U.S. patent application number 16/169494 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-23 for produce container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Multisteps Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to John Lam.
Application Number | 20200122918 16/169494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70280541 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-23 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200122918 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lam; John |
April 23, 2020 |
Produce Container
Abstract
A produce container including a receptacle and a lid. A mouth is
circumscribed by a rim with a first bearing surface substantially
parallel to a receptacle base. A first outer wall portion of the
rim is folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base.
One or more first locking formations is carried on the first outer
wall portion. The lid can close off the mouth and is circumscribed
by a skirt with a second bearing surface substantially parallel to
the base when the lid is closed. The skirt has a first inner wall
portion substantially perpendicular to the base when the lid is
closed. The skirt has one or more second locking formations carried
on the first inner wall portion of the lid. Each second locking
formation is complementary to a first locking formation. The rim
includes one or more chamfered portions above the first locking
formation inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer
wall portion.
Inventors: |
Lam; John; (Silverwater NSW,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Multisteps Pty Ltd |
Silverwater NSW |
|
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
70280541 |
Appl. No.: |
16/169494 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00601
20130101; B65D 2543/00712 20130101; B65D 43/162 20130101; B65D
2543/00574 20130101; B65D 85/34 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/34 20060101
B65D085/34; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 19, 2018 |
AU |
2018250515 |
Claims
1. A produce container including: a receptacle which defines a
mouth circumscribed by a rim; the rim having a first bearing
surface being substantially parallel to a base of the receptacle, a
first outer wall portion being folded back on and substantially
perpendicular to the base of the receptacle, and one or more first
locking formations carried on the first outer wall portion; and a
lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid
being circumscribed by a skirt, the skirt having a second bearing
surface being substantially parallel to the base of the receptacle
when the lid is in its closed position, a first inner wall portion
being substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle
when the lid is in its closed position, and one or more second
locking formations carried on the first inner wall portion of the
lid, each of the second locking formations being complementary to
one of the one or more first locking formations; wherein the rim
includes one or more chamfered portions located above the first
locking formation, each of the one or more chamfered portions being
inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer wall
portion.
2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more chamfered portions is outwardly and upwardly facing with an
upper edge adjoined to the first bearing surface and a lower edge
adjoined to the first outer wall portion.
3. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more chamfered portions includes a length of flat chamfer in the
middle with a lark's tongue finish at both of its ends.
4. The produce container of claim 3, wherein the length of flat
chamfer is in registry with the first locking formation.
5. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more chamfered portions is a continuous flat chamfer running along
a selected or the entire length of the rim.
6. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more first locking formations includes a recess.
7. The produce container of claim 6, wherein each recess has a
slanting upper portion.
8. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of the one or
more second locking formations includes a lug being aligned with a
corresponding recess.
9. The produce container of claim 8, wherein the lug includes a
first tapered plane adapted to engage the corresponding inclined
chamfered portion of the rim as the lid comes into contact with the
mouth of the receptacle.
10. The produce container of claim 9, wherein the first tapered
plane slopes from the first bearing surface towards the first outer
wall portion.
11. The produce container of claim 9, wherein the first tapered
plane of the lug is complementary to the corresponding inclined
chamfered portion so as to facilitate effortless and imperceptible
moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the
corresponding chamfered portion into engagement with the recess
where the lug is received, as the lid closes on the mouth of the
receptacle.
12. The produce container of claim 11, wherein the effortless and
imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of
the corresponding chamfered portion is assisted by the flexibility
of the material of which the produce container is made.
13. The produce container of claim 9, wherein the lug includes a
second tapered plane adapted to engage a slanting upper portion
which forms part of the recess when the lid is in a closed
position.
14. The produce container of claim 1, which includes four pairs of
locking formations, each pair comprising the first and second
locking formations.
15. The produce container of claim 14, wherein two pairs of the
locking formations are provided along the front of the produce
container.
