MODULAR CRATE

Abstract

A modular crate having side and bottom panels and a bracket system including brackets secured to the bottom panel with a fastening apparatus. Channels cut into the side panels allow the panels to fit into the brackets to secure the side and bottom panels.

Claims

1. A crate comprising: a bottom panel, having beveled edges; a front side panel, having a beveled edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a notch edge; a back side panel having a beveled edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a notch edge; a left side panel having a top edge, and a bottom edge; a right side panel having beveled edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge; a bracket system comprising: each side panel having a channel, the channel: cut laterally along a panel length; disposed a distance from the panel bottom edge; a fastening apparatus; a plurality of brackets disposed along the edges of the bottom panel, wherein the brackets are secured to the bottom panel by the fastening apparatus; and wherein the side panel channel is configured to engage the brackets, to secure the side panel to the bottom panel.

2. The crate of claim 1, wherein: the left side panel further comprises: two pairs of elongate slots; and the front and back side panels further comprise: a pair of elongate slots.

3. The crate of claim 1, wherein the fastening apparatus is screws.

4. The crate of claim 1, wherein the fastening apparatus is circular teeth, disposed along the length of the brackets, wherein the circular teeth are configured to press into an interference fit with the crate bottom panel, to secure the bottom panel to the brackets.

5. The crate of claim 1, wherein the brackets are disposed at an angle, relative to the bottom panel.

6. The crate of claim 4, wherein the side panel channel is configured to snappably engage the brackets, to secure the side panel to the bottom panel.

7. The crate of claim 4, wherein the side panel channel is configured to slidably engage the brackets, to secure the side panel to the bottom panel.

8. A bracket system, comprising: lateral channels; the channels disposed along crate side panels; wherein the side panels rotate between a free position and a locked position; a bottom panel having beveled edges; brackets disposed along the edges of the bottom panel; a fastening apparatus; the brackets secured to the bottom panel by the fastening apparatus; wherein the brackets are configured to engage the channels; the side panels engage the bottom panel beveled edges while rotating from free position to locked position; and the side panels engage the brackets, while in the locked position, to secure the side panels to the bottom panel.

9. The bracket system of claim 8, wherein the fastening apparatus is screws.

10. The bracket system of claim 8, wherein the thickness of the brackets is not more than the width of the channels.

11. The bracket system of claim 8, wherein the brackets are configured to slidably engage the side panel channels, to secure the side panels to the bottom panel.

12. The bracket system of claim 8, wherein the brackets are configured to snappably engage the side panel channels, to secure the side panels to the bottom panel.

13. The bracket system of claim 8, wherein the brackets have a length to width ratio of at least about 10:1.

14. The bracket system of claim 8, wherein the fastening apparatus includes: circular teeth, disposed along the length of the brackets, wherein the circular teeth are configured to press into an interference fit with the crate bottom panel, to secure the bottom panel to the brackets.

15. The bracket system of claim 14, wherein the brackets are disposed at an angle, relative to the bottom panel.

16. A crate comprising: a bottom panel, having beveled edges; a front side panel, having beveled edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a notch edge; a back side panel having beveled edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a notch edge; a left side panel having a top edge, and a bottom edge; a right side panel having beveled edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge; a bracket system comprising: each side panel having a channel, the channel: cut laterally along a panel length; disposed a distance from the panel bottom edge; a plurality of brackets disposed along the edges of the bottom panel, the brackets: disposed at an angle, relative to the bottom panel; secured to the bottom panel by a fastening apparatus including: circular teeth, disposed along the length of the brackets; said teeth configured to press into an interference fit with the crate bottom panel, to secure the bottom panel to the brackets; wherein the thickness of the brackets is not more than the width of the channel; and wherein the side panel channel is configured to snappably engage the brackets, to secure the side panel to the bottom panel, such that the side panel is held upright upon the bottom panel.

17. The crate of claim 16, wherein the channel is not more than 0.100 inches in width.

Description

III. Brief Description of the Figures

[0012] The above drawings form part of the disclosure and specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present teaching, which aspects will be described in detail later in this specification. The present teaching may be better understood by reference to these drawings in conjunction with the detailed description.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the crate, without the front panel or a lid;

[0014] FIGS. 2, 2a, and 2b are respective front, top and side views of the bottom panel;

[0015] FIGS. 3, 3a, and 3b are respective front, top, and side views of the front panel;

[0016] FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b are respective back, top, and side views of the back panel;

[0017] FIGS. 5, 5a, and 5b are respective left, top, and front views of the left side panel;

[0018] FIGS. 6, 6a, and 6b are respective right, top, and front views of the right side panel;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a close view of the bracket system;

[0020] FIGS. 8, 8a, and 8b are respective side, front, and top views of the bracket;

[0021] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the crate, without the front panel or a lid;

[0022] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7, with the side panel in the free position; and

[0023] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7, with the side panel in the locked position.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating aspects of the present teaching only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components, FIGS. 1-6b show a crate 10 according to some aspects of the present teaching. The crate 10 may have several side panels-front 30, back 14, left 16, and right 18-disposed in vertical orientations around the sides of the crate 10 and forming the crate walls. The crate 10 may have a bottom panel 12, which can rest upon a pallet and may have beveled edges 20. The front 30 and back 14 side panels may each have a beveled edge 20, a notch edge 32, and in certain aspects, may also each have a pair of elongate slots 34 configured for binding clips. The left side panel 16 may have two pairs of elongate slots 34 configured for binding clips. The right side panel 18 may have beveled edges 20. The various side panels are secured to the bottom panel 12 to form the full crate, as described further below.

[0025] With reference now to FIGS. 7-8a, the crate 10 may have a bracket system 70 including channels 74, brackets 72, and a fastening apparatus. The channels 74 may be cut laterally along the length of each side panel (e.g., right side panel, 18 in FIG. 7) and disposed a distance from the bottom edge of each panel. The brackets 72 can be defined in a generally C shape cross-section, disposed along the edges of the bottom panel 12. The fastening apparatus can be screws, circular teeth 80 disposed along the length of the brackets 72 and configured to press into an interference fit with the crate bottom panel 12, or any similar fastening device chosen with sound engineering judgement. The brackets may be substantially longer than they are wide; in a particular aspect of the presenting teaching, the brackets have a length to width ratio of at least about 10:1. The side panel channel 74 is configured to engage the brackets 72, as discussed below.

[0026] With reference now to FIGS. 1-11, the bracket system 70 operates to secure the side panels 14, 16, 18, 30 to the bottom panel 12, to form the crate 10. The brackets 72 may be secured to the bottom panel 12 by the fastening apparatus. The channels 74 in the side panels 14, 16, 18, 30 may engage with the brackets 72 to snap or slide into place and secure the side panels 14, 16, 18, 30 to the bottom panel 12. In a particular aspect of the present teaching, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a side panel may rotate between a free position 100 and a locked position 110. The side panel engages with a beveled edge in the bottom panel, and the bracket engages with the channel in the side panel, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0027] Beveled edges 20 in the bottom panel 12 may allow the side panel bottom edges to fit into place and be held upright. The left side panel 16 can fit into the notch edges in both the front 30 and back 14 panels, while the beveled edges 20 in each of the front 30, back 14, and right 18 side panels may mate to form flush walls of the crate 10. In a particular aspect, the brackets 72 can be disposed at an angle to increase the ease with which the panels engage the brackets 72. Once the side panels 14, 16, 18, 30 are held upright upon the bottom panel 12, clips can be inserted into the elongate slots 34 of the front 30, back 14, and left 16 side panels to lend further integrity to the crate 10 and secure the side panels 14, 16, 18, 30 to each other.

[0028] Numerous aspects have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the present teaching. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

[0029] Having thus described the present teaching, it is now claimed: