NZ707861B2 - A Produce Container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a produce container which includes lid and a receptacle associated with the lid. The receptacle has four wall portions and a base. Each wall portion is connected to the base by a transition portion with one or more elongate apertures. The or each elongate aperture is configured and orientated such that its length is parallel to a longitudinal length of the transition portion in which the or each aperture is located. These elongate apertures provide ventilation to the produce contained in the container. The disclosure also claims that the apertures configuration prevents or at least minimises the risk of the produce being damaged by the sharp edges of the apertures and that it offers enhanced integrity and hence reduces the likelihood of the produce being crushed, bruised or otherwise damaged configured and orientated such that its length is parallel to a longitudinal length of the transition portion in which the or each aperture is located. These elongate apertures provide ventilation to the produce contained in the container. The disclosure also claims that the apertures configuration prevents or at least minimises the risk of the produce being damaged by the sharp edges of the apertures and that it offers enhanced integrity and hence reduces the likelihood of the produce being crushed, bruised or otherwise damaged

Description

A Produce Container Technical Field The present invention relates to packaging containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a produce container with ventilation apertures.

Background of the Invention There is a need for e growers and traders to use produce containers, to ort fresh produce from farms to distributors or wholesalers who would then on— sell the produce to retailers for selling to the general public. Typically, the produce is packed in a large number of containers arranged in stacks which are fitted into a 1O plastic tray for transportation.

It is generally desired in the produce packaging industry to e a container which allows the produce to be aerated before consumption in order to prevent any premature deterioration of the produce within the container.

It is commonplace to provide apertures in produce containers so as to tate ventilation. Existing apertures, such as those shown in Australian innovation patent number 2010100641, however have the disadvantage in that they can easily cause damage to the produce which unavoidably rubs against them during transportation.

Also, as shown in the drawings of Australian innovation patent number 2010100641, the apertures are typically ed along a portion joining the side wall and floor of a produce container. Such apertures are so configured and orientated that they have the disadvantage of somewhat weakening the ity of the portion joining the wall and floor of a ner.

It is an object of the present invention to e a e container which may overcome or ameliorate the above shortcomings, or which will at least provide a useful alternative. 25213NZ Summary of the Invention According to the present ion, there is provided a produce container including: a lid; and a acle ated with the lid, the receptacle having four wall portions and a base, each wall portion being connected to the base by a transition portion located intermediate each wall portion and the base, the tion n containing one or more elongate apertures; wherein each of the one or more elongate apertures is configured and orientated such that a longitudinal length of each of the one or more elongate res is parallel to a 1O longitudinal length of the transition portion in which each of the one or more elongate apertures is located; each of the one or more elongate apertures is wholly contained within the transition portion; each of the one or more elongate apertures is wholly contained within a substantially rectangular—shaped raised section of the transition portion, each of the substantially rectangular—shaped raised sections having a width substantially equal to a width of the transition portion and a length greater than the longitudinal length of each of the one or more elongate apertures; and an unraised gap is provided between each adjacent substantially rectangular—shaped raised section of the transition portion.

Preferably, the transition portion is bevelled.

In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the transition portion has three apertures which are spaced apart from one another. Preferably, one or more of the transition portion has two apertures. More ably, the or each aperture is provided in a raised section. it is preferred that a gap is provided between adjacent raised sections. 25213NZ Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may be better understood from the following non—limiting description of a preferred embodiment, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from bottom of a produce container in a closed state in accordance with the red embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from top of the produce container of Figure 1 in a closed state; Figure 3 is a perspective view from top of the produce container of Figure 1 in an open state; Figure 4 is a perspective view from bottom of the produce container of Figure 1 in an open state; Figure Sis a plan view from bottom of the e container of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the produce container of Figure 1; Figure 7 is one side view of the e container of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the produce container of Figure 1; Figure 9 is another side view of the produce container of Figure 7; and Figure 10 is a front elevation of the produce container of Figure 1 being stacked between two other identical produce ners. ed Description of the Drawings Referring to Figures 1 to 9, a produce container 10 is shown including a lid 12 and a receptacle 14 hinged to the lid 12. The receptacle 14 has four wall portions 16 & 18 and a base 20. 25213NZ As best shown in Figures 1, 4 & 6 to 9, each of the wall portions 16, 18 is connected to the base 20 by a bevelled transition portion 22, 24. The transition portions 22 has three elongate apertures 26 whereas transition portions 24 has two te apertures 28. The apertures 26 8L 28 are spaced apart along the respective transition n 22 & 24. Each of the elongate apertures 26, 28 is configured and orientated such that its length indicated byA is parallel to a longitudinal length indicated by B of the bevelled transition portion 22, 24in which the aperture 26, 28 is located. For example, the length A of re 26 is parallel to the length B of transition portion 22.

As shown in Figure 5, each aperture 26, 28 is provided in a raised section 30. A gap 32 1O is provided between adjacent raised sections 30. The raised sections 30 function as reinforcements thereby rendering the respective bevelled transition portions 22 & 24 stronger and more sturdy. This is advantageous in that the strengthen transition portions 22 & 24 would prevent the container 10 from failing and the produce from being crushed.

Turning to Figure 10, the produce container 10 is stacked in between two other identical produce containers 10A & 10B. It can be seen that the apertures 26, 26A & 268 are ed on bevelled tion portions 22, 22A & 228 respectively. As such, the produce inside the containers 10, 10A & 108 are well ventilated with random air flow in different directions as indicated by arrows C. It is ant to note that the apertures 26, 26A and 263 have considerably sharp edges. However, given their configuration and orientation, the res 26 & 28 are unlikely to cause damage to produce such as strawberries and tomatoes even in circumstances where the strawberries and tomatoes are urged against the apertures 26 & 28 after g.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present ion has been bed in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the produce container of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages: 1. it prevents or at least minimises the risk of the e being damaged by the 25213NZ sharp edges of the apertures; and 2. it offers enhanced integrity and hence reduces the likelihood of the produce being crushed, bruised or otherwise damaged.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically bed.

All such variations and modifications are to be ered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description. 25213NZ Claims A produce container including: a lid; and a receptacle associated with the lid, the receptacle having four wall portions and a base, each wall portion being connected to the base by a transition portion located intermediate each wall portion and the base, the transition portion ning with one or more elongate apertures; wherein each of the one or more elongate res is configured and ated such thatla longitudinal length of each of the one or more elongate res is parallel to a longitudinal length of the transition portion in which each of the one or more te apertures is located; and each of the one or more elongate apertures is wholly contained within the transition portion; each of the one or more elongate apertures is wholly contained within a ntially rectangular-shaped raised section of the transition portion, each of the substantially gular—shaped raised sections having a width substantially equal to a width of the transition portion and a length greater than the longitudinal length of each of the one or more elongate apertures; and an unraised gap is provided between each adjacent substantially rectangular- shaped raised section of the transition portion.

The produce container of claim 1, wherein the transition n is bevelled.

The produce container of either claim 1 or 2, wherein the transition portion has three apertures spaced apart from one another.

The produce container of claim either claim 1 or 2, wherein the transition portion has two apertures.

The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the substantially rectangular— shaped raised sections has a length that is longer than the width of the substantially rectangular—shaped raised section, the length defining a long side of the substantially rectangular—shaped raised section, the long side being parallel to the udinal length of a corresponding one of the one or more elongate apertures. 6. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more elongate apertures is offset within each of the corresponding substantially rectangular— shaped raised sections.

Claims (6)

Claims

1. A produce container including: a lid; and a receptacle associated with the lid, the receptacle having four wall portions and a base, each wall portion being connected to the base by a transition portion located intermediate each wall portion and the base, the transition portion ning with one or more elongate apertures; wherein each of the one or more elongate res is configured and ated such thatla longitudinal length of each of the one or more elongate 10 res is parallel to a longitudinal length of the transition portion in which each of the one or more te apertures is located; and each of the one or more elongate apertures is wholly contained within the transition portion; each of the one or more elongate apertures is wholly contained within a 15 ntially rectangular-shaped raised section of the transition portion, each of the substantially gular—shaped raised sections having a width substantially equal to a width of the transition portion and a length greater than the longitudinal length of each of the one or more elongate apertures; and an unraised gap is provided between each adjacent substantially rectangular- 20 shaped raised section of the transition portion.

2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein the transition n is bevelled.

3. The produce container of either claim 1 or 2, wherein the transition portion has three apertures spaced apart from one another.

4. The produce container of claim either claim 1 or 2, wherein the transition 25 portion has two apertures.

5. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the substantially rectangular— shaped raised sections has a length that is longer than the width of the substantially rectangular—shaped raised section, the length defining a long side of the substantially rectangular—shaped raised section, the long side being parallel to the udinal length of a corresponding one of the one or more elongate apertures.

6. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more elongate apertures is offset within each of the corresponding substantially rectangular— shaped raised sections.