AU2001100620A4 - A bread crate - Google Patents

Description

A Bread Crate FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a bread crate typically formed of plastic material and which is provided with a particular configuration to provide commercial benefits.

BACKGROUND ART Bread crates are known to comprise plastic trays on which a plurality of loaves of bread can be supported. The bread crates typically have a substantially square or rectangular flas bottom that is typically gridlike in configuration. The crate typically has an upright rear wall, a pair of upright side walls, and a relatively open front. The side walls are typically provided with openings which can function as handgrips.

The bread crates are transported using dollies (trolleys with castors for loading and moving loaded bread crates around and which are widely used by major bakeries). Different types of dollies are known which, to date, has made it difficult to load and transport bread crates manufactured by different manufacturers, as these bread crates are all somewhat different.

It is a requirement to keep the bread crates hygienically clean.

Thus, it is necessary to pass the bread crates through a crate washing machine which is provided at the major bakeries. The current design of bread crates requires a rather large drying time and water can be retained in the various "nooks and crannies" in the bread crate. It is important that the bread crates are substantially dry as water that is transported inside the filling area of bakeries is undesirable. Furthermore, water can damage the graphics on the bread bags.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a bread crate that may reduce water retention, and that can be compatible with different types of dollies.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bread crate that may at least partially overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a bread crate that comprises a bottom wall provided with an array of openings to allow water to pass through the bottom wall, at least one upstanding side wall, the side wall having a inside wall and an outside wall, and a ramped portion extending between the inside side wall and the bottom wall to reduce water retention in the crate.

The ramped portion (or angled portion) contributes substantially to the ability of the bread crate to reduce water retention thereby making it suitable for use in bakeries.

In order to make the bread crate compatible with different types of dollies, a corner of the bottom wall, and preferably each of the four corners of the bottom wall are provided with a plurality of openings which are larger than the openings in the bottom wall. This feature contributes substantially to the working of the invention by making the bread crate compatible with different types of dollies.

The bread crate is typically made of plastics. The crate preferably has a floor pattern which, as well as reducing water retention, allows faster moulding of the bread crate while maintaining a flat base to the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following digital photographs in which: Figure 1. Is a plan view of a bread crate according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2. Is a mainly side view of the bread crate of Figure 1.

Figure 3. Is a side rear view of the bread crate.

Figure 4. Is a close-up view showing the ramped or angled portion between the inside side wall and the bottom wall.

Figure 5. Is a corner view of the bread crate.

Figure 6. Is a corner view of the bread crate from a slightly different angle.

BEST MODE Referring to the photographs there is illustrated a bread crate that is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and has a length of between 40-150 cm, a width of between 40-100 cm, and a height of between 10-30 cm. The bread crate is made of plastics material and can be moulded.

The bread crate has a bottom wall 11, an upstanding rear wall 12, a pair of opposed upstanding side walls 13, 14, and a front wall 15 which has a lower height than the side walls and a rear wall to make it easier to place bread inside the crate.

Bottom wall 11 has a grid or mesh type platform allowing for easy draining of water and also allowing for air circulation. The platform mesh arrangement is better illustrated in figure 4, figure 5, and figure 6 and comprises a plurality of intersecting substantially vertical plastic ribs 16 that intersect each other in such a manner to form a diamond array of openings.

The vertical plastic ribs have a thickness of between 2-5 mm, and a height of between 10-30 mm. This arrangement provides a good strong platform that can be kept flat even under load conditions.

Side walls 13, 14 comprise an outside wall 17, and an inside wall 18. Inside side wall 18 is best illustrated in figure 5 and figure 6. Similarly, front wall 15 has an inside front wall 19 best illustrated in figure 5 and figure 6.

Similarly, rear wall 12 has an inside rear wall (not illustrated in detail).

The top of a bottom wall 11 meets with the various inside walls 18, 19) via a angled portion or a ramped portion 20 this being best illustrated in figure 5 and figure 6. The ramped portion has a ramp angle of between 30-70* and typically approximately 450. This angled portion which extends entirely around the bottom wall 11 functions to reduce water retention, functions to reduce drying time once the crate passes through a crate washing machine at bakeries, improves the hygiene of the crates, and reduces the water transported inside the filling area of bakeries thereby providing less chance of damage to graphics on bread bags.

Bottom wall 11, in the four corners 21-24 has a different opening profile. In this corner area, the normally grid like arrangement of the bottom wall is substituted with an array of rectangular openings 25 (best illustrated in figure 5 and figure Openings 25 comprise 2-3 substantially rectangular openings extending from the corner and along each wall of the bread crate.

Thus, and as illustrated in figure 5, a number of rectangular openings extend from the corner of the bread crate and along side wall 14 and the corner of the bread crate and along front wall 15. Similarly, each corner of bottom wall 11 has an identical arrangement of openings. These floor corners allow the crate to be compatible with all known types of dollies and this provides a substantial advantage to the bread crate.

The floor pattern reduces water retention and allows faster moulding of the product while maintaining of flat base to the product.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be bait to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

DATED THIS 6 TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2001 VISCOUNT PLASTICS PTY LTD BY THEIR PATENT ATTORNEYS CULLEN&cO

Claims (4)

1. A bread crate that comprises a bottom wall provided with an array of openings to allow water to pass through the bottom wall, at least one upstanding side wall, the side wall having a inside wall and an outside wall, and a ramped portion extending between the inside side wall and the bottom wall to reduce water retention in the crate.

2. The bread crate as claimed in claim 1, comprising an upstanding rear wall, a pair of upstanding side walls, and an upstanding front wall, each wall having an inside wall and an outside wall, the ramped portion extending between each inside wall and the bottom wall.

3. The bread crate as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bottom wall contains corners, the corners being provided with a plurality of larger substantially rectangular openings to facilitate placement of the bread crate on a dolly.

4. The bread crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ramped portion has a ramp angle of approximately 45 A bread crate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.