US20090084796A1 - Containers with interlocking covers - Google Patents
Containers with interlocking covers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090084796A1 US20090084796A1 US12/160,298 US16029807A US2009084796A1 US 20090084796 A1 US20090084796 A1 US 20090084796A1 US 16029807 A US16029807 A US 16029807A US 2009084796 A1 US2009084796 A1 US 2009084796A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- engagement portion
- plastic container
- closure
- closure portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
- B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
- B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
- B65D43/0208—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00027—Stackable lids or covers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
- B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
- B65D2543/00101—Shape of the outer periphery curved square-like or rectangular-like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
- B65D2543/00259—Materials used
- B65D2543/00296—Plastic
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
- B65D2543/00509—Cup
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
- B65D2543/00555—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on both the inside and the outside
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
- B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
- B65D2543/00611—Profiles
- B65D2543/0062—Groove or hollow bead
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
- B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
- B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
- B65D2543/00685—Totality
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
- B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
- B65D2543/00722—Profiles
- B65D2543/00731—Groove or hollow bead
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
- B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
- B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
- B65D2543/00787—Periphery concerned
- B65D2543/00796—Totality
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
- B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
- B65D2543/00833—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar
- B65D2543/00842—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar outside of the lid
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to containers, and, more particularly, to containers whose covers align together when stacked in a first position and which may be locked together in a second position.
- Rigid, thermoplastic food containers are generally known. Users often accumulate a large number of these containers in different sizes and shapes. When not in use, the containers are often stored haphazardly into drawers. In this case, the unused containers take up a great deal of room, and finding a matching base and cover, which make up a container, in a disarranged drawer may be difficult. To avoid this, some users stack the containers in cabinets. While the bases of the containers usually nest and therefore take up less room than in a disorganized drawer, it may still be difficult to match a base with a cover. In addition, the covers may not stack and the covers may tend to topple down. When the containers are in use to store food, the containers are often stacked one on top of another in cabinets or in a refrigerator. These stacks may be precarious, and their fall may cause food to spill from the containers. Many users would find it desirable if the containers, whether empty or in use, could be stored in a manner space efficient, less precarious, and more structurally rigid.
- the covers may be transported in bulk before being separated out for individual packaging.
- manufacturers would find it desirable if the covers would form a stack stable enough to resist the vertical and lateral movements caused by forces typically encountered during manufacturing operations.
- the present invention has as a general aim to provide containers that satisfy both users and manufacturers.
- Embodiments according to the principles of the present invention provide containers whose covers may be stacked together in two different ways.
- the covers may be nested and stacked and configured into an “aligned” stack.
- the aligned stack provides enough structural rigidity for bulk handling during manufacturing.
- the covers may be stacked, interlocked one to another, and configured into a “locked” stack.
- the locked stack provides even more structural rigidity than does the aligned stack and is useful when storing unused covers.
- the top cover of the stack may be easily released from the locked stack and removed.
- the cover includes a first closure portion, an engagement portion, and an alignment portion.
- the base of the container includes a second closure portion that is sealingly engageable with the first closure portion of the cover to define a substantially sealed, leak-proof, and re-sealable storage area for items such as food. It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, that the cover may be sealingly engaged with its base.
- the alignment portion of the cover is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack.
- the engagement portion of the cover is engageable with a second cover to form a system of covers in a locked cover stack.
- the engagement portion of the top cover of the locked stack is disengageable from the cover immediately below the top cover in the cover stack.
- the top cover is removable from the locked stack by a simple lifting action supplied by the thumb or forefinger of a user on a gripping tab coupled to the cover.
- the engagement portion of the cover is positioned on a gripping tab of the cover.
- the engagement portion is configured as a downwardly directed protrusion on the top of the cover of the container.
- a male cap component of the engagement portion cooperates with a female well component of the engagement portion of a second cover aligned immediately below the cover to lock the two covers together in a stack.
- the male cap component may be nearly vertical and fits with minimal clearance inside the female well component so that cover stacking is provided when the cover stack is not kept in a vertical orientation.
- the male cap component of a cover physically contacts the female well component of a second cover and provides a friction fit that locks the covers stacked together.
- the male cap component may have a shape similar to an opened topped hollow tub having a wedge-shaped outer surface wall.
- the male cap component may further include at least one undercut and at least one lead-in.
- the lead-in of the cover cooperates with the undercut of a second cover to provide a “snap” fit, well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to lock the cover with the second cover.
- the covers may either nest by sitting on top of each other in a stack that may be shear de-nested, or the male cap component may abuttingly engage into the female well component to lock the covers into one unit for convenient storage.
- the cover in another embodiment, includes a first closure portion at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of the cover.
- the first closure portion of the cover cooperates with a second closure portion on the top perimeter rim edge of the base of the container to form a seal.
- the container uses a rim or perimeter design that includes both inside and outside seals.
- Containers may be embodied with a variety of closure portion designs including outer closures and/or inner closures.
- the engagement portion is in a position spanning between an inner sealing wall and an outer sealing wall at the top of the first closure portion.
- the engagement portion of the cover is configured as a locking lug integral with the first closure portion.
- the covers and bases of container may be economically constructed from relatively thin-gauge plastic so that the user may either wash them after use or dispose of them with the view that their purchase price allows them to be used as a consumable good.
- the container may be readily manufactured, for example, with conventional thermoforming equipment or thin-walled injection molding.
- the cover may be made from a semi-transparent material to ensure satisfactory visibility of the container's contents.
- the container may be suitable for refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and machine dishwasher use.
- FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a container with a cover and a base according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the base of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3A is an isometric top view of the cover of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3B is an isometric bottom view of the cover of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4A is top plan view of the cover of FIG. 1 showing the engagement portion of the cover;
- FIG. 4B is close-up view of the engagement portion of the cover of FIG. 4A as indicated in dotted line;
- FIG. 4C is front view of the cover of FIG. 4A showing the engagement portion of the cover
- FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a cross-section of the cover of FIG. 3A taken along a first midline of the cover;
- FIG. 5B is a close-up view of the engagement portion of the cover of FIG. 5A ;
- FIG. 6A is an isometric view similar to FIG. 5A showing a cross-section of the cover and a second aligned with the cover;
- FIG. 6B is a close-up view similar to FIG. 5B showing of the engagement portion of the cover locked with the engagement portion of a second cover;
- FIG. 6C is a close-up view of a the engagement portion of the cover in a locked configuration with the engagement portion of a second cover;
- FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIGS. 5A and 6A showing a cross-section of a stack of five covers in a locked configuration
- FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a container with a cover and a base according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the base of FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 10A is an isometric top view of the cover of FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 10B is an isometric bottom view of the cover of FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 11A is a partial side cross-section view of the container of FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 11B is an outline view of the cross-section profile of FIG. 11A schematically depicting the seal formed by the cover and the base;
- FIG. 12A is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view of FIG. 11A showing the cover of FIG. 8 and a second cover aligned below but not locked to the cover;
- FIG. 12B is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view of FIG. 11A showing the cover of FIG. 8 lockingly engaged with the second cover;
- FIG. 12C is an outline view of the cross-section profile of FIG. 12B schematically depicting the locking engagement of the cover and the second cover;
- FIG. 13A is a partial side cross-section view similar to FIG. 11A of the container of FIG. 8 having a second cover locked to the cover;
- FIG. 13B is an outline view of the cross-section profile of FIG. 13A schematically depicting the seal formed by the cover and the base and the locking engagement of the cover and the second cover.
- a container 100 includes a flexible cover 102 sealingly engaged to a base 104 .
- the cover 102 includes at least one gripping tab 106 to facilitate removal of the cover 102 from the base 104 .
- the gripping tab 106 includes one or more cross-ribs or a textured surface to improve a user's grip and lift on the tab 106 .
- the container 100 is depicted as substantially square with rounded corners. In other embodiments of the present invention, the container 100 has other shapes such as square, circular, or elliptical.
- the cover 102 includes an engagement portion 308 .
- Engagement portion 308 allows the cover 102 to engage with the engagement portion of a second cover.
- the cover 102 further includes a first closure portion 310 at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of cover 102 .
- the base 104 includes a second closure portion 212 at the top edge of the base 104 .
- the cover 102 may be sealingly engaged with the base 104 .
- the first closure portion 310 of the cover 102 is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion 212 of the base 104 to define the substantially sealed, leak-proof, and re-sealable storage area for items such as food.
- the container 100 uses a rim or perimeter design that includes both inside and outside seals. Containers may be embodied with a variety of closure portion designs including outer closures and/or inner closures with a variety of undercuts and lead-ins that may affect seal integrity
- the first 310 and second 212 closure portions may be configured to be slightly different in size to form an interference fit therebetween.
- the interference between the closure portions may provide the sealing engagement between the closure portions.
- a positive seal may be formed between sealing surfaces around the perimeters of the base 104 and of the cover 102 .
- the engagement of the first 310 and second 212 closure portions may be accompanied by an audible “snap” indicating that the container 100 is securely closed.
- the cover 102 includes an engagement portion 308 that allows the cover 102 to lockingly engage with the engagement portion of a second cover.
- the engagement portion of the second cover may engage with the engagement portion of yet a third cover, and so on, to form a locked stack of any number of covers.
- This locking feature makes the resultant stack of covers more structurally rigid.
- the locked stack of covers is less precarious than a traditional, non-interlocked, stack of covers.
- the cover 102 accommodates the disengagement of the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 from the engagement portion of a second cover to release the cover 102 from its locked configuration in the stack of covers.
- FIGS. 4A-7 show the utility of an embodiment of the invention when the container covers are locked in storage.
- the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C is centered within the gripping tab 106 at the top surface of the cover 102 .
- the engagement portion 308 is depicted as a projection that is directed downwardly from the top of the cover 102 .
- the projection is in the form of a hollow, cup-like, nested structure.
- Engagement portion 308 is open at the top and has a wedge-shaped outer surface wall defining a male cap component 514 ( FIG. 5B ).
- the inner surface wall of the engagement portion 308 defines a female well component 516 ( FIG. 5B ) adapted to receive the male cap component of another cover.
- the male cap component 514 of the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 has a shape complimentary to the female well component 516 .
- the walls of the engagement portions taper from top to bottom, being designed with a draft angle, to accommodate nesting.
- the male cap component 514 of cover 102 may be receivingly engaged by the female well component of a cover below, locking the covers into one unit for convenient storage. Engagement portions of different covers may vary in depth to allow locking engagement compatibility across a container product family.
- more than one engagement portion 308 may be located on the top surface of the cover 102 to accommodate locking engagement of multiple container covers at more than one position on the top surface of the cover 102 .
- a standard shape and configuration of the engagement portion 308 is used with covers 102 of various shapes and sizes. This enhances storage flexibility by allowing different types of covers 102 to be stored together in a locked stack.
- a standard shaped and configured engagement portion 308 may be used with, for example, circular, square, rectangular, and elliptical shaped covers or with similarly shaped covers but differently sized covers.
- the engagement portion 308 may also be chosen to have a shape or otherwise include alignment portion elements that provide rotational alignment of a stack of covers 102 .
- Rotation is defined about an axis normal to the plane formed by orthogonal midlines, i.e., first midline 318 and second midline 320 , of the cover 102 ( FIG. 3A ).
- the origin of the rotational axis is at the center point 322 where the orthogonal midlines 318 and 320 intersect.
- shapes that inherently require alignment prior to engagement or that may be self-aligning during the process of connecting engagement portions would be shapes with linear or curvilinear sides, vertices or lobes such as triangular, square, rectangular, or multi-petal shapes.
- the engagement portion 308 depicted in FIGS. 4-6 which has a wedge-shaped outer surface defining the male cap component 514 of the cover 102 , is an engagement portion shape that inherently requires rotational alignment before locking with engagement portions of other covers.
- cover 102 may have elements that self-aligning during the process of locking connection of the engagement portions.
- the male cap component 514 includes an undercut 524 configured as a lengthwise bead along at least a part of the bottom edge of the male cap component 514 .
- undercut 524 is positioned around the entire outer surface wall of the engagement portion 308 making up the male cap component 514 .
- the undercut 524 projects outwardly from the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 .
- the female well component 516 of the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 includes a lead-in 526 .
- Lead-in 526 is configured as a groove or indentation along at least a portion of the top edge of the female well component 516 .
- lead-in 526 is indented around the entire inner surface wall of the engagement portion 308 making up the female well component 516 .
- the cover 102 is first rotationally aligned with the second cover 602 .
- the cover 102 inherently requires rotational alignment with the second cover 602 before locking.
- the cover 102 is rotated about its center point 322 ( FIG. 3A ) until the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 is directly above an engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 .
- the engagement portion 608 of a second cover 602 is configured as described above for the cover 102 . More particularly, the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 includes a male cap component 614 .
- the male cap component 614 of the second cover 602 includes an undercut 624 configured as a lengthwise bead along the entire bottom edge of the male cap component 614 of the second cover 602 .
- the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 includes a female well component 616 defined by the inner surface wall of the engagement portion 608 .
- the female well component 616 of the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 includes a lead-in 626 .
- Lead-in 626 of the second cover 602 is configured as a groove or indentation along at least a portion of the top edge of the female well component 616 of the engagement portion 626 of the second cover 602 .
- lead-in 626 is indented around the entire inner surface wall of the engagement portion 608 making up the female well component 616 of the second cover 602 .
- the outer surface wall of the engagement portion 308 defining the male cap component 514 of the cover 102 engages and interacts with a female well component 616 defined by the inner surface wall of the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 stacked immediately below the cover 102 .
- the undercut 524 of the cover 102 is adapted to engage and cooperate with the lead-in 626 of the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 to form a locked relationship between cover 102 and second cover 602 .
- engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 is rotationally aligned above the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 ( FIG. 6A ).
- the cover 102 is next pressed down onto and contacted with the second cover 602 such that male cap component 514 of the cover 102 is receivingly engaged by the female well component 616 of the second cover 602 , to form a locking relationship between cover 102 and second cover 602 .
- the undercut 524 of the engagement portion 308 of the cover 102 forms a snap or friction fit with lead-in 626 of the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 , which locks the cover 102 and the second cover 602 together into one unit for convenient storage.
- a third cover 702 A includes an engagement portion 708 A.
- the engagement portion 708 A of the third cover 702 A is configured as described above for the cover 102 and the second cover 602 .
- the engagement portion 708 A of the third cover 702 A may be locked with the engagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 in a manner similar to that described above for locking the cover 102 with the second cover 602 .
- an engagement portion 708 B of a fourth cover 702 B may be locked with the engagement portion 708 A of the third cover 702 A and an engagement portion 708 C of a fifth cover 702 C may be locked with the engagement portion 708 B of the fourth cover 702 B to form a locked stack 728 of five covers as shown in FIG. 7 .
- a stack of locked covers each with at least one undercut on the male cap component of its engagement portion and at least one cooperating lead-in on the female well component, may be unlocked by pulling upwardly on the tab of the top cover while holding the stack of locked covers below the top cover and so on until the entire stack of covers is unlocked.
- the unlock covers may nest on top of each other in a stack that may be shear de-nested as is well know to those of ordinary skill in the art.
- the engagement portions may be nearly vertical and accordingly the male cap components of the engagement portions fit with minimal clearance inside the cooperating female well components. Cover locking is provided without excessively increasing the height of a stack of locked covers over the height of a stack of unlocked covers that have no engagement portions.
- a container 800 includes a flexible cover 802 sealingly engaged to a base 804 .
- the cover 802 further includes a first closure portion 1010 at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of cover 802 .
- the cover 802 includes at least one gripping tab 806 to facilitate removal of the cover 802 from the base 804 .
- the container 800 is depicted as substantially square with rounded corners. In other embodiments of the present invention, the container 800 has other shapes such as square, circular, or elliptical.
- the base 804 includes a second closure portion 912 at the top perimeter edge of the sidewall 911 of the base 804 that is integral with the bottom 909 of the base 804 .
- the cover 802 may be sealingly engaged with the base 804 to define the substantially sealed, leak-proof, and re-sealable storage area for items such as food shown in FIG. 8 .
- the container 800 uses a rim or perimeter design that includes both inside and outside seals. Containers may be embodied with a variety of closure portion designs including outer closures and/or inner closures.
- the cover 802 includes an engagement portion 1008 .
- engagement portion 1008 is integrally formed with the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 and is not formed at the tab 806 as in the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7 .
- the engagement portion 1008 allows the cover 802 to lockingly engage with the first closure portion of a second cover.
- FIG. 11A is a partial side cross-section view of the container 800 of FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 11B is an outline view of the cross-section profile of FIG. 11A schematically depicting the seal formed by the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 and the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 .
- the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 cooperates with the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 to define a sealed storage compartment.
- the first closure portion 1010 includes an inner sealing wall 1130 and an outer sealing wall 1132 .
- the inner sealing wall 1130 defines a first sealing surface and the outer sealing wall 1132 defines a second sealing surface, both of which are part of the lower surface of the cover 802 (See also FIG.
- first sealing wall 1130 includes a first inner lead-in 1133 A at the bottom of the first sealing portion 1010 where it joins the top of the cover 802 .
- the outer sealing wall 1132 includes a first outer lead-in 1133 B at the bottom of the first sealing portion 1010 .
- the inner sealing wall 1130 includes a second inner lead-in 1134 A at the top of the first sealing portion 1010 of the cover 802 .
- the outer sealing wall 1132 includes a second outer lead-in 1134 B at the top of the first sealing portion 1010 of the cover 802 .
- first sealing portion 1010 may contain more than one inner and outer lead-ins of the cover 802 .
- integral with first closure portion 1010 at the second inner lead-in 1134 A and second outer lead-in 1134 B lead-ins is the engagement portion 1008 of the cover 802 .
- the engagement portion 1008 is configured as a locking lug spanning between the second inner 1134 A and second outer 1134 B lead-ins of the first closure portion 1010 .
- the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 is a raised ring that extends from an upper edge of the sidewall 911 of the base 804 (See also FIG. 9 ).
- the second closure portion 912 includes an inner sealing wall 1138 , an outer sealing wall 1140 and a retention bead 1141 integral with and spanning between the inner sealing wall 1138 and outer sealing wall 1140 of the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 .
- the inner sealing wall 1138 defines a third sealing surface and the outer sealing wall 1140 defines a fourth sealing surface.
- the second closure portion 912 may include one or more lead-ins.
- the inner sealing wall 1138 of the second closure portion 912 includes an inner lead-in 1142 A.
- the outer sealing wall 1140 of the second closure portion 912 includes an outer lead-in 1142 B.
- the first closure portion 1010 and the second closure portion 912 may be configured to be slightly different in size to form an interference fit therebetween.
- the interference fit between the first closure portions 1010 and the second closure portion 912 may provide a sealing engagement between the closure portions. More particularly, the first sealing surface of the inner sealing wall 1130 of the first closure portion 1010 abuttingly contacts the third sealing surface of the inner sealing wall 1138 of the second closure portion 912 to provide an inner sealing engagement; and the second sealing surface of the outer sealing wall 1132 of the first closure portion 1010 abuttingly contacts the fourth sealing surface of the outer sealing wall 1140 of the second closure portion 912 to provide an outer sealing engagement.
- the second inner lead-in 1134 A of the first closure portion 1010 cooperates with the inner lead-in 1142 A of the second closure portion 912 to enhance and maintain the inner sealing engagement between the cover 802 and the base 804 .
- the second outer lead-in 1134 B of the first closure portion 1010 cooperates with the outer lead-in 1142 B of the second closure portion 912 to enhance and maintain the outer sealing engagement between the cover 802 and the base 804 .
- the abutting engagement of the first closure portion 1010 and second closure portion 912 may be accompanied by an audible “snap” indicating that the container is securely closed and sealed.
- a user applies a downward force on the cover 802 , or, more conveniently, only to the top of the engagement portion 1008 of the cover 802 , while the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 is aligned with the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 .
- FIG. 12A is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view of FIG. 11A showing the cover 802 of FIG. 8 and a second cover 1202 aligned below but not locked to the cover 802 .
- FIG. 12B is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view of FIG. 11A showing the cover 802 of FIG. 8 lockingly engaged with the second cover 1202 .
- FIG. 12C is an outline view of the cross-section profile of FIG. 12B schematically depicting the locking engagement of the cover 802 and the second cover 1202 . As best seen in FIG.
- integral with the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 is the engagement portion 1008 spanning between the second inner lead-in 1134 A and the second outer lead-in 1134 B of the first closure portion 1010 .
- the engagement portion 1008 of the cover 802 is configured as a locking lug integral with the first closure portion 1010 .
- the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 includes an inner undercut portion 1244 A above and integral with an inner lead-in 1234 A of the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 .
- the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 includes an outer undercut portion 1244 B above and integral with an outer lead-in 1234 B at the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 .
- a retention bead 1241 of the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1204 is integral with and spans between the inner lead-in 1234 A and the outer lead-in 1234 B of the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1204 .
- the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 is adapted to cooperate with the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 to lockingly engage the second cover 1202 with the cover 802 .
- the configuration of the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 mimics a part of the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 ( FIG. 11C ).
- the inner undercut portion 1244 A and outer undercut portion 1244 B of the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 correspond to inner sealing wall 1130 , and outer sealing wall 1132 , respectively, of the second closure portion 912 of the base 804 (see FIGS. 11B and 11C ).
- the first sealing portion 1010 of the cover 802 is aligned above the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 as shown in FIG. 12A .
- a user applies a downward force on the first cover 802 while the first closure portion of the cover 102 is aligned above the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 .
- the first closure portion 1010 of the cover 802 abuttingly engages the engagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1202 to lock the second cover 1202 to the cover 802 as shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C .
- inner sealing wall 1130 and first inner lead-in 1133 A of the cover 802 engages, respectively, with inner lead-in 1234 A and inner undercut portion 1244 A of the second cover 1202 ; and outer sealing wall 1132 and first outer lead-in 1133 B of the cover 802 engages, respectively, with outer lead-in 1234 B and outer undercut portion 1244 B of the second cover 1202 to lock the cover 802 with the second cover 1202 .
- a third cover may be locked to the second cover 1202
- a fourth cover may be locked to the third cover and so on to form a stack of locked covers.
- the stack of locked covers each with a first closure portion and a cooperating engagement portion as described above, may be unlocked by pulling upwardly on the tab of the top cover while holding the stack of locked covers below the top cover and so on until the entire stack of covers is unlocked.
- the unlock covers may nest on top of each other in a stack that may be shear de-nested as described in related U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/655,830.
- FIG. 13A is a partial side cross-section view similar to FIG. 11A of the container 800 of FIG. 8 having a second cover 1302 locked to the cover 802 of the base 804 of the container 800 .
- FIG. 13B is an outline view of the cross-section profile of FIG. 13A schematically depicting the seal formed by the cover and the base and the locking engagement of the cover and the second cover.
- container 800 may be sealed by engaging cover 802 to the base 804 as described above with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B while at the same time a second cover 1302 is locking engaged with the cover 802 as described above with reference to FIGS. 12A-12C .
- the engagement portion of the second cover 1302 may engage with the engagement portion of yet a third cover, and so on, to form a locked stack of any number of covers above the base 804 of the container 800 .
- the engagement portion of the cover is formed above the first closure portion the cover around the entire perimeter edge of the cover. In other embodiments, the engagement portion of the cover is formed as one of more discrete segments above the first closure portion of the cover that cooperate with the first closure portion of a second cover.
- the covers described above may be constructed with a wall thickness thinner than that of its base.
- the covers may be made from any suitable plastic and may be integrally made by any suitable technique, such as thermoforming.
- the covers may be formed from polypropylene. Due to the thermoforming process, the wall thickness of the covers may vary. Thinner covers reduce material costs and increase flexibility to more easily accommodate their removal from, and engagement with, their bases. The covers may maintain adequate flexibility for proper sealing even during typical freezer temperatures.
- the covers may be sufficiently flexible to allow a user to create a vacuum in containers upon sealing.
- the user could for example depress a cover during the closing of the container.
- a return force imparted upon the cover by the resiliency of the material of the cover will urge the cover to return to its normal position, thereby creating a vacuum.
- the base may be integrally made from any suitable plastic with sufficient thickness to withstand without deforming the heat of microwave cooking and of top-shelf dishwashing. It should also remain sturdy during lifting while laden with hot food.
- the base may be made from any suitable plastic and may be made by any suitable technique, such as co-extrusion, lamination, injection molding, thermoforming, or overmolding. As is well known in the art, the same forming process is typically used to form both the base and the cover of the container.
- the base is formed from polypropylene.
- the wall thickness of the base may vary due to the manufacturing process.
- engagement portion may include one or more of the following features to enable locking engagement: convex portions or ribs, concave portions or ribs, linear or curvilinear undercuts, discrete snap elements or buttons, interference fits, textured surfaces, or elements that modify surface friction or tackiness at or around the points of engagement.
- the force required to connect the covers may differ substantially from the force required to disengage the covers. For instance, it may be beneficial during manufacturing that the force needed to connect the covers is less than the force required to separate the covers. As a result, the covers are relatively easy to connect during manufacturing, yet they will lock securely and not undesirably separate during the manufacturing process.
- the protrusions on the engagement portion may be designed where, for a given protrusion, the upper protrusion edge comprises a gradual taper whereas the lower protrusion edge comprises a more abrupt shape.
- the shape of the protrusion may be similar to a barbed hook with gradual taper on the upper edge of the barb that would impart little resistance during engagement and with an abrupt shape on the lower edge of the barb that would impart relatively high resistance during disengagement.
- the high connecting force provides the perceived benefit, yet a lower disengagement force does not require that the user untowardly struggle during separation of covers.
- the protrusions on the engagement portion may be designed where, for a given protrusion, the upper protrusion edge comprises an abrupt shape whereas the lower protrusion edge comprises a more gradual taper.
- the shape of the protrusion may be a reversed barb with an abrupt shape on the upper edge of the barb that would impart relatively high resistance during engagement and with a gradual taper on the lower edge of the barb that would impart little resistance during disengagement.
- the engagement portion may provide tactile or audible feedback upon locking. In this way, the user would sense that the covers are connected and that no further force need be applied.
- the container may be reusable, but it may also be constructed cheaply enough that consumers see it as a disposable item, with replacement covers and bases available separately for retail sale.
- the base and the cover may be fabricated by thermoforming a plastic such as clarified polypropylene homopolymer material.
- the container may be fabricated by thermoforming a clarified random copolymer polypropylene material.
- PS polystyrene
- CPET crystalline polyethylene terephthalate
- APET amorphous polyethylene terephthalate
- HDPE high density polyethylene
- PVC polyvinyl chloride
- PC polycarbonate
- foamed polypropylene foamed polypropylene.
- the material used may be generally transparent to allow a user to view the contents of the container.
- the container may include a visual indication of closure between the cover and the base.
- the visual indication may be a color change in the area where the cover engages the base.
- the first closure portion on the cover may be a first color and the second closure portion on the base may be a second color.
- the first and second colors produce a third color which is visible to the user to indicate that the container is sealed.
- the container may include a rough exterior surface to reduce slipping and to improve grasping by the user, especially if the user's hands are wet or greasy.
- the pinching bar may all have a rough exterior to aid in application of the pinching force supplied by a user to disengage locked covers.
- the container may include a self-venting feature.
- the pressure in the sealed container may increase when the sealed container and contents are heated in a microwave oven.
- the cover may include a self-venting mechanism that opens when the pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined value.
- the container may be divided to separate foods in the container.
- a divider may be integral with the container or may be a separate component.
- Either the base only may include a divider or both the base and the cover may each include a divider.
- the divider located in the cover may only partially engage the divider in the base so as to provide splash protection, or it may fully engage the divider in the base to provide varying degrees of inter-compartmental leak resistance.
- the container may include a strip indicating the temperature of the container and its contents.
- the gripping tab may include a relieved portion that provides less interference contact with the base during the removal or engagement of the cover while still providing an adequate first closure portion to maintain proper sealing of the container.
- the relieved portions of the gripping tab permit venting by allowing a portion of the cover to be unsealed from the base while still maintaining a seal around the remaining perimeter of the container. This feature is useful in microwave cooking where the cover prevents food from splattering onto the inside surface of the microwave while still allowing the container to vent.
- By using the gripping tab less force is required to remove the cover from the base. This lower opening force also reduces the possibility of container failure from stress and fatigue. The lower opening force may improve the ability of the user to maintain control over the container components while removing the cover from the base and thus to reduce the possibility of spilling the contents stored in the container.
Abstract
A container 100 includes a cover 102 and a base 104. The cover 102 of the container 100 includes a first closure portion 310, an engagement portion 308, and an alignment portion. The base 104 includes a second closure portion 212. The first closure portion 310 of the cover 102 is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion 212 of the base 104 to define a sealed storage area. Multiple covers 102 stack together in two different ways. First, the covers 102 may be stacked into an “aligned” stack. Second, the covers 102 may be stacked into a locked stack. The alignment portion of the cover 102 is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack. The engagement portion 310 of the cover 102 is receivingly engageable by the engagement portion 308 of a second cover 602 to form a locked cover stack 728.
Description
- The present invention relates generally to containers, and, more particularly, to containers whose covers align together when stacked in a first position and which may be locked together in a second position.
- Rigid, thermoplastic food containers are generally known. Users often accumulate a large number of these containers in different sizes and shapes. When not in use, the containers are often stored haphazardly into drawers. In this case, the unused containers take up a great deal of room, and finding a matching base and cover, which make up a container, in a disarranged drawer may be difficult. To avoid this, some users stack the containers in cabinets. While the bases of the containers usually nest and therefore take up less room than in a disorganized drawer, it may still be difficult to match a base with a cover. In addition, the covers may not stack and the covers may tend to topple down. When the containers are in use to store food, the containers are often stacked one on top of another in cabinets or in a refrigerator. These stacks may be precarious, and their fall may cause food to spill from the containers. Many users would find it desirable if the containers, whether empty or in use, could be stored in a manner space efficient, less precarious, and more structurally rigid.
- During large-scale manufacturing, the covers may be transported in bulk before being separated out for individual packaging. During bulk handling, manufacturers would find it desirable if the covers would form a stack stable enough to resist the vertical and lateral movements caused by forces typically encountered during manufacturing operations.
- The present invention has as a general aim to provide containers that satisfy both users and manufacturers.
- Embodiments according to the principles of the present invention provide containers whose covers may be stacked together in two different ways. First, the covers may be nested and stacked and configured into an “aligned” stack. The aligned stack provides enough structural rigidity for bulk handling during manufacturing. Second, the covers may be stacked, interlocked one to another, and configured into a “locked” stack. The locked stack provides even more structural rigidity than does the aligned stack and is useful when storing unused covers. Finally, once the stack of covers is locked, the top cover of the stack may be easily released from the locked stack and removed.
- In some embodiments, the cover includes a first closure portion, an engagement portion, and an alignment portion. The base of the container includes a second closure portion that is sealingly engageable with the first closure portion of the cover to define a substantially sealed, leak-proof, and re-sealable storage area for items such as food. It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, that the cover may be sealingly engaged with its base.
- The alignment portion of the cover is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack. The engagement portion of the cover is engageable with a second cover to form a system of covers in a locked cover stack.
- In one embodiment, once engaged to form a locked stack of covers, the engagement portion of the top cover of the locked stack is disengageable from the cover immediately below the top cover in the cover stack. The top cover is removable from the locked stack by a simple lifting action supplied by the thumb or forefinger of a user on a gripping tab coupled to the cover.
- In one embodiment, the engagement portion of the cover is positioned on a gripping tab of the cover. The engagement portion is configured as a downwardly directed protrusion on the top of the cover of the container. A male cap component of the engagement portion, cooperates with a female well component of the engagement portion of a second cover aligned immediately below the cover to lock the two covers together in a stack. The male cap component may be nearly vertical and fits with minimal clearance inside the female well component so that cover stacking is provided when the cover stack is not kept in a vertical orientation. In one embodiment, the male cap component of a cover physically contacts the female well component of a second cover and provides a friction fit that locks the covers stacked together. The male cap component may have a shape similar to an opened topped hollow tub having a wedge-shaped outer surface wall. The male cap component may further include at least one undercut and at least one lead-in. The lead-in of the cover cooperates with the undercut of a second cover to provide a “snap” fit, well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to lock the cover with the second cover. Thus, The covers may either nest by sitting on top of each other in a stack that may be shear de-nested, or the male cap component may abuttingly engage into the female well component to lock the covers into one unit for convenient storage.
- In another embodiment, the cover includes a first closure portion at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of the cover. The first closure portion of the cover cooperates with a second closure portion on the top perimeter rim edge of the base of the container to form a seal. The container uses a rim or perimeter design that includes both inside and outside seals. Containers may be embodied with a variety of closure portion designs including outer closures and/or inner closures. The engagement portion is in a position spanning between an inner sealing wall and an outer sealing wall at the top of the first closure portion. The engagement portion of the cover is configured as a locking lug integral with the first closure portion.
- The covers and bases of container may be economically constructed from relatively thin-gauge plastic so that the user may either wash them after use or dispose of them with the view that their purchase price allows them to be used as a consumable good. The container may be readily manufactured, for example, with conventional thermoforming equipment or thin-walled injection molding. The cover may be made from a semi-transparent material to ensure satisfactory visibility of the container's contents. The container may be suitable for refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and machine dishwasher use.
- The features of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, provided herein.
- Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a container with a cover and a base according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the base ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3A is an isometric top view of the cover ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3B is an isometric bottom view of the cover ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4A is top plan view of the cover ofFIG. 1 showing the engagement portion of the cover; -
FIG. 4B is close-up view of the engagement portion of the cover ofFIG. 4A as indicated in dotted line; -
FIG. 4C is front view of the cover ofFIG. 4A showing the engagement portion of the cover; -
FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a cross-section of the cover ofFIG. 3A taken along a first midline of the cover; -
FIG. 5B is a close-up view of the engagement portion of the cover ofFIG. 5A ; -
FIG. 6A is an isometric view similar toFIG. 5A showing a cross-section of the cover and a second aligned with the cover; -
FIG. 6B is a close-up view similar toFIG. 5B showing of the engagement portion of the cover locked with the engagement portion of a second cover; -
FIG. 6C is a close-up view of a the engagement portion of the cover in a locked configuration with the engagement portion of a second cover; -
FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar toFIGS. 5A and 6A showing a cross-section of a stack of five covers in a locked configuration; -
FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a container with a cover and a base according to another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the base ofFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 10A is an isometric top view of the cover ofFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 10B is an isometric bottom view of the cover ofFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 11A , is a partial side cross-section view of the container ofFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 11B is an outline view of the cross-section profile ofFIG. 11A schematically depicting the seal formed by the cover and the base; -
FIG. 12A is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view ofFIG. 11A showing the cover ofFIG. 8 and a second cover aligned below but not locked to the cover; -
FIG. 12B is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view ofFIG. 11A showing the cover ofFIG. 8 lockingly engaged with the second cover; -
FIG. 12C is an outline view of the cross-section profile ofFIG. 12B schematically depicting the locking engagement of the cover and the second cover; -
FIG. 13A is a partial side cross-section view similar toFIG. 11A of the container ofFIG. 8 having a second cover locked to the cover; and -
FIG. 13B is an outline view of the cross-section profile ofFIG. 13A schematically depicting the seal formed by the cover and the base and the locking engagement of the cover and the second cover. - An embodiment according to the principles of the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 1-7 . As seen inFIG. 1 , acontainer 100 includes aflexible cover 102 sealingly engaged to abase 104. Thecover 102 includes at least onegripping tab 106 to facilitate removal of thecover 102 from thebase 104. In some embodiments, thegripping tab 106 includes one or more cross-ribs or a textured surface to improve a user's grip and lift on thetab 106. Thecontainer 100 is depicted as substantially square with rounded corners. In other embodiments of the present invention, thecontainer 100 has other shapes such as square, circular, or elliptical. - As seen in
FIGS. 3A and 3B , and as described and illustrated more fully below, thecover 102, and more particularly thegripping tab 106, includes anengagement portion 308.Engagement portion 308 allows thecover 102 to engage with the engagement portion of a second cover. - The
cover 102 further includes afirst closure portion 310 at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom ofcover 102. InFIG. 2 , thebase 104 includes asecond closure portion 212 at the top edge of thebase 104. It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, that thecover 102 may be sealingly engaged with thebase 104. Thus, thefirst closure portion 310 of thecover 102 is sealingly engageable with thesecond closure portion 212 of the base 104 to define the substantially sealed, leak-proof, and re-sealable storage area for items such as food. Thecontainer 100 uses a rim or perimeter design that includes both inside and outside seals. Containers may be embodied with a variety of closure portion designs including outer closures and/or inner closures with a variety of undercuts and lead-ins that may affect seal integrity - The first 310 and second 212 closure portions may be configured to be slightly different in size to form an interference fit therebetween. The interference between the closure portions may provide the sealing engagement between the closure portions. As a result, when the two pieces are engaged, a positive seal may be formed between sealing surfaces around the perimeters of the
base 104 and of thecover 102. The engagement of the first 310 and second 212 closure portions may be accompanied by an audible “snap” indicating that thecontainer 100 is securely closed. - As described and illustrated above with reference to
FIGS. 3A and 3B , thecover 102, and more particularly thegripping tab 106, includes anengagement portion 308 that allows thecover 102 to lockingly engage with the engagement portion of a second cover. The engagement portion of the second cover may engage with the engagement portion of yet a third cover, and so on, to form a locked stack of any number of covers. This locking feature makes the resultant stack of covers more structurally rigid. Thus, the locked stack of covers is less precarious than a traditional, non-interlocked, stack of covers. Further, as described and illustrated in more detail below, thecover 102 accommodates the disengagement of theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102 from the engagement portion of a second cover to release thecover 102 from its locked configuration in the stack of covers. -
FIGS. 4A-7 show the utility of an embodiment of the invention when the container covers are locked in storage. In one embodiment, theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102 illustrated inFIGS. 4A-4C is centered within the grippingtab 106 at the top surface of thecover 102. As best seen inFIG. 4C , theengagement portion 308 is depicted as a projection that is directed downwardly from the top of thecover 102. - As shown in
FIGS. 5A and 5B , the projection is in the form of a hollow, cup-like, nested structure.Engagement portion 308 is open at the top and has a wedge-shaped outer surface wall defining a male cap component 514 (FIG. 5B ). The inner surface wall of theengagement portion 308 defines a female well component 516 (FIG. 5B ) adapted to receive the male cap component of another cover. Themale cap component 514 of theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102 has a shape complimentary to thefemale well component 516. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 4A-7 , the walls of the engagement portions taper from top to bottom, being designed with a draft angle, to accommodate nesting. Thus, themale cap component 514 ofcover 102 may be receivingly engaged by the female well component of a cover below, locking the covers into one unit for convenient storage. Engagement portions of different covers may vary in depth to allow locking engagement compatibility across a container product family. - In other embodiments, more than one
engagement portion 308 may be located on the top surface of thecover 102 to accommodate locking engagement of multiple container covers at more than one position on the top surface of thecover 102. In some embodiments, a standard shape and configuration of theengagement portion 308 is used withcovers 102 of various shapes and sizes. This enhances storage flexibility by allowing different types ofcovers 102 to be stored together in a locked stack. A standard shaped and configuredengagement portion 308 may be used with, for example, circular, square, rectangular, and elliptical shaped covers or with similarly shaped covers but differently sized covers. - The
engagement portion 308 may also be chosen to have a shape or otherwise include alignment portion elements that provide rotational alignment of a stack ofcovers 102. Rotation is defined about an axis normal to the plane formed by orthogonal midlines, i.e.,first midline 318 and second midline 320, of the cover 102 (FIG. 3A ). The origin of the rotational axis is at thecenter point 322 where theorthogonal midlines 318 and 320 intersect. For instance, shapes that inherently require alignment prior to engagement or that may be self-aligning during the process of connecting engagement portions would be shapes with linear or curvilinear sides, vertices or lobes such as triangular, square, rectangular, or multi-petal shapes. Theengagement portion 308 depicted inFIGS. 4-6 , which has a wedge-shaped outer surface defining themale cap component 514 of thecover 102, is an engagement portion shape that inherently requires rotational alignment before locking with engagement portions of other covers. Alternately, cover 102 may have elements that self-aligning during the process of locking connection of the engagement portions. - Referring again to
FIG. 5B , themale cap component 514 includes an undercut 524 configured as a lengthwise bead along at least a part of the bottom edge of themale cap component 514. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 4A-7 , undercut 524 is positioned around the entire outer surface wall of theengagement portion 308 making up themale cap component 514. The undercut 524 projects outwardly from theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102. - The
female well component 516 of theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102 includes a lead-in 526. Lead-in 526 is configured as a groove or indentation along at least a portion of the top edge of thefemale well component 516. In this embodiment, lead-in 526 is indented around the entire inner surface wall of theengagement portion 308 making up thefemale well component 516. - Referring to
FIGS. 6A-6C , to lock asecond cover 602 to thecover 102 thecover 102 is first rotationally aligned with thesecond cover 602. As noted above, thecover 102 inherently requires rotational alignment with thesecond cover 602 before locking. To align thecover 102 with thesecond cover 602, thecover 102 is rotated about its center point 322 (FIG. 3A ) until theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102 is directly above anengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602. - The
engagement portion 608 of asecond cover 602 is configured as described above for thecover 102. More particularly, theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602 includes amale cap component 614. Themale cap component 614 of thesecond cover 602 includes an undercut 624 configured as a lengthwise bead along the entire bottom edge of themale cap component 614 of thesecond cover 602. Further, in this embodiment, theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602 includes afemale well component 616 defined by the inner surface wall of theengagement portion 608. Thefemale well component 616 of theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602 includes a lead-in 626. Lead-in 626 of thesecond cover 602 is configured as a groove or indentation along at least a portion of the top edge of thefemale well component 616 of theengagement portion 626 of thesecond cover 602. In this embodiment, lead-in 626 is indented around the entire inner surface wall of theengagement portion 608 making up thefemale well component 616 of thesecond cover 602. - As best seen in
FIG. 6C , when in a locked configuration, the outer surface wall of theengagement portion 308 defining themale cap component 514 of thecover 102 engages and interacts with afemale well component 616 defined by the inner surface wall of theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602 stacked immediately below thecover 102. More particularly, the undercut 524 of thecover 102 is adapted to engage and cooperate with the lead-in 626 of theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602 to form a locked relationship betweencover 102 andsecond cover 602. - In locking the
second cover 602 with thecover 102,engagement portion 308 of thecover 102 is rotationally aligned above theengagement portion 608 of the second cover 602 (FIG. 6A ). As shown inFIG. 6B , thecover 102 is next pressed down onto and contacted with thesecond cover 602 such thatmale cap component 514 of thecover 102 is receivingly engaged by thefemale well component 616 of thesecond cover 602, to form a locking relationship betweencover 102 andsecond cover 602. More particularly, when thecover 102 is pressed down on thesecond cover 602, the undercut 524 of theengagement portion 308 of thecover 102 forms a snap or friction fit with lead-in 626 of theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602, which locks thecover 102 and thesecond cover 602 together into one unit for convenient storage. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , similarly, in this embodiment, athird cover 702A, includes anengagement portion 708A. Theengagement portion 708A of thethird cover 702A is configured as described above for thecover 102 and thesecond cover 602. Theengagement portion 708A of thethird cover 702A may be locked with theengagement portion 608 of thesecond cover 602 in a manner similar to that described above for locking thecover 102 with thesecond cover 602. Likewise, an engagement portion 708B of afourth cover 702B may be locked with theengagement portion 708A of thethird cover 702A and anengagement portion 708C of afifth cover 702C may be locked with the engagement portion 708B of thefourth cover 702B to form a lockedstack 728 of five covers as shown inFIG. 7 . - A stack of locked covers, each with at least one undercut on the male cap component of its engagement portion and at least one cooperating lead-in on the female well component, may be unlocked by pulling upwardly on the tab of the top cover while holding the stack of locked covers below the top cover and so on until the entire stack of covers is unlocked. The unlock covers may nest on top of each other in a stack that may be shear de-nested as is well know to those of ordinary skill in the art. Advantageously, in this embodiment, the engagement portions may be nearly vertical and accordingly the male cap components of the engagement portions fit with minimal clearance inside the cooperating female well components. Cover locking is provided without excessively increasing the height of a stack of locked covers over the height of a stack of unlocked covers that have no engagement portions.
- As with the shape of the
container 100 itself, the engagement portions of the covers may assume a variety of shapes, locations, and matingly engageable surface configurations. Another embodiment in accordance with he principles of the present, for example, is described and illustrated more fully below with reference toFIGS. 8-13B . Referring toFIG. 8 , acontainer 800 includes aflexible cover 802 sealingly engaged to abase 804. As seen inFIGS. 10B , 11A and 11B, thecover 802 further includes afirst closure portion 1010 at the outer peripheral edge of the bottom ofcover 802. Thecover 802 includes at least onegripping tab 806 to facilitate removal of thecover 802 from thebase 804. Thecontainer 800 is depicted as substantially square with rounded corners. In other embodiments of the present invention, thecontainer 800 has other shapes such as square, circular, or elliptical. - In
FIGS. 9 , 11A, and 11B, thebase 804 includes asecond closure portion 912 at the top perimeter edge of thesidewall 911 of the base 804 that is integral with thebottom 909 of thebase 804. It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, that thecover 802 may be sealingly engaged with the base 804 to define the substantially sealed, leak-proof, and re-sealable storage area for items such as food shown inFIG. 8 . Thecontainer 800 uses a rim or perimeter design that includes both inside and outside seals. Containers may be embodied with a variety of closure portion designs including outer closures and/or inner closures. - Referring to
FIGS. 10A-11B , thecover 802 includes anengagement portion 1008. As best seen inFIG. 11B ,engagement portion 1008 is integrally formed with thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 and is not formed at thetab 806 as in the embodiment described above with reference toFIGS. 1-7 . As described and illustrated more fully below with reference toFIGS. 12A and 12B , theengagement portion 1008 allows thecover 802 to lockingly engage with the first closure portion of a second cover. -
FIG. 11A , is a partial side cross-section view of thecontainer 800 ofFIG. 8 .FIG. 11B is an outline view of the cross-section profile ofFIG. 11A schematically depicting the seal formed by thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 and thesecond closure portion 912 of thebase 804. Thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 cooperates with thesecond closure portion 912 of the base 804 to define a sealed storage compartment. Referring toFIGS. 11A and 11B together, thefirst closure portion 1010 includes aninner sealing wall 1130 and anouter sealing wall 1132. Theinner sealing wall 1130 defines a first sealing surface and theouter sealing wall 1132 defines a second sealing surface, both of which are part of the lower surface of the cover 802 (See alsoFIG. 10B ). In the embodiment shown, theinner sealing wall 1130 includes a first inner lead-in 1133A at the bottom of thefirst sealing portion 1010 where it joins the top of thecover 802. Likewise, theouter sealing wall 1132 includes a first outer lead-in 1133B at the bottom of thefirst sealing portion 1010. Further, in this embodiment, theinner sealing wall 1130 includes a second inner lead-in 1134A at the top of thefirst sealing portion 1010 of thecover 802. Likewise, theouter sealing wall 1132 includes a second outer lead-in 1134B at the top of thefirst sealing portion 1010 of thecover 802. In other embodiments,first sealing portion 1010 may contain more than one inner and outer lead-ins of thecover 802. - As described and illustrated more fully below with reference to
FIGS. 12A and 12B , integral withfirst closure portion 1010 at the second inner lead-in 1134A and second outer lead-in 1134B lead-ins is theengagement portion 1008 of thecover 802. Theengagement portion 1008 is configured as a locking lug spanning between the second inner 1134A and second outer 1134B lead-ins of thefirst closure portion 1010. - The
second closure portion 912 of thebase 804 is a raised ring that extends from an upper edge of thesidewall 911 of the base 804 (See alsoFIG. 9 ). Thesecond closure portion 912 includes aninner sealing wall 1138, anouter sealing wall 1140 and aretention bead 1141 integral with and spanning between theinner sealing wall 1138 andouter sealing wall 1140 of thesecond closure portion 912 of thebase 804. Theinner sealing wall 1138 defines a third sealing surface and theouter sealing wall 1140 defines a fourth sealing surface. Thesecond closure portion 912 may include one or more lead-ins. In the embodiment shown, theinner sealing wall 1138 of thesecond closure portion 912 includes an inner lead-in 1142A. Theouter sealing wall 1140 of thesecond closure portion 912 includes an outer lead-in 1142B. - The
first closure portion 1010 and thesecond closure portion 912 may be configured to be slightly different in size to form an interference fit therebetween. The interference fit between thefirst closure portions 1010 and thesecond closure portion 912 may provide a sealing engagement between the closure portions. More particularly, the first sealing surface of theinner sealing wall 1130 of thefirst closure portion 1010 abuttingly contacts the third sealing surface of theinner sealing wall 1138 of thesecond closure portion 912 to provide an inner sealing engagement; and the second sealing surface of theouter sealing wall 1132 of thefirst closure portion 1010 abuttingly contacts the fourth sealing surface of theouter sealing wall 1140 of thesecond closure portion 912 to provide an outer sealing engagement. - The second inner lead-in 1134A of the
first closure portion 1010 cooperates with the inner lead-in 1142A of thesecond closure portion 912 to enhance and maintain the inner sealing engagement between thecover 802 and thebase 804. In a similar manner, the second outer lead-in 1134B of thefirst closure portion 1010 cooperates with the outer lead-in 1142B of thesecond closure portion 912 to enhance and maintain the outer sealing engagement between thecover 802 and thebase 804. As a result, when thecover 102 and the base 104 are abuttingly engaged, a compound positive seal is formed between the sealing surfaces around the perimeters of thecover 802 and thebase 804. - The abutting engagement of the
first closure portion 1010 andsecond closure portion 912 may be accompanied by an audible “snap” indicating that the container is securely closed and sealed. To facilitate sealing engagement of thecover 802 with itsbase 804, a user applies a downward force on thecover 802, or, more conveniently, only to the top of theengagement portion 1008 of thecover 802, while thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 is aligned with thesecond closure portion 912 of thebase 804. -
FIG. 12A is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view ofFIG. 11A showing thecover 802 ofFIG. 8 and asecond cover 1202 aligned below but not locked to thecover 802.FIG. 12B is a partial side cross-section view similar to the view ofFIG. 11A showing thecover 802 ofFIG. 8 lockingly engaged with thesecond cover 1202.FIG. 12C is an outline view of the cross-section profile ofFIG. 12B schematically depicting the locking engagement of thecover 802 and thesecond cover 1202. As best seen inFIG. 12C , integral with thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 is theengagement portion 1008 spanning between the second inner lead-in 1134A and the second outer lead-in 1134B of thefirst closure portion 1010. Theengagement portion 1008 of thecover 802 is configured as a locking lug integral with thefirst closure portion 1010. - The
engagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 includes an inner undercutportion 1244A above and integral with an inner lead-in 1234A of theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202. Likewise, theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 includes an outer undercutportion 1244B above and integral with an outer lead-in 1234B at theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202. A retention bead 1241 of theengagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1204 is integral with and spans between the inner lead-in 1234A and the outer lead-in 1234B of theengagement portion 1208 of the second cover 1204. - The
engagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 is adapted to cooperate with thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 to lockingly engage thesecond cover 1202 with thecover 802. Thus, the configuration of theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 mimics a part of thesecond closure portion 912 of the base 804 (FIG. 11C ). More particularly, the inner undercutportion 1244A and outer undercutportion 1244B of theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 correspond toinner sealing wall 1130, andouter sealing wall 1132, respectively, of thesecond closure portion 912 of the base 804 (seeFIGS. 11B and 11C ). - To lockingly engage the
second cover 1202 with thecover 802, thefirst sealing portion 1010 of thecover 802 is aligned above theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 as shown inFIG. 12A . In a manner similar to that described above for the first and second closure portions, a user applies a downward force on thefirst cover 802 while the first closure portion of thecover 102 is aligned above theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202. Thefirst closure portion 1010 of thecover 802 abuttingly engages theengagement portion 1208 of thesecond cover 1202 to lock thesecond cover 1202 to thecover 802 as shown inFIGS. 12B and 12C . More particularly, when lockingly engaged,inner sealing wall 1130 and first inner lead-in 1133A of thecover 802 engages, respectively, with inner lead-in 1234A and inner undercutportion 1244A of thesecond cover 1202; andouter sealing wall 1132 and first outer lead-in 1133B of thecover 802 engages, respectively, with outer lead-in 1234B and outer undercutportion 1244B of thesecond cover 1202 to lock thecover 802 with thesecond cover 1202. - In a similar manner, a third cover may be locked to the
second cover 1202, a fourth cover may be locked to the third cover and so on to form a stack of locked covers. In this embodiment, the stack of locked covers, each with a first closure portion and a cooperating engagement portion as described above, may be unlocked by pulling upwardly on the tab of the top cover while holding the stack of locked covers below the top cover and so on until the entire stack of covers is unlocked. The unlock covers may nest on top of each other in a stack that may be shear de-nested as described in related U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/655,830. -
FIG. 13A is a partial side cross-section view similar toFIG. 11A of thecontainer 800 ofFIG. 8 having asecond cover 1302 locked to thecover 802 of thebase 804 of thecontainer 800.FIG. 13B is an outline view of the cross-section profile ofFIG. 13A schematically depicting the seal formed by the cover and the base and the locking engagement of the cover and the second cover. As shown in theFigures container 800 may be sealed by engagingcover 802 to the base 804 as described above with reference toFIGS. 11A and 11B while at the same time asecond cover 1302 is locking engaged with thecover 802 as described above with reference toFIGS. 12A-12C . The engagement portion of thesecond cover 1302 may engage with the engagement portion of yet a third cover, and so on, to form a locked stack of any number of covers above thebase 804 of thecontainer 800. - In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 8-13B , the engagement portion of the cover is formed above the first closure portion the cover around the entire perimeter edge of the cover. In other embodiments, the engagement portion of the cover is formed as one of more discrete segments above the first closure portion of the cover that cooperate with the first closure portion of a second cover. - The covers described above may be constructed with a wall thickness thinner than that of its base. The covers may be made from any suitable plastic and may be integrally made by any suitable technique, such as thermoforming. In one embodiment, the covers may be formed from polypropylene. Due to the thermoforming process, the wall thickness of the covers may vary. Thinner covers reduce material costs and increase flexibility to more easily accommodate their removal from, and engagement with, their bases. The covers may maintain adequate flexibility for proper sealing even during typical freezer temperatures.
- The covers may be sufficiently flexible to allow a user to create a vacuum in containers upon sealing. In order to create a vacuum, the user could for example depress a cover during the closing of the container. A return force imparted upon the cover by the resiliency of the material of the cover will urge the cover to return to its normal position, thereby creating a vacuum.
- The base may be integrally made from any suitable plastic with sufficient thickness to withstand without deforming the heat of microwave cooking and of top-shelf dishwashing. It should also remain sturdy during lifting while laden with hot food. The base may be made from any suitable plastic and may be made by any suitable technique, such as co-extrusion, lamination, injection molding, thermoforming, or overmolding. As is well known in the art, the same forming process is typically used to form both the base and the cover of the container. In one embodiment, the base is formed from polypropylene. The wall thickness of the base may vary due to the manufacturing process.
- Other embodiments of the engagement portion may include one or more of the following features to enable locking engagement: convex portions or ribs, concave portions or ribs, linear or curvilinear undercuts, discrete snap elements or buttons, interference fits, textured surfaces, or elements that modify surface friction or tackiness at or around the points of engagement.
- In some embodiments, the force required to connect the covers may differ substantially from the force required to disengage the covers. For instance, it may be beneficial during manufacturing that the force needed to connect the covers is less than the force required to separate the covers. As a result, the covers are relatively easy to connect during manufacturing, yet they will lock securely and not undesirably separate during the manufacturing process. To accomplish this, the protrusions on the engagement portion may be designed where, for a given protrusion, the upper protrusion edge comprises a gradual taper whereas the lower protrusion edge comprises a more abrupt shape. For example, in one embodiment, the shape of the protrusion may be similar to a barbed hook with gradual taper on the upper edge of the barb that would impart little resistance during engagement and with an abrupt shape on the lower edge of the barb that would impart relatively high resistance during disengagement. Conversely, it may be beneficial to design the engagement portion so that the force that needs to be applied to connect the covers is more than the force required to separate the covers, since the user may perceive that a high connecting force equates to satisfactory locking integrity, whereas a weak connecting force may lead the user to perceive that the cover stack lacks the integrity required to insure the expected organizational benefit. Thus, the high connecting force provides the perceived benefit, yet a lower disengagement force does not require that the user untowardly struggle during separation of covers. To accomplish this, the protrusions on the engagement portion may be designed where, for a given protrusion