This invention relates generally to a modular produce crate, such as for agricultural produce including apples.
Modular crate construction is desirous including to reduce complication and expense of integrally formed plastic injection techniques.
Various modular crate configurations exist including U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,551 A (COCCIEMIGLIO, JR) 3 Mar. 1998 disclosing a particular type of panel connecting clip for joining adjacent approved panels, U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,258 A (QUIGLEY et al) 12 Oct. 1976 disclosing a knock-down produce container consisting of four identical sides and a bottom, EP 0286271 A2 (WORLD CONTAINER CORPORATION) 12 Oct. 1988 disclosing a collapsible container including a base and upstanding sides, EP 1264774 A1 (MODULARBOX OY) 11 Dec. 2002 disclosing a pallet cage having a pallet and four walls mounted on its edges and U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,973 A (DEWEY et al) 17 Jun. 1997 disclosing a collapsible agricultural storage container having a base panel and a plurality of side panels removably connected to the base panel and interlocked at their edges by elongated, removable corner members.
The present invention seeks to provide a modular produce crate which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
There is provided herein a modular produce crate comprising four side panels, base panel and base. The base has a quadrant of upper surface corner base connectors.
Each side panel defines an interior base panel channel, a pair of side panel corner connectors extending below the channel and side panel interfacing edges above the channel.
Unlike prior art arrangements which may involving corner channels which engage panels therebetween (such as is disclosed by COCCIEMIGLIO, JR), or which may involve four side panels which engage a rectangular base (such as the arrangements disclosed by QUIGLEY et al, WORLD CONTAINER CORPORATION and MODULARBOX OY and DEWEY et al), the present modular crate is assembled by enclosing the base panel within collocating channels of the four side panels arranged thereabout and pressing the side panels down together onto the base to plug the side panel connectors into the respective quadrant of base connectors thereof.
The base panel is held fast by the engagement of the side panel connectors within the respective base connectors thereunderneath and by the fastened interfacing edges of the side panels thereabove.
The base connectors may comprise an arrangement of location tabs, deflecting clips, buttresses and the like for secure engagement of the side panels and, in embodiments, the base panel.
The base preferably comprises a pair of elongate skids simplifying the construction and assembly of the crate.
Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
A modular produce crate 100 comprises four side panels 101, a base panel 102 and a base which may comprise a pair of elongate skids 103, all of which may be made of injection moulded plastic. The base defines a quadrant of corner base connectors 104. Each skid 103 may have a pair of upper surface corner base connectors 104 at opposite ends thereof and a beam 136 spanning therebetween.
Each side panel 101 defines an interior base panel channel 105 and a pair of side panel corner connector 106 at opposite side edges thereof and extending beneath the channel 105. Each side panel 101 further defines interfacing edges 107 above the channel 105.
For assembly, pairs of adjacent side panel corner connectors 106 plug into respective corner base connectors 104 to enclose the channels 105 around the base panel 102 to hold the base panel 102 in place between the side panels 101. The adjacent interfacing edges 107 fasten together.
In the embodiment shown, the channel 105 is continuous and engages a corresponding respective continuous straight edge of the base panel 102 therein. However, in alternative less preferred embodiments, the channel 105 could be formed by a plurality of mortises engaging edge tenons of the base panel 102 or other similar interlocking arrangement.
As best shown in
As best shown in
Each side panel 101 may comprise an inwardly extending upper curved transition 128 which interfaces over or against a corresponding edge of the base panel 102. As shown in
The side panels 101 and the base panel 102 may define a matrix of apertures 129 therethrough. One or more side panels 101 may comprise a central panel within the apertures 129 for labelling. The side panels 101 may be strengthened by peripheral latticework 131.
Each side panel 101 may further define a central side panel connector 113 which plugs into an upper central base connector 114.
As is best shown in
As shown in
As is further best shown in
As best shown in
As further shown in
Furthermore, the base panel 102 may define an outer rail 143 which fits within a corresponding recess 144 of the side panel 101 under the transition 128. The outer rail 143 may define an undersurface which bears downwardly within the recess 144 to support the weight of the base panel 102 and furthermore may define an upper surface which may bear upwardly against an underside edge of the transition 128.
As best shown in
Furthermore, sides of each base connector 104, 114 may comprise a series of buttress tabs 119 having an inner lower edge and an outer high edge thereby defining a channel which holds a corresponding edge of the panel connectors 106, 113.
The recess may comprise screw sockets 126 which engage screws going through corresponding apertures 127 of the wooden batten 124.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2019903879 | Oct 2019 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2020/051106 | 10/15/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2021/072492 | 4/22/2021 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3985258 | Quigley | Oct 1976 | A |
4000827 | Emery | Jan 1977 | A |
5638973 | Dewey | Jun 1997 | A |
5722551 | Cocciemiglio, Jr. | Mar 1998 | A |
6216899 | Vicari | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6752285 | Scalf | Jun 2004 | B1 |
11286106 | Meeks | Mar 2022 | B1 |
20140197168 | Miller | Jul 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
0286271 | Oct 1988 | EP |
1264774 | Dec 2002 | EP |
1516823 | Mar 2005 | EP |
2036826 | Mar 2009 | EP |
2018012516 | Jan 2018 | JP |
2011092652 | Aug 2011 | WO |
Entry |
---|
European Search Report dated Sep. 19, 2023 from counterpart Europe Application No. 20875673.4. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter II) dated Apr. 8, 2021 from PCT Application No. PCT/AU2020/051106. |
International Search Report & Written Opinion dated Dec. 8, 2020 from corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/AU2020/051106. |
International-type search dated Jan. 16, 2020 for Australian Application No. 2019903879. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20230052384 A1 | Feb 2023 | US |