COLLAPSIBLE CRATE

Abstract

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.

Description

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/469,183, filed on May 11, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/485,116, filed May 11, 2011.

BACKGROUND

Crates 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.

SUMMARY

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example crate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a clamshell container.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a plurality of the containers of FIG. 6 in the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a wireframe side view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a wireframe end view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a bottom wireframe view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the crate and containers of FIG. 11 cross-stacked on identical crate and containers.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the stack of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a wireframe bottom view of the stack of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the crates and containers of FIG. 18 arranged end-to-side.

FIG. 22 shows the crates of FIG. 21 without the containers.

FIG. 23 is an end view of the crates of FIG. 22 without the containers.

FIG. 24 is a wireframe end view of the crates of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is an end view of the crates of FIG. 21 with the containers.

FIG. 26 is a wireframe end view of the crates of FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A crate 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The crate 10 includes a base 12, a pair of opposed side walls 14 and a pair of opposed end walls 16. The side walls 14 and end walls 16 are collapsible onto the base 12. The end walls 16 may include handles 18. Latches 20 selectively connect the side walls 14 to the end walls 16 to maintain the walls in the upright, use position.

The base 12 includes an upper panel 22 having a plurality of openings or vents 24 formed therein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the side walls 14 each include a lower panel portion 26 on an inner surface of the side wall 14, an outer panel portion 28 at an outer surface of the side wall 14 and above the lower panel portion 26, and an upper panel portion 30 at an inner surface of the side wall 14 and above the outer panel portion 28. A plurality of ribs 32 extend outward from the lower panel portion 26 and upper panel portion 30 and inward from the outer panel portion 28.

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 FIGS. 1 and 3, the end walls 16 each include a lower panel portion 46 on an inner surface of the end wall 16, an outer panel portion 48 at an outer surface of the end wall 16 and above the lower panel portion 46, and an upper panel portion 50 at an inner surface of the end wall 16 and above the outer panel portion 48. A plurality of ribs 52 extend outward from the lower panel portion 46 and upper panel portion 50 and inward from the outer panel portion 48.

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.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the crate 10. The base 12 includes a plurality of vents 24. The vents 24 include a plurality of rows of vents 56 in which the rows extend parallel to the side walls 14 (in this example, there are six rows of vents 56). The vents 56 are elongated in a direction parallel to the end walls 16. The vents 24 further include a plurality of columns of vents 58, wherein the columns extend parallel to the end walls 16 (in this example, there are six columns of vents 58) and the vents 58 are elongated generally parallel to the side walls 14. The vents 24 further include three columns of offset vents 62 (the vents 62 elongated in a direction generally parallel to the side walls 14) between the first and second columns of vents 58, the third and fourth columns of vents 58 and fifth and sixth columns of vents 58. Vents 60 are formed between the second and third columns of vents 58 and fourth and fifth columns of vents 58. The arrangement of vents can also be viewed as a 3×3 array of container support surfaces, each having a rectangular perimeter of elongated vents that are oriented perpendicular to the perimeter. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the crate 10.

The spacing and arrangement of the vents 24 in the base 12 is further explained with reference to clamshell containers 100 shown in FIGS. 6-10. The clamshell container 100 is a known plastic container often used for shipping and selling fruit, such as strawberries, or other items that require refrigeration. The clamshell container 100 includes an upper portion 102 and a lower portion 104. The upper portion 102 includes a rim portion 106 extending around a periphery of a lid portion 108. A plurality of upper ventilation openings 110 are formed through tapered side walls and an upper wall of the lid portion 108. The lower portion 104 includes a rim portion 112 extending around a periphery of a base 114. A plurality of lower ventilation openings 116 are formed through tapered side walls and a lower wall of the base 114. A plurality of connectors 118 connect the rim portion 106 of the upper portion 102 to the rim portion 112 of the lower portion 104. The connectors 118 also space the upper portion 102 from the lower portion 104 to provide additional ventilation.

As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of clamshell containers 100 can be placed in the crate 10 (in this example, nine). FIG. 12 is a side view of the crate 10 and containers 100 of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a wireframe view of FIG. 12. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the lower ventilation openings 116 of the containers 100 align with the lower openings 38 and lower vents 34 of the crate 10. The vents 29 in the outer panel portion 28 of the crate 10 align with the gap between the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 104 of the container 100. The vents 31 in the upper panel portion 30 of the crate 10 align with the upper ventilation openings 110 of the containers 100.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the crate 10 and containers 100 of FIG. 11. FIG. 15 is a wireframe view of FIG. 14. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the vents 49 in the outer panel portion 48 of the crate 10 align with the gap between the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 104 of the container 100. The vents 51 in the upper panel portion 50 of the crate 10 align with the upper ventilation openings 110 of the containers 100.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the crate 10 and containers 100 of FIG. 11. FIG. 17 is a bottom wireframe view of the crate 10 and containers 100 of FIG. 16. The lower ventilation openings 116 along the long wall of the container 100 align with the rows of vents 56. The lower ventilation openings 116 along the short wall of the container 100 align with the columns of vents 58. Some of the vents 58 align between containers 100, as do some of the offset vents 62 and vents 60. Each of the containers 100 is received on a container support surface defined by the perimeter of elongated vents, such that the elongated lower ventilation openings 116 of the container 100 are aligned with the elongated vents along the perimeter of each container support surface.

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 FIG. 18 (as part of a cross-stacked stack of crates 10, in a known arrangement). As shown, the upper crate 10 is rotated ninety degrees relative to the lower crate 10, so that two thirds of the crates 10 overlap (if the crate's 10 width is two-thirds of its length). FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the crates 10 of FIG. 18. As shown, in the cross-stacked orientation, the vents 56 of the upper crate 10 align with the vents 58 of the lower tray 10, and vice versa. The offset vents 62 also align with vents 56. This would also mean that the vents in the base 12 of the upper crate 10 are aligned with the upper ventilation openings 110 of the containers 100 (just as the vents in the base 12 aligned with the lower ventilation openings 116 of the containers 100, because the upper ventilation openings 110 are aligned with the lower ventilation openings 116).

FIG. 21 shows the crates 10 and containers 100 aligned with the end wall 16 of one crate 110 adjacent one edge of a side wall 14 of the other crate 10. This is part of a lower layer of crates 10, where another layer would be stacked thereon, as in FIGS. 18 and 19. As shown in FIG. 24, the vents 29, 49 align, the vents 31, 51 align and the vents 27, 47 align.

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 including a generally horizontal panel;

a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base, generally perpendicular to the panel;

a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, generally perpendicular to the panel, a handle opening formed through each of the opposed end walls; and

the panel of the base including a plurality of rectangular container support areas of the same size each having four sides, one of the plurality of rectangular container support areas positioned between two others of the plurality of rectangular support areas, wherein the container support areas are arranged in a 3×3 array substantially completely occupying the generally horizontal panel of the base from one of the side walls to the other of the side walls and from one of the end walls to the other of the end walls, each side intersected by a plurality of elongated vents each elongated along an axis perpendicular to the each side, the elongated vents formed through the panel of the base, one row of the elongated vents arranged adjacent each side wall, one column of the elongated vents arranged adjacent each end wall.

2. The crate of claim 1 wherein the side walls and the end walls are hingeably connected to the base.

3. The crate of claim 1 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 a plurality of lower ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area.

4. The crate and containers of claim 3 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.

5. The crate of claim 1 wherein the side walls each include a lower panel portion, an outer panel portion above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion above the outer panel portion, wherein the lower panel portion and the upper panel portion are disposed in an inner plane and the outer panel portion is disposed in an outer plane spaced outward of the inner plane.

6. The crate of claim 5 wherein a plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion and upper panel portion to the outer plane and inward from the outer panel portion to the inner plane.

7. The crate of claim 5 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.

8. The crate of claim 7 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.

9. The crate of claim 8 wherein the lower portion of each of the containers has ventilation openings aligned with the vents of the respective container support area.

10. The crate of claim 9 further including horizontally-oriented lower vents formed in the lower panel portion below the vertically-oriented vents.

11. 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.

12. The crate of claim 1 wherein a plurality of identical containers are disposed on the base, each of the containers supported on one of the container support areas, each of the containers having a plurality of lower ventilation openings aligned with the elongated vents on each of the four sides of the respective container support area.

13. The crate and containers of claim 12 wherein the containers are arranged in a 3×3 arrangement on the base of the crate.

14. 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, each of the end walls including a handle opening therethrough; and

the base including a plurality of container support areas of the same size each defined by a rectangular perimeter having four sides, a plurality of vents arranged along each of the sides of each of the perimeters, wherein the plurality of vents are each elongated along an axis perpendicular to its respective side of the respective perimeter, wherein the container support areas are arranged in a 3×3 array substantially completely occupying the base from one of the side walls to the other of the side walls and from one of the end walls to the other of the end walls.

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 extending from one end wall to the other end wall, an outer panel portion above the lower panel portion, and an upper panel portion above the outer panel portion, wherein an inner surface of each of the side walls is defined by the lower panel portion and the upper panel portion, and wherein the inner surface circumscribes the outer panel portion, wherein the outer panel portion is spaced outwardly of the upper panel portion and the lower panel portion, wherein lower vents are formed in the lower panel portion, outer vents are formed in the outer panel portion, and upper vents are formed in the upper panel portion, wherein the lower vents are elongated in a vertical direction, the outer vents are elongated in a horizontal direction and the upper vents are elongated in a direction generally parallel to the outer vents.

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 would be aligned with the vents in the one of the side walls of the identical crate.

18. The crate of claim 15 wherein the lower panel portion and the upper panel portion are disposed in an inner plane and wherein the outer panel portion is disposed in an outer plane, spaced outward of the inner plane.

19. The crate of claim 18 wherein a first plurality of ribs extend outward from the lower panel portion to the outer plane.

20. The crate of claim 19 wherein a second plurality of ribs extend inward from the outer panel portion to the inner plane.

21. The crate of claim 20 wherein a third plurality of ribs extend outward from the upper panel portion to the outer plane.

22. A crate comprising:

a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges;

a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the side edges of the base;

a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the end edges of the base, a handle opening formed through each of the pair of opposed end walls; and

the base including a plurality of first vents adjacent each of the side edges, the first vents elongated along axes perpendicular to the side edges, the base including a plurality of second vents adjacent each of the end edges, the second vents elongated along axes perpendicular to the end edges, the base including a plurality of third vents arranged in a plurality of rows parallel to the side edges, wherein the third vents are elongated along axes perpendicular to the side edges, the base including a plurality of fourth vents arranged in columns parallel to the end edges, wherein the fourth vents are elongated along axes perpendicular to the end edges.