WO2009152581A1

WO2009152581A1 - Partially overlapping adjacent containers

Info

Publication number: WO2009152581A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurice Joseph Paul Tabone
Original assignee: Tabone, Maurice
Priority date: 2008-06-19
Filing date: 2009-06-19
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Also published as: JP2011524311A; JP5679965B2

Abstract

The present invention provides a container (110) including a base floor and sidewalls (148) generally upstanding from the base floor. A rim (150) at least partially defines an opening through which product is to be inserted in the container (110). At least one of the sidewalls (148) and at least a portion of the rim (150) of the container (110) is adapted to allow at least portion of the container's in-use footprint area to overlap any adjacently placed, similar container's in-use footprint area whilst overcoming or at least minimising any interference being encountered through rim portions of any two adjacently placed, similar containers abutting, when in normal use.

Description

Partially overlapping adjacent containers.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to containers. In particular, this invention relates to containers intended to hold fresh food or produce, although the scope of the invention is not limited to this area.

The invention is especially concerned with containers in a form which can facilitate arranging a plurality of similar containers, side by side or end to end, on a horizontal or planar surface. The invention also relates to a means whereby, a plurality of similar, adjacent containers may each co-inhabit a portion of an adjacent container's in-use footprint area.

In some instances, the invention may improve the space utilisation of such containers arranged in multiples.

In at least some embodiments, the invention teaches a means by which a plurality of containers of a given internal volume or capacity, will not require a larger, collective, in-use footprint than a similar plurality of traditional containers of a lesser internal volume or capacity.

Further, in some instances the invention provides alternative means for providing containers for products which are required to be stacked or arranged in multiples, particularly where a multiple of traditional containers may otherwise require or use more space or, simply not be of a desirable shape, to facilitate such stacking or multiple arrangements.

Priority is claimed of Australian Patent Application Numbers 2008903120 and 2008903607, the contents of the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background of the Invention

Theππoformed containers suitable for holding fresh food or produce are in common use. Traditionally, these have included open-topped and lidded containers with a relatively flat floor area from which extends a number of sidewalls, ending at a rim which is at least substantially planar. This rim defines the opening of the container through which the contents would pass into the container and may at least somewhat govern the usable capacity of the container in respect to the container's sidewalls, floor and contents held therein. In unlidded instances, the container's rim is sometimes designed so as to receive or support an adhesive membrane such as a flat, heat-sealable, lidding film or similar membrane, as a means to seal the container whilst enclosing the contents of the container. Alternatively, the container and its contents may be over-wrapped with a suitable, flexible film, netting or stretchable sheath.

By way of example, a traditional, open topped container often has a rim which is at least substantially horizontal and planar in use. This traditional container's rim style would generally be of a design whereby, an adjacently placed, similar container's rim may abut against the rim in use. This abutting of adjacent rim portions causes an interference which may thereby govern the collective, "iri-use" footprint space utilisation for a plurality of similar, adjacently placed, traditional containers. These traditional containers also often include an amount of taper in their sidewall areas which often creates an inverted "V-shaped" void area between adjacent containers and this unwanted void area can often be compounded by the abutment of rim portions of two or more adjacent, traditional containers as described above.

Accordingly, there is a need for a container design which is suitable for packaging a variety of different products and which may be stacked or placed adjacently, in multiples when in use and, which is not so governed by unwelcome abutting of adjacent rim portions as described above, with particular relation to the collective "in-use" footprint and space utilisation of a plurality of similar, adjacent containers.

It is an object of the present invention, at least in some embodiments to alleviate some or all of these concerns or, at least provide a useful alternative which is appropriate for containers relating to similar applications as those described above.

Disclosure of the Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a container having:

a floor;

- at least one sidewall generally upstanding from the floor; and

- an opening for receipt of product into the container, the opening being at least partially defined by a rim;

wherein, at least a portion of the rim of the container at least partially overlaps a corresponding portion of the in-use footprint of an adjacently placed, similar container, when a plurality of similar containers are positioned side by side or, end to end, in a single layer, so as to co-inhabit a common, display shelf area, transport tray or other relatively flat surface, during normal use.

Preferably, at least a majority of the entire rim will be on a non parallel plane to the plane upon which the floor of the container is positioned.

Preferably, the container of the invention is a lidded container of any suitable style, shape, size or cross section however, the container may be unlidded or open-topped as required. The container may be relatively square or rectangular in plan view, for example, in which case there will be four sidewalls. It is within the scope of this invention that the container is round or oval or a similar curved shape in plan view, in which case the sidewalk will take the form of arcs.

