Container assembly

Abstract

A container assembly which is specifically, but not exclusively, adapted for the storage, shipping and display of relatively fragile products, such as produce, flowers, or the like, wherein the nature of the products renders them particularly vulnerable to damage during the placement within and removal from the interior of the container assembly. Accordingly, the body of the container assembly includes a movably mounted access segment selectively disposable between opened and closed positions, wherein an access opening in the body is established when the access segment is disposed in the opened position. The access opening, when exposed is disposed, dimensioned and configured to facilitate both visual and physical access to the interior of the body as well as a laterally directed positioning of the products as they are placed within and removed from the interior, thereby reducing the possibility of physical damage being done as with vertically directed placement and removal of the products through an open top of a conventional container.

what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container assembly comprising: 
 a) a body having a hollow interior and including a sidewall assembly disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said hollow interior,    b) a base connected to said sidewall assembly and disposed in covering relation to one end of said hollow interior,    c) an access opening formed in said sidewall assembly in communicating relation to said hollow interior,    d) an access segment movably connected to said body in spaced relation to said base and disposable between an opened position and a closed position relative to said access opening, and    e) said access opening disposed and dimensioned to facilitate visual access of lateral positioning of an object into and out of said hollow interior through said access opening.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least one connection disposed on said sidewall assembly in spaced relation to said base, said connection movably interconnecting said access segment to said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said connection comprises an elongated fold line pivotally interconnecting said access segment to said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said fold line comprises a separable segment structured to movably and removably connect said access segment to said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said opened position is defined by said access segment detached from said body along said connection.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein said opened position further defines by said access segment pivotally an disposed outwardly from said sidewall assembly along said connection.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of connections disposed in spaced relation to one another, each of said connections pivotally interconnecting said access segment to said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein each of said connections are relatively disposed to vary the size of said access opening when said access segment is in said opened position.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein each of said connections are disposed in spaced relation to said base.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein at least one of said plurality of connections is structured to removably and movably connect said access segment to said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         11 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein said opened position is defined by said access segment detached from said body along said one connection.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said opened position is further defined by said access segment pivotally disposed outwardly from said sidewall along said one connection.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly as recited in  claim 12  wherein said open position is further defined by said access segment pivotally disposed outwardly from said sidewall assembly along a second of said plurality of connections.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein each of said plurality of connections are relatively disposed to vary the size of said access opening when said access segment is in said opened position.  
     
     
         15 . An assembly as recited in  claim 14  wherein each of said plurality of connections are disposed in spaced relation to said base.  
     
     
         16 . An assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein said closed position is at least partially defined by said access segment disposed in covering relation to said access opening and in substantially co-planar orientation with at least a portion of said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         17 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein said closed position is at least partially defined by said access segment disposed in covering relation to said access opening and co-planar relation with at least a portion of said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  further comprising a cover assembly movably disposable into and out of covering relation to an open end of said body, said cover assembly disposed in retaining relation to said access segment when said access segment is in said closed position.  
     
     
         19 . An assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein said covering assembly comprises a panel and a retaining portion extending outwardly from said panel, said retaining portion comprising a depending flange disposed and substantially overlapping relation and retaining engagement with a peripheral portion of said access segment when in said closed position.  
     
     
         20 . A container assembly comprising: 
 a) a body having a hollow interior and including a sidewall assembly disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said hollow interior,    b) a base connected to said sidewall assembly and disposed in covering relation to one end of said hollow interior,    c) an access opening formed in said sidewall assembly in communicating relation to said hollow interior,    d) an access segment correspondingly configured to said access opening and movably connected to said sidewall assembly; said access segment disposable between a closed position relative to said access opening and any of a plurality of opened positions,    e) a plurality of connections each pivotally interconnecting said access segment to said sidewall assembly and at least one of said connections disposed in spaced relation to said base, and    f) said access opening disposed and dimensioned to facilitate visual access and lateral positioning of an object into and out of said hollow interior through said access opening.    
     
     
         21 . An assembly as recited in  claim 20  wherein at least one of said plurality of connections is structured to removably and movably connect said access segment to said sidewall assembly.  
     
     
         22 . An assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein at least one of said plurality of opened positions is defined by said access segment detached from said body along said one connection.  
     
     
         23 . An assembly as recited in  claim 22  wherein at least one of said plurality of opened positions is further defined by said access segment pivotally disposed outwardly from said sidewall assembly along said one connection.  
     
     
         24 . An assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein at least one of said plurality of opened position is further defined by said access segment pivotally disposed outwardly from said sidewall assembly along a second of said plurality of connections.  
     
     
         25 . An assembly as recited in  claim 24  wherein each of said plurality of connections is disposed in spaced relation to one another and to said base.