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(11) | EP 1 419 978 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Tub particularly for fruit and vegetable produce |
| (57) Tub, particularly for packaging and stocking fruit and vegetable produce, comprising
a tub body (2) with a substantially flat bottom (3) surrounded by at least one side
wall and one lid (9) suitable for being coupled with the tub body (2) and provided
with a substantially flat ceiling (10) and at least one tilted side wall (4, 5, 6,
7), the tub body having a plurality of projections (16, 17, 20) each making up a portion
of at least one side wall, and at least one through opening (21) at one or more projections
(16, 17, 20). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a tub made of a thermoformable plastics material, particularly suitable for being used as a packaging, i.e. for receiving, stocking, storing and shipping fruit and vegetable produce.
[0002] Current fruit and vegetable produce cold and cool storage techniques comprise keeping the produce itself in an environment at a controlled temperature by circulating refrigerated or cooled air through the produce by both an upward, and a transverse flow.
[0003] Tub shaped containers have already been proposed, which are provided with a bottom and a ceiling both formed with a plurality of holes arranged to allow air flows or currents to be blown in a substantially vertical direction through the tub, thus through the fruit and vegetable produce therein contained.
- Italian utility model -IT-235 241 in the name of the same Applicant as in the present invention, discloses a lid for a tub provided with a bottom formed with holes, which is also provided with side openings, i.e. formed in its side walls, in order to enhance ventilation also in a transverse direction with respect to the tub.
[0004] In many types of use of a tub for fruit and vegetable produce, however, side openings provided only on the lid may not be sufficient for allowing a proper transverse flow to be blown through not only the upper part of the tub, but also its lower part. Moreover, providing a tub body formed with side openings leads to overcoming serious execution difficulties, since forming substantially vertical walls with respect to the bottom with openings also results in a number of technical problems arising at the tub production stage being solved.
[0005] The main object of the present invention is to provide a tub body that allows ventilation through it both in a vertical and in a horizontal direction.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tub whose shape is such that its side openings are not at direct contact with the produce contained therein, whereby any damages caused by the development of grooves or other deformations of the outside surface of the product are prevented.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a tub obtainable at competitive production cost.
[0008] These and other objects that will be better apparent below are accomplished by a tub according to the present invention, which comprises a tub body with a substantially flat bottom surrounded by at least one side wall terminating with a rim, said tub body being characterized in that it has a plurality of projections extending from said bottom of said tub body to said rim and each making up a portion formed with at least one through opening of said at least one side wall.
[0009] Advantageously, the tub according to the present invention comprises a lid suitable for being coupled to said tub body and provided with a substantially flat ceiling, and with at least one side wall terminating with a free edge, and it is characterized in that it has a plurality of projections extending from said ceiling to said free edge, each making up a portion of said at least one side wall formed with at east one through opening.
[0010] The invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a tub with a lid according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows an exploded front elevation view with parts in cross-section of the tub body and of its respective lid;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tub body shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 4 shows a view on an enlarged scale and in cross-section taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3;
Figure 5 shows a cross-section view on an enlarged scale taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3;
Figure 6 shows a detail of Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale;
Figure 7 shows a bottom plan view of the lid of the tub shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 8 shows a cross-section view on an enlarged scale taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7;
Figure 9 shows a cross-section view on an enlarged scale taken along line IX-IX of Fig. 7; and
Figure 10 is a detail of Fig. 9 on an enlarged scale.
[0011] With reference to the above listed Figures, it will be noted that a tub according to the present invention, generally designated by 1, comprises a tub body 2 having a bottom 3 whose rim is rectangular in shape with rounded angles, which is substantially flat and surrounded by four slightly flared side walls, i.e. two long walls 4 and 5 and two short walls 6 and 7, terminating with a top edge 8. On tub body 2 a lid 9 is provided with a substantially flat ceiling 10, also having a rectangular outline and rounded angles and surrounded by four slightly flared side walls: two long side walls 11 and 12 and two short side walls 13 and 14, respectively, corresponding with long walls 4 and 5 and short walls 6 and 7 of the tub body respectively, and terminating with an edge 15.
[0012] The tub body 2 has a sequence of projections formed in each side wall, which projections each make up a projecting portion of a side wall and are formed with a through opening, as better described below.
[0013] Long side walls 4 and 5 have a plurality of intermediate projections 16 and two differently sized (narrower) end projections 17 located at a respective rounded edge of the tub body. The short side walls 6 and 7 have a plurality of projections 20, all the same as each other, whereas the spacings between the pairs of projections 17 at the four rounded edges and projections 16 and 20 are different from the spacings separating the pairs of the various intermediate projections 16 and 20.
[0014] Preferably, each projection has two tilted or rounded sides 18a, 18b extending parallel to one another at the lower portion of the tub body from bottom 3 up to a short distance from the top edge, whereas in the remaining portion of the tub body, the side walls themselves slightly diverge from one another.
[0015] At each projection, whether it be an intermediate or an end projection, a respective through opening 21 is provided. Preferably, in the lower portion of each side wall and of the rounded edges a rounded peripheral area 22 is provided between bottom wall 3 and side walls 4 to 7 of the tub body.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as it is better shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6, the coupling area 22 is slightly recessed with respect to both the bottom and the side walls, i.e. it delimits two shoulders: an upper vertical shoulder 23 at both the side walls and the projections, and a lower horizontal shoulder 24 at the bottom 3. Each through opening 21 is provided in the rounded area 22 at the lower portion of a respective projection 16, 17, 20 between shoulders 23 and 24, or also partly on at least one shoulder 23, 24, e.g. as illustrated in Fig. 6.
[0017] Providing openings 21 at a respective projection 16, 17, 20 allows the produce to be prevented from contacting each opening 21, both to prevent the opening itself from being obstructed, and the produce from being damaged upon contacting the sharp edge of the opening, e.g. breaking its cuticle or outer rind, which could be the cause of an accelerated deterioration of the produce contained in the tub.
[0018] Bottom 3 of the tub body, as better shown in Fig. 3, is preferably formed with a plurality of holes 25 located in areas flanked by projecting or recessed areas 26 in order to stiffen the bottom.
[0019] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the lid 9 has on each short and long side walls 11 to 14 a plurality of intermediate projections 30, all equal in shape to each other.
[0020] Preferably, each projection 30 has two tilted or rounded sides 30a, 30b that extend from edge 15 up to a short distance from ceiling 10 slightly converging with each other. At each projection 30 there is provided a respective through opening 31.
[0021] Preferably, at the upper portion of lid 9 a peripheral rounded area 32 is provided between ceiling 10 and side walls 11 to 14 of the lid.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as better shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7 to 10, the rounded area 32 is recessed with respect to both the ceiling 10 and the side walls, i.e. it delimits two shoulders: an upper shoulder 33 close to the ceiling 10 and a lower horizontal shoulder 34 at the side walls and the projections. Each through opening 31 is formed in the rounded area 32 at the upper portion of a respective projection 31, e.g. as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
[0024] As it will be noted, a tub 1 as described above is suitable for allowing a flow of either air or another treatment fluid to be blown so much in an upward or downward direction through holes 25 formed in the bottom wall and holes 35 provided in the ceiling of the lid as in a transverse direction through several side openings 21 provided in the tub body, and, through side openings 31 formed in the lid.
1. A tub comprising a tub body (2) with a substantially flat bottom (3) surrounded by
at least one side wall terminating with a rim (8), said tub body being characterized in that it has a plurality of projections (16, 17, 20) each making up a portion of said at
least one side wall, and at least one through opening (21) formed in at least one
of said projections (16, 17, 20).
2. A tub according to Claim 1, having a lid (9) designed to be coupled with the tub body
(2) and provided with a substantially flat ceiling (10) and with at least one side
wall terminating with a free edge (15), and characterized in that it comprises a plurality of projections (30) extending from said ceiling (10) to
said free edge (15), each making up a portion of said at least one side wall formed
with at least one through opening (31) formed in at least one of said projections
(30).
3. A tub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a square or rectangular configuration when viewed from above.
4. A tub according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a circularly or polygonal configuration when viewed from above.
5. A tub according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said projections (30) each make up a projecting portion of its respective side wall.
6. A tub according to claim 3, characterized in that it has long side walls (4, 5) having a plurality of projections (16) and short side
walls (6, 7) having a plurality of projections (20), and two end projections (17)
located at a respective rounded edge of said tub body (2).
7. A tub according to claim 6, characterized in that spacings between said end projections (17) and spacings between said projections
(16 and 20) adjacent thereto differ from spacings between two adjacent projections
(16 or 20).
8. A tub according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that each projection (16, 17, 20) has two sides (18a, 18b) extending parallel to one another
from said bottom (3) at the lower portion of the tub body (2), whereas in its remaining
upper part said sides diverge from one another.
9. A tub according to any preceding claim 6 to 8, characterized in that in the lower portion of each side wall (4 to 7) and of the rounded edges, a rounded
area (22) is provided between said bottom (3) and said side walls of said tub body
(2).
10. A tub according to claim 9, characterized in that said rounded area (22) is slightly recessed with respect both said bottom and said
side walls, thereby delimiting an upper shoulder (23) and a lower shoulder (24).
11. A tub according to claim 10, characterized in that a through opening (21) is provided in said rounded area (22) at the lower portion
of a respective projection (16, 17, 20) between said shoulders (23, 24).
12. A tub according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said through opening (21) is also formed at at least one of said shoulders (23, 24).
13. A tub according to any preceding claim 6 to 12, characterized in that said bottom (3) of said tub body is formed with a plurality of through holes (25).
14. A tub according to claim 13, characterized in that said holes (25) are formed in areas of the bottom (3) flanked by projecting areas
(26).
15. A tub according to any preceding claim, wherein said lid (9) has a ceiling (10), side
walls (11 to 14) terminating with an edge (15) and is characterized in that said side walls have each a plurality of intermediate projections (30).
16. A tub according to claim 15, characterized in that said projections (30) are all equal in shape to each other.
17. A tub according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that each projection (30) has two sides (30a, 30b) that extend, converging towards each
other, from said edge (15) up to a short distance from said ceiling (10).
18. A tub according to claim 17, characterized in that a through opening (31) is formed in each projection (30).
19. A tub according to any claim 15 to 18, characterized in that a peripheral rounded area (32) is provided between said ceiling (10) and said side
walls (11 to 14) of said lid (9).
20. A tub according to Claim 19, characterized in that said coupling area (32) is slightly recessed with respect both the ceiling (10) and
said side walls, whereby delimiting an upper shoulder (33) close to said ceiling (10)
and a lower shoulder (34) at said side walls and projections.
21. A tub according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that each through opening (31) is provided in said coupling area (32) at the upper portion
of a respective projection (30).