Large-capacity shipment and display bin

Abstract

The container 10 comprises a bottom cover 12, a plurality of stackable trays 14 for holding produce, a sleeve 18, and a top cover 20. Each tray 14 is filled with produce and placed within the bottom cover 12. After the trays 14 are stacked, a film may be wrapped around the trays 14 to stabilize the produce. The sleeve 18 is then lowered over the trays 14 and the container 10 is capped with the top cover 20. When assembled, the container 10 may be secured by securement members, such as straps 64, and placed on a base member 22 for supporting the container and facilitating the shipping of the container. At the point of sale, the top cover 20 and sleeve 18 may be removed, exposing the produce, thereby forming a display bin capable of displaying the shipped produce to customers for purchase.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A container for shipping and displaying produce, comprising: 
 a bottom cover having a bottom wall and upwardly extending sidewalls substantially transverse to said bottom wall defining a pre-selected shape and forming an interior cavity;    a plurality of produce trays stacked in overlying relationship to said bottom wall of said bottom cover, a portion of said plurality of produce trays disposed within said interior cavity of said bottom cover;    a sleeve having sidewalls defining said pre-selected shape and defining an interior cavity, said sleeve disposed around said plurality of produce trays so that said plurality of produce trays are positioned within said interior cavity of said sleeve, a lower portion of said sidewalls positioned within said sidewalls of said bottom cover; and    a top cover having a top wall and downwardly depending sidewalls substantially transverse to said top wall defining said pre-selected shape and forming an interior cavity, said top cover overlaying a top portion of said plurality of trays, an upper portion of the sidewalls of said sleeve positioned within the sidewalls of said top cover.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a stretchable film wrapped around the perimeter of said plurality of produce trays.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of straps, said plurality of straps being wrapped around said top cover and said bottom cover for securing said assembly together during shipping.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a base member having a top surface; said bottom wall of said bottom cover disposed adjacent to said top surface of said base member.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-selected shape is rectangular.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls of said sleeve has a plurality of apertures in the sidewalls thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom cover and said top cover are constructed from a single wall material.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is constructed from a triple wall material.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said top wall of said top cover is substantially parallel with said bottom wall of said bottom cover.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said container assemblies are stacked to form a shipping container.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer disposed between said top cover and said plurality of trays.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 3 , further comprising edge members, said edge members disposed around said top cover to reinforce said assembly where said straps are applied.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls of said bottom cover being downwardly foldable to cover said base member.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said base member is a pallet.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said base member is a slip sheet.  
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a container for shipping and displaying produce, comprising: 
 providing a base member having a top surface;    placing a bottom cover upon said top surface, said bottom cover having a bottom wall and upwardly extending sidewalls which define an interior cavity;    stacking a plurality of produce trays in overlying relationship to said bottom wall, a portion of said plurality of produce trays disposed within said interior cavity of said bottom cover;    placing a sleeve having sidewalls that form an interior cavity over said plurality of produce trays and into engagement with a portion of said bottom cover; and    placing a top cover upon and in engagement with a top portion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising 
 wrapping a stretchable film around said plurality of produce trays.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising 
 securing said top cover to said bottom cover with a plurality of straps.