stackable carton with ventilation channels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carton including a base, and walls extending from the edges of the base, the carton characterised in that at least one wall is configured to provide a fluid conduit extending from the base of the wall to the top of the wall.

1 . A paper material carton including:
 a quadrilateral base; and   four side walls extending out from the edges of the base, wherein   at least one side wall is configured to solely provide a fluid conduit extending from the base of the side wall to the top of the side wall(s) wherein the walls define a quadrilateral interior for the carton which has no internally projecting surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . A paper material carton including:
 a quadrilateral base; and   four side walls extending out from the edges of the base, wherein   at least one side wall is configured to provide a fluid conduit extending from the base of the side wall to the top of the side wall(s) wherein the fluid conduit is formed by removing a rectangular strip from the carton blank prior to assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The paper material carton of  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit is a ventilation channel. 
     
     
         4 . The paper material carton of  claim 3  wherein, when cartons are stacked one on top of another the entrance to the channel at the base of the side wall of a first carton corresponds at least approximately to the exit of the channel at the top of the side wall of a second carton positioned directly underneath the first carton. 
     
     
         5 . The paper material carton of  claim 4  wherein the path between exit and entrance of the channels is substantially straight. 
     
     
         6 . The paper material carton of  claim 1  further comprising projections which extend sideways from the carton. 
     
     
         7 . The paper material carton of  claim 4  wherein the channels are symmetrically positioned on the carton. 
     
     
         8 . The paper material carton of  claim 7  wherein the channels and projections are positioned such that the projections and/or channels on each carton oppose each other, thereby effectively creating a ventilation channel having double the width of that provided by a single carton abutting a side panel without protrusions or channels. 
     
     
         9 . The paper material carton of  claim 1  further comprising an interlocking system. 
     
     
         10 . The paper material carton of  claim 1  further comprising a gas permeable laminate positioned over at least one of the fluid conduits provided by the cartons. 
     
     
         11 . The paper material carton of  claim 1  further comprising apertures with a gas permeable laminate covering some of the apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The paper material carton of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a base; and 
 walls extending upwards from the edges of the base, wherein 
 the carton includes protrusions depending downwards from the base and recesses positioned on an upper part of the carton wherein the recesses are designed to cooperate with the protrusions. 
 
     
     
         13 . The paper material carton of  claim 5  further comprising protrusions extending upwards which can engage with recesses in the base of similar cartons stacked on top. 
     
     
         14 . The paper material carton of  claim 12  wherein the protrusions include a recess that can receive a portion of a lid section of the carton in order to secure the lid section with respect to the protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The paper material of  claim 1  further comprising at least one upwardly extending lug having at least one recess configured such that a portion of a lid of the carton can be secured therein. 
     
     
         16 . A paper material carton which includes:
 a quadrilateral base; and   four side walls extending out from the edges of the base, wherein   at least one side wall is configured to provide a fluid conduit extending from the base of the side wall to the top of the side wall(s) wherein the walls define a quadrilateral interior for the carton which has no internally projecting surfaces wherein the at least two opposed side walls have at least one lug upwardly extending from the carton and wherein the carton also includes a complimentary recess on the said two opposed side walls which can receive a lug from a similar carton placed thereunder.   
     
     
         17 . The paper material carton of  claim 16  wherein the upwardly extending lugs are on the end walls of the carton as are the complimentary recesses which receive said lugs. 
     
     
         18 . The stack of cartons of  claim 16  wherein the stack is located on a pallet. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 - 28 . (canceled)