Stackable bliss-type container

[0002] This invention relates to an open-topped, stackable, corrugated paperboard container for transporting and displaying fruit, produce, or similar items.

[0003] It is becoming common in large supermarkets and discount stores to sell fruit, vegetables and similar items out of the paperboard containers that they are shipped in. These containers are open-topped and are stacked on top of one another during shipment and display. When the top container is empty it is simply removed from the stack exposing the next full container. Since fruit and produce are sold with a low profit margin and these containers often are disposed of after a single use, the cost of the containers becomes a factor in the cost of the product being sold out of them. In addition, it is important that these containers be stacked squarely on top of one another or the stack will become unstable. Typically, indexing tabs, which protrude from the top edges of a lower container, fit into indexing slots in the bottom of the upper container to ensure that the containers stack properly. However, the edge of a piece of corrugated paperboard is easily damaged and if the tabs become damaged they will not fit easily into the slots. In order to keep the containers stacked squarely when the tabs do not fit cleanly into the slots, containers of this type often have diagonal comers which support the bottom of a stacked container. Finally, this type of container often is a bliss-type container which is relatively inexpensive to construct. However, if a bliss-type container has diagonal elements at the comers, the side walls on the bliss pieces will not extend completely to the end walls on the main piece and the containers end up skewed slightly when the bliss pieces are attached to the main piece. This also effects the stackability of the container.

[0004] The subject invention provides a container in which the bliss elements have an outer panel which extends to the inside surface of the end elements of the main piece to facilitate squaring a container upon assembly, and an inner panel which does not extend to the side elements of the main piece and has the diagonal pieces attached to its extremities.

[0005] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the subject invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank which forms the main piece of the container.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank which forms the bliss pieces of the container.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the main piece erected.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the bliss pieces erected.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container showing another embodiment of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two of the containers of FIG. 1 stacked together.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an open topped, stackable, corrugated paperboard container 10 has a bliss-style construction and is intended for shipment and display of fruit, produce and other goods. Referring now also to FIGS. 2-5, the container is made from a main blank 12, FIG. 2, which is used to form a main piece 14, FIG. 4, and two bliss blanks 16, FIG. 3, which are used to form two bliss pieces 18, FIG. 5. Typically, multiple pieces are cut from a single sheet of corrugated paperboard.

[0014] The main piece 14 has a rectangular bottom element 22. The bottom is shown as having opposed longer edges 24 and opposed shorter edges 26, but it could be square as well. Indexing slots 28 are located in the bottom element along the edges that are adjacent the bliss pieces 18. This could be either the long edges, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, or the shorter edges 26, as shown in FIG. 6. Two indexing slots are shown in each edge but there could be more or less depending on the size of the container.

[0015] Connected to the edges of the bottom pieces that are not attached to the bliss pieces are opposed first side elements 29, which have an inside surface 30 and an outside surface 32 and opposed ends 34. The first side elements 29 are bent upwardly 90° with respect to the bottom 22 along fold lines 36. First side flaps 38 are connected to each edge 34 of the first side elements 32. The first side flaps are bent inwardly 90° with respect to the first side elements along fold lines 40. Connected to the edges of the bottom panel that are adjacent to the bliss pieces are opposed bottom flaps 42. The bottom flaps are bent upwardly 90° with respect to the bottom 22 along fold lines 44. Hand holes 46 may be placed in the first side elements 29 to facilitate lifting the container.

[0016] The bliss pieces 18 each include a second side element 48 having an outer panel 50 with a length that is substantially equal to the distance between the first side elements 29, and an inner panel 52, which is shorter than the outer panel 50. Connected to each of the ends of the inner panels 52, along fold lines 53, are diagonal pieces 54 which extend on a diagonal to the inside surfaces 30 of the first side elements 29, when the bliss pieces 18 are inserted into the main piece 14. Connected to each diagonal piece, along a fold line 55, is a second side flap 56 which overlays a portion of the inside surface 30 of the first side element 29 when the bliss pieces are inserted into the main pieces.

[0017] Indexing tabs 58 have first ends 60 which are connected to the inner panels 52, and second ends 62 which are connected to the outer panels 50. The indexing tabs are folded 180° along fold lines 63 midway between their ends to provide folded outer edges 64. The indexing tabs are arranged to fit into the indexing slots 28 when one container is stacked on top of another container, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0018] The container is formed in the standard manner in a bliss container machine. The main blank 12 is folded along fold lines 36, 40 and 44 and the two bliss blanks 16 are folded along fold lines 53 and 55. An adhesive is placed on the outside surfaces of the second side flaps 56 and on the inside surfaces of the first side flaps 38 and the bliss blanks are inserted into and adhered to the main blank. The bliss blanks are then folded along fold lines 63 and the outer panels 50 are adhesively attached to the inner panels 52.

[0019] The resulting container can easily be stacked. The folded outer edges 64 of the indexing tabs 58 allow the indexing tabs to be inserted into the indexing slots 28 without being damaged and the diagonal elements 54 prevent a container from slipping into the container it is stacked on in the event the indexing tabs on one end of the container are not placed on the indexing slots.

[0020] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.