OBJECT OF THE MODEL
[0001] The object of the model is to provide a new container formed by two reciprocally
adaptable bodies which jointly form a closed container fitted with attachment means
allowing for several subsequent homologous containers to be superposed.
[0002] The container proposed by the invention comprises two independent preformed sections
made of a stampable material, such as corrugated cardboard, one of the sections constituting
the main body of the container and the other section forming a second independent
body which closely adapts itself to the main body in order to envelop it.
[0003] The attachment of both bodies forms a closed, very robust container fitted with attachment
means allowing several containers to be superposed, adhered and mutually retained
to form very stable and strong piles.
[0004] The container thus arranged is extremely appropriate for storing and transporting
certain perishable goods.
BACKGROUND OF THE MODEL
[0005] Several container models are known to use corrugated cardboard stamped sections to
form boxes which are preferably utilized for containing perishable goods, such as
fresh fruits, vegetables and others. These containers normally constitute totally
open boxes fitted with attachment means allowing several layers of homologous boxes
containing perishable goods to be successively superposed, whereby the box located
on an upper plane covers and closes the box located on the immediate lower plane,
each box fitting into other boxes. Ample open spaces in the form of windows are provided
between each two superposed boxes, generally along their larger sides, allowing air
to circulate as needed for preserving the packed perishable goods in the course of
storage or transport periods.
[0006] Practice reveals that although these containers allow for efficient storage and preservation
of certain perishable goods such as citrus fruits, tubercles, cucurbitaceous and similar
products, this is not the case with other goods such as vegetables, asparagus, greens
and other vegetable products when stored one over the other in a manner that precludes
adequate airing of the products located on the lower planes of each superposed box,
which become rapidly damaged.
[0007] The container proposed by the present invention efficiently solves this important
drawback, providing for the storage of perishable goods without the need to superpose
them, since they are positioned vertically inside the container, in side to side contact,
without one unit resting on the other and with all the products receiving the necessary
amount of air to ensure proper preservation.
[0008] An object of the invention consists in providing a container in which the packed
perishable goods are kept inside the container collaterally leaning on each other
and in an upright position, without being superposed, thus ensuring their proper preservation.
[0009] A further object of the invention consists in providing a container formed by two
independent bodies laterally adjacent each other, one body acting as a deposit for
the product and the other as a cover; upon separating the cover from the container,
the upper part of the goods are partially exposed for inspection and/or direct removal
by the consumer.
[0010] A further object of the invention consists in providing an exhibitor-container comprising
two independently preformed sections, optionally made of corrugated cardboard, the
container being assembled by a totally manual process which requires no extremely
costly and complex folding machines and adhesive-applying devices, thus obtaining
important cost savings which allow the boxes to be fabricated with high quality materials.
[0011] One characteristic of the proposed container model is that one side of the container
body in which the products, e.g. asparagus, are stored is considerably upwardly elongated
and constitutes a perpendicular supporting wall which maintains the packed perishable
goods adjacent each other, in an upright position and without the product units leaning
on one another.
[0012] A further characteristic of the invention consists in that, when the box is open,
the higher wall of the container body maintains the packed goods in an upright position
and allows them to be exhibited, also enabling this wall, as a result of its greater
height, to have indications and/or visible legends printed on it relating to the packed
product.
[0013] A further characteristic of the proposed container consists in that the smaller lateral
sides of the storage body extend upwards along their edge hinged to the rear elevated
wall of the box's body, said wall, and consequently the upper part of the box's body,
thus becoming considerably reinforced.
[0014] Other objects and characteristics related to the benefits and economy of the new
proposed container are discussed in the following description, wherein the preferred
assemblies and particulars of the invention are described in detail.
[0015] A fuller idea of the invention is provided by the following description when considered
jointly with the attached drawings, in which, in a rather schematic form and merely
as an example, a practical embodiment is set forth for the proposed container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the preformed section corresponding to the main storage
body, namely the place where the perishable goods are stored.
[0017] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the storage or main body of the container, showing one of
the inner side flaps which form the container body in its offset position.
[0018] Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the second body, which functions as a lid which covers and
laterally and upperly encloses the storage body.
[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective and conventionally sectioned view of the second body closing the
storage space.
[0020] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the two reciprocally aligned bodies, storage and cover,
which jointly form the container. In this figure, the two bodies, storage and cover,
are shown facing each other, with the container opening and closing movements shown
in phantom lines.
[0021] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container's storage body and cover body enclosing it,
and clearly shows the configuration of the arrangement with its protrusions, attachment
lodgings, airing spaces and handles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL
[0022] Commenting on the drawings, number 1 generally designates the preformed cardboard
section forming the main body of the container and acting as a storage body. This
section is divided into several sectors by means of stamped folding lines marking
the limit of bottom 2 which, in the embodiment shown, forms a substantially rectangular
quadrangle, the dimensions of which are the most suitable in each case for containing
the product intended to be packed. Along the longer edges of bottom 2 hinge respective
flaps 3 and 4, the first of which is larger and forms the rear side of the box by
rotating 90° upwards to an upright position over the corresponding bottom 2 edge onto
which it is hinged. The second flap 4 forms the front side of the container, its height
being lower than that of rear side 3 (approximately half). Said front flap 4 also
rotates 90° upwards to achieve a perpendicular plane parallel to rear side 3.
[0023] Rear side 3 forms the higher wall of the box's main body 33, its vertical edges descending
somewhat slantingly in divergent directions, its lower end being slightly wider than
its upper edge and thus forming a quadrangle trapezium hinged along one of the longer
bottom 2 edges.
[0024] Second extension 4, forming a rectangular quadrangle, hinges on the front edge of
bottom 2 and rotates 90° upwardly, to a vertical position, occupying a perpendicular
plane that is parallel to rear wall 3.
[0025] Extension 4, forming the front side of the box, presents, hinged to its side edges,
respective extensions or flaps 11 which rotate 90° to form the respective walls that
rise perpendicular over bottom 2 of the container and onto which attach, on either
side, two corresponding sectors 5, 6 of the ample flap forming the rear panel 3 of
the box's body.
[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the larger panel 3 of main body 33 has, hinged onto its vertical
edges, respective homologous flaps divided into three sectors, a central sector 5
thereof having the same height as the rear panel 3 and is fitted along its lower edge
with an ample flap 8 which rotates 90° to achieve a horizontal plane over container
bottom 2.
[0027] Said central sector 5 on the side in question presents a slanting cut 32 that starts
on its upper edge and extends approximately down to the central zone to form an ample
flap 6, the upper edge of which is fitted with an attachment crest 9 closely fitting
into the perforation 10 practiced in the upper edge of sector 8, thus immobilizing
the whole of side 5 over the bottom 2.
[0028] Via these arrangements, the flaps 11 of front side 4 directly adhere to the inner
plane of the respective sides 5 of the box's body, on which flaps hinge the sectors
or flaps 6 of the sides in question. The assembly thus arranged maintains its mounted
position by means of the attachment crests 9 which emerge from the upper bottom of
flaps 6, said crests being inserted in the coinciding perforations 10 practiced in
the hinge line between side 5 and its lower extension 8.
[0029] The rear panel 3, the highest in the container, is fitted with a small attachment
crest 12 along its upper edge which is inserted in the coinciding perforation 13 practiced
in the lower edge of a homologous box positioned in an immediate upper plane, thereby
impairing lateral movement.
[0030] Body 33, arranged according to the preceding description, forms a storage section
of the container and is fitted with a rear side 3 that is higher than the front side
4. The lateral sides 5 present a sector having the same height as the larger side
3 and another sector having the same a height as front side 4.
[0031] The main body 33 of the container forms an enclosure for storing the products to
be packed, said enclosure having its front 4 and rear 3 sides reciprocally parallel
and its smaller or minor sides descending to the bottom 2 somewhat slantingly and
in diverging directions.
[0032] The rear wall 3 of said container body 33 is higher than the rest of the walls, projecting
over them and over the packed goods and allowing indications or references in relation
to the product to be printed on the upper side of said main side, so that, upon removal
of the enveloping body or cover 34, said indications are visible above the packed
product.
[0033] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, they show that the preformed cardboard section 16 forming
the enveloping body or cover 34 is of a design and arrangement similar to that of
section 1 forming the container body 33, composed of a substantially rectangular base
and forming a truncated quadrangular pyramid, its upper portion being open and its
rear side 3 and lateral side 5 being partially higher than the rest of the sides.
[0034] Upper body 34, acting as a cover, is superposed on the container body 33, fits laterally
thereon, closes the enclosure and covers the packed product. Both bodies, 33 and 34,
are of a similar design, their various parts being mutually juxtaposed in a relatively
loose fit. This arrangement requires enveloping body or cover 34 to have its minor
sides 20 slanting in a different direction to that of body 33, its larger sides 18,
19 being reciprocally parallel. According to this arrangement, closure body 34 is
placed in an inverted position over container body 33, covers it from above with its
central section 17 and closes the enclosure containing the perishable goods.
[0035] These details, which differentiate the container body 33 from the enveloping body
or cover 34, can be readily understood by comparing Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings;
in the case of cover 34, its horizontal closure beam 17 and the edge of its larger
sides are reciprocally parallel and respectively hinged onto larger side 18 and opposite
side 19.
[0036] The body 34, on the free edge of its larger side 18, presents an attachment notch
28 for lodging crest 27, which emerges from another homologous container located on
an immediate lower plane. The central partition 17 in cover 34, on the edge of reciprocally
parallel sides 18, 19, presents respective cuts 27 and 29. The first of these cuts
forms an attachment crest, protruding vertically from plane 17, which covers the upper
part of container body 33 and lodges into the coinciding cut 28 of another identical
or similar container onto which it is superposed, occupying the upper plane. Cut 29
is provided for the purpose of receiving crest 12 emerging from the upper edge of
container body 33, both bodies becoming thus attached to one another.
[0037] Sides 20, hinging on the vertical edges of higher side 18, are cut by respective
slanting lines 35 to form the trapezoidal flaps 21 which fold along two parallel folding
lines 22 to adapt onto flap 26, fully enveloping it, and subsequently fitting its
crest 24 in the coinciding lodging 25 cut into the flaps 23, which adapt onto sector
17 to close container body 33.
[0038] Figure 5 shows that the proposed container is formed exclusively by two bodies 33
and 34, the first of which, 33, constitutes a container body shaped like a truncated
quadrangular pyramid internally forming the enclosure where the packed goods are arranged
and. maintained in a collateral adjacent upright position. Two sides of this body,
advantageously the smaller or minor sides 5, show a slight inclination and follow
converging-diverging planes to form a quadrangular pyramid-shaped body having an upper
part that is narrower than the lower part. By means of this arrangement, when enveloping
body 34 is placed on container body 33, it envelops the latter, whereby both reciprocally
adapted bodies 33 and 34 form a container generally in the shape of a truncated quadrangular
pyramid the sides of which present free spaces in the form of windows 14, 15 and 30
through which air circulates as necessary for proper preservation of the packed perishable
goods. Spaces 14, 30 can also serve as handles for manipulating the containers.
[0039] The object of the present utility model being thus adequately described, it should
be understood that the proposed container is not strictly limited to the exact details
of this description, since, in practice, detail modifications are liable to be introduced
provided said variations do not change, alter or modify the essential nature of the
exhibitor container as described herein.
1. An exhibitor container comprising two preformed sections of a stampable material,
one of the sections constituting the basic body forming the container enclosure for
storing the products to be packed and the other section forming a second body which
folds onto and closes said container body, functioning as a cover; both bodies collaterally
adapt to each other through a simple fit, the container being characteristic in that
the container body forming the enclosure where the products are stored is a truncated
quadrangular pyramid one of the larger sides of which is higher than the other sides,
thus constituting a support for holding the products packed in the container enclosure
in an upright position and collaterally leaning on one another.
2. An exhibitor container according to claim 1, characteristic in that the pyramidal
container body forms a substantially rectangular base enclosure, one wall being considerably
higher than the others, in which enclosure the packed goods are arranged to collaterally
lean onto one another and are kept in an upright position by means of the higher wall
in the container enclosure and the elevated sectors of the smaller sides.
3. An exhibitor container according to claims 1 and 2, characteristic in that the smaller
or minor sides of the container enclosure are cut vertically, each forming a higher
sector that forms a dihedral angle with the higher rear side of the container enclosure,
thereby reinforcing it.
4. An exhibitor container according to claims 1 and 2, characteristic in that the second
body that adapts laterally onto the container body is formed by an inverted truncated
pyramidal body with a rectangular base, the larger sides occupying planes that are
reciprocally parallel and the smaller sides ascending along convergent planes which
adapt to the coinciding configuration of the main container body, closing the body
enclosure.
5. An exhibitor container according to claims 1 and 4, characteristic in that, upon the
enveloping body becoming adapted to the container body, respective ample openings
are formed between them, in the smaller sides, through which air circulates as necessary
for adequately preserving the packed perishable goods.
6. An exhibitor container according to claim 1 and subsequent claims, characteristic
in that the enveloping body adapts collaterally over the container body, to which
it adheres by means of an attachment crest emerging from the upper edge on the higher
side of said container body.
7. An exhibitor container according to claim 1 and subsequent claims, characteristic
in that the enveloping body adapts laterally and upperly onto the container body,
thereby closing the enclosure.