Reclosable food container

• US 5,855,315 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Master Craft Packaging Corporation
• Inventors: Roseth, Hank
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/843,604
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 229/120.011, 229/120.03, 229/120.17, 229/114, 229/127, 493/128-132, 493/162, 493/912
• US Class Current: 229/120.04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2047 trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls B65D5/2033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/244 and the gussets folds connected to the outside of the container body B65D5/247, B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5495 for separating interconnected containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6626 formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/912 having internal partition

Abstract

A blank for making a single or dual cavity container and the corresponding containers. In a dual cavity embodiment, the blank is scored to define a pair of bottom panels, two pairs of end panels, and a pair each of lateral and opposing side panels. The pair of opposing side panels are connected together along a mutual upper edge. A lid for each respective cavity extends from the first and second lateral side panels, and each lid terminates in a tuck flap for engaging at least one of the corresponding opposing side panels and the corresponding pair of end panels. Each adjacent pair of walls (e.g., end panel-lateral side panel; end panel-opposing side panel) has a gusset integrally formed therebetween. The gussets are appropriately folded and adhered to the outside of one of the adjacent walls. Because both cavities are formed from a unitary blank with no seams below the upper edges of the walls, leakage is prevented when the container is maintained in an upright orientation. Moreover, the single fold lid closure provides adequate containment of the food disposed within the corresponding cavity, yet simplifies the actions required to achieve closure.

Claims

1. A reclosable food container created from a unitary blank, the container comprising:

a first bottom panel;

a first pair of opposing end panels extending from the first bottom panel;

a first lateral side panel extending from the first bottom panel;

a first opposing side panel extending from the first bottom panel on an opposing side to the first lateral side panel;

a first plurality of foldable gussets, each gusset hingedly connecting a side panel-end panel pair;

a first lid extending from the first lateral side panel, the lid engaging at least one of the first opposing side and the first pair of opposing end panels when in a closed orientation;

a second bottom panel;

a second pair of opposing end panels extending from the second bottom panel;

a second lateral side panel extending from the second bottom panel;

a second opposing side panel extending from an opposite side of the second bottom panel as the second lateral side panel and attached along a medial edge to the first opposing side panel;

a second plurality of foldable gussets, each gusset hingedly connecting a side panel-end panel pair; and

a second lid.

2. The food container of claim 1 wherein the each lid comprises:

a top panel; and

a tuck flap extending from the top panel.

3. The food container of claim 1 wherein the first pair and the second pair of opposing ends each have a pair of opposing splash guard flaps extending therefrom and wherein the tuck flap of the lid engages the pair of opposing splash guards when the lid is in a closed orientation.

4. The reclosable food container of claim 3 further comprising:

a first pair of locking slits formed at opposite edges of a junction between the first top panel and the first tuck flap; and

a second pair of locking slits formed at opposite edges of a junction between the second top panel and the second tuck flap,

wherein the locking slits increase a retention strength of the engagement between the respective opposing splash guard flaps when the lid is in a closed orientation.

5. The food container of claim 1 wherein the side panels and end panels slope upward at a predetermined angle from the bottom panel such that a pair of food containers are nestable one within another.

6. The food container of claim 1 wherein the medial edge is defined by a manually frangible line.

7. The food container of claim 6 wherein the manually frangible line is a perforated line.

8. The food container of claim 1 wherein an area of the first bottom panel is not equal to an area of the second bottom panel and an area of the first lid is not equal to an area of the second lid.

9. The food container of claim 1 wherein respective ones of the panels are defined on the blank by score lines.

10. A method of making a reclosable food container from a unitary blank comprising the steps of:

scoring the unitary blank with a plurality of score lines at least two of which define a top panel and a tuck flap of a lid;

folding along two pairs of substantially parallel score lines that define a bottom panel;

folding along four sets of score lines, each set defining a gusset extending between pairs of adjacent walls of a cavity;

adhering each gusset to an outer surface of one of the adjacent walls;

wherein the lid extends from a wall of the cavity so as to permit frictional engagement of an opposing wall if folded about the two score lines that define the lid; and

repeating the preceding steps for a second cavity having an upper edge of an opposing wall that is shared with the opposing wall of the first cavity.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing locking slits at a junction between the tuck flap and the top panel of each lid; and

engaging a pair of splash guard panels with the locking slits.