AU2006202298A1 - Container for Holding Bananas and Blank Therefor - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant Actual Inventor Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Amcor Limited George Ganzenmuller Gordon Mellis CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia Container for Holding Bananas and Blank Therefor Applications No. 2005903249 filed 21 June 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to containers for holding bananas and, in particular, to containers of the aforementioned type which are erected from a foldable blank.

00 Brief Discussion of the Prior Art "I Bananas are usually sold in "bunches" which comprise a plurality of bananas Owhose stems are joined together.

ISome banana consumers prefer to purchase their bananas in containers holding one or more separated bananas. A problem with some containers which are used to hold bananas is that the bananas are able to move around inside the containers which result in the bananas being bruised or otherwise damaged. It would therefore be desirable to provide a container which is able to hold separated bananas such that the bananas are inhibited from moving around inside the container.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

According to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for holding a banana, the container being erected from a foldable blank and comprising a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposing end wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a pair of opposing side wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a respective top wall panel hinged to each of the side wall panels along a fold line, an inner wall panel hinged to one of the top wall panels along a fold line, and an opening in the inner wall panel, wherein the banana is able to extend substantially lengthwise between the inner wall panel and one of the side wall panels such that a stem of the banana is received by the opening, and such that the banana is located between one of the top wall panels and the bottom wall panel.

SThe container may be any suitable size so that it can hold any desired O number of bananas. Preferably, the container is 30 mm to 500 mm long, 80 mm to 300 mm wide, and 30 mm to 150 mm high, and is able to hold anywhere from one to 00 twenty bananas. In one particular preferred form, the container is 280 mm long, 180 N, mm wide, and 45 mm high, and is able to hold six bananas. In another particular preferred form, the container is 200 mm long, 210 mm wide, and 90 mm high, and is INO able to hold five bananas.

Preferably, the container is a stackable container.

The foldable blank from which the container is erected may be fabricated from any suitable material. Preferably, the blank is fabricated from a paper-based material such as, for example, corrugated paperboard or cardboard. In a particular preferred form, the blank is fabricated from double-sided corrugated paperboard.

It is preferred that the foldable blank is fabricated from a single sheet of material.

The bottom wall panel may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the bottom wall panel is rectangular.

The bottom wall panel may be any suitable size. Preferably, the bottom wall panel is 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 80 mm to 300 mm wide. In one particular preferred form, the bottom wall panel is 280 mm long and 180 mm wide. In another particular preferred form, the bottom wall panel is 200 mm long and 210 mm wide.

The end wall panels may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the end wall panels are generally rectangular. In a particular preferred form, each end wall panel has a free edge which includes a recess.

The end wall panels may be any suitable size. Preferably, the end wall panels are 80 mm to 300 mm wide, and 30 mm to 150 mm high. In one particular preferred form, the end wall panels are 180 mm wide and 45 mm high. In another particular preferred form, the end wall panels are 210 mm wide and 90 mm high.

A respective pair of opposing securing flaps is preferably hinged to each end wall panel along fold lines so that the side wall panels are able to be secured relative to the end wall panels by securing the securing flaps to the side wall panels. The securing flaps may be secured to the side wall panels by any suitable means. For Sexample, the securing flaps may be secured to the side wall panels with glue or Sstaples.

O The side wall panels may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the side wall panels are rectangular.

00 The side wall panels may be any suitable size. Preferably, the side wall N, panels are 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 30 mm to 150 mm high. In one particular Spreferred form, the side wall panels are 280 mm long and 45 mm high. In another ION preferred form, the side wall panels are 200 mm long and 90 mm high.

The top wall panels may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the top wall panels are rectangular.

The top wall panels may be any suitable size. Preferably, the top wall panels are 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 10 mm to 100 mm wide. In one particular preferred form, the top wall panels are both 280 mm long and 50 mm wide. In another particular preferred form, the top wall panel which is hinged to the inner wall panel is 195 mm long and 20 mm wide.

Preferably, the top wall panels are identical to each other.

Preferably, a pair of opposing securing flaps is hinged to at least one of the top wall panels along fold lines, and the securing flaps are secured to the end wall panels. The securing flaps may be secured to the end wall panels by any suitable means. For example, the securing flaps may be secured to the end wall panels with glue or staples.

The inner wall panel may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the inner wall panel is rectangular.

The inner wall panel may be any suitable size. Preferably, the inner wall panel is 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 30 mm to 150 mm high. In one particular preferred form, the inner wall panel is 280 mm long and 45 mm high. In another particular preferred form, the inner wall panel is 200 mm long and 90 mm high.

There may be any suitable number of openings in the inner wall panel.

Preferably, there are between one and twenty openings in the inner wall panel. In one particular preferred form, there are six openings in the inner wall panel. In another particular preferred form, there are seven openings in the inner wall panel. In a further Sparticular preferred form, there are five openings in the inner wall panel.

The openings may be any suitable shape. In one particular preferred form, Sthe openings are triangular. In another particular preferred form, the openings are circular.

If there is a plurality of openings in the inner wall panel, it is preferred that 00 the openings are all of the same size and shape.

NI Preferably, a securing flap is hinged to the inner wall panel along a fold line.

SThe securing flap is preferably secured to the bottom wall panel. Each of the ISO openings in the inner wall panel may extend into the inner wall panel from the fold lo line along which the securing flap is hinged to the inner wall panel.

According to a second broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a foldable blank which is erectable into a container for holding a banana and which comprises a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposing end wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a pair of opposing side wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a respective top wall panel hinged to each of the side wall panels along a fold line, an inner wall panel hinged to one of the top wall panels along a fold line, and an opening in the inner wall panel, wherein the banana is able to extend substantially lengthwise between the inner wall panel and one of the side wall panels such that a stem of the banana is received by the opening, and such that the banana is located between one of the top wall panels and the bottom wall panel.

Brief Description of the Illustrations 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 illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a foldable blank which is able to be erected into a container according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 depicts a container which is erected from the blank illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the container depicted in figure 2 holding a plurality of bananas; Figure 4 depicts a partially erected container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; SFigure 5 is a plan view of a foldable blank which is able to be erected into a O container according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 illustrates a container which is erected from the blank depicted in 00 figure SDetailed Description of the Illustrations IOReferring to figure 1, a foldable blank 10 from which a container according 1o to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected is fabricated from a sheet of paperboard such as, for example, double-sided corrugated paperboard or cardboard.

Blank 10 includes a generally rectangular bottom wall panel 11. A pair of opposing end wall panels 12 is hinged to the bottom wall panel 11 along fold lines 13.

Each end wall panel 12 has a free edge 14 which includes a recess 15. A respective pair of opposing and generally rectangular securing flaps 16 is hinged to each end wall panel 12 along fold lines 17.

A pair of opposing and rectangular side wall panels 18 is hinged to the bottom wall panel 11 along fold lines 19. A respective top wall panel 20 is hinged to each of the side wall panels 18 along a fold line 21. A respective pair of opposing and generally rectangular securing flaps 22 is hinged to each of the top wall panels along fold lines 23.

A generally rectangular inner wall panel 24 is hinged to one of the top wall panels 20 along a fold line 25. The inner wall panel 24 includes a plurality of generally triangular openings 26. The inner wall panel 24 includes a respective pair of diverging cuts 27 extending from each opening 26. A rectangular securing flap 28 is hinged to the inner wall panel 24 along a fold line 29.

Referring to figure 2, a stackable container 40 is erected from the blank by firstly folding the end wall panels 12 relative to the bottom wall panel 11 along the fold lines 13 so that the end wall panels 12 are perpendicularly upstanding from the bottom wall panel 11. The securing flaps 16 are then folded relative to the end wall panels 12 along the fold lines 17 so that the securing flaps 16 hinged to each of the end wall panels 12 extend perpendicularly from that panel 12 towards the other panel 12 and vice versa.

The side wall panels 18 are then folded relative to the bottom wall panel 11 O along the fold lines 19 so that the side wall panels 18 are perpendicularly upstanding ¢€3 from the bottom wall panel 11 and so that the securing flaps 16 overlie the interior 00 surfaces of the side wall panels 18. The securing flaps 16 are secured to the side wall IC panels 18 by any suitable securing means such as glue or staples, for example.

SThe top wall panels 20 are then folded relative to the side wall panels 18 IND along the fold lines 21 until the top wall panels 20 are perpendicular with respect to the side wall panels 18 and extend towards each other from the side wall panels 18.

The securing flaps 22 are then folded relative to the top wall panels 20 along the fold lines 23 until the securing flaps 22 overlie the exterior surfaces of the end wall panels 12. The securing flaps 22 are secured to the end wall panels 12 by any suitable securing means such as glue or staples, for example.

The securing flap 28 is folded relative to the inner wall panel 24 along the fold line 29, and the inner wall panel 24 is folded relative to the top wall panel 20 to which it is hinged along the fold line 25 so that the inner wall panel 24 is perpendicularly upstanding from the bottom wall panel 11 and so that the securing flap 28 overlies the bottom wall panel 11 and extends from the inner wall panel 24 back towards the side wall panel 18 which is adjacent the inner wall panel 24. The securing flap 28 is secured to the bottom wall panel 11 by any suitable securing means such as glue or staples, for example.

Figure 3 depicts the container 40 holding a plurality of bananas 41. Each banana 41 has a stem which is received by a respective opening 26, and the bananas 41 extend lengthways from the inner wall panel 24 to the side wall panel 18 which is located opposite the inner wall panel 24. Also, the bananas 41 are located between the bottom wall panel 11 and the top wall panel 20 which is not hinged to the inner wall panel 24.

Figure 4 depicts a partially assembled container 50 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Container 50 only differs from the container 40 in that the openings 26 of the container 50 are circular rather than triangular.

A foldable blank 60 from which a container according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected is depicted in figure Blank 60 is fabricated from a sheet of paperboard such as, for example, double-sided corrugated paperboard or cardboard. For convenience, features of the blank 60 which are the same as or similar to features of the blank 10 are referenced with the same 00 reference numerals.

(NI Significant differences between the blanks 60 and 10 include that the blank only has securing flaps 22 hinged to the top wall panel 20 which is not hinged to ID the inner wall panel 24. Unlike the blank 10, the top wall panels 20 of the blank are not identical to each other. Also, the openings 26 of the blank 60 extend from the fold line 29 and are covered by flaps 61. Moreover, the blank 60 only has five openings 26. Further, the bottom wall panel 11 of the blank 60 is not as wide as the bottom wall panel 11 of blank 10. In addition, the end wall panels 12, securing flaps 16 and side wall panels 18 of the blank 60 are taller than those of the blank Figure 6 depicts a stackable container 70 which is erected from the blank Container 70 is erected from the blank 60 in a similar manner to the way in which the container 40 is erected from the blank 10. Flaps 61 overlie the bottom wall panel 11 and extend from the inner wall panel 24 towards the side wall panel 18 which is located opposite the inner wall panel 24 so that the openings 26 are thereby exposed.

Container 70 is adapted to hold five bananas such that the bananas extend lengthwise from the inner wall panel 24 to the side wall panel 18 which is located opposite the inner wall panel 24, and are located between the top wall panel 20 which is not hinged to the inner wall panel 24 and the bottom wall panel 11, and such that the stem of each banana is received by a respective opening 26. Also, the bananas rest on their ends so that their curved middle portions are elevated with respect to the bottom wall panel 11.

Throughout the specification and the claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to 09 the value for the range qualified by the terms.

h It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and Smodifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing Sfrom the spirit and scope thereof. The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and 00 ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

NI It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to

(N

Sherein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part IND of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

0,10

Claims (12)

1. A container for holding a banana, the container being erected from a foldable Sblank and comprising a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposing end wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a pair of opposing side wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a respective top wall panel hinged to each of 00 the side wall panels along a fold line, an inner wall panel hinged to one of the top wall ,IC panels along a fold line, and an opening in the inner wall panel, wherein the banana is Sable to extend substantially lengthwise between the inner wall panel and one of the IOside wall panels such that a stem of the banana is received by the opening, and such that the banana is located between one of the top wall panels and the bottom wall panel.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a respective pair of opposing securing flaps hinged to each end wall panel along fold lines and secured to the side wall panels.

3. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top wall panels are identical to each other.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a pair of opposing securing flaps hinged to at least one of the top wall panels along fold lines and secured to the end wall panels.

5. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening is triangular.

6. The container of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the opening is circular.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a securing flap hinged to the inner wall panel along a fold line.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the securing flap is secured to the bottom wall panel.

9. The container of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the opening extends into the inner wall panel from the fold line along which the securing flap is hinged to the inner wall panel.

10. A foldable blank which is erectable into a container for holding a banana and which comprises a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposing end wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a pair of opposing side wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a respective top wall panel hinged to each of h the side wall panels along a fold line, an inner wall panel hinged to one of the top wall Spanels along a fold line, and an opening in the inner wall panel, wherein the banana is O able to extend substantially lengthwise between the inner wall panel and one of the side wall panels such that a stem of the banana is received by the opening, and such 00oO that the banana is located between one of the top wall panels and the bottom wall NI panel.

11. A container for holding a banana, the container being substantially as herein INO described with reference to figures 1 to 3, figure 4, or figures 5 and 6. l0

12. A foldable blank which is erectable into a container for holding a banana, the blank being substantially as herein described with reference to figure 1 or figure DATED this 301 h day of May 2006 AMCOR LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.