Clamshell container for food items

• US 5,497,894 A
• Filed: 02/03/1995
• Issued: 03/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pactiv LLC (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Ultra Pac Inc (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: Krupa, Calvin S., Knoss, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Castellano, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US08/382,977
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 220/6, 220/4.01, 220/4.22, 220/4.23, 220/4.24, 220/366.1, 220/324, 220/339, 206/470, 206/471, 206/365
• US Class Current: 220/4.23
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/225 the sheet or blank comprising more than one fold line B65D75/245 takes precedence

Abstract

A container for storing, transporting and displaying food products such as asparagus is disclosed. The container is a single molded piece of plastic having a base and a pair of cover members pivotally secured to the base by a living hinge. The base provides a first chamber having a top opening. The cover members, when latched together, form both a second chamber having a bottom opening aligned with the top opening of the base and a pair of opposing vents. the alignment of the openings in the two chambers permits elongated food products such as asparagus, celery or carrots to be stored and displayed in an upright fashion.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a. a base, said base having

1) a bottom wall;

2) an upwardly projecting side wall having a lower end integral with the periphery of said bottom wall and an upper end;

3) a first interior chamber comprising the space defined by said bottom wall and side wall, said first interior chamber having an open top;

b. a cover having first and second cover members each having hinge means for joining said cover member to the base;

each cover member being movable between an open position and a closed position about its hinge means;

said first cover member having a plurality of male locking members and said second cover member having a plurality of female locking members capable of being aligned and mated with the male locking members of said first cover member to hold said first and second cover members in the closed position;

said first and second cover members, when joined together in their closed position, forming (1) a second interior chamber having an open bottom, said open bottom being substantially aligned with the open top of said first interior chamber; and

(2) at least one vent open to the exterior of the container;

said male locking members have;

(a) a cylindrical side wall;

(b) a flat end wall; and

(c) an insertion member having a conical tip and a concaved center section between the base of the conical tip and the flat end wall.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said female locking members have:

(a) a cylindrical side wall;

(b) a flat end wall forming a catch around a center opening, said center opening sized to receive the conical tip of said insertion member and be positioned between the base of the insertion member'"'"'s conical tip and the flat end wall of the male locking member when the first and second cover members are in the closed position.

3. A container, comprising:

a. a base, said base having

1) a bottom wall;

2) an upwardly projecting side wall having a lower end integral with the periphery of said bottom wall and an upper end;

3) a first interior chamber comprising the space defined by said bottom wall and side wall, said first interior chamber having an open top;

b. a cover having first and second cover members each having hinge means for joining said cover member to the base;

each cover member being movable between an open position and a closed position about its hinge means;

said first cover member having a plurality of male locking members and said second cover member having a plurality of female locking members capable of being aligned and mated with the male locking members of said first cover member to hold said first and second cover members in the closed position;

said first and second cover members, when joined together in their closed position, forming (1) a second interior chamber having an open bottom, said open bottom being substantially aligned with the open top of said first interior chamber; and

(2) at least one vent open to the exterior of the container;

said container having a pair of generally triangular shaped, opposing vents formed by the base and cover when the cover members are in the closed position.