SLIDING ENGAGEMENT FOR A STACKING DELIVERY TRAY

[0001] There is described a sliding engagement for a stacking delivery tray having a sliding surface that has breaks.

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,172 (McTavish et al.) entitled “Stacking Delivery Tray” discloses a stacking delivery tray that has two operative positions to accommodate different sizes of product. When these delivery trays are stacked, in order to add or remove an overlying tray, it must slide along the underlying tray. In a first or lower operative position, the overlying tray slides along a top shelf In a second or higher operative position, the overlying tray slides along a top rail which is raised above the top shelf. In order to accommodate the two operative positions, the McTavish et al. stacking delivery tray has a top rail with breaks in it and a top shelf with breaks in it. These breaks are referred to by McTavish et. al as valleys. In view of this, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get a smooth linear sliding action along either the top rail or the top shelf What is required is a modified sliding engagement which will facilitate a smoother more linear sliding relationship between the underlying tray and the overlying tray.

[0003] There is provided a sliding engagement for a stacking delivery tray having a sliding surface that has breaks. The sliding engagement includes at least one ramp on the sliding surface providing an inclined sliding transition to an end of an overlying tray sliding along the sliding surface in order to traverse the break in the sliding surface.

[0004] With most stacking delivery trays, the point requiring transition is spaced from one or both of the ends. For this reason it is preferred that the at least one ramp is spaced from one end of the stacking delivery tray and has an upward incline toward said one end.

[0005] The problem with breaks in the sliding surface is most frequently found in two position stacking delivery trays. When the stacking delivery tray is a two position stacking delivery tray there are two sliding surfaces. A first sliding surface is in the form of a top shelf or ledge providing a lower operative position. A second sliding surface is in the form of a top rail that is parallel to, but raised above, the top shelf providing a higher operative position. There is at least one ramp on the top shelf providing an inclined sliding transition to an end of an overlying tray sliding along the top shelf in the lower operative position in order to traverse the break in the top shelf. There is at least one ramp on the top rail providing an inclined sliding transition to an end of an overlying tray sliding along the top shelf in the higher operative position in order to traverse a break in the top rail.

[0006] Although beneficial result may be obtained through use of the sliding engagement described above, the sliding engagement is improved even more when the at least one ramp on the top shelf also provides an inclined sliding transition to lift an end of an overlying tray sliding along the top rail in the higher operative position in order to traverse the break in the top rail. Similarly, the at least one ramp on the top rail also provides an inclined sliding transition to lower an overlying tray sliding along the top shelf in the lower operative position in order to traverse the break in the top shelf.

[0012] A sliding engagement for a stacking delivery tray having a sliding surface with breaks will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. A two position stacking delivery tray has been selected for illustration, as it is a more complex form of tray. However, it will be appreciated that the principles described are equally applicable to a single height stacking delivery tray.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, there is illustrated a sliding engagement generally referenced by numeral 10 for a two position stacking tray. There is illustrated an overlying stacking tray 12 and an underlying stacking tray 14. Overlying stacking tray 12 and underlying stacking tray 14 are identical in size and shape, each having a first end 16, a second end 18, a handle opening 20, a top shelf 22, and a top rail 24. As will be hereinafter further explained, top shelf 22 and top rail 24 provide sliding surfaces. However, those sliding surfaces are “irregular” or stated another way are “non-linear” as both have a break 28 toward second end 18 and a break 30 toward first end 16, where the “valleys” of the engagement profile are located.

[0014] Sliding engagement 10 has a lower operative position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and a higher operative position illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, overlying tray 12 slides along irregular top shelf 22 of underlying tray 14 in the lower operative position. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, overlying tray 12 slides along irregular top rail 24 of underlying tray 14 which is raised above top shelf 22 in the higher operative position. Referring to FIG. 2, sliding engagement 10 includes a ramp 26 on top shelf 22 of underlying tray 14 which has an upwardly incline from break 28 toward second end 18 and which provides an inclined sliding transition in the lower operative position to lift second end 18 of overlying tray 12 as it slides along top shelf 22 in order to traverse break 28 in top shelf 22. Referring to FIG. 1, ramp 26 also provides an inclined sliding transition when overlying tray 12 is in the higher operative position in order to traverse break 28 in top rail 24 of underlying tray 14. Referring to FIG. 3, sliding engagement 10 also includes a ramp 32 on top rail 24 of underlying tray 14 which has an upward incline from break 30 toward first end 16 and provides an inclined sliding transition to lower end 18 of overlying tray 12 in the higher operative position to traverse break 30 in top rail 24 of underlying tray 14. Referring to FIG. 4, when overlying tray 12 is sliding along top shelf 22 in the lower operative position ramp 32 also provides an inclined sliding transition in order to traverse break 30 in top shelf 22 of underlying tray 14.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, with the present sliding engagement 10 described above, ramp 26 on top shelf 22 enables overlying tray 14 to traverse break 28 when sliding along top shelf 22. Referring to FIG. 3, ramp 32 on top rail 24 enables overlying tray 14 to traverse break 30 when sliding along top rail 24. Referring to FIG. 1, a “hand off” takes place in which ramp 26 on top shelf 22 helps lift end 18 of overlying tray 12 onto top rail 24 when overlying tray 12 is traversing break 28 in top rail 24. Referring to FIG. 4, ramp 32 on the top rail 24 helps lower second end 18 of overlying tray 12 onto top shelf 22 when the overlying tray 12 is traversing break 30 in top shelf 22.

[0016] In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0017] The following claims are to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can be obviously substituted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope of the claims. The illustrated embodiments have been set forth only as examples and should not be taken as limiting the invention. It is to be understood that, within the scope of the following claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically illustrated and described.