Container for the packaging of products, in particular for fruit and vegetable products

Abstract

A container ( 10 ) for the packaging of products, more specifically for fruit and vegetable products, includes a container body ( 12 ) and a lid ( 32 ) for closing the upper opening of the container body ( 12 ), which are generally asymmetrical in shape. The container also includes a plurality of side ventilation openings made in the sides of the lid ( 12 ). The side ventilation openings ( 65 ), that are provided on one side ( 50 ) of the lid, are not aligned with the openings provided on the opposite side ( 48 ) of the same lid.

1 . A container ( 10 ) for packaging products, in particular for fruit or vegetables, the container comprising a container body  12 ) and a lid( 32 ) for covering the container ( 12 ); characterised in that it comprises a plurality of side ventilation openings ( 65 ) made in the lid ( 32 ) along the lateral areas thereof; and in that the ventilation openings ( 65 ) that are provided on one side ( 50 ) of the lid are not aligned with the ventilation openings ( 65 ) that are provided on the opposite side ( 48 ) of the lid.  
   
   
       2 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it has an asymmetrical shape when viewed from above.  
   
   
       3 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the container body ( 12 ) comprises a bottom wall ( 14 ) and a plurality of side containment walls ( 16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ).  
   
   
       4 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the container body ( 12 ) comprises first and second longitudinal side walls ( 16 ,  18 ) and third and fourth transversal walls ( 20 ,  22 ).  
   
   
       5 . The container according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the first and second longitudinal walls ( 16 ,  18 ) make up the long walls of the container body ( 12 ) and the third and fourth transversal walls make up the short walls ( 20 ,  22 ) of the container body.  
   
   
       6 . The container according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the container body ( 12 ) comprises at least one arc-shaped connecting wall between adjacent side walls, having a wide curvature radius (Ra).  
   
   
       7 . The container according to  claim 3 , characterised in that it comprises first and second arc-shaped connecting walls ( 24 ,  26 ) extending between the facing longitudinal ends of the first longitudinal wall ( 16 ) and corresponding short side walls ( 22 ,  24 ), and third and fourth arc-shaped connecting walls ( 28 ,  30 ) extending between the facing longitudinal ends of the second long wall ( 18 ) and the corresponding transversal short walls ( 22 ,  24 ).  
   
   
       8 . The container according to  claim 7 , characterised in that each arc-shaped side wall ( 24 ,  26 ) connecting the first longitudinal wall ( 16 ) to the corresponding transversal wall ( 20  or  22 ) has a curvature radius (Ra), that is greater than the curvature radius (Rs) of the arc-shaped walls ( 28 ,  30 ) connecting the second longitudinal wall ( 18 ) to the corresponding transversal wall ( 20  or  22 ).  
   
   
       9 . The container according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the container body ( 12 ) comprises at least one arc-shaped connecting wall between adjacent side walls, that has a curvature radius (Ra) that is variable between a minimum and a maximum, preferably equal to 42.5 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lid for closing the upper opening of the container comprises an upper wall ( 34 ), from which one or more peripheral side walls ( 47 ) extend downwardly, providing a vertical connection to the underlying parts of the lid ( 32 ).  
   
   
       11 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the one or more peripheral side walls ( 47 ) of the lid are directly connected to a lower peripheral lip ( 36 ) of the lid.  
   
   
       12 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the peripheral side walls ( 47 ) of the lid comprise first and second longitudinal connecting walls ( 48  and  50 ) and, at right angles thereto, third and fourth transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ).  
   
   
       13 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the peripheral side walls ( 47 ) of the lid comprise intermediate connecting walls ( 56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ), that extend along a curve lying in a horizontal plane, having a dome or vault shape, at the corner portions of the lid.  
   
   
       14 . The container according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the intermediate connecting walls comprise first and second connecting walls ( 56 ,  58 ), that extend from the facing longitudinal ends of the first longitudinal connecting wall ( 48 ) towards the transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ), and third and fourth connecting walls ( 60 ,  62 ), that extend from the facing longitudinal ends of the other longitudinal connecting wall ( 50 ) towards the transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ).  
   
   
       15 .  Claim 10 , characterised in that the intermediate connecting walls ( 52 ,  54  and  60 ,  62 ) between the longitudinal and transversal connecting walls of the lid ( 48 ,  50  and  52 ,  54 ), have a different curvature radius in the horizontal plane.  
   
   
       16 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that, in the lid, the intermediate connecting walls ( 56 ,  58 ) between the first longitudinal connecting wall ( 48 ) and the transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ) have a wide curvature radius (Ra).  
   
   
       17 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that, in the lid, the intermediate connecting walls ( 56 ,  58 ) of the first longitudinal connecting wall ( 48 ) with the transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ) have a curvature radius (Rs).  
   
   
       18 . The container according to  claim 17 , characterised in that the intermediate walls ( 56 ,  58 ) connecting the first longitudinal connecting wall ( 48 ) to the transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ) have a wide curvature radius (Ra) that is greater than the curvature radius (Rs) of the walls ( 60 ,  62 ) connecting the first longitudinal connecting wall ( 50 ), to the transversal connecting walls ( 52 ,  54 ).  
   
   
       19 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the lid ( 32 ) comprises at least one arc-shaped connecting wall between adjacent main connecting walls, that has a wide curvature radius (Ra) that is variable between a minimum and a maximum, preferably equal to 42.5 mm.  
   
   
       20 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the connecting walls of the peripheral connecting surface ( 47 ) of the lid ( 32 ) have a curvature radius (Re), in a corresponding vertical plane, that is variable between a minimum and a maximum, preferably equal to 10 mm.  
   
   
       21 . The container according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the lid ( 32 ) comprises a substantially horizontal upper wall ( 34 ).  
   
   
       22 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the side ventilation openings ( 65 ) provided on one side of the container differ in number from the ventilation openings ( 65 ) provided on the opposite side.  
   
   
       23 . The container according to  claim 22 , characterised in that there are fewer side ventilation openings ( 65 ) on the front side ( 48 ) than there are ventilation openings ( 65 ) on the rear facing side ( 50 ) of the container.  
   
   
       24 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lid ( 32 ) comprises a peripheral lip ( 36 ).  
   
   
       25 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the container body ( 12 ) comprises a peripheral lip ( 38 ) that extends from the upper edge of the side walls ( 16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ) of the container body.  
   
   
       26 . The container according to  claim 24 , characterised in that each of the first and second coupling lips ( 36  and  38 ) of the lid and of the container, respectively, has a corresponding first longitudinal side portion ( 36   a,    38   a ), of the respective transversal side portions ( 36   c,    38   c  and  36   d,    38   d ), and of the respective corner portions ( 36   e,    38   e,    36   f,    38   f ) between the first longitudinal portions ( 36   a,    38   a ) and the side transversal portions ( 36   c,    38   c  and  36   d,    38   d ).  
   
   
       27 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that corresponding retaining means are provided for closing the lid ( 32 ) against the container body ( 12 ) at longitudinally facing corner portions ( 36   e,    38   e,    36   f,    38   f ) between the first longitudinal portion ( 36   a,    38   a ) and the transversal portions ( 36   c,    38   c  and  36   d,    38   d ) of the corresponding lip.  
   
   
       28 . The container according to  claim 26 , characterised in that the corner portions ( 36   e,    38   e,    36   f,    38   f ), between the first longitudinal portion ( 36   a,    38   a ) and the transversal portions ( 36   c,    38   c  and  36   d,    38   d ), are in the form of wide portions which are generally triangular in shape.  
   
   
       29 . The container according to  claim 27 , characterised in that the retaining and closing means of the lid comprise at least one plug element ( 40 ,  42 ) and a matching socket and retaining element ( 44 ,  46 ) defining an internal surface which is suitable for grasping and holding the external surface of the plug element ( 40 ,  42 ).  
   
   
       30 . The container according to  claim 29 , characterised in that the protruding element ( 40 ,  42 ) has a peripheral external area generally ellipsoidal in shape; 
 and in that the socket and retaining element ( 44 ,  46 ) has a peripheral external area generally ellipsoidal in shape, that is suitable for exerting a retaining action to couple with the peripheral surface of the protruding element ( 40 ,  42 ).    
   
   
       31 . The container according to  claim 26 , characterised in that it comprises a corner portion delimited by first and second free edges ( 136 ′ and  136 ″) at right angles to each other, by a curved connecting segment of the perpendicular edges ( 36 ′), and by an internal curved edge having a wide curvature ( 36 ″) defined by the corresponding side portions of the respective wall of the lid or by the corresponding upper edge of the container.  
   
   
       32 . The container according to  claim 27 , characterised in that the ratio between the length of the retaining means and the distance from the area thereof that faces the interior of the container to the corresponding internal edge of the corner portions is between 1.4 and 2.5 and is preferably equal to 2.  
   
   
       33 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that mutual retaining means ( 72 ) are provided on the lid and on the container on the longitudinal side opposite the hinged side.  
   
   
       34 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises, at least on at least one transversal side of the container, mutual engagement means ( 172 ,  174 ) on the lid and on the container.  
   
   
       35 . The container according to  claim 33 , characterised in that the retaining means ( 72 ,  74 ,  172 ,  174 ) have engagement surfaces ( 72 ′,  72 ″,  74 ′,  74 ″) that are substantially at right angles to each other.  
   
   
       36 . The container according to  claim 33 , characterised in that the engagement means ( 72 ) extending from the protruding peripheral lip of the first longitudinal side ( 48 ) of the lid extend longitudinally and end at the opposite ends at which there extend corresponding side ventilation openings ( 65 ).  
   
   
       37 . The container according to  claim 33 , characterised in that the engagement means ( 72 ) extending from the protruding peripheral lip of the first longitudinal side ( 48 ) of the lid extend longitudinally and end at the opposite ends at which there extend stiffening ribs ( 64 ,  64 ) that are positioned at an internal area of the engagement portions ( 72 ) on the lid.  
   
   
       38 . The container according to  claim 33 , characterised in that the engagement means ( 72 ) extending from the protruding peripheral lip from the first longitudinal side ( 48 ) of the lid extend longitudinally and end at the opposite ends at which there extend stiffening ribs ( 64 ,  64 ) that are positioned beyond the corresponding longitudinal end of the engagement portion on the lid.  
   
   
       39 . The container according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the connecting corner portions ( 56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ) between the short and long connecting surfaces of the lid are delimited substantially by ribs ( 64  and  64 ) that extend in planes at right angles to each other.  
   
   
       40 . The container according to  claim 13 , characterised in that, at the ends of the connecting corner portions ( 56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ) between the short and long vertical connecting surfaces of the lid, there extend matching openings ( 65 ) that are at right angles to each other.  
   
   
       41 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the container ( 10 ) has a generally quadrangular shape, and more specifically, a generally rectangular shape.  
   
   
       42 . A lid ( 32 ) for closing a container for the packaging of products, more specifically for fruit and vegetable products, characterised in that the lid ( 32 ) is made in accordance with  claim 1 .  
   
   
       43 . A body ( 12 ) for a container for the packaging of products, more specifically for fruit and vegetable products, characterised in that the container body is provided in accordance with  claim 1.