Abstract:
A container ( 1 ) for meat storage, treatment and distribution has an external rib ( 5 ) to facilitate handling and provide strength. Clips ( 32 ) are provided for attaching a lid ( 6 ) to the container, and a clip removal tool ( 52 ) which allows clips to be removed to open the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to containers for storage, treatment or transportation of perishable food products. The invention has a particular application in the storage, treatment or transportation of meat. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Containers for meat storage, treatment or transportation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,195 and 6,194,012. Securely affixing a lid on to containers of this type is advantageous to ensure that the container is effectively sealed, as a fluid tight seal is important to maintaining a desired atmosphere for the products within the container. 
         [0003]    The integrity of the container seal, or at least the attachment of the lid to the container is important also for hygiene reasons and to prevent contamination of the container contents. 
         [0004]    Containers of this type may hold significant quantities of product which can be very heavy (for example 150 kg), so it is desirable that the container can be easily and securely handled by lifting apparatus. It also follows that the container needs to have significant structural integrity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present mentioned to provide an improved container for the storage, treatment or transportation of perishable food products. 
         [0006]    In the alternative is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus or methods for affixing or detaching a lid to or from such a container. 
         [0007]    As another alternative, it is an object of the present invention to at least provide the public with a useful alternative. 
         [0008]    Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in apparatus for storage, treatment or distribution of meat comprising, 
         [0000]    a container having a base and four side walls dependent therefrom, a mouth at a substantially opposite end of the container from the base, and
 
an external rib dependant from the side walls, the rib being provided remote from the base and the mouth and extending outwardly from the walls and toward the base.
 
         [0009]    Preferably the rib comprises a first flange part that extends from the walls and a second flange part that extends toward the base. 
         [0010]    Preferably the first flange part extends substantially perpendicular to the walls, and the second flange part extends substantially parallel to the walls. 
         [0011]    Preferably the rib is substantially continuous about the walls. 
         [0012]    Preferably the rib includes a plurality of support webs provided between the rib and the walls. 
         [0013]    In a second aspect the invention consists in apparatus for storage, treatment or distribution of meat comprising: 
         [0000]    a container,
 
a lid for the container, and
 
a plurality of clips engageable with the lid and a rim of the container, whereby the clips secure the lid on the container.
 
         [0014]    Preferably the rim is provided adjacent to, or comprises a part of, a mouth of the container. 
         [0015]    Preferably each clip is substantially unable to be removed from the apparatus without use of a tool. 
         [0016]    Preferably a plurality of clips can be removed in a single operation using a tool. 
         [0017]    Preferably each clip comprises a body, one end of the body having two substantially parallel legs dependent therefrom, a projection being provided on one of the legs to engage with the lid, the other end of the body having a projection to engage with the rim. 
         [0018]    In a third aspect the invention consists in a clip removal tool for removal of a lid securing clip which secures a lid to a container, the tool comprising 
         [0000]    a body having a handle and a clip engaging member disposed at an angle to the handle, such that location of the clip engaging member under and end of a clip and location of a base of the clip engaging member on a surface of the container allows the handle to be rotated toward the base of the container to lever the clip free from the container. 
         [0019]    Preferably a plurality of clip engaging members are provided whereby a plurality of clubs may be disengaged from the container simultaneously using the tool. 
         [0020]    In a further aspect the invention broadly comprises any new feature or combination of features disclosed herein. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
         [0021]    One or more embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container, 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a plan view from below of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an end elevation of the container of the preceding Figures, 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the container of the preceding Figures, 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation in cross-section of the container of the preceding Figures, 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an expanded view of detail A of  FIG. 5 , 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a lid of the container of the preceding Figures, 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section through the lid as affixed to a mouth or rim of the container of the preceding Figures taken through line B-B of  FIG. 7 , and 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a clip disengagement tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a container for storage, treatment or transportation of a perishable product such as meat for example is shown, generally referenced  1 . The container includes a base  2  and at least one sidewall, but preferably from side walls  4 . The side walls preferably taper slightly outwardly from the base toward a mouth of the container (which is obscured in this view by the lid  6 ) to allow the container to the stacked within a like container. 
         [0032]    A rib  5  is provided externally about the walls  4 . As can be seen, the rib  5  is provided remote from both the base and the mouth of the container, and in a preferred embodiment is provided substantially midway between the base and the mouth of the container as shown in  FIG. 1 . The rib  5  may contain a number of apertures  7  to facilitate air movement about the container, allow rapid drainage of any liquid about the container (for example when the container is washed or sterilised), and reduce material usage and weight. We have found that Acetal has desirable properties for manufacture of the container, being sufficiently strong and robust and also preventing any movement of gases through the container walls. This material is also food safe. 
         [0033]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the base of the container can be seen, having wheels  8  which allow the container to be transported across a surface such as a production facility or through an aisle of a retail store. 
         [0034]    The container is shown in end elevation in  FIG. 3  and in side elevation in  FIG. 4 , both views showing the rib  5 . In these Figures recesses  10  in the periphery of the lid  6  are also clearly visible. 
         [0035]    Turning to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the rib  5  can be viewed in greater detail. As can be seen, the rib comprises a generally outwardly projecting flange portion  12  and a downwardly projecting flange portion  14 . Although these portions of shown as being generally planar in the drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the rib could be substantially curved. Flange portion  12  projects roughly perpendicularly outwards from the walls  4 , and flange portion  12  is directed in a generally parallel direction to the walls  4 . The flange  5  may be provided in a variety of different ways, but in the preferred embodiment of flange is constructed as a unitary item which is affixed to the container walls after the container walls have been formed. A shoulder  16  is preferably provided in the walls  4  and a corresponding shoulder  18  is provided on the flange. The flange can then be moved upwardly from the base of the container into abutment as shown in  FIG. 6  and may be glued or welded to affix it in place. 
         [0036]    The rib  5  provides a number of practical advantages. Firstly, it provides additional strength to the overall container structure. It also limits the extent to which one container may be nested into another container. Therefore, the containers may be easily nested and de-nested. The rib provides a space between containers when containers are provided adjacent to each other. In practice this has the advantage that air may flow between the walls of adjacent containers which is beneficial when the contents of the containers needs to be kept at a required temperature, for example when placed in a cool store or chiller. Also, the rib defines a cavity  20  within which lifting or manoeuvring apparatus (in particular automated lifting or manoeuvring apparatus) may be disposed to engage the container with a lifting or transport mechanism to thereby buy facilitate safe transportation, lifting or other movement of the container. 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 7  the lid  6  is shown in plan view. As can be seen, the lid has a number of depressions  22  which are adapted to support wheels  8  of another container and thereby facilitate stacking of containers one above the other. 
         [0038]    A valve  24  is also shown in  FIG. 7 . This may be used to introduce a desired atmosphere into the container, for example flush the interior of the container with a gas or mixture of gases such as carbon dioxide. 
         [0039]    Turning to  FIG. 8 , a clipping mechanism is shown in cross-section. A peripheral portion of the lid  6  has a groove or recess  30 . A clip  32  has a body  34  which has two legs  36  and  38  dependent from one end thereof. The other end of body  34  has a projection  40 . Leg  38  has a projection  42  which extends into recess  30 . Therefore, the legs  36  and  38  secure the clip to the lid  6 . A rim  44  provided about the mouth  46  of the container projects so as to engage with projection  40  of the clip, preventing the clip from being moved in an upward direction to remove the lid  6  from the container. 
         [0040]    As can be seen from the drawings, a number of clips  34  are provided. To use the clips to secure the lid to the container, the user simply engages the clips with the lid by pressing the clips onto the lid so that the legs  36  and  38  slide over the appropriate peripheral section of the lid to allow projection  42  to engage with recess  30 . Then, the lid is placed over the container, causing projection  40  to slide over the projecting rim  44 . 
         [0041]    The projection  40  is located very close to the rim of the container, making it very difficult for user to insert a finger for example into the space indicated by arrow  48  to pries the clip away from the container. However, an appropriate tool may be used to disengage the clip. Such a tool is shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 9 . Referring to that Figure, the tool has a handle  50 , dependent from which are a series of curved or angled projections  52 . In practice, the tips of the projections  52  may be placed within the space indicated by arrow  48  in  FIG. 8 , and the tool may be then rotated on a downward direction so that regions  54  act as a fulcrum which engages with the rim of the container, thereby allowing the user to pries the clips away from the rim of the container which in turn allows the lid to be removed. 
         [0042]    Those skilled in the art to which the invention relates will see that a plurality of tools such as those shown in  FIG. 9  may be arranged, one about each side of the container, in an automated fashion so that the clips can be pried away simultaneously, so that the lid can be removed in one single operation. 
         [0043]    The lid clipping mechanism described above allows the container to be sealed in a fluid tight manner, and also provides increased structural rigidity or integrity to the container.