US1956819A - Berry box cover - Google Patents

Description

H. C. ATKINS BERRY BOX COVER May 1, 1934.

Original Filed Oct. 16. 1931 Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 16, 1931, Serial No. 569,201 Renewed July 22, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in berry boxes of the type employed for dispensing raspberries, strawberries and the like, and has reference more particularly to a sanitary cover to be 5 used in connection with such boxes.

It'is well known that berries of all kinds are olfered for sale on the sidewalks or outside of the store buildings where they are exposed to contamination from dirt and dust, and it is also cuslfl tomary for prospective buyers to turn the berries out of the box into their hands for the purpose of inspecting the same, which is another source of contamination.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple cover that can be readily applied to berry boxes and which will protect the berries from contamination from the sources pointed out and which will also be so made that the berries can readily be seen through the cover, a portion of which is made from transparent material.

This invention, briefly described, consists of applying to the ordinary berry box a cover of cellophane, which is the trade name applied to a transparent membrane madefrom some composition, and which, in addition to being completely transparent is also waterproof. This transparent cover is held in place by means of a band preferably made from cardboard and of such size that it will telescope with the box. The

upper edge of this cover is bent inwardly and preferably serrated or scalloped so as to give it an ornamental appearance.

After the berries have been put in the box, the transparent covering is put in place, after which the cardboard band is put in place on the outside of this covering for the purpose of holding the parts in assembled relation.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now be described in detail, and for 40 this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a berry box showing my improved sanitary protecting device in place thereon; v

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an interior angle of the band that secures the transparent covering in place;

Fig. 4 is a development of the band and shows the shape of the blank from which this band is made and;

I Fig. 5 is a view showing a corner of a band like that illustrated in Fig. 1 and illustrates how the same can be made extensible,

In the drawing reference numeral 1 indicates a berry box of the usual construction. The box shown is substantially square and is provided with a bottom. These boxes are open at the top. After the berries have been put in place, a transparent member 2, which is made of a material known to the trade as cellophane, is put in place over the berries. This transparent membrane or covering is out of such size that it edges will extend downwardly over the outside of the box and is held in place by means of a band which has been indicated as an entirety by reference numeral 3. This band has been shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and is formed from a blank of cardboard or similar material cut into the shape shown in Fig. 4. From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the band consists of four sections, a, b, c, and d; each of these have a length corresponding to the side of the box against which they are to lie. Score lines 4 extend transversely of the band at points corresponding to the corners of the box. The section indicated by letter d has a tab 5 extending beyond the score line and this is used for overlapping the end of section a and is glued to the latter so as to form an endless band. The so joint between the two ends of the band has been illustrated in Fig. 3. In addition to the transverse score lines, a longitudinally extending score line 6 is provided parallel to the edges of the band and above this score line are narrow strips of material 7 whose edges are serrated as shown in Fig. 4. The band is bent along score lines 4 to form a rectangular structure that is held in place by means of a tab 5. The upper edges 7 are bent inwardly in the manner indicated quite clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. After the blank has been made in the manner described, it is placed over the transparent cover and pushed down onto the sides of the box and serves to hold the transparent cover in place. In order to produce suflicient friction to prevent accidental removal of the band, the several sectionsare provided with tongues 8 that are cut from the material and which are folded upwardly against the inner surface of the band as-shown in Fig. 2. These tongues, in addition 100 to increasing the friction, also serve to space the inner surface of the band away from the outer surface of the transparent covering as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen from the description just given 105 that by means of this simple paper band, it is possible to provide berry boxes with a transparent cover that will be securely held in place and which will afford positive protection against contamination from dirt and dust.

In Fig. 5 I have shown how the bands may be made extensible by corrugating the material transversely as indicated by reference numeral 9. By making the material with shallow corrugations, it is possible to get a spring effect that is useful in case the sizes of the boxes vary. Since the boxes are usually made by machinery, their size is quite uniform, but there may be a difference in size between boxes made on different machines, and therefore this extensible feature is of importance.

It will be seen from the above description that by means of a very simple holding device, it is possible to secure a covering of transparent material in place on berry boxes and the like, and the contents will therefore be protected against contamination. Owing to the construction usually employed in connection with boxes of this type, there are sufficient openings for the air to enter and circulate so that the v fruit contained will not become stale, due to the lack of fresh air.

Sanitary covers of the type described can be manufactured very cheaply and are\ therefore adapted for universal use because the extra cost will not add appreciably to the cost of the goods dispensed.

In addition to holding the transparent cover in place, these devices are also adapted for use for advertising purposes as the dealer can have anything he desires printed on the outer surface, and it is even possible for a dealer to sell advertising space on this holder. Holders of this type, aside from their sanitary properties, will also attract considerable attention to the goods and increase the sales thereof.

The tongues referred to in line 100 on page 1 also serve to permit freer air circulation because the boxes are always heaped full and therefore the transparent cover will not lie flat against the sides of the box unless forced by the band and if this is spaced by the tongues, the transparent cover will remain wrinkled and thus provide passages which permit air circulation to take place between the outside of the box and the transparent cover, and this prevents the berries from sweating during transportation.

The upward inclination of parts '7 prevents the berries from being crushed and also serves to display them to better advantage.

From the above it will be seen that I have produced a simple ventilated and sanitary berry box cover.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a berry box, or the like, a transparent protective cover of larger size than the box and means for removably securing the same in place, said means comprising a band having side portions formed from two angularly related sections separated by score lines, one section projecting inwardly over the top of the box and over the transparent cover, to form a stop when the cover is applied to the box.

2. As an article of manufacture, a device for securing a flexible transparent cover in place on a berry box, said device consisting of an endless band of paper, or the like, having the same number of sides as the box to which it is to be applied, there being score lines at the points corresponding to the corners, one edge of each of the sides of the band having a portion projecting inwardly over the top of the box to form a stop, and friction means cut from the band and attached thereto for holding the same in place on a box.

HARRY C. ATKINS.

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