TOTE WITH SIDE WALL DRAIN HOLES

Abstract

A tote with a drainage system for evenly distributing water through all four sides is provided. The tote includes a first end wall, a second opposing end wall, a first side wall, a second opposing side wall, and a bottom wall. A bumper extends outward around the periphery of the tote. A plurality of D-shaped drain holes are positioned a first distance above the upper surface of the bottom wall which allow liquid in the tote to drain evenly out of the tote through the bumper.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A tote with a drainage system for enabling even flow of a liquid comprising: a container body a rectangular bottom wall having an upper surface, a first end wall integrally formed with and extending upward from a first end of the bottom wall, a first side wall integrally formed with and extending upward from a first side of the bottom wall, a second end wall integrally formed with and extending upward from a second end of the bottom wall, a second side wall integrally formed with and extending upward from a second side of the bottom wall; a bumper extending outward from the first end wall, first side wall, second end wall and second side wall of the container body a first distance above the upper surface, the bumper having a bottom horizontal wall; and, a plurality of spaced apart drain holes spaced above the bottom wall of the bumper allowing liquid from an interior of the container body to exit through the bumper.

22. The tote of claim 21 wherein the bumper includes a top horizontal wall spaced above the bottom horizontal wall and the plurality of spaced apart drain holes.

23. The tote of claim 22 wherein the bumper includes a plurality of vertical segments extending from the container body between each of the plurality of spaced apart drain holes.

24. The tote of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of ribs extending upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall.

25. The tote of claim 24 wherein the plurality of ribs extend to a point below the first distance.

26. The tote of claim 25 wherein the ribs form a grid pattern extending between the first end wall to the second end wall, and between the first side wall and the second side wall.

27. The tote of claim 21 wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart drain holes has a flat horizontal bottom segment and an arcuate upper segment extending from the flat horizontal bottom segment.

28. The tote of claim 22 comprising a vertical lip extending downwardly from an outer edge of the bottom horizontal wall of the bumper.

29. The tote of claim 21 wherein the container body is configured to receive a first divider panel extending between the first side wall and the second side wall.

30. The tote of claim 29 wherein the container body is configured to receive a second divider panel extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.

31. The tote of claim 21 wherein the tote is formed from plastic.

32. A tote with a drainage system comprising: a container body having a bottom wall having a lower surface that is integrally formed with and transitions into a first end wall at a first end, a second end wall at a second end, a first side wall at a first side and a second side wall at a second side, the first and second end walls are integrally formed with and transition to the first and second side walls to a complete molded shape; a border extending outward from the first side wall, the border having a bottom horizontal wall spaced above the bottom wall of the container body; and, a first drain hole in the first side wall positioned above the bottom horizontal wall of the border.

33. The tote of claim 32 wherein the border and bottom horizontal wall also extends outward from the first end wall, the second side wall and the second end wall.

34. The tote of claim 33 further comprising a second drain hole in the first end wall positioned above the bottom horizontal wall of the border, a third drain hole in the second side wall positioned above the bottom horizontal wall of the border and a fourth drain hole in the second end wall positioned above the bottom horizontal wall of the border.

35. The tote of claim 34 wherein the border further includes a top horizontal wall extending from the first end wall, first side wall, second end wall and second side wall spaced above the first drain hole, second drain hole, third drain hole and fourth drain hole.

36. The tote of claim 32 further comprising a plurality of ribs extending upward from an upper surface of the bottom wall to a position below the bottom horizontal wall of the border.

37. The tote of claim 34 wherein a plurality of drain holes extend through the first side wall positioned above the bottom horizontal wall of the border.

38. The tote of claim 37 further comprising a plurality of vertical segments extending from the bottom horizontal wall and the top horizontal wall between adjacent ones of the plurality of drain holes extending through the first side wall.

39. The tote of claim 32 wherein the first drain hole has D-shape.

40. The tote of claim 32 wherein the container body is formed from a molded plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tote with a drainage system in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a lower interior portion of the tote of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view of a lower interior portion of the tote of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view of a lower exterior and interior portion of the tote of FIG. 1

[0023] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of an exterior portion of the bumper of the tote of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective upside down view of the tote of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention having a drainage system in accordance with the present invention and intersecting divider panels with features for locking the panels along the length of the intersections between matching half slots in the divider panels;

[0026] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the intersection; and,

[0027] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an upper portion of the intersection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0029] FIGS. 1-6 show aspects of an embodiment of a tote 10 with a drainage system for allowing a liquid to drain out evenly from an interior of the tote in accordance with the present invention. The tote 10 is in the form of a unitary container body having a first end wall 12, a second end wall 14 opposing the first end wall 12, a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 18 opposing the first side wall 16. All of the walls 12, 14, 16, 18 extend upward from a generally rectangular bottom wall 20.

[0030] The container body includes a bumper 22 extending continuously around a bottom portion of each of the end and side walls 12, 14, 16, 18. The bumper 22 extends outward from the walls 12, 14, 16, 18, and includes a top horizontal wall 24 and a bottom horizontal wall 26 having a downwardly directed lip 28 as shown in FIG. 3. The top horizontal wall 24 is spaced a distance above the bottom horizontal wall 28.

[0031] The container body also includes a plurality of drain holes 30 positioned proximate the bottom of each of the end and side walls 12, 14, 16, 18. The drain holes 30 are positioned a first distance above a top surface of the bottom wall 20. In the embodiment illustrated, the bottom of each drain hole 30 is about 0.50 inches from the top surface of the bottom wall 20. This distance aligns the drain holes 30 so that they are in between the top horizontal wall 24 and the bottom horizontal wall 26 of the bumper 22 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3.

[0032] The bottom wall 20 of the tote includes a plurality of ribs 32, 34 extending upward from the top surface of the bottom wall 20. A first set of the ribs 32 are generally parallel to each other and extend from proximate the first end wall 12 to proximate the second end wall 14, and a second set of the ribs 34 are generally parallel to each other and extend from proximate the first side wall 16 to proximate the second side wall 18. This forms a grid pattern on the bottom wall 20. The ribs extend upward a second distance that is slightly less than the bottom of the drain holes 30. In the embodiment shown the ribs extend upward approximately 0.45 inches. In view of these dimensions, the ribbed portion of the bottom wall 20 will completely fill with any liquid (e.g., water) before allowing the liquid to drain evenly through the drain holes 30 and out through the bumper 22.

[0033] The drain holes 30 are formed to have a D-shaped opening (with the D-shape on its side). Each drain hole 30 includes a flat segment 36 connected at each end to an end of an arcuate shaped segment 38.

[0034] The bumper 22 is designed to include openings 40 that are aligned with the drain holes 30. The openings 40 have a generally trapezoidal shape. Segments 42 extending between the top horizontal wall 24 and the bottom horizontal wall 26 are formed between adjacent drain holes 30 and openings 40 in the bumper 22.

[0035] The tote is preferably formed from a molded plastic, or other similar or suitable materials.

[0036] Directional words such as top, bottom, upper etc. are used herein to describe the invention as shown in the drawings and as typically used, and are not meant to limit the invention to being in such positions.

[0037] FIG. 7 discloses a container 50 having a drainage system in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, the container includes divider panels 52, 54 having structure at the intersections for preventing the upper or lower portions of the walls of the panels 52, 54 from flexing due to a load as provided in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/265,452 filed Dec. 15, 2021. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure 56 for the lower portion of an intersection and FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure 58 of the upper portion of the intersection (the intersections are formed from corresponding half slots in each divider panel).

[0038] Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.