Plastic container with open sides and locking features
A plastic box includes a top and a tray that may be locked together. The top has two open sides to save material. The top can have drain holes along its edges, and the tray likewise has drain holes along its edges, so that when the tray of one container is stacked on the top of another container, water in the top container can drain down and through the bottom container.
The present invention relates generally to plastic containers.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPlastic boxes are used for a wide variety of applications. By way of non-limiting example, half-slotted plastic containers can be used for transporting vegetables such as asparagus. So-called design style trays can also be used for carrying goods.
Regardless of the type or purpose, a plastic container ordinarily is made from a flat substrate, with the panels of what will become the container being established by appropriately forming fold lines and flap cuts in the substrate. To render the substrate into a three-dimensional container, the substrate is folded along the fold lines, the flap cuts are used as appropriate to overlay one panel on another, and so on.
As recognized herein, it is desirable to minimize the amount of plastic used in the container, to conserve costs. It is also desirable under some circumstances to more firmly engage a top of a container with the tray of the container than merely by an interference fit between the two container components. Furthermore, recognizing that the tray of one container is often stacked on the top of another container, it is desirable to provide a way for water to drain through the containers without weakening the bottom of the trays. It is still further desirable to provide a container with good ventilation for storing, e.g., certain vegetables such as asparagus. With these critical recognitions in mind, the various embodiments herein are provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA container includes a first substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and is folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow top. The top has opposed closed walls and opposed open walls orthogonal to the closed walls, to conserve material.
In preferred implementations a second substrate is configured with fold lines and cut lines and is folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow tray, with the top and tray engaging in an interference fit to form a closure. The top can be formed with at least one drain hole along at least one top edge and the tray can be formed with at least one drain hole along at least one bottom edge, and a drain hole of the top is registered with a drain hole of the tray when a tray of one container is stacked on the top of another container.
If desired, the top can define a top surface that is formed with a matrix of holes inboard of top edges. The holes may be racetrack-shaped. A tab can extend upwardly from the drain hole in the top edge and can be configured to engage the drain hole of a tray positioned on the top.
In some implementations, a tray lock element is foldable outwardly away from one the closed walls of the top, with a portion of the tray lock element extending beyond and being foldable around a bottom periphery of the top for engaging a lock receptacle of the tray when the tray is juxtaposed with the bottom periphery. In other implementations, a top lock element is foldable outwardly away from the tray and can engage a receptacle in one of the open walls of the top when the tray is juxtaposed with a bottom periphery of the top. In still other implementations, a top lock element is foldable outwardly away from the tray for engaging a receptacle in one of the closed walls of the top when the tray is juxtaposed with a bottom periphery of the top.
In another aspect, a container includes a first substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow top and a second substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow tray. The top can be formed with a drain hole along a top edge and the tray can be formed with a drain hole along a bottom edge. A drain hole of the top is registered with a drain hole of the tray when a tray of one container is stacked on the top of another container.
In still another aspect, a container includes a first substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow top, and a second substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow tray. A tray lock element is foldable outwardly away from a wall of the top. A portion of the tray lock element extends beyond and is foldable around a bottom periphery of the top for engaging a lock receptacle of the tray when the tray is juxtaposed with the bottom periphery.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring initially to
In accordance with principles known in the art, the substrate 12 is a single piece of plastic that is formed with plural fold lines 16 that demarcate the creases between adjacent panels about which the panels can be folded. Also, the substrate 12 as shown may be formed with plural cuts 18 between adjacent flaps each of which cuts 18 physically separates its adjacent flaps along the length of the cut. Cuts are also formed to define locking structure as more fully set forth below. The substrate 12 is folded along the fold lines 16 until adjoining panels are perpendicular to each other, with the fold lines 16 establishing the edge between adjacent panels. Also, the flaps likewise are moved owing to the freedom of movement afforded by the cuts 18 to render the substrate 12 into the container top 22 shown in
Because
Depending down orthogonally from the ends of the top panel 30 are opposed end panels 34, each of which forms a substantially complete and continuous surface from the top panel 30 to the bottom periphery 36 of the top 22 except for cuts and folds defining the locking element more fully described below which is unique to the embodiment of
Still referring to
To further conserve plastic, small semicircular cut-outs 46 can be formed in the bottom periphery of the top 22 as shown.
With the combination of structure shown in
Completing the description of the structure that can be generally common to all embodiments, end flaps 48 can be folded about fold lines to be orthogonal to the end panels 34, extending down from the top panel 30 to the bottom periphery of the top 22 but not extending all the way across to the opposite end flap. Thus, the open sides of the top 22 are closed completely along the top edge by the side panels 44 and completely along their left and right edges by the end flaps 48, but are open in the area that is between the inside edges of the end flaps 48, the bottom periphery of the top 22, and the bottom edge of the side panel 44.
Locking tab cut lines are made between each end flap 48 and its contiguous side panel 44 as shown to establish a locking tab 50 on each side panel 44. A locking tab may be, without limitation, generally octagonal-shaped. Also, locking receptacle cut lines are made between each end flap 48 and its contiguous end panel 34 to establish tab receptacles 52 in the edges that are formed by the fold lines between each end panel 34 and its adjoining end flaps 48. When the substrate 12 of
Completing the description of the structure of the top 22 by drawing attention to a feature that is not shared by the other embodiments of
Now considering the substrate 14/tray 24 shown in
On each end of the bottom panel 66 are over-folded end panels 70, 72 between which are double fold lines 74. Also, straddling each set of end panels 70, 72 are opposed end flaps 76. The substrate 14 is folded with the end flaps 76 sandwiched tightly between the end panels 70, 72 as can be appreciated looking at
As best shown in
Opposed side panels 78 bound the remaining two sides of the bottom panel 66. As best shown in
In the specific embodiment shown in
With the above structure and with specific reference to
While the particular PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH OPEN SIDES AND LOCKING FEATURES as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. For instance, the above-described lock elements and lock receptacles may be reversed from tray to top and vice-versa. It is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconcilable with the present specification and file history.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a first substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow top, the top having opposed closed walls and opposed open walls orthogonal to the closed walls.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a second substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow tray, the top and tray engaging in an interference fit to form a closure.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the top is formed with at least one drain hole along at least one top edge and the tray is formed with at least one drain hole along at least one bottom edge, a drain hole of the top being registered with a drain hole of the tray when a tray of one container is stacked on the top of another container.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the top defines a top surface formed with a matrix of holes inboard of top edges.
5. The container of claim 3, wherein the holes are racetrack-shaped.
6. The container of claim 3, comprising a tab extending upwardly from the drain hole in the top edge and configured to engage the drain hole of a tray positioned on the top.
7. The container of claim 2, comprising at least one tray lock element foldable outwardly away from one the closed walls of the top, a portion of the tray lock element extending beyond and being foldable around a bottom periphery of the top for engaging a lock receptacle of the tray when the tray is juxtaposed with the bottom periphery.
8. The container of claim 2, comprising at least one top lock element foldable outwardly away from the tray and engaging a receptacle in one of the open walls of the top when the tray is juxtaposed with a bottom periphery of the top.
9. The container of claim 7, further comprising at least one top lock element foldable outwardly away from the tray and engaging a receptacle in one of the closed walls of the top when the tray is juxtaposed with a bottom periphery of the top.
10. A container comprising:
- a first substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow top; and
- a second substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow tray, wherein the top is formed with at least one drain hole along at least one top edge and the tray is formed with at least one drain hole along at least one bottom edge, a drain hole of the top being registered with a drain hole of the tray when a tray of one container is stacked on the top of another container.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the top has opposed closed walls and opposed open walls orthogonal to the closed walls.
12. The container of claim 10, wherein the top defines a top surface formed with a matrix of holes inboard of top edges.
13. The container of claim 10, comprising a tab extending upwardly from the drain hole in the top edge and configured to engage the drain hole of a tray positioned on the top.
14. The container of claim 11, comprising at least one tray lock element foldable outwardly away from one the closed walls of the top, a portion of the tray lock element extending beyond and being foldable around a bottom periphery of the top for engaging a lock receptacle of the tray when the tray is juxtaposed with the bottom periphery.
15. The container of claim 11, comprising at least one top lock element foldable outwardly away from the tray and engaging a receptacle in one of the open walls of the top when the tray is juxtaposed with a bottom periphery of the top.
16. The container of claim 11, further comprising at least one top lock element foldable outwardly away from the tray and engaging a receptacle in one of the closed walls of the top when the tray is juxtaposed with a bottom periphery of the top.
17. A container comprising:
- a first substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow top;
- a second substrate configured with fold lines and cut lines and folded along at least some of the lines to form a parallelepiped-shaped hollow tray;
- at least one tray lock element foldable outwardly away from a wall of the top, a portion of the tray lock element extending beyond and being foldable around a bottom periphery of the top for engaging a lock receptacle of the tray when the tray is juxtaposed with the bottom periphery.
18. The container of claim 17, wherein the top is formed with at least one drain hole along at least one top edge and the tray is formed with at least one drain hole along at least one bottom edge, a drain hole of the top being registered with a drain hole of the tray when a tray of one container is stacked on the top of another container.
19. The container of claim 17, wherein the top has opposed closed walls and opposed open walls orthogonal to the closed walls.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2007
Inventor: James England (Escondido, CA)
Application Number: 11/312,724
International Classification: B65D 43/08 (20060101); B65D 5/00 (20060101);