COLLAPSIBLE CRATE
A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base. The base includes a plurality of container support areas each defined by a rectangular perimeter defined by a plurality of vents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/485,116 filed May 11, 2011.
BACKGROUNDCrates for produce may include a base having a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward therefrom. The side walls and end walls may be pivotably connected to the base, such that they can be collapsed onto the base when the crate is empty.
A clamshell container is a known plastic container often used for shipping and selling fruit, such as strawberries, or other items that require refrigeration. The clamshell container includes an upper portion hingeably connected to a lower portion, such as by a living hinge. The upper portion includes a rim portion extending around a periphery of a lid portion. A plurality of upper ventilation openings are formed through tapered side walls and an upper wall of the lid portion. The lower portion includes a rim portion extending around a periphery of a base. A plurality of lower ventilation openings are formed through tapered side walls and a lower wall of the base. A plurality of connectors connect the rim portion of the upper portion to the rim portion of the lower portion. The connectors also space the upper portion from the lower portion to provide additional ventilation.
SUMMARYA crate includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base and a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base. The base includes a plurality of container support areas each defined by a rectangular perimeter defined by a plurality of vents.
A crate 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The base 12 includes an upper panel 22 having a plurality of openings or vents 24 formed therein.
Referring to
Vertically-oriented vents 27 are formed in the lower panel portion 26. Horizontally-oriented vents 29 are formed in the outer panel portion 28. Horizontally-oriented vents 31 are formed in the upper panel portion 30. Horizontally-oriented lower vents 34 are formed in the lower panel portion 26 below the vertically-oriented vents 27.
The base 12 includes a plurality of spaced-apart upstanding side portions 40 defining lower openings 38. The side wall 14 is pivotably connected to the upstanding side portions 40.
Referring to
Vertically-oriented vents 47 are formed in the lower panel portion 46. Horizontally-oriented vents 49 are formed in the outer panel portion 48. Horizontally-oriented vents 51 are formed in the upper panel portion 50.
The spacing and arrangement of the vents 24 in the base 12 is further explained with reference to clamshell containers 100 shown in
As shown in
The alignment of vents on the crate 10 and containers 100 provides improved flow of cold air into the containers 100 when the crate 10 and containers 100 are placed in refrigeration.
The crate 10 can stack on an identical crate 10 either in an aligned orientation (not shown) or in a cross-stacked orientation, as shown in
The crate 10 is thus designed to provide good ventilation when cross stacked with identical crates. Also, the crate 10 and the containers 100 in combination provide improved ventilation. This permits more rapid, even cooling of the produce (e.g. strawberries) in the containers 100.
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
1. A crate comprising:
- a base;
- a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base;
- a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base; and
- the base including a plurality of container support areas each defined by a rectangular perimeter defined by a plurality of vents.
2. The crate of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vents are elongated.
3. The crate of claim 2 wherein the plurality of vents are oriented perpendicularly to the perimeter of the container support areas.
4. The crate of claim 3 wherein the side walls and the end walls are hingeably connected to the base.
5. The crate of claim 3 wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having lower ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area.
6. The crate and containers of claim 5 wherein the plurality of lower ventilation openings are formed through tapered side walls and a lower wall of a base of each of the containers.
7. The crate of claim 2 wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion on an inner surface of the side wall, an outer panel portion at an outer surface of the side wall and above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion at an inner surface of the side wall and above the outer panel portion.
8. The crate of claim 7 wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion and inward from the outer panel portion.
9. The crate of claim 7 wherein vertically-oriented vents are formed in the lower panel portion, horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the upper panel portion.
10. The crate of claim 9 wherein a plurality of containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having an upper portion hingeably connected to a lower portion, the upper portion including a rim portion extending around a periphery of a lid portion, a plurality of connectors connecting the rim portion of the upper portion to the rim portion of the lower portion and defining a gap between the rim portions, wherein the vents in the outer panel portion of the crate align with the gap between the upper portion and the lower portion of the container.
11. The crate of claim 10 wherein each of the containers have ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area.
12. The crate of claim 11 further including horizontally-oriented lower vents formed in the lower panel portion below the vertically-oriented vents.
13. The crate of claim 1 wherein the side walls and the end walls include vents that are arranged such that when one of the end walls of the crate is placed against one of the side walls of an identical crate, the vents in the one of the end walls are aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate.
14. The crate of claim 1 wherein the container support areas are arranged in a 3×3 array.
15. A crate comprising:
- a base;
- a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base;
- a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base; and
- wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion on an inner surface of the side wall, an outer panel portion at an outer surface of the side wall and above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion at an inner surface of the side wall and above the outer panel portion, wherein vertically-oriented vents are formed in the lower panel portion, horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and horizontally-oriented vents are formed in the upper panel portion.
16. The crate of claim 15 wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion and inward from the outer panel portion.
17. The crate of claim 15 wherein the vents of the side walls and the end walls are arranged such that when one of the end walls of the crate is placed against one of the side walls of an identical crate, the vents in the one of the end walls are aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate.
Type: Application
Filed: May 11, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2012
Inventor: Mauricio D. Cavalcante (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 13/469,183
International Classification: B65D 81/00 (20060101); B65D 6/18 (20060101);