Container for asparagus and the like

Abstract

A rectangular-trapezoidal shaped box for asparagus and the like is formed from a single blank of corrugated cardboard into a base section and a lid section which are pivoted at a common edge to allow the lid section to be swung over the base section. Pairs of end panels of each section are folded in double overlapping ply relation such that the closed box has ends of four ply thickness. A narrow ledge is provided at the front of the base section to seal the closed box. Hand hold cutouts are supplied in the end panels and ventilating cutouts are supplied in the lid and base sections, and a moisture absorbent insert is carried in the base section to provide moisture to the butt ends of the upstanding asparagus spears.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container for asparagus and the like and more particularly to a corrugated carton folded in such a way to afford maximum protection to the produce and allow ready access to the interior of the carton.

Asparagus has several peculiar demands in the transporting and storage from initial packer to consumer. The vegetable is tapered in shape, has a tender tip end which breaks easily, and to ensure freshness the cut or butt end should be kept damp. With the cut end supplied moisture, the asparagus will also continue to grow so that sufficient room has to be left in the container.

Generally, asparagus has been packed upstanding in tapered crates made of wood and more recently plastic. These crates require a rigid construction and are expensive and bulky. They also present a storage problem at the packing site and a disposal problem at the consumer site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a container for asparagus and the like which can be folded from a blank of corrugated cardboard and will have the requisite shape and strength to handle the product without damage.

It is another object to provide a container for asparagus which can be folded from a single carton blank at the packing site and has a base section and a lid section wherein the container has a wide opening for ease of packing and unpacking and which provides multiple plies at the ends for added strength. A ledge is also formed at the front of the base section for the lid section to close against.

Another object is to provide such a container made of a wet strength or moisture repellent corrugated board and includes a moisture laden insert in the base to supply moisture to the butt ends of the asparagus and also had ventilation cutouts in the walls and top of the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the specification progresses and the new and useful features of the container will be more fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this description in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the container shown in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 but in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational section taken substantially along the plane of line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational section taken substantially along the plane of line 4--4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a layout of a blank from which the container in FIG. 1 has been folded.

While only the preferred form of the invention is shown, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention takes the form of a rectangular container or carton having a trapezoidal profile. The container 10 has a base section 11 and a lid section 12 which are joined along a common edge at the upper rear of the container. As shown in FIG. 2, with the lid section 12 swung back, the carton presents an enlarged opening for easy packing and unloading.

Base section 11 is formed by rectangular bottom panel 13 and rear panel 14 and trapezoidal shaped opposed ends 16 and 17. Ends 16 and 17 are of double ply and are formed by pairs of overlapping end panels 16a and 16b and end panels 17a and 17b. End panels 16a and 17a are attached to and folded up from bottom panel 13 and end panels 16b and 17b are attached to and folded around from rear panel 14. The direction of corrugations of the plies in the pairs of end panels cross in an overlapping fashion and add rigidity and strength to the container. The base section also includes a narrow ledge 18 over the front of the opening opposite the rear panel 14. The ledge is formed by a pair of narrow inwardly facing panels 21 and 22 carried along the margins of end panels 16a and 17a. A narrow upstanding panel 23 is attached to the front of bottom panel 13. The ledge helps secure the upstanding asparagus in the base section and also helps seal the front of the container when the lid section is closed.

The lid section 12 is formed by rectangular top panel 26 and front panel 27 and trapezoidal shaped opposed ends 28 and 29. Ends 28 and 29 are of double ply and are formed by pairs of overlapping end panels 28a and 28b and end panels 29a and 29b. End panels 28a and 29a are attached to top panel 26 and end panels 28b and 29b are attached to front panel 27. As in the ends of the base section, the ends of the lid section are folded so that the direction of the corrugations are of cross ply. This double ply construction of the ends of the lid and base sections combine to provide four ply ends to the carton when it is closed. This adds substantial strength and allows the containers to be stacked one on top of another without damage to the enclosed asparagus.

Each of the end panels has hand grip cutouts 31 which allow the closed container to be easily lifted and moved. The four ply construction of the ends also affords an enlarged gripping surface in these cutouts.

As mentioned, it is desirable to keep the asparagus in a moist environment and to supply moisture to the cut butt ends of the asparagus when they are upstanding in the container. An absorbent liner or insert 32 is carried in the bottom of the container and wetted prior to packing. Drain holes 33 are cut in the bottom to allow excess water to escape. The container itself is constructed of wet strength or moisture repellent corrugated cardboard and the top and sides have cutouts 34 for ventilation.

In fabrication of the container a blank 36 is cut and scored as illustrated in FIG. 5. The rectangular shaped front, top, rear and bottom panels lie attached along the central part of the blank. The end panels are attached along the edge scores at the margins of the rectangular panels. It will be seen that the end panels are cut in generally trapezoidal outline to match the profile of the container. The panels that form the ledge are secured at the lower part of the blank and are attached to the bottom panel and its associated end panels.

The geometry of the preferred embodiment of the invention is in the shape of a right trapezoidal prism with the ends having a trapezoidal profile and the rectangular body panels forming the faces of the prism. Looking to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the front panel 27 lies along the longer leg of the trapezoid, the top panel 26 along the shorter parallel top, the rear panel 14 along the shorter leg and the bottom panel 13 along the base of the trapezoid. The rear panel is perpendicular to the bottom panel.

In folding the blank, rear panel 14 is folded upward along scored edge 41 and end panels 16a and 17a are folded upward around scored edges 42. End panels 16b and 17b are folded around scored edges 43 and are secured to end panels 16a and 17a by staples 44. Ledge panels 21 and 22 are folded inward along scored edges 46 and ledge panel 23 is folded upward along score 47 and secured with staples 48. This forms the base section 11.

The lid section is formed by folding front panel 27 along scored edge 51 and end panels 28b and 29b inward along scored edges 52. End panels 28a and 29a are folded around scored edges 53 and are secured to end panels 28b and 29b by staples 54. The lid section is pivoted along scored edge 56 to complete the container.

While the terms "inward" and "around" and "similar" have been used, they are for descriptive purposes only and are not meant to be limited, nor is the sequence in which the container is folded.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the container of the present invention may be folded from a single blank of corrugated cardboard and provides a suitable container for asparagus in an inexpensive and efficient manner.

Claims

I claim:

1. A box shaped container for handling asparagus spears and the like, comprising:

a. a single corrugated cardboard blank having; a rectangular front panel, a rectangular top panel, a rectangular rear panel, a rectangular bottom panel,

b. the front, top, rear and bottom panels lie along the central portion of the blank and are attached to adjacent panels along common edge scores,

c. each of said rectangular panels have opposed pairs of end panels attached along edge scores at the margins of the rectangular panels,

d. a series of narrow ledge panels attached along edge scores of the bottom panel and its associated end panels,

e. the container is set up by folding the blank along the edge scores to form a lid section and a base section,

f. the lid section is formed by the front and top panels and by their adjacent end panels secured in overlapping cross ply relation,

g. the base section is formed by the rear and bottom panels and by their adjacent end panels secured in overlapping cross ply relation and by the inwardly folded ledge panels secured together in the opening opposite the rear panel,

h. the edge score common between the top and rear panels forms the hinge between the lid and base sections such that the container may be opened and closed by pivoting the lid section into overlying relation over the base section wherein the ends of the container will be of four ply thickness.

2. The box shaped container as described in claim 1 wherein,

a. said container has a right angle trapezoidal shape in profile and wherein;

b. said front panel forms the longer upstanding leg of the trapezoid,

c. said top panel forms the shorter parallel top of the trapezoid,

d. said rear panel forms the shorter upstanding leg of the trapezoid,

e. said bottom panel forms the longer parallel base of the trapezoid,

f. and each of the end panels is generally trapezoidal shaped in outline.