Container for packaging

• US 4,753,351 A
• Filed: 04/07/1986
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francois Guillin
• Original Assignee: Francois Guillin
• Inventors: Guillin, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/848,644
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 206/518, 206/515, 206/520, 220/82 R, 220/339, 220/307, 220/72, 229/2.5 R, 229/44
• US Class Current: 206/520
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/26 Thin-walled containers, e.g. formed by deep-drawing operations B65D1/165 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/42 Reinforcing or strengthening parts or members
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence

Abstract

Container for packaging hot or cold foods or other goods and produced by thermoforming sheets of plastic such as P.V.C., polystyrene or other similar plastics. This container is characterized by its prismatic shape with polygonal base, which on stacking hold the container firm and rigid both when empty and when filled with either hot or cold foods.

Claims

1. A container adapted for packaging both hot or cold foods or other goods, and manufactured by thermoforming sheets of plastic from P.V.C. or polystyrene, comprising in combination

a polygonally-shaped base,

a plurality of sidewalls extending away from, and transversely to said base, said sidewalls defining an outer oblong contour,

a circumferentially extending polygonal rim, and having a plurality of rim portions extending from said sidewalls at ends thereof facing away from said base, and substantially in parallel with said base,

a polygonal cover hingeably attached to said polygonal rim and formed with a circumferentially extending polygonal lip,

releasable locking means matingly connecting the lip of said cover to said polygonal rim in a closed state of said container, said releasable locking means including

a plurality of projections formed on respective of said rim portions, and

a plurality of recesses formed in said lip and mating with said projections in the closed state of said container,

a hinge connecting said polygonal cover to said polygonal rim, said hinge being formed by wave-shaped deformable folds, whereby said deformable folds allow said cover to close so as to seal perfectly with said sidewalls,

wherein alternate of said sidewalls are faceted and formed with grooves to enhance rigidity of said sidewalls, especially in a direction extending away from and transversely to said base, the remaining of said sidewalls being free of any grooves, said projections being only formed on rim portions juxtaposed with respective of said sidewalls which are free of any grooves,

wherein the polygonally-shaped base is formed with two notches that are arranged symmetrically on said base so as to prevent two containers from jamming with one another when stored empty,

wherein the groove-free sidewalls are smooth and transparent, thereby allowing the container contents to be visible

wherein the circumferentially extending lip of said cover is formed with a first outwardly projecting tab, and said rim is formed with a second outwardly projecting tab, whereby said lip is torn away from said rim by pulling said tabs in respective opposite directions

whereby said container can be opened by tearing said lip away from said rim, and whereby another container can be stacked on top of said container.

2. A prismatically shaped container adapted for packaging both hot or cold foods or other goods, and manufactured by thermoforming sheets of plastic from P.V.C. or polystyrene, comprising in combination

a hollow receptacle having the shape of a truncated pyramid, formed with a polygonal rim, and having a polygonal base opposite said rim,

a polygonal concave cover formed with a plurality of sides,

a hinge articulatably attached to said receptacle and to said cover along one of said sides, and made in one piece therewith, said hinge being formed by deformable wave-shaped folds, whereby said cover can close and seal said receptacle perfectly, and whereby another container can be stacked on top of said cover,

said receptacle having alternating grooved sidewalls to enhance rigidity of said sidewalls, and transparent sidewalls free of any grooves, said sidewalls defining an outer oblong contour,

said receptacle being formed with a plurality of inwardly extending dome-shaped projections located on portions of said rim juxtaposed with corresponding of said transparent sidewalls, said cover being formed with convex recesses arranged to fittingly receive respective of said projections,

said projections being only formed on rim portions juxtaposed with respective of said sidewalls which are free of any grooves,

said base being formed with symmetrically disposed notches as seen from the outside along the bottom thereof and appearing as embossements as seen from the inside of said receptacle, so as to prevent two containers from jamming together when placed one inside the other for storage,

said cover and said receptacle on a side juxtaposed with said cover being formed with horizontally extending tabs facilitating opening of the container when closed.