| WO/1999/039994 | SHEET SUPPORT CONTAINER |
| JP11180444 | SEALED CONTAINER WITH MULTI-STAGE |
| WO/2009/027224 | COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLES AND METHODS USING SAME |
STEVENSON, David (Eden Villa, Marsh Lane Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9EQ, GB)
| CLAIMS
1. A container comprising a plurality of article accommodation means and a lateral periphery, the lateral periphery defining complementary means which comprises at least two laterally protruding portions which follow substantially at least part of the outlines of adjacent article accommodation means and further comprises a laterally recessed portion which extends generally inwards towards a region between the two adjacent article accommodation means, the container being such that a laterally protruding portion of the complementary means of a first such container is adapted to be receivable by a laterally recessed portion of the complementary means of a second such container.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the article accommodation means are configured to accommodate articles of curved or rounded outline.
3. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which the articles are ovoid or substantially spherical articles.
4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the outer periphery is of generally quadrilateral shape.
5. A container as claimed in claim 4 in which the outer periphery is of substantially parallelogram shape.
6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the complementary means forms at least one side of the container.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6 in which the complementary means forms two opposite sides of the container.
8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the complementary means is of generally undulatory outline.
9. A container as claimed in claim 8 in which the complementary means comprises juxtaposed arcuate portions.
10. A container as claimed in claim 9 in which the complementary means comprises a series of convex and concave portions of substantially equal radius.
11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the at least two protruding portions follow substantially at least part of the exterior outlines of respective article accommodation means.
12. A container as claimed in claim 11 in which the at least two protruding portions follow substantially at least part of the outlines of respective interiors of the article accommodation means.
13. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the article accommodation means are arranged in at least two offset rows.
14. A container as claimed in claim 13 in which the rows of the article accommodation means are longitudinally spaced relative to one another.
15. A container comprising at least two rows of article accommodation means, which rows are offset from each other and the container is of substantially parallelogram outline.
16. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 which comprises a first row of at least three substantially aligned article accommodation means, and a second row of at least two substantially aligned article accommodation means, and when viewed in plan the centres of the article accommodation means being offset as compared to the article accommodation means of the second row, and there being fewer article accommodation means in second row than the first row.
17. A container as claimed in claim 16 in which the second row now has one less article accommodation means than the first row.
18. A container as claimed in either of claim 16 or claim 17 which, when viewed in plan has an overall shape that is generally trapezoidal. |
CONTAINER
The present invention relates to containers, and in particular, but not exclusively, to containers for holding eggs.
According to the invention there is provided a container comprising a plurality of article accommodation means and a lateral periphery, the lateral periphery defining complementary means which comprises at least two laterally protruding portions which follow substantially at least part of the outlines of adjacent article accommodation means and further comprises a laterally recessed portion which extends generally inwards towards a region between the two adjacent article accommodation means, the container being such that a laterally protruding portion of the complementary means of a first such container is adapted to be receivable by a laterally recessed portion of the complementary means of a second such container.
The article accommodation means are preferably configured to accommodate articles of curved or rounded outline, for example ovoid or substantially spherical articles. Most preferably the article accommodation means are configured to accommodate birds' eggs, for example chicken eggs.
The outer periphery is desirably of generally quadrilateral shape, and most desirably is of substantially parallelogram shape.
Preferably the complementary means forms at least one side of the container. In a preferred embodiment the complementary means forms two opposite sides of the container.
In a highly preferred embodiment the complementary means is of generally undulatory outline, and most preferably comprises juxtaposed arcuate portions. In such an embodiment the complementary means comprises a series of convex and concave portions of substantially equal radius.
The at least two protrusion portions preferably follow substantially at least part of the exterior outlines of respective article accommodation means. Where reduction of 'dead space' and/or reduction of the dimensions of the container is of particular importance then the at least two protrusion portions may also follow substantially at least part of the outlines of respective interiors of the article accommodation means.
The article accommodation means are desirably arranged in at least two offset rows. In a preferred embodiment the rows of the article accommodation means are longitudinally spaced relative to one another.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container comprising at least two rows of article accommodation means, which rows are offset from each other and the container is of substantially parallelogram outline.
Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is an isometric view of an egg box in an open condition,
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the underside of the egg box of Figure 1 ,
Figure 3 is a plan view of the egg box of Figure 1 ,
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the egg box of Figure 1 in a closed condition,
Figure 5 is a plan view of the egg box of Figure 1 in a closed condition,
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of two egg boxes of the type shown in Figure 1 in a stacked arrangement,
Figure 7 is a plan view of a layer of egg boxes of the type shown in Figure 1 in a bulk transportation container in a first configuration,
Figure 8 is a plan view of a layer of egg boxes of the type shown in Figure 1 in the bulk transportation container of Figure 7 in a second configuration,
Figure 9 is a plan view of a layer of egg boxes of the type shown in Figure 1 in a second bulk transportation container,
Figure 10 is an isometric view of an alternative egg box in an open condition,
Figure 11 is an isometric front end view of the egg box of Figure 10 in a closed condition,
Figure 12 is an isometric back end view of the egg box of Figure 10,
Figure 13 is a plan view of a layer of egg boxes of the type shown in Figure 10 arranged in a bulk transportation container,
Figure 14 is an isometric view of the upper side of a third embodiment of an egg box in an open condition,
Figure 15 is an isometric view of the underside of the egg box shown in Figure 14 in an open condition,
Figure 16 is an isometric view of the upper side of the egg box of
Figure 14 in a closed condition,
Figure 17 is an isometric view of the underside of the egg box of Figure 14 in a closed condition,
Figure 18 is an isometric view of the upper side of a fourth embodiment of an egg box in an open condition,
Figure 19 is an isometric view of the underside of the egg box shown in Figure 18 in an open condition,
Figure 20 is an isometric view of an upper side of the egg box of Figure 18 in a closed condition,
Figure 21 is an isometric view of an underside of the egg box of
Figure 18 in a closed condition,
Figure 22 shows the egg boxes of Figures 14 and 18 in side-by-side arrangement in a closed condition, and
Figure 23 shows the side-by-side arrangement of Figure 22 with the egg boxes in an open condition.
Turning first to Figure 1 there is shown an egg box 1 comprising an upper half 4 and a lower half 5 which are hinged together by hinges 6 at a rearmost long side. The lower half 5 is provided with a plurality of cup-like egg accommodation recesses 8 extending height wise from respective bases 14. Each recess is defined by a curved surface region 9 of a side wall 10 of the lower half 5 and a curved surface region 13 of one of two castellated formations 12.
Hingeably attached to the lower half 5 there is provided a locking member 20, which, as best seen in Figure 1 is of undulatory profile. The locking member 20 comprises a central portion 21 and two outer portions 22. Interposed between the central portion 21 and the outer portions are provided outwardly directed protrusion features 23. Adjacent to each outward protrusion feature 23 there is provided an inwardly directed protrusion feature 24.
A long side of the upper half 4 is provided with two apertures 31 formed in a side wall 28. Aligned with each of the apertures 31 the upper half 4 further comprises tabs 30 which extend away from rim 16. The upper half 4 has provided two depending post formations 32.
Referring now in particular to Figure 2, the upper and lower ends of the egg box 1 are provided with location means for use in stacking multiple boxes on top of each other. Specifically, the basal portions 14 are provided with an annular channel 15 and the upper half 4 is provided with four annular upstands 19.
In order to close the egg box 1 from an open condition to a closed condition the locking member 20 is pivoted so that protrusions 24 contact with surfaces 27 and the member 20 is held in that position. The upper half 4 is pivoted towards the lower half 5 until the protrusions 23 are
received in the apertures 31. The egg box 1 is now in a closed condition. In order to open the box a user grips one or both of the tabs 30 and urges the apertures 31 away from the protrusions 23.
When viewed in plan (as best seen in Figure 5) the egg box 1, in a closed condition, is of substantially parallelogram shape as defined by an outer periphery 35 which comprises undulatory long sides 40, the hinged side 43 and two inclined undulatory ends 41 and 42. The egg accommodation formations 8 are arranged in two offset rows, wherein the formations of one row are longitudinally spaced from the formations of the other row. It is to be noted in particular that this offsetting results in a space reducing configuration since the egg accommodation formations of one row are closely packed towards the regions between and on each side of the formations of the other row.
The undulatory side 40 comprises a plurality of juxtaposed arcuate portions of the outer periphery 36, namely a plurality of protrusions 46 and a plurality of recessed portions 47. More particularly the protrusions 46 are formed by the periphery 35 being configured to closely follow part of the curved outline of the curved surface regions 9 of the side wall 10. The periphery 35 then develops smoothly into an inwardly or concave arcuate portion (of substantially the same radius as the protrusions 46) which extends generally towards a region intermediate of adjacent recesses 8 to form a recessed portion 47. The recessed portion 47 then develops smoothly into the next protrusion 46, and so on.
With reference now to Figure 7 there is shown a layer of egg boxes 1 arranged in a bulk transportation container 50.
When multiple egg boxes 1 are arranged in such a manner in the container 50 the undulatory sides 40 of adjacent egg boxes are opposed and are inter-receivable due to their complementary configuration, with the protrusions 46 of one box being received in the recessed portion 47 of the adjacent box. Furthermore the sides 43 are arranged to be co- operable, as are the inclined ends 41 and 42.
Figure 8 shows a layer of a plurality of the egg boxes 1 arranged in the container 50 in a different orientation.
Figure 9 shows a container 51 of half the length of the container 50 which is loaded with egg boxes 1.
Figure 6 shows two stacked egg boxes Ia and Ib wherein the annular upstands 19 of the box Ib are received by the annular recesses 15 of the box Ia.
Turning to Figure 10 there is shown a modified egg box 100. The egg box 100 is essentially very similar to that shown in Figures 1 through 9 and like reference numerals have been used to designate like features. The egg box 100 however provides a hinge arrangement and a locking arrangement (comprising locking member 65) at the inclined (short) ends of the box.
Advantageously, provision of the two undulatory long sides renders the egg box 100 unhanded with regard to loading the boxes into a container. In other words there is no requirement to ensure a sole undulatory long side is correctly orientated (ie opposed) to the sole undulatory side of another, adjacent, egg box.
Figure 13 shows a layer of the egg boxes 100 arranged in the container 51.
Reference is now made to Figures 14 to 17 which show a third embodiment 200 of an egg box. As can be seen there are many similar features between the egg box 200 and the egg boxes described above. Various like features are not described or referenced, but we rely on the description of those features in relation to the earlier embodiments. The egg box 200 comprises an upper half 204 and a lower half 205 which are hinged together by hinges 206. The lower half 205 is provided with a plurality of cup-like accommodation recesses 208. Each recess is defined by a respective curved surface portion 209. The lower half 205 comprises a locking barb portion 227 which is adapted to be releasably received in the aperture 231. The lower half 205 further comprises castellated formations 212 and the upper half 204 comprises depending post formations 232.
When viewed in plan the egg box 200 is of generally trapezoidal shape, comprising four undulating sides. The outer periphery of the box closely follows part of the curved regions 209 to form convex portions, and develops smoothly into concave portions in the regions between adjacent recesses 208.
The generally trapezoidal outline results from the fact that there is provided a first aligned row of three recesses 208 and a second row of two aligned recesses 208, with the rows being offset relative to each other. In a similar fashion to the egg boxes 1 and 100, multiple egg boxes 200 can be packed together and so take advantage of the undulatory profile.
Figure 18 shows an egg box 200' which is essentially identical to the egg box 200, save that hinge portions 206' are provided on the ' short side' of the box and barb portions 227' are provided on the long side.
Figures 22 and 23 show how the egg boxes 200 and 200' can be conveniently interfaced together at their 'end sides' .
Although the egg boxes 200 and 200' comprise a three row and a two row of recesses, in other embodiments of the trapezoidal arrangement, different combinations of recesses of the rows are possible.
It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the egg boxes above could comprise more or less egg accommodation spaces in each row and/or more/less rows of egg accommodation spaces could be provided. In an alternative embodiment to those shown in the Figures, an egg box may comprise four egg accommodation spaces and so the/or each inter-receivable undulatory side would comprise two protrusions and a recessed portion therebetween.
It will be appreciated that the upper halves of the above described egg boxes need not necessarily be hinged or fixedly attached to the lower halves. Furthermore it may be that only the lower halves of the boxes are provided, and in that instance the embodiment would essentially be in the form of a tray.