AU776190B2

AU776190B2 - A container and blank

Info

Publication number: AU776190B2
Application number: AU30100/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Jackson
Original assignee: Amcor Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Amcor Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-20
Filing date: 2000-04-20
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-20
Also published as: AU3010000A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: AMCOR LIMITED Andrew Jackson CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A CONTAINER AND BLANK The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

A CONTAINER AND BLANK Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to containers made from a blank of foldable material and, in particular, to containers having an integrally formed strengthening ledge.

The invention has been developed primarily for containers that hold produce such as fruit and vegetables and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular use.

Description of the Prior Art Containers holding produce such as meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables are often stacked on top of each other in order to maximise use of 15 available floor space in, for example, a shop or truck. It can therefore be appreciated that these containers require a suitable compressive strength to withstand the loads that they may be subjected to.

Containers with integral support posts are known. Such containers have superior compressive strength and typically are formed as stackable containers having corner post portions which are able to be received in apertures provided in similarly constructed containers when such containers are stacked on top of one another. The torsional strength of such containers is not significantly better than containers that do not have corner post portions.

Corner posts work best when one container is stacked directly on top of another, however when there is a requirement for cross stacking i.e.

each layer or tray stacked at 900 to the one below it, the comers no longer align and the strength of the stack is reduced significantly. In such applications a more even perimeter strength and container rigidity is more important.

It is an object of the invention to provide a container which may overcome the above mentioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container made from a blank of a foldable material, the container comprising: a base panel; a first pair of side wall panels hinged to opposing edges of the base panel; a pair of ledge panels, wherein each said ledge panel is hinged to a respective one of the first pair of side wall panels about a fold line that is substantially parallel to a fold line about which the associated side panel is hinged to the base panel; a first pair of extension panels, wherein each said extension panel is hinged to a respective one of the pair of ledge panels about a fold line that is substantially parallel to the fold line about which the associated 15 ledge panel is hinged to the associated side panel; a second pair of extension panels, wherein each said extension panel of the second pair of extension panels is hinged to a respective one of the first pair of extension panels about a fold line that is substantially parallel to the fold line about which the associated one of the first pair of extension 20 panels is hinged to the associated ledge panel; a pair of opposed end extension panels hinged to each panel of: the first pair of side wall panels, the pair of ledge panels, the first pair of extension panels and the second pair of extension panels; and a second pair of side wall panels hinged to opposing edges of the base panel, whereby when a container is made from the blank each one of the extension panels is folded to overlie an inner face of the associated side wall panel such that each one of the ledge panels forms a ledge extending at least part way around an upper periphery of the container.

The ledge can extend completely around the upper periphery of the container.

The ledges formed by the ledge panels can meet intermediate of each one of the second pair of side wall panels.

The container can further comprise apertures in each one of the second pair of side wall panels, wherein the apertures function as handles.

The container can further comprise cutouts in the ledge panels, first pair of extension panels and end extension panels, wherein the cutouts are configured such that when a container is made from the blank, a mitre joint is formed between intersecting portions of the ledge.

The blank is preferably made of fibreboard.

Preferably, the end extension panels are folded at right angles to the associated extension panels such that the extension panels meet intermediate of each one of the second pair of side wall panels.

Preferably, a free edge of each said extension panel of the second pair of extension panels rests upon an inner face of the base panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described l 15 with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a view of a blank from which a container according to a first embodiment of the invention is made.

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of a container made from the blank of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of a blank from which a container according to a second embodiment of the invention is made.

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of a container made from the blank of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the container shown in Fig. Detailed Description With reference to Fig 1, the blank 10 has a base panel 11 to which are hinged two opposed pairs of side wall panels 12, 13 and 14, Panels 12 and 13 of the first opposed pair of panels are hinged to the base panel 11 by fold lines 24, 26 while side wall panels 14 and 15 of the second pair are hinged to the base 11 by fold lines 25, 27.

Panel 12 has a ledge panel 16 hinged to it by fold line 30, which is parallel to fold line 24. Panel 13 has a ledge panel 19 hinged to it by fold line 33, which is parallel to fold line 26.

Panel 16 has a first extension panel 17 hinged to it by fold line 31, which is parallel to fold line 30. Panel 19 has a first extension panel hinged to it by fold line 34, which is parallel to fold line 33.

Panel 17 has a second extension panel 18 hinged to it by fold S. line 32, which is parallel to fold line 31. Panel 20 has a second extension 15 panel 21 hinged to it by fold line 35, which is parallel to fold line 34.

A pair of end extension panels 22, 23 are hinged to side wall panel 12 and second extension panel 18 by fold lines 29, 28. Fold lines 31 and 32 continue into end extension panels 22 and 23. Cutouts 36, 37 are situated in panels 16, 17, 22 and 16, 17, 23. Cutouts 36 and 37 are suitably 20 shaped to form a mitre joint between the ledge formed by panel 16 and the ledges formed by the corresponding ledge panels (not specifically indicated) that form part of extension panels 22 and 23, when the container is assembled from the blank A pair of end extension panels 22, 23 are hinged to side wall panel 13 and second extension panel 21 by fold lines 29, 28. Fold lines 33, 34 and 35 continue into end extension panels 22 and 23. Cutouts 38, 39 are situated in panels 19, 20, 22 and 19, 20, 23. Cutouts 38 and 39 are suitably shaped to form a mitre joint between the ledge formed by panel 19 and the ledges formed by the corresponding ledge panels (not specifically indicated) that form part of extension panels 22 and 23, when the container is assembled from the blank Panels 14 and 15 include apertures 41 and 40, respectively.

Apertures 41 and 40 function as handles when the blank 10 is assembled into the container.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a container 50 that has been constructed from the blank 10 illustrated in Fig. 1. The ledge formed by ledge panels 16 and 19 is clearly visible in this diagram and extends part way around the upper periphery of the container 50. The ledges that are parallel to the panels 14 and 15 are formed from the ledge panels corresponding to ledge panels 16 and 19 (not specifically indicated in Fig. 1) that form part of extension panels 22 and 23. It is evident from Fig. 2 that the joints between the ledge panels 16 and 19 and the aforementioned corresponding ledge panels are mitre joints.

In order to construct the container 50 from the blank 10, panels 12, 16, 17 and 18 are folded about fold lines 24, 30, 31 and 32, respectively.

Similarly, panels 13, 19, 20 and 21 are folded about fold lines 26, 33, 34 and 35, respectively. The second extension panels 18 and 21 are folded such 15 that they overlie an inner face of their associated side wall panels 12 and 13.

Also, a free edge of each of the second extension panels 18 and 21 rests upon an inner face of the base panel 11. The second extension panels 18 and 21 can be fixed to the inner face of their associated side wall panels 12 and 13 by gluing or some other appropriate technique. Thus, the thickness of 20 the container sides comprising panels 12, 13, 18 and 21 is equal to twice the thickness of the material from which the blank 10 is made. This adds to the .o compressive strength of the container 50. The end extension panels 22 and 23 are then inwardly folded about fold lines 29 and 28, respectively. The panels 22 and 23 are folded such that they are perpendicular to their associated side wall panels 12 and 13.

Next, side wall panels 14 and 15 are folded inwardly about fold lines 25 and 27, respectively. The panels 14 and 15 are folded such that they are perpendicular to the base panel 11.

An outer face of the end extension panels 22 and 23 is then fixed to an inner face of the panels 14 and 15 by an appropriate technique such as gluing. Thus, the thickness of the container ends comprising panels 14, 15, 22 and 23 is equal to three times the thickness of the material from which the blank 10 is made. This adds to the compressive strength of the container The ledge panels 16, 19 as well as the ledge panels associated with ledge panels 16, 19 that form part of extension panels 22 and 23, form a ledge that extends at least part way around the upper periphery of the container 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the ledge is substantially perpendicular to the panels 12 to 15. However, it can be appreciated that the angle of the ledge relative to the panels 12 to 15 can be varied to suit.

The ledge enables a plurality of containers 50 to be stacked on top of each other. The stack of containers so formed is stable because the ledge provides a substantial support. The ledge also adds to the torsional strength of each of the containers The first extension panels 17, 20 as well as the extension panels associated with extension panels 17, 20 that form part of extension panels 22 and 23, are inclined relative to their associated side wall panels.

o 15 Thus, a void (not specifically indicated in Fig. 2) is formed underneath the ledge.

The width of the end extension panels 22 and 23 is such that when the blank 10 (illustrated in Fig. 1) is assembled, the folded end extension panels 22 and 23 do not cover the apertures 40 and 41 in panels 14 and 15. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2. In this manner, a person's fingers can extend completely through the apertures 40 and 41.

Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of a blank 10 from which a container according to a second embodiment of the invention is made. The blank 10 is identical to the blank 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 except that the end extension panels 22 and 23 meet intermediate of the side wall panels 14 and 15 when a container 50 (illustrated in Fig. 5) is constructed from the blank 10 of Fig. 4.

In this manner, a person's fingers can still be extended through the apertures 3o 40 and 41.

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 8 The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the term "comprising" as used herein is to be understood in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting essentially of'.

*o*oo o* oo *o oo

Claims

1. A container made from a blank of a foldable material, the container comprising: a base panel; a first pair of side wall panels hinged to opposing edges of the base panel; a pair of ledge panels, wherein each said ledge panel is hinged to a respective one of the first pair of side wall panels about a fold line that is substantially parallel to a fold line about which the associated side panel is hinged to the base panel; a first pair of extension panels, wherein each said extension panel is hinged to a respective one of the pair of ledge panels about a fold line that is substantially parallel to the fold line about which the associated ledge panel is hinged to the associated side panel; 15 a second pair of extension panels, wherein each said extension panel of the second pair of extension panels is hinged to a respective one of o the first pair of extension panels about a fold line that is substantially parallel to the fold line about which the associated one of the first pair of extension panels is hinged to the associated ledge panel; 20 a pair of opposed end extension panels hinged to each panel of: the first pair of side wall panels, the pair of ledge panels, the first pair of extension panels and the second pair of extension panels; and a second pair of side wall panels hinged to opposing edges of the base panel, whereby when a container is made from the blank each one of the extension panels is folded to overlie an inner face of the associated side wall panel such that each one of the ledge panels forms a ledge extending at least part way around an upper periphery of the container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the ledge extends completely around the upper periphery of the container.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the ledges formed by the ledge panels meet intermediate of each one of the second pair of side wall panels.

4. The container of any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising cutouts in the ledge panels, first pair of extension panels and end extension panels, wherein the cutouts are configured such that when a container is made from the blank, a mitre joint is formed between intersecting portions of the ledge.

5. The container of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end extension panels are folded at right angles to the associated extension panels such that the extension panels meet intermediate of each one of the second pair of side wall panels.

6. The container of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a free edge of each said extension panel of the second pair of extension panels rests upon an inner face of the base panel. O6O*

7. A container substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, or Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings. 15 Dated this 20th day of April 2000 AMCOR LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO