AU2014101488B4

AU2014101488B4 - A Produce Container

Info

Publication number: AU2014101488B4
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: 2016-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-30
Also published as: AU2014101488A4

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

25190 2014101488 27 Sep 2016 A Produce Container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to packaging containers. More particularly, the 5 present invention relates to a produce container.

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 io shortcoming in that when an unbalanced force is exerted on the container 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 is 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 first and second locking arrangements for releasably locking the lid to the 2 25190 2014101488 25 Oct 2016 receptacle, the first and second locking arrangements being located spaced apart on a side of the produce container opposite to the hinge; wherein a third locking arrangement is provided and located between the first and second locking arrangements, the third locking arrangement including a first 5 tongue extending in use upwardly from the receptacle towards the lid and a second tongue extending in use downwardly from the lid towards the receptacle, the first and second tongues being adapted to overlap when the lid is in a closed position; and wherein a first aperture is located in the rim between the first locking arrangement and the third locking arrangement and a second aperture is located io in the rim between the third locking arrangement and the second locking arrangement.

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. The third locking is 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.

Preferably, each of the first and second locking arrangements 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 2o lid; wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and complementary 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 25 of a preferred embodiment, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a produce container in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid being in an open 3 25190 2014101488 27 Sep 2016 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 in 5 a closed position;

Figure 4 is a plan view from top of the produce container of Figure 1, the 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; io Figure 6 is a rear view of the produce container of Figure 1, the lid being 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 15 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 12 for 20 closing off the mouth 18.

As best shown in Figure 3, when the lid 14 is in a closed position, the hinge 16 is 4 25190 2014101488 27 Sep 2016 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 first and second side locking arrangements 22 and 24 for releasably locking the lid 14 to the 5 receptacle 12. The pair of locking arrangements 22 and 24 is located on the side 30 (see Figure 3) of the produce container 10 opposite to the hinge 16. 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 arrangement 32A, 32B being located between the pair of locking arrangements 22 io and 24. All three locking arrangements 22, 24 and 32A, 32B are located along or near the rim 20.

As best shown in Figures 5 and 6, the reinforcing locking arrangement 32A, 32B is located in the vicinity of the centre at the front of the produce container 10. As such, the reinforcing locking arrangement 32A, 32B in combination with the first is and second locking arrangements 22 and 24 creates two apertures 34 and 36 along the rim 20 of the produce container 10. The reinforcing locking arrangement 32A, 32B 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. 20 Referring to Figures 1 and 4, each of the locking arrangements 22 and 24 has one projection 38, 40 carried on the lid 14 and a complementary formation in the form of a recess 42, 44 being carried on the receptacle 12. When the lid 14 is in its closed position, the projections 38 and 40 and the recesses 42 and 44 releasably engage to effect locking of the lid 14 to the receptacle 12. 25 Turning now to Figures 1,4, 6, 7 and 8, the reinforcing locking arrangement 32A, 32B has a projection 46 carried on the receptacle 12 and a recess 48 being carried on the lid 14. This reinforcing locking arrangement 32A, 32B has the effect of enhancing locking of the lid 14 to the receptacle 12. 5 25190 2014101488 27 Sep 2016

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described 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 5 unintentionally particularly when an unbalanced force is exerted on only a certain part of the produce container; and 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 io 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. 6

Claims

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; a hinge located on one side of the produce container when closed, the hinge attaching the lid to the receptacle; and first and second locking arrangements for releasably locking the lid to the receptacle, the first and second locking arrangements being located spaced apart on a side of the produce container opposite to the hinge; wherein a third locking arrangement is provided and located between the first and second locking arrangements, the third locking arrangement including a first tongue extending in use upwardly from the receptacle towards the lid and a second tongue extending in use downwardly from the lid towards the receptacle, the first and second tongues being adapted to overlap when the lid is in a closed position; and wherein a first aperture is located in the rim between the first locking arrangement and the third locking arrangement and a second aperture is located in the rim between the third locking arrangement and the second locking arrangement.
2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein the third locking arrangement is located in the vicinity of the centre of the side of the produce container opposite the hinge.
3. The produce container of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the first and second locking arrangements includes a projection carried on one of the receptacle and the lid and a complementary formation carried on the other of the receptacle and the lid, wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and complementary formation releasably engage to effect locking of the lid to the receptacle.
4. The produce container of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third locking arrangement includes a projection carried on one of the first and second tongues and a recess carried on the other of the first and second tongues, wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and recess releasably engage.
5. A produce container including: 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 first and second locking arrangements for releasably locking the lid to the receptacle, the first and second locking arrangements being located spaced apart on a side of the produce container opposite to the hinge; wherein: a third locking arrangement is provided and located between the first and second locking arrangements, the third locking arrangement including a first tongue extending in use upwardly from the receptacle towards the lid and a second tongue extending in use downwardly from the lid towards the receptacle, the first and second tongues being adapted to overlap when the lid is in a closed position; a first aperture is located in the rim between the first locking arrangement and the third locking arrangement and a second aperture is located in the rim between the third locking arrangement and the second locking arrangement; each of the first and second locking arrangements has a projection carried on the lid and a complementary formation carried on the receptacle, wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and complementary formation releasably engage to effect locking of the lid to the receptacle; and the first tongue has a projection and the second tongue has a recess, wherein when the lid is in its closed position, the projection and recess releasably engage.