Waterproof Container For Perishable Products

Abstract

A waterproof container for shipping perishable products such as cut flowers and for displaying such products for sale or inspection after they arrive at their destination. The body and cover of this container are each made of one piece of wax impregnated cardboard or corrugated paper stock scored along fold lines so that both body and cover are easily folded into shape. Suitable fastening means are provided to hold these in their folded shapes. The cover is also provided with scoring lines at predetermined areas thereof where holes are to be formed therethrough for receiving the bunches of flowers after they have been delivered to their destination. The cut stems of the flowers are inserted into the cover holes and extend into the body of the container which is provided with a predetermined amount of water of sufficient depth so that the bottom portions of the cut flowers are immersed therein to keep the flowers fresh while they are displayed for sale.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved container for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers, said container being constructed so that it may be economically and efficiently manufactured and also serves to display the products in an effective and attractive manner after they have been delivered to their destination.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved combined shipping and display container for perishable products such as cut flowers, said container being made of waterproof corrugated cardboard to receive the perishable products during shipment and to receive a quantity of water in which the cut ends of the products are immersed when the products are erected for display purposes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved combined shipping and display container for perishable products such as cut flowers, said container being provided with a cover having scored areas at which holes may be punched therethrough for receiving the stems of the cut flowers whereby the flowers may be supported erect and displayed in an effective and attractive manner.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved container which is folded from a blank in such a way as to provide a watertight and rugged container that is useful both for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers, celery, asparagus and the like. Both the body and cover of the container are made of wax impregnated corrugated paperboard, for example, so that the container is substantially waterproof and may also be used for holding a predetermined quantity of water as well as reduce evaporation from the perishable products such as cut flowers during shipment thereof. Predetermined spaced areas of the cover are provided with scoring which defines holes that are to be punched through the cover for receiving the stems of cut flowers that are to be displayed. Thus, after the flowers are delivered at their destination they are removed and a predetermined quantity of water is placed into the container. Holes are punched in the scored areas of the container cover and the flower bunches are inserted into these holes so that the cut ends of the flower stems are immersed in the water in the container whereby the flowers are kept fresh while they are on display. This container is also made watertight so that water may be placed therein or a quantity of ice may be placed therein to refrigerate or cool the products therein. It is obvious that other perishable products such as cut celery asparagus, etc., may be shipped and displayed in this improved container.

Further details and features of this invention will be set forth in the following specification, claims and drawing in which briefly:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cardboard forming the body of this container, said body being provided with score lines along which folds are made to erect the body into its box configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container partially broken away to show the perishable articles positioned therein and also to show the end construction of the body;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view showing the container with bunches of flowers positioned in holes formed into the cover thereof so that the flowers are held erect for display purposes;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an area of the cover scored so that a hole may be punched therethrough;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the cover area shown in FIG. 4 showing the hole actually punched therethrough; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing an end portion of the container illustrating how an end fold of the container may be gripped for lifting.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numeral 10 designates the blank of the container body which is made of corrugated cardboard impregnated with wax or the like to make it substantially waterproof. The blank 10 is provided with two score lines 11 and 12 which run the length of the blank and are parallel to the long sides thereof. Score lines 11 and 12 define the side panels 13 and 14, respectively, of the container. Score lines 15 and 16 are provided in the end portions of the blank 10 and are parallel to the short sides thereof. End panels 17 and 18 are defined on the end portions of the body by the score lines 15 and 16, respectively.

The body of the container may be formed by first erecting the side panels 13 and 14 by folding the blank along score lines 11 and 12, respectively, and thereafter erecting the end panels 17 and 18 by folding the blank along score lines 15 and 16, respectively. If the panels 13 and 14 are erected first then the blank is folded along the lines 11, 11a, 11b-12, 12a and 12b. Thereafter in erecting the end panels 17 and 18 pressure must be exerted on the bottom areas of these panels 17 and 18 to lift them into their erected position.

In applying pressure on the bottom area of the panel 17 the blank folds along score lines 15, 15a and 15b and at the same time folding takes place along score lines 17a and 17b and the folds along score lines 11b and 12b are reversed. Likewise, when pressure is exerted on the bottom of side panel 18 to produce folding along the score lines 16, 16a and 16b, folding also takes place along score lines 18a and 18b while the folds along the score lines 11a and 12a are reversed.

During the erecting of the end panel 17 triangular panel 19 is tucked under the triangular panel 20 as score line 12b is erected to be adjacent to score line 15a being at the same time triangular panel 21 is tucked under triangular panel 22 and score line 11b is moved adjacent to score line 15b. Similarly, when end panel 18 is erected triangular panel 23 is tucked under triangular panel 24 and score line 12a is moved adjacent to score line 16a. At the same time triangular panel 25 is tucked under triangular panel 26 and score line 11a is moved adjacent to score line 16b.

The edge portions of the end panels are then stapled together by wire staples such as the staples 26 shown in FIG. 2 holding the edge portions of panel 17 fastened to triangular panels 19, 20, 21 and 22. The other end panels 18, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are likewise fastened together. Wooden braces 10a are placed between the side panels 13 and 14 and they are attached to these panels by nails or the like. Triangular panel 22 is fastened on the outer sides of triangular panel 20 and end panel 17 so that suitable space is provided between the panel 22 and panel 17 to provide a finger grip as shown in FIG. 6 whereby the container may be readily lifted and handled. A similar finger grip is provided on the other end of the carton.

A cover 28 is provided to this container and this cover is also made of corrugated cardboard impregnated with wax or similar material to make it substantially waterproof. Cover 28 is provided with an apron 29 which is adapted to enclose the upper portions of the body when the cover is applied thereto. Cover 28 is provided with scored areas 30 to 35, inclusive, so that these areas may be readily punched inward to provide holes through the cover after the container has been used for shipping a predetermined number of bunches of cut flowers.

When the cut flowers 36 are brought to their destination the cover 28 is removed from the container. Holes are then punched through the cover 28 in the scored areas 30 to 35, inclusive. To facilitate punching these holes these areas are provided with cuts 37 which radiate from a central uncut part 39. Score lines 38 are provided around each of these areas. When pressure is exerted on the top of the area the central uncut portion 39 tears and the triangular parts of the area fold downward on score lines 38 as shown in FIG. 5 to provide a relatively large hole through the cover. Six such holes are shown provided in the cover 28 as shown in FIG. 3. However, a greater or lesser number may be provided as desired. The bunches of flowers 36 are then withdrawn from the container and inserted into the holes formed in the cover.

Each bunch 36 is provided with a cellophane wrapper 40 which holds the cut flowers in the bunch in predetermed shape. After the cut flowers are removed from the container a predetermined quantity of water is placed therein as indicated at 41 in FIG. 3. The cover 28 is placed on the container and the bunches of flowers are inserted into the holes provided in the top 28 so that the bottom portions of the flower stems are immersed in the water to keep the cut flowers fresh and display them in an effective and attractive manner to prospective customers.

This container may be made waterproof by lining the interior of the body and cover with plastic such as vinyl or by impregnating the interior surfaces thereof with plastic which may be sprayed on said surfaces. Also while FIG. 2 of the drawings show the cut flowers as lying flat therein during shipping, certain cut flowers may be shipped positioned upright in the container. If desired, the cut ends of the flowers may be immersed in water during shipment when the flowers are upright.

Mixed loads of perishable products may be placed into the container, particularly if the products are upright therein and the products shipped by the most economical means such as, surface transports or bulk refrigerated mixed commodity loads. Thus such perishable products may reach markets, under refrigeration, that are not now reached except by air transport.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers or the like, the combination comprising a box body of substantially waterproof material for receiving and transporting a predetermined quantity of perishable products arranged in bunches with the cut ends of the products in each bunch being adjacent to each other, a seperate cover for said box body closing said body while said products are being transported, said cover having a predetermined number of scored areas whereby holes may be formed at these areas, each of said holes receiving at least one of the bunches of perishable products removed from said box after said products are delivered to their destination, said bunches being held in said holes in erect position, said box body receiving a predetermined quantity of water with the cut ends of said products supported in said holes in said cover and being immersed in said water in display position.

2. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers or the like, the combination as set forth in claim 1, said box body being substantially rectangular configuration and said cover fitting over the open top of said box, said scored areas of said cover being arranged in rows and said scored areas being well spaced so that the cut flowers erected in bunches in said holes have the flower ends thereof spread for the display and viewing thereof.

3. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers or the like, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said scored areas are each provided with cuts radiating from the center which is uncut and the boundary of each area is defined by scoring facilitating folding therealong whereby applying pressure selectively to each area tears the uncut center thereof prior to folding the area along the boundary scoring to form a hole corresponding to the area.