AU9732201A - A container assembly - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Amcor Limited CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane QId 4000 Australian A Container Assembly r Name of Applicant Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: Field of the Invention This invention relates to a container assembly including a tray and a lid which is mountable on the tray. In particular, the invention relates to a container assembly of the aforementioned type in which the tray and the lid are each formed from a blank of a foldable material.

The invention is intended to be used for storing fruit. However, it should be appreciated that the container assembly may be used for storing other items.

Description of the Prior Art Container assemblies which comprise a tray and a hollow lid formed from expanded polystyrene and which are suitable for storing items, such as fruit, are known. The tray and lid of such container assemblies are configured so that the lid can be properly mounted onto the tray even when fruit is packed into the tray up to a level which exceeds the height of the tray. The ability of such container assemblies to store fruit up to a level which exceeds the height of the tray enables them to compensate for any settling of the fruit or sagging of the tray which may occur during transportation. Thus, if fruit is packed into the tray up to a level which exceeds the height of the tray any settling of the fruit or sagging of the tray will still result in the level of the fruit decreasing, however the level of the fruit will be closer to the height of the tray than it might otherwise have been had the fruit only be packed to a level which was equal to or less than the height of the tray.

It is widely regarded that fruit stored in a tray presents better when the S 25 level of the fruit packed into the tray is at least as high as the tray, this is why container assemblies of the previously described type are popular for storing fruit for transportation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container assembly including a tray and a lid which are each formed from a blank of a foldable material.

Summary of the Invention According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a container assembly including a tray and a lid which is adapted to be mounted on the tray, the tray and the lid being made from separate blanks of a foldable material such that the tray and the lid each have: a main panel; a plurality of side walls hinged to the main panel and substantially forming a rim; and a plurality of formations located on the rim, wherein the tray and the lid are configured such that when the lid is mounted on the tray the side walls of the lid substantially form extensions of the side walls of the tray, the rim of the tray substantially opposes the rim of the lid, and the formations of the tray engage with the formations of the lid.

In a preferred form, a first pair of the side walls include an outer side wall panel and an inner side wall panel. The first pair of side walls may oppose each other.

Advantageously, a second pair of the side walls oppose each other and extend between the first pair of side walls. Preferably, end flaps couple each side wall of the first pair of side walls to each side wall of the second pair of side walls.

The formations may be in the form of lugs and recesses.

Preferably, each lug extending from the tray has a corresponding recess in the lid, and each recess in the tray has a corresponding lug extending from the lid. Suitably, the formations are configured to inhibit lateral movement of the lid relative to the tray when the lid is mounted on the tray.

Preferably, the container assembly includes at least one retaining mechanism which is adapted to retain the lid on the tray when the lid is mounted on the tray. The retaining mechanism may be provided by a lug and a recess, the lug having an aperture extending therethrough and the recess having a retaining lug extending therefrom, the retaining mechanism 25 being configured such that when the lid is mounted on the tray the retaining lug is received by the aperture.

Advantageously, the container assembly includes a plurality of corner locaters. The corner locaters may be provided by cut outs and/or extensions which are located on the corners of the tray and the lid.

At least one flap may be formed in the main panel of the lid such that the flap is hinged to the lid by a fold line. The flap may be formed in the main panel by a plurality of perforated lines. A handle aperture may extend through the main panel of the lid.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of a blank for the tray of the container assembly illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray which forms part of the container assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the tray illustrated in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan of a blank for the lid of the container assembly illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lid which forms part of the container assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an inverted perspective view of the lid illustrated in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a corner portion of the container assembly of Fig. 1 which illustrates the various components of the lid retaining mechanism; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the container assembly of Fig. 1 which illustrates the operation of the lid retaining mechanism; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the container assembly of Fig. 1 which shows one of the lid flaps in the open position; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the container assembly of Fig. 1 which shows both of the lid flaps in the open position.

Detailed Description Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a container assembly 20 includes a tray 21 and a lid 22 which is mountable on the tray 21.

Referring to Fig. 3, the tray 21 is erected from a blank 100, which is constructed from a foldable material. In a preferred form, blank 100 is constructed from heavy gauge corrugated fibreboard.

Blank 100 includes a main panel 101, a pair of opposed side wall panels 102, 103 and a pair of opposed side wall panel assemblies 104, 105.

The main panel 101 has a substantially rectangular configuration and the side wall panels 102, 103 are hinged to opposing sides of the main panel 101 by fold lines 106, 107. Side wall panel assemblies 104, 105 are hinged to opposing sides of the main panel 101 by fold lines 108, 109. Lug receiving apertures 110, 111 extend through the main panel 101 and are located adjacent to the side wall panel assemblies 104, 105.

Side wall panels 102, 103 are identical to each other and each has cut outs 120, 121 and a handle aperture 122.

Side wall panel assemblies 104, 105 are identical to each other and each has an outer side wall panel 130 hinged to an inner side wall panel 131 by a pair of parallel fold lines 132, 133.

The outer side wall panels 130 are hinged to the main panel 101 by fold lines 108, 109. Each outer side wall panel 130 includes a pair of lugs 134 extending therefrom and ventilation apertures 135. End flaps 136 are hinged to opposing sides of the outer side wall panels 130 by fold lines 137.

Cut outs 138 partially extend along a lower edge of the end flaps 136 and outer side wall panels 130.

Each inner side wall panel 131 includes ventilation apertures 139 and a Slug 14 0 A portion of lug 140 extends into an associated one of the outer side wall panels 130. Apertures 141 partially surround lugs 134 and extend from the outer side wall panels 130 into the inner side wall panels 131. Gusset panels 142 are hinged to opposing sides of the inner side wall panels 131 by fold lines 143. End flaps 144 are hinged to each gusset panel 142 by fold lines 145. Retaining lugs 146 extend from gusset panels 142 into end flaps 144.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the tray 21 is erected from the blank 100 by hinging the side wall panels 102, 103 relative to the main panel 101 such that they extend perpendicularly from the main panel 101. The outer side wall panels 130 are then hinged relative to the main panel 101 such that they extend perpendicularly from the main panel 101. End flaps 136 are hinged relative to the outer side wall panels 130 such that they each overlay a portion of the exterior surface of an associated one of the side wall panels 102, 103.

The end flaps 136 are fixed to the side wall panels 102, 103 by a suitable means such as gluing or stapling. The inner side wall panels 131 are hinged relative to the outer side wall panels 130 such that they each overlay the inner surface of an associated one of the outer side wall panels 130. The inner side wall panels 131 may be glued, stapled or otherwise fixed to the outer side wall panels 130. End flaps 144 and gusset panels 142 are then hinged relative to the inner side wall panels 131 such that each end flap 144 overlays a portion of the interior surface of an associated one of the side wall panels 102, 103. The end flaps 144 are fixed to the side wall panels 102, 103 by gluing, stapling or other suitable means. Each gusset panel 142 forms a corner gusset.

Side wall panels 102, 103, outer side wall panels 130 and inner side wall panels 131 form a rim of the tray 21. A plurality of formations are located on the rim of the tray 21. The formations include the lugs 134, 140 and recesses. Four of the recesses are provided by the apertures 141, while two of the recesses 147 are a result of the lugs 140 extending into the outer side wall panels 130. Also, recesses 148 are formed between end flaps 136 and io 144.

Referring to Fig. 6 the lid is erected from a blank 200, which is constructed from a foldable material. In a preferred form, blank 200 is constructed from a heavy gauge corrugated board.

Blank 200 has a similar configuration to blank 100 and includes a main panel 201, a pair of opposed side wall panels 202, 203 and a pair of opposed side wall panel assemblies 204, 205.

The main panel 201 has a substantially rectangular configuration and the side wall panels 202, 203 are hinged to opposing sides of the main panel o*:oe 201 by fold lines 206, 207. Side wall panel assemblies 204, 205 are hinged to opposing sides of the main panel 201 by fold lines 208, 209. A handle aperture 210 extends through the main panel 201. A plurality of perforated lines 211 extend along the main panel 201. When the perforated lines 211 are broken, two flaps A, B are formed in the main panel 201. Flaps A, B are 2 hinged to the blank 200 by fold lines 208, 209.

Side wall panels 202, 203 are identical to each other and each has a pair of lugs 220, 221 extending therefrom. Lugs 220, 221 are configured such that they substantially complement cut outs 120, 121 of the tray blank 100. Circular lug receiving apertures 222 extend through lugs 220, 221. A finger access cut out 223 is located between lugs 220, 221.

Side wall panel assemblies 204, 205 are identical to each other and each has an outer side wall panel 230 hinged to an inner side wall panel 231 by a pair of parallel fold lines 232, 233.

The outer side wall panels 230 are hinged to the main panel 201 by fold lines 208, 209. A lug 234 extends from each of the outer side wall panels 230. Ventilation apertures 235 extend through the main panel 201, side wall panels 202, 203 and outer side wall panels 230. End flaps 236 are hinged to opposing sides of the outer side wall panels 230 by fold lines 237.

Extensions 238 project from a lower edge of the end flaps 236 and outer side wall panels 230.

Each inner side wall panel 231 includes a pair of lugs 240. A portion of each lug 240 extends into an associated one of the outer side wall panels 230. Apertures 241 partially surround the lugs 234 and extend from the outer side wall panels 230 into the inner side wall panels 231. Gusset panels 242 are hinged to opposing sides of the inner side wall panels 231 by fold lines 243. End flaps 244 are hinged to each gusset panel 242 by fold lines 245. A pair of ventilation cut outs 246 are situated along a free edge of each inner side wall panel 231.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the lid 22 is erected from the blank 200 by hinging the side wall panels 202, 203 relative to the main panel 201 such that they extend perpendicularly from the main panel 201. The outer side wall panels 230 are then hinged relative to the main panel 201 such that they extend perpendicularly from the main panel 201. End flaps 236 are hinged relative to the outer side wall panels 230 such that they each overlay a portion 0 of the exterior surface of an associated one of the side wall panels 202, 203.

The end flaps 236 are fixed to the side wall panels 202, 203 by a suitable 0 00 means such as gluing or stapling. The inner side wall panels 231 are hinged 20 relative to the outer side wall panels 230 such that they each overlay the inner surface of an associated one of the outer side wall panels 230. The inner 000side wall panels 231 may be glued, stapled or otherwise fixed to the outer side wall panels 230. End flaps 244 and gusset panels 242 are then hinged relative to the inner side wall panels 231 such that each end flap 244 overlays a portion of the interior surface of an associated one of the side wall panels 202, 203. The end flaps 244 are fixed to the side wall panels 202, 203 by gluing, stapling or other suitable means. Each gusset panel 242 forms a 0 corner gusset.

*~t 00•Side wall panels 202, 203, outer side wall panels 230 and inner side wall panels 231 form a rim of the lid 22. A plurality of formations are located on the rim of the lid 22. The formations include the lugs 234, 240, 220, 221 and recesses. Two of the recesses are provided by the apertures 241, while four of the recesses 247 are a result of the lugs 240 extending into the outer side wall panels 230.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the tray 21 and the lid 22 are configured such that when the lid 22 is mounted on the tray 21 the side walls of the lid 22, which are formed by the side wall panels 202, 203, 230, 231, substantially form extensions of the side walls of the tray 21 which are formed by the side wall panels 102, 103, 130, 131. Further, the rim of the tray 21 substantially opposes the rim of the lid 21, and the formations of the tray 21 engage with the formations of the lid 22. In particular, each lug 234, 240, 220 and 221 of the lid 22 is received by an associated recess in the tray 21.

Further, each lug 134 and 140 of the tray 21 is received by an associated recess in the lid 22.

The formations on the tray 21 and the lid 22 enable the lid 22 to positive locate relative to the tray 21 so that a load on the lid 22 may be effectively transferred to the tray 21.

Corner locaters of the container assembly 20 are provided by the cut outs 138 of the tray 21 and the extensions 238 of the lid 22. The cut outs 138 and extensions 238 are configured so that when a second container assembly 20 is stacked on top of a first container assembly 20, the second container assembly 20 can be positively located relative to the first container assembly Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the container assembly 20 includes four retaining mechanisms. Each retaining mechanism is operable to retain the lid 22 on the tray 21 when the lid 22 is mounted on the tray 21. The retaining S 20 mechanisms are provided by the lugs 220 or 221 and the recesses 148.

When the lid 22 is mounted on the tray 21 the lug receiving aperture 222 in 000000 S• each lug 220, 221 engages with a retaining lug 146 which is located in an associated recess 148. The retaining lugs 146 are configured so that the lid 22 may be removed from the tray 21.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the perforated lines 211 in the lid 22 may be broken so that flaps A and B may be hinged relative to the lid 22. Flaps A and B enable product to be packed into the container assembly 20 after the lid 22 has been mounted on the tray 21.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. A container assembly including a tray and a lid which is adapted to be mounted on the tray, the tray and the lid being made from separate blanks of a foldable material such that the tray and the lid each have: a main panel; a plurality of side walls hinged to the main panel and substantially forming a rim; and a plurality of formations located on the rim, wherein the tray and the lid are configured such that when the lid is mounted on the tray the side walls of the lid substantially form extensions of the side walls of the tray, the rim of the tray substantially opposes the rim of the lid, and the formations of the tray engage with the formations of the lid.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein a first pair of the side walls include an outer side wall panel and an inner side wall panel.

3. The container assembly of claim 2, wherein the first pair of side walls oppose each other.

4. The container assembly of claim 3, wherein a second pair of the side walls oppose each other and extend between the first pair of side walls. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein end flaps couple each side 20 wall of the first pair of side walls to each side wall of the second pair of side walls.

6. The container assembly of any one of the previous claims, wherein the formations are in the form of lugs and recesses. S7. The container assembly of claim 6, wherein each lug extending from 25 the tray has a corresponding recess in the lid, and each recess in the tray has a corresponding lug extending from the lid. S8. The container assembly of any one of the previous claims, wherein the formations are configured to inhibit lateral movement of the lid relative to the S"tray when the lid is mounted on the tray.

9. The container assembly of any one of claims 6 to 8, further having at least one retaining mechanism which is adapted to retain the lid on the tray when the lid is mounted on the tray. The container assembly of claim 9, wherein the retaining mechanism is provided by one of the said lugs and one of the said recesses, the lug having an aperture extending therethrough and the recess having a retaining lug extending therefrom, the retaining mechanism being configured such that when the lid is mounted on the tray the retaining lug is received by the aperture.

11. The container assembly of any one of the previous claims, further having a plurality of corner locaters.

12. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein the corner locaters are provided by cut outs and/or extensions which are located on the corners of the tray and the lid.

13. The container assembly of any one of the previous claims, wherein at least one flap is formed in the main panel of the lid such that the flap is hinged to the lid by a fold line.

14. The container assembly of claim 13, wherein the flap is formed in the main panel by a plurality of perforated lines. The container assembly of claim 13 or 14, wherein a handle aperture extends through the main panel of the lid

16. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. '"'DATED this 19 th day of December 2001 AMCOR LIMITED S• 20 By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. 9 9 .9 *ll