Stackable transport crate

Details Stackable transport crate Stackable transport crate

1999-08-24

2001-08-07

Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)

Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes

Paperboard box

Box includes two side walls which are not formed from the...

C229S120000, C229S120290, C229S122300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270007

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to containers used in the transport and storage of horticultural items, and more particularly to a stackable crate for transporting potted plants that is strong, light-in-weight and capable of easy set up, break down and recycling.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The distribution of bedding plants, small woody plants, potted plants, and other nursery stock begins at the grower. Growers of such horticultural items, as any supplier of goods, need to cost effectively get their goods to market without sacrificing product quality.
Horticultural and agricultural items such as trees, shrubs, bushes, vines etc. are transported in a potted condition. Although it is not unheard of to transport plants in ten gallon or greater capacity planters, one to seven gallon planters are most commonly encountered. Such potted plants were commonly “floor loaded” inside cargo trucks (i.e., hand loaded to form a staggeredly stacked arrangement whereby the foliage of each plant is pushed aside or otherwise manipulated so as to accommodate a successive layer of potted plants positioned thereover). In addition to being labor intensive, this method caused a great deal of plant damage. Presently, large metal racks are now widely used for transporting potted plants. The potted plants are loaded into the bulky, heavy metal racks which are then placed into trucks and transported to garden supply stores or other retail outlets. Upon arrival at the retail outlet, the plants are typically unloaded and displayed in the cumbersome transport racks, or loaded into a more consumer appealing point of display rack.
Various types and configurations of paperboard or corrugated paperboard shipping containers have been developed in attempts to reduce the reliance on expensive and inconvenient metal shipping racks. Unfortunately, known paperboard containers have several shortcomings. For instance, a majority of such containers are designed for holding nursery flats, and as such are ill suited for transporting the larger, taller, bulkier and substantially heavier potted plants. Furthermore, known transport containers are little more than fully enclosed cardboard boxes, generally providing a poor environment (i.e., dark, cramped, no or low air circulation etc.) for the storage of a product which is especially sensitive to its environment, and whose saleability is greatly a function of appearance and health. Another disadvantage associated with paperboard shipping containers is that they are usually relatively difficult, thus expensive, to assemble, often times requiring glue, tape, staples etc. to maintain the origami-like folds frequently present in such box constructions.
As a testament to their overall shortcomings, it is still common to transport potted plants using the cumbersome and heavy metal racks in lieu of or in addition to paperboard shipping containers, in part because the paperboard containers are usually not strong enough to allow the stacking of containers one on top of another. In addition to handling issues, the reality is that the metal racks comprise a substantial portion of the total shipped weight sent by a grower, and therefore unavoidably represent a significant cost of the shipped product. Furthermore, the metal racks must be returned empty (i.e., “dead headed”) to the growers before they can be used again, which results in substantial return shipping costs, costs which are again ultimately reflected in the price of the product in the market place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a strong, light weight stackable crate for transporting potted plants that is both user and plant friendly. The stackable transport crate of the present invention includes opposing trays spaced apart by support structures. The trays form a top and bottom for the stackable crate. Each of the trays have side walls and end walls. The side walls are orthogonal to the end walls to thereby define four corners for the opposing trays. Each of the support structures has a plurality of upstanding panels which define interior and exterior walls for the stackable crate. Two of the upstanding panels are parallel and joined at their ends by one other upstanding panel of the plurality of upstanding panels so as to form corners for the support structures. At least one of the corners so formed is an exterior corner for the stackable crate. The support structures are configured relative to the opposing trays such that each of the exterior corners are in substantial abutting alignment with each of the corners of the opposing trays to thereby form substantially closed ends and partially open sides for the stackable crate. The partially open sides facilitate access to the interior storage space of the stackable crate and enhance air flow therethrough. More specific features and advantages will become apparent with reference to the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, appended claims, and the accompanying drawing figures.


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