CONTAINER WITH RECESSED HANDLE CAVITIES

Abstract

A container comprises a base and a container sidewall extending from one side of the base about a perimeter thereof to define an interior volume of the container. Opposed outward protrusions are formed in the container sidewall adjacent and spaced from the distal edge thereof. Opposed receiving slots are defined through the container sidewall for receiving and retaining T-shaped handle ends, with the receiving slots being at least partly defined in the outward protrusions. The outward protrusions each form a cavity recessed from the inside surface of the container sidewall to accommodate the T-shaped handle ends and limit protrusion thereof beyond the inside surface of the container sidewall to limit damage to the container contents caused by contact of the T-shaped handle ends with the container contents.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/597,673 filed on Feb. 10, 2012, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to containers, and more particularly to containers that can receive carrying handles.

BACKGROUND

Produce, including fruit such as peaches, nectarines and the like, has often been sold in open-topped cardboard baskets having carrying handles. These open-topped baskets were not stackable, did not provide visibility below the uppermost layer of produce, and were susceptible of shoppers moving items from one basket to another, either to assemble a “perfect” basket combining the best produce from several baskets, or get more produce while paying for only one basket.

The introduction of transparent plastic produce containers with “snap-on” lids obviated these difficulties, as the lid made it more difficult to move produce from one container to another while the clear plastic provided for a more complete visual inspection of the contents. In addition, the lids included a flattened top enabling the containers to be stacked. The clear plastic containers are usually provided with a plastic handle. Typically, the handle comprises an elongate member having opposed T-shaped handle ends, and opposed receiving slots are defined in the side portions of the sidewall of the container to receive and retain the T-shaped handle ends of the handle. An example of such a clear plastic container and lid is disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0326998 in the name of Short et al.

With plastic containers such as those described above, whether transparent, translucent or opaque, the handles, and in particular the T-shaped handle ends thereof, must be made of a fairly rigid plastic in order to keep the T-shaped handle ends from bending and sliding out of the receiving slots, and when the T-shaped handle ends are received in the receiving slots, they project inwardly into the interior volume of the container. As a result, the inwardly projecting T-shaped handle ends of the handles can cut, bruise or otherwise damage produce inside the container, particularly when the container swings relative to the handle, such as during carrying.

SUMMARY

To inhibit damage to container contents caused by contact with T-shaped handle ends, a niche or alcove for each of the T-shaped handle ends is defined in the container sidewall to limit protrusion of the T-shaped handle ends into the main volume of the container.

A container comprises a base and a container sidewall extending from one side of the base about a perimeter thereof to define an interior volume of the container. The container sidewall has a distal edge opposite the base. Opposed outward protrusions are formed in the container sidewall adjacent and spaced from the distal edge of the container sidewall, and opposed receiving slots are defined through the container sidewall for receiving and retaining T-shaped handle ends. The receiving slots are at least partly defined in the outward protrusions. The outward protrusions form a cavity recessed from the inside surface of the container sidewall to accommodate the T-shaped handle ends and limit protrusion thereof beyond the inside surface of the container sidewall for avoiding damage to contents of the container from contact with the T-shaped handle ends.

In one embodiment, in a rest position the outward protrusions are generally wedge-shaped with a wider end toward the base and a narrower end toward the distal edge. When the T-shaped handle ends are received in the cavities formed by the outward protrusions, movement of the T-shaped handle ends away from the base distorts the outward protrusions from being wedge-shaped and enlarges the portions of the cavities closest to the distal edge by pulling the at least one container sidewall outwardly between the narrower ends of the outward protrusions and the distal edge.

An assembly may comprise a container as described above together with a handle having the T-shaped handle ends, with the T-shaped handle ends being received and retained by the receiving slots and disposed within the cavities.

This summary is provided for convenience of reference only and is not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary container;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an assembly comprising the container of FIG. 1 together with an exemplary lid and handle;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2, showing the container and handle in a rest position relative to one another, with the lid shown in transparency;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2, showing the container and handle in a carrying position relative to one another, with the lid shown in transparency;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the assembly of FIG. 2, showing the container and handle in a rest position relative to one another;

FIG. 6 is a detailed end view of the assembly of FIG. 2, showing the container and handle in a rest position relative to one another; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed end view of the assembly of FIG. 2, showing the container and handle in a carrying position relative to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to FIG. 1, an exemplary container is shown generally at 10. As will be described in greater detail below, the container may form part of an assembly including the container 10 along with a handle and lid. The container 10 comprises a base 12 and a container sidewall 14 extending generally upwardly from the base 12 about a perimeter thereof to define an interior volume of the container 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the container sidewall 14 comprises alternating outwardly and inwardly impressed trapezoidal regions to define a plurality of trapezoidal strengthening ribs 16. The strengthening ribs 16 are omitted from a smooth region 18 on one of two opposed side portions 20 of the container sidewall 14 and a smooth region 22 on an end portion 24 of the container sidewall 14. These smooth regions 18 and 22 may provide a substrate for an adhesive label, or for direct application of paint. The end portions 24 of the container sidewall 14 are defined by main end portions 24A and corner portions 24B extending diagonally between the side portions 20 and the main end portions 24A of the container sidewall 14. The container sidewall has a distal edge 26 opposite the base 12. The distal edge 26 includes an outwardly extending container shoulder 28 and a downwardly depending peripheral container skirt 30. While the exemplary container 10 has a sidewall 14 that is of elongated octagonal cross-section, this is merely one embodiment and containers incorporating the features described herein may have any suitable shape.

Referring now to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. 1, opposed receiving slots 32 are defined in the side portions 20 of the container sidewall 14. The container 10 receives a handle 34 having T-shaped handle ends 36, and the receiving slots 32 receive and retain the T-shaped handle ends 36. The receiving slots 32 extend vertically and have a vertical length sufficient to enable one of the T-shaped handle ends 36 to be passed therethrough at an angle, after which the T-shaped handle end 36 is turned to be generally perpendicular to the receiving slot 32 so that the handle 34 is retained.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, a lid 40 is preferably provided for the container 10. The lid 40 is securable to the container 10 by an interference fit or “snap-lock” type fit so as to cover the container 10. Preferably, the lid 40 is formed of transparent plastic. The lid 40 comprises a top 42 and a lid sidewall 44 depending from the top 42 about a perimeter thereof and continuing into an outwardly extending lid shoulder 46 corresponding in size and shape to the distal edge 26 of the container 10. The lid shoulder 46 in turn continues into a downwardly depending peripheral lid skirt 48. Analogously to the container 10, the lid shoulder 46 of the lid sidewall 44 has an elongated octagonal shape corresponding to the elongated octagonal shape of the distal edge 26 of the container sidewall 14. The peripheral lid skirt 48 has a plurality of spaced-apart inward projections 52 defined therein. The inward projections 52 cooperate with the peripheral container skirt 30 to enable the lid 40 to be removably secured to the container 10. The lid 40 includes a series of transverse channels 54 extending across the top 42 and a portion of the lid sidewall 44.

Preferably, both the container 10 and the lid 40 are made from transparent plastic; in certain Figures the container 10 and lid 40 are shown as opaque merely for clarity of illustration.

As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, opposed outward protrusions 60 are formed in the side portions 20 of the container sidewall 14 adjacent and spaced from the distal edge 26 (not marked in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) of the container sidewall 14. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the opposed receiving slots 32 that receive and retain the T-shaped handle ends 36 begin below and extend upwardly into the outward protrusions 60 and as such are at least partly formed in the outward protrusions 60.

Referring again to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the outward protrusions 60 each form a cavity or pocket 62 recessed from the inside surface 64 of the container sidewall 14 to accommodate the T-shaped handle ends 36. The T-shaped handle ends 36 will generally rest within the recessed cavity 62, which limits protrusion of the T-shaped handle ends 36 beyond the inside surface of the container sidewall 14 into the main volume 65 of the container 10, in order to avoid damage to the contents 66 contents of the container 10 resulting from contact with the T-shaped handle ends 36. The T-shaped handle ends 36 may protrude slightly past the inside surface 64 of the container sidewall 14 into the main volume 65 of the container 10, but the recessed cavities 62 will still limit this protrusion considerably, as compared to a case where there were no recessed cavities 62. Optionally, after installing the handle 34, an adhesive patch may be adhered to the inside surface 64 of the container sidewall 14 to enclose the recessed cavities 62 and trap the T-shaped handle ends 36 therewithin, or the recessed cavities 62 may remain open to the main volume 65 of the container 10, as shown.

