Container and closure

• US 4,007,828 A
• Filed: 12/23/1974
• Issued: 02/15/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward Mayled
• Original Assignee: Edward Mayled
• Inventors: Mayled, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixson, Jr., William T.
• Application Number:
  US05/536,923
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 206/1.5, 229/9, 229/19, 220/8
• US Class Current: 206/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/12 of drawer-and-shell type

Abstract

A package having an improved means for releasably retaining the components of the package in assembly. Known similar package constructions require the use of additional material and necessitate the performance of additional manufacturing operations in order to provide closure flaps situated at opposite ends of a sleeve which is adapted to support a removable tray therein. The package according to the subject invention is of relatively simple construction, as well as being more economical than known similar packages. According to the subject invention, the improved package comprises a container and an enclosure having at least one open end. The container is adapted to be inserted into or removed from the enclosure through at least one open end thereof. The container and the enclosure are of substantially equal dimensions and have cooperating means on at least one pair of adjacent walls, the cooperating means adapted to provide a positive connection between the container and the enclosure whereby the container is releasably retained within the enclosure until the cooperating means are disengaged by a user.

Claims

1. An improved package comprising a container and an enclosure having at least one open end;

the container adapted to be inserted into the enclosure through the at least one open end thereof;

the container and the enclosure being of substantially equal dimensions and having cooperating means on at least one pair of adjacent walls, the cooperating means comprises projection means situated on at least one wall of the container and retaining means located in at least one adjacent wall of the enclosure, the projection means including a continuous surface portion extending outwardly therefrom, the retaining means comprising an opening situated in at least one side wall of the enclosure, the continuous surface portion of the projection means adapted to releasably engage edges of one of the at least one opening forming the retaining means, whereby engagement between the continuous surface portion and the edges of one of the at least one opening provide a positive connection between the projection means and the retaining means whereby depression of the projection means out of engagement with the retaining means must be effected in order to disengage the cooperating means.

2. An improved package according to claim 1, wherein the continuous surface portion comprises two substantially vertical side surfaces and a horizontal top surface, the at least one opening forming the retaining means having substantially vertical edges and a horizontal top edge so adapted as to permit passage of the projection means therethrough, the substantially vertical side surfaces of the continuous surface portion adapted to engage the substantially vertical edges of the opening in order to provide a positive connection between the container and the enclosure, thereby preventing sliding movement of the container relative to the enclosure during engagement of the projection means and retaining means.

3. An improved package according to claim 2, wherein the substantially vertical edges of the at least one opening extend from the top edge thereof to a longitudinal edge of the at least one adjacent side wall of the enclosure, each longitudinal edge defining a line of separation between the at least one side wall of the enclosure and a bottom wall thereof, the at least one opening including a notch portion in the bottom wall of the enclosure, each notch portion adapted to facilitate disengagement of the projection means from the opening by permitting a user to apply pressure to a lower edge of the projection means, thereby urging the projection means out of contact with the at least one opening so as to release the positive connection between the enclosure and container.

4. An improved package according to claim 1, wherein the projection means is situated on one side wall of the container and identical openings are situated in each of the two side walls of the enclosure, the projection means adapted to engage one or other of the two openings, the enclosure also including two open ends whereby the container can be inserted into the enclosure through either open end thereof.