GB2471202A

GB2471202A - Shelf ready packaging crate with fins

Info

Publication number: GB2471202A
Application number: GB1010204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan J Cook
Original assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
Current assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2010-06-18
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Also published as: GB201010204D0

Abstract

A container 10 includes a base 12 and a pair of opposed side walls 16 extending upward from the base 12. The side walls 16 and the base 12 define an interior compartment. A plurality of fins 22 extend into the interior compartment. Items, preferably boxes of refrigerated or frozen grocery items, may be stored in the container 10 between the plurality of fins 22. The base 12 may have a plurality of corrugations which define the fins 22. The fins 22 may be flexible and include an elastomer section (ref 323, fig 18) permitting flexion. Optionally, a plurality of ventilation openings 24 are formed in the side walls 16 to facilitate cool air flow reaching items stored in the container 10. A longitudinal divider (ref 117, fig 9) may be located between, and parallel to, the side walls 12. Additionally a lateral divider (ref 426, fig 19) may extend perpendicular to the sidewalls 16. The base 12 may include a hinge extending generally parallel to the sidewalls 16, and which selves to divide the container into first and second pivotally connected parts. Like containers 10 may be interlocked together in a side by side configuration, or one atop the other (see fig 6). The container 10 may have a front wall 20 which folds underneath the base 12.

Description

SHELF-READY PACKAGING

Refrigerated or frozen grocery items are often shipped to the stores in cardboard boxes. The items are removed from the box at the store and placed on the shelves in refrigerators or freezers. The items usually niust be removed from the cardboard boxes because the boxes do not permit circulation of cold air to reach the items. The cardboard boxes are discarded.

It is desirable to provide an improved arrangement which addresses the above described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing arrangements.

According to the present invention there is therefore provided a container as described in the accompanying claims.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a container in which items, such as grocery items, can be shipped to a store. The container can be placed on the shelf and sold to the customers from the container. For refrigerated items, the container includes ventilation openings to permit air flow into the container to reach the items. When the container is empty, the container can be reused.

The container may include a base and a pair of opposed side walls. Fins extend inwardly from the side walls. The items may be arranged in the container between the fins. Several different embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container of Figure 1 with the end wall folded under the base; Figure 3 illustrates the container of Figure 2 with the side walls collapsed; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a hinge in the side wall; Figure 5 shows the container of Figure 1 with a plurality of items therein; Figure 6 shows the container of Figure 1 with a similar container stacked thereon; Figure 7 is a section view through the containers of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment; Figure 9 illustrates the container of Figure 8 with the end wall closed; Figure 10 is a bottom perspective view of the container of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a container according to a third embodimentwith items stored therein; Figure 12 is a top view of the container of Figure 11; Figure 13 illustrates the container of Figure 11 in the open position with items stored therein for display and sale; Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the hinge between the portions of the container of Figure 13; Figure 15 shows the container of Figure 13 with a similar container interlocked; Figure 16 is an enlarged view showing the interlocking between the containers of Figure 15; Figure 17 illustrates a container according to a fourth embodiment; Figure 18 is a top view of a portion of the container of Figure 17; and Figure 19 is a container according to a fifth embodiment.

A container 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1-7. The container 10 includes a base wall 12. Side walls 16 extend upwardly from side edges of the base wall 12. An end wall 18 extends upwardly from a rear edge of the base wall 12 and connects the side waIls 16. An end wall 20 (or door) is pivotably connected to the side walls 16 at a lower end. The side walls 16 include a plurality of fins 22 projecting inwardly. Between the fins 22 are ventilation openings 24, to reduce the weight of the container 10 and to provide ventilation or refrigeration to the items in the container 10.

Each of the side walls 16 includes an upper panel 17 and a lower panel 19.

The ventilation openings 24 are formed in the lower panel 19. The fins 22 are formed in the lower panel 19. A handle opening is formed in each upper panel 17.

The upper panel 17 is connected to the lower panel 19 by a hinge 23, such as a living hinge.

As shown in Figure 2, the end wall 20 can be pivoted under the base 12, to provide a large end opening through which customers can access the interior of the container 10. Drag rails 26 protrude downwardly from the side edges of the base 12 below the side walls 16.

Referring to Figure 3, the upper panels 17 can be folded down over the lower panels 19 to improve the access and ventilation/cooling of the interior of the container 10. Figure 4 further illustrates one example hinge 23, a living hinge, which can be used to connect the upper panel 17 and lower panel 19.

Referring to Figure 5, in use, the items 50 are inserted into the container 10 between the fins 22. The end wall 20 is closed, and as shown in Figure 6, a similar container 10' can be stacked on the container 10 as the containers 10, 10' and items are shipped to the store.

As shown in Figure 7, when stacked, the drag rails 26' of the upper container 10' are received between upper portions of the side walls 16 of the lower container 10. This provides a stable stacking arrangement.

At the store, the end wall 20 is pivoted down and under the base wall 12 and the side walls 16 are collapsed as shown in Figure 3. The container 10 is then placed on a shelf; such as a refrigerated shelf, in the grocery store so that customers can select items 50 from the container 10 to purchase. When the container 10 is empty, the container is returned to the warehouse or to the supplier to be reused.

A container 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 8-10. Referring to Figure 8, the container 110 includes a base wall 112, side walls 116, end wall 118 and pivoting end doors 120. In the container 110, two rows for items are provided, however, it should be recognized that both the first and second embodiments could be divided in single row or multiple row configurations. In the container 110, a longitudinal divider 117 separates the two rows. The base 112 is provided with corrugations 123, which provide for separation of the items in the container 110 to keep them arranged and orderly. The doors 120 could be two separate doors or a single large door.

As shown in Figure 10, the corrugations 123 are formed in the base 112.

The corrugations 123 form channels in the bottom of the base 112. Ventilation openings 124 in the side walls 116 permit cool air to reach the product in the refrigerator.

A container 210 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 11-16. The container 210 includes a first portion 230 and a second portion 232 pivotably connected to one another. Each portion 230, 232 is approximately half of the container 210. The first portion 230 includes a base wall 213, a side wall 215 extending upwardly from the base wall 213 and end walls 233 connecting the side wall 215 and base wall 213 at each end. The end walls 233 are relatively short (tapering from the side wall 215 to a height less than a quarter the height of the side wall 215), leaving a large opening. The side wall 215 includes an upper portion 240 that curves into the container 210. A flange 238 projects outward from an upper edge of the upper portion 240. A horizontal channel 236 (an interlocking feature) is formed near a lower edge of the side wall 215. Fins 222 project into the container 210 from the side wall 215 and upward from the base 213.

The second portion 232 includes a base wall 212, a side wall 216.

Ventilation openings 224 are formed through the side wall 216. Short end waIls 234 connect the base wall 212 and side wall 216 but leave large end openings to the container 210. The openings are significantly larger than the walls 233, 234. An inner flange 242 (an interlocking feature) projects inward from an upper edge of the sidewall 216.

Items 250, such as grocery items, such as frozen pizzas, are shown stored in the container 210. The items 250 could be shipped in an upright position with the fins 22 between them, as shown in Figure 12, and then tipped onto the walls 233, 234 on the shelf', permitting the items to be slid out horizontally.

As shown in Figure 13, the base 212 is optionally formed with a longitudinal hinge, such that the portions 230, 232 can be pivoted away from one another, thereby providing easy access to the items 250 in the fins 222. With the hinge option, the items 250 could be retained on the fins 222 of the side wall 215 as shown in Figure 13. The curved upper portion 240 of the side wall 215, supported by the flange 238, retains the items 250 in the fins 222. As shown in Figure 14, the hinge 223 between the portions 230, 232 could be a living hinge.

As shown in Figure 15, an identical container 210' can be interlocked with the container 210 in the open position. The first portion 230' of the container 210' can be received between the end walls 234 of the second portion 232 of the other container 210. In this manner, a plurality of containers 210 with items 250 therein can be displayed to customers for purchase while occupying an efficient volume. As shown in Figure 16, the inner flange 242 of the side wall 216 is received in the channel 236' of the upper container 210' to further secure the two containers 210, 210' together.

A container 310 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 17 and 18. The container 310 includes a base wall 312 having side walls 316 extending upwardly from side edges. Short end walls 319, 321 connect the base wall 312 to the side walls 316 and leave large end openings. Flexible fins 322 project inwardly from the side walls 316. As shown in Figure 18, the fins 322 include a thermoplastic elastomer section 323 that permits the fins 322 to flex more easily to release the items stored in the container 310. Alternatively, the base wall 312 could be hinged as in the previous embodiment.

A container 410 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 19. As shown, the container 410 includes two rows of items. The container 410 includes a longitudinal divider 417 separating the rows and a lateral divider 426, separating front and rear sections of the container 410. In this embodiment, end walls 420 are both pivotable relative to the side walls 416, such that openings can be provided at the front and rear of the container 410. Items that are near their sell-date can be placed in the front section accessible to a customer until that section is empty at which point the container 410 can be removed, rotated and replaced to give customers access to the remainder of the items in the other section of the container 410 (e.g. items which may be fresher or have more time until their sell-date).

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A container compri sing: a base; a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base, the side walls and base defining an interior compartment; and a plurality of fins extending into the interior compartment.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the fins extend inward from at least one of the side walls.
3. The container of claim I or 2 wherein the fins are connected to the base.
4. The container of any preceding claim further including an end wall connecting the side walls and base.
5. The container of any preceding claim further including an end waIl pivotable relative to the base and side walls.
6. The container of any preceding claim wherein the side walls include a plurality of vents between the plurality of fins.
7. The container of any preceding claim wherein the base includes a plurality of corrugations defining the plurality of fins.
8. The container of any preceding claim further including a longitudinal divider between the side walls and generally parallel to the side walls.
9. The container of claim 8 wherein the fins extend inward from the side walls and from the longitudinal divider.
10. The container of any preceding claim further including a lateral divider generally perpendicular to the side walls and extending across a mid-portion of the container.
11. The container of any preceding claim wherein the base includes a hinge generally parallel to the side walls.
12. The container of any preceding claim wherein the container includes a first portion pivotably connected to a second portion, each portion including one of the side walls and a portion of the base.
13. The container of any preceding claim wherein the side walls include a first wall and a second wall, at least the first wall including the fins and at least the second side wall including a plurality of ventilation openings.
14. The container of claim 13 wherein the first wall includes an upper portion curved into the interior compartment.
15. The container of claim 13 or 14 wherein the first waIl includes a first interlocking feature and wherein the second wall includes a second interlocking feature, such that the first wall of the container can interlock with the second wall of a second, identical container.
16. The container of any preceding claim wherein the fins are flexible.
17. The container of claim 16 wherein the fins each include an elastomer section to permit the fin to flex.
18. The container of any preceding claim further including a short end wall connecting the base and the side walls, defining a large opening.
19. The container of claim 18 wherein the end wall is smaller than the large opening.
20. The container of any preceding claim wherein the side walls each include an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion movable between an upright position above the lower portion and a collapsed position adjacent the lower portion.
21. A container comprising: a first portion having a first base and a first side wall extending upward from the first base; and a second portion having a second base and a second side wall extending upward from the second base, the first portion and the second portion pivotably connected to one another; the first side wall having an upper portion curved toward the second side wall.
22. The container of claim 21 wherein the first side wall includes a plurality of fins projecting inwardly therefrom.
23. The container of claim 21 or 22 wherein the second side wall includes a plurality of ventilation openings.
24. The container of any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the first side wall includes a first interlocking feature and wherein the second side wall includes a second interlocking feature, such that the first side wall of the container can interlock with the second side wall of a second, identical container.
25. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as shown in any one or more of figures 1 to 19.