Related Applications

[0001JThis application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/218,120 filed September 14, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of containers, and more particularly, to promotional panels for a reusable plastic container (RPC).

Background

[0003] Packaging is a critical component in the produce supply chain. Produce looks very fresh and undamaged when first harvested. However, conventional corrugated packaging does not always deliver the produce in the same condition as initially harvested. The corrugated packaging, i.e., boxes, tends to collapse when stacked one on top of another, thus damaging the produce. Extensively damaged produce is typically discarded, resulting in lost sells. Slightly damaged produce on display causes customers to be disappointed.

[0004]An alternative to shipping produce in corrugated packaging is reusable plastic containers (RPCs). Reusable plastic containers allow for minimized damage to the produce since the plastic containers will not collapse when stacked. Many times the reusable plastic containers used by the farmers to ship their produce through the supply chain end up being used by the grocery stores to display the produce to customers. This results in reduced handling of the produce as well as increased efficiency. [0005] While the reusable plastic containers are functional and effective, there is a need to better promote the items contained therein through merchandising and display to consumers in grocery and food service applications.

[0006]One approach is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,210,358 which provides a display system having one or more collapsible crates and creative panels. The creative panels cover the crates to provide a clean visual effect for the display. At least one creative panel fits into the interior of the crate and folds around the outside of the first and second sidewalls of the crate, and at least one creative panel fits over the outside of the crate. The creative panels are attached through the use of bosses or clips made out of plastic or other durable material. The creative panels may include

advertisements, decorations, drawings, and other information about the items, products, goods, or information being displayed. Even in view of the creative panels, there is still a need to provide other types of promotional panels to collapsible crates.

Summary

[0007JA container assembly includes a foldable container comprising a ventilated bottom panel, a pair of spaced apart ventilated side panels rotatably coupled to the ventilated bottom panel, and a pair of spaced apart ventilated end panels rotatably coupled to the ventilated bottom panel. The foldable container may be configurable between a collapsed configuration when the pairs of spaced apart ventilated side panels and ventilated end panels are folded toward the ventilated bottom panel, and an open configuration when the pairs of spaced apart ventilated side panels and ventilated end panels are folded away from the ventilated bottom panel so that adjacent edges thereof engage one another so as to lock together.

[0008]A pair of solid side panels may be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated side panels when the foldable container is in the open configuration. Each solid side panel may comprise a top lip extending across an upper edge of a respective ventilated side panel, at least one top clip carried by the top lip and extending

downwardly therefrom so as to be secured to the respective ventilated side panel, and at least one medial clip to slidabiy engage at least one medial ventilated opening in the respective ventilated side panel. [0009] A pair of solid end panels may be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated end panels when the fo!dable container is in the open configuration. Each solid end panel may comprise a top lip extending across an upper edge of a respective ventilated end pane!, at least one top clip carried by the top lip and extending

downwardly therefrom so as to be secured to the respective ventilated end panel, and at least one media! clip to slidably engage at least one medial ventilated opening in the respective ventilated end panel.

[0010] The solid side and end panels aesthetically make the foldable container more appealing to a consumer. The container assembly may further comprise promotional indicia on an exterior surface of at least one of the solid side and end panels. The promotional indicia may include advertisements, decorations, logos, drawings, and other information to better promote the items being displayed within the foldable container.

[0011] Each solid side panel and each solid end panel may comprise plastic. The at least one medial clip for the respective ventilated side pane! may be L-shaped, and the at least one medial clip for the respective ventilated end panel may be L-shaped.

[0012] The at feast one media! clip for the respective ventilated side panel may comprise a plurality of medial clips. The at least one medial clip for the respective ventilated end panel may comprise a plurality of medial clips. The at least one top clip for the respective ventilated side panel may comprise a plurality of top clips. The at least one top clip for the respective ventilated end panel may comprises a single top clip.

[0013] Comers of the top lip for each solid side panel and for each solid end panel may have cutouts so as to not interfere with one another when coupled to respective ventilated side panels and respective ventilated end panels.

[0014] Another aspect is directed to a promotional kit for a foldable container as described above. The promotional kit may comprise a pair of solid side panels to be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated side panels, and a pair of solid end panels to be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated end panels when the foldable container is in the open configuration. Each solid side panel and each solid end panel may comprise a top lip, at least one top clip carried by the top lip and extending downwardly therefrom, and at least one medial clip. [0015] Yet another aspect is directed to a method for making a container assembly comprising providing a foldable container as described above, providing a pair of solid side panels to be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated side panels and a pair of solid end panels to be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated end panels when the foldable container is in the open configuration. Each solid side panel and each solid end panel may comprise a top lip, at least one top clip carried by the top lip and extending downwardly therefrom, and at least one medial clip.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable container in a fully open position in accordance with the disclosure.

[0017] FIGS. 2-5 are perspective views of the foldable container illustrated in FIG. 1 showing different side and end panels collapsed.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container assembly with the foldable container illustrated in FIG. 1 and solid side panels and solid end panels coupled thereto.

[0019] FIGS. 7-9 are outer, inner and side views of one of the solid side panels illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0020] FIGS. 10-12 are outer, inner and side views of one of the solid end panels illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0021] FIG. 13 is a back view of a promotional panel with pegs used to attach to one of the ventilated side or end panels illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 3 attached to a ventilated end panel.

[0023] FIG. 15 is a back view of a promotional panel with an adhesive coating used to attach to one of the ventilated side or end panels illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 15 attached to a ventilated end panel.

[0025] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a promotional panel attached to the inside corners and/or inside edges of the ventilated side and end panels illustrated in FIG. 1. [0026] FIG. 18 is a partial side perspective view of a promotional panel with a clip along an upper edge thereof to attach to one of the ventilated side or end panels illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 8 attached to a ventilated end panel.

[0028] FIG. 20 is a back view of a promotional panel having a magnetic material carried thereby to attach to one of the ventilated side or end panels illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 20 attached to a ventilated end panel.

[0030] FIG. 22 is a front view of a ventilated side panel with clips used to hold a promotional panel.

[0031] FIG, 23 is a back view of a promotional panel with Velcro ^® used to attach to one of the ventilated side or end panels illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 24 is a front view of a ventilated end panel illustrated in FIG. 1 with Velcro ^® used to receive the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 23.

[0033] F!G. 25 is a front view of the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 23 attached to the ventilated end panel illustrated in FIG. 24.

[0034] FIG. 26 is a front view of a promotional panel spaced away from a corresponding ventilated end panel illustrated in FIG. 1 , with the panel having a heat transfer material associated therewith.

[0035] FIG. 27 is a front view of the promotional panel illustrated in FIG. 26 attach to the ventilated end panel.

Detailed Description

[0036] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. [0037] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a fo!dabie container 20 that is intended to receive a promotional kit in the form of one or more promotional panels or pfates will initially be discussed. The foldable container 20 is also known as a reusable plastic container (RPC). When the foldable container 20 is used to carry fresh produce or food, for example, the promotional panels aesthetically make the foldable container 20 more appealing to a consumer. In addition, the promotional panels may include

advertisements, decorations, logos, drawings, and other information about the fresh produce being displayed.

[0038] The foldable container 20 is more generally used in grocery and food service applications. Even though the foldable container 20 may primarily be used with fresh produce, they are also used with meat, eggs, cheese, seafood, and various deli items, for example. Nonetheless, the foldable container 20 may be used for other type applications not related to grocery and food service applications.

[0039] Each foldable container 20 includes a ventilated bottom panel 30, a pair of spaced apart ventilated side panels 26, 28 rotatably coupled to the ventilated bottom panel, and a pair of spaced apart ventilated end panels 22, 24 rotatably coupled to the ventilated bottom panel.

[0040] The foldable container 20 is configurable between a collapsed configuration and an open configuration. In the collapsed configuration the pairs of spaced apart ventilated side panels 26, 28 and ventilated end panels 22, 24 are folded toward the ventilated bottom panel 30. In the open configuration the pairs of spaced apart ventilated side panels 26, 28 and ventilated end panels 22, 24 are folded away from the ventilated bottom panel 30 so that adjacent edges thereof engage one another so as to lock together.

[0041] The ventilated side panels 26, 28 and the ventilated end panels 22, 24 may be configured to include crisscross ribbing so as to provide openings or gaps extending therethrough while still providing strength. Alternatively, the ventilated side panels 26, 28 and the ventilated end panels 22, 24 may be solid without the crisscross ribbing yet still include openings or gaps. The openings or gaps provide air holes for the fresh produce or for other type items to be carried by the foldable container 20. The ventilated side panels 26, 28 and the ventilated end panels 22, 24 may further include respective openings 27, 29 forming handles for gripping the fo!dabie container 20.