The floor of the container may be of traditional design, eg, flat. However, it is preferred that the floor has a non-planar shape. It is particularly preferred that the 5 floor is upwardly or downwardly or inwardly or outwardly arched, stepped or contoured, the perimeter of the floor being attached to the or at least one of the upwardly extending sidewalls. In other words, the floor may bulge inwardly or outwardly. There may be one or more drainage holes in the floor to facilitate the removal of excess moisture from the contents.

The sidewalls are generally upstanding compared to the floor. Each sidewall may stand at about 90 degrees to the floor, but it is preferred that the sidewalls are formed so that they taper inwardly towards the floor, at least enough so as to facilitate ejection from manufacturing tools or, de-nesting from sleeves or stacks in packing sheds for example.. 5 The opening is preferably as large as possible given the shape of the container, so that the formed rim is at the top of the or each sidewall. The entire formed rim need not be in a single plane. For example, the rim may include cut-outs or other shapes providing vents into the container. In at least one embodiment, the container includes one or more ventilation channels in or near the formed rim. 0 The overlapping portion of the formed rim of the container of this invention is adapted to rest upon the corresponding, underlying portion of any similar container without unwanted interference and, preferably designed and shaped so as to provide a locating guide or orientation point for the overlapping and underlying portions when mated or aligned adjacently. If required, an edge or external surfaces of the overlapping, formed rim portion of the present invention may include a surface suitable for receiving or enhancing contact with any such adhesive membrane or label or other wrapping material as described in this specification or known in the art.

The container of one preferred embodiment preferably has four sidewalls generally upstanding from the floor, a hinged lid, and, includes a formed rim portion, extending from the sidewall opposite the hinge and, is shaped or contoured so as to be the overlapping portion of the formed rim. This overlapping portion of the formed rim of a container of the present invention will preferably be located at, or near, the highest point of the entire formed rim when in normal use, however, the overlapping portion of any formed rim may alternatively be located at any suitable position along the containers' entire formed rim. In some embodiments, there may be a plurality of overlapping formed rim portions in a variety of suitable locations along the formed rim of the container

Any sidewall, base floor or Hd portion of the containers of the present invention may be suitably contoured to at least substantially mate with or, nestle against or, compliment, any surface shape or profile of an adjacently placed, similar container's corresponding portions.

Any Hd portion or related rim portion of a container of the present invention may include mechanical means such as friction fit or plug and socket type latches, by which to lock the Hd in a substantially closed position.

Any overlapping portion or corresponding underlying portion of a container of the present invention may also include mechanical means such as locating lugs or friction fit or plug and socket type latches, by which to locate, assemble, connect or orientate a plurality of adjacently placed, similar containers together when resting on a substantially planar surface. The container of the invention may be made of any suitable material but preferably is a thermoformed, relatively thin plastic material, as is presently known in the art. Examples of some suitable thermoformable plastic material are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyactide (PLA) and biaxially orientated 5 polystyrene (BOPS). The container of this invention may be of any desirable shape, however containers of a square or rectangular cross section are likely to be most commonly preferred.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of presenting a plurality of the containers of the invention positioned side by side or, end to end, in a single layer,0 so as to co-inhabit a common, display shelf area, transport tray or other relatively flat surface, during normal use. In this single layer format, each of the containers having an overlapping formed rim portion and an underlying portion, the overlapping formed rim portion shape being complementary to the underlying portion shape of any similar container, the method including the step of arranging5 the one container with the other container so that the overlapping formed rim portion shape of the one container locates over, around, into, against or, near the corresponding underlying portion of the other similar, adjacent container.

The method of the invention may be used to present containers of the invention in a side by side or end to end, single layer fashion. The method of the invention can0 minimise shelf space required to display product in the containers and may also provide a more stable configuration in transit trays or on shelf.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in relation to non-limiting examples thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which: s Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a plurality of traditional unlidded containers which do not include the present invention, positioned adjacently in a single layer, upon a planar horizontal surface; Figure 2 shows a side elevation of a plurality of traditional lidded containers which do not include the present invention, positioned adjacently in a double layer, upon a planar horizontal surface;

Figure 3 shows a side view of a plurality of lidded containers of a preferred embodiment of the present invention stacked together in a single layer, on a planar surface and illustrates an embodiment of the method of the invention;

Figure 4 further shows a side view of a plurality of lidded containers of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 3, this time stacked together in a double layer, on a planar surface;

Figure 5 shows a side view of a single container of the preferred embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 in an open position, as commonly orientated in thermoforming machines during manufacture;

Figure 6 shows a top view of a container of the embodiment of Figures 3, 4 and 5 in a closed position on a planar surface;

Figure 7 shows a side view of the container of the embodiment of figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 in a closed position on a planar surface; and

Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the container of Figure 5, 6 and 7.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a plurality of traditional unlidded containers 10 which do not include the present invention, positioned adjacently in a single layer, upon a planar horizontal surface 12. Rims 14 are shown substantially abutted at 16, thereby creating void areas 18 between adjacently placed, similar containers. Tapered sidewalls 20 also contribute to void areas 18.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of a plurality of traditional lidded containers 22 which do not include the present invention, positioned adjacently in a double layer, upon a planar horizontal surface 24. Rims 26 are shown substantially abutted at 28, thereby creating void areas 30 between adjacently placed, similar containers. Tapered sidewalls 32 also contribute to void areas 30 between containers, as do further void areas 34 created between side tapered lids 36.

Figures 3 shows a side view of a plurality of a lidded container 110 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention stacked together in a single layer, on a planar surface 112 and illustrates an embodiment of the method of the invention in use. Overlapping portions 114 of each rear container are shown positioned at rest above underlying portions 116 of each respective front container. Overlapping portions 114 may include a rim portion only (1 14) or may also include a suitably formed sidewall portion 118 or any suitable lid portion. Underlying portions 116 may include a suitably formed lid portion only (as indicated generally at 116) or may include any suitably formed, rim portion 120, hinged portion 122 or sidewali portion 124 as required. Additionally, in an untidded container of the present invention for example, the underlying portion may only include a suitably formed rim portion or may include a suitably formed sidewall portion. Generally speaking, in any embodiment of the present invention, an underlying portion of the container is that which locates directly or perpendicularly below any suitable formed overlapping portion of an adjacently placed, similar container, so as to at least partially co-inhabit a common in-use footprint area between any two containers. There may be any suitable number of suitable overlapping portions or respective underlying portions included in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a plurality of lidded containers of a preferred embodiment of the present invention 110 as shown in Figure 3, this time stacked together in a double layer, on a planar surface 112a. The upper layer of containers may each individually rest upon a substantially flat lid top 126 of a lower container. The container's base floor and Ud top may have any suitably adaptations added to facilitate location or additional stability for the containers when column stacked in multiple layers.

Figures 3 and 4 also illustrate a vast reduction or minimisation of void areas between adjacently placed containers when compared to the traditional container shapes of Figures 1 and 2. This minimisation of relevant void areas between adjacently arranged, similar containers is a notable feature of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a side view of a single container 1 10 of the preferred embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, in an open position 128, as commonly orientated in thermoforming machines during manufacture. Figure 5 also introduces a locating portion 130 positioned within the underlying portion of the container, adapted to locate beneath or into a void portion 132 of a similar containers overlapping rim portion when two similar containers are arranged adjacently in an end to end fashion on a substantially planar surface (refer Figures 3 and 4). The containers lid 134 and base 136 are shown hinged at 138.

Figure 6 shows a top view of a container 110 of the embodiment of Figures 3, 4 and 5 in a closed position on a planar surface 140. This top view also shows a plurality of locating portions 130a positioned within the underlying portion of the container, adapted to locate beneath or into a void portion (not shown in this view) of the underside of a similar containers overlapping rim portion 142 when two similar containers are arranged adjacently in an end to end fashion on a substantially planar surface (refer Figures 3 and 4). As mentioned above (refer description of Figure 4) Figure 6 introduces examples of the containers' lid top including adaptations 144, added to facilitate location or additional stability for containers of the present invention when stacked in multiple layers. These moulded adaptations 144 are designed to locate with mated portions in a similar containers' base floor when placed atop of the container lid top of figure 6. Figure 7 shows a side view of the container 110 of the embodiment of figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 in a closed position on a planar surface 146. Figure 7 also shows (as introduced in Figure 5), a protruding locating portion 130, positioned within the underlying portion of the container, adapted to locate beneath or, into, a void portion 132 of any similar containers overlapping rim portion when two similar containers are arranged adjacently in an end to end fashion on a substantially planar surface (refer Figures 3 and 4). Whilst at rest upon planar surface 146, the container shown in Figure 7 illustrates clearly the tilted/angularly displaced sidewalls 148 of the container of this preferred embodiment. Figure 7 also shows a tiled/angularly displaced rim portion 150 of the closed container of this preferred embodiment of the present invention placed at rest upon planar surface 146.

Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the container 110 of Figure 5, 6 and 7. Figure 8 also shows (as mentioned in the above descriptions of Figures 4 and 6), mated portions 152 positioned in the container's base floor area, designed to mutually locate with lid top adaptations (as also mentioned in the above descriptions of Figures 4 and 6), added to facilitate mutual location or additional stability for similar containers of the present invention when column stacked in multiple layers, one atop of another. Further, the void portion 132 of overlapping rim portion 142 (refer to above descriptions of Figures 5, 6 and 7) is shown in inverted form in Figure 8.

Industrial Applicability

The container of the present invention provides a means to minimise external void areas between multiple, similar containers arranged adjacently, on a substantially planar surface, in single or multiple layers. Improved space utilisation, through sharing an amount of common "in-use" footprint areas is also a feature of containers of the present invention. The containers of the present invention facilitate uniform orientation for multiple, similar containers when arranged adjacently, in a single row or layer and may thereby facilitate uniform presentation/orientation of information and product labels applied to these containers, thereby improving on shelf display and in-tray presentation for example. Improved stability in transit of multiple, similar containers can also be provided by the present invention, through improved nestling or interlocking or connecting means. Further, in at least some instances the present invention provides a means for semi-permanent connection or temporary joining of a plurality of containers of the present invention, together, in end to end or, side by side or, in a "train carriage" type configuration for example, thus improving handling or shipping aspects and offering some unique on shelf presentation options.

Claims

1. A container having:

- a base floor;

- at least one sidewall generally upstanding from the base floor; and

wherein, at least a portion of the rim of the container at least partially overlaps a portion of the in-use footprint area of an adjacently placed similar container when a plurality of similar containers are positioned side by side oro end to end in a single layer so as to co-inhabit a common display shelf area or transport tray or other relatively planar surface during normal use.

2. A container having:

a base floor; 5 - at least one sidewall generally upstanding from the base floor; and

wherein, at least a portion of the in-use footprint area of the container at least partially overlaps ^'at least a portion of the in-use footprint area of an adjacentlyo placed similar container when a plurality of similar containers are positioned side by side or end to end in a single layer so as to co-inhabit a common display shelf area or transport tray or other relatively planar surface during normal use.

3. A container having:

- a base floor;

- at least one sidewall generally upstanding from the base floor; and

- an opening for receipt of product into the container, the opening being s at least partially defined by a rim; wherein, both, a portion of the in-use footprint area and at least a portion of the rim of the container at least partially overlap a portion of the in-use footprint area of an adjacently placed similar container when a plurality of similar containers are positioned side by side or end to end in a single layer so as to co- inhabit a commono display shelf area or transport tray or other relatively planar surface during normal use.

4. A container having:

- a base floor; s - at least one sidewall generally upstanding from the base floor; and

wherein, both, a portion of the in-use footprint area and at least a portion of the rim of the container at least partially overlap a portion of the rim of an adjacently0 placed similar container when a plurality of similar containers are positioned side by side or end to end in a single layer so as to co-inhabit a common display shelf area or transport tray or other relatively planar surface during normal use.

5. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 4 having a rim portion positioned on a plane which is at least substantially not parallel to the plane substantially defined by the base floor.

6. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 5 having a rim portion 5 positioned on a plane which is at least substantially not parallel to the plane as defined by any substantially planar surface upon which rests the base floor of the container in normal use.

7. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 6 having at least one hinged lid portion and including male to female or plug and socket or tongue and groove oro friction fit type locking mechanisms to facilitate at least substantial locking of the lid portion to a rim portion of the container's base in at least a substantially closed position.

8. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 7 having at least one separate Hd portion and including male to female or plug and socket or tongue and grooves or friction fit type locking mechanisms to facilitate at least substantial locking of the lid portion to a rim portion of the container's base in at least a substantially closed position.

9. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 8 having locating means formed upon any lid top surface which mate with corresponding locating meanso formed upon a similar containers base floor area to facilitate stability when column stacking.

10. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 9 having male to female or plug and socket or tongue and groove type locating means disposed within its respective overlapping areas to facilitate mutual location of overlapping portions of5 a plurality of adjacently placed similar containers when a plurality of adjacently placed similar containers are positioned side by side or end to end in a single layer so as to co-inhabit a common display shelf area or transport tray or other relatively planar surface during normal use.

11. The container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 10 having male to female or plug and socket or tongue and groove or friction fit type locking means disposed within its respective overlapping areas to facilitate temporary joining of overlapping portions of a plurality of adjacently placed similar containers when a plurality of adjacently placed similar containers are positioned side by side or end to end in a single layer so as to co-inhabit a common display shelf area or transport tray or other relatively planar surface during normal use.

12. A method of arranging or placing a plurality of the container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 11 adjacently or side by side or end to end whereby, at least two of the containers each at least partially inhabit a common in-use footprint area.

13. A method of arranging or placing a plurality of the container of any of the preceding claims 1 to 11 adjacently or side by side or end to end whereby, at least two of the containers each at least partially overlap within a common in-use footprint area.

14. A container substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 of the accompanying drawings.