Because the vertical extent of the receiving slots 32 must be sufficient to permit insertion of the T-shaped handle ends 36 as described above, once installed the handle 34 will have some “play”; in particular the handle 34 will be able to slide along the receiving slots 32 toward and away from the base 12 of the container 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the container 10 and handle 34 are in a rest position relative to one another, such as when the container 10 is sitting on a flat surface, the T-shaped handle ends 36 will tend to rest at the lower ends of the receiving slots 32, i.e. the ends closest to the base 12 of the container 10. In this condition, the outward protrusions 60 are generally wedge-shaped, with the wide end 68 of the wedge toward the base 12 of the container 10 and the narrow end 70 of the wedge toward the distal edge of the container sidewall 14, and the T-shaped handle ends 36 rest in the lower portion 62L of their respective cavities 62, that is, the portion 62L of the cavity 62 closest to the base 12 of the container 10.

FIGS. 5 and 7 show the container 10 and handle 34 in a carrying position relative to one another, such as when the container 10 is suspended from the handle 34 when the container 10 is full. As can be seen in FIG. 7, in this condition the handle 34 bears against the peripheral lid skirt 48 and pulls the peripheral lid skirt 48 inwardly against the peripheral container skirt 30 (FIG. 1), enhancing the closure of the lid 40. In the carrying position, the container 10 is pulled down significantly by gravity, and the T-shaped handle ends 36 slide upwardly along the receiving slots 32, away from the base 12. This movement distorts the outward protrusions 60 from wedge-shaped and enlarges the upper portion 62U of each cavity 62, that is, the portion 62U of the cavity 62 closest to the distal edge 26, by pulling the container sidewall 14 outwardly to create a stretched region 72 thereof. Each stretched region 72 is generally aligned with the corresponding outward protrusion 60 and disposed between the narrow end 70 of the outward protrusion 60 and the distal edge 26 (FIG. 1) of the container. In the carrying position, each of the T-shaped handle ends 36 rests in the enlarged upper portion 62U of the respective cavity 62, and the outward protrusions 60 cooperate with the T-shaped handle ends 36 to limit pivoting of the handle 34 within the receiving slots 32.

While the container and assembly described herein have particular application in respect of produce such as fruit, they may be applied to other uses as well. A currently preferred embodiment has been described by way of example. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a base;

a container sidewall extending from one side of the base about a perimeter thereof to define an interior volume of the container;

the container sidewall having a distal edge opposite the base;

opposed outward protrusions being formed in the container sidewall adjacent and spaced from the distal edge of the container sidewall;

opposed receiving slots defined through the container sidewall for receiving and retaining T-shaped handle ends, the receiving slots being at least partly defined in the outward protrusions;

the outward protrusions each forming a cavity recessed from an inside surface of the container sidewall to accommodate the T-shaped handle ends and limit protrusion thereof beyond the inside surface of the container sidewall for avoiding damage to contents of the container from contact with the T-shaped handle ends.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein:

in a rest position, the outward protrusions are generally wedge-shaped with a wider end toward the base and a narrower end toward the distal edge; and

when the T-shaped handle ends are received in the cavities formed by the outward protrusions, movement of the T-shaped handle ends away from the base distorts the outward protrusions from being wedge-shaped and enlarges portions of the cavities closest to the distal edge by pulling the container sidewall outwardly between the narrower ends of the outward protrusions and the distal edge.

3. An assembly comprising the container of claim 1 and further comprising a handle having the T-shaped handle ends, with the T-shaped handle ends being received and retained by the receiving slots and disposed within the cavities.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the recessed cavities are open to the interior volume of the container.

5. The assembly of claim 3, further comprising a quantity of produce disposed in the interior volume of the container.