Container formed of identical container elements and blank for forming the same

• US 6,092,719 A
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
• Inventors: Capo, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/025,840
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 229/114, 229/125.28, 229/125.27, 229/901, 229/902, 229/906
• US Class Current: 229/125.28
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0234 Nestable or stackable container parts forming a receptacle when one part is inverted upon the other
• 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 5/28 with extensions of sides permanently secured to adjacent sides, with sides permanently secured together by adhesive strips, or with sides held in place solely by rigidity of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/68 Telescope flanged lids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/901 Box structure alternatively useable as a container or a lid

Abstract

A container body formed from two substantially identical interlocking container members with each of the container members comprising a substantially planer base portion and a plurality of opposing sidewalls connected to the base portion and tab portions extending from at least one pair of the opposing sidewalls with each of the tab portions including an opening and an adjacent interference element is set forth. The interference elements of a first of the two container members is received in respective openings of a second of the two container members for securing the second container member in an inverted condition with respect to the first container member.

A blank for forming the respective container members similarly includes a base portion and at least two pairs of opposing sidewalls hingedly connected to the base portion along lines of weakness and tab portions extending from each sidewall of one of the pairs of opposing sidewalls with each of the tab portions including an opening and adjacent interference element. When erected, the container blank forms one of a cover or tray which are nestably received within one another for packaging, shipping and storing of the container members. When in use, the container body is erected by interlocking a first container member and a second container member. The container members are capable of being interlock with another irrespective of their longitudinal orientation with respect to one another. The tab portions of each of the container members which include both an interference member and an adjacent opening for receiving an interference member are aligned with one another even if the container members are rotated 180° with respect to one another. Particularly, the tab portions on each of side walls are identical, thus the need to provide the correct longitudinal orientation is eliminated.

Claims

1. A container body comprising:

a first container member having a substantially planar base portion and at least one pair of opposed side walls extending therefrom;

a second container member having a substantially planar base portion and at least one pair of opposed side walls extending therefrom;

each wall of said at least one pair of opposed side walls of said first container member and each wall of said at least one pair of opposed side walls of said second container member including an extended tab portion, each said tab portion having an interference element and an inner opening adjacent said interference element for receiving said interference element of said tab portion of said at least one pair of said opposed side walls of one of said first and second container members; and

wherein said inner opening is void of material.

2. The container body of claim 1, wherein said first and second container members are assembled in a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein said second orientation is 180°

rotated from said first orientation.

3. The container body of claim 1, wherein each said extended tab portion is defined by an upper perimeter of a respective opposed side wall and a crease score fold line extending from a perimeter of said extended tab portion and substantially parallel to said respective substantially planar base portion.

4. The container body of claim 3, wherein said crease score fold line intersects a cut line defining a respective interference element.

5. The container body of claim 4, wherein each said cut score line includes a first section extending substantially perpendicular to said crease score fold line and a second section extending substantially parallel to said crease score line.

6. The container body of claim 5, wherein said crease score fold line intersects said first section of said cut line.

7. The container body of claim 6, wherein said second section of said cut line intersects said opening.

8. The container body of claim 3, wherein each said interference element and each said adjacent opening are centrally positioned on a respective extended tab portion.

9. The container body of claim 8, wherein said first and second container members are symmetrical about a plane longitudinally bisecting the container body.

10. The container body of claim 8, wherein said first and second container members are symmetrical about a plane laterally bisecting the container body.

11. A container body formed from two substantially identical interlocking container members, each of said container members comprising:

a substantially planar base portion and at least one pair of opposing side walls extending from said base portion; and

a tab portion extending from each wall of said at least one pair of opposing side walls, each said tab portion including an inner opening and an adjacent interference element, each said interference element of a first of the two container members being received in a respective opening of a second of the two container members for securing the second container member in an inverted condition with respect to the first container member, each said inner opening being void of material.

12. The container body of claim 11, wherein each said interference element and each said adjacent opening are centrally positioned on a respective extended tab portion.

13. The container body of claim 12, wherein said first and second container members are symmetrical about a plane longitudinally bisecting the container body.

14. The container body of claim 13, wherein said first and second container members are symmetrical about a plane laterally bisecting the container body.

15. The container body of claim 14, wherein each said extended tab portion is defined by an upper perimeter of a respective opposed side wall and a crease score fold line extending from a perimeter of said extended tab portion and substantially parallel to said substantially planar base portion.

16. The container body of claim 15, wherein said crease score fold line intersects a cut line defining said interference element.

17. The container body of claim 16, wherein said cut line includes a first section extending substantially perpendicular to said crease score fold line and a second section extending substantially parallel to said crease score line.

18. The container body of claim 17, wherein said crease score fold line intersects said first section of said cut line.

19. The container body of claim 18, wherein said second section of said cut line intersects said respective opening.

20. A blank for forming a portion of a container body, said blank comprising:

a base portion;

at least two pairs of opposing side walls hingedly connected to said base portion along lines of weakness; and

a tab portion extending from each side wall of one of said pairs of opposing side walls;

each said tab portion including an inner opening and an adjacent interference element, each said inner opening being void of material.

21. The blank of claim 20, wherein each said interference element and each said adjacent opening are centrally positioned on a respective extended tab portion.

22. The blank of claim 20, wherein the blank is symmetrical about a plane longitudinally bisecting the blank.

23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the blank is symmetrical about a plane laterally bisecting the blank.

24. The blank of claim 20, wherein each said extended tab portion is defined by an upper perimeter of a respective opposed side wall and a crease score fold line extending from a perimeter of said extended tab portion and substantially parallel to said substantially planar base portion.

25. The blank of claim 24, wherein said crease score fold line intersects a cut line defining said interference element.

26. The blank of claim 25, wherein said crease score fold line intersects said first section of said cut line.

27. The blank of claim 24, wherein said cut line includes a first section extending substantially perpendicular to said crease score fold line and a second section extending substantially parallel to said crease score line.

28. The blank of claim 27, wherein said second section of said cut line intersects said respective opening.