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US 11,780,639 B2Granted
Optimized system, box and bag for packing, shipping, storing and displaying produce
AssigneeChiquita Brands, Inc.
InventorFrancisco Rodriguez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Produce boxes and bags for shipping produce, e.g., bananas, utilize ventilation structures that allow for ventilation therethrough. A method of assembling produce boxes provides for cutouts that serve as ventilation structures in the boxes. When the produce boxes are stacked such as on a shipping pallet, the ventilation structures allow for ventilation of through the stacked boxes. Produce may be packed in a bag, which is closed with a rip cord and inserted into a produce box. The rip cord may be accessed when the box is in a stack such as on a shipping pallet, such that the rip cord may be pulled thereby opening the bag, without removing the box from the stack.
Claims20
A box for storing produce comprising:
- (a) a base comprising:
- (i) a front base panel,
- (ii) a rear base panel, and
- (iii) a pair of opposing base side panels, wherein the pair of opposing base side panels are longer relative to the front base panel and rear base panel,
- (iv) a single continuous base cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of each opposing base side panel, wherein the single continuous base cutout extends along an area that is about 30% to about 55% of a length of the top edge of each opposing base side panel, wherein the area that is about 30% to about 55% of the length of the top edge extends in a direction that extends from the front base panel toward the rear base panel, wherein each opposing base side panel includes a continuous remaining top edge;
- and
- (b) a lid comprising:
- (i) a front lid panel,
- (ii) a rear lid panel, and
- (iii) a pair of opposing lid side panels, wherein the pair of opposing lid side panels are longer relative to the front lid panel and rear lid panel,
- (ii) a lid cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of each opposing lid side panels adjacent to a lid opening, wherein the lid is positionable about the base such that the lid cutout is similarly shaped as the single continuous base cutout and is aligned with the single continuous base cutout.
8 more elements
A box for storing produce comprising:
- (a) a base comprising:
- (i) a front base panel,
- (ii) a rear base panel,
- (iii) a first side base panel, and
- (iv) a second side base panel, wherein the first side base panel and the second side base panel are a longer relative to the front base panel and rear base panel, wherein the first side base panel defines a top edge defining a single first side base cutout and a continuous remaining top edge, wherein the single first side base cutout extends away from a top of the first side base panel, wherein the single first side base cutout includes 30% to about 55% of a length of the first side base panel, wherein the second side base panel defines a single second side base cutout extending away from the top of the second side base panel, wherein the single second side base cutout extends away from the top of the first side base panel, wherein the single second side base cutout includes 30% to about 55% of a length of the second side base panel, wherein the front base panel, rear base panel, first side base panel, and second side base panel define a base opening;
- and
- (b) a lid comprising:
- (i) a front lid panel,
- (ii) a rear lid panel, and
- (v) a pair of opposing lid side panels, wherein the pair of opposing lid side panels are longer relative to the front lid panels and rear lid panels, wherein each opposing lid side panel defines a lid cutout extending away from a top edge of each opposing lid side panel and a remaining portion of each opposing lid side panel having a flat surface, wherein the lid is positionable about the base such that the lid cutout is aligned with the respective first side base cutout or second side base cutout, wherein the front lid panel, rear lid panel, and opposing side lid panels define a lid opening.
7 more elements
A box for storing produce comprising:
- (a) a base consisting of:
- (v) a front base panel,
- (vi) a rear base panel, and
- (vii) a pair of opposing base side panels, wherein the pair of opposing base side panels are longer relative to the front base panel and rear base panel, wherein the front base panel, rear base panel, and opposing base side panel define a base opening,
- (viii) a single base cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of each opposing side panel wherein the single base cutout is centrally located along the top edge of each opposing side panel and extends along an area that is about 30% to about 55% of a length of the top edge of each opposing side panel, wherein the area that is about 30% to about 55% of the length of the top edge extends in a direction that extends from the front base panel toward the rear base panel, wherein the top edge of each opposing side panel includes a continuous remaining top edge;
- and
- (c) a lid consisting of:
- (k) a front lid panel,
- (ii) a rear lid panel, and
- (iii) a pair of opposing lid side panels, wherein the pair of opposing lid side panels are longer relative to the front lid panels and rear lid panels, wherein the front lid panels, rear lid panels, and opposing lid side panels define a lid opening,
- (iv) a lid cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of each opposing lid side panel adjacent to the lid opening, wherein the lid is positionable about the base such that the lid cutout is aligned with the single base cutout.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.