CA1065779A - Press n' seal berry basket - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract It is common practice by the grocery trade ( Super Markets ect.) in the retailing of soft fruits and berries to use open faced basket containers, losses due to customer " sampling " are a ever growing problem, this invention endeavers to mitigate the problem by the introduction of a two part self locking basket container; the cap or basket cover having a series of arrow like teeth projecting at even spaced intervals around the edge, at the base of the teeth a ledge projecting at right angles to the wall of the cap I. stabilizes and add's substance to the teeth, the lower basket container having a smooth finished rim the said rim to fit snuggly inside the teeth of the cap so that the teeth slide smoothly down the outer wall of the rim on the basket con-tainer to enter slots provided for them in a matching ledge on the basket container, the slots are smaller longitudinally than the arrow head's of the teeth so that the head is constricted as it is forced through the slot aperture expanding back to size as it exits, the cap is thus locked to the basket container and the contents are secured, to 2. open the basket container a tear strip is incorporated in the cap, the tear strip must be cut free in order to gain accoss to the contents.

Description

This invention addresses it~elf ~ore or less ir. i~s entirety to the problem's associated by the trade in t~!s p~ckaging, display, and sales of soft fruit's and berries, the open faced strawberry basket is a case in point to cut osses clear plastic cap's or wrap placed over the contents and secured to the basket by elastic bands is common practice banlcrupt by its futility, this in~ention I.

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3.~eek's to move forward the ~tate of the art, by certain inovative changes in both the baQket and the cap, where aQ
by pre~slng the cap onto the basket container the t~o part~
are bonded, or locked, together more or le~8 permamently, a concept extending by its initiati~e adaptabilitly into numerou~ fields,.

For the sake of bevity the word 'cap' ~hall designate a cover or lid, and ~ baaket ' a container or box.

- In drawing~ which illustrate embodiments of the invention.

4. Figure I. I~ a view in ~ection of the cap showing e~bodlment of the in~ention.
Flgure 2. I~ a like view in ~ection of the bask-t, ~howing embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3. A view in ~ection of tho cap and basket in locked po9ition ~howing embodiment of the invontion.
Figure 4. I~ a Jectional view Or the ba~ket cap edge detailing embodi~ent of the invention.
Figure 5. Is a ~ectional view of the basket edge d-tailing embodiment of tho invention.
5. Figure 6. Likewi~e, i~ a soctional view of the basket oap, together with a ' enclosed arbor type ' basket, in a locked position,showing embodiment of the invention.` ~`
Flgure 7. A sectional view of the cap and basket, in a locked position,showing embodiment of the invention.
Figure ~. Is a plan view of berry basket, showing the embodiment of the i~vention.

This invention of a necessity requires the upgrading of the material of construction, the cap I

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requires as does the basket I7 resiliency, stabilitr to 6. maintain form, and tougthness to re3ist abuce.
Thi~ invenff on proposes to make available to the tra~e an altornative packaging method in which all of the most desirable features of the old berry basket's are retained plus the added features of security, thi~ invention introduces a new berry basket (Fig.~) where as when the cap I (Fig's 2-

3-~-6-7-~) is pressed onto the basket I7 (Fig's.2-3-~-5-6-7-~) the two (2) parts interlock (Fig's.3-6-7-~) more or 10QS
per~amently. To form the interlock mechanism, a ledge at right angles to the ~alls shall completely encircle both the 7. cap I and the basket I7, on the basket I7 (Fig~s. 2_3-5-6-7_~) the ledge encircles the basket perimeter Ju~t below the ba~ket edge to form the rim wall I0. (Fig's.2-5-6-7-~.), the basket ledge I3 (Fig's. 2-5) shall be of a thickness I4 (Fle.2). 80 as to stabilize and firm the hasket rim (Fig'o.2-5-6-7-~.) the ledgo to be a perfect ~quare and oP a width hoDi-ontally, so as to allow for the cutout Or the slots I2 (Fig's.2-5 4 .) ono (I) slot centerod in each side of the ledge I3.(Fig ' 8 . 2-5-~.) Or the basket I7, tho slots I2 are of a shortor span longltudinall~, but of a greater ~idth than the arrow headed .teeth ~ (Fig's.I-3-4-6-7-~).
The mirrow like ledge 9 Or the basket cap I is Or a span square-~iso 80 as to flt snugly over the ri~ I0 of the basket I7 (Fig's.3-6-7_~.) a mimimum of two (2) of the arrow headed teeth ~ are attached by the shanks 7 to the underside o* the cap ledge 9, centored with the basket slots I2(Fig's.4-5-6-7-~) 80 that the teeth head's ~ a~ they slide down the rim wall I0 of the basket I7 pass through the slots I2 expand as the~ exit to lock with the basket I7 as the cap is pros~ed on to it.

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~ 06~779 the arrow head~ ~ (Fig~s. I-3-~-6-7-~.) are of a greater 9. span but of a narrower width than the slots I2 in the basket ledge I3,are compressed as they pass through the slot~ I2 expand as they exit.(Fig's.3-4-6-7-~.). The shanks 7 (Fig's I-4.) are of a length as to mlnamize tho gap I~ (Fig~s. 3-6-7-g.) and to secure the cap I rirmly to the baaket I7.
To open the berry basket ~ a tear rlbbon (strip) 3 is incorporated in the cap I. Two (2) pre-cut indentations 2-2 ; ~u~t abo~e the basket cap ledge 9 (Fig's. I-3-~-6-7-~.) form the tear ribbon 3, a cutout 5 allows the ribbon 3 to tear free from the baskst cap I , to start the tear ribbon 3 ~ two (2) knife slots 4-4 (Flg's. I-3-4-6-7-g.) start the j indentations 2-2 at the bridge 5A, the bridge 5A must be cut out in order to free the ribbon end,the ribbon can then i be torn out to free the cap.by the pinching tog-ther Or the ledge 9 and of ledge I3 the basket is sealed quickly and effectivel~,made of pliable pla~tic,durable and economical lt ofrers ~ w p~ck glng ~ethod for ehe tr-d-.

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Claims (2)

1. Claims.
   
   The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
   
   I. A basket or box container being of two (2) parts, of each compatible to Join together one with the other, dictated in size and shape by the need, of a solid wall or open mesh construction, of a part thereof distinguished by its edge having teeth like projections in even encirclement , supported structurally at their base by a ledge, in like encirclement, the ledge projecting at a right angle directionaly to the teeth, and of a part having at its edge a finished rim embraceable by the said teeth, the teeth to slide down the rim wall into slots provided for them in a mirrow like ledge projecting at the base of the rim in like encirclement; thus by pinching together the two ledges the teeth, of a span greater than the slots, constricted in passage expand as they exit to lock the two (2) parts together; atear strip (ribbon.) compatable with the tooth ledge structure, and of a part thereof to facilitate the separation of the parts when required.
2. Claim 2. A interlocking devise or mechanism as defined in claim I. as a strip of two (2) parts, each strip struc-tually different as in male and female.