16. The produce container of claim 14, wherein one pair of the
locking formations is provided on each of the lateral sides of the
produce container.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Australian Application
No. 2018250515, filed Oct. 19, 2018, which is incorporated herein
by reference to the extent permitted by law.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention broadly relates to produce containers,
particularly but not limited to those having a lid and receptacle
with an engaging mechanism that facilitates interlocking of the lid
with the receptacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Produce containers are typically piled up and placed in a
crate or the like for storage and transportation purposes. Those
that are currently available in the marketplace have a
configuration that would only allow a limited amount of containers,
which are typically nested into one another, to be stacked in a
pile which in turn is fitted into the crate or the like. Thus there
is a need for a larger number of containers to be packed in the
crate or the like in order to save space and costs.
[0004] Also, existing produce containers have locking formations
which enable interlocking of the lid with the receptacle upon
closing of the lid. Such containers have a shortcoming that
engagement between existing locking formations provided on the lid
and the receptacle is quite rough rendering the produce containers
susceptible to deformation.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
produce container which may meet the above need, or which may
overcome or ameliorate the above shortcoming, or which will at
least provide a useful alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a produce container including:
[0007] a receptacle which defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim;
the rim having a first bearing surface being substantially parallel
to a base of the receptacle, a first outer wall portion being
folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base of the
receptacle, and one or more first locking formations carried on the
first outer wall portion; and a lid associated with the receptacle
to close off the mouth, the lid being circumscribed by a skirt, the
skirt having a second bearing surface being substantially parallel
to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed
position, a first inner wall portion being substantially
perpendicular to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its
closed position, and one or more second locking formations carried
on the first inner wall portion of the lid, each of the second
locking formations being complementary to one of the one or more
first locking formations;
[0008] wherein the rim includes one or more chamfered portions
located above the first locking formation, each of the one or more
chamfered portions being inclined to the first bearing surface and
the first outer wall portion.
[0009] Preferably, the first bearing surface is substantially
horizontal. More preferably, the first outer wall portion is
substantially vertical. Even more preferably, each of the one or
more chamfered portions is outwardly and upwardly facing with an
upper edge adjoined to the first bearing surface and a lower edge
adjoined to the first outer wall portion. As such, each of the one
or more chamfered portions eases an otherwise sharp edge where the
first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion meet.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, each of the one or more chamfered
portions includes a length of flat chamfer in the middle with a
lark's tongue finish at both of its ends. As such, the chamfer ends
short of a piece in a gradual upward curve. More preferably, the
length of flat chamfer is in registry with the first locking
formation.
[0011] In an alternative embodiment, each of the one or more
chamfered portions is a continuous flat chamfer running along a
selected or the entire length of the rim.
[0012] Preferably, each of the one or more first locking formations
includes a recess. Each recess is preferred to have a slanting
upper portion. More preferably, each of the one or more second
locking formations includes a lug being aligned with a
corresponding recess. Even more preferably, the lug includes a
first tapered plane adapted to engage the corresponding inclined
chamfered portion of the rim as the lid comes into contact with the
mouth of the receptacle. The first tapered plane is preferred to
slope from the first bearing surface towards the first outer wall
portion.
[0013] Most preferably, the first tapered plane of the lug is
complementary to the corresponding inclined chamfered portion so as
to facilitate effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over
and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion
into engagement with the recess where the lug is received, as the
lid closes on the mouth of the receptacle. Most preferably, the
effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the
lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion is assisted by
the flexibility of the material of which the produce container is
made.
[0014] Preferably, the lug includes a second tapered plane adapted
to engage a slanting upper portion which forms part of the
recess.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the produce container includes
four pairs of locking formations, each pair comprising the first
and second locking formations. Preferably, two pairs of the locking
formations are provided along the front of the produce container.
More preferably, one pair of the locking formations is provided on
each of the lateral sides of the produce container.
[0016] Preferably, the first inner wall portion of the skirt is
adapted to overlie and interact with the first outer wall portion
of the rim to retain the lid on the receptacle when the lid is in
its closed position.
[0017] Preferably, the lid includes a shoulder bounded by the
skirt. More preferably, the skirt is located outwardly of the
shoulder against which the first bearing surface of the rim of the
receptacle bears when the lid is in its closed position.
[0018] The foregoing discussion broadly outlines certain goals and
features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the
detailed description that follows and to instill a better
appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. Before any
particular embodiment or aspect thereof is explained in detail, it
must be made clear that the following details of construction and
illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many
possible manifestations of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention in its various aspects will now be described
in connection with non-limiting embodiments described in connection
with the drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a produce container with the
lid in a closed position in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of the produce container of FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view of the produce container of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the produce container with
the lid in an open position;
[0024] FIG. 4A is a magnified perspective view of a corner of the
produce container of FIG. 1 showing a chamfered portion and a
recess;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side view of the produce container of FIG.
1;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a magnified cross sectional view taken along the
line A-A of FIG. 3 showing the lid in an open position;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a magnified cross sectional view taken along the
line A-A of FIG. 3 showing the lid in a closed position;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing multiple produce
containers of FIG. 1 in an open position being nested into one
another in a pile; and
[0029] FIG. 9 is a magnified cross sectional view showing a top
corner of the pile of opened produce containers of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] The produce container disclosed herein is subject to a
variety of embodiments, each within the scope of the invention.
However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to
understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present
invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention
revealed herein are described below and shown in the accompanying
drawing figures.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a produce container 10 is shown
which has a lid 12 and a receptacle 14. The receptacle 14 has four
walls defining a mouth 24 circumscribed by a rim 26. The rim 26 has
a first bearing surface 28 being substantially parallel to a base
30 of the receptacle 14. The rim 26 also has a first outer wall
portion 32 which is folded back onto the rim 26 itself. The first
outer wall portion 32 is substantially perpendicular to the base 30
of the receptacle 14. Furthermore, the rim 26 has four first
locking formations being in the form of recesses carried on the
first outer wall portion 32. Two of the four recesses 34 & 36
are provided in a section of the first outer wall portion 32 that
runs along the front of the produce container 10. The remaining two
recesses 38 & 40 are provided in two respective side sections
of the first out wall portion 32. Each side section is located at
the two lateral sides of the produce container 10, respectively.
Each of the recesses 34, 36, 38 & 40 has a slanting upper
portion 72 (see FIG. 6 for example).
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, the lid 12 is provided to close off the
mouth 24 of the receptacle 14. The lid 12 is circumscribed by a
skirt 42. The skirt 42 has a second bearing surface 44 which is
substantially parallel to the base 30 of the receptacle 14 when the
lid 12 is in its closed position. The lid 12 has a first inner wall
portion 46 which is substantially perpendicular to the base 30 of
the receptacle 14 when the lid 12 is in its closed position. The
lid 12 also has a shoulder 48 bounded by the skirt 42. The skirt 42
is arranged outwardly of the shoulder 48 which defines a surface 50
against which the first bearing surface 28 of the rim 26 of the
receptacle 14 bears when the lid 12 is in its closed position. The
skirt 42 is folded back onto itself to define a second outer wall
portion 52 from which a first flange 54 extends. In the present
embodiment, the skirt 42 has four second locking formations in the
form of lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62 being carried on the first inner
wall portion 46 of the lid 12. Each of the lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62
is complementary and correspond to one of the recesses 34, 36, 38
& 40.
[0033] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a, the rim 26 has a chamfered
portion 60, 62, 66, 64 located above each of the recesses 34, 36,
38, 40. Each chamfered portion 60, 62, 66, 64 is inclined to the
first bearing surface 28 and the first outer wall portion 32. In
this embodiment, the first bearing surface 28 is substantially
horizontal being substantially perpendicular to the substantially
vertical first outer wall portion 32. All of the chamfered portions
60, 62, 66 & 64 have the same configuration and thus only
chamfered portion 60 will be discussed in detail. As best shown in
FIG. 4a, the chamfered portion 60 is outwardly and upwardly facing
with an upper edge 62 adjoined to the first bearing surface 28 and
a lower edge 65 adjoined to the first outer wall portion 32. As
such, the chamfered portion 60 eases an otherwise sharp edge where
the first bearing surface 28 and the first outer wall portion 32
meet. The chamfered portion 60 has a length of flat chamfer 64 in
the middle with a lark's tongue finish at both of its ends 66 &
68. As such, the length of flat chamfer 64 ends short of a piece in
a gradual upward curve. The length of flat chamfer 64 is in
registry with the recess 34.
[0034] As best shown in FIG. 4, each lug 56, 58, 60, 62 is aligned
with a corresponding recess 34, 36, 38, 40. Again, as all four lugs
56, 58, 60 & 62 have the same configuration, only lug 58 will
be described herein in detail. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lug
58 has a tapered plane 69 which is adapted to engage a
corresponding inclined chamfered portion 60 of the rim 26 as the
lid 12 comes into contact with the mouth 24 of the receptacle 14.
The tapered plane 69 is configured to slope from the first bearing
surface 28 towards the first outer wall portion 32. The tapered
plane 69 of the lug 58 is complementary to the corresponding
inclined chamfered portion 60 so as to facilitate relatively
effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug 58 over and beyond
the lower edge 65 of the corresponding chamfered portion 60 into
engagement with the recess 34 where the lug 58 is ultimately
received, as the lid 12 closes on the mouth 24 of the receptacle
14. It should be noted that the effortless and imperceptible moving
of the lug 58 over and beyond the lower edge 65 of the
corresponding chamfered portion 60 may be assisted by the flexible
nature of the material of which the produce container 10 is made.
Also, it will be appreciated that as the lid 12 is fully closed
with all four lugs 56, 58, 60 & 62 squarely received within the
recesses 34, 36, 38 & 40 respectively, the second bearing
surface 44 of the second outer wall portion 52 of the lid 12 bears
against a land 74 (see FIGS. 4 and 4A) of a step 76 provided on a
second flange 78 being spaced from the first bearing surface 28. As
best shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the lug 50 also has a second
tapered plane 70 which is adapted to engage a complementary
slanting upper portion 72 which forms part of the recess 34 when
the lid 12 is in a closed position.
[0035] As described above, the produce container 10 has four pairs
of locking formations, 34 & 58, 36 & 56, 38 & 62 and 40
& 60, each pair comprising the first and second locking
formations. The produce container 10 has a recess formation 80
which is formed in the rim 26 of the receptacle 14. The recess
formation 80 is flanked by the two pairs of the locking formations
34 & 58 and 36 & 56 which are provided along the front of
the produce container 10. The other two pairs of the locking
formations 38 & 62 and 40 & 60 are provided on the
respective lateral sides of the produce container 10.
[0036] As best shown in FIG. 5, when the lid 12 is in its closed
position, the first inner wall portion 46 of the skirt 42 is
adapted to overlie and interact with the first outer wall portion
52 of the rim 26 to retain the lid 12 on the receptacle 14.
[0037] It should be noted that it is common practice to nest a
plurality of produce containers into one another so as to enable
them to be piled up and fitted into a crate or the like for compact
storage or transportation. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, for example,
when a produce container 10 is nested into produce container 10A,
the chamfered portion 60A facilitates a drop or advancement of the
produce container 10 into the produce container 10A by a certain
length as indicated by A-A (see FIG. 9). This drop or advancement
was enabled by the slanting chamfer 64 and would not be achievable
with a normal n-shaped rim. When a large number of produce
containers, for example, 10, 10A, 10B . . . etc. are piled up, the
saved lengths A-A, B-B . . . etc. add up allowing fitting of a
larger number of produce containers in each crate or the like which
leads to substantial cost savings.
[0038] Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described in 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:
[0039] 1. it facilitates relatively effortless and imperceptible
closing of the lid on the receptacle and easy and smooth engagement
of the lugs with the recesses; and
[0040] 2. it enables fitting of a larger amount of produce
containers into a crate or the like for storage and transportation
which results in substantial cost savings.
[0041] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention
described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications
other than those specifically described. For instance, each
chamfered portion may be a continuous flat chamfer running along a
selected or the entire length of the rim 26. 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.
[0042] Therefore, the following claims are intended to define the
scope of protection to be afforded to the inventor. Those claims
shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they
do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must
be further noted that a plurality of the following claims may
express, or be interpreted to express, certain elements as means
for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of
structure or material. As the law demands, these claims shall be
construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and
material expressly described in this specification but also all
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *