AU2006220387A1 - Improved Container for Holding Bananas and Blank Therefor - Google Patents

Description

Name of Applicants Actual Inventors Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisi

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Amcor Limited and Francesco Santo Sciacca George Ganzenmuller Gordon Mellis Fransesco Santo Sciacca CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia Improved Container for Holding Bananas and Blank Therefor onal Applications 2005905160 filed 19 September 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: Technical Field The present invention relates generally to containers for holding bananas and, in particular, to containers of the aforementioned type which are erected from a blank of foldable material.

00 Background Art 0 Bananas are usually sold in unpackaged "bunches" which comprise a IN plurality of bananas whose stems are joined together.

Some banana consumers prefer to purchase their bananas in containers that 0 i 10 hold 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 can 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.

Disclosure 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 which is erected from a foldable blank and which is adapted to hold a banana, the container comprising a press panel, a top wall panel secured relative to the press panel, and a bottom wall panel, wherein a banana is able to be positioned between the top wall panel and the bottom wall panel, and is able to be pressed towards the bottom wall panel by the press panel such that the banana is thereby inhibited from moving relative to the top wall panel and the bottom wall panel.

The container may be any suitable size so that it can hold any suitable 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 from one to twenty bananas. In a particular preferred form, the container is 280 mm long, 180 mm wide Sand 45 mm high, and is able to hold five bananas.

Preferably, the container is a stackable container so that a plurality of the containers may be stacked on top of each other.

00 In one preferred form, the container is a machine-erectable container. In another preferred form, the container is a manually-erectable container N, The foldable blank from which the container is erected may be fabricated from any suitable material. Preferably, the foldable blank is fabricated from a sheet C1 10 of paper-based material such as, for example, corrugated paperboard or cardboard. In a particular preferred form, the foldable blank is fabricated from a sheet of doublefaced corrugated paperboard.

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

The press panel may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the press panel is rectangular in shape.

The press panel may be any suitable size. Preferably, the press panel is mm to 500 mm long, and 5 mm to 70 mm wide. In a particular preferred form, the press panel is 210 mm long and 15 mm wide.

Preferably, the press panel is secured relative to the top wall panel by an intermediate panel, wherein the intermediate panel is folded relative to the top wall panel, and wherein the press panel and the intermediate panel are folded relative to each other in a concertina-like manner. In a particular preferred form, the intermediate panel is hinged to the top wall panel.

The intermediate panel may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the intermediate panel is rectangular in shape.

The intermediate panel may be any suitable size. Preferably, the intermediate panel is 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 5 mm to 70 mm wide. In a particular preferred form, the press panel is 210 mm long and 15 mm wide.

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

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 a particular preferred form, the bottom wall panel is 280 mm long and 180 mm wide.

The top wall panel may be any suitable shape. For example, the top wall panel may be rectangular in shape or may be U-shaped.

The top wall panel may be any suitable size. Preferably, the top wall panel is 00 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 10 mm to 100 mm wide. In a particular preferred form, a the top wall panel is 280 mm long and 50 mm wide.

,I The container may have more than one top wall panel. Preferably, the Ocontainer has a pair of top wall panels. Preferably, a respective press panel is secured 10 relative to each top wall panel.

Preferably, a pair of opposing end wall panels is hinged to the bottom panel.

The end wall panels may be any suitable shape. In a preferred form, the end wall panels are generally rectangular in shape. 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 a particular preferred form, the end wall panels are 180 mm wide and mm high. Each end wall panel may include a recess in a free edge thereof. A respective pair of opposing securing flaps is preferably hinged to opposite ends of each end wall panel. The container may include side wall panels, and the securing flaps may be used to secure the end wall panels to the side wall panels.

Preferably, a pair of opposing side wall panels is hinged to the bottom wall panel. The side wall panels may be any suitable shape. In a preferred form, the side wall panels are generally rectangular in shape. The side wall panels may be any suitable size. Preferably, the side wall panels are 30 mm to 500 mm long, and 30 mm to 150 mm high. In a particular preferred form, the side wall panels are 280 mm long and 45 mm high. Preferably, the container includes a pair of top wall panels, and each side wall panel is preferably hinged to a respective one of the top wall panels.

The top wall panel preferably has a pair of opposing securing flaps hinged thereto. The container preferably has an end wall panel, and the securing flaps are preferably secured to the end 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, the blank comprising a bottom wall panel, a side wall panel hinged to the bottom panel, a top wall panel hinged to the side wall panel, and a press panel secured relative to the top wall panel.

V)Preferably, the press panel is secured relative to the top wall panel by an intermediate panel. In a particular preferred form, the intermediate panel is hinged to the top wall panel.

00oO Brief Description of the Drawings CI In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into

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practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the C 10 accompanying illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank which is able to be erected into a container according to a first preferred embodiment; Figure 2 depicts a container which is erected from the blank illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 is another view of the container depicted in figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank which is able to be erected into a container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank which is able to be erected into a container according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to figure 1, a foldable blank 10 from which a container according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected is fabricated from a sheet of paperboard. For example, the blank 10 may be fabricated from a sheet of double sided corrugated paperboard.

Blank 10 includes a generally rectangular bottom wall panel 11 that has a pair of opposing end wall panels 12 hinged to opposite sides thereof along fold lines 13. Each end wall panel 12 has a recess 14 in a free edge 15 thereof and a pair of opposing and generally rectangular securing flaps 16 hinged to opposite ends thereof along fold lines 17.

A pair of opposing and rectangular side wall panels 18 is hinged to opposite sides of the bottom wall panel 11 along fold lines 19. A U-shaped top wall panel O 6 is hinged to one of the side wall panels 18 along a fold line 21, and a generally rectangular top wall panel 22 is hinged to the other side wall panel 18 along a fold 1 line 23. A respective pair of opposing and generally rectangular securing flaps 24 is hinged to opposite sides of each of the top wall panels 20, 22 along fold lines A respective intermediate panel 26 is hinged to each top panel 20, 22 along a 00 fold line 27, and a respective press panel 28 is hinged to each intermediate panel 26 along a fold line 29.

I Referring to figures 2 and 3, a container 40 is erected from the blank 10 by firstly folding the end wall panels 12 relative to the bottom wall panel 11 along the C 10 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 are perpendicular to the end wall panels 12, and so that the securing flaps 16 hinged to each end wall panel 12 extend towards the other end wall panel 12.

The side wall panels 18 are then folded relative to the bottom panel 11 along the fold lines 19 so that the side wall panels 18 are perpendicularly upstanding from the bottom panel 11. The side wall panels 18 are then secured to the securing flaps 16 by any suitable securing means such as glue or staples, for example.

The top wall panels 20, 22 are then folded relative to the side wall panels 18 along the fold lines 21, 23 until the top wall panels 20, 22 extend perpendicularly from the side wall panels 18 and towards each other. The securing flaps 24 are folded relative to the top wall panels 20, 22 along the fold lines 25 until the securing flaps 24 overlie the exterior surfaces of the end wall panels 12. The securing flaps 24 are secured to the end wall panels 12 by any suitable securing means such as glue or staples, for example.

The intermediate panels 26 are folded relative to the top panels 20, 22 along the fold lines 27 such that the intermediate panels 26 generally extend towards the bottom wall panel 11 from the top wall panels 20, 22.

The press panels 28 are folded relative to the intermediate panels 26 along the fold lines 29 in a concertina-like manner so that the press panels 28 extend towards each other from the press panels 26.

A plurality of bananas 50 are inserted into the container 40 by firstly lifting the intermediate panels 26 and the press panels 28 so that they do not obstruct the insertion of the bananas 50 into the container 40. Once the bananas 50 have been inserted into the container 40 they can then be held in place by pivoting the intermediate panels 26 relative to the top wall panels 20, 22 until the intermediate panels 26 extend beneath the top wall panels 20, 22 and the press panels 28 are firmly 0 pressed against the bananas 50 so that the bananas 50 are thereby held in place a between the press panels 28 and the bottom wall panel 11, and are inhibited from N moving relative to the top wall panels 20, 22 and the bottom wall panels 11.

The bananas 50 are able to be removed from the container 40 by firstly

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IN 10 pivoting the intermediate panels 26 relative to the top wall panels 20, 22 so that the press panels 28 no longer press against the bananas 50. Once this has been achieved, the bananas 50 can then be removed from the container A blank 50 from which a manually-erectable container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected is depicted in figure 4. For convenience, features of the blank 50 which are the same as or similar to features of the blank 10 are referenced with the same reference numbers.

Blank 50 differs from the blank 10 in that it does not include an intermediate panel 26 or a press panel 28 hinged to its top wall panel 22. Moreover, the top wall panel 22 of the blank 50 has an irregular-shaped free edge 51 and a plurality of openings 52. Each fold line 13 of the blank 50 includes a pair of U-shaped cuts 53 which extend into the end wall panels 12 so that a pair of locking tab receiving apertures (not depicted) is formed between each end wall panel 12 and the bottom panel 11 when the end wall panels 12 are folded relative to the bottom panel 11 along the fold lies 13. Each locking tab receiving aperture is able to receive a respective locking tab 54 which is hinged to each securing flap 24 of the blank 50 along a fold line 55 so that the securing flaps 24 are thereby secured relative to the end wall panels 12.

A blank 60 from which a machine-erectable container according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected is depicted in figure 5. For convenience, features of the blank 60 which are the same as or similar to features of the blank 50 are referenced with the same reference numbers.

Blank 60 is identical to blank 50 in all respects except that the blank 60 does not include U-shaped cuts 53 or locking tabs 54.

Throughout the specification and the claims, unless the context requires V, 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.

O0 Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to I the value for the range qualified by the terms.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and C 10 modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from 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 ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Claims (10)

1. A container which is erected from a foldable blank and which is adapted to hold a banana, the container comprising a press panel, a top wall panel secured relative to the press panel, and a bottom wall panel, wherein a banana is able to be positioned between the top wall panel and the bottom wall panel, and is able to be 0 pressed towards the bottom wall panel by the press panel such that the banana is a thereby inhibited from moving relative to the top wall panel and the bottom wall cI panel.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the press panel is secured relative to the O I 10 top wall panel by an intermediate panel, wherein the intermediate panel is folded relative to the top wall panel, and wherein the press panel and the intermediate panel are folded relative to each other in a concertina-like manner.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the intermediate panel is hinged to the top wall panel.

4. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes a pair of top wall panels.

The container of claim 4, wherein a respective press panel is secured relative to each of the top wall panels.

6. A foldable blank which is erectable into a container for holding a banana, the blank comprising a bottom wall panel, a side wall panel hinged to the bottom panel, a top wall panel hinged to the side wall panel, and a press panel secured relative to the top wall panel.

7. The foldable blank of claim 6, wherein the blank also includes an intermediate panel, and wherein the press panel is secured relative to the top wall panel by the intermediate panel.

8. The foldable blank of claim 7, wherein the intermediate panel is hinged to the top wall panel.

9. A container substantially as herein described with reference to figures 2 and 3.

10. A foldable blank substantially as herein described with reference to figure 1, figure 4 or figure