[0042] Each ventilated side panel 26, 28 and each ventilated end panel 22, 24 may be individually folded or collapsed toward the ventilated bottom panel 30. For example, ventilated end panel 22 may be collapsed toward the ventilated bottom panel 30 while the other panels are upright, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The other ventilated end panel 24 may be collapsed toward the ventilated bottom panel 30 while the ventilated side panels 26, 28 are upright, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The ventilated end panels 22, 24 and one of the ventilated side panels 28 may all be collapsed toward the ventilated bottom panel 30 while the remaining ventilated side panel 26 is upright, as illustrated in FIG. 4, Finally, all of the panels 22, 24, 26, 28 are collapsed toward the bottom panel 30, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0043] The foidable container 20 is not limited to any particular size. Depending on the type of fresh produce or the type of items being shipped, there are typically a number of different sized foidable containers 20 to select from.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 6, a container assembly 120 includes a foidable container 20, as discussed above, and one or more promotional panels removably coupled to the foidable container when in the open configuration. In this embodiment, the promotional panels are configured as solid panels. Solid side panels 126, 128 are removably coupled to the ventilated side panels 26, 28 and solid end panels 122, 124 are removably coupled to the ventilated end panels 22, 24.

[0045] The solid side panels 26, 128 are identical to one another and will be discussed in reference to FIGS. 7-9. Solid side panel 126, for example, includes a top lip 130 extending across an upper edge of a respective ventilated side panel 26. The top lip 130 is continuous as it extends across the upper edge of the respective ventilated side panel 26. At least one top clip 132 is carried by the top lip 130 and extends downwardly therefrom so as to be secured to the respective ventilated side panel 26. In the illustrated embodiment, there are 4 spaced apart top clips 32. At least one medial clip 134 is to slidably engage at least one medial ventilated opening in the respective ventilated side panel 26. In the illustrated embodiment, there are 2 spaced apart medial clips 134. The actual number of top clips 132 and medial clips 134 will vary depending on the size and configuration of the foldable container 20, as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0046] The solid end panels 122, 124 are identical to one another and will be discussed in reference to FIGS. 10-12. Solid end panel 122, for example, includes a top lip 140 extending across an upper edge of a respective ventilated end panel 22. The top lip 140 is continuous as it extends across the upper edge of the respective ventilated side panel 22. At least one top clip 142 is carried by the top lip 140 and extends downwardly therefrom so as to be secured to the respective ventilated end pane! 22. In the illustrated embodiment, there is 1 top clip 142 that extends across a central portion of the solid end panel 122. At least one medial clip 144 is to slidabiy engage at least one medial ventilated opening in the respective ventilated side panel 22. In the illustrated embodiment, there are 2 spaced apart medial clips 144. The actual number of top clips 142 and medial clips 144 will vary depending on the size and configuration of the foldable container 20, as also readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0047] The container assembly 20 may further include promotional indicia 135 on an exterior surface of at least one solid side pane! 26, 128. Similarly, promotional indicia 145 may be included on an exterior surface of at least one solid end panel 122, 124.

[0048]The solid side panels 126, 128 and the solid end panels 122, 124 aesthetically make the foldable container 20 more appealing to a consumer. The promotional indicia 135, 145 may include advertisements, decorations, logos, drawings, and other information about the items being displayed within the foldable container 20.

[0049] The solid side panels 126, 128 and the solid end panels 22, 124 are made of plastic. The medial clips 134 for the ventilated side panels 126, 128 are L-shaped, and the medial clips 144 for the ventilated end panels 1 2, 124 are also L-shaped. The respective clips 134, 144 advantageously slide over a respective ventilated opening to secure lower portions of the solid side panels 126, 128 and solid end panels 122, 124 to a corresponding ventilated side panel 26, 28 and ventilated end panel 22, 24.

[0050] Corners or edges 137 of the top lip 130 for each solid side panel 126, 128 and corners or edges 147 of the top lip 140 for each solid end panel 122, 1 4 have cutouts so as to not interfere with one another when coupled to respective ventilated side panels 26, 28 and respective ventilated end panels 22, 24. [0051 ] Another aspect of this embodiment is directed to a method for making a container assembly 120 comprising providing a foldable container 20 as described above, providing a pair of solid side panels 126, 128 to be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated side panels 26, 28 and a pair of solid end panels 122, 124 to be removably coupled to the pair of spaced apart ventilated end panels 22, 24 when the foldable container is in the open configuration. Each solid side panel 126, 128 and each solid end panel 122, 124 may comprise a top lip 130, 40, at least one top clip 132, 142 carried by the top lip and extending downwardly therefrom, and at least one medial clip 134, 144.

[0052] Other embodiments of the promotional panels will now be discussed. In some promotional panel embodiments, the edges of the ventilated side and end panels remain visible when the promotional panels are coupled to the foldable container 20. In other promotional panel embodiments, the edges of the ventilated side and end panels are covered when the promotional panels are coupled to the foldable container 20.

[0053] The promotional panels may be formed out of plastic, for example, in the illustrated embodiment, each promotional panel appears as a simulated wood panel. The simulated wood panel is an example only and is not to be limiting, while other designs, patterns and configurations may used, as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0054] in a second embodiment, the promotional panel 250 includes pegs 252 on a backside thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The pegs 252 are configured to snap into or through the air holes or openings in a ventilated side or end panel, as illustrated in FIG. 14 for the ventilated end panel 22.

[0055] The pegs 252 may be evenly spaced apart in rows and columns on the back side of the promotional panel 250. Alternatively, the pegs 252 may be randomly spaced.

[0056] The pegs 252 may be monolithically formed with the promotional panel 250. Alternatively, the pegs 252 may be formed separately from the promotional panel 250 and attached thereto via a glue or adhesive.

[0057]The pegs 252 are not limited to any particular configuration. Each peg 252 may include a tapered or angled tip, for example, with a lip for engaging an opening in the ventilated side or end panel, such as the ventilated end panel 22 illustrated in FIG. 14. [0058] In a third embodiment, the promotional panel 350 includes adhesive layers 354 on a backside thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The adhesive layers 354 may be in sections or strips. The adhesive layers 354 may be evenly spaced apart in rows on the back side of the promotional panel 350.

[0059] Alternatively, the adhesive layers 354 may be evenly spaced apart in columns (or columns and rows) on the back side of the promotional panel 350. The promotional panel 350 is secured to a ventilated side or end panel via the adhesive layers 354, as illustrated in FIG. 16 for the ventilated end panel 22. Alternatively, the entire back side of the promotional panel 350 may be substantially covered with an adhesive layer 354.

[0060] In a fourth embodiment, the promotional panel 450 snaps into inside corners and/or inside edges of each ventilated side or end panel, as illustrated in FIG. 17 for the ventilated end panel 22. Along an interior edge of each ventilated side or end panel protrusions may be formed to receive the side edges of the promotional panel 450. Alternatively, a groove may be formed to receive the side edges of the promotional panel 450.

[0061] In a fifth embodiment, the promotional panel 550 includes a clip 556 along an upper edge thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 18, to attach to one of the ventilated side or end panels. The clip 556 may have an extended, bent edge which is part of the promotional panel 550. The clip 556 for each promotional panel 550 expands so as to be secured over the top of the ventilated side or end panels of the foldable container 20, as illustrated in FIG. 19. The edges 551 of the ventilated side and end panels are left exposed. Alternatively, the promotional panels 550 may be configured to also cover the exposed edges 551 of the ventilated side and end panels.

[0062] In a sixth embodiment, the promotional panel 650 is coupled to a ventilated side or end panel via magnets. In one embodiment, the promotional panel 650 is made or formed to include a magnetic material. Alternatively, magnetic strips 658 are attached to a backside of the promotional panel 650, as illustrated in FIG. 20. A magnetic material 668 of an opposite polarity is positioned inside of the ventilated end panel 22, for example, for holding the magnetic promotional panel 650 in place, as illustrated in FIG. 21. [0063] In a seventh embodiment, a promotional panel 750 is formed to include clips 770 along a bottom or lower edge thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 22. Although not shown, clips may be formed along side and top edges of a ventilated side panel, for example. The promotional panel 750 is held in place by the clips 770. The clips 770 may be formed as part of the ventilated end panel 22, for example. Alternatively, the clips are separately formed and attached to the ventilated end panel 22.

[0064] In an eighth embodiment, hook and loop fasters (i.e., Velcro ^® ) are used to secure a promotional panel 850 to a ventilated side or end panel 22. The promotional panel 850 may include the hook portion 880 of the hook and loop fasters, as illustrated in FIG. 23. The ventilated end panel 22 may then include the corresponding loop portion 882 of the hook and loop fasters, as illustrated in FIG. 24.

[0065] The hook and loop fasteners 880, 882 may be evenly spaced apart in rows and columns. Alternatively, the hook and loop fasteners 880, 882 may be randomly spaced. The promotional panel 850 is held in place by the hook and loop fasters 880, 882, as illustrated in FIG. 25.

[0066] In a ninth embodiment, the promotional panel 950 is formed to include a heat transfer material, as illustrated in FIG. 26. With the application of heat to the promotional panel 950, the panel may then be attached to the ventilated end pane! 22, as illustrated in FIG. 27.

[0067] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that

modifications and embodiments are intended to be included as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.