AU2014101488A4

AU2014101488A4 - A Produce Container

Info

Publication number: AU2014101488A4
Application number: AU2014101488A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Lam
Original assignee: Multisteps Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Multisteps Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-31
Filing date: 2014-12-17
Publication date: 2015-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-30
Also published as: AU2014101488B4

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a produce container which includes a . receptacle, a lid, a hinge and a pair of locking arrangements and a third locking arrangement. The receptacle defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim. The lid is 5 associated with the receptacle for closing off the mouth. The hinge is located on one side of the produce container when closed. The hinge attaches the lid to the receptacle. The pair of locking arrangements for releasably locking the lid to the receptacle. The pair of locking arrangements is located on an opposite side of the produce container when closed. The third locking arrangement is provided 1o and located between the pair of locking arrangements.

Description

22733 A Produce Container Technical Field The present invention relates to packaging containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a produce container. 5 Background of the Invention An existing produce container or punnet typically includes a pair of locking arrangements being located apart near its opposing lateral sides, respectively, so as to keep its lid in a closed position. However, such a container or punnet has a shortcoming in that when an unbalanced force is exerted on the container 10 or punnet, the lid is susceptible to popping open. This most often happens during stacking or picking up of packed containers where a force is exerted only on one side of the container or punnet resulting in popping open of the other side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a produce container which may 15 overcome or at least ameliorate the above shortcoming or which will at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce container including: 20 a receptacle defining a mouth circumscribed by a rim; a lid associated with the receptacle for closing off the mouth; a hinge located on one side of the produce container when closed, the hinge attaching the lid to the receptacle; and a pair of locking arrangements for releasably locking the lid to the receptacle, 25 the pair of locking arrangements being located on an opposite side of the produce container when closed; wherein a third locking arrangement is provided and located between the pair of 2 22733 locking arrangements. Preferably, all three locking arrangements are located along or near the rim. In a preferred embodiment, the third locking arrangement is located in the vicinity of the centre of the opposite side of the produce container. As such, the 5 third locking arrangement in combination with the pair of locking arrangements creates two recesses along or near the rim on the opposite side of the produce container. The third locking arrangement is preferred to be capable of inhibiting unintended opening of the lid when a force is exerted on one side of the produce container. 10 Preferably, each locking arrangement includes: at least one projection carried on one of the receptacle and the lid; and a complementary formation being carried on the other of the receptacle and the lid; wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and complementary 1s formation releasably engage to effect locking of the lid to the receptacle. 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 of a produce container in accordance with 20 the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid being in an open position; Figure 2 is a side view of the produce container of Figure 1, the lid being in an open position; Figure 3 is a side view of the produce container of Figure 1, the lid being 25 in a closed position; Figure 4 is a plan view from top of the produce container of Figure 1, the 3 22733 lid being in an open position; Figure 5 is a front view of the produce container of Figure 1, the lid being in a wide open position; Figure 6 is a rear view of the produce container of Figure 1, the lid being 5 in a wide open position; Figure 7 is a magnified view of a locking arrangement located in the middle of the produce container of Figure 1 illustrating the locking mechanism; and Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the locking arrangement of Figure 7 10 being in a locked position. Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to Figures 1 and 6, there is shown a produce container 10 which has a receptacle 12 joined to a lid 14 via a hinge 16. The receptacle 12 defines a mouth 18 circumscribed by a rim 20. The lid 14 is associated with the receptacle 15 12 for closing off the mouth 18. As best shown in Figure 3, when the lid 14 is in a closed position, the hinge 16 is located on the rear side 20 of the produce container 10 attaching the lid 14 to the receptacle 12. As best shown in Figures 1 and 4, the produce container 10 has a pair of side 20 locking arrangements 22 and 24 for releasably locking the lid 14 to the receptacle 12. The pair of locking arrangements 22 and 24 is located on the opposite side 30 (see Figure 3) of the produce container 10. Each of the locking arrangements 22 and 24 is located near the lateral sides 26, 28 of the produce container. The produce container 10 also has a reinforcing (third) locking 25 arrangement 32 being located between the pair of locking arrangements 22 & 24. All three locking arrangements 22, 24 and 32 are located along or near the 4 22733 rim 20. As best shown in Figures 5 and 6, the reinforcing locking arrangement 32 is located in the vicinity of the centre at the front of the produce container 10. As such, the reinforcing locking arrangement 32 in combination with the pair of 5 locking arrangements 22 & 24 creates two recesses 34 & 36 along the rim 20 of the produce container 10. The reinforcing locking arrangement 32 serves as a reinforcement having the function of inhibiting unintended opening of the lid 14 when a force is exerted on only one side of the produce container 10. Referring to Figures 1 and 4, each of the locking arrangements 22 & 24 has one 10 projection 38, 40 carried on the lid 14 and a complementary formation in the form of a recess 42, 44 being carried on the other of the receptacle 12. When the lid 14 is in its closed position, the projections 38 & 40 and the recesses 42 & 44 releasably engage to effect locking of the lid 14 to the receptacle 12. Turning now to Figures 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8, the reinforcing locking arrangement 32 15 has a projection 46 carried on one of the receptacle 12 and a complementary formation in the form of a recess 48 being carried on the lid 14. This reinforcing locking arrangement 32 has the effect of enhancing locking of the lid 14 to the receptacle 12. Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described 20 in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the container of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages: 1. it substantially reduces the likelihood of the lid being popped open unintentionally particularly when an unbalanced force is exerted on only a certain part of the produce container; and 25 2. it is easy to manufacture. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically 5 22733 described. For example, the location of the projections and complementary recesses may be reversed. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description. 5 6

Claims

1. A produce container including: a receptacle defining a mouth circumscribed by a rim; a lid associated with the receptacle for closing off the mouth; 5 a hinge located on one side of the produce container when closed, the hinge attaching the lid to the receptacle; and a pair of locking arrangements for releasably locking the lid to the receptacle, the pair of locking arrangements being located on an opposite side of the produce container when closed; 10 wherein a third locking arrangement is provided and located between the pair of locking arrangements.

2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein all three locking arrangements are located along or near the rim.

3. The produce container of either claim 1 or 2, wherein the third locking 15 arrangement is located in the vicinity of the centre of the opposite side of the produce container.

4. The produce container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third locking arrangement in combination with the pair of locking arrangements creates two recesses along or near the rim on the opposite 20 side of the produce container.

5. The produce container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third locking arrangement is capable of inhibiting unintended opening of the lid when a force is exerted on one side of the produce container.

6. The produce container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each 25 locking arrangement includes: at least one projection carried on one of the receptacle and the lid; and a complementary formation being carried on the other of the receptacle and the lid; wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and 30 complementary formation releasably engage to effect locking of the lid to the receptacle. 7