Produce box

• US 5,364,023 A
• Filed: 10/04/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary L. Vollers
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Vollers
• Inventors: Vollers, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/130,872
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 206/503, 220/6, 220/7, 229/23 R, 229/199, 229/915, 229/919, 229/916, 217/36, 217/52
• US Class Current: 229/199
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 15/22 of polygonal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/916 Means for ventilating while stacked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/919 Reinforced wall

Abstract

A box structure comprising box side walls, a bottom wall, and two end walls, the two end walls each having substantially greater thickness than the side walls and the bottom wall. The end walls have peripheral edges, the bottom wall and the side walls have edge portions overlapping certain of the peripheral edges of the end walls. There are fasteners attaching the bottom wall and the side wall edge portions to the end wall peripheral edges, the fasteners penetrating through the bottom wall and the side wall edge portions and into the end walls via the certain peripheral edges thereof. The end walls consist essentially of cellular foamed polyethylene, which has specific gravity between 0.800 and 0.940. The bottom wall and the side walls form a continuous strip, which is folded to fit against the certain peripheral edges of the end walls, the certain peripheral edges being flat. The fasteners comprise nails driven into the cellular polyethylene.

Claims

1. In a box structure, the combination comprising

a) box side walls, a bottom wall, and two end walls, said two end walls each having substantially greater thickness than said side walls, and said bottom wall,

b) the end walls having peripheral edges, said bottom wall and side walls having edge portions overlapping certain of said peripheral edges of the end walls,

c) there being fasteners attaching said bottom wall and side wall edge portions to said end wall peripheral edges, said fasteners penetrating through said bottom wall and side wall edge portions and into said end walls via said certain peripheral edges thereof,

d) said end walls consisting essentially of cellular foamed polyethylene,

e) said bottom wall and side walls forming a continuous strip which is folded to fit against said certain peripheral edges of said end walls, said certain peripheral edges being flat, said end walls being generally rectangular and having beveled corners flatly engaged by said continuous strip, said strip comprising paperboard and including two parallel sheets and a corrugated sheet located therebetween and bonded thereto,

f) there being recesses in said end walls in spaced relation to said fasteners,

g) said fasteners comprising nails driven into portions of said cellular polyethylene free of said recesses, said portions being substantially solid, said nails having shanks which throughout their lengths in said portions are entirely and closely surrounded by said cellular polyethylene.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strip has thickness between 4/32 and 6/32 inch and said end walls have overall thickness between 18/32 and 20/32 inches.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is an interior and an exterior of the box structure, said end walls define inner sides facing said interior, and outer sides facing said exterior.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said end walls form a regular grid pattern about said recesses.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said recesses extend through the end walls between said inner and outer sides.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said box has an interior, and said box side walls have parts thereof angled to overlap said interior.

8. The combination of claim 7 including another box structure like that of claim 1, and having its bottom wall attached to the slat, at the upper side thereof.

7. In a box structure, the combination comprising

a) box side walls, bottom wall, and two end walls, said two end walls each having substantially greater thickness than said side walls, and said bottom wall,

b) the end walls having peripheral edges, said bottom wall and side walls having edge portions overlapping certain of said peripheral edges of the end walls,

c) there being fasteners attaching said bottom wall and side wall edge portions to said end wall peripheral edges, said fasteners penetrating through said bottom wall and side wall edge portions and into said end walls via said certain peripheral edges thereof,

d) said end walls consisting essentially of lightweight, cellular foamed polyethylene,

e) said bottom wall and side walls forming a continuous strip which is folded to fit against said certain peripheral edges of said end walls, said certain peripheral edges being flat, said end walls being generally rectangular and having beveled corners flatly engaged by said continuous strip, said strip comprising paperboard and including two parallel sheets and a corrugated sheet located therebetween and bonded thereto,

f) there being recesses in said end walls in spaced relation to said fasteners,

g) said fasteners comprising nails driven into portions of said cellular polyethylene free of said recesses, said portions being substantially solid, said nails having shanks which throughout their lengths in said portions are entirely and closely surrounded by said cellular polyethylene.

h) and including a top cover on the box structure and nails driven through the top cover and into end wall peripheral edges which face upwardly, the nails having heads spaced above said top cover, a support slat overlying said cover, and alignment notches in the slat loosely receiving said nail heads.