Produce containers and interchangeable, high-density packing system using same

Abstract

A system for shipping produce including a shipping tray adapted to house a variety of different sized produce shipping containers. The produce shipping containers are sized such that when the tray is stocked with each size container only it can be filled and all of its space utilized. A produce shipping container which minimizes interior edges. A produce shipping container which enhances visibility through the top of the container through to the produce contained therein.

1 . A system for shipping produce comprising:
 a shipping tray adapted to carry a plurality of produce carrying container combinations, said shipping tray comprising a bottom and a plurality of walls extending from said bottom and forming an interior area, said plurality of produce carrying container combinations including:   a first size of produce carrying container, wherein a first number of said first size of produce carrying container substantially fills said interior area;   a second size of produce carrying container, wherein a second number of said second size of produce carrying container substantially fills said interior area; and   a third size of produce carrying container, wherein a third number of said third size of produce carrying container substantially fills said interior area.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first number is  3 . 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said second number is  4 . 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said third number is  6 . 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said shipping tray is substantially rectangular, and wherein said shipping tray comprises a long direction and a short direction. top  316 . Thus, when the bottom  315  and the top  316  of the produce carrying container  310  are locked together in the closed position with the use of corner button locks  311 , the produce storage area is not impacted by an interior radius as seen in  FIG. 13 . The button lock  311  placed exterior to the exterior radius  312  improves the visual aspect of the packaging, as well as reducing one possibility of for bruising or damage to produce. The rear corner  313  is also seen with exterior radius near the hinge  314 .
 As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general invention.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first size of produce container is substantially rectangular, and wherein said first size of produce container comprises a long direction and a short direction. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said long direction of said first size of produce container is adapted to fit within said short direction of said shipping tray. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said shipping tray further comprises inlet vents along its short direction. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claims 8  wherein said first size of produce container has vents along both of its long sides, said vents substantially aligned with said inlet vents. 
   
   
       10 . A system for shipping produce, said system comprising:
 a shipping tray, said shipping tray comprising;
 a bottom; and 
 a plurality of walls from said bottom and forming an interior area; and 
   three produce shipping containers, said produce shipping containers substantially filling said interior area.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said shipping tray has a rectangular bottom, said rectangular bottom having a long direction and a short direction, and wherein said produce shipping containers are substantially rectangular, said produce shipping containers having a long direction and a short direction. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said shipping tray is sized such that the long direction of the produce shipping containers fit within the short direction of the shipping tray. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the long direction of the produce shipping containers substantially fill the short direction of the shipping tray. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said three produce shipping containers fit within the long direction of the shipping tray. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said shipping tray has notches in its walls along its short direction. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said produce shipping containers have vents along their long direction. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said vents align with said notches at least in part. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said vents align with said notches in substantial part. 
   
   
       19 . A produce carrying container comprising:
 a bottom well, said bottom well substantially rectangular;   a top, said top comprising a raised internal portion, said top bendably attached to said bottom well along a first edge, said top adapted to be folded over said bottom well into a closed position; and   a set of corner button locks, said corner button locks adapted to fasten said top to said bottom well in said closed position, said corner button locks located in the corners away from said first edge;   wherein said raised internal portion of said top comprises exterior radii in all corners.   
   
   
       20 . The produce carrying container of  claim 19  wherein said corner button locks do not protrude into said raised internal portion of said top. 
   
   
       21 . The produce carrying container of  claim 20  wherein said raised internal portion further comprises a sidewall, wherein there are no protrusion into said sidewall.