Produce box with cellular plastic walls

• US 5,366,143 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• 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:
  US08/153,527
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 206/503, 220/6, 220/7, 229/23 R, 229/199, 229/915, 229/916, 229/919, 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, bottom wall, and two end walls. The two end walls each have substantially greater thickness than the side walls, and the bottom wall. The end walls have peripheral edges; the bottom wall and side walls have edge portions overlapping certain peripheral edges of the end walls. There is attachment structure attaching the bottom wall and the side wall edge portions to the end wall peripheral edges. The end walls consist essentially of lightweight, cellular, synthetic resin. The side walls and the bottom wall are defined by thin, inner and outer sheets and webs interconnecting the sheets. The webs are elongated, whereby parallel, lengthwise, elongated cells are formed by the inner and outer sheets and webs; the inner and outer sheets consist of synthetic resin, and the cells have length direction. The bottom wall and the side wall form a continuous strip, which is folded to fit against certain peripheral edges of the end walls; certain peripheral edges are flat. The webs extend at slant angles between the sheets, whereby the elongated cells have parallelogram configuration in planes normal to the length direction of the elongated cells. The elongated cells between the webs extend generally toward the end walls.

Claims

1. 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 attachment means attaching said bottom wall and side wall edge portions to said end wall peripheral edges,

d) said end walls consisting essentially of lightweight, cellular synthetic resin,

e) said side walls and bottom wall defined by thin, inner and outer sheets and webs interconnecting said sheets, said webs being elongated whereby parallel, lengthwise elongated cells are formed by said inner and outer sheets and webs, said inner and outer sheets consisting of synthetic resin, said cells having length direction,

f) 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,

g) successive of said webs extending at the same slant angles between said sheets, whereby said elongated cells have parallelogram configuration in planes normal to the length direction of said elongated cells,

h) said elongated cells between said webs extending toward said end walls,

i) each of said end walls being generally rectangular and having beveled corners.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cellular resin of said end walls consists of foamed polyethylene.

3. 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, said webs being everywhere integral with said inner and outer sheets.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises nails extending through said sheets and parallelogram cells and into said end walls.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said attachment means consists of adhesive.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is an interior and an exterior of the box structure, said end walls define inner sides forming the box interior, and outer sides facing the box exterior, said end walls forming recesses between said inner and outer sides, and in spaced relation to said side walls and bottom wall.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said end walls form a regular grid pattern about said recesses.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said recesses extend through the end walls between said inner and outer sides.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said box side walls have upper parts thereof angled to overlap said interior.

10. The combination of claim 1 including a box top wall attached to said end walls and having the same cellular construction as said side and bottom walls.

11. The combination of claim 1 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.

12. The combination of claim 11 including another box structure like that of claim 1, and having its bottom wall attached to the slat, at the upper side thereof.

13. 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,

d) said end walls consisting essentially of lightweight synthetic resin,

e) there being an interior and an exterior of the box structure, said end walls defining inner sides forming the box interior, and outer sides facing the box exterior, said end walls forming recesses between said inner and outer sides, and in spaced relation to said fasteners,

f) said side walls and bottom wall defined by thin, inner and outer sheets and webs interconnecting said sheets, said webs being elongated whereby parallel and lengthwise elongated cells are formed by said inner and outer sheets and webs, said cells having length direction, said inner and outer sheets consisting of synthetic resin, said webs extending at slant angles between said sheets, whereby said elongated cells have parallelogram cross-sectional configuration in planes normal to the length directions of said elongated cells,

g) and wherein said bottom wall and side walls form a continuous strip which is folded to fit against said certain peripheral edges of said end walls, said certain peripheral edges being flat.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said end walls form a regular grid pattern about said recesses.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said recesses extend through the end walls between said inner and outer sides.

16. The combination of claim 13 wherein said resin of said end walls consists of foamed polyethylene.