Method of forming containers having a bottom wall with an opening, same containers, and blanks for forming same

Abstract

A container includes a first end structure defining a first opening therein, the first end structure being configured to receive a first cover positioned on the first end structure and extending across the first opening. A second end structure is positioned opposite the first end structure and defines a second opening extending through the second end structure. The container further includes two opposing side walls coupled to the second end structure along a respective first set of fold lines and two opposing end walls coupled to the second end structure along a respective second set of fold lines. At least one of the two opposing end walls extends obliquely relative to the second end structure and taper outwards from the second end structure. The container further includes a second cover positioned on the second end structure and extending across the second opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a first end structure defining a first opening therein, the first end structure being configured to receive a first cover positioned on the first end structure and extending across the first opening;   a second end structure positioned opposite the first end structure and defining a second opening therein, the second opening extending through the second end structure, and the second end structure being configured to receive a second cover positioned on the second end structure and extending across the second opening;   two opposing side walls coupled to the second end structure along a respective first set of fold lines, the two opposing side walls extending from the second end structure to the first end structure;   two opposing end walls coupled to the second end structure along a respective second set of fold lines, wherein at least one of the two opposing end walls extends obliquely relative to the second end structure and taper outwards from the second end structure.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second end structure, the two opposing side walls, and the two opposing end walls collectively define a cavity therebetween, and wherein the first opening and the second opening each provide access to the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the first cover and the second cover are each transparent and facilitate providing visual access to goods positioned within the cavity from a perspective outside of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the container is positionable on a support structure in both a top-up orientation and a bottom-up orientation, wherein, in the top-up orientation, the second end structure is positioned in face-to-face contact with the support structure and the goods are visible through the first cover over the first opening from a perspective above the container, and wherein, in the bottom-up orientation, the first end structure is positioned in face-to-face contact with the support structure and the goods are visible through the second cover over the second opening from the perspective above the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second end structure is a bottom wall of the container, the bottom wall including a rim that defines the second opening therein, wherein the container further comprises a perforated flap coupled to the bottom wall, the perforated flap being transitionable between a first configuration in which the perforated flap extends across the second opening, and a second configuration, in which the second cover is exposed to provide visual access into a cavity of the container from a perspective outside of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom wall has an overall first area and, wherein the second opening has a second area, the bottom wall being sized such that the second area of the second opening as a percentage of the overall first area of the bottom wall is greater than or equal to 10%. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second cover is attached to the second end structure by an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the two opposing side walls and the two opposing end walls each have a generally trapezoidal shape and the end walls and side walls each extend obliquely away from the second end structure. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second end structure, two opposing side walls, and two opposing end walls collectively define a cavity of the container for receiving a product therein, the cavity further configured to receive a portion of an adjacent container therein to facilitate stacking the adjacent container within the container, and wherein the container further includes a denesting assembly configured to engage the adjacent container when received within the cavity of the container such that a flange of the adjacent container is spaced from the flange of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the denesting assembly includes a denesting tab and a denesting cutout, the denesting tab being folded into the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the denesting assembly includes respective denesting tabs coupled to end edges of each side wall, the denesting tabs extending outward from the end edges and being coplanar with the respective side walls. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is positionable on a support structure in both a top-up orientation and a bottom-up orientation, wherein, in the top-up orientation, the second end structure is positioned in face-to-face contact with the support structure and an interior of the container is visible through the first cover over the first opening from a perspective above the container, and wherein, in the bottom-up orientation, the first end structure is positioned in face-to-face contact with the support structure and the interior of the container is visible through the second cover over the second opening from the perspective above the container,
 wherein the container is configured to be positioned in a first arrangement next to an adjacent container on the support structure that has a substantially similar size and shape as the container such that the container is positioned in the top-up orientation and the adjacent container is positioned in the bottom-up orientation, and   wherein, in the first arrangement, the first end structure is positioned adjacent to a second end structure of the adjacent container and defines a first lateral extent of the container, the second end structure is positioned adjacent to a first end structure of the adjacent container, the first end structure of the adjacent container defining a second lateral extent of the adjacent container, and wherein the first lateral extent of the container is overlapped with the second lateral extent of the adjacent container.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein, in the first arrangement, one of one of the end walls and one of the side walls of the container is overlapped with the second lateral extent of the adjacent container. 
     
     
         14 . A blank for forming a container comprising:
 a bottom panel;   two opposing side panels coupled to the bottom panel along a respective first set of fold lines;   two opposing end panels coupled to the bottom panel along a respective second set of fold lines, wherein the side panels and end panels are each sized such that, when folded along the respective fold lines and formed into the container, the two opposing side panels and the two opposing end panels extend obliquely relative to the bottom panel and taper outwards from the bottom panel to define a first end structure opposite the bottom panel, the first end structure defining a first opening and configured to receive a first cover positioned on the first end structure and extending across the first opening,   wherein the bottom panel defines a second opening therein extending through the bottom panel; and   wherein the bottom panel is configured to receive a second cover positioned on the bottom panel and extending across the second opening.   
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the first cover and the second cover are each transparent and facilitate providing visual access to goods positioned within the container from a perspective outside of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom panel has an overall first area and, wherein the second opening has a second area, the bottom panel being sized such that the second area of the second opening as a percentage of the overall first area of the bottom panel is greater than or equal to 10%. 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the second cover is positioned on the bottom panel via adhesive attachment to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a container from a blank, the blank including a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, and two opposing end panels, the method comprising:
 rotating the end panels inwardly towards the bottom panel, wherein, when rotated, the end panels extend obliquely relative to the bottom panel and taper outwards from the bottom panel;   rotating the side panels inwardly towards the bottom panel, wherein, when rotated, the side panels extend obliquely relative to the bottom panel and taper outwards from the bottom panel;   forming a first end structure of the container opposite the bottom panel, the first end structure defining a first opening and configured to receive a first cover positioned thereon and extending across the first opening, wherein the bottom panel defines a second end structure comprising an opening formed therein extending through the bottom panel, wherein the second end structure is configured to receive a second cover coupled to the bottom panel and positioned on the bottom panel to extend across the second opening.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first cover and the second cover are each transparent and facilitate providing visual access to goods positioned within the container from a perspective outside of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bottom panel has an overall first area and, wherein the second opening has a second area, the bottom panel being sized such that the second area of the second opening as a percentage of the overall first area of the bottom panel is greater than or equal to 10%.