Wire container for returnable beverage cans

Claim 2

A wire container for returnable beverage cans having an open top and a wire bottom member comprising: a plurality of parallel, horizontal, rectangular wire frame members having a pair of opposed spaced apart sides and a pair of opposed spaced apart ends, joined in a spaced apart manner by a plurality of upright rods abutting the frame members around the perimeter thereof; the bottom member hinged to a lowermost frame member; an opposed central pair of upright rods extending upward past an uppermost frame member then inward to form a handle support, said opposed pair of upright rods defining a marginal edge of a divider member.

Claim 3

The container as defined in claim 1 wherein: the container is divided into equal compartments by a plurality of equally spaced divider members extending transversely between the opposed sides.

Claim 4

The container as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a handle extending between the opposed central pair of upright rods.

Claim 5

The container as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom member comprises: a plurality of bottom transverse rods extending between the opposed sides of the lowermost frame member; at least one of the transverse rods curving upward and around a side of the lowermost frame in an arcuate manner forming a loop to define a hinge; a plurality of longitudinal rods abutting and joined to the transverse rods to form the bottom member; means for biasing the bottom member against the lowermost frame; at least one of the bottom transverse rods having an end extending beyond the lowermost frame on a side opposite said hinge; and wherein the biasing means holds the bottom member closed to contain returnable beverage cans and a light downward pressure on the extending end causes the bottom member to swing open dumping the container contents.

Claim 6

The container as defined in claim 2 wherein the divider members comprise: an upper transverse rod abutting and adjoined at its ends to the opposed sides of the uppermost frame member; a lower transverse rod abutting and adjoined at its ends to the opposed sides of the lowermost frame member; and a plurality of upright divider rods abutting and extending between the upper and lower transverse rods.