The present disclosure relates to a banded container for fruits and produce.
Development of the disclosed banded container was motivated by existing point-of-sale types of produce containers and cartons, in response to changing market driven requirements primarily due to the adverse environmental impacts of plastic packaging materials. There is a need for containers made of bio-degradable and recyclable materials that also protect the contents of the container, while providing a point of sale display that is attractive to the consumer or purchaser. The following disclosure of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
Exemplary embodiments of the technology will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of the scope of the technology, the exemplary embodiments will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference characters included in the above drawings indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as discussed herein. The description herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and the description herein is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. It should be understood that the above listed figures are not necessarily to scale and may include fragmentary views, graphic symbols, diagrammatic or schematic representations. Details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention by one skilled in the technology of the invention, or render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted.
Exemplary embodiments of a banded container for articles of produce 10 will be best understood by reference to the drawings included herewith, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the device, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and device is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of exemplary embodiments of the technology.
Referring to
The banded container 10 provides a secure and attractive, and well ventilated shipping and display enclosure for the produce 12 contained within. The banded container allows the purchaser to inspect the contents visually, while preventing the produce articles enclosed within the banded container from being removed or dropping out.
As shown in
The bottom tray 16 has bottom sides 17 as shown in
After filling the bottom tray 16 with the produce articles, a top tray 21 that is preferably identical in construction to the bottom tray 16, is placed over the produce articles contained in the bottom tray. The produce articles are place into and within a tray space 20. Most preferably, the produce articles are generally spherical, as found in apples and packed together in an array sized to fill the tray space.
Exactly as in the bottom tray 16, the top tray 21 has top sides 22 as shown in
Most preferably, the top tray 21 and the bottom tray 16 are formed or constructed from a bio-degradable and recyclable material, such as a ‘kraft’ paper or a cardboard 25. Similar materials could be used in the alternative, as conventionally formed of a newly produced paper pulp material, or formed of a recycled paper pulp materials in the alternative, any of which are well known to persons skilled in the selection and manufacture of pulp materials.
The bottom sides 17 of the bottom tray 16 preferably extend from the tray bottom 18 and fold upward to form a set of bottom corners 26, with a bottom slit 27 at each bottom corner as shown in
Similarly, the top sides 22 of the top tray 21 preferably extend from the tray top 23 and fold downward to form a set of top corners 31, with a top slit 32 at each top corner, as shown in
As shown in
The top corners 31 of the top tray 21 each include a corner-hole pair 40, as shown in
Preferably, the first elastic band 37 and the second elastic band 38, which may be simply referred to herein as “bands” 39, may be made of any conventional elastic ribbon or string materials, including fiber, cloth, and rubber. An elastic material is desirable, to provide a snug fit and firm hold around the top tray 21 and bottom tray 16, with the produce 12 held within tray space 20. Most preferably a sanitary, yet biodegradable material is employed for the bands.
The first elastic band 37 and the second elastic band 38 each wrap around the top tray and the bottom tray, and received into each corner-hole pair 40, with each of the bands 39 threading through the bottom sides 17 and tray bottom 18 of the try bottom, and the top sides 22 and the tray top 23 of the top tray. The bands seat into the connector slot between each first band-hole 41 and second band-hole 42. The connector slot serves as a double flapped stop to prevent the bands from walking or otherwise exiting from an end wrapped position 50, as shown in
The bands 39 each route over the exterior of the tray top 23 of the top tray 21 into the first band-hole 41, across the connector-slot 45 and out of the second band-hole 42 in the first top side 22A of the top tray. The band then continues on the exterior of the first top side of the top tray and across the tray space 20 to the first bottom side 17A of the bottom tray 16.
The bands 39 then rout into the second band-hole 42 in the first bottom side 17A of the bottom tray 16, across the connector-slot 45 and out of the first band-hole 41 of the tray bottom 18 of the bottom tray.
The bands 39 the each route over the exterior of the tray bottom 18 of the bottom tray 16 into the first band-hole 41, across the connector-slot 45 and out of the second band-hole 42 in the first bottom side 17A of the bottom tray. The band then continues on the exterior of the first bottom side of the bottom tray and across the tray space 20 to the first top side 22A of the top tray 16.
The bands 39 then complete the circuit of the top tray 21 and the bottom tray 16 by routing into the second band-hole 42 in the first top side 22A of the top tray, across the connector-slot 45 and out of the first band-hole 41 of the tray top 23 of the top tray, again to the exterior of the tray top.
With the bands 39 then placed around both the top tray 21 and the bottom tray 16, routed through each corner-hole pair 40 and held within each connector slot 45, a firm encasement of the produce 12 within the tray space 20 is achieved. Again, preferably two elastic bands are used, the first elastic band 37 at a first end 51 of the banded container 10, and the second elastic band 38 at a second end 52 of the banded container one at each end of the container. However, a single band could be employed proximate to a center region 53 of the banded container 10, or any number of bands used, regularly spaced along the top tray and bottom tray.
Additionally, the bands 39 may be removed from only the top tray 21 or only the bottom tray 16, to allow one or the other trays to be removed from the banded container 10. For instance, if the bands are removed from the corner-hole pairs 40 in the top corners 31 of the top tray, the top tray can be removed, with the bands still retained within the corner-hole pairs in the bottom corners 26 of the bottom tray.
Similarly, for the bottom tray 16, the corner-hole pair 40 is located in each top corner 26 of the bottom tray, with the bands 39 received within and threaded there through. Again, the bands are received into the first band-hole 41 and the connector slot 45, which connects to the second band-hole 42.
Similarly, for the bottom tray 16, the band-hole tab 46 also remains connected to bottom tray, with the tab hinge 47. Again the band-hole tab hinges in the tab hinge inwardly into the tray space 20 when depressed by the bands, as received into the corner-hole pair 30.
The band-hole tab 46 serves well to protect the produce articles 12 within the banded container 10, from potential damage by the bands 39. In the alternative, the shape of the band-hole tab may be any convenient or desired shape, as is the shape of the first band-hole and the second band-hole. As shown in
For this Detailed Description, the terms “connected”, “attached”, “coupled” and “mounted” refer to any form of interaction between two or more elements, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be functionally coupled with or to each other, even though they are not in direct contact with each other.
Also, the terms “approximately” or “approximate” are employed herein throughout, including this detailed description and the attached claims, with the understanding that is denotes a level of exactitude commensurate with the skill and precision typical for the particular field of endeavor, as applicable.
Additionally, the terminology used in this application is to be interpreted according to ordinary and customary usage in the field of the invention as exemplified in the pertinent U.S. and International Patent Classification Codes, and equivalent codes in other patent classification systems.
The word “embodiment” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Additionally, reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “the embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the quoted phrases, or variations thereof, as recited throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above Detailed Description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining this disclosure. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than those expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following this Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description together with the accompanying drawings referred to herein as the disclosure, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. This disclosure includes all permutations of the independent claims with their dependent claims.
In compliance with the statutes, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features and process steps where applicable. While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in different forms, the specification illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and the disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described.
Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments and variations of the invention are possible, which employ the same inventive concepts as described above. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except by the following claims, as appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.