Nesting catering tray container
First Claim
1. An outer container for housing an inner storage container such as for transporting a food product therein, the inner storage container including a bottom, a generally upright sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom, and a flange connected to the sidewall, said outer container comprising:
- upper and lower portions joined to one another such that said upper portion is pivotable away from said lower portion to define an open configuration of said outer container and such that said upper portion of said outer container is pivotable toward said lower portion to define a closed configuration of said outer container, said upper portion of said outer container including a generally planar top wall;
said lower portion of said outer container including;
a generally planar bottom wall having a first pair of generally parallel side edges and a second pair of generally parallel side edges extending transversely relative to said first pair of side edges;
first and second elongate sidewalls joined to said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom along said first pair of side edges; and
third and fourth elongate sidewalls joined to said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom along said second pair of side edges, said third and fourth sidewalls being oriented transversely relative to said first and second sidewalls;
said top wall having respective first and second edge portions which, when said outer container is in said closed configuration, are disposed adjacent to but in vertically-spaced relation from, respective first and second upper edge portions of said first and second sidewalls to define respective first and second generally sidewardly-opening slots, said first and second slots being unobstructed sidewardly by any part of said outer container such that a flange of an inner storage container engages in said first and second slots and projects sidewardly outwardly through said first and second slots when housed within said outer container, said top wall having a first pair of generally parallel side edges and a second pair of generally parallel side edges extending transversely relative to said first pair of side edges, said top wall mounting thereon a front locking flap joined to one of said side edges and foldable downwardly relative to said top wall for engagement with one of said third and fourth sidewalls to lock said upper portion to said lower portion in said closed configuration of said outer container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container formed from a foldable blank into a box-like configuration for transport of a tray or container storing food items therein, such as a catering tray. The container includes a bottom portion defined by a bottom wall, front and rear walls, and spaced-apart side walls, all of which project upwardly from bottom wall. A top portion is provided which is swingably movable relative to the bottom portion to provide open and closed configurations of the container. The container provides an added insulative layer so as to maintain food items stored within the catering tray at the desired temperature, and also improves handling thereof.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An outer container for housing an inner storage container such as for transporting a food product therein, the inner storage container including a bottom, a generally upright sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom, and a flange connected to the sidewall, said outer container comprising:
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upper and lower portions joined to one another such that said upper portion is pivotable away from said lower portion to define an open configuration of said outer container and such that said upper portion of said outer container is pivotable toward said lower portion to define a closed configuration of said outer container, said upper portion of said outer container including a generally planar top wall; said lower portion of said outer container including; a generally planar bottom wall having a first pair of generally parallel side edges and a second pair of generally parallel side edges extending transversely relative to said first pair of side edges; first and second elongate sidewalls joined to said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom along said first pair of side edges; and third and fourth elongate sidewalls joined to said bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom along said second pair of side edges, said third and fourth sidewalls being oriented transversely relative to said first and second sidewalls; said top wall having respective first and second edge portions which, when said outer container is in said closed configuration, are disposed adjacent to but in vertically-spaced relation from, respective first and second upper edge portions of said first and second sidewalls to define respective first and second generally sidewardly-opening slots, said first and second slots being unobstructed sidewardly by any part of said outer container such that a flange of an inner storage container engages in said first and second slots and projects sidewardly outwardly through said first and second slots when housed within said outer container, said top wall having a first pair of generally parallel side edges and a second pair of generally parallel side edges extending transversely relative to said first pair of side edges, said top wall mounting thereon a front locking flap joined to one of said side edges and foldable downwardly relative to said top wall for engagement with one of said third and fourth sidewalls to lock said upper portion to said lower portion in said closed configuration of said outer container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A one-piece, monolithic blank which is foldable to form an outer container for housing an inner container having a bottom, a generally upright wall structure and a flange connected to an upper edge portion of the wall structure and oriented transversely relative thereto, said blank comprising:
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a base wall having a first pair of generally parallel side edges and a second pair of generally parallel side edges extending transversely relative to said first pair of side edges; first and second elongate sidewalls joined to said base wall via fold lines defined along the respective first pair of said side edges; third and fourth elongate sidewalls joined to said base wall via fold lines defined along the respective second pair of said side edges; and a top wall having a first pair of generally parallel side edges and a second pair of generally parallel side edges extending transversely relative to said first pair of side edges, one of said side edges of said top wall being joined to an outer edge of said first sidewall via a fold line; said first, second, third and fourth sidewalls being foldable upwardly from said base wall about their respective fold lines into generally upright positions, a dimension defined between said fold line joining said one side edge of said top wall to said first sidewall and said fold line joining said first sidewall to said base wall being greater than respective dimensions defined between outer terminal edges of said third and fourth sidewalls and the respective fold lines joining said third and fourth sidewalls to said base wall, such that when said top wall is folded downwardly from said first sidewall about the respective fold line and into a closed position generally parallel to said base wall, said top wall is spaced vertically upwardly from the respective said outer terminal edges of said third and fourth sidewalls when in their generally upright folded positions to define respective sidewardly-opening slots for receiving a flange of an inner container when disposed within said outer container, said top wall mounts thereon a locking flap joined via a fold line to said side edge of said top wall parallel to said one side edge of said top wall, said locking flap being foldable downwardly from said top wall for engagement with said third and fourth sidewalls. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification