US3027062A

US3027062A - Combination tray and cover

Info

Publication number: US3027062A
Application number: US21944A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Huss; Norman J Asman
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1960-04-13
Filing date: 1960-04-13
Publication date: 1962-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-27

Description

March 27, 1962 Filed April 13, 1960 W. S. HUSS ET AL COMBINATION TRAY AND COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1962 w, s. Huss ET AL 3,027,062

COMBINATION TRAY AND COVER Filed April 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

l2 B n2 United States Patent 3,027,062 COMBINATION TRAY AND COVER William S. Huss and Norman J. Asman, Appleton, WIS. assignors to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 21,944 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-423) This invention relates to a receptacle or tray and a separate interlocking cover for same.

The novel features and utility of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a paperboard blank making a tray portion;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a tray made from the blank shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing a cover, made from a blank similar to the one shown in FIGURE 1, positioned on the tray, shown in FIGURE 3, prior to interlocking the cover with the tray,

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the cover in closed and interlocked condition, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the tray and cover in interlocked condition.

Referring to the drawings, the receptacle or tray portion, designated generally by letter A, is made from a single blank of paperboard, metal foil or plastic sheet material, suitably cut and scored along

score lines

2, 3 and 4 and cut lines 5 and 6 to provide a bottom wall 10, and two pairs of opposed side walls 12 hinged along score lines 2 to the bottom wall 10. Score lines 2 are preferably partially cut through the blank as shown in FIGURE 2 to facilitate folding of the side walls. A pair of opposed side walls 12 are provided with glue flaps 18 hinged thereto along score lines 3 at the sides thereof. The glue flaps 18 are adapted to be adhered or suitably attached to the inner face of adjacent side walls 12 as shown in FIGURE 3. The score lines 3 extend preferably at an angle to score lines 2 so that the side walls 12 are outwardly tapered when the tray is formed as shown in FIGURE 3.

The upper free edges of each of the side walls 12 are provided with locking tabs 14 at the medial portion thereof. Each of the locking tabs 14 is provided with a curved male portion 15 and slit 16 extending along the free edge of the side wall and continuous therewith. The slit 16 terminates with an angular cut extending into the body of the locking tab 14. A guide tab 17 is provided at one end of the upper free edge of each side wall 12, the guide tabs being spaced laterally away from the male portion 15 of each of the locking tabs 14.

A cover, designated generally by letter B, is provided for the receptacle or tray which is preferably made from a blank of the same size and contour as the blank used for making the tray A previously described. However, the side walls of the cover may be of smaller depth if desired or tapered if desired provided the free edges are of the same complemental dimensions and contour so as to interlock with the upper free edges of the tray.

To close the container after the desired contents are placed in the receptacle or tray portion A," cover B is positioned over the receptacle portion as shown in FIGURE 4, so that the locking tabs 14 of the receptacle portion are subposed under the corner portions of the cover which extend beyond the perimeter of the receptacle, and similarly the locking tabs 14 of the cover are in effect contained within the corner portions of the receptacle which extend beyond the perimeter of the cover. Cover B is then twisted in a clockwise direcfor view taken on lines 2-2 of 3,027,062 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 "ice tion until the male portions 15 of the locking tabs 14 of the tray are lockingly engaged with the complementary slits 16 of the tray or receptacle, to achieve the interlocked condition shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. At the same time the guide tabs 17 will contact the outside surfaces of the respective side walls 12 of the tray and cover and serve to guide and properly position the tray and cover into locked position as shown in FIGURE 6. The cover B can be readily removed by twisting the cover in counterclockwise direction so as to release the respective locking tabs of the tray and cover.

Any suitable commodity may be packaged in the tray which is then easily closed by a cover in the manner previously described. The tray and cover are preferably made of the same dimensions and paper so that they can be easily nested and used interchangeably. Such articles as hamburgers, ice cream and other foods served at restaurants can be readily packaged for taking out. The cover can be easily removed and the tray portion can be used as a plate for retaining the food while it is being consumed.

In some instances, such as for the packaging of a combination of a hamburger and french fried potatoes, it may be desirable to nest within the receptacle or tray portion a separate, shallower receptacle portion, similar to the tray previously described in detail except for being of somewhat shallower depth and slightly smaller lateral dimensions so as to nest within the main tray portion. The cover as described may then readily be interlocked with both the main receptacle and the shallower auxiliary tray in a simultaneous locking operation. It will be equally obvious to those skilled in the art that the complementary receptacle and cover need not be of square cross section, but could be of a triangular, pentagonal or other desired cross section.

Changes and modifications may be made of the specific details described herein which are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination of a tray and a separate interlockable cover for closing same, the open end of said cover being adapted to be positioned over the open end of said tray to close same and be secured thereto by laterally twisting the cover relative to the tray, said tray and cover having identical construction, said tray and cover each comprising a bottom wall and upstanding opposed side walls connected thereto, the upper free edges of at least two opposed side walls being each provided with oppositely positioned locking tabs, said locking tabs being provided with a notch extending laterally into a side edge thereof, the notch of one tab extending in opposite direction to the notch of the opposed tab, whereby upon twisting the cover relative to the tray the said locking tabs will be interengaged and be positioned internally of the tray and cover to retain the tray and cover in closed and locked relation.

2. The combination of a tray and a separate interlockable cover for closing same as defined in claim 1, having guide tabs laterally spaced from said locking tabs at the upper free edges of the tray and cover, said guide tabs being adapted to extend and overlie the respective opposed adjacent walls of the tray and cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS