Displayable produce container and method for making the same

• US 6,286,753 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
• Original Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
• Inventors: Jackson, Keith A., Southwell, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/693,477
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 229/167, 229/168, 229/169, 229/171, 229/174, 229/178, 229/915, 229/919
• US Class Current: 229/174
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0045 having both integral corner posts and ledges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/915 Stacking feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/919 Reinforced wall

Abstract

The present invention provides a stackable open-top container for use in shipping, storing and retail display of produce and other articles. The produce container of the present invention contains a bottom wall, two side walls, and two end walls. The concave ledges of the side walls contain curved scores. Each side wall contains two panels, each of which contains a mirrored curved score and two minor flaps. The curved scores cause the side walls to go into tension and create stacking shoulders for other containers. The minor flaps of the side walls surround the end walls to increase structural rigidity.

Claims

1. A stackable produce container, comprising a bottom wall, first and second opposing side walls, first and second opposing end walls, each of said first and second side walls including an inner side panel and an outer side panel hingedly connected to each other along opposing concave scores to create a concave-shaped ledge, each of said inner side panels including a pair of minor inner side flaps hingedly connected to said inner panel, each of said outer side panels including a pair of minor outer side flaps hingedly connected to said outer panel, said end wall being captured between said minor inner side flaps and said minor outer side flaps.

2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein the opposing ends of said rigid ledge each contain a stacking shoulder.

3. The produce container of claim 1, wherein said opposing ends and the center area of said rigid ledge each contain a stacking shoulder.

4. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each of said inner side panels is attached to a respective said outer side panel at one or more pinch points.

5. The produce container of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of stacking tabs and a plurality of stacking receptacles.

6. The produce container of claim 5 further comprising at least one stacking tab extending upwardly from the upper edge of said inner side panel of said side wall.

7. The produce container of claim 1 further comprising at least one stacking tab extending upwardly from the upper edge of said outer side panel of said side wall.

8. A blank for forming a stackable produce container, comprising a central rectangular panel having a first pair of opposing edges and a second pair of opposing edges, a first outer side panel hingedly connected to one of said first pair of opposing edges, a second outer side panel hingedly connected to the other of said first pair of opposing edges, a first end panel hingedly connected to one of said second pair of opposing edges, a second end panel hingedly connected to the other of said second pair of opposing edges, a first inner side panel hingedly connected to said first outer side panel along a pair of curved score lines forming a first ledge, a second inner side panel hingedly connected to said second outer side panel along a pair of curved score lines forming a second ledge, a first pair of minor side flaps extending from opposing ends of said first inner side panel, a second pair of minor side flaps extending from opposing ends of said first outer side panel, a third pair of minor side flaps extending from opposing ends of said second inner side panel, and a fourth pair of minor side flaps extending from opposing ends of said second outer side panel.