentioned herein.
[0041] The lower tray assembly 200a may include one or more trays 202
positioned at the base of the stackable interlocking tray system 100. The
support
assembly 300 may include one or more struts 302 that are securely positioned
within a
top surface of the one or more trays 202 and extend vertically upward, from
the lower
tray assembly 200a, in an upright orientation. The support assembly 300 (or
additional
components within) is configured for supporting the general structure of the
stackable
interlocking tray system 100, and is further configured to operatively couple
the lower
tray assembly 200a to the upper tray assembly 200b, which may include one or
more
trays 202 positioned at the top of the stackable interlocking tray system 100.
In this way,
the one or more struts 302 may extend upward towards the upper tray assembly
200b,
and be further securely positioned within a bottom surface of the one or more
trays 202
of the upper tray assembly 200b. Furthermore the upper tray assembly 200b may
be
suspended above the lower tray assembly 200a in a horizontal orientation such
that the
lower and upper assemblies 200b, 200a are separated by a distance
substantially defined
by the height of the struts 302 of the support assembly 300. It should be
noted that, as
used herein, a tray 202 may be utilized in either the lower or upper tray
assembly, 200a,
200b, respectively. As such, any tray 202 within the lower tray assembly 200a
typically
may be interchanged with a tray within the upper tray assembly 200b, and vice
versa,
and achieve the same functional effect within the stackable interlocking tray
system 100.
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[0042] Figures 5A-5E illustrate a tray 202 according to various embodiments
discussed herein. It should be noted that although in some embodiments the
tray 202 is
defined by a rectangular shape, the tray 202 may be embodied by other shapes
that are
not illustrated herein, including but not limited to, squared, circular,
trapezoidal, and/or
organic or ameba shapes. The tray 202 may generally include a top surface 202a
and a
bottom surface 202b. The bottom surface 202b may have a plurality of
indentations 203
therein. These indentations 203 may provide a rigidness within the planar
surface of the
tray 202. The indentations 203 typically extend into the bottom surface 202b
of the tray
203 such that they cause upward projections within the top surface 202a of the
tray that
form ridges 209. It should be noted that although in some embodiments the
indentations
203 and ridges 209 are defined by a trapezoidal shape, the indentations may be
embodied
by other shapes that are not illustrated herein, including but not limited to,
squared,
circular, rectangular, and/or organic or ameba shapes. In other embodiments,
the bottom
surface 202b may lack indentations 203, but the top surface 202a may
nevertheless
define ridges 209.
[0043] The tray may further include a left side wall 204a, right side wall
204b,
rear side wall 204c, and front side wall 204d that extend upward from the
bottom surface
of the tray 202b. Furthermore, the front end of the left and right sidewalls
204a, 204b,
respectively, may be angled such that the front end of the left and right
sidewalls 204a,
204b is slanted downward and outward towards the front wall 204d of the tray
202.
[0044] As shown in Figures 5A and 5E, the tray 202 is typically configured
to be
coupled to one or more struts 302 for the purpose of stacking the lower and
upper tray
assemblies 200a, 200b, on top of one another. Accordingly, the top and bottom
surfaces
of the tray may define a plurality of attachment location each of which is
configured to
be coupled with a strut. By way of example, the tray 202 may further include
an upper
receptacle region 205 and lower receptacle region 206 that lie along the top
and bottom
surfaces, respectively, of the left, right, and rear side walls 204a, 204b,
204c of the tray
202. The upper receptacle region 205 may further include a plurality of upper
female
receptacles 205a configured to receive a second male end 304b of a strut 302
such that
the strut is coupled to the top surface of the tray 202. Each upper female
receptacle 205a
may be further defined by a plurality of slots 205b (e.g., two slots) within
the receptacle
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region 205 that are positioned such that they are parallel to one another.
These slots
205b are typically configured to receive corresponding protrusions on a second
male end
304b of a strut 302. As illustrated in Figure 5B, the tray 202 includes a
first upper
female receptacle 205a located at the front left side of the upper receptacle
region 205, a
second upper female receptacle 205a located at the rear left side of the upper
receptacle
region 205, a third upper female receptacle 205a located at the front right
side of the
upper receptacle region 205, and a fourth top female receptacle 205a located
at the rear
right side of the upper receptacle region 205. Accordingly, in such an
embodiment, the
tray 202 may be configured to receive four (4) struts 302 within the first,
second, third,
and fourth upper female receptacles 205a. The lower receptacle region 206 may
further
include a plurality of lower female receptacles 206a configured to receive a
first male
end 304a of a strut 302 such that the strut 302 is coupled to the bottom
surface of the tray
202. Each lower female receptacles 206a typically defines a recess for
receiving a first
male end 304a of a strut 302. As illustrated in Figure 5E, the tray 202
includes a first
lower female receptacle 206a located at the front left side of the lower
receptacle region
206, a second lower female receptacle 206a located at the rear left side of
the lower
receptacle region 206, a third lower female receptacle 206a located at the
front right side
of the lower receptacle region 206, and a fourth lower female receptacle 206a
located at
the rear right side of the lower receptacle region 206. Accordingly, in such
an
embodiment, the tray 202 may be configured to receive four (4) struts 302
within the
first, second, third, and fourth female receptacles 206a.
[0045] Each tray assembly may be formed from a plurality of adjacent
interlocking trays. Accordingly, each of the sidewalls of the trays 202 is
typically
configured to be coupled with a complementary sidewall of an adjacent tray
202. In this
regard, a tray assembly may include trays 202 that horizontally interlock
along axis X
illustrated in Figure 1. Accordingly, as shown in Figures 5A-5E, each tray 202
may
define lateral side attachment regions 207a, 207b along the exterior edges of
the left and
right side walls 204a, 204b. Each lateral side attachment region 207a, 207b
typically
defines at least one hooking and/or clasp mechanism configured to engage a
lateral side
wall (e.g., a left or right side wall 204a, 204b) of an adjacent tray 202. As
illustrated in
Figure 5B, the tray 202 includes a first attachment region 207a located at the
exterior
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edge of a rear portion of the left side wall 204a, and a second attachment
region 207b
located at the exterior edge of a front portion of the right side wall 204b.
In such an
embodiment, the tray 202 may be configured to interlock with another tray 202
on both
its left and right sides, and so the outermost edges 208 of the left and right
side wall
204a, 204b may be sized and shaped such that the edges 208 are configured to
be
coupled to the lateral side attachment regions 207a, 207b to interconnect
adjacent trays
202 (e.g., such that the trays 202 are securely attached to one another). By
way of
further explanation, a lateral side attachment region 207b along a right side
wall 204b of
a first tray 202 may engage a left side wall 204a of a second tray 202, and a
lateral side
attachment region 207a along the left side wall 204a of the second tray 202
may engage
the right side wall 204b of the first tray 202. In this regard, as shown in
Figure 6, at least
a portion of the interlocked trays 202 typically overlap one another such that
at least a
portion of the attachment regions 207a, 207b extend upward into the bottom
surface of
an adjacent tray.
[0046] Each tray
assembly may also include trays 202 that horizontally interlock
along axis Y illustrated in Figure 1. Accordingly, as shown in Figures 5A-5E,
the front
side of each tray 202 may be configured to be coupled to a rear side of an
adjacent tray,
and the rear side of each tray 202 may be configured to be coupled to a front
side of an
adjacent tray. The rear side wall 204c of each tray 202 may define a rear
attachment
region 207c that is configured to be coupled with the front side wall 204d of
an adjacent
tray 202. In this regard, the rear attachment region 207c typically defines at
least one
hooking and/or clasp mechanism configured to engage the front side wall 204d
of an
adjacent tray 202. The rear attachment region 207c may extend along the length
of the
rear side wall 204c of each tray 202. In such an embodiment, the tray 202 may
be
configured to interlock with another tray 202 on both its front and rear
sides, and so the
front side wall 204d of each tray 204 may be sized and shaped to engage the
rear
attachment region 207c of an adjacent tray 202 (e.g., such that the trays 202
are securely
attached to one another). In this regard, the front side wall 204d of a
particular tray may
engage a hooking mechanism of the rear attachment region 207c of an adjacent
tray so
that the rear attachment region 207c of the adjacent tray overlaps the front
side wall 204d
and extends downward into the top surface of the particular tray.
CA 02919176 2016-01-28
[0047] Figures 7A-7B illustrates a strut 302 according to various
embodiments
discussed herein. It should be noted that although in some embodiments the
strut 302 is
defined by a rectangular shape, the strut 302 may be embodied by other shapes
that are
not illustrated herein, including but not limited to, squared, cylindrical,
trapezoidal,
and/or organic or ameba shapes. The strut 302 may generally include an inner
surface
302a and an outer surface 302b having an indentation 303 therein. Generally,
the struts
302 may be embodied by any individual members that can be coupled with a tray
202
using a fastener and/or another suitable coupling mechanism (e.g. a snap fit,
screw, or
the like). Typically, the strut 302 includes a first male end 304a that is
configured to
engage a lower female receptacle 206a of a tray 202 in order to couple the
strut 302 to
the bottom surface 202b of such tray 202. When engaged, the first male end
304a and a
lower female receptacle 206a of a tray 202 may form a snap fit that securely
couples the
strut 302 to such tray 202. Figure 9C depicts the first male end 304a engaging
a lower
female receptacle 206a of a tray 202. The strut 302 typically also includes a
second male
end 304b that is configured to engage an upper female receptacle 205a of a
tray 202 in
order to couple the strut 302 to the top surface 202a of such tray 202. As
depicted in
Figure 7A, the second male end 304b may define protrusions 304c (e.g.,
parallel
protrusions) that engage corresponding slots 205b of an upper female
receptacle 205a of
a tray 202. These protrusions 304c may form a snap with corresponding slots
205b of an
upper female receptacle 205a of a tray 202 to securely couple the strut 302 to
such tray
202. In this regard, Figure 9D depicts the second male end 304b engaging an
upper
female receptacle 205a of a tray 202. As shown in Figures 8A-8B and 9A-9B, in
this
way, the first male end 304a of a strut 302 may be coupled to a bottom surface
202b of a
tray 202 of an upper tray assembly 200b, and the second male end 304b of the
strut 302
may be coupled to a top surface 202a of a tray 202 of a lower tray assembly
200a.
Typically, multiple struts 302 (e.g., four struts) are used couple two trays
202 together as
depicted in Figures 8A-8B and 9A-9B.
[0048] An alternative embodiment of the interlocking tray system is
depicted in
Figures 10A-10C and 11 in which an interlocking tray system 400 includes a
single tray
assembly 400a. In such an embodiment, each tray 402 typically is configured to
be
coupled to one or more additional trays for the purpose of horizontally
expanding the
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tray assembly 400a. Typically, each side wall 404a, 404b, 404c, 404d of the
tray 402 is
configured to engage a complementary side wall of an adjacent tray 402. As
shown in
Figures 10A and 10B, the right side wall 404b and the front side wall 404d may
each
define a coupling mechanism 407 (e.g., a hooking and/or clasp mechanism) along
their
exterior edges. The coupling mechanisms 407 of the right side wall 404b and
the front
side wall 404d are typically configured to engage, respectively, a left side
wall 404a and
a rear side wall 404c of adjacent trays 402. In this regard, the coupling
mechanisms 407
may be sized and shaped to overlap a complementary side wall (e.g., a left
side wall 404a
or a rear side wall 404a of an adjacent tray) and extends downward into the
top surface
of an adjacent tray. The top edges of the left and rear side walls 404a, 404c
may be sized
and shaped such that the edges of these side walls are configured to be
positioned within
the coupling mechanisms 407 of the right front side walls 404b, 404d,
respectively, to
interlock one or more trays 402 such that the trays are securely attached to
one another.
Accordingly, in such an embodiment, the tray 402 may be configured to
interlock with
another tray 402 on multiple sides. Figure 11 illustrates the corners of four
different
trays 402 being connected together. The tray 402 may form ridges similar to
those on
the trays 202 illustrated in Figures 1-9. In contrast with the trays 202
illustrated in
Figures 1-9, the trays 402 might not be configured to be attached to a strut
for the
purpose of vertically expanding the tray system 400.
[0049] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in
the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are
merely
illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this
invention not be
limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described,
since
various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and
substitutions, in
addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those
skilled in the art
will appreciate that various adaptations, modifications, and combinations of
the just
described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and
spirit of
the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the
appended
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described
herein.
[0050] Also, it will be understood that, where possible, any of the
advantages,
features, functions, devices, and/or operational aspects of any of the
embodiments of the
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present invention described and/or contemplated herein may be included in any
of the
other embodiments of the present invention described and/or contemplated
herein, and/or
vice versa. In addition, where possible, any terms expressed in the singular
form herein
are meant to also include the plural form and/or vice versa, unless explicitly
stated
otherwise. Accordingly, the terms "a" and/or "an" shall mean "one or more,"
even
though the phrase "one or more" is also used herein.
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