AU2014250622A1

AU2014250622A1 - A Produce Container

Info

Publication number: AU2014250622A1
Application number: AU2014250622A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Lam
Original assignee: Multisteps Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Multisteps Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-14
Filing date: 2014-10-14
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: AU2022200427A1; AU2016101788A4; AU2022200427B2; CN204368740U; AU2020201959A1; AU2016101788B4; AU2018214161A1; US20150101955A1

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a produce container which includes a receptacle and a lid. The receptacle has a base and a wall defining a mouth. The base includes first engaging means and a lid adapted to close off the a mouth. The lid has a top having second engaging means adapted to cooperate with the first engaging means of another identical produce container so as to facilitate interlocking of the container with the other identical container. ,A-0

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE 2014250622 - There are 5 pages of Description - The page numbering begins with 2 24501 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 There is a need for produce growers and traders to use produce containers, also known as punnets, to transport 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 10 arranged in stacks which are fitted into a big plastic tray for transportation. It is generally desired in the produce packaging industry to provide a container which allow the produce to be aerated before consumption in order to prevent the following from happening: (i) a reduction in the density of the produce; 15 (ii) a change in the texture and rheology of the produce which may lead to different mouthfeel and appearance; (iii) a reduction in shelf-life due to oxidation reactions; and (iv) a decrease in the intensity of flavours. It is an object of the present invention to provide a produce container which may 20 satisfy the abovementioned desire, or which will at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a produce container including: 25 a receptacle with a base and a wall defining a mouth, the base including first 2 24501 engaging means; and a lid adapted to close off the mouth, the lid with a top having second engaging means adapted to cooperate with the first engaging means of another identical produce container so as to facilitate interlocking of the container with the other 5 identical container. In a preferred embodiment, the base includes one or more apertures. Preferably, the or each aperture is located near a corner of the produce container. Preferably, the top of the lid includes one or more additional apertures. More 10 preferably, the or each additional apertures are located near of a corner of the produce container. It is preferred that when the container is stacked on top of the other identical container, each aperture is in communication with the additional aperture. As such, the produce contained in both containers may be aerated. 15 Preferably, the first engaging means include legs, each curving in a first direction away from the centre of the base with a first centre of curvature on the plane that the base is on. More preferably, the curvature of each leg conforms to the curved edge of a corresponding recessed corner. More preferably, each leg also curves in a second direction away from the base 20 with a second centre of curvature below the base. As such, each leg includes an arch providing a gap between an underside of the leg and the top of the lid. Extra aeration of the produce contained in both containers is enabled as a result. The second engaging means is preferred to take the form of an elevated 25 platform with recessed corners. Each recess corner is preferred to have a curved edge. Preferably, the or each aperture is located at or near one of the recessed corners. 3 24501 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 an external perspective view of a produce container having a 5 lid and a receptacle in an open state in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an internal perspective view of the produce container of Figure I with the lid and receptacle in a closed state; Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the lid of the container of Figure 1; 10 Figure 4 is a plan view from bottom of the receptacle of the container of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the container of Figure 1 with the lid and receptacle in a closed state; Figure 6 is a side elevation of multiple containers of Figure 1 in a stack; 15 and Figure 7 is a magnified view illustrating the portion labelled Y as shown in Figure 6. Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a produce container 10 is shown consisting of a 20 receptacle 12 and a lid 14. The receptacle 12 has a base 16 and a wall 18 defining a mouth 20. The lid 14 a top 40 with (second) engaging means which is in the form of an elevated platform 22 with recessed corners 24, 26, 28 & 30. Each recess corner 24, 26, 28 or 30 has a curved edge 32, 34, 36 & 38. 4 24501 As best shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lid 14 is provided to close off the mouth 20 of the receptacle 12. The base 16 has (first) engaging means which are in the form of legs designed to engage and cooperate with the respective recessed corners 24A, 26A, 28A & 30A of the elevated platform 22A of another identical 5 produce container 10 A (see Figure 6) so as to facilitate interlocking of the container 10 with the other identical container 10 A. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, each of the legs 50, 52, 54 & 56 of the base 12 curves in a first direction (as shown by arrows 60) away from the centre 58 of the base 16 with a centre of curvature (not shown) on the plane that the base 16 10 is on. The curvature 62 of each leg 50, 52, 54 & 56 conforms to the curved edge, for example 38, of a corresponding recessed corner 30, for example. As best shown in Figure 4, each leg 50, 52, 54 & 56 also curves in another direction (as indicated by arrows 64, see Figure 5) away from the base 16 with another centre of curvature (not shown) below the base 16. It should be noted 15 that the curves may not be in the shape of a perfect arc but just an asymmetrical bend as shown in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. As such, each leg 50, 52, 54, 56 includes an arch 66, 68 for example, providing a gap 68 between an underside of the leg 50, for example, and the top 40 of the lid 14, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Extra aeration of the produce contained in both 20 containers 10 & 10 A is enabled as a result. As best shown in Figure 4, the base 16 has four apertures 70, 72, 74 & 76. Each of the apertures 70, 72, 74 & 76 is located near a corner 78, for example, of the receptacle 12. Turning to Figure 3, the top 40 of the lid 14 has four apertures in the form of 25 round holes 80, 82, 84 & 86. More preferably, each of these holes 80, 82, 84 & 86 is located near of a recessed corner 24 for example. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the container 10 is stacked on top of the other identical container 10 A which in turn is stacked on top of yet another virtual 5 24501 container 10B shown in broken lines. As mentioned above, the legs 50, 52, 54 & 56 of are engaged with the respective curved edges 32, 34, 36 & 38 of the recesses corners of the receptacle 12. Each aperture 70, 72, 74, 76 is in communication with a corresponding hole 84, 82, 80 & 86. As such, air 5 circulation following paths 88 & 90 for example, is enabled thereby allowing the produce contained in both containers 10 & 10A (and 1OB) to be aerated. Additionally, as best shown in Figure 7, each of the gaps, 68 for example, between the underside of the leg 50, for example, and the top 40 of the lid 14 permits extra paths 100 for ventilation ensuring that the contained produce gets 10 adequate aeration while in storage and during transportation. 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 produce container of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages: 1. it enables interlocking among stacked containers in a stable manner; and 15 2. it enables adequate aeration of produce boxed up in containers while in storage and during transportation thereby prolonging the shelf-live of the produce and preventing the produce from taste and appearance deterioration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is 20 susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. 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. 25 6

Claims

1. A produce container including: a receptacle with a base and a wall defining a mouth, the base including first engaging means; and 5 a lid adapted to close off the mouth, the lid with a top having second engaging means adapted to cooperate with the first engaging means of another identical produce container so as to facilitate interlocking of the container with the other identical container.

2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein the base includes one or more 10 apertures.

3. The produce container of claim 2, wherein the or each aperture is located near a corner of the produce container.

4. The produce container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top of the lid includes one or more additional apertures. 15

5. The produce container of claim 4, wherein the or each additional apertures are located near of a corner of the produce container.

6. The produce container of either claim 4 or 5, wherein when the container is stacked on top of the other identical container, each aperture is in communication with the additional aperture. 20

7. The produce container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first engaging means include legs, each curving in a first direction away from the centre of the base with a first centre of curvature on the plane that the base is on.

8. The produce container of claim 7, wherein the curvature of each leg 25 conforms to the curved edge of a corresponding recessed corner.

9. The produce container of either claim 7 or 8, wherein each leg also 7 24501 curves in a second direction away from the base with a second centre of curvature below the base.

10. The produce container of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein each leg includes an arch providing a gap between an underside of the leg and the 5 top of the lid.

11. The produce container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second engaging means takes the form of an elevated platform with recessed corners.

12. The produce container of claim 11, wherein each recess corner is 10 preferred to have a curved edge.

13. The produce container of either claim 11 or 12, wherein the or each aperture is located at or near one of the recessed corners. 8