Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER WITH RECESSED HANDLE CAVITIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to United States Provisional
Application No.
61/597,673 filed on February 10, 2012, the teachings of which are hereby
incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to containers, and more particularly to
containers that
can receive carrying handles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Produce, including fruit such as peaches, nectarines and the like, has
often been sold in
open-topped cardboard baskets having carrying handles. These open-topped
baskets were not
stackable, did not provide visibility below the uppermost layer of produce,
and were
susceptible of shoppers moving items from one basket to another, either to
assemble a
"perfect" basket combining the best produce from several baskets, or get more
produce while
paying for only one basket.
[0004] The introduction of transparent plastic produce containers with "snap-
on" lids
obviated these difficulties, as the lid made it more difficult to move produce
from one
container to another while the clear plastic provided for a more complete
visual inspection of
the contents. In addition, the lids included a flattened top enabling the
containers to be
stacked. The clear plastic containers are usually provided with a plastic
handle. Typically, the
handle comprises an elongate member having opposed T-shaped handle ends, and
opposed
receiving slots are defined in the side portions of the sidewall of the
container to receive and
retain the T-shaped handle ends of the handle. An example of such a clear
plastic container
and lid is disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No.
2010/0326998 in the
name of Short et al.
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[0005] With plastic containers such as those described above, whether
transparent, translucent
or opaque, the handles, and in particular the T-shaped handle ends thereof,
must be made of a
fairly rigid plastic in order to keep the T-shaped handle ends from bending
and sliding out of
the receiving slots, and when the T-shaped handle ends are received in the
receiving slots,
they project inwardly into the interior volume of the container. As a result,
the inwardly
projecting T-shaped handle ends of the handles can cut, bruise or otherwise
damage produce
inside the container, particularly when the container swings relative to the
handle, such as
during carrying.
SUMMARY
[0006] To inhibit damage to container contents caused by contact with T-shaped
handle ends,
a niche or alcove for each of the T-shaped handle ends is defined in the
container sidewall to
limit protrusion of the T-shaped handle ends into the main volume of the
container.
[0007] A container comprises a base and a container sidewall extending from
one side of the
base about a perimeter thereof to define an interior volume of the container.
The container
sidewall has a distal edge opposite the base. Opposed outward protrusions are
formed in the
container sidewall adjacent and spaced from the distal edge of the container
sidewall, and
opposed receiving slots are defined through the container sidewall for
receiving and retaining
T-shaped handle ends. The receiving slots are at least partly defined in the
outward
protrusions. The outward protrusions form a cavity recessed from the inside
surface of the
container sidewall to accommodate the T-shaped handle ends and limit
protrusion thereof
beyond the inside surface of the container sidewall for avoiding damage to
contents of the
container from contact with the T-shaped handle ends.
[0008] In one embodiment, in a rest position the outward protrusions are
generally wedge-
shaped with a wider end toward the base and a narrower end toward the distal
edge. When the
T-shaped handle ends are received in the cavities formed by the outward
protrusions,
movement of the T-shaped handle ends away from the base distorts the outward
protrusions
from being wedge-shaped and enlarges the portions of the cavities closest to
the distal edge by
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pulling the at least one container sidewall outwardly between the narrower
ends of the
outward protrusions and the distal edge.
[0009] An assembly may comprise a container as described above together with a
handle
having the T-shaped handle ends, with the T-shaped handle ends being received
and retained
by the receiving slots and disposed within the cavities.
[0010] This summary is provided for convenience of reference only and is not
intended to be
limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] These and other features will become more apparent from the following
description in
which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary container;
FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view of an assembly comprising the container of
Figure 1
together with an exemplary lid and handle;
FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2, showing the
container and
handle in a rest position relative to one another, with the lid shown in
transparency;
FIGURE 4 is a top perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2, showing the
container and
handle in a carrying position relative to one another, with the lid shown in
transparency;
FIGURE 5 is an end view of the assembly of Figure 2, showing the container and
handle in a
rest position relative to one another;
FIGURE 6 is a detailed end view of the assembly of Figure 2, showing the
container and
handle in a rest position relative to one another; and
FIGURE 7 is a detailed end view of the assembly of Figure 2, showing the
container and
handle in a carrying position relative to one another.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] With reference now to Figure 1, an exemplary container is shown
generally at 10. As
will be described in greater detail below, the container may form part of an
assembly
including the container 10 along with a handle and lid. The container 10
comprises a base 12
and a container sidewall 14 extending generally upwardly from the base 12
about a perimeter
thereof to define an interior volume of the container 10. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
container sidewall 14 comprises alternating outwardly and inwardly impressed
trapezoidal
regions to define a plurality of trapezoidal strengthening ribs 16. The
strengthening ribs 16
are omitted from a smooth region 18 on one of two opposed side portions 20 of
the container
sidewall 14 and a smooth region 22 on an end portion 24 of the container
sidewall 14. These
smooth regions 18 and 22 may provide a substrate for an adhesive label, or for
direct
application of paint. The end portions 24 of the container sidewall 14 are
defined by main end
portions 24A and corner portions 24B extending diagonally between the side
portions 20 and
the main end portions 24A of the container sidewall 14. The container sidewall
has a distal
edge 26 opposite the base 12. The distal edge 26 includes an outwardly
extending container
shoulder 28 and a downwardly depending peripheral container skirt 30. While
the exemplary
container 10 has a sidewall 14 that is of elongated octagonal cross-section,
this is merely one
embodiment and containers incorporating the features described herein may have
any suitable
shape.
