Packaging Corporation of America

Victor R Rioux

James D Southwell

G Robert Tidball

Jeanne M O'Malley

Charles C Pierce

A ventilated container for storing fresh produce is formed from a unitary continuous blank. The ventilated container includes a bottom wall, first and second opposing side walls, and first and second opposing end walls. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls intersect with one another to form four inside corners of the container. The container forms a plurality of vents to permit air to flow through the container. Each of the first and second end walls is formed from an inner panel and an outer panel hingedly connected to each other along a substantially rigid upper ledge. The container includes four polygonal corner posts disposed adjacent the respective four inside corners of the container and extending from the bottom wall to a height of the upper ends of the respective corners. To enhance the stacking strength of the container, first and second minor flaps extend from opposing ends of the first side wall and third and fourth minor flaps extend from opposing ends of the second side wall. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth minor flaps includes a pair of overlapping panels hingedly connected to each other. The first and third minor flaps are captured between the inner and outer panels of the first end wall, and the second and fourth minor flaps are captured between the inner and outer panels of the second end wall.

Stackable container for storing fresh produce

A stackable berry container comprises a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls, and first and second opposing end walls. Each of the first and second end walls forms a respective set of small vents spaced along the lengths of the end walls adjacent the bottom wall. Each of the first and second end walls further forms a respective large opening above the respective set of small vents. Each of the first and second end walls includes a bowed inner panel and an outer panel hingedly connected to each other along a rigid convex-shaped ledge. Each of the side walls including an inner panel and an outer panel hingedly connected to each other along an upper transverse edge. A first pair of minor flaps extends from opposing ends of the inner panel of one of the side walls and a second pair of minor flaps extends from opposing ends of the inner panel of the other of the side walls. One of the first pair of flaps and one of the second pair of flaps are captured between the inner and outer panels of the first end wall. The other of the first pair of flaps and the other of the second pair of flaps are captured between the inner and outer panels of the second end wall.

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo Grove, IL, United States of America

Victor R Rioux