Produce Containers and Methods for Manufacturing and Packing Produce Containers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are containers and methods for managing springy produce during packaging. An exemplary container includes a wall structure defining a storage space. The wall structure includes four side panels, a top panel with an opening to the storage space, and a bottom panel opposite the top panel. The horizontal cross-sectional area of the storage space progressively increases from the top panel to the bottom panel, which is facilitated by the arrangement of the side panels, one or more of which is inclined at an angle such that the top portion of the side panel is located inward with regard to the storage space in comparison to the bottom portion of the side panel. The top panel includes a flange that extends inward from the top portions of the side panels to define the perimeter of the opening. Such containers can be constructed from paper materials including recyclable paper materials.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container including:
 a wall structure defining a storage space with an opening into the storage space; 
 a bottom panel opposite the opening; 
 side panels at a periphery of the storage space, including an inclined side panel that extend downward toward the bottom panel at an angle inclined away from the opening; and 
 a top panel having an edge defining the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a transparent peel off cover that closes the opening and is sealed to the wall structure. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the inclined side panel extends fully from the top panel to the bottom panel at a constant angle inclined away from the opening. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the top panel has a flange portion surrounding the opening, and the inclined side panel projects inward from the flange portion of the top panel at a location spaced from the opening. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the inclined side panel projects over the bottom panel a distance in a direction parallel to the bottom panel, and the top panel has a cantilevered portion projecting over the inclined side panel an equal distance in the direction parallel to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the top panel has an elongated rectangular configuration with the cantilevered portion at one end. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured as a rectangular tray having depth from the opening to the bottom panel and having both length and width greater than the depth. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure comprises a single unitary sheet of folded material in which the bottom wall and side walls are interconnected along fold lines defining corners of the wall structure. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container including:
 a wall structure defining a storage space with an opening into the storage space; 
 a bottom panel opposite the opening; 
 side panels surrounding the storage space; and 
 a top panel having an edge defining the opening; 
   wherein each of the side panels extends toward the bottom wall at a respective angle inclined away from the opening.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the top panel has a flange portion surrounding the opening, and the side panels project inward from the flange portion of the top panel at locations spaced from the opening. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the inclined side panels include a side panel that projects over the bottom panel wall a distance in a direction parallel to the bottom panel, and the top panel has a cantilevered portion projecting over the inclined side panel an equal distance in the direction parallel to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the side panels include four side panels in a truncated pyramidal configuration. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the wall structure is configured as a rectangular tray having depth from the opening to the bottom panel and having both length and width greater than the depth. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the wall structure comprises a single unitary sheet of folded material in which the bottom panel and the side panels are interconnected along fold lines defining corners of the wall structure. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container having a wall structure defining a storage space, including a top panel with an opening into the storage space, a bottom panel opposite the top panel, and side panels reaching from the top panel to the bottom panel;   wherein the wall structure is configured as a rectangular tray having depth from the opening to the bottom panel, and having both length and width greater than the depth; and   the side panels include four side panels in a truncated pyramidal configuration.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the wall structure comprises a single unitary sheet of folded material in which the top panel, bottom panel, and side panels are interconnected along fold lines defining corners of the wall structure. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the side panels include a side panel that projects over the bottom panel a distance in a direction parallel to the bottom panel, and the top panel has a cantilevered portion projecting over the inclined side panel an equal distance in the direction parallel to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising a transparent peel off cover that closes the opening and is sealed to the wall structure. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)