Special receptacle or package – Structural features for vertical stacking – i.e. – similar... – Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
Patent
1996-06-17
1997-12-16
Castellano, Stephen J.
Special receptacle or package
Structural features for vertical stacking, i.e., similar...
Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
206507, 206511, 220 427, B65D 21032
Patent
active
056975007
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a packing container and, more particularly, to a packing container for the storage and transport of perishables such as fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and other products which require protection from deterioration. Transportation by road, by sea and/or by air of perishable products over long distances, not only within a country but also between countries and continents, is an expanding development of modem commerce. It is common to transport perishables in refrigerated compartments but that requires specially equipped vehicles and is costly. It would be more cost effective if perishables could be transported over long distances without the need for refrigeration in transit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Packing containers have been made in a variety of shapes and sizes which of course are dictated principally by the size and nature of the intended contents. One commonly used container is a packing case comprising a tray with a substantially rectangular floor and upstanding side and end walls extending substantially at right angles to the floor. Sometimes, containers of that type have been provided with a lid. For convenience, this invention will be described in relation to a packing container of that shape. However, it must be emphasised that the invention is applicable to containers of other shapes. The size of the base of a packing container for storage and transport has usually been designed so that containers fit on a standard pallet used for materials handling purposes with little waste of pallet space. The economics of transportation and materials handling is very much dependant on efficient use of pallet space. The wall height of trays has usually ranged from a shallow tray to a deep container to suit the intended contents.
The usual methods of storage, handling and transportation of laden packing containers indicate that the containers should be made of strong material, particularly when the laden packing containers are stacked one upon another and where the contents such as fruit must be protected against damage. Furthermore, the materials need to be lightweight in relation to the contents to allow economic transportation over long distances, particularly by air. Packing containers should also be made of waterproof material and thus resistant to high humidities. To this end, it has now become commonplace to make packing containers from expanded foam synthetic plastics such as polystyrene.
In order to improve the stability of a stack of packing containers made from expanded foam synthetic plastics, the upper rim of the side and/or end walls of the packing containers has been provided with a plurality of shaped, upward projections, with corresponding recesses being provided at the bottom of the side and/or end walls. For stacking purposes, the projections on the rim of a lower packing container fit within and mate with the recesses at the bottom of the side and/or end walls of a packing container immediately above it and thus the stability of a stack of foam plastic packing containers has been improved, particularly during transportation over a bumpy road.
In the case of packing containers used for storage and transportation of perishables, the side and/or end walls and/or the floor of the packing container have sometimes been provided with a plurality of apertures to allow the introduction and circulation of cold air. This has the disadvantage that sometimes the introduction and circulation of cold air is blocked or otherwise interfered with by the contents of the packing container. Alternatively or additionally for the same purpose, the side and/or end walls have sometimes been provided with a plurality of discontinuities where sections of the side and/or end walls do not extend to the full height of other portions of the side and/or end walls.
In any event, those measures are useful only where the perishables are stored and transported under refrigerating conditions. In non-refrigerating conditions, the perishable contents soon reach ambient temper
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patent: 5544751 (1996-08-01), Klodt et al.
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