GB2160850A

GB2160850A - Stackable receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2160850A
Application number: GB08516404A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-28
Filing date: 1985-06-28
Publication date: 1986-01-02
Also published as: GB2160850B; GB8416517D0; GB8516404D0

Abstract

A receptacle comprises a container 1, support means 11, 12 adapted to support a further receptacle on top of the container 1, and a retaining formation 13-16 integral with the container 1. The retaining formation 13-16 is adapted to retain the further receptacle in a substantially fixed position relative to the receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Receptacle This invention relates to a receptacle.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a receptacle comprising a container, support means adapted to support a further receptacle on top of the container, and a retaining formation integral with the container, said retaining formation being adapted to retain the further receptacle in a substantially fixed position relative to the receptacle.

Preferably the container comprises a base and a side wall, the side wall extending upwardly from the base.

More preferably four of said walls are provided, and the space defined within the container is substantially hexahedral.

Desirably the support means comprises a flange extending transversely to the or each side wall.

Advantageously the or each flange is integrally formed with one of the side walls, and may extend from an end of said side wall remote from the base.

It is desirable that two of said flanges are provided, on opposed side walls of the container.

The or each flange provides a support surface upon which the further receptacle can be supported in order to facilitate stacking of the receptacles.

The retaining formation is preferably disposed adjacent the end of the side wall, remote from the base.

It is desirable that four of said retaining formations are provided, each being disposed at an upper corner of the container. The retaining formations are conveniently of L-shaped configuration.

The retaining formations advantageously include a portion which extends above the support surface of the flanges, so that the further receptacle disposed on the flanges engages this portion of the retaining formations.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for a receptacle comprising a sheet of material having a plurality of fold lines and cut lines arranged so that the blank can be formed into a receptacle comprising a container, support means adapted to support a further receptacle on top of the container, and a retaining formation integral with the container, said retaining formation being adapted to retain the further receptacle in a substantially fixed position relative to the receptacle.

The receptacle blank may be made of polypropylene and is preferably made from the material sold under the trade name"CORRIBOARD".

The receptacle according to the invention may be used for receiving any article. It is especially useful for use with non-frozen meat products, for example cooked chickens.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a part sectional elevation showing the receptacle of Figure 1 with a further receptacle stacked on top; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank for use in making a receptacle according to the invention.

In Figure 1 a receptacle is generally designated 1 and comprises a container which includes a base 2 having four side walls 3,4,5 and 6 extending upwardly therefrom.

Part of side walls 5 and 6 are cut in order to form flaps 7 and 8 (see Figure 3). This provides apertures 9 and 10 in the side walls 5 and 6 respectively, and these apertures serve as hand grips for use in lifting the container 1. The flaps 7 and 8 are folded back against the side walls 5 and 6, and are stapled thereto. This provides increased strength in the region of the hand grips.

Support means in the form of a support flange 11 extends substantially transversely from the end of side wall 3 remote from the base 2.

The support means also includes a flange 12 extending substantially transversely from the end of side wall 4 remote from the base 2.

The flanges 11 and 12 provide a support for a further receptacle 100 which is stacked on top of the receptacle 1 (see Figure 2).

Retaining formations 13 and 14 are provided at the corners of the receptacle 1 which are adjacent to flange 11; retaining formations 15 and 16 are provided at the corners of the receptacle 1 which are adjacent the flange 12.

Each retaining formation 13 to 16 is generally L-shaped and includes a portion which extends above flanges 11 and 12. This portion abuts against the outer surface of the receptacle 100 which is stacked on top of the receptacle (see Figure 2).

A blank 20 for use in making the receptacle 1 is shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 3 reference numerals 1 to 16 are used to designate the parts of the blank which correspond to the parts of the assembled receptacle shown in Fivgure 1.

The blank 20 is provided with a plurality of cut lines 21 to 36 and a plurality of fold lines 45 to 80.

The procedure for assembling the receptacle 1 from the blank 20 is as follows.

Firstly the blank 20 is cut along all the cut lines 21 to 36. The cut lines 21 and 22 are for the formation of flaps 7 and 8. The cut lines 23 to 26 provide projections 37 to 40 which can fit into apertures 41 to 44 respectively; the apertures 41 to 44 are formed by cut lines 27 to 30.

The blank 20 is then folded about fold lines 45 to 48 in order to bring the side walls 3 to 6 substantially transverse to the base 2. At the same time the blank 20 is folded about fold lines 49 to 52. The blank 20 is folded so that the material connected to the side walls 3 and 4 by the fold lines 49 to 52 lies on the inside of the side walls 5 and 6; Projections 37 and 40 are inserted into apertures 41 to 44 in order to hold the blank in the folded position before further work continues.

Blank 20 is now folded about fold lines 63 to 67, then folded about fold lines 67 to 70, and the folded material is stapled to side walls 3 and 4.

The blank 20 can now be folded about the fold lines 53 to 56 in order to bring the flange 11 transverse to the side wall 3. Similarly blank 20 can be folded about lines 58 to 62 in order to bring the flange 12 transverse to the side wall 4. The material folded about lines 53,54, 60 and 61 is stapled to side wall 5, and the material folded about lines 55, 56, 58 and 59 is stapled to side wall 6.

Finally the blank 20 is folded about fold lines 71 and 72 and the material folded about this fold line is stapled to the side walls 5 and 6. The receptacle 1 is held together by staples 17.

The retaining formations 13 to 16 comprise a double thickness of the blank material. In addition the fold lines are arranged so that the blank material which forms the corners of the receptacle 1 is also of double thickness. This serves to increase the strength and the life of the receptacle.

The fold lines 73 to 80 are provided so that the assembled receptacle 1 can be collapsed so that it is substantially flat.

The length of the receptacle 1 and 100 is slightly greater than the width so that all receptacles stack with the flaps 7 and 8 facing the same direction.

Claims

1. A receptacle comprising a container, support means adapted to support a further receptacle on top of the container, and a retaining formation integral with the container, said retaining formation being adapted to retain the further receptacle in a substantially fixed position relative to the receptacle.

2. A receptacle according to Claim 1 in which the container comprises a base and at least one side wall, the or each side wall extending upwardly from the base.

3. A container according to Claim 2 in which the support means comprises a flange extending substantially transversely to the or each side wall.

4. A container according to Claim 3 in which the or each flange is integrally formed with one of the side walls.

5. A receptacle according to Claim 3 or 4 in which two of said flanges are provided on opposed side walls of the container.

6. A container according to any preceding claim in which four of said retaining formations are provided, each retaining formation being disposed at an upper corner of the container.

7. A receptacle according to any preceding claim in which the retaining formation is of L-shaped configuration.

8. A receptacle according to any of Claims 3 to 5 in which the retaining formation includes a portion which extends above the surface of the or each flange.

9. A blank for a receptacle comprising a sheet of material having a plurality of fold lines and cut lines arranged so that the blank can be formed into a receptacle comprising a container, support means adapted to support a further receptacle on top of the container, and a retaining formation integral with the container, said retaining formation being adapted to retain the further receptacle in a substantially fixed position relative to the receptacle.

10. A blank according to Claim 9 in which the fold lines and cut lines are arranged so that the retaining formation comprises a double thickness of the sheet of material.

11. A blank according to Claim 9 or 10 in which the fold lines and cut lines are arranged to form four of said retaining formations, each retaining formation being disposed at an upper corner of the container.

12. A blank according to Claim 9, 10 or 11 in which the fold lines and cut lines are arranged to form a portion of the retaining formation at a level above the support means.

13. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. A blank substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.