Produce packaging container with dual hinged resealable tops

Abstract

A produce packaging container incorporates a basket body with an opening for inserting items inside the container and a pair of lids for covering the opening in the basket body. Each basket also includes latch elements for securing the lids in a closed configuration. In some implementations the container is vented. Also, containers can include lids having lid-mounted latches to seal the container. Moreover, top mounted latches can be employed to engage the lids together in a closed configuration.

1 . A produce container comprising: 
 a basket body with an opening for inserting items inside the container;    a pair of lids for covering the opening in the basket body; and    latch elements for securing the lids in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein each of the pair of lids includes hinges attaching the lids to the body, side portions and lid ends at the lid portion opposite from the hinges; and 
 wherein each of the side portions of the lids include latch elements;    wherein a top portion of the basket body includes latch elements mated to the latch elements at the side portions, said lid latch elements engagable with the body latch elements to secure the lids in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       3 . The produce container of  claim 2  wherein the hinges are formed at outer edges of the container.  
   
   
       4 . The produce container of  claim 2  wherein the pair of lids do not overlap when the lids are in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The produce container of  claim 2  wherein each of the lids further include top latch elements that are engagable with each other to further secure the lids in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       6 . The produce container of  claim 2  wherein the upper portion of the container includes ventilation openings that facilitate airflow through the interior of the container.  
   
   
       7 . The produce container of  claim 6  wherein the ventilation openings are formed in the lids.  
   
   
       8 . The produce container of  claim 7  wherein the ventilation openings are formed between the basket body and the lids.  
   
   
       9 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein the basket body includes smooth sided walls.  
   
   
       10 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein the basket body includes ribbed walls.  
   
   
       11 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein each of the pair of lids includes hinges attaching the lids to the body, side portions and lid ends at the lid portion opposite from the hinges; and 
 wherein each of the lids include top latch elements;    wherein the top latch elements of each lid are engagable with each other to secure the lids in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       12 . The produce container of  claim 11  wherein the hinges are formed at outer edges of the container.  
   
   
       13 . The produce container of  claim 11  wherein the top latch elements of each lid comprise elongate latch elements that are engagable with each other to secure the lids in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The produce container of  claim 13  wherein a major axis of the elongate latch element extends in a direction substantially parallel to hinge axes for the lids.  
   
   
       15 . The produce container of  claim 11  wherein the upper portion of the container includes ventilation openings that facilitate airflow through the interior of the container.  
   
   
       16 . The produce container of  claim 15  wherein the ventilation openings are formed in the lids.  
   
   
       17 . The produce container of  claim 16  wherein the ventilation openings are formed between the basket body and the lids.  
   
   
       18 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein each of the pair of lids includes hinges attaching the lids to the body, side portions and lid ends at the lid portion opposite from the hinges; and 
 wherein the pair of lids includes an lower lid and an upper lid arranged so that a portion of the lid end of the upper lid overlaps a portion of the lower lid when the lids are closed.    
   
   
       19 . The produce container of  claim 18  wherein each of the lids include top latch elements configured so that the top latch elements of each lid are engagable with each other to secure the lids in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The produce container of  claim 19  wherein the top latch elements of each lid comprise elongate latch elements that are engagable with each other to secure the lids in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       21 . The produce container of  claim 20  wherein a major axis of the elongate latch element extends in a direction substantially parallel to hinge axes for the lids.  
   
   
       22 . The produce container of  claim 18  wherein the upper lid includes a latch element located in the portion of the upper lid that overlaps the lower lid; 
 wherein the lower lid includes a latch element located in the portion of the lower lid that is overlapped by the upper lid;    the latch elements being configured so that the latch elements of each lid are engagable with each other in the overlapping portion of the lids to secure the lids in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       23 . The produce container of  claim 2  wherein the pair of lids includes a lower lid and an upper lid arranged so that a portion of the lid end of the upper lid overlaps a portion of the lower lid when the lids are closed defining an overlapping lid region; and 
 wherein each of the side portions of the lids in said overlapping lid region include latch elements.    
   
   
       24 . The produce container of  claim 23  wherein a latch element in the side of the upper lid engages a mated latch element in the side of the lower lid at a first latch point; and 
 wherein a latch element in the side of the lower lid engages a mated latch element in the side of the basket body at a second latch point.    
   
   
       25 . The produce container of  claim 24  wherein the first latch point and the second latch point overlap each other.  
   
   
       26 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein each of the pair of lids includes hinges attaching the lids to the body, side portions and lid ends at the lid portion opposite from the hinges; and 
 wherein each of the hinges includes a ventilation slot.    
   
   
       27 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein a bottom portion of the basket body includes a ventilation channel configured to facilitate a first flow of cooling air underneath the container along the length of the channel in a first direction; and 
 a plurality of supports formed at the bottom portion of the basket body to elevate the container forming a space thereunder to facilitate another flow of cooling air underneath the container in a second direction such that the flow in the first direction and the flow in the second direction are transversely oriented with respect to each other.    
   
   
       28 . The produce container of  claim 1  wherein a bottom portion of the basket body includes a first ventilation channel configured to facilitate a first flow of cooling air underneath the container along the length of the channel in a first direction; and 
 wherein a second ventilation channel is formed at the bottom portion of the basket body, the second ventilation channel configured to facilitate a second flow of cooling air underneath the container along the length of the second channel in a second direction thereby facilitating a second flow of cooling air underneath the container in a second direction such that the flow in the first direction and the flow in the second direction are transversely oriented with respect to each other.