Optimized system, box and bag for packing, shipping, storing and displaying produce

Abstract

Produce boxes and bags for shipping produce, e.g., bananas, utilize ventilation structures that allow for ventilation therethrough. A method of assembling produce boxes provides for cutouts that serve as ventilation structures in the boxes. When the produce boxes are stacked such as on a shipping pallet, the ventilation structures allow for ventilation of through the stacked boxes. Produce may be packed in a bag, which is closed with a rip cord and inserted into a produce box. The rip cord may be accessed when the box is in a stack such as on a shipping pallet, such that the rip cord may be pulled thereby opening the bag, without removing the box from the stack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A box for storing produce comprising:
 a base comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the front, rear, and opposing side panels define a top opening, wherein the base comprises at least one cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels adjacent to the top opening, wherein the at least one cutout has a substantially rectangular shape and wherein the cutout extends along about 30% to about 55% of a length of the top edge of the select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels; and   a lid comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the front, rear, and opposing side panels define a top opening, wherein the lid comprises at least one cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels adjacent to the top opening;   wherein the lid is positionable about the base such that the at least one cutout of the lid is aligned with the at least one cutout of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a flap extending from a bottom edge each of the front, rear, and opposing side panels, wherein the flaps form a bottom surface of the box. 
     
     
         3 . The box of  claim 2 , wherein the flaps define a bottom opening through the bottom surface of the box. 
     
     
         4 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises at least one aperture through a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels. 
     
     
         5 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises at least one handhold through a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels. 
     
     
         6 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a tab extending from each end of a top edge of each of the front, rear, and opposing side panels, wherein the tabs form a top surface of the box. 
     
     
         7 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a flap extending from a bottom edge each of the front, rear, and opposing side panels, wherein the flaps form a top surface of the box. 
     
     
         8 . The box of  claim 7 , wherein the lid comprises at least one cutout extending inwardly from an edge of a select one or more of the flaps. 
     
     
         9 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises at least one aperture through a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels. 
     
     
         10 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutout extends along about 35% of the length of the top edge of the select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels. 
     
     
         11 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutout extends along about 50% of the length of the top edge of the select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels. 
     
     
         12 . The box of  claim 1 , comprising a flexible bag disposed inside the box, wherein the flexible bag comprises a neck at a top portion of the flexible bag, wherein the flexible bag comprises a top opening above the neck. 
     
     
         13 . The box of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible bag comprises a perforation line disposed below the neck of the bag. 
     
     
         14 . The box of  claim 13 , further comprising a ripcord positionable about the neck such that the ripcord is configured to secure the neck in a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein the ripcord is configured to open the bag along the perforation line when the ripcord is pulled. 
     
     
         16 . The box of  claim 14 , wherein an end of the ripcord is disposed through an aperture of the box. 
     
     
         17 . A box for storing produce comprising:
 a base comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the front, rear, and opposing side panels, wherein the base comprises at least one opening on a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels;   a lid comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the front, rear, and opposing side panels, wherein the lid comprises at least one opening on a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels, wherein the lid is positionable on the base such that the at least one opening of the lid is aligned with the at least one opening of the base;   a bag disposed within the base, wherein the bag comprises a neck at a top portion of the bag, wherein the bag comprises a top opening above the neck, wherein the bag comprises a perforation line disposed below the neck of the bag; and   a ripcord positionable about the neck of the bag such that the ripcord is configured to secure the neck in a closed position, wherein the ripcord is configured to open the bag along the perforation line when the ripcord is pulled, wherein an end of the ripcord is disposed through the at least one opening of the base and the lid.   
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a box for storing produce, wherein the box comprises a base comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the front, rear, and opposing side panels define a top opening, wherein the base comprises at least one cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels adjacent to the top opening, and a lid comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the front, rear, and opposing side panels define a top opening, wherein the lid comprises at least one cutout extending inwardly from a top edge of a select one or more of the front, rear, and opposing side panels adjacent to the top opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 assembling the box by positioning the lid on the base such that the at least one cutout of the lid is aligned with the at least one cutout of the base; and   stacking the assembled box on top of another assembled box such that the cutouts of the lid and the base are still exposed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 positioning a bag within the box, wherein the bag comprises a neck at a top portion of the bag, wherein the bag comprises a top opening above the neck, 
 wherein the bag comprises a perforation line disposed below the neck of the bag; 
 tying a ripcord about the neck of the bag to secure the neck in a closed position; and 
 threading an end of the ripcord through the exposed cutouts of the box. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising pulling the end of the ripcord to tear the bag open about the perforation line.