AU686145B2

AU686145B2 - Packaging

Info

Publication number: AU686145B2
Application number: AU64840/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Matthew Francis Carter
Original assignee: Squire Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Squire Corp Ltd
Priority date: 1994-06-20
Filing date: 1994-06-20
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-20
Also published as: AU6484094A

Description

a*Wl~a~ L~Y14aRIIFIII~---~~ 1 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to packaging.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to packaging for perishable items, such as kiwifruit.

(ii) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART e o Numerous different types of packaging products specifically designed for transporting produce are available. Many are custom designed for carrying a specific item such as kiwifruit, because of the fruit's individual requirements.

When perishable items are transported damage to the I items will very often occur whilst in transit, if the necessary support for the items is not provided.

Produce may have to be dumped because it has been marked as a result of the way in which it has been packed, with export dollars being lost which could have been avoided Z if suitable packaging had been used.

I" 111~-1 _1 ~IIR ~B OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to go some way to providing packaging which attempts to obviate the disadvantages referred to above, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objects of the present invention'will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a package for the packaging of articles comprising: at least one article receiving portion; a plurality of inter-engaging members being provided with a :o taper on the external surface of said inter-engaging members at least over a region adjacent a first end; a recess provided within a second end of said a pa inter-engaging members with at least one side wall providing said recess with a tapering internal surface to substantially correspond with the tapered external surface of the region adjacent said first end such that a first end of a similar inter-engaging member can nest within the recess; and

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said inter-engaging members arranged such that when two such packages are placed in a vertical stack corresponding inter-engaging members on each package inter-engage with a substantial portion of the weight of the upper package being passed to the lower package through a bearing surface provided by contact between the tapered external surface adjacent a first end of ar inter-engaging member on one of said packages and at least a portion of said at least one side wall of the recess of an inter-engaging member on an adjacent package.

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4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of a possible embodiment thereof and in which reference is made to thd accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1: Shows diagrammatically in plan view a packaging means according to one possible embodiment of the invention.

\C Figure 2: Shows a cross-sectional view along arrows A- A shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3: Shows a cross-sectional view along arrows B-B of Figure 1.

Figure 4: Shows a cross-sectional view along arrows C-C of Figure 1.

Figure 5: Shows a cross-sectional view through one packaging means as seen when taken at an angle such as that of line C-C when the two portions of the packaging means are uv3rlaid.

1 Figure 6: Shows a cross-sectional view through two packaging means according to one possible embodiment of the invention which have been stacked.

I ~a~ DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention relates to a packaging means which in one embodiment thereof is particularly suitable for use in packing kiwifruit. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention has applications wherever packaging trays are required for transporting other perishable items.

.Referring to the accompanying drawings, the packaging means according to one possible embodiment of the invention is shown diagrammatically. It is seen to include two portions, an article receiving portion referenced generally by Arrow 1 and an encasing portion referenced generally by Arrow 2. The two portions 1,2 0oeo of the packaging tray as shown in the present embodiment S may be joined and may be folded one on top of the other, at a fold line referenced generally by Arrow 3.

Alternatively, the two portions 1,2 may be separate trays.

Also, the hinge provided by fold line 3 may be zo provided on any desired edge of the packaging tray.

e- 6- The article receiving portion 1 may have a plurality of recesses, such as pockets 4 for receiving an article to be packed. The arrangement of pockets 4 shown in the present embodiment consists of parallel rows of pockets 4. Alternatively, the pockets 4 may be arranged in a staggered or other configuration.

In the present embodiment, where four pockets converge, an inter-engaging member 5 may be located where the ends of four pockets 4 converge. In the case r of the present embodiment the pockets 4 are elongate in shape and this is evident from the plan view of the packaging means, as shown in Figure i. The shape of the pockets 4 may of course vary depending on the article being packed.

IS In the present embodiment the encasing portion 2 0e consists of a series of inter-engaging members 6 aligned in a series of rows. The rows of inter-engaging members 6 located on the encasing portlin 2 may be positioned so as to correspond with the placement of inter-engaging 2o members 5 located on the article receiving portion 1 of the packaging tray. It is also to be appreciated that there may not be a corresponding inter-engaging member for each inter-engaging member on one portion.

IL" ~Llb19 Isp-- -7- The encasing portion 2 of the packaging tray as shown in the present embodiment, has a raised flat surface 7 from which the inter-engaging members 6 extend. It is to be appreciated that instead of a flat Ssurface, the encasing portion may also be shaped to fit the contours o.L the articles being packed in the tray.

When a tray has been packed, the encasing portion 2 may act as a lid and is folded along the fold line 3, with the lid being brought down over the article \6 receiving portion i. The inter-relationship between the inter-engaging members 5, 6 is explained in detail later oeo0 in the patent specification, suffice to say at this point, that the inter-engaging member of one portion frictionally engages with an inter-engaging member of "the second portion.

~The article receiving portion 1 may have a further securing means, such as a tab 8 positioned at intervals o o :along the perimeter of the article receiving portion i.

When the lid 2 is folded over to lie on top of the Qo article receiving portion i, the tabs 8 may engage a corresponding projection 9 situated on the inside of the lid 2 to hold the lid 2 in place. The free edges of the lid 2 may as in the present embodiment overhang the article receiving portion i.

-tlr6181b~" 8 Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the packaging tray taken through the line depicted by arrow A-A, as shown in Figure i. In this Figure a side view of the inter-engaging members 5, 6 is shown. In the present embodiment the inter-engaging members 5, 6 consist of a tapered hollow member. In the present embodiment the end portion 12 of the inter-engaging member 6, of the type located on the lid 2, is narrow at the apex and is wider at the base portion 14, which connects with the o. interior surface of the lid 2. The inter-engaging o~oo member 5 of the type located on the article receiving portion 1 may extend beyond the bases of the pockets 4, tapering at its apex 16. The inter-engaging members of the article receiving portion 1 may support the article receiving portion 1 of the packaging tray when resting on a flat surface.

~In Figures 3 and 4 a cross-sectional view through the inter-engaging members 5 and 6 of the present embodiment is shown, each one being peculiar either to the article receiving portion 1 or the lid 2, in the present embodiment. In Figure 3 an inter-engaging member of the type present on the lid 2 is shown. The inter-engaging member 6 is shown with a flat portion 12 at its apex, with a cavity 18 and a aperture 19. It is 2Y to be appreciated, however, that the inter-engaging member 6 may be open at both ends. In Figure 4 an

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9 example is shown of an inter-engaging member 5 located on the article receiving portion 1 of the packaging tray. Here again, there is a flat portion 16 at the apex of the inter-engaging member 5, with a cavity and an aperture 22. As with the inter-engaging member 6, both ends of the inter-engaging member 5 may 9?.o be open at both ends.

The apparatus as shown in Figures 3 and 4 shows cavities 8 and 20 extending the full depth of the inter- \O engaging members 6 and 5. Due to the method of engagement, the cavities 18 and 20 may terminate in a thickened solid end for extra strength or rigidity if required.

In Figure 5 the inter-engaging members 5, 6 of the article receiving portion 1 and the lid 2 are shown engaged, the lid 2 having been brought down onto the top surface of the article receiving portion i. In the .oo present embodiment, for every inter-engaging member .o located on the article receiving portion i, there is a corresponding inter-engaging member 6 located on the lid 2. The arrangement is such that the inter-engaging member 6 of the lid 2 may come to rest in the cavity of the corresponding inter-engaging member 5 of the article receiving portion i. The tapered portion of the 2- inter-engaging member 6 is of a smaller diameter than -4 that of the diameter of the aperture 22 of the corresponding inter-engaging member 5 of the article receiving portion i. A section of the inter-engaging member 6 may be in contact with the inter-engaging member 5 of the article receiving portion i. However, in the present embodiment, the inter-engaging member 6 extends only part way into the cavity 20 leaving a space between the flat portion 12 of the inter-engaging member 6 and that of the flat portion 16 of the inter-engaging C member 5 of the article receiving portion i. In this way the inter-engaging members frictionally engage one and other at their sides, with the load thus being transferred to the sides of the pockets, for distribution throughout the tray, as opposed to the load being centred at a point, thus increasing the surface area for accommodating the load.

In this manner, the bearing surface of the eooo engagement is increased to decrease the bearing pressure oono oe and thereby allowing relatively narrow engagement eo 0 members to carry the load.

In Figure 6 two packaging trays are shown in a stacked arrangement with the inter-engaging members 5, 6 of one packaging tray in contact with that of the packaging tray below and above. In this embodiment of 2i the invention the bases of the pockets 4 do not rest on IUe~B~, 'ilb~r~CI ii the exterior surface of the lid 2 and thereby applying downward pressure. Instead the inter-engaging members 6 serve to hold the packaging trays in an arrangement whereby the space of one packaging tray and the top surface of the tray below in a stack is determined by the area of the inter-engaging member in contact with the inter-engaging member below. The fit is such of the inter-engaging members 5, 6, that a stack of packaging trays may be held in a fixed arrangement with the inter- 10 engaging members 5, 6 forming columns and adding to the e e stability of the stack whilst distributing the load more evenly.

oe It is to be appreciated that the present invention may be constructed out of various types of materials, 5 however, paper pulp is one particularly suitable material for the manufacture of the present invention.

.CoSo[ The present invention means that pocket pack liners and s..

additional packaging often required with known packaging are no longer necessary with the present invention.

N Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specif*c components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

I 12 Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be mar!e thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims

1. A package for the packaging of articles comprising: at least one article receiving portion; a plurality of inter-engaging members being provided with a taper on the external surface of said inter-engaging members at least over a region adjacent a first end; a recess provided within a second end of said inter-engaging members with at least one side wall providing said recess with a tapering internal surface to substantially correspond with the tapered external surface ~of the region adjacent said first end such that a first end of *e a similar inter-engaging member can nest within the o recess; and •o said inter-engaging members arranged such that when two such packages are placed in a vertical stack corresponding inter-engaging members on each package inter-engage with a substantial portion of the weight of the upper package being passed to the lower package through a bearing °surface provided by contact between the tapered external surface adjacent a first end of an inter-engaging member on one of said packages and at least a portion of said at least one side wall of the recess of an inter-engaging member on an adjacent package. Ir- -14-

2. A package for the packaging of articles as claimed in claim 1 wherein said package includes a base portion containing a plurality of article receiving portions.

3. A package for the packaging articles as claimed in claim 2 wherein said package further includes an encasing or lid portion to encase articles placed within said base.

4. A package for:the packaging of articles as claimed in claim 3 wherein co-operating inter-engaging portions are provided on said base portion and said lid portion such that inter-engaging members 10 on said lid portion may engage with inter-engaging members on ;said base portion and said inter-engaging members on said lid may engage with corresponding members on a package above when placed in a vertical stack of such packages and said inter-engaging portions on said base may inter-engage with inter-engaging 15 members on a package below.

S5. A package for the packaging of articles as claimed in claim 4 o0 wherein said inter-engaging members on said base are provided about or between said article receiving portions.

6. A package for the packaging of articles as claimed in claim wherein said plurality of article receiving portions are arranged in said base portion in a substantially horizontal plannar arrangement. ,B, la~ I-

7. A package as claimed in claim 6 wherein said article receiving portions are sized and configured for the containment of kiwifruit.

8. A stack of packages, the packages being as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims.

9. A package substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. A stack of packages substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *5 S S S. Dated 27 October, 1997 Squire Corporation Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON U~ 7-0 :S I- Packaging ABSTRACT This invention relates to the provision of a package having interengaging members which, when engaged with similar such members, nest within each other. Load applied to the top of such a package is transferred down an interengaging member into a similar interengaging member on the base and further to a similar interengaging member on a package below. A stack of such packages will allow the load of the stack to be transferred directly through the interengaging members to the support base on which the stack resides. Figure 2 *o *o a.o* e *t e 2321F/CMS I