IL30737A - Packing for goods - Google Patents

Description

PACKIHGr FOR GOODS The invention relates to a packing container for goods, intended for use in self—service type shops, in vhich the goods are enclosed by the packaging container to form a complete packaged article for retail sales.

For this purpose the container is provided with a particular type of closure device operated by manual pressure, to fasten together the two parts which form the bottom and the cover of the container and which are to be maintained at a certain distance apart to form a window opening for inspecting and ventilating the goods in the container.

According to the present invention there is provided a packaging container for goods produced in one piece from a sheet of thermoplastic material, comprising two spaced apart cavity containing members connected together by a strip forming a hinge and adapted to be placed one on top of the other by effecting relative movement of said members about said hinge to retain goods in said cavities, at least one male element on one member and at least one female element on the other nember, said elements projecting from surfaces of the members which lie adjacent to each other and are spaced apart when the members are placed one on top of the other and the elements being adapted to engage one with the other to hold said members together, said elements each being of a night less than the spacing between said surfaces, said male element having a frusto-conical base which firms a spacing element for said members when one is placed on top of the other, said male element also having a c lindrical bod ortion and a frusto-conical head ortion the cylindrical body portion extending from said frusto—conical base and being provided below said head portion with at least one hollow lug projecting outwardly from the cylindrical surface of the body portion.

The invention may be applied to containers for eggs, or round or oblong fruit* One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which*- Fig* 1 is a plan view of an empty container embodying the invention in the open position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the container taken along the line 2-2—0f Figure 1; Fig* 3 is a front view of the container in the closed position, taken from the narrow end; Fig* 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale through the centre of the male and female elements of the elosure device; Fig* 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig* 4 of the male element only; and Figs* 6 and 7 show two alternative embodiments of the retaining lugs on the male element.

In the drawings, identical or equivalent parts have the same reference numerals. Referring firstly -to I'igg. 1 to 3, the container comprises two cavity containing members which are substantially rectangular and are held together by a strip 7 provided with grooves 8 and 9 which extend longitudinally of the strip 7 and facilitate the folding of one member of the container on to the other can form either the cover or the bottom of the container.

Each member of the container is provided with six recesses each having a lateral wall 10, of divergent frusto—conical shape* provided with corrugations 11 and 12 which permit circulation of air about the articles located in the recesses, and each being provided with a flat and smooth bottom 13· The corrugations 11 and 12, which also form a rooforcement for the lateral wall 10 of the recesses, terminate at the upper edge of the recesses where flat areas 15 and 16 which are substantially parallel to the bottom 13 of the recesses fsmn the plane surface of each part. The enlarged areas 15 join the recesses together, while flat areas 16 from the marginal portions of the members of the container.

The recesses which are arranged in adjacent lines are in communication with each other by means of connecting ribs 14, the flat surfaces of which are located at a distance from the bottom 13 which is less than the distance between them and the plane surfaces 15 - 16. These ribs 14 are also joined to the marginal portion 16.

In addition, but not illustrated in the drawings, the bottom 13 of the recesses can be curved toward the interior of the part of the container, to form radial and/or circular reinforcing ribs or ridges, in a manner known per se in this art.

Projecting from the surfaces 15 are locating means to locate the members of the container relatively to each other when being closed, and the pressure closure elements of these arts.

The locating means comprise hollow frusto—conical projections 17 joined by an annular portion 18 to a hollow conical and portion 19 which is adapted to engage intsa hollow conical recess 20 of hollow frusto- conical projections 21 which are formed on the other part of the container and joined to the recesses 20 by means of annular portions 18.

The pressure closure elements comprise a hollo projection or male element which is adapted to engage into another hollow projection or female element, formed on the other member of the container* The male element comprises a cylindrical body 22, a frusto-conical head 23, and rises from the surfaces 15 by means of a hollow frusto-conical base 25 - 24 comprising two conical portions converging toward the base 22* of body 22 and is provided below said head 23 with two hollow lugs 26 which project from the cylindrical surface 22 and which form elements for retaining said male element to the female element of the closure device* The female dlement comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow forming a recess 27 with a bottom 28, which is of a depth corresponding to the height of the male element 22 — 23 and which with its frusto-conical support projection 29 forms a resilient annular portion 30.

The recess 2? is produced by stretching the material downwardly, whereby the bottom of the recess 27 is of a minimum thickness while the annular portion which adjoins said recess retains a good thickness of material, even if this is not clearly apparent from the drawings.

The recesses of one member of the container are filled with e.g. round fruit, and the empty of the container is folded onto the full part so that the closure elements engage into each other as illustrated in Figure 4, by means of a light pressure applied by the fingers.

The male element 22 — 23 and the female element 27 — 30 are engaged in the following manner: The recess 27 with its conical portion acts in such a way that the annular portion 30 is located in position on the cylindrical body 22 of the male element* A slight pressure applied from opposite sides onto the closure elements causes the lugs 26 to be compressed by the annular portion 30. This pressure provides that the base 22' of body 22 is slightly squashed in the radial direction by virtue of the high degree of elasticity imparted to it by the frusto—conical support projection 2¾ - 24, which permits the lugs 26 to come together, whereby the annular portion 30 can be pushed over the lugs 26 toward the base 22' o 22. When this pressure of 30 on 26 is released, the base 22' returns to its expanded condition, while the lugs 26 cause the think lateral wall of the recess 27 to be deformed.

The frusto-conical support base 25 - 24 is of particular importance, not only because of the elasticity which it imparts in the radial direction to the base 22' of 22, as described hereinbefore, which prevents damage, either during engagement or during release, to the elements 26 and 30 which lock the male and female elements together, but also because it permits the forces to be absorbed which act on the male element at the moment of engagement, vhich vould cause the enlarged area 15 to yield resiliently if the male element were joined to it directly* The male element is therefore prevented from being subjected to axial movements under the closing pressure, upon yielding of the enlarged area 15, vhich vould make the operation of closing, or rather the engagement of male into female element, difficult.

At the moment that the container is closed, the annular portions 18 of two interengaged locating means are in mutual contact, while the end portions 19 are located within the recesses 20, thus preventing any horizonta&movement whatever between the parts of the container.

With particular reference to Figure 3 and 4, it will be noted that when the male and female elements are interengaged, the annular portion 30 comes into contact with 24, whereby the lateral wall 29 and the lateral walls 24 - 25 form distancing elements for the parts of the container.

With reference to Figure 5, it will be noted that the point of maximum projection of the lugs 26 is toward the upper part of the cylindrical body 22, whereby a greater pressure is applied when closing the container than when opening said container. Obviously the reverse applied to the lugs 26* of Figure 6, in which the point of maximum projection is in the vicinity of the base 22* of 22.

In Figure 7 the lugs 26' · are provided both in the upper part and in the lower part with two inclined planes which facilitate either closing or opening of the container.

In addition it is obvious that the container illustrated in the drawings lends itsi&f to being st in boxes, or on sales counters, the bottoms of the recesses being placed one upon the other, or else us as a base for the container the strip 7 or the edges which can be diametrically opposite said strips.

A handle can also be applied by means of lugs to the strip 7 so that the container can conveniently be carried by the purchaser.

Claims (4)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS* 1· A packaging container for goods, produced in one piece from a sheet of thermoplastic material, comprising two spaced apart cavity containing members connected together by a strip formin a hinge and adapted to be placed one on top of the other by effecting relative movement of said members about said hinge to retain goods in said cavities, at least one male element on one member and at least one female element on the other member, said elements projecting from surfaces of the members which lie adjacent to each other and are spaced apart when the members are placed one on top of the other and the elements being adapted to engage one with the other to hold said members together, e £ elements each being of a height less than the spacing between said surfaces, said male element having a frusto-conical base which forms a spacing element for said members when one is placed on top of the other, said male element also having a cylindrical body portion, and a frusto-conical head portion, the cylindrical body portion extending from said frusto-conical base and being provided bwlow said head portion with at least one hollow lug projecting outwardly from the cylindrical surface of the body portion*
2. 2. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the frusto-conical base of the male element consists of two frusto-conical portions each having its snaller diameter end directed towards the body portion of the male element, the surface of the frusto-conical portion nearest the body portion being at a greater angle to the axis of the element than that of the other frusto—conical portion.
3. 3. A packaging container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the female element comprises a frusto— conical support projecting from said surface of the respective member and having a cylindrical recess formed in its outer endv said recess being of less diameter than the end of said frusto—conical support to form an annular end surface having a radial width greater than the thickaass of the side wall of the recess.
4. 4. A packaging container for goods produced in one piece from a sheet of thermoplastic material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings* P.O. Box 33116. Tel Aviv Attorneys for Applicants.