Container for eggs, method and apparatus for arranging and stabilizing eggs in a container
First Claim
1. A method for arranging eggs in a container, the method comprising acts of:
- placing a first egg within a first receptacle of the container, the first receptacle being contoured such that the first egg comes to rest in a first resting orientation with a long axis of the first egg tilted toward a rear portion of the container;
placing a second egg within a second receptacle of the container, the second receptacle being contoured such that the second egg comes to rest in a second resting orientation with a long axis of the second egg tilted toward the first egg and toward the rear portion of the container;
mechanically adjusting the first and second eggs to assume the respective first and second resting orientations by contacting the first and second eggs with an egg orienter; and
resisting movement of the first egg from the first resting orientation and the second egg from the second resting orientation such that the long axes of the first and second eggs remain substantially parallel to one another.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for arranging eggs in a container. Eggs placed in receptacles of the container come to a resting orientation, by virtue of eh contouring of the receptacle, such that a long axis of the first egg is tilted toward a rear portion of the container at nearly uniform angles slightly offset from a vertical axis, and parallel side-to-side. Using features of the container, movement of eggs from their resting orientation, as well as twisting (spinning) about their long axes is resisted during marking, shipping or handling. The orienting of eggs in the receptacles or compartments thereof may be aided by use of an egg orienter. Tilting of the eggs may be facilitated by using receptacles or compartments which are asymmetrically contoured with respect to the vertical axis.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for arranging eggs in a container, the method comprising acts of:
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placing a first egg within a first receptacle of the container, the first receptacle being contoured such that the first egg comes to rest in a first resting orientation with a long axis of the first egg tilted toward a rear portion of the container; placing a second egg within a second receptacle of the container, the second receptacle being contoured such that the second egg comes to rest in a second resting orientation with a long axis of the second egg tilted toward the first egg and toward the rear portion of the container; mechanically adjusting the first and second eggs to assume the respective first and second resting orientations by contacting the first and second eggs with an egg orienter; and resisting movement of the first egg from the first resting orientation and the second egg from the second resting orientation such that the long axes of the first and second eggs remain substantially parallel to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for arranging eggs in a container, the method comprising acts of:
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placing a first egg within a first receptacle of the container, the first receptacle being contoured such that the first egg comes to rest in a first resting orientation with a long axis of the first egg tilted toward a rear portion of the container; placing a second egg within a second receptacle of the container, the second receptacle being contoured such that the second egg comes to rest in a second resting orientation with a long axis of the second egg tilted toward the first egg and toward the rear portion of the container; and resisting movement of the first egg from the first resting orientation and the second egg from the second resting orientation such that the long axes of the first and second eggs remain substantially parallel to one another, wherein; each receptacle includes at least one guidance feature adapted to guide the egg upon entry into a compartment of the receptacle to reach the resting orientation; and the at least one guidance feature comprises at least one railing element having a flexible surface and configured to guide a lower end of the egg toward a front portion of the receptacle and into the resting orientation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for arranging eggs in a container, the method comprising acts of:
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placing a first egg within a first receptacle of the container, the first receptacle being contoured such that the first egg comes to rest in a first resting orientation with a long axis of the first egg tilted toward a rear portion of the container; placing a second egg within a second receptacle of the container, the second receptacle being contoured such that the second egg comes to rest in a second resting orientation with a long axis of the second egg tilted toward the first egg and toward the rear portion of the container; and resisting movement of the first egg from the first resting orientation and the second egg from the second resting orientation such that the long axes of the first and second eggs remain substantially parallel to one another, wherein; each receptacle includes at least one guidance feature adapted to guide the egg upon entry into a compartment of the receptacle to reach the resting orientation; and the at least one guidance feature comprises at least one protrusion having a flexible surface providing sufficient friction based on a weight of the egg and surface contact area of the at least one protrusion with the egg so as to substantially resist movement of the egg from the resting orientation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification