AU2005211555A9 - Strengthened container - Google Patents

Description

16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlock Associates UTG,,a;1 9490 /3 IP AUST Canberra ;61 3 9654 9900 *t 8/ 31 Regulations 3.2 -1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFCATION STANDARD PATENT

APPLICANT:

NUMB3ER: FILING DATE: Ainkur Pty. Limited Invention Title: STRENGTHENED CONTAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: ime 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlock Associates IP AUST Canb-ra ;51 3 9854 9900 9/ 31 -2- STRENGTHENED CONTAINER Technical area: This invention relates to the area of containers for packaging and in particular to containers for packaging objects such as small fresh fruits, and to the provision of containers for these which maximise the safety and freshness of the fruits while being transported or stored.

Background to the invention: Small fruits such as berries of various varieties are conventionally stored for sale and transport in punnets. It is not practically possible to store them in large boxes as fruit become crushed under the weight of overlying fruit and the resultant damage is extreme.

As a result it is common to store berry type fruits in synthetic containers which are strong enough to protect the fruit but through which the fruit can be seen at the point of sale.

There are however some disadvantages associated with the use of such containers.

Firstly purchasers of such fruit want to be able to inspect the fruit, hence the see through nature of the containers, howeverthe containers must also be strong enough to prevent the fruit crushing and for this reason it has been common practice to Y:SPEC Amkur-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/905 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlock Associates IP AUST Canberra ;51 3 9654 9900 #t 10/ 31 -3provide reinforcing ribs along the sides of fruit containers which to some extent impede the visibility of the fruit.

A further disadvantage of fruit containers or punnets which are not adequately reinforced is that they cannot be stacked for transportation and generally are placed in a single layer in a cardboard box for such transportation. This problem is enhanced by the flimsy nature of punnet lids which generally clip over the sides of the container and present a relatively weak flat upper surface with little structural strength which can permit damage to fruit adjacent the lid.

Where hinged lids are used on punnets the hinge portion is usually a flexible portion of the container material connecting the lid to one side of the container and is an area of a punnet which also has little intrinsic structural strength. Such hinged lids have conventionally not provided much added volume over that provided by the container.

Outline of the invention: It is an object of this invention to provide a container for small fruits, particularly of the berry variety, which maximises the visibility of the fruit inside the container. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a container which is sufficiently strong that the containers when filled can be stacked at least two deep one on top of the other.

The invention is a fruit punnet including a hollow body portion with an upper peripheral rim having, at one lower edge thereof, a hinge component extending Y:\SPECkAmnir-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/9/5 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlock Associates IP AUST Canberra ;61 3 9654 9900 #f 11/ 31 -4between a lower edge of the rim and a lower edge of a peripheral flange of a lid portion, said flange being adapted to fit over and engage with the body rim, the material of the hinge component being moulded to permit the hinge to form an elongate strengthening member when the lid is closed and also provide a locking mechanism.

It is preferred that the strengthening member be moulded such that it form a generally vertically directed elongate member when the punnet is closed.

It is further preferred that the body peripheral rim be generally channel shaped with an outer face directed outwardly at a small angle to the vertical. It may also be preferred that a small outwardly directed flange be provided at a lower edge of this face away from the hinge.

It is preferred that when the punnet is closed the lid flange closely abut an upper face of the body rim.

It is further preferred that at least one engagement means between lid and body be provided. It is also preferred that this engagement means take the form of a moulded boss on an inner face of the lid flange, said boss being adapted to locate below the lower edge of the rim.

It is preferred that there be two such engagement means preferably located on either side of the body adjacent an opposing side of the punnet from the hinge.

Y:\SPECAmlku-CONTAINER.CAP.wpd 16/M0 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-M4-06;14:23 ;A Tatlock ASSOCiates IP AUST Canberra ;61 3 9554 9900 12/ 31 It is also preferred that each corner of the body and lid be provided with a broad strengthening rib. It is further preferred that the punnet have a base with a generally elevated central portion defining a peripheral well in which small apertures are provided.

It may also be preferred that, where no hinge mechanism is provided for the lid, that the clips described be provided where required but preferably on either side of each corner of the punnet.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe byway of non limiting example a specific embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Shows a cross section through the punnet of the invention when open; Shows a cross section through the punnet and through clip devices when the punnet is closed; Shows a plan view of the punnet when open; Description of an Embodiment of the Invention In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 the punnet 10 is four sided and has a body portion having a base 30 which is elevated about a peripheral trough Y:%SPEC\Amnir-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/9105 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlock AsSOciates IP AUST Cnbera ;61 3 9654 9900 4 1 3/ 31 -6- 32 adjacent the walls This trough 32 is provided with holes 31 which permit drainage of any juice from damaged fruit and also aid in the ventilation of the punnet.

The body portion is generally transparent but in the embodiment described is provided with a broad rib at each corner of the punnet to increase its strength.

In this embodiment of the invention the punnet has a lid 40 which is connected to the body by hinge member 50 at one side thereof. The hinge is moulded into a shape which permits the lid to be locked to the body when closed. As shown in Figure 1 closing the lid 40 causes hinge part 24 to fit over the rim top 25 thereby both locking the lid to the body of the punnet and forming a reinforced strengthening member at the rear of the punnet. This strengthening member forms a generally vertically directed elongate member when the punnet is closed.

The hinge component 60 extends between a lower edge 22 of the upper peripheral rim 21 of the punnet and a lower edge of a peripheral flange 42 of the lid with the flange being adapted to fit over and engage with the body rim.

As can be seen the body peripheral rim 21 is generally channel shaped with an outer face 25 directed outwardly at a small angle to the vertical. It may also be preferred that a small outwardly directed flange be provided at a lower edge of this face away from the hinge. The angulation of face 25 forces the locking effect of the hinge upon closure of the lid such that the lid closely abuts the upper face 25 of the body rim.

Y:\SPEC\Amkur-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/9/05 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlock Associates tP AUST Canberra ;61 3 9654 9900 14/ 31 -7- Further engagement means is provided between lid and body. This clip means takes the form of a moulded boss 48 on an inner face of the lid flange, said boss being adapted to locate below the lower edge of the rim face It is preferred that there be two such engagement means preferably located on either side of the body adjacent an opposing side of the punnet from the hinge with a further two clips as shown on the opposing side. The number of clips however is not restricted in the invention.

In another embodiment of the punnet, where no hinge mechanism is provided for the lid, the clips described are provided where required but preferably on either side of each corner of the punnet.

The arrangement is such that the closing of the clips is very simple and can be effected by a nominal downward force on the lid and this makes packaging of the fruit easier than has been the case with previous punnets which have needed substantial force. The punnet is also simple to open and reseal.

The hinge mechanism and clip mechanisms described provide a sufficiently strong punnet that the punnet lid can be easily and securely closed while using light weight materials which are sufficiently flexible to effect the opening and closure of the lid. In addition the punnets of the invention are able to be stacked one upon the other when filled with fruit without coming open and damaging the fruit.

The strength of the punnet of the invention means that no additional reinforcing or ribbing of the punnet is required. As a result the punnet is largely transparent, apart Y:SPEC\Amkur-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/OS COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16 16-09-0514:23 ;A Tatlock Associates IP AUST C-nberra ;61 3 9554 9900 15/ 31 -8from any labelling which may be applied, and the fruit can be clearly seen by purchasers.

Whilst we have described herein a specific embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features previously described and it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Y:\SPEC\Ankur-CONTAINERCAP.wpd 16/9105 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16

Claims (6)

1. A fruit punnet including a hollow body portion with an upper peripheral rim IN having, at one lower edge thereof, a hinge component extending between a lower edge of the rim and a lower edge of a peripheral flange of a lid portion, Ssaid flange being adapted to fit over and engage with the body rim, the material of the hinge component being moulded to permit the hinge to form an (C elongate strengthening member when the lid is closed and also provide a O locking mechanism for the punnet.

2. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strengthening member forms a generally vertically directed elongate member when the punnet is closed.

3. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body peripheral rim is generally channel shaped with an outer face directed outwardly at a small angle to the vertical.

4. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 3 wherein a small outwardly directed flange is provided at a lower edge of the outer face away from the hinge. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 4 wherein, when the punnet is closed, the lid flange closely abuts an upper face of the body rim.

6. A fruit punnet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 having at least one engagement means between lid and body. Y:\SPECAmJkur-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/9/05 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16

16-09-05;14:23 ;A Tatlook ASSOCiateS lP AUST Canberra ;61 3 9664 5500 17/ 31 In In 7. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 6 wherein the engagement means takes the form of a moulded boss on an inner face of the lid flange, said boss being adapted to locate below the lower edge of the rim. 8. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 7 having a plurality of such engagement means preferably located on either side of the body and on an opposing side of the punnet from the hinge. 9. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 8 wherein each comer of the body and lid is provided with a broad strengthening rib. A fruit punnet as claimed in claim 9 wherein the body has a base with a generally elevated central portion defining a peripheral well in which small apertures are provided. 11. A fruit punnet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Y:\SPECAu kur-CONTAINER-CAP.wpd 16/9/05 COMS ID No: SBMI-01531417 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:34 Date 2005-09-16