Container for produce storage, packing & transport

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to containers for storage and transportation of items such as produce harvested with its roots intact. The containers include a base and lid hingedly connected together on at least one edge, and may be stacked to maximize density for storage so that a shipping receptacle can hold more produce while taking up the same place, allowing for more efficient transportation saving on transportation costs and storage. In addition to saving costs on transportation and storage, the containers maintain the freshness of the produce harvested with its roots intact by keeping away soil, soil debris and moisture from the remaining portions of the produce. When containers are stacked together, a top surface of the lid of a first container is adapted to receive a plurality of longitudinal concave grooves on the bottom surface of the base of a second container.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a base having a continuous body portion and a lower rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the continuous body portion, the continuous body portion comprising:
 a bottom portion; 
 a front surface portion extending downwardly from the lower rim and integrally connected to the bottom portion; 
 a lower body portion having a continuous sidewall encompassing and projecting upwardly and outwardly from the bottom portion, the continuous sidewall having a back surface portion opposite and parallel to the front surface portion and extending downwardly from the lower rim; and 
   a lid, hingedly connected to the base, having a top surface, a pair of upper sidewalls, and a pair of upper end walls; the top surface, the upper sidewalls and the upper end walls integrally connected; and wherein an edge of the pair of upper sidewalls and the at least one upper end wall extend outwardly to form an upper rim.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is circular and comprises an outer portion surrounding a flat center portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the outer portion comprises a plurality of longitudinal concave grooves having a first end and a second end, the first end separated by a plurality of protrusions projecting inwardly into the base. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the lid further comprises a plurality of longitudinal top depressions located on the top surface of the lid projecting outwardly in a circular pattern from an inner portion of the top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal top depressions of a bottom container is adapted to receive the plurality of longitudinal concave grooves of a top container when the top container is stacked on top of the bottom container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal concave grooves and the plurality of protrusions are integrally connected together in a circular fashion. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of longitudinal concave grooves is formed at an outer edge of the center portion and project laterally outward at least partially up the continuous sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the second end of the plurality of longitudinal concave grooves are separated by a plurality of lower depressions. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of upper sidewalls and the pair of upper end walls are integrally connected via a pair of upper front depressions and a pair of upper back depressions. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein a longitudinal upper center depression is located in each of the pair of upper sidewalls between an upper front depression of the pair of upper front depressions and an upper back depression of the pair of upper back depressions. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal upper center depression located in the each of the pair of upper sidewalls diverges inwardly coming to a rounded point at approximately the top surface of the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the continuous body portion of the base, between the front surface portion and the back surface portion, includes a plurality of upper base depressions extending downwardly from the lower rim and spaced equal distances apart. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of upper base depressions have a rounded bottom end and sides that diverge outward up to the lower rim; and wherein when the lid is engaged with the base, the longitudinal upper center depression located in the each of the pair of upper sidewalls, the pair of upper front depressions and the pair of upper back depressions are in alignment with the plurality of upper base depressions forming a teardrop shape. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1  wherein a material comprising the container is one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene or polypropylenes. 
     
     
         15 . A container, comprising:
 a base having a continuous body portion and a lower rim encompassing and projecting laterally outwardly from the continuous body portion, the continuous body portion comprising:
 a circular bottom portion comprising an outer portion surrounding a flat center portion, the outer portion comprises a plurality of longitudinal concave grooves having a first end and a second end, the first end separated by a plurality of protrusions projecting inwardly into the base; 
 a front surface portion extending downwardly from the lower rim and integrally connected to the bottom portion; and 
 a lower having a continuous sidewall encompassing and projecting upwardly and outwardly from the bottom portion, the continuous sidewall having a back surface portion opposite and parallel to the front surface portion and extending downwardly from the lower rim; and 
   a lid, hingedly connected to the base, the lid comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a pair of upper sidewalls; 
 a pair of upper end walls integrally connected to the top surface and the upper sidewalls, wherein an edge of the pair of upper sidewalls and the at least one upper end wall extend outwardly to form an upper rim; and 
 a plurality of longitudinal top depressions located on the top surface of the lid projecting outwardly in a circular pattern from an inner portion of the top surface, wherein the plurality of longitudinal top depressions of a bottom container is adapted to receive the plurality of longitudinal concave grooves of a top container when the top container is stacked on top of the bottom container. 
   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of upper sidewalls and the pair of upper end walls are integrally connected via a pair of upper front depressions and a pair of upper back depressions. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein a longitudinal upper center depression is located in each of the pair of upper sidewalls between an upper front depression of the pair of upper front depressions and an upper back depression of the pair of upper back depressions. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal upper center depression located in the each of the pair of upper sidewalls diverge inwardly coming to a rounded point at approximately the top surface of the lid. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the continuous body portion of the base, between the front surface portion and the back surface portion, includes a plurality of upper base depressions extending downwardly from the lower rim and spaced equal distances apart. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of upper base depressions have a rounded bottom end and sides that diverge outward up to the lower rim; and wherein when the lid is engaged with the base, the longitudinal upper center depression located in the each of the pair of upper sidewalls, the pair of upper front depressions and the pair of upper back depressions are in alignment with the plurality of upper base depressions forming a teardrop shape.