Reusable produce containers and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351291-B2
Application number	US-201715712013-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2017
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of foldable containers, such as foldable produce containers, and related sheets and methods. In some embodiments, a sheet may comprise at least two adjacent, parallel, side panels, one of which may comprise a bendable tab, and the other of which may comprise a cutout configured to receive the bendable tab. This may allow for temporarily maintaining the two panels in position during a folding process to facilitate additional folding steps during the process. In some embodiments, a container may comprise one or more strapping flaps configured to facilitate tensioning of strapping material for strapping together multiple containers. These strapping flaps may be configured to engage a strapping material and may allow a single person to more easily tension the strapping material to strap multiple containers together.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet for folding into a container, comprising:
a first side panel comprising a first locking tab and a rollover flap, wherein the rollover flap is configured to be folded with respect to the first side panel to expose the first locking tab;
a second side panel configured to be folded with respect to the first side panel during a folding process for folding the sheet into a three-dimensional container such that the second side panel is positioned adjacent and at least substantially parallel to the first side panel;
a third side panel configured to be folded with respect to the first side panel and the second side panel during the folding process such that the third side panel is positioned adjacent and at least substantially parallel to and overlaps with the second side panel, wherein at least one of the second side panel and the third side panel comprises a bendable tab, and wherein at least one of the second side panel and the third side panel comprises a cutout configured to receive the bendable tab to hold the second side panel in place with respect to the third side panel while the rollover flap is folded with respect to the first side panel to expose the first locking tab; and
a first top panel comprising a slot for receiving the first locking tab, wherein the first top panel further comprises a first locking flap configured to be folded so as to extend adjacent to an exterior surface of the container at least substantially parallel to the first locking tab to secure the first top panel in a closed position to at least partially enclose the container.

2. The sheet of claim 1 , wherein the bendable tab has a shape that at least substantially matches a shape of the cutout.

3. The sheet of claim 2 , wherein the bendable tab is slightly larger in size than the cutout.

4. The sheet of claim 2 , wherein the bendable tab comprises a trapezoidal shape, and wherein the cutout comprises a trapezoidal shape.

5. The sheet of claim 1 , wherein the first locking flap comprises a door, wherein the door is configured to open to expose the slot for receiving the first locking tab upon bending the first locking flap with respect to the second and third side panels.

6. The sheet of claim 5 , wherein the sheet is configured such that, upon folding the first top panel with respect to the second and third side panels during the folding process, the first locking tab automatically engages the door to cause the first locking flap to bend and expose the slot.

7. The sheet of claim 1 , wherein the first side panel further comprises a clearance aperture, and wherein the first locking tab is positioned to extend within the clearance aperture such that the clearance aperture provides spacing between the first locking tab and the rollover flap.

8. A container, comprising:
a first side panel defining an outermost surface of a first sidewall of the container;
a second side panel adjacent to and at least substantially parallel to the first side panel, wherein the second side panel partially defines the first sidewall, and wherein second side panel is positioned interior of the first side panel; and
a third side panel positioned adjacent and at least substantially parallel to the second side panel, wherein the third side panel partially defines the first sidewall, wherein the third side panel is positioned interior of the second side panel, wherein at least one of the second side panel and the third side panel comprises a bendable tab, and wherein at least one of the second side panel and the third side panel comprises a cutout configured to receive the bendable tab once the bendable tab has been bent and inserted within the cutout to hold at least two side panels defining the first sidewall in place.

9. The container of claim 8 , wherein the second side panel and the third side panel each comprises a locking tab, and wherein the respective locking tabs of the second side panel and the third side panel overlap.

10. The container of claim 9 , further comprising a first top panel, wherein the first top panel comprises a slot configured to receive both of the respective locking tabs of the second side panel and the third side panel.

11. The container of claim 8 , wherein the first sidewall comprises a width extending from a first end of the first sidewall to a second end of the first sidewall, wherein the first side panel extends along the entire width, wherein the second side panel extends from the first end without extending to the second end, and wherein the third side panel extends from the second end without extending to the first end.

12. The container of claim 8 , wherein at least one sidewall of the container comprises means for holding strapping material while tensioning the strapping material for strapping together multiple containers.

13. The container of claim 12 , wherein each of at least two opposing sidewalls of the container comprises means for holding strapping material while tensioning the strapping material for strapping together multiple containers.

14. The container of claim 13 , wherein each of the sidewalls of the container comprises means for holding strapping material while tensioning the strapping material for strapping together multiple containers.

15. The container of claim 12 , wherein the means for holding strapping material comprises a bendable strapping flap configured to be selectively extended from the container so as to engage a strapping material.

16. A container, comprising:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall positioned opposite the first sidewall;
a third sidewall positioned adjacent to the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and
a fourth sidewall positioned opposite the third sidewall,
wherein at least one sidewall comprises a strapping flap configured to facilitate tensioning of strapping material for strapping together multiple containers, wherein the strapping flap is configured to be selectively extended away from the container so as to engage a strapping material extending along the at least one sidewall along an inner surface of the strapping flap.

17. The container of claim 16 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of ventilation openings.

18. The container of claim 17 , wherein the strapping flap is formed so as to partially define at least one of the plurality of ventilation openings extending through at least one of the sidewalls.

19. The container of claim 16 , wherein the container comprises at least one strapping flap for each of the sidewalls.

20. The container of claim 19 , wherein each of the sidewalls comprises at least one ventilation opening, and wherein each of the strapping flaps is formed so as to partially define a ventilation opening.

21. The container of claim 16 , wherein the strapping flap is spaced apart from a top surface of the container in an unbent configuration.

22. The container of claim 16 , wherein the strapping flap is configured to receive an elongated strap extending horizontally across the container and at least one adjacent container.

Assignees

• Inteplast Group Corp

Inventors

• Carman Gregory A

Classifications

• B65D5/003

  having ledges formed by extensions of the side walls (B65D5/0045 and B65D5/0065 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/4295

  Ventilating arrangements, e.g. openings, space elements · CPC title

• B65D5/22 Primary

  held erect by extensions of one or more sides being doubled-over to enclose extensions of adjacent sides · CPC title

• B65D5/0015

  the container being formed by folding up portions connected to a central panel · CPC title

• Y02W30/807

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic