US 12,365,531 B2 · Banded container for fruits and produce

Abstract

A container for produce, and specifically for fruits such as apples that provides a secure and well ventilated shipping enclosure, allowing the purchaser to visually inspect the contents, while preventing the enclosed produce from being removed or dropping out of the container. The container is preferably constructed from bio-degradeable materials such as a kraft paper or cardboard, and includes a bottom tray into which the produce is placed. A top tray is placed over the produce contained in the bottom tray, with trays including pairs of “corner-holes” near the four corners of both trays, each pair connected by corner slots. An elastic band is then placed around both the top tray and the bottom tray, received into each set of corner holes and held within each corner slot. Preferably two elastic band are used, one located proximate to each end of the container.

A banded container for articles of produce, the banded container comprising:

a bottom tray into which a multiple of produce articles can be received, the multiple of produce articles having a produce height, the bottom tray having a tray bottom and a set of four bottom sides connected to the tray bottom, the set of four bottom sides including a first bottom side, a second bottom side, a third bottom side, and a fourth bottom side, the set of four bottom sides each extending upwardly from the tray bottom to approximately one-third of a produce height of the multiple of produce articles, and the multiple of produce articles receivable and holdable within the bottom tray;
a top tray located above the bottom tray, the top tray including a tray top and a set of four top sides connected to the tray top, the set of four top sides includes a first top side, a second top side, a third top side, and a fourth top side, and the set of four top sides each extend downwardly from the tray top to approximately one-third of the produce height of the multiple of produce articles receivable and holdable within the banded container;
the multiple of produce articles held in an interior tray space within the banded container;
with each the set of four bottom sides of the bottom tray folded upward from the tray bottom to meet together to form a set of four bottom corners, the set of four bottom corners including a first bottom corner, a second bottom corner, a third bottom corner, and a fourth bottom corner;
with each of the set of four top sides of the top tray folded downward from the tray top to meet together to form a set of four top corners, the set of four top corners including a first top corner, a second top corner, a third top corner, and a fourth top corner;
a first bottom band-hole located on the tray bottom of the bottom tray proximate to the first bottom side of the bottom tray and proximate to the first bottom corner, and a first bottom side band-hole located on the first bottom side of the bottom tray in close proximity to the first bottom band-hole and proximate to the first bottom corner, the first bottom band-hole and the first bottom side band-hole comprising a first bottom corner-hole pair, and the first bottom band-hole and the first bottom side band-hole are inter-connected by a first bottom connector-slot;
a second bottom band-hole located on the tray bottom of the bottom tray proximate to the first bottom side of the bottom tray and proximate to the second bottom corner, and a second bottom side band-hole located on the first bottom side of the bottom tray in close proximity to the second bottom band-hole and proximate to the second bottom corner, the second bottom band-hole and the second bottom side band-hole comprising a second bottom corner-hole pair, and the second bottom band-hole and the second bottom side band-hole are inter-connected by a second bottom connector-slot;
a third bottom band-hole located on the tray bottom of the bottom tray proximate to the third top side of the bottom tray and proximate to the third bottom corner, and a third bottom side band-hole located on the third bottom side of bottom top tray in close proximity to the third bottom band-hole and proximate to the third bottom corner, the third bottom band-hole and the third bottom side band-hole comprising a third bottom corner-hole pair, and the third bottom band-hole and the third bottom side band-hole are inter-connected by a third bottom connector-slot;
a fourth bottom band-hole located on the tray bottom of the bottom tray proximate to the third bottom side of the bottom tray and proximate to the fourth bottom corner, and a fourth bottom side band-hole located on the third bottom side of the bottom tray in close proximity to the fourth bottom band-hole and proximate to the fourth bottom corner, the fourth bottom band-hole and the fourth bottom side band-hole comprising a fourth bottom corner-hole pair, and the fourth bottom band-hole and the fourth bottom side band-hole are inter-connected by a fourth bottom connector-slot;
a first top band-hole located on the tray top of the top tray proximate to the first top side of the top tray and proximate to the first top corner, and a first top side band-hole located on the first top side of the top tray in close proximity to the first top band-hole and proximate to the first top corner, the first top band-hole and the first top side band-hole comprising a first top corner-hole pair, and the first top band-hole and the first top side band-hole are inter-connected by a first top connector-slot;
a second top band-hole located on the tray top of the top tray proximate to the first top side of the top tray and proximate to the second top corner, and a second top side band-hole located on the first top side of the top tray in close proximity to the second top band-hole and proximate to the second top corner, the second top band-hole and the second top side band-hole comprising a second top corner-hole pair, and the second top band-hole and the second side band-hole are inter-connected by a second top connector-slot;
a third top band-hole located on the tray top of the top tray proximate to the third top side of the top tray and proximate to the third top corner, and a third top side band-hole located on the third top side of the top tray in close proximity to the third top band-hole and proximate to the third top corner, the third top band-hole and the third top side band-hole comprising a third top corner-hole pair, and the third top band-hole and the third top side band-hole are inter-connected by a third top connector-slot;
a fourth top band-hole located on the tray top of the top tray proximate to the third top side of the top tray and proximate to the fourth top corner, and a fourth top side band-hole located on the third top side of the top tray in close proximity to the fourth top band-hole and proximate to the fourth top corner, the fourth top band-hole and the fourth top side band-hole comprising a fourth top corner-hole pair, and the fourth top band-hole and the fourth top side band-hole are inter-connected by a fourth top connector-slot;
the top tray secured to the bottom tray with a first band, the first band placed around the top tray and the bottom tray, with the first band seated within the first top connector-slot from the first top band-hole to the first top side band-hole and within the third top connector-slot from the fourth top band-hole to the fourth top side band-hole of the tray top, and the first band seated within the first bottom connector-slot from the first bottom band-hole to the first bottom side band-hole and within the fourth bottom connector-slot from the fourth bottom band-hole to the fourth bottom side band-hole of the tray bottom,
the top tray secured to the bottom tray with a second band, the second band placed around the top tray and the bottom tray, with the second band seated into within the second top connector-slot from the second top band-hole to the second top side band-hole and within the third top connector-slot from the third top band-hole to the third top side band-hole of the tray top, and the second band seated within the second bottom connector-slot from the second bottom band-hole to the second bottom side band-hole and within the third bottom connector-slot from the third top band-hole to the third bottom side band-hole of the tray bottom;
a first band-hole bottom tab comprising a first bottom cut-out portion of the first bottom band-hole with the first band-hole bottom tab remaining connected to the tray bottom of the bottom tray with a first bottom tab hinge, and a first band-hole bottom side tab comprising a first bottom side cut-out portion of the first bottom side band-hole, with the first band-hole bottom side tab remaining connected to first bottom side of the bottom tray with a first bottom side tab hinge, and with the first band-hole bottom tab and the first band-hole bottom side tab hinge inwardly hinged into an interior tray space within the banded container, when the first band-hole bottom tab and the first band-hole bottom side tab are depressed by the first band as received into the first bottom corner-hole pair and the first bottom connector-slot;
a second band-hole bottom tab comprising a second bottom cut-out portion of the second bottom band-hole with the second band-hole bottom tab remaining connected to the tray bottom of the bottom tray with a second bottom tab hinge, and a second band-hole bottom side tab comprising a second bottom side cut-out portion of the second bottom side band-hole, with the second band-hole bottom side tab remaining connected to first bottom side of the top tray with a second bottom side tab hinge, and with the second band-hole bottom tab and the second band-hole bottom side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the second band-hole bottom tab and the second band-hole bottom side tab are depressed by the second band as received into the second bottom corner-hole pair and the second bottom connector-slot;
a third band-hole bottom tab comprising a third bottom cut-out portion of the third bottom band-hole with the third band-hole bottom tab remaining connected to the tray bottom of the bottom tray with a third bottom tab hinge, and a third band-hole bottom side tab comprising a third bottom side cut-out portion of the third bottom side band-hole, with the third band-hole bottom side tab remaining connected to third bottom side of the bottom tray with a third bottom side tab hinge, and with the third band-hole bottom tab and the third band-hole bottom side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the third band-hole bottom tab and the third band-hole bottom side tab are depressed by the second band as received into the third bottom corner-hole pair and the third bottom connector-slot;
a fourth band-hole bottom tab comprising a fourth bottom cut-out portion of the fourth bottom band-hole with the fourth band-hole bottom tab remaining connected to the tray bottom of the bottom tray with a fourth bottom tab hinge, and a fourth band-hole bottom side tab comprising a fourth bottom side cut-out portion of the fourth bottom side band-hole, with the fourth band-hole bottom side tab remaining connected to third bottom side of the top tray with a fourth bottom side tab hinge, and with the fourth band-hole bottom tab and the fourth band-hole bottom side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the fourth band-hole bottom tab and the fourth band-hole bottom side tab are depressed by the first band as received into the fourth bottom corner-hole pair and the fourth bottom connector-slot;
a first band-hole top tab comprising a first top cut-out portion of the first top band-hole with the first band-hole top tab remaining connected to the tray top of the top tray with a first top tab hinge, and a first band-hole top side tab comprising a first top side cut-out portion of the first top side band-hole, with the first band-hole top side tab remaining connected to first top side of the top tray with a first top side tab hinge, and with the first band-hole top tab and the first band-hole top side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the first band-hole top tab and the first band-hole top side tab are depressed by the first band as received into the first top corner-hole pair and the first top connector-slot;
a second band-hole top tab comprising a second top cut-out portion of the second top band-hole with the second band-hole top tab remaining connected to the tray top of the top tray with a second top tab hinge, and a second band-hole top side tab comprising a second top side cut-out portion of the second top side band-hole, with the second band-hole top side tab remaining connected to first top side of the top tray with a second top side tab hinge, and with the second band-hole top tab and the second band-hole top side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the second band-hole top tab and the second band-hole top side tab are depressed by the second band as received into the second top corner-hole pair and the second top connector-slot;
a third band-hole top tab comprising a third top cut-out portion of the third top band-hole with the third band-hole top tab remaining connected to the tray top of the top tray with a third top tab hinge, and a third band-hole top side tab comprising a third top side cut-out portion of the third top side band-hole, with the third band-hole top side tab remaining connected to third top side of the top tray with a third top side tab hinge, and with the third band-hole top tab and the third band-hole top side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the third band-hole top tab and the third band-hole top side tab are depressed by the second band as received into the third top corner-hole pair and the third top connector-slot;
a fourth band-hole top tab comprising a fourth top cut-out portion of the fourth top band-hole with the fourth band-hole top tab remaining connected to the tray top of the top tray with a fourth top tab hinge, and a fourth band-hole top side tab comprising a fourth top side cut-out portion of the fourth top side band-hole, with the fourth band-hole top side tab remaining connected to third top side of the top tray with a fourth top side tab hinge, and with the fourth band-hole top tab and the fourth band-hole top side tab hinge inwardly hinged into the interior tray space within the banded container, when the fourth band-hole top tab and the fourth band-hole top side tab are depressed by the first band as received into the fourth top corner-hole pair and the fourth top connector-slot;
and
the first band-hole bottom tab, the first band-hole bottom side tab, the first band-hole top side tab, the first band-hole top tab, the fourth band-hole bottom tab, the fourth band-hole bottom side tab, the fourth band-hole top side tab and the fourth band-hole top tab are depressed by the first band and positioned within the first band is a first produce article of said multiple of produce articles, and
the second band-hole bottom tab, the second band-hole bottom side tab, the second band-hole top side tab, the second band-hole top tab, the third band-hole bottom tab, the third band-hole bottom side tab, the third band-hole top side tab and the third band-hole top tab are depressed by the second band and positioned within the second band is a second produce article of said multiple of produce articles.

23 more elements

Banded container for fruits and produce

Life of this patent

Banded container for fruits and produce

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13