US2718326A - Tray with variable number of uniform size cells - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 20, 1955 H. 1. LE BLANC TRAY WITH VARIABLE NUMBER OF' UNIFORM SIZE CELLS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DEG. 29 1950 INVENTOR. /f/y e/ e3/awa' BY -mfm/ www ATTORNE YS.

Sept. 20, 1955 H. .1. LE BLANC TRAY WITH VARIABLE NUMBER OF UNIFORM SIZE CELLS 5 SheetsSheet Filed Dec. 29, 195o INVENTR. Henry 9B/anc @MMV/@mm A T TORNE YS.

Sept. 20, 1955 H. J. LE BLANC 2,718,325

TRAY WITH VARIABLE NUMBER OF' UNIFORM SIZE CELLS 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Dec. 29. 195C o f l I g @JL 2625 2? 2236 24 es 2426252.31 aal 2f/g2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Oce 2,718,325 Patented Sept. 20, 1955 TRAY WITH VARIABLE NUMBER F UNIFORM SIZE CELLS Henry J. Le Blanc, Attleboro Falls, Mass., assignor to Swank, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,377 3 Claims. (Cl. 2211-22) This invention relates to a tray which may be formed with different numbers of cells depending upon the size of parts to be inserted therein.

Heretofore, trays have been used for transporting merchandise about a factory where it is desired to keep the articles separated to prevent one from scratching the other. This is of particular interest in connection with the transporting of jewelry from one department to the other such as from coloring to polishing, and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a minimum number of molded parts which may be used for the division of a tray as desired depending upon the size of the article to be accommodated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of members, such for instance as will require a minimum number of molds for the production of trays of various divisions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tray in which the divisions may be stacked one upon the other with some separation between.

Another object of the invention is the provision of cell divisions which may be assembled by sliding of the parts one into the other where they will remain in such form, and may be promptly secured there by some welding operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective View of a box with a plurality of trays in the box.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental perspective view showing the manner of assembling the parts which go to make up the divisions of the tray.

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating two members secured together.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a frame which may be inserted in one of the trays.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a fragmental portion of one of the transverse frame members.

Figdlre 7 is a perspective View of a fragmental portion of one of the longitudinal frame members.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the transverse division members.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fragmental portion of one of the longitudinal division members.

Figure l() is an edge View of one of the longitudinal frame members.

Figure ll is a face view thereof.

Figure 12 is an elevation view of one of the longitudinal division members.

Figure 13 is a top edge View of one of the transverse members.

Figure 14 is a face view thereof.

Figure l5 is an elevation of one of the transverse divisional members.

Figures 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are top plan views of various assemblies of the frame members, and different numbers of division members.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a box into which four like trays may be assembled. In each of the trays there may be placed two different frames, one superimposed upon the other, with some sort of a removable wall between the frames. Each frame may be provided with various divisions to form cells which may be of a selected size, and in order that there may be some uniformity and economy in the making of the frames, I have arranged to provide each frame with two identical longitudinal members, and two identical transverse members. These will be in rectangular form, the longitudinal members being parallel, and the transverse members being parallel. Each of these members is recessed, which will open inwardly, and each of the recesses will take one of the divisional members. There will be two sets of divisional members, one a longitudinal divisional member, and the other a transverse divisional member and all members of each set will be identical. Notches on one edge will be provided so that a plurality of different size cells may be formed.

With reference to the drawings, I have shown in Figure 10 a longitudinal frame member which I designated 20, and which is provided with a plurality of recesses 2l. These recesses are so arranged that they equally divide the strip into three parts if the recesses 22 are used, or divide the strip into four equal parts if the recesses 23 are used, or into seven equal parts if the recesses 24 are used, or into eight equal parts if the recesses 2S, in addition to the recesses 23 are used, or in ten equal parts if the recesses 26 and middle recesses 23 are used.

A longitudinal division member designated 30, as shown in Figure l2, is provided with a plurality of notches 31 which correspond in position to the recesses designated generally 21 in the frame member 20. These notches extend inwardly from one edge one half of the width of the member 30.

A transverse frame member 32 is provided with a plurality of recesses 33 which are so arranged that if the recess 34 is used, it will divide the member 32 into two equal parts. If the recesses 3S are used, it will divide the member into three equal parts. If the recesses 36, as well as the recesses 34, are used, it will divide the member into four equal parts, whereas if the recesses 37 are used, the member will be divided into five equal parts, or if the recesses 38, as well as the recesses 35, are used, the member will be divided into six equal parts.

A transverse division member, as shown in Figure l5, and designated 40, will be provided with a plurality of notches 4l which will be spaced the same as the recesses 33 in the transverse frame member 32.

These frame and division members are molded in the form above described from molds in a large number at a time, and may be secured together by some sort of a welding operation into the rectangular frame form, such as shown in the various Figures 16-20, in each of which cases it will be noted that the frames are of identical size and shape.

I assemble two longitudinal frame members 20-20 with their recesses facing inwardly, and in parallel relation and connected together by transverse frame members 32 at their ends also in parallel relation.

If it is desired to provide nine cells, such as shown in Figure 16, two longitudinal divisional members 30 will be positioned in the notches 35 of the member 32, with their notches facing upwardly and two transverse divisional members 32 will be positioned in the recesses 22 of the members 20, with their notches facing downwardly so as to interlock with the notches 31, thus providing the upper and lower edges of the divisional members in the same plane with the upper and lower edges of the frame members and 32.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 17 a single member 30 is utilized with the frame being positioned in the center recess 34 of the member 32 While nine transverse divisional members 40 are utilized, positioned in the recesses 26 of the longitudinal member 20 so as to provide ten equal divisions. As shown in Figure 18, there is a use of two members 30 positioned in notches 35 and a use of tive members 40 to provide six divisions by inserting each of the members 40 in the slots 38 of the frame members 20. As shown in Figure 19, four members 30 are used to provide five divisions by insertion in the recesses 37, and six members 40 are used to provide seven divisions by insertion in the recesses 24.

ln Figure 20, six spaces are provided laterally or transversely by the use of tive members 30 inserted in the notches 38 and eight spaces longitudinally are provided by using seven members, 40, inserted in the recesses 25.

From the above, it will be apparent that I may provide a large number of different combinations, namely 21 different numbers of divisions, and 25 different frames when the separation of the divisions are also taken into cinsideration, or by the use of one form of longitudinal frame member, one form of transverse frame member, one form of longitudinal divisional member, and one form of transverse divisional member. Thus, from these four shapes, where the suitable arranged recesses and notches are used, at least 25 differently divided frames may be produced.

ln use a tray usually of a metal having end walls 5t), a bottom wall Sl and side walls 52, is provided with an outwardly Haring lip at its upper edge, as at 53, so that these trays may fit one upon the other. Each tray is of a depth to receive two frames, one of these frames will usually have beneath it some sort of padding, 55, so that jawelry will not be scratched as it is laid in the tray, and in a suitable cell. A form of padding, 56 may be laid upon the lower divisional frame, and another frame superimposed upon it. Thus, each tray is provided with two divisional frames, and two trays may be superimposed one upon the other within the box 60, which is provided for holding four trays. The boxes 60 are also provided with shoulders 61 and a lip 62 so that one box may be superimposed on the other as illustrated in dot and dash lines in Figure 2.

lt is usually desired that the frame with its divisions shall be promptly assembled, and accordingly, some sort of a solvent is provided for the plastic material which is utilized for the frames and divisions, and applied as the parts are assembled so that in elect a weld is provided at the joints. By this arrangement, a very etlicient and yet simple method of formation is provided for providing lil 4 different selected numbers of cells with a minimum number of parts.

I claim:

l. A dividing unit for a rectangular container comprising a rectangular frame having opposite side and end walls, each with grooves extending from top to bottom across the inner face thereof, the grooves in the opposite side walls having identical opposed patterns and being arranged so that a plurality of groups of said grooves may be selected each of which divides the lengths of the side walls into a number of equal spaces, the numbers of the equal spaces provided by the groups being capable of forming a consecutive series in which each number thereof differs'from the nearest adjacent number of the series by one, the grooves in the opposite end walls having identical opposed patterns and being arranged so that a plurality of groups of said grooves may be selected each of which divides the lengths of the end walls into a number of equal spaces, the numbers of the equal spaces provided by the groups being capable of forming a consecutive series in which each number thereof differs from the nearest adjacent number of the series by one, and longitudinal and lateral division plates comprising longitudinal members having opposite parallel edges with their ends in the grooves of the end Walls and with a plurality of notches in one of their edges corresponding in location to the grooves in the side walls of the frame and lateral members having opposite parallel edges with their end in the grooves of the side Walls of the frames, and a plurality of notches in one of their edges corresponding in location to the grooves in the end Walls of the frame and interttting with the notches in the longitudinal division plates whereby the division plates may be changed to form other area divisions by placing them in different grooves and notches of their co-operating frame and plates.

2. A dividing unit as in claim 1 wherein the plates are of equal lateral dimension.

3. A dividing unit as in claim l wherein the frame walls and plates are of equal lateral dimension.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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