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(11) | EP 0 272 124 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A container and set of parts for making same |
| (57) A set of parts for making a container 1 comprises a body part 2 for defining at least
a base 3 of the container 1 when erected and two separate end parts 4, which in the
embodiments shown are identical, for defining opposite ends of the assembled container
1, the body part 2 and end part 4 having respective interengaging means 5 whereby
the parts 2 and 4 are permanently secured together when the container is assembled. The interengaging means 5 comprise lugs 15 in a groove of each end part 4 and a slit 16 in the body part 2. |
[0002] Containers or boxes for produce such as fruit, vegetables or fish are often made of wood, heavy and cumbersome, or are made of a relatively flexible material which can be collapsed or crushed, and hence can damage the produce carried thereby. Moreover, both kinds do not provide adequate ventilation, either, 'through or 'cross'-ventilation, for the produce, which is thereby liable to spoil.
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts for making a container, comprising a body part for defining at least a bse of the container when assembled, and two separate end parts for defining opposite ends of the container when assembled, the body part and end parts having respective interengaging means whereby the parts are secured together when the container is assembled.
[0005] The end parts may be identical. This makes for relative ease of production, for example by an injection moulding process when the end parts are made of plastic material.
[0006] The body parts may be adapted for folding to conform to a configuration of the end parts in which the body part is received when the container is assembled.
[0008] The configuration may be a groove in which a respective end of the body part is received, the groove being just greater in width than the thickness of the body part. The body part may be a sheet material.
[0009] The interengaging means may be a plurality of lugs, upstands, teeth or the like of the end parts and slots, notches, cut-outs or the like of the body part.
[0010] The lugs, upstands, teeth, or the like may be situated in the groove. This provides for simplicity of assembly as insertion of the body part in the grooves automatically engages the interengaging means.
[0011] The lugs, upstands, teeth or the like may have an inclined surface directed into the groove. This provides for ease of assembly as the inclined surface guides the end of the body part into the groove during assembly.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a container assembled from a set of parts as hereinbefore defined.
[0015] The lateral walls of the containers may be lower than the height of the end walls defined by the end parts.
[0016] A set of parts for assembly to make a container such as a cauliflower box, and a container, are hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a container according to the invention made from a set of parts according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows two containers of Fig. 1, stacked;
Fig. 2 and 3A show to a larger scale an end elevational view and a scrap view of an end part, respectively; and
Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of mounting of a body part in an end part according to the invention.
[0017] Referring to the drawings, a set of parts for making a container 1 comprises a body part 2 for defining at least a base 3 of the container 1 when erected and two separate end parts 4, which in the embodiment shown are identical, for defining opposite ends of the assembled container 1, the body part 2 and end parts 4 having respective interengaging means 5 whereby the parts 2 and 4 are permanently secured together when the container is assembled.
[0018] The end parts 4 are injection moulded from plastics, and have a part 6 which defines a base or foot on which the assembled container rests, a top part 7 which defines a top of the container 9 and which may have stacking parts 8, (Fig. 3).
[0019] In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the top and bottom parts have undulations 9 which mate when identical containers 1 are stacked (Fig. 2) so providing a stable, stacked array.
[0020] The body part 2 comprises a rigid sheet material such as a fluted plastics sheet material which is adapted as by longitudinal crease lines 10 to be folded to provide the base 3, and wall parts 11 of the container 1. The width of the body part 2 is such that when folded to form the walls 11, the upper (free) edges of the walls are in use lower than the tops of the end parts 4. (Fig. 1).
[0021] The end parts 4 each have a configuration comprising a groove 12 defined by parallel flanges 13 and 14, the groove 12 defining the configuration of the base 3 and walls 11 of the assembled container 1. In the grooves 12 are spaced lugs, upstands or teeth 15 which project from a lower (in use) flange 14 towards the upper one 13, the upstands 15 being vertical and with a rounded edge 16 directed into the groove, as shown in Fig. 3A. The sheet material body part has pairs of parallel slits, slots, or apertures, hereinafter called slits 16, defined by a cut-out or flap 17 which is not removed and is hinged at 18 to the sheet body part, which are spaced apart and define a width of material just wide enough to accommodate a lug, upstand or tongue 15. The lugs, upstands or tongues 15 and the slits 16 comprise the interengaging means 5.
[0022] The height of the groove 12 in each end part 4 is slightly narrower or just equal to the thickness of the sheet material 2.
[0023] In use to assemble a container 1 using a body part 2 and two end parts 4, it is merely necessary to fold the body part 2 to the configuration of the groove 12, and offer it up to and then push it into the groove 12 of one end part 4. This action forces the end of the body part over the lug, upstand or tongue 15 and into the groove, being guided in this action by the rounded part 19. The lug, upstand or tongue 15 forces the material of the body part 2 between the slits up so that it is locked in the material between parallel slits. The other end part 4 is mounted on the opposite, free end of the body part in a similar manner, to provide a container 1 as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2.
[0024] The interengaging means 5 cannot be disengaged as the groove 12 is too narrow to allow the material of the body part 2 to be lifted off it, the upper (in use) flange 13 maintaining the body part 2 in position. Any longitudinal pull merely locks the interengaging means more securely together as the lug, upstand or tongue 15 engages against the inboard end of the material of the body part between the slits.
[0025] The perforation (or lattice-like array) of the end part 4 allows through ventilation i.e. longitudinally of the container 1. The lower height side walls 11 allow cross (i.e. transverse) ventilation when the containers are stacked, as well a providing a good display of produce whether stacked or not.
[0026] It will be understood that there may be modifications. For example, the lugs, upstands or tongues 15 may be of wedge-shape to provide an inclined surface leading into the groove 12 to act as a guide for the leading edge of the material of the body part 2. In Fig. 4, the wedge shape in the groove 12 comprises a plurality, in the case 5, of substantially parallel, spaced apart supports or struts 20 for an inclined rear wall 21 which butts against a boundary edge of the slit 16 to secure the end wall and body part together, the body part 2 riding over the supports or struts 20 to allow the part 15 to engage in and therewith with the wall 21 locking against the adjacent boundary of the body part defining the slit. As the leading edge of the body part 2 is pushed into the groove 12, it rides up over the lug, upstand or tongue 15 and then as it progresses into the groove 12 strikes a rear, downwardly as viewed in Fig. 4, inclined boundary wall 22 thereof so that the body part 2 is positively forced downwardly so that the lug, upstand or tongue 15 enters the slit 16. Stated in another way when the slit 16 is over the lug, upstand or tongue 15, continued movement of the body part into the groove 12 forces the body part down around the lug, upstand or tongue 15, positively to wedge it in position and to ensure a firm connection of the interengaging means provided by the lug, upstand or tongue 15 and the slit 16. Also, the edges of the body part 2 may have apertures, slots or tabs formed in alignment with the lugs, upstands or tongues.
[0027] In every embodiment the container 1 provides ventilation and stackability, which features are provided by the end parts which also allow a saving of material as no sheet material as used for the body part is required for the ends parts. In this respect, it will be understood that the lattice structure of the end parts 4 is such that there are boundary edges 6, 7, 7a and transverse members 23, 23a, 24, the members 23a being inclined at 35° to the vertical. There will be as many transverse members as are necessary to provide for the retention of produce in the assembled container. Thus, the 'holes' between members 6, 7, 7a, 23, 23a and 24 will be larger or smaller depending for example on whether cauliflowers or tomatoes are to be held in the assembled container. Moreover, an injection moulding tool for making the end parts or frames 4 may include an insert whereby the lateral extent of the end part can be varied for example it can be made 300 mm or 400 mm wide depending on whether the insert is utilised.
1. A set of parts for making a container comprises a body part for defining at least
a base of the container when erected and two separate end parts, characterized by
the body part (2) and end parts (4) having respective interengaging means (15, 16)
whereby the parts (2,4) are secured together when the container is assembled.
2. A set of parts according to Claim 1, characterized in that each end part (4) comprises
a part (6) which defines a base or foot on which the assembled container rests.
3. A set of parts according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the interengaging
(15,16) means comprises an upstanding lug, upstand or tongue (15) on an end part (4)
and a slit (16) in the body part (2).
4. A set of parts according to Claim 3, characterized by the slit (16) comprising
an aperture formed in the body part (2) by a flap or tab (17).
5. A set of parts according to Claim 4, characterized in that the flap or tab (17)
is hinged to the body part (2) by an integral hinge (18).
6. A set of parts according to any of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the lug,
upstand or tongue (15) is situated in a groove (12) of the end part (4).
7. A set of parts according to Claim 6, characterized in that the lug, upstand or
tongue (5) has a rounded free edge (19).
8. A set of parts according to Claim 6, characterized in that the lug, upstand or
tongue (15) comprises a plurality of supports (20) and an inclined wall (21).
9. A set of parts according to Claim 8, characterized in that the groove (12) has
an inclined wall (22) spaced from the wall (21) whereby to guide the body part (2)
so that the interengaging means (15,16) engage.
10. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the end
part (4) has means (9) for stacking with a similar end part (4).
11. A set of parts according to Claim 10, characterized in that the means (8) comprise
upstanding lugs.
12. A set of parts according to Claim 11, characterized in that the means (9) comprise
undulations.
13. A container, characterized by being assembled from a kit of parts according to
any preceding claim.
14. A container according to Claim 13, characterized by the body part (2) being formed
from a single blank of material folded to provide a base (3) and side walls (11),
and by the side walls (11) being lower than the end part (4).
15. A container according to Claim 14, the end parts (4) each having a lattice construction
(6,7,7a,23,23a and 24).