[0013] Referring now to Figure 2 in addition to Figure 1, opposed receiving
slots 32 are
defined in the side portions 20 of the container sidewall 14. The container 10
receives a
handle 34 having T-shaped handle ends 36, and the receiving slots 32 receive
and retain the T-
shaped handle ends 36. The receiving slots 32 extend vertically and have a
vertical length
sufficient to enable one of the T-shaped handle ends 36 to be passed
therethrough at an angle,
after which the T-shaped handle end 36 is turned to be generally perpendicular
to the
receiving slot 32 so that the handle 34 is retained.
[0014] Continuing to refer to Figure 2, a lid 40 is preferably provided for
the container 10.
The lid 40 is securable to the container 10 by an interference fit or "snap-
lock" type fit so as to
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cover the container 10. Preferably, the lid 40 is formed of transparent
plastic. The lid 40
comprises a top 42 and a lid sidewall 44 depending from the top 42 about a
perimeter thereof
and continuing into an outwardly extending lid shoulder 46 corresponding in
size and shape to
the distal edge 26 of the container 10. The lid shoulder 46 in turn continues
into a
downwardly depending peripheral lid skirt 48. Analogously to the container 10,
the lid
shoulder 46 of the lid sidewall 44 has an elongated octagonal shape
corresponding to the
elongated octagonal shape of the distal edge 26 of the container sidewall 14.
The peripheral
lid skirt 48 has a plurality of spaced-apart inward projections 52 defined
therein. The inward
projections 52 cooperate with the peripheral container skirt 30 to enable the
lid 40 to be
removably secured to the container 10. The lid 40 includes a series of
transverse channels 54
extending across the top 42 and a portion of the lid sidewall 44.
[0015] Preferably, both the container 10 and the lid 40 are made from
transparent plastic; in
certain Figures the container 10 and lid 40 are shown as opaque merely for
clarity of
illustration.
[0016] As best seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7, opposed outward protrusions 60 are
formed in the
side portions 20 of the container sidewall 14 adjacent and spaced from the
distal edge 26 (not
marked in Figure 5, 6 and 7) of the container sidewall 14. As shown in Figures
1, 2, 3 and 4,
the opposed receiving slots 32 that receive and retain the T-shaped handle
ends 36 begin
below and extend upwardly into the outward protrusions 60 and as such are at
least partly
formed in the outward protrusions 60.
[0017] Referring again to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the outward protrusions 60 each
form a cavity or
pocket 62 recessed from the inside surface 64 of the container sidewall 14 to
accommodate
the T-shaped handle ends 36. The T-shaped handle ends 36 will generally rest
within the
recessed cavity 62, which limits protrusion of the T-shaped handle ends 36
beyond the inside
surface of the container sidewall 14 into the main volume 65 of the container
10, in order to
avoid damage to the contents 66 contents of the container 10 resulting from
contact with the
T-shaped handle ends 36. The T-shaped handle ends 36 may protrude slightly
past the inside
surface 64 of the container sidewall 14 into the main volume 65 of the
container 10, but the
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recessed cavities 62 will still limit this protrusion considerably, as
compared to a case where
there were no recessed cavities 62. Optionally, after installing the handle
34, an adhesive
patch may be adhered to the inside surface 64 of the container sidewall 14 to
enclose the
recessed cavities 62 and trap the T-shaped handle ends 36 therewithin, or the
recessed cavities
62 may remain open to the main volume 65 of the container 10, as shown.
[0018] Because the vertical extent of the receiving slots 32 must be
sufficient to permit
insertion of the T-shaped handle ends 36 as described above, once installed
the handle 34 will
have some "play"; in particular the handle 34 will be able to slide along the
receiving slots 32
toward and away from the base 12 of the container 10.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 4 and 6, when
the container 10
and handle 34 are in a rest position relative to one another, such as when the
container 10 is
sitting on a flat surface, the T-shaped handle ends 36 will tend to rest at
the lower ends of the
receiving slots 32, i.e. the ends closest to the base 12 of the container 10.
In this condition,
the outward protrusions 60 are generally wedge-shaped, with the wide end 68 of
the wedge
toward the base 12 of the container 10 and the narrow end 70 of the wedge
toward the distal
edge of the container sidewall 14, and the T-shaped handle ends 36 rest in the
lower portion
62L of their respective cavities 62, that is, the portion 62L of the cavity 62
closest to the base
12 of the container 10.
[0020] Figures 5 and 7 show the container 10 and handle 34 in a carrying
position relative to
one another, such as when the container 10 is suspended from the handle 34
when the
container 10 is full. As can be seen in Figure 7, in this condition the handle
34 bears against
the peripheral lid skirt 48 and pulls the peripheral lid skirt 48 inwardly
against the peripheral
container skirt 30 (Figure 1), enhancing the closure of the lid 40. In the
carrying position, the
container 10 is pulled down significantly by gravity, and the T-shaped handle
ends 36 slide
upwardly along the receiving slots 32, away from the base 12. This movement
distorts the
outward protrusions 60 from wedge-shaped and enlarges the upper portion 62U of
each cavity
62, that is, the portion 62U of the cavity 62 closest to the distal edge 26,
by pulling the
container sidewall 14 outwardly to create a stretched region 72 thereof. Each
stretched region
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72 is generally aligned with the corresponding outward protrusion 60 and
disposed between
the narrow end 70 of the outward protrusion 60 and the distal edge 26 (Figure
1) of the
container. In the carrying position, each of the T-shaped handle ends 36 rests
in the enlarged
upper portion 62U of the respective cavity 62, and the outward protrusions 60
cooperate with
the T-shaped handle ends 36 to limit pivoting of the handle 34 within the
receiving slots 32.
[0021] While the container and assembly described herein have particular
application in
respect of produce such as fruit, they may be applied to other uses as well. A
currently
preferred embodiment has been described by way of example. It will be apparent
to persons
skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made
without departing
from the scope of the claims.
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