CA2311208A1

CA2311208A1 - Packaging device

Info

Publication number: CA2311208A1
Application number: CA 2311208
Authority: CA
Inventors: Donald Hexamer
Original assignee: TRI-CITY PACKAGING LTD.
Current assignee: TRI-CITY PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-12
Filing date: 2000-06-12
Publication date: 2001-12-12

Description

~.CA 02311208 2000-06-12 PACKAGING DEVICE
Description of the Invention Figures 1 and 2 show a container 10 embodying the present invention. Container 10 includes a lid 12 hinged to a base 14. A packaging cavity is provided when lid 12 is covering base 14.
Lid 12 is formed with a top 2 and sidewalls 3. The sidewalk 3 are characterized by a top edge 4, defining a perimeter of lid. Lid has a continuous horizontal flange 16 extending from top edge 4 and provided about the entire perimeter of lid 12. Base 14 is formed with a bottom portion 6 and upstanding sidewalk 8. The sidewalk 8 are characterized by a top edge 9, defining a perimeter 15. A corresponding continuous horizontal flange 18 extends from top edge 9 and is provided about the entire perimeter 15 of base 14, and provides a surface for seating horizontal flange 16 when container 10 is in a closed position. Horizontal flange 18 includes an inner peripheral edge 20 and an outer peripheral edge 22. Inner peripheral edge 20 helps define perimeter 1 S. A downwardly depending skirt 24 is further provided about the entire perimeter 26 of horizontal flange 16 and is characterized by a peripheral edge 25.
Horizontal flange 18 provides a hinge 28 for joining lid 12 to base 14. In this respect, hinge 28 extends from and is integral with skirt 24. Refernng to Figures 5 and 6, horizontal flange 18 is slotted along its outer peripheral edge 22 at a first outer peripheral edge location 30 to form a slot 31 having a first inwardly extending outer peripheral edge 32 and an opposing second inwardly extending outer peripheral edge 34. Edge 32 extends inwardly, in a general direction towards inner peripheral edge 20, from a first end 36 at first outer peripheral edge location 30 to a second end 38 disposed closer to inner peripheral edge 20. A first end 40 of edge 34 joins with edge 32 at second end 38. Edge 34 extends outwardly from first end 40, in a general direction towards the outer peripheral edge 22. Edge 34 is joined at a second end 42 to skirt 24. In the embodiment illustrated, edge 34 is joined to skirt 24 at a first peripheral edge 25a of skirt 24.
Horizontal flange 18 is further similarly slotted at a second outer peripheral edge location 44 along its outer peripheral edge 22. In this respect, the slot 45 formed at second outer peripheral edge location 44 comprises a first inwardly extending outer peripheral edge 46 and an opposing second inwardly extending outer peripheral edge 48. Edge 46 extends inwardly, in a general direction towards inner peripheral edge 20, from a first end 50 at second outer peripheral edge location 44 to a second end 52 disposed closer to inner peripheral edge 20. A first end 54 of edge 48 joins with edge 46 at second end 52. Edge 48 extends outwardly from first end 54, in a general direction towards the outer peripheral edge 22. Edge 48 is joined at a second end 56 to skirt 24. In the embodiment illustrated, edge 48 is joined to skirt 24 at a second peripheral edge 25b of skirt 24.
Edges 34 and 48 define hinge 28, which is joined to skirt 24. As such, hinge 28 is formed from slots 3 l and 44 provided in the outer peripheral edge 22 of horizontal flange 18. Hinge 28 is joined to skirt 24 such that skirt 24 extends around outer peripheral edge 22 of horizontal flange 18, preferably, snaps over horizontal flange 18 when container 10 is in a closed position.
A locking arrangement is further provided by bead 100 provided on flange 16 and extending downwardly therefrom, and a corresponding recess 102 formed on flange 18 (see Figures 2 and 4).
Bead 100 mates with recess 102 to form a friction area that acts as a lock 104 when container 10 is in a closed position, thereby securely maintaining container 10 in closed position when lock 104 is formed. Recess 102 is provided at inner peripheral edge 20 of horizontal flange 18. In particular, recess 102 including sidewall 106 having a surface 108, which extends downwardly from inner peripheral edge 20 to join with nesting flange 110. Nesting flange 110 presents a surface 112 substantially orthogonal to surface 108. Bead 100 includes a sidewall 114 extending upwardly (when container 10 is open) from flange 16 of lid 12, such sidewall 114 presenting a surface 116.
Sidewall 114 joins to a nesting flange 118 presenting a surface 120 substantially orthogonal to surface 116. When container 10 is in a closed position, surface 116 fractionally engages surface 106 and surface 120 fractionally engages surface 112, to thereby form lock 104.
Alternative locking arrangements can be provided for securely locking lid 12 to base 14 to maintain container 10 in a closed position. For instance, and referring to Figure 7, flange 16 may include a male element 200 extending upwardly (when container 10 is open) therefrom.

Corresponding female elements 202 are formed on flange 18. Each of male elements 200 is adapted to be received within corresponding female elements 202 in snap engagement to secure lid 12 to base 14.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A container comprising:
a base including sidewalls defining a perimeter, and further including a horizontal flange extending about the perimeter, wherein the horizontal flange includes first and second slots to define a hinge therebetween; and a lid connected to the hinge.