WINDOWED CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001]The present disclosure relates to containers for products such as produce, protein, processed foods, and any product needing to be viewed through the container, and more particularly to clamshell type containers.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002]Traditional clamshell containers for produce and the like are made of transparent polymer materials. These containers allow for consumers to inspect the contents prior to purchasing. For example, berries are typically sold to consumers in clear plastic containers that allow the consumers to visually inspect the berries to confirm freshness, ripeness, quantity, and the like, without opening the container. In order to handle bulk amounts of these plastic containers, they are typically grouped into stacking trays. The stacking trays can be stacked onto pallets for shipping.

[0003]The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for containers. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

[0004]A container includes a container body of a corrugated paper material. The container body defines a tray and a clamshell lid hinged to the tray for movement between a closed position wherein the clamshell lid and tray enclose an interior space of the container body and an open position wherein the clamshell lid is clear of a top opening of the tray for access to the interior space. The tray includes a bottom panel. The clamshell lid includes a top panel defining a top window opening therethrough. In the closed position, the top window opening is opposite from the bottom panel.

[0005]The bottom panel can be bounded by panel edges. A plurality of bottom window openings can be defined through the bottom panel spaced apart from all of the panel edges. The top window opening can be a first top window opening. A second top window opening can be spaced apart from the first top window opening by a beam of the top panel. A third top window opening can be spaced apart from the first top window opening by a beam of the top panel. A fourth top window opening can be spaced apart from the second window opening by a beam of the top panel, and can be spaced apart from the third window opening by a beam of the top panel. The first, second, third, and fourth top window openings can be spaced apart from edges of the top panel by a top panel frame.

[0006]The tray can include a front tray panel opposite a hinge connecting the clamshell lid to the tray. The clamshell lid can include a front lid panel opposite the hinge. The front tray panel can define a front tray window opening therethrough. The front lid panel can define a front lid window opening therethrough that is aligned with the front tray window opening with the clamshell lid in the closed position. The tray can include a back panel opposite from the front tray panel. The back panel can define at least one back window opening therethrough.

[0007]Side tray panels of the tray can include upward extending stacking tabs that protrude through corresponding apertures in the clamshell lid in the closed position, wherein the bottom panel includes stacking apertures aligned with the stacking tabs for receiving stacking tabs of another container. It is also contemplated that side lid panels of the clamshell lid can include upward extending stacking tabs and stacking notches aligned with the stacking tabs configured for receiving stacking tabs of another container. The stacking tabs can extend upward relative to the bottom panel. The stacking tabs can include corrugation flutes that extend upward relative to the bottom panel.

[0008]The tray can include glue flaps securing sidewall panels in an upright position. The glue flaps can be outside of the interior space, configured to reduce abrasion of product within the interior space. In the closed position, three sidewall panels of the clamshell lid can all be outside of the interior space.

[0009]A blank for forming a clamshell container includes a tray portion including a plurality of tray panels configured to form a tray for holding product in an interior space. The plurality of tray panels includes a bottom panel configured to define a bottom of a tray, a front tray panel connected to the bottom panel, a back tray panel connected to the bottom panel opposite from the front tray panel, a first side tray panel connected to the bottom panel lateral from the front and back tray panels, and a second side tray panel connected to the bottom panel opposite from the first side tray panel. A lid portion includes a plurality of lid panels configured to form a clamshell lid for enclouding product in the interior space. The plurality of lid panels includes a top panel configured to define a top of the clamshell lid defining a top window opening therethrough, wherein the top panel is connected to the back tray panel along a hinge line configured for moving the clamshell lid back and forth between an open position and a closed position relative to the tray. The plurality of lid panels includes a front lid panel connected to the top panel opposite the hinge line, a first side lid panel connected to the top panel lateral from the front lid panel, and a second side lid panel connected to the top panel opposite the first side lid panel. The tray portion and the lid portion are of a corrugated paper material.

[0010]The front tray panel can define a front tray window opening therethrough. The front lid panel can define a front lid window opening therethrough that is configured to be aligned with the front tray window opening with the clamshell lid in the closed position.

[0011]The first and second side tray panels of the tray portion can include stacking tabs configured to protrude through corresponding apertures in the clamshell lid in the closed position, wherein the bottom panel includes stacking apertures aligned with the stacking tabs for receiving stacking tabs of another container. It is also contemplated that the first and second side lid panels of the lid portion can include upward stacking tabs and stacking notches aligned with the stacking tabs configured for receiving stacking tabs of another container. The stacking tabs can be configured to extend upward relative to the bottom panel. The stacking tabs can include corrugation flutes that are configured to extend upward relative to the bottom panel.

[0012]The tray portion can include glue flaps configured for securing sidewall panels in an upright position. The glue flaps can be configured to be outside of the interior space to reduce abrasion of product within the interior space. The front lid panel, the first side lid panel, and the second side lid panel of the lid portion cab all be configured to be outside of the interior space in the closed position.

[0013]These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a container constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the clamshell lid in the open position;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, showing the clamshell lid in the closed position;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for constructing the container of FIG. 1, showing the corrugated paper material;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a plan view of another configuration of the blank of FIG. 3, showing a plurality of bottom window openings;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, showing the container in the open position with the bottom window openings of FIG. 4;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for the container in FIG. 1, showing a different stacking tab configuration;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, showing the stacking tab configuration of FIG. 6 with the container in the closed position; and

[0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a palletized stack of containers as in FIG. 1, showing how the stack does not require any packaging beyond the stacked containers themselves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023]Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a container in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of systems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-8, as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to provide see-through clamshell containers for product utilizing corrugated paper material.

[0024]The container 100 includes a container body 102 of a corrugated paper material, e.g. a corrugated sheet of paper adhered between two flat sheets of paper, as shown in the cut edges of the container 100 in FIGS. 1-2. The container body 102 defines a tray 104 and a clamshell lid 106 hinged to the tray 104 for movement between an open position as shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position as shown in FIG. 2. In the open position of FIG. 1, the clamshell lid 106 is clear of a top opening 110 of the tray 104 for access to the interior space 108. In the closed position of FIG. 2, the clamshell lid 106 and tray 104 enclose the interior space 108 of the container body 102.

[0025]With continued reference to FIG. 1, the tray 104 includes a bottom panel 112. The clamshell lid 106 includes a top panel 118 defining top window openings 120. Whereas FIGS. 1-3 show a container 100 and blank 101 with no window openings through the bottom panel 112, FIGS. 4-5 show container 100 and corresponding blank 101 for a configuration with window openings 114 through the bottom panel 112 spaced apart from the edges of the bottom panel 112. The top window openings 120 and the bottom window openings 114, if present, are separated from one another by corrugated paper material of the container body 102. In the closed position, shown in FIG. 2, the window openings 120 are opposite from the bottom panel 112.

[0026]Referring to FIG. 3, where the blank 101 for forming the container 100 of FIG. 1 is shown, the bottom panel 112 is bounded by panel edges, i.e. the fold lines 124 that connect the bottom panel 112 with the sidewall panels 126, 128, 130, 132 of the tray 104. In the configuration of FIG. 4, each of the bottom window openings 114 is spaced apart from all of the panel edges. In the configurations of FIGS. 3 and 4, the top window openings 120 similarly spaced apart from all edges to the top panel 118. A cross of two perpendicular beams 134 of corrugated paper material extends across the top panel 118, spanning a rectangular frame 136 of the corrugated paper material defined in the top panel 118 adjacent to and following the panel edges.

[0027]With continued reference to FIG. 3, the blank 101 for forming the clamshell container 100 of FIG. 1 includes a tray portion, i.e. the portion for forming the tray 106. This includes a plurality of tray panels configured to form the tray 106 shown in FIG. 1. The plurality of tray panels includes the bottom panel 112 and a set of tray sidewall panels. These tray sidewall panels include a front tray panel 126 connected to the bottom panel 112 along a fold line 124, a back tray panel 130 connected to the bottom panel 112 along a fold line 124 opposite from the front tray panel 138, a first side tray panel 128 connected to the bottom panel 112 along a fold line 124 lateral from the front and back tray panels 138, 130, and a second side tray panel 132 connected to the bottom panel 112 along a fold one 124 opposite from the first side tray panel 128.

[0028]With continued reference to FIG. 3, a lid portion of the blank 101 corresponds to the portions of the blank 101 that form into the clamshell lid 106 shown in FIG. 1. The lid portion includes a plurality of lid panels that form a clamshell lid 106. The plurality of lid panels includes the top panel 118 that is configured to define a top of the clamshell lid 106 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The top panel 118 is connected to the back tray panel 130 along a hinge line, i.e. the fold line 124 connecting the panels 118, 130 to one another, that configured for moving the clamshell lid 106 back and forth between the open position of FIG. 1 and the closed position of FIG. 2 relative to the tray 104. The plurality of lid panels include three lid sidewall panels, namely a front lid panel 142 connected to the top panel 118 along a fold line 124 opposite the hinge line 124, a first side lid panel 144 connected to the top panel 118 along a fold line 124 lateral from the front lid panel 142, and a second side lid panel 146 connected to the top panel 118 along a fold line 124 opposite the first side lid panel 144. The tray and lid portions of the blank 101 are of corrugated paper material.

[0029]Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the front tray panel 126 defines a pair of front tray windows 116 opening therethrough. The front lid panel 142 defines a corresponding pair of front lid window openings 117 therethrough that are aligned with the front tray window openings 116 with the clamshell lid in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2, so that the interior space 108 can be viewed through the aligned window openings 116, 117. Similar alignment of handling openings 121 in the tray 104 and lid 106 are provided in the lateral sides of the container 100. The back panel 130 of the tray 104 defines at least one back window opening 123 therethrough. The top window openings 120, the bottom window openings 114 (if included as in FIGS. 4-5), front back and window openings 116, 117, 123 are all separated from one another by corrugated paper material of the container body 102.

[0030]A front pair of glue flaps 148 extend from opposite ends of the front tray panel 126. A back pair of glue flaps 150 extend from opposite ends of the back tray panel 130. In forming the blank 101 of FIG. 3 into the container of FIGS. 1-2, the front and back pairs of glue flaps 148, 150 are adhered to outside surfaces of the first and second side tray panels 128, 132 to secure the sidewall panels of the tray 104 in an upright position. As shown in FIG. 1, the glue flaps 148, 150 are all outside of the interior space 108, giving the sidewalls in the tray 104 a smooth interior surface configured to reduce abrasion of product within the interior space. A top pair of glue flaps 152 extend from a front end of each of the side lid panels 144, 146 opposite from the hinge, or could extend from opposite ends of the front lid panel 142. In the container 100 of FIG. 1 formed from the blank of FIG. 3, the glue flaps 152 are adhered to an inside surface of the front lid panel 142 to form thee upright sidewall panels 142, 144, 146 of the clamshell lid 106 such that in the closed position shown in FIG. 3 all three sidewall panels 142, 144, 146 of the clamshell lid 106 are all outside of the interior space 108.

[0031]With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, the side tray panels 128, 132 of the tray 104 include upward extending stacking tabs 154 that protrude through corresponding apertures 156 in the clamshell lid 106 in the closed position shown on FIG. 3. The bottom panel 112 includes stacking apertures 158, which extend over the respective fold lines 124 into the respective side tray panels 128, 132. The stacking apertures 158 are aligned with the stacking tabs 154 for receiving stacking tabs 154 of another container for stacking multiple containers 100 and keeping them aligned.

[0032]With reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another configuration of the container 100 and blank 101 are shown, respectively, similar to those in FIGS. 1-3, but with a different configuration of stacking tabs 154. In the configuration shown in FIG. 6-7, the side lid panels 144, 146 include upward extending stacking tabs 154. The side lid panels 144, 146 also include stacking notches 156 aligned with the stacking tabs 154 configured for receiving stacking tabs 154 of another container for stacking as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-6.

[0033]As shown in FIG. 8, containers 100 as described above allow for stacking of the clamshell containers 100 on a pallet 162 without the need for a separate tray or container to hold the containers 100 on the pallet 162 or in the stack 164. The containers 100 can hold produce such as apples, citrus, avocados, protein foods, processed foods, or any other suitable product benefiting from windows, wherein the window openings are sized to keep said products inside the interior space 108 when in the closed position. This can be used to replace the traditional plastic clamshell containers and the layer trays holding the plastic clamshells in stacks and on pallets.

[0034]The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for see-through clamshell containers for product utilizing corrugated paper material. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.