Tomato carton

Claim 2

A carton for packaging produce or other articles, said carton comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally right-angled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and proJecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, the opposite ends of said panel sections each including a generally right-angled end flange extending along substantially the full length of the corresponding panel section end edge and of a width at least generally equal to the width of the corresponding side flange, said end flanges also projecting outwardly from said corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing said panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections opposing each other and said end flanges at each end of said panel disposed in substantially coplanar relation, whereby each pair of end flanges at an end of said panel define an end wall for said carton and said panel sections, exclusive of said side and end flanges define a double thickness upstanding partition extending centrally lengthwise along said carton between said end walls and said side flanges define bottom sections of said carton on opposite sides of said partition extending between said end walls, said bottom sections being substantially coplanar.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said partition includes at least one upstanding transverse slot formed therein opening upwardly through the upper marginal edge of said partition, the lower end of said slot terminating above said bottom sections.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 including a closed flexible band having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles on said side sections of said bottom between said end panels and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sides of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 including a downwardly opening elongated and inverted generally channel shaped cover downwardly telescoped over said carton with the end walls thereof received between corresponding end portions of the opposite sides of said cover and the opposite ends of the bight portion of said cover overlying the upper marginal edge portions of said end walls.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 wherein said panel comprises a cardboard panel.

Claim 7

In combination, an article support comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally right-angled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and projecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing the panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections opposing each other, whereby said panel sections, exclusive of said side flanges define a double thickness upstanding partition extending centrally lengthwise along said support and said side flanges define bottom sections of said support on opposite sides of said partition, said bottom sections being substantially coplanar, said partition including at least one upstanding transverse slot formed therein opening upwardly through the upper marginal edge of said partition, the lower end of said slot terminating above said bottom sections, a closed flexible band having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles in position on said bottom sections on opposite sides of said partition and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sideS of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line.

Claim 8

In combination, an article support comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally right-angled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and projecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing the panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections opposing each other, whereby said panel sections, exclusive of said side flanges define a double thickness upstanding partition extending centrally lengthwise along said support and said side flanges define bottom sections of said support on opposite sides of said partition, said bottom sections being substantially coplanar, said partition including at least one upstanding transverse slot formed therein opening upwardly through the upper marginal edge of said partition, the lower end of said slot terminating above said bottom sections, a closed flexible band having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles in position on said bottom sections on opposite sides of said partition and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sideS of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line.