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PRODUCE CONTAINER

BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION

Technical Field: The present invention relates to a container apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and structure for a produce container apparatus for use in containing, shipping, storing and displaying any of a plurality of produce items, particularly bush berries including blueberries, ultimately sold to produce customers. Background Art:

The prior art is directed to methods and structure for produce containers for containing fresh produce sold in a produce department of, for example, a grocery store, supermarket or roadside fruit stand.

Generally, fresh produce is a necessary food that should be included in every diet. Fresh produce contains many of the nutrients and vitamins that are necessary for maintaining good health. It is important to realize that many varieties of fresh produce are seasonal. As a general rule, fresh produce is perishable and must be harvested, processed, shipped and sold to produce consumers in a timely fashion. For example, produce and especially fruit must not be harvested before it is sufficiently matured but early enough so that it is not overripe at the time it is purchased by the consumer. The time necessary for harvesting, shipping, storing and selling the produce to the actual consumer is a major factor that must be considered.

Some produce, although perishable, is more robust than others and does not require extremely careful handling. An example of this type of produce includes various types of apples and pears and any other type of produce having a long shelf life. Consequently, this type of produce can be picked, packed, shipped, stored and

displayed prior to sale in containers which include plastic or paper bags and plastic containers. This type of produce, although typically larger and heavier than other types of produce, usually is not as subject to damage during packing, shipping and storing. Conversely, certain types of produce such as berries are very perishable and do require extremely carefully handling.

Typically, berry produce includes a high juice content which is contained by an outer membrane of the berry construction. Consequently, the weight and pressure that each berry must withstand should be limited and controlled to avoid damage to the berry and the ultimate loss of the berry juice. As a result, berries are often packed in small rigid plastic containers or trays which are rectangular in shape and have a generally uniform cross-section. The number of berries in each container is limited so as to control the weight of the mass of berries on any particular berry, among other reasons. The price of berry produce is very high simply because of a limited growing season, limited crop, lost of a certain percentage of the berry crop during the harvest, and because of the extremely careful handling required to deliver the berry produce to market. With these requirements in view, certain examples of the prior art will now be discussed.

U.S. Patent No. 5,947,336 issued to Thompson in 1999 and entitled Dry Food Dispenser discloses a cylindrical container with a removable top for covering a central storage area which holds a dry baby formula or other dry food commodity. The midsection of the cylindrical container includes a tapered funnel terminating in an opening. A rotatable cylinder is operably carried on the funnel having a pre- measured receptacle or cavity co-extensive with the funnel opening for collecting a quantity of the dry food product. Upon rotation of the cylinder, the receptacle carries the product from the funnel for external dispensing into a utility container for usage.

U.S. Patent No. #D372,171 issued to Romero et al. in 1996 and entitled

Combined Storage And Dispensing Container discloses a right circular cylinder container with a converging bottom opening that is adjustable via a mechanical knob to dispense the contents of the container. U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2003/0152670 (Shih) discloses a Food

Container Capable Of Increasing The Effect Of Air Permeability which has a plane jointed side located between a rectangular main body and a hinged top cover of a

unitarily molded container where a plurality of permeability holes are disposed on the plane for increasing air permeability of the entire container. A prior art container shown in Rg. 4 discloses a plurality of permeability top holes 1011 and permeability bottom holes 1021 for generating air convection inside the main body of the container.

U.S. Patent No. 5,456,379 and No. D363,879 to Krupa et al. each disclose a Blueberry Container comprising a re-usable, rectangular-shaped tray for securely containing both small and large perishable goods. A ventilating means effectively permits the transfer of fluids between the interior and exterior of the tray which can be combined with a hinged cover to form a container. The ventilating means is not blocked by the berries contained within the container and provides for drainage to minimize condensation buildup. The container also includes ribs for providing structural support where the ribs include slits that provide an additional ventilation source. U.S. Patent No.5,076,459 to DeHart discloses a Berry Basket and Cover which includes a dome-shaped basket cover comprised of clear plastic having a straight skirt depending from a dome portion and corners in the skirt having detents which releasably mate and lock onto corners of a rectangular basket. In a preferred embodiment, the basket cover is provided with vents which are angled with respect to a flat top of the cover and its sides while the basket includes bottom vents and side corner vents.

U.S. Patent No.3,627,170 to Pulliam discloses a plastic food container having a straight walled top portion and a tapered bottom portion. The bottom portion terminates in a peripheral lip surrounding a concave bottom and the container has a removable top which is provided with a peripheral locking flange having an enlarged edge which snaps over an enlarged rim on the container. Ribs are provided to space the containers in a stack to allow for air circulation.

U.S. Patent No. 4,588,087 to Swingley, Jr. discloses a molded plastic fruit basket constructed to provide ventilation without uncontrolled drippage into a lower container by virtue of bottom openings surrounded by raised rims, side openings that terminate above the bottom, and end weep holes to direct drippage away from a lower stacked container.

U.S. Patent No. 3,716,164 to Fennema discloses a rectangular berry basket and cover comprising a plastic lattice-work berry basket having a novel locking arrangement for the cover and the berry basket. The plastic lattice-work of the berry basket provides open air ventilation to the berry contents. U.S. Patent No.6,257,401 to Mangla et al. discloses a thermoplastic container for food or other articles having a rectangular bottom tray, a removable top and a pair of integral handle segments. A plurality of wells formed in the bottom tray retain fluid via capillary action or surface tension forces prevent fluid from flowing out if the base of the bottom tray is tilted or tuned upside-down. A plurality of cover venting notches and base venting notches and apertures formed in the sidewalls of the cover provide ventilation to the container.

U.S. Patent No. 3,837,526 to Medendorp discloses a berry container which is enclosed by a one piece cover differential pressure formed of very thin thermoplastic material suitable for packaging, protecting and displaying the berries. The cover is cup-shaped and the interior of each side is formed with a narrow shoulder which seats on the upper lip of the container to index the cover relative to the container.

U.S. Patent No. 6,276,547 to Petryna discloses an incrementally variable volume container including a sectionalized side wall and a closed bottom end. Each section has a top rim with an external thread for engaging a threaded lid. A tear strip is integrally molded between each top rim and a next section of the container to permit the next section to be removed. The sections can be detached and discarded as the food content is consumed and the lid can be used to close any section in a fluid tight seal.

U.S. Patent No. 6,273,291 to Conti discloses containers with replaceable lids for holding fresh fruit or other food that is to be quick frozen. The containers and lids are stackable one upon the other so that flow passages are provided between the lid of one container and a bottom of a like container resting on that lid to permit the flow of a gaseous freezing medium there between.

U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2003/0136699 re McNeeley et al. discloses nestable and stackable food storage containers having a base with a bottom panel.

The bottom panel has an upper side, a lower side and a base perimeter. A removable lid has a top panel with a top side, bottom side and a lid perimeter. The

container and lid exhibit a nesting structure which facilitates the stacking of the containers.

U.S. Patent No. 4,236,541 to Cipriani discloses an apparatus for washing and drying vegetables and fruit. The apparatus includes a closed prism-shaped container in which is housed a rotatable cylinder container provided with a plurality of passage holes. Vegetables and fruits are introduced into the container and subjected to water injectors for washing the produce which is then dried by centrifugal force in the rotatable cylinder container.

U.S. Patent No. 5,701,842 to Whittles discloses a bird feeder comprising a tubular container having a number of access ports so that birds may reach grain food which settles, under gravity, onto a base. The base has sloping faces which shed the grain food to the outer periphery of the base and into concave recesses which are aligned to the access ports.

It is emphasized that many of the containers of the prior art are rectangular in shape and include an attached top cover. The top cover is often integrally molded to the rectangular container so that the top cover is essentially hinged to the rectangular container. Further, many of these prior art containers are fabricated from clear plastic to facilitate viewing the contents of the container without having to open the container. Thus, there is a need in the art for a produce container for use in containing, shipping, storing and displaying any of a plurality of produce items, particularly bush berries including blueberries, ultimately sold to produce customers wherein the produce container comprises an elongated container having an attached bottom plate including a plurality of bottom apertures, and a removable top having a plurality of top apertures wherein the removable top is removably connected to the elongated container.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved produce container for use in storing any of a plurality of small produce items ultimately sold to produce customers. Examples of small produce items

comprise berries, especially bush berries including blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, cranberries, and strawberries. Additional examples of small produce items can include red currants, grapes, raisins, palmegranate seeds, and various other seeds and nuts. The produce container of the present invention serves as a means for containing small produce items, for example, berry produce after a berry harvest and while shipping the berries to market, and as a means for storing the berries during transit to retail stores, and finally as a unique means for displaying the berries to the purchasing public in produce departments of supermarkets and independent produce stands. Further, the novel construction of the produce container of the present invention facilitates its use as a handheld dispensing type container for the convenient transport and consumption of the produce items, such as blueberries.

In a preferred embodiment, the produce container of the present invention is comprised of two main components which include an elongated container and a removable top, that is, a top that is removably connected to the elongated container.

These two main components cooperate wherein the removable top is attached or fitted to the elongated container to ensure their continued communication until one is physically separated from the other. The removable top can be attached to the elongated container by any suitable manner. Several examples of suitable attachment methods include a compressive fitting, bayonet type fitting, molded hinged connection, threaded connection, and a snap-on fitting to name a few. Other such suitable methods of attachment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The elongated container exhibits a generally hollow, tubular shape and can be fashioned into any suitable geometric tubular shape including but not limited to a cylindrical-shaped tube, hexagonal-shaped tube, octagonal-shaped tube, rectangular- shaped tube, or triangular-shaped tube. The elongated container includes a bottom plate for closing a lower end of the elongated container. The bottom plate includes a plurality of bottom apertures for promoting ventilation through and drainage of, for example, berry fluid or condensation build-up from or cleansing water through the elongated container. The elongated container can be comprised of any suitable material but plastic material is preferred. The bottom plate, which can be, for example, integrally molded or adhesively attached to the elongated container, is also

comprised of plastic material. An upper end of the elongated container cooperates with the removable top in a suitable attachment arrangement.

The removable top of the produce container can be any desired shape to assist in the separation of the removable top from the elongated container. However, a spherically-shaped, removable top is preferred and disclosed in the exemplary embodiment herein. The removable top also includes a plurality of top apertures which also function to promote ventilation through and drainage of, for example, berry fluid and condensation build-up from the elongated container. The removable top further includes a lower extension. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein below, the lower extension has a diameter sized somewhat smaller than the upper end of the elongated container to facilitate an exemplary compressive fit attachment there between. Thus, a bottom side of the lower extension of the removable top is sized to be cooperatively received within the upper end of the elongated container. The exemplary compressive fit enables the lower extension of the removable top to be removably connected to the upper end of the elongated container. In this patent disclosure, the term "removably connected" includes any type of connection such as a compressive fit connection or a molded hinge fit connection or a bayonet-type fit connection or a threaded fit connection or a snap-on fit connection or any other type of removable connection such as would be known in the art. The removable top is also preferably comprised of plastic material that corresponds to the plastic material of the elongated container.

In use, the lower extension of the removable top is forcibly removed from the upper end of the elongated container. In the exemplary compressive fit attachment arrangement, the lower extension is forcibly removed from the elongated container in a pop-on and pop-off manner. Then, the produce items such as any of a plurality of bush berries including blueberries are carefully loaded into the hollow, tubular- shaped elongated container. The lower extension of the removable top is then forcibly inserted into the upper end of the elongated container to close the produce container. The produce container can now serve as a means for containing, shipping, storing and displaying, for example, berries to consumers in retail outlets. The plurality of apertures formed in the bottom plate and in the removable top serve to provide a ventilation path for air and as an exit path, for example, for berry fluid from

damaged berries and for condensation build-up to prevent rotting of the berry produce. In the case of the bottom plate, the apertures formed therein also serve as an exit for water utilized for cleansing, for example, berries prior to consumption as a snack food. The berry produce can then be removed from the produce container by forcibly removing the lower extension of the removable top from the upper end of the elongated container. The produce container can serve as a convenient hand-held, portable container for carrying small produce items intended for use as snack food. Once the contents of the produce container are exhausted, the produce container can be discarded or in the alternative, properly recycled. The present invention is generally directed to a produce container for use in storing any of a plurality of produce, particularly bush berries including blueberries, ultimately sold to produce customers in supermarkets and produce stands. In its most fundamental embodiment, the produce container includes an elongated container for storing a plurality of produce, the elongated container being hollow and including a bottom plate for closing a lower end of the elongated container. A removable top removably connected to the elongated container is included for providing access to the elongated container. Finally, a plurality of apertures formed in the bottom plate and in the removable top function to promote ventilation through and drainage of produce fluid, particularly bush berry fluid, from the elongated container. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a produce container showing an elongated container including an attached bottom plate having a plurality of bottom apertures, and a removable top having a plurality of top apertures.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the produce container of Fig. 1 showing a lower extension (in phantom) of the removable top removably connected to an upper end of the elongated container.

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Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view of the produce container taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing a circular configuration of the elongated container and the bottom plate including the bottom apertures.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the produce container of Fig. 1 showing the bottom plate including the bottom apertures.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the produce container of Fig. 1 showing the removable top separated from and positioned above the elongated container, and illustrating an exemplary closure arrangement there between.

Fig.6 is a cross-sectional view of the produce container taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the circular configuration of the elongated container.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the removable top of the produce container of Fig. 1 showing a plurality of top apertures.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the removable top of the produce container of Fig. 1 showing an outer spherical body, a lower extension of the removable top, a bottom side of the lower extension, and an interior of the removable top including a fragmentary view of the top apertures.

Fig.9 is a cross-sectional view of the produce container taken along line 9-9 of Fig.2 showing a hexagonal configuration of the elongated container and the bottom plate including the bottom apertures. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the produce container taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 2 showing an octagonal configuration of the elongated container and the bottom plate including the bottom apertures.

Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view of the produce container taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 2 showing a rectangular configuration of the elongated container and the bottom plate including the bottom apertures.

Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of the produce container taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 2 showing a triangular configuration of the elongated container and the bottom plate including the bottom apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a produce container 100 for use in containing,

shipping, storing and displaying any of a plurality of small produce items (not shown) ultimately sold to produce customers. In particular, the produce container 100 of the present invention serves as a means for containing the produce items which can comprise, for example, berries, especially bush berries including blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, cranberries, and strawberries. By selecting the final design and construction of the produce container 100, a pleasing design attractive to the consumer can also be provided. Additional examples of small produce items can include red currants, grapes, raisins, palmegranate seeds, and various other seeds and nuts. The produce container 100 of the present invention can serve as a means for containing the small produce items, for example, berry produce after a harvest, while shipping the berries to market, as a means for storing the berries during transit to retail stores, and/or as a unique means for displaying the berries to the purchasing public in produce departments of supermarkets and independent produce stands. Further, the novel construction of the produce container 100 facilitates its use as a handheld dispensing type container for the convenient transport and consumption of the produce items, such as blueberries.

The produce container 100 as illustrated in Figs. 1-12 comprises as the main components an elongated container 102 and a removable top 104, that is, a top 104 that is removably connected to the elongated container 102. These two main components cooperate wherein the removable top 104 is attached or fitted to the elongated container 102 to ensure their continued communication until physically separated. The removable top 104 can be attached to the elongated container 102 by any suitable manner. Several examples of suitable attachment methods include a compressive fitting, bayonet type fitting, molded hinged construction, threaded connection, and a snap-on fitting to name a few.- The method selected for attaching the removable top 104 to the elongated container 102 ensures the physical connection until the removable top 104 is physically and intentionally removed from the elongated containerl02. Thus, the attachment arrangement enables the removable top 104 to be removably affixed to and separated from the elongated container 102 in a convenient manner as is indicated, for example, by the double-headed arrow identified by the number 106 in Fig. 5.

The elongated container 102 exhibits a generally hollow, tubular shape and can be fashioned into any suitable geometric tubular shape ranging from circular to triangular including but not limited to a cylindrically-shaped tube, hexagonal-shaped tube, octagonal-shaped tube, rectangular-shaped tube, or triangular-shaped tube or the like as is clearly shown in Figs. 3, 9, 10, 11 and 12. In fact, the number of tube shapes that the elongated container 102 can assume is infinite and is not limited to any particular tube shape. Additionally, the elongated container 102 includes a bottom plate 108 which is affixed to the elongated container 102 as is shown best in Fig. 1. The bottom plate 108 serves to close a lower end 110 of the elongated container 102 to form the space that facilitates housing and storing of the small produce items particularly bush berries which includes blueberries. The bottom plate 108 can be, for example, integrally molded or adhesively attached to the lower end 110 of the elongated container 102. The shape of the bottom plate 108 is consistent with the geometric tubular shape of the elongated container 102. For example, if the elongated container 102 is a hollow, cylindrical-shaped tube, then the shape of the bottom plate 108 is circular as shown in Fig. 3. If the elongated container 102 is a hollow, hexagonal-shaped tube, then the shape of the bottom plate 108 is hexagonal as shown in Fig 9. If the elongated container 102 is a hollow, octagonal-shaped tube, then the shape of the bottom plate 108 is octagonal as shown in Fig. 10. If the elongated container 102 is a hollow, rectangular-shaped tube, then the shape of the bottom plate 108 is rectangular as shown in Fig. 11. The bottom plate 108 could, of course, include extensions such as a separate or integrally molded stand to facilitate allowing the container 100 to be displayed or used in an upright self-supporting fashion . Such extensions are within the scope of the invention. Finally, if the elongated container 102 is a hollow, triangular-shaped tube, then the shape of the bottom plate 108 is triangular as shown in Fig. 12.

The bottom plate 108 alsp includes a plurality of bottom apertures 112 formed therein as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 9-12. The bottom apertures 112 serve to promote ventilation through and drainage of any produce fluid or condensation build-up from the elongated container 102. Ventilation of the produce and drainage of any condensation build-up or produce fluid, particularly bush berry fluid from, for example, damaged blueberries helps prevent premature rotting of the produce stored

within the elongated container 102 of the produce container 100. Additionally, when the top 104 is removed, rinse water (not shown) directed into the elongated container 102, such as from a faucet, to cleanse the berries prior to consumption as a snack food, can be conveniently drained through the bottom apertures 112. The plurality of bottom apertures 112 formed in the bottom plate 108 are typically circular but can assume any desired shape consistent with the requirements of ventilation of the produce in and drainage of any produce fluid or condensation build-up or cleansing water from the elongated container 102. Further, the plurality of bottom apertures 112 can be formed in the bottom plate 108 in any suitable desired pattern in which the apertures 112 are evenly distributed to ensure proper ventilation and drainage.

The elongated container 102 can be comprised of any suitable material but plastic material as is well known to the packaging art is preferred. The bottom plate

108, whether it is integrally molded to (that is, of unitary construction with) or, in the alternative, fixedly, such as adhesively, attached to the hollow, tubular-shaped, elongated container 102, is also preferably comprised of plastic material. Any of a plurality of thin-walled plastic materials which are sufficiently robust to protect the small produce items are suitable for use in the construction of the elongated container 102 and the bottom plate 108. The elongated container 102 also includes an upper end 114 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but best shown in Fig.5. The upper end 114 of the elongated container 102 cooperates with the removable top 104 in one of a plurality of attachment arrangements as will be described in more detail herein below. To assist in grasping and handling the produce container 100, a hand grip or finger grip (not shown) can be molded into the elongated container 102 during the fabrication process. Sufficient space to mold the finger grip onto the elongated container 102 is available since, for example, the length of the elongated container 102 is preferably approximately three times the diameter thereof. This finger grip feature enables the elongated container 102 to be easily hand carried and minimizes the probability that the produce container 100 will be dropped and the contents spilled therefrom.

The removable top 104 of the produce container 100 is removably connected to the elongated container 102 for opening and closing the elongated container 102 to provide access thereto where the small produce items are housed and stored. In this patent detailed description, the term "removably connected" includes any type of

connection such as a compressive fit connection or a molded hinge fit connection or a bayonet-type fit connection or a threaded fit connection or a snap-on fit connection or any other type of removable connection such as would be known in the art. This feature is clearly shown in Rg. 5 wherein the removable top 104 is exploded away from the elongated container 102. The removable top 104 of the produce container

100 can assume any desired shape to assist in grasping and removing the removable top 104 from the elongated container 102. For example, the removable top 104 could exhibit a square or rectangular shape or an entirely flat surface with sufficient breath to grasp and remove the removable top 104 from the elongated container 102. However, a spherically-shaped, removable top 104 is preferred as is disclosed in the exemplary drawing Figs.1, 2 and 5. The removable top 104 also includes one or more top apertures 118 formed therein which also function to promote ventilation through and drainage of any produce fluid and condensation build-up from the elongated container 102. The top apertures 118 in this preferred embodiment are formed in the spherically-shaped, removable top 104 and thus exhibit the appearance of a teardrop even though the apertures 118 are generally circular in shape. Further, the top apertures 118 can be formed in the removable top 104 in any suitable desired pattern. The apertures 118 are sized and distributed to aid in proper ventilation and drainage in any given embodiment. As discussed, the bottom apertures 112 and the top aperture(s) 118 are present to aid ventilation and drainage. The actual shape, number and position of the bottom apertures 112 and the top apertures 118 is a matter of design choice and they may form a part of the esthetic design of the selected embodiment used.

Turning now to the preferred embodiment of the produce container 100 which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1-8, the elongated container 102 is cylindrically-shaped as shown in cross-section in Fig. 3. It is important to emphasize that the elongated container 102 is not limited to a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical shape is selected here for illustration purposes only but could be any other desired shape including hexagonal-shaped as shown in cross-section in Fig. 9, octagonal-shaped as shown in cross-section in Fig. 10, rectangular-shaped as shown in cross-section in Fig. 11, or triangular-shaped as shown in cross-section in Fig. 12. Notwithstanding, the elongated container 102 is fashioned into the shape of a hollow, right circular cylinder

or hollow, cylindrically-shaped tube as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The hollow, right circular cylinder or hollow, cylindrically-shaped tube of the elongated container 102 is clearly shown in the cross-sectional views of Figs. 3 and 6.

The elongated container 102 includes the lower end 110 and the upper end 114 as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom plate 108, which is circular in shape in the preferred embodiment, is integrally molded to the lower end 110 for closing the elongated container 102 to form the space that facilitates housing and storing of the small produce items as is best shown in Fig. 1. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the elongated container 102 and the bottom plate 108 comprise a unitary construction. It is again emphasized that the bottom plate 108 could be, for example, adhesively attached to the lower end 110 of the elongated container 102. Notwithstanding the method of attachment, the bottom plate 108 includes a plurality of the bottom apertures 112 for use in promoting ventilation through and drainage of produce fluid, particularly berry fluid, from damaged berries, condensation build-up or cleansing water as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Further, the upper end 114 of the cylindrically- shaped elongated container 102 is circular in cross-section as is indicated in Fig. 6. EExamples of the shape of the elongated container 102, bottom plate 108, and bottom apertures 112 for different tubular-shaped elongated containers 102 are shown in Figs. 9-12. In the preferred embodiment, the removable top 104 further includes a lower extension 120 as is shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The lower extension 120 includes a diameter sized somewhat smaller than the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102 to facilitate, for example, a compressive fit there between. Thus, a bottom side 122 of the lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 is sized to be cooperatively received within the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102 as is clearly shown in phantom in Fig. 2. The compressive fit of the preferred embodiment enables the lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 to be removably connected or affixed to the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102. Thus, the illustrations shown in Figs. 2 and 5 disclose a spherically-shaped, removable top 104 having a lower extension 120 which is employed for compressively fitting into the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102.

This construction enables the lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 to be forceably inserted into and removed from the upper end 114 of the elongated

container 102 for closing or alternatively providing access to the elongated container 102. The removable top 104 is also preferably comprised of plastic material that corresponds to the plastic material of the elongated container 102. Thus, any of a plurality of thin-walled plastic materials which is sufficiently robust to protect the small produce items are suitable for use in the construction of the removable top 104. The compressive fit arrangement of the preferred embodiment ensures the continued communication there between until the removable top 104 is forcibly removed from the elongated container 102. Thus, the compressive fit arrangement enables the removable top 104 to be removably connected to and separated from the elongated container 102 in a pop-on and pop-off manner as is indicated by the double-headed arrow identified by the number 106 in Rg. 5.

In use, the lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 is forceably removed, as in a pop-on and pop-off manner, from the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102. Then, the small produce items, particularly bush berries and including blueberries, are carefully loaded into the hollow, cylindrically-shaped, elongated container 102 of the preferred embodiment. The lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 is then forceably inserted into the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102 to close the produce container 100. The produce container 100 can now serve as a means for containing, shipping, storing and displaying the small produce items, including bush berries, to consumers in retail outlets. The plurality of bottom apertures 112 formed in the integrally-molded bottom plate 108 and the plurality of top apertures 118 formed in the removable top 104 serve to provide a ventilation path for air and as an exit path for any condensation build-up and produce fluid from, for example, damaged berries to prevent rotting and decay. The small produce items can then be removed from the produce container 100 by forceably removing the lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 from the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102. The small produce items, such as berries or nuts, can then be removed from the portable produce container 100 and conveniently consumed. By way of example and not by limitation, the diameter of the elongated tube

102 can be within the range of l"-to-3" but preferably from 1.25"-to-1.75". The length of the elongated tube 102 which is generally approximately three times the diameter can be, for example, from 4"-to-8" but preferably is from 5"-to-7". The

removable top 104 can, for example, extend above the upper end 114 of the elongated container 102 by from l"-to-3" but preferably from 2"-to-2.5". The dimensions of the elongated container 102 and the removable top 104 in any particular case may be determined by the size of a particular shipping carton to maximize efficiency considering that the produce items can be immediately packed in the field or at a central packing facility.

The present invention provides novel advantages over other produce containers known in the prior art. A main advantage of the produce container 100 is that it employs a tubular-shaped, elongated container 102 in combination with a removable top 104 that provides a convenient vehicle for containing, shipping, storing and displaying small produce items particularly bush berries which include blueberries. An additional advantage is that the produce container 100 is easy to carry and handle. The hollow, tubular-shaped elongated container 102 can be fashioned into any of a plurality of shapes including cylindrical, hexagonal, octagonal, rectangular, triangular or any other desired shape. Likewise, the removable top 104 can assume any of a plurality of shapes although a spherical-shape is preferred. The lower extension 120 of the removable top 104 is simply and conveniently forceably inserted into and removed from the upper end 114 of the cylindrically-shaped elongated container 102 in the preferred embodiment by employing a compression fit arrangement. Further, the bottom aperture(s) 112 and the top aperture(s) 118 serve the dual purpose of promoting ventilation and drainage of any produce fluid and condensation build-up to prevent rotting and decay of the small produce items. Also, a single produce container 100 is conveniently useful for each of the tasks of packing, containing, shipping, storing, displaying, and carrying the produce items, and the component parts are interchangeable. Alternatively, the produce container 100 can be utilized at any stage of the distribution process. The produce container 100 can be properly recycled or, in the alternative, disposed of after use. Finally, the produce container 100 can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet marketing goals as to the shape of the removable top 104, elongated container 102 and the bottom plate 108. Material and colors can be selected and additional features, such as a stand support to allow vertical, individual display of the produce container 100, can be added as desired.

While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly,

WHAT IS CUIMED IS: