Improvements in Chip-made Fruit Punnets.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar.. 1891
Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar. 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chip-made Fruit Punnets.
I, GEORGE LEEDILAM, of Broom Road, Rotherham, in the County of York,
Market Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This improvement in Chip made Fruit Punnets has for its chief object, to enable
the said pinnets when filled with fruit, to be packed in considerable numbers and
in layers one over the other in ordinary or in special cases for transport by rail or
otherwise without danger of crushing the fruit.
The improved punnet is shown in Fig. 1 of the annexed sheet of drawings, and
also how they may be packed in a case, in Fig. 2.
Fruit baskets and pinnets have hitherto been made larger at the top than at the
bottom, chiefly no doubt for the purpose of nesting or packing one inside another
to occupy as little room as possible when they are empty, and it will at once be
seen that such receptacles cannot be packed one directly above another as the base
of the upper one would enter the top of the lower one and crush the fruit con-
tained therein.
I accomplish the object named above, by constructing the Punnet with a base A
of larger measurement or area than the top B as shown in Fig. 1, and I do this by
contracting or closing in the top of the body chips C and C₁ and securing them in
that position by the encircling band of the same material D fastened round the top
edges. By this simple contrivance, which the material of which the Punnet is
made, enables me to carry out without increasing the cost, the base will in all cases
stand upon the top edges, and cover the contracted opening of the punnet, and
therefore cannot press upon the fruit, if it is packed so as to be under the level of
the top edge. Layers of fruit packed punnets may be therefore packed as shown
in Fig 2, in any ordinary packing case F, a very great advantage in the case of some
delicate fruits such as rasps that cannot otherwise be sent in cases of more than one
layer deep.
I do not bind myself to any particular amount of enlargement of the base over
the top part, as a very small difference in the size will answer the purpose, but for
some fruits it may be advisable to contract the top or mouth of the punnet
considerably.
Handles such as indicated at E may be either used with my improved Punnets,
or omitted as preferred, and the punnets may be square, oblong, or of other shape,
but preferably of square form with rounded corners.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A Chip made Fruit Punnet of square or other suitable form having a contracted
opening, that is to say, made tapering from the bottom to the top edges or there-
abouts for the purpose specified, and substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in Fig. 1.
The L 3
ated the sch
1891
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.