COLLAPSIBLE FRUIT CRATE
A crate for agricultural products can include a base, a side wall, and a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base. The hinge mechanism can include a hinge extending from the side wall. The hinge can include a rod. The hinge can further include a hinge receiver defined by the base. The hinge receiver may define a receiving area with an opening. The opening may be at a top end of the hinge receiver. The opening may define a minimum width of the receiving area. The rod of the hinge can be positionable into the receiving area via the opening.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/390,843 filed on Jul. 20, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe invention relates to crates for shipping products, particularly agricultural products, and more particularly to collapsible crates for such products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCrates for shipping of products, particularly fruit and similar agricultural products, may be constructed from polymers such as but not limited to polyolefins. Their advantages over crates made of paper or cardboard (e.g. cartons) include greater sturdiness, aeration of the content and resistance to humidity. In some configurations, polymer crates may also be re-usable and therefore generally foldable for return shipping. Polymer crates may be in a fixed form, in which panels of the crate are fixedly joined, or a collapsible form, in which, side panels are hingedly connected with a base between a folded and erected configuration.
Described herein are crates for shipping products such as but not limited to agricultural products. The crates described herein may be configurable between an erected configuration and a folded configuration, and the crates may be stackable in both the folded configuration and the erected configuration. In certain embodiments, side walls of the crate may be hingedly connected to a base of the crate via floating hinge mechanisms. The floating hinge mechanisms may allow for opposing side walls to be folded on top of each other in the folded configuration while allowing for either side wall to be an uppermost or lowermost wall when folded (e.g., the side walls do not need to fold in a specific order). The floating hinge mechanisms may also facilitate movement of the side walls between the erected configuration and the folded configuration and vice versa.
In various embodiments, the crates described herein include friction features on one or more side walls of the crate, including but not limited to a first side wall of the crate (e.g., when the crate is a rectangular shape/does not have uniform side wall lengths). When included, such friction features may minimize or prevent labels from sticking permanently to the crate. Additionally or alternatively, during a lifting operation, the friction features of one crate may frictionally engage friction features of an adjacent crate to prevent or minimize slippage between the crates and/or to improve stability of the crates. Such frictional engagement may improve the stability of layers of a pallet or stack of crates, facilitating movement of multiple crates, such as when a set of crates is engaged by a layer picker or other suitable piece of machinery for engaging a set of crates from multiple sides to push the crates together for lifting or other handling.
In some embodiments, the crates described herein include at least one side wall with a flex portion having a thickness different from a thickness of another portion of the side wall. In such embodiments, the flex portion and/or thickness variation may allow the crate to flex and conform to the products within the crate. As a non-limiting example, the flex portion and/or thickness variation may allow the crate to conform to agricultural products such as fruit within the crate.
In certain embodiments, the crates described herein include a side wall with one or more sampling windows that may be used, for example, during a quality check of the content of the crate. In some embodiments, the sampling windows may be provided at different locations on the side wall and/or relative to each other to facilitate access to different portions of the crate interior. In certain cases, the sampling windows may have different shapes and/or dimensions, which optionally may facilitate different quality checks.
The aforementioned features may be provided in various combinations or sub-combinations as desired, and a single crate need not include all of the aforementioned features. Moreover, the features described are for illustrative purposes and should not be considered limiting, and crates consistent with the disclosure may include various other features as desired. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the devices and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.
In various embodiments, the perimeter wall 108 may include one or more first hinge receivers 114 for engaging corresponding hinges 130 of the first side walls 104A-B and one or more second hinge receivers 116 for engaging corresponding hinges 172 of the second side walls 106A-B. The hinge receivers 114, 116 may allow for the side walls 104, 106 to be hingedly connected to the base 102 while allowing for movement between an erected configuration and a folded configuration relative to the base 102.
As best illustrated in
Optionally, the first side wall 104 includes end portions 148, 150 having a first thickness and a center portion 152 between the end portions 148, 150 having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness. In certain embodiments, the second thickness is less than the first thickness such that the center portion 152 is a flex portion allowing the crate to conform to contents of the crate 100. As best illustrated in
The first side wall 104 may include one or more first hinges 130 that are selectively engageable with corresponding first hinge receivers 114 of the base 102. As best illustrated in
In various embodiments, and as best illustrated in
Similar to the first side wall 104, the second side wall 106 optionally includes end portions 164, 166 and a center portion 168 where a thickness of the center portion 168 is different from (e.g., less than) a thickness of the end portions 164, 166. In such embodiments, the center portion 168 is a flex portion allowing the crate to conform to contents of the crate 100. As best illustrated in
In certain embodiments, a sampling window 170 is defined in the second side wall 106. Optionally, the sampling window 170 is defined at least partially by the center portion 168. The sampling window 170 may facilitate access to an interior region of the crate 100 when the crate 100 is in the erected configuration. In certain cases, the sampling window 170 optionally may be a handling or gripping location for a user to grab or grasp when handling the crate 100.
The second side wall 106 includes one or more second hinges 172 that are selectively engageable with corresponding second hinge receivers 116 of the base 102. The second hinges 172 may be similar to or different from the first hinges 130 as desired.
In some embodiments, and as best illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In addition to the sampling windows 782, compared to the second side wall 106, the second side wall 706 additionally includes a flex limiter 784 on the latch 174. In such embodiments, the flex limiter 784 may limit an outward flexing or movement of the latch 174. In certain embodiments, the flex limiter 784 optionally may provide tactile feedback to a user indicating when the latch 174 has moved a sufficient distance allowing the crate 700 to be collapsed.
Label fingers 786 may be included on the second side wall 706. The label fingers 786 may correspond to tabs or other protrusions suitably arranged to receive and/or hold a card or other label on the crate, such as to indicate content identification, weight, origin, destination, and/or other information. Some label fingers 786 may extend vertically (such as shown along a lower portion of the second side wall 706), and some label fingers 786 may extend horizontally (such as shown along lateral portions of the second side wall 706), although other orientations may be utilized (including but not limited to partially horizontal and partially vertical). The second side wall 706 include at least one mounting surface that may be substantially free of ribs 783 and/or other friction features 780, e.g., so as to be smooth to facilitate installation of a label via the label fingers 786 or otherwise.
The sampling windows 782 and/or 170 may be of a larger, smaller, or different size than shown in
The aforementioned examples of features provided within the crates are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting, and in other embodiments, other types of features may be provided with crates as desired.
Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention may include:
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- A. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- i. a base,
- ii. a side wall, and
- iii. a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:
- a) a hinge extending from the side wall, the hinge comprising a rod; and
- b) a hinge receiver defined by the base, the hinge receiver defining a receiving area with an opening, wherein the opening is at a top end of the hinge receiver, wherein the opening defines a minimum width of the receiving area, and wherein the rod of the hinge is positionable into the receiving area via the opening.
- B. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- i. a base,
- ii. a side wall, and
- iii. a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:
- a) hinge extending from the side wall, the hinge comprising a rod; and
- b) a hinge receiver defined by the base, the hinge receiver defining a receiving area with an opening, wherein the opening is at a top end of the hinge receiver, wherein the rod of the hinge is positionable into the receiving area via the opening, wherein the hinge receiver further comprises a ledge on a surface of the receiving area opposite from the top end of the hinge receiver, and wherein the hinge is configured to engage the ledge in the erected configuration.
- C. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- i. a base,
- ii. a side wall, and
- iii. a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base,
- iv. wherein the side wall comprises opposing end portions and a flex portion extending continuously between the end portions along a length of the side wall, wherein a thickness of the flex portion is less a thickness of each end portion.
- D. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- i. a base,
- ii. a side wall, and
- iii. a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base,
- iv. wherein the side wall comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion extending continuously between the first and second end portions along a length of the side wall, the center portion comprising friction features configured to frictionally engage friction features of another crate during lifting.
- E. The crate according to statement D, wherein the friction features comprise a plurality of ribs, each rib of the plurality of ribs extending from proximate the first end portion to proximate the second end portion.
- F. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- i. a base,
- ii. a side wall, and
- iii. a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base,
- iv. wherein the side wall comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion extending continuously between the first and second end portions along a length of the side wall, the center portion comprises a plurality of ribs, each rib of the plurality of ribs extending from proximate the first end portion to proximate the second end portion.
- G. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- i. a base,
- ii. a side wall, and
- iii. a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base,
- iv. wherein the side wall comprises a first sampling window defined proximate a top end of the side wall and a second sampling window defined proximate to a bottom end of the side wall, wherein the first sampling window is vertically and horizontally offset from the second sampling window, and wherein the first sampling window and the second sampling window are each configured to accommodate removal of an agricultural product through the aperture.
- A. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to these example embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of any claims ultimately drafted and issued in connection with the invention (and their equivalents). For avoidance of doubt, any combination of features not physically impossible or expressly identified as non-combinable herein may be within the scope of the invention. Throughout this disclosure, a reference numeral with a letter refers to a specific instance of an element and the reference numeral without an accompanying letter refers to the element generically or collectively. Thus, as an example (not shown in the drawings), device “12A” refers to an instance of a device class, which may be referred to collectively as devices “12” and any one of which may be referred to generically as a device “12”. In the figures and the description, like numerals are intended to represent like elements. As used herein, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described embodiments, nor the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- a base;
- a side wall; and
- a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises: a hinge extending from the side wall, the hinge comprising a rod; and a hinge receiver defined by the base, the hinge receiver defining a receiving area with an opening, wherein the opening is at a top end of the hinge receiver, wherein the opening defines a minimum width of the receiving area, and wherein the rod of the hinge is positionable into the receiving area via the opening.
2. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the width is defined in a direction transverse to a pivot axis of the hinge mechanism.
3. The crate according to claim 1, wherein in the erected configuration, the rod is arranged adjacent and/or in contact with a bottom end of the hinge receiver.
4. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the hinge receiver further comprises a ledge on a surface of the receiving area opposite from the top end of the hinge receiver.
5. The crate according to claim 4, wherein the hinge is configured to engage the ledge in the erected configuration.
6. The crate according to claim 5, wherein the hinge further comprises a protrusion extending from the rod and arranged to engage the ledge in the erected configuration.
7. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises opposing end portions and a flex portion extending continuously between the end portions along a length of the side wall, wherein a thickness of the flex portion is less than a thickness of each end portion.
8. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion extending continuously between the first and second end portions along a length of the side wall, the center portion comprising friction features configured to frictionally engage friction features of another crate during lifting.
9. The crate according to claim 8, wherein the friction features comprise a plurality of ribs, each rib of the plurality of ribs extending from proximate the first end portion to proximate the second end portion.
10. The crate according to claim 8, wherein the side wall is a first side wall and the crate further comprises a second side wall having a mounting surface that is smooth to facilitate installation of a label.
11. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is a first side wall and the crate further comprises a second side wall having a plurality of label fingers for holding a label on the crate.
12. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises a first sampling window defined proximate a top end of the side wall and a second sampling window defined proximate to a bottom end of the side wall, wherein the first sampling window is vertically and horizontally offset from the second sampling window, and wherein the first sampling window and the second sampling window are each configured to accommodate removal of an agricultural product therethrough.
13. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is a first side wall and the crate further comprises a second side wall, wherein the second side wall further comprises a latch arranged to secure the first side wall with the second side wall together in the erected configuration.
14. The crate according to claim 13, wherein the latch is integral with the second side wall and movable or flexible to flex inwards or outwards relative to the second side wall.
15. The crate according to claim 14, wherein the first side wall comprises a stopper arranged to engage the latch and obstruct inadvertent flexing inward of the latch and block inadvertent actuation of the latch.
16. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- a base;
- a side wall; and
- a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base,
- wherein the side wall comprises opposing end portions and a flex portion extending continuously between the end portions along a length of the side wall, wherein a thickness of the flex portion is less a thickness of each end portion.
17. The crate according to claim 16, wherein the side wall comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion extending continuously between the first and second end portions along a length of the side wall, the center portion comprising friction features configured to frictionally engage friction features of another crate during lifting.
18. A crate for agricultural products, the crate comprising:
- a base;
- a side wall; and
- a hinge mechanism pivotably connecting the side wall with the base such that the side wall is movable between a folded configuration and an erected configuration relative to the base,
- wherein the side wall comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion extending continuously between the first and second end portions along a length of the side wall, the center portion comprising friction features configured to frictionally engage friction features of another crate during lifting.
19. The crate according to claim 18, wherein the friction features comprise a plurality of ribs, each rib of the plurality of ribs extending from proximate the first end portion to proximate the second end portion.
20. The crate according to claim 18, wherein the side wall is a first side wall and the crate further comprises a second side wall having a mounting surface that is smooth to facilitate installation of a label.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 20, 2023
Publication Date: Jan 25, 2024
Inventors: Haron Hacko (Hod Hasharon), Ahmad Jaroushi (Hod Hasharon)
Application Number: 18/224,221