AU2016101788B4

AU2016101788B4 - A Produce Container

Info

Publication number: AU2016101788B4
Application number: AU2016101788A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Lam
Original assignee: Multisteps Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Multisteps Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-14
Filing date: 2016-10-12
Publication date: 2017-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-14
Also published as: AU2018214161A1; CN204368740U; AU2020201959A1; AU2022200427A1; AU2022200427B2; AU2014250622A1; US20150101955A1; AU2016101788A4

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 a first engaging means located near a corner of the base. The lid is 5 adapted to close off the mouth. The lid has a top having a second engaging means located near a corner of the top. The second engaging means is 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. The base includes an aperture located near the corner of the base and the lid includes 10 an additional aperture located near the corner of the top.

Description

A Produce Container

Technical Field

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

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 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; (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 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 a receptacle having: - a wall defining a mouth; - a base including first engaging means located near a corner of the base, the first engaging means including a leg protruding externally of the base, the leg having a curve towards the corner of the base; and - a lid adapted to close off the mouth, the lid including a top having an 1 elevated platform, a second engaging means being located near a corner of the top and being formed by a recessed curved corner of the platform, the second engaging means being 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; wherein: - an aperture is located within the curve of the leg and the corner of the base; and - an additional aperture is located between the recessed curved corner of the platform and the corner of the top.

In one embodiment, the curve of the leg is in a first direction parallel to the plane of the base. For this embodiment, it is preferred that the curvature of the leg conforms to the corresponding recessed curved corner of the elevated platform.

More preferably, the leg also has a second curve in a second direction perpendicular to the plane of the base. As such, each leg includes an arch providing a gap between an underside of the leg and the top of the lid of an identical container. Extra aeration of the produce contained in both containers is enabled as a result.

In a preferred embodiment, there is a first engaging means located near each corner of the base, and a second engaging means located near each corner of the top. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the base has an aperture located near each corner and the top has an additional aperture located near each corner.

It is preferred that when the container is stacked on top of the other identical container, each aperture is in communication with an additional aperture. As such, the produce contained in both containers may be aerated. 2 2016101788 12 Oct 2016

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 lid 5 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 1 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; io 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; and 15 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 receptacle 12 and a lid 14. The receptacle 12 has a base 16 and a wall 18 defining 20 a mouth 20.

The lid 14 has 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.

As best shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lid 14 is provided to close off the mouth 20 of 25 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 produce container 10A (see Figure 6) so as to facilitate interlocking of the container 10 with the other 3 identical container 10A. 2016101788 12 Oct 2016

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 is on. 5 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 that the io 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 containers 10 & 10A is enabled 15 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 round 20 holes 80, 82, 84 & 86. More preferably, each of these holes 80, 82, 84 & 86 is located near a recessed corner 24, for example.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the container 10 is stacked on top of the other identical container 10A which in turn is stacked on top of yet another virtual container 10B shown in broken lines. As mentioned above, the legs 50, 52, 54 & 56 25 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 circulation following paths 88 & 90 for example, is enabled thereby allowing the produce contained in both containers 10 & 10A (and 10B) to be aerated. Additionally, as best shown in Figure 30 7, each of the gaps, 68 for example, between the underside of the leg 50, for 4 example, and the top 40 of the lid 14 permits extra paths 100 for ventilation ensuring that the contained produce gets adequate aeration while in storage and during transportation. 2016101788 12 Oct 2016

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in 5 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 can facilitate interlocking among stacked containers in a stable manner; and 2. it can enable adequate aeration of produce boxed up in containers while in io storage and during transportation, thereby prolonging the shelf-life 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 susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically is 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. 5

Claims

Claims

1. A produce container including a receptacle having: - a wall defining a mouth; - a base including first engaging means located near a corner of the base, the first engaging means including a leg protruding externally of the base, the leg having a curve towards the corner of the base; and - a lid adapted to close off the mouth, the lid including a top having an elevated platform, a second engaging means being located near a corner of the top and being formed by a recessed curved corner of the platform, the second engaging means being 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; wherein: - an aperture is located between the curve of the leg and the corner of the base; and - an additional aperture is located between the recessed curved corner of the platform and the corner of the top.
2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein when the container is stacked on top of the other identical container, the aperture is in communication with the additional aperture.
3. The produce container of claim 1 or 2, wherein base has a plane and the curve of the leg is in a first direction parallel to the plane of the base.
4. The produce container of claim 3, wherein the leg has a second curve, being in a second direction perpendicular to the plane of the base.
5. The produce container of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the base and the top has four corners, one of the first engaging means is located near each corner of the base, one of the second engaging means is located near each corner of the top, one of the apertures is located near each corner of the base and one of the additional apertures is located near each corner of the top.