Container

• US 8,261,933 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Peninsula Packaging, LLC (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Kidd, Allen, Zapatka, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US12/422,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20090223966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 220/788, 220/4.23, 220/833, 220/834, 220/835, 220/839, 220/324
• US Class Current: 220/835
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/22 the sheet or blank being recessed to accommodate contents containers simulating a book B65D77/006

Abstract

A container for packaging food for transporting and selling to consumers is provided. The container includes a base having a pair of inwardly recessed pockets for capturing a pair of extending latching portions on a lid. The pair of extending latching portions has concave grooves allowing the extending latching portions to flex inwards from an initial position for insertion into the pair inwardly recessed pockets. When the pair of extending latching portions are inserted into the pair inwardly recessed pockets, the pair of extending latching portions expand back to their initial position and protrusions within the pair of inwardly recessed pockets retain the pair of extending latching portions creating a tight fit and preventing the lid of the container from being easily disengaged from the base of the container.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for a container, comprising:

at least one inwardly recessed pocket having a plurality of vertical pillars extending in a generally upward vertical direction from a bottom surface of the at least one inwardly recessed pocket; and

at least one extending latching portion for insertion into the at least one inwardly recessed pocket, the at least one extending latching portion comprising;

a lower portion, the lower portion comprising;

a pair of lower end sections;

a pair of lower side sections integrally connected to the pair of lower end sections, each lower side section of the pair of lower side sections having a concave groove located parallel to and equidistant from the pair of lower end sections;

an upper portion integrally connected to the lower portion, the upper portion comprising;

a pair of upper end sections integrally connected to the pair of lower end sections; and

a pair of upper side sections integrally connected to the pair of lower side sections, each of the upper side sections of the pair of upper side sections tapering inwardly converging into a rounded top edge.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lower portion has an oval shaped configuration.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are separated by a ring.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the concave grooves allow the pair of lower end sections to flex inwards as the at least one extending latching portion is inserted into the at least one inwardly recessed pocket.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 4, wherein the at least one extending latching portion expands back to an initial position after the at least one extending latching portion is inserted into the at least one inwardly recessed pocket.

6. The locking mechanism of claim 5, wherein the at least one inwardly recessed pocket includes a protrusion formed integrally with an upper innermost circumference of the at least one inwardly recessed pocket.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 6, wherein the at least one extending latching portion is captured by the protrusion securing the lid to the base.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vertical pillars are formed integrally with the at least one inwardly recessed pocket.

9. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the least one inwardly recessed pocket has an oval shaped configuration and the plurality of vertical pillars are spaced equidistantly around the at least one inwardly recessed pocket.

10. A locking mechanism for a container, comprising:

an inwardly recessed pocket having a plurality of vertical pillars extending in a generally upwardly direction from a bottom surface of the inwardly recessed pocket; and

an extending latching portion for insertion into the inwardly recessed pocket, the extending latching portion comprising;

an upper portion having a pair of upper rounded ends integrally connected to a pair of downwardly tapering upper side walls converging into a rounded edge;

a lower portion, integrally connected to the upper portion, having a pair of lower rounded end walls integrally connected to a pair of lower side walls;

a first concave groove extending vertically through a first lower side wall of the pair of lower side walls, perpendicular to the rounded edge; and

a second concave groove extending vertically through a second lower side wall of the pair of lower side walls, perpendicular to the rounded edge.

11. The locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the rounded edge allows the extending latching portion to self guide into the inwardly recessed pocket.

12. The locking mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first and second concave grooves allow the pair of lower rounded end walls to flex inwards as the extending latching portion is inserted into the inwardly recessed pocket.

13. The locking mechanism of claim 12, wherein the first and second concave grooves are located parallel to and equidistant from the pair of lower end sections and wherein the the first and second concave grooves extend into the upper portion.

14. The locking mechanism of claim 12, wherein the inwardly recessed pocket has an oval shaped configuration and the plurality of vertical pillars are spaced equidistantly around the inwardly recessed pocket.

15. A container, comprising:

a base having a pair of inwardly recessed pockets, each pocket in the pair of inwardly recessed pockets having an oval shaped configuration and a plurality of vertical pillars extending in a generally upwardly direction from a bottom surface of, and spaced equidistantly around, the each pocket in the pair of inwardly recessed pockets; and

a lid hingedly connected to the base, the lid comprising;

a center portion;

an upper flange integrally connected to the center portion; and

a pair of extending latching portions, integrally connected to the upper flange, the pair of extending latching portions having an inner concave grooves and opposing outer concave grooves, the inner and outer concave grooves, extending perpendicular to the upper flange, allowing the pair of extending latching portions to flex inwards as the pair of extending latching portions are inserted into the pair of inwardly recessed pockets, the pair of extending portions expand back to an initial position and the pair of extending latching portions is captured by the protrusions within the pair of inwardly recessed pockets securing the lid to the base.