Container

Abstract

A blank ( 1 ) of stiff yet foldable sheet material erectable into a container base ( 3 ), comprising a rectangular bottom panel ( 10 ), a pair of side wall panel means foldably connected to sides of the bottom panel and provided with end flaps ( 19,20; 21,22 ), a pair of end wall panel means each comprising a first end wall panel ( 27,28 ) foldably connected to an associated end of the bottom wall panel ( 1 ) so as to be foldable upwardly therefrom and a second end wall panel ( 31,32 ) foldably connected to the first end wall panel, and foldable gusset means ( 43-46 ) at each corner of the bottom panel connecting opposite ends of each side wall panel means to opposite ones of said end wall panel means. In the erected container base the two end flaps ( 19,20; 21,22 ) are folded against the associated first end wall panel ( 27,28 ) and the second end wall panel ( 31,32 ) of each end wall panel means is folded over the underlying end flaps.

1 . a blank made of stiff yet foldable sheet material erectable into: a container base, comprising: 
 a rectangular bottom panel;    a pair of side wall panels each comprising: 
 a first side wall panel foldably connected to an associated side of the bottom wall panel so as to be foldable upwardly therefrom to provide one layer of a side wall;  
 a second side wall panel foldably connected to the first side wall panel so as to be foldable over against the latter to provide a second layer of the side wall; and  
 end flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of the second side wall panel;  
   a pair of end wall panels means each comprising: 
 a first end wall panel foldably connected to an associated end of the bottom wall panel so as to be foldable upwardly therefrom to provide one layer of an end wall; and  
 a second end wall panel foldably connected to the first end wall panel; and  
 foldable gussets at each corner of the bottom panel connecting opposite ends of each side wall panel to opposite ones of said end wall panel;  
   whereby in the erected container base the two end flaps associated with each end of the blank are folded against the associated first end wall panel to provide a second layer of the end wall and the second end wall panel of each end wall panel is folded over, for connection to, the underlying end flaps.    
     
     
         2 . A blank according to  claim 1 , wherein each end flap is shaped so as to overlap the other end flap of the pair when the blank is erected into a container base.  
     
     
         3 . A blank according to  claim 1  comprising an adhesive element for adhering the second end wall panels to the underlying end flaps.  
     
     
         4 . A blank according to  claim 3 , wherein the adhesive element comprises a double-sided adhesive strip one side of which is adhered to the blank and the other side of which has a removable non-adhesive covering thereon.  
     
     
         5 . A blank according to  claim 3  wherein the adhesive element is provided on the said second end wall panels.  
     
     
         6 . A blank according to  claim 1  wherein the sheet material comprises corrugated material.  
     
     
         7 . A blank according to  claim 6 , wherein said corrugated material comprises corrugated fibreboard or cardboard.  
     
     
         8 . A blank according to  claim 1  wherein the sheet material is provided on both sides with a water resistant coating or a laminated finish or is impregnated with water-repellent material.  
     
     
         9 . A blank according to  claim 1  comprising at least one hole arranged to provide drainage in the erected base.  
     
     
         10 . A blank according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one hole comprises a hole in the stiff yet foldable sheet material and at least one fluid resistant film applied over a periphery of the hole in the stiff yet foldable sheet material such as to allow fluid to flow through the hole without exposing said periphery to the fluid.  
     
     
         11 . A blank according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hole has a first layer of fluid resistant film applied to a first side of the blank and a second layer of fluid resistant film applied to a second side of the blank, the first and second layers of film having mutually coincident apertures which allow fluid to flow through the hole.  
     
     
         12 . A according to  claim 1  comprising a lid blank erectable into a lid sized to fit the container base, the second end wall panel of each end wall panel being arranged to be spaced from the first end wall panel in the erected base so as to engage an end panel of the lid when the latter is fitted to the erected base to keep the lid so fitted.  
     
     
         13 . A blanks according to  claim 12 , wherein the second end wall panel of the blank erectable into the base, and said end panel of the lid blank, are sized to pass fully past one another on fitting the erected lid to the erected base, said end panel of the lid blank then engaging below a bottom edge of said second end wall panel.  
     
     
         14 . An open-topped container erected from a blank according to  claim 1  comprising a rectangular bottom, double thickness side walls extending upwardly from said bottom, double thickness end walls extending upwardly from said bottom panel, a gusset at each corner of the container connecting opposite ends of each side wall to opposite ones of said end walls, end flaps connected to opposite ends of each side wall and folded with the gusset against the end walls, and a connector connecting the end flaps to the end walls.  
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 14  having a lid.  
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 15 , wherein said lid comprises a rectangular top panel, lid side walls extending downwardly from said top panel, double thickness lid end walls extending downwardly from said top panel, a lid gusset at each corner of the lid connecting opposite ends of each lid side wall to opposite ones of said lid end walls, lid end flaps connected to opposite ends of each lid side wall and folded with the lid gusset against the lid end walls, and a lid connector connecting the end flaps to the end walls.  
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the second end wall panel of each end wall panel of the base is spaced from the first end wall panel so as to engage a lid end panel forming part of the lid end wall when the latter is fitted to the base to keep the lid so fitted.  
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein the second end wall panel of the base, and said lid end panel are sized to pass fully past one another on fitting the lid to the base, said end panel of the lid blank then engaging below a bottom edge of said second end wall panel of the base.  
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 15  wherein said lid is adhesively joined to at least one of said side walls and said end walls.  
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 15  wherein said lid has a reflective foil covering for reflecting external heat and light radiation.  
     
     
         21 . A container according to  claim 14  comprising an absorbent member for positioning inside the base on top of the bottom panel.  
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 21 , in which the absorbent member has the same dimensions as the bottom panel of the container.  
     
     
         23 . A container according to  claim 21  in which the absorbent member has a liquid-impervious top layer and an absorbent bottom layer.  
     
     
         24 . A container according to  claim 21  in which the absorbent member includes a bactericide.  
     
     
         25 . A method of packaging products, comprising erecting a container base from a blank according to  claim 1  loading the container base with the products to be packaged, and closing the container base with a top formed from a further blank.  
     
     
         26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . A blank of stiff but foldable sheet material for forming a container, comprising a hole in the stiff yet foldable sheet material and at least one fluid resistant film applied over a periphery of the hole in the stiff yet foldable sheet material such as to allow fluid to flow through the hole without exposing said periphery to the fluid.  
     
     
         28 . A blank according to  claim 27 , wherein the at least one hole has a first layer of fluid resistant film applied to a first side of the blank and a second layer of fluid resistant film applied to a second side of the blank, the first and second layers of film having mutually coincident apertures which allow fluid to flow through the hole.