Reclosable container and closure therefor
First Claim
1. A reclosable container for a food product, comprising:
- (a) a tray having a base and an upstanding sidewall extending from the base, the base and the sidewall together defining a compartment for the food product, the sidewall terminating in a peripheral edge portion;
(b) a lid having a central panel surrounded by a peripheral edge portion;
wherein the peripheral edge portions of the tray and lid each have four sides and four corners, and wherein the peripheral edge portions each comprise an inner wall, an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, and a flange connecting the inner and outer walls at their upper edges, wherein the inner wall of the tray peripheral edge portion extends upwardly from the sidewall, and the inner wall of the lid peripheral edge portion extends upwardly from the central panel of the lid;
(c) a first outer detent mechanism which is located at a first corner of the lid peripheral edge portion and a corresponding first corner of the tray peripheral edge portion, wherein the first outer detent mechanism comprises a male detent element projecting inwardly from the outer wall of the lid peripheral edge portion, and a female detent element projecting inwardly from the outer wall of the tray peripheral edge portion, wherein the male and female detent elements are positioned so that the male detent element is nested with the female detent element when the container is closed;
wherein the inner and outer walls of the tray and lid peripheral edge portions are, along the sides thereof, substantially flat and planar, and substantially free of projections.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reclosable container for a food product comprises a rigid or semi-rigid tray and lid. The tray and lid each have a peripheral edge portion having substantially vertical inner and outer walls joined by a horizontal flange, wherein the container is closed with the tray peripheral edge portion received inside a cavity defined by the lid peripheral edge portion. An outer detent mechanism is provided at one or more corners of the container, such as diagonally opposed corners which may also include lift tabs. The corners at which outer detent mechanisms are located may have straight corner transition portions about which the lid may pivot during opening of the container. The sides of the tray and lid peripheral edge portions may be substantially flat and free of projections, so that only the corners with the outer detent mechanisms offer significant resistance against opening.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A reclosable container for a food product, comprising:
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(a) a tray having a base and an upstanding sidewall extending from the base, the base and the sidewall together defining a compartment for the food product, the sidewall terminating in a peripheral edge portion; (b) a lid having a central panel surrounded by a peripheral edge portion; wherein the peripheral edge portions of the tray and lid each have four sides and four corners, and wherein the peripheral edge portions each comprise an inner wall, an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, and a flange connecting the inner and outer walls at their upper edges, wherein the inner wall of the tray peripheral edge portion extends upwardly from the sidewall, and the inner wall of the lid peripheral edge portion extends upwardly from the central panel of the lid; (c) a first outer detent mechanism which is located at a first corner of the lid peripheral edge portion and a corresponding first corner of the tray peripheral edge portion, wherein the first outer detent mechanism comprises a male detent element projecting inwardly from the outer wall of the lid peripheral edge portion, and a female detent element projecting inwardly from the outer wall of the tray peripheral edge portion, wherein the male and female detent elements are positioned so that the male detent element is nested with the female detent element when the container is closed; wherein the inner and outer walls of the tray and lid peripheral edge portions are, along the sides thereof, substantially flat and planar, and substantially free of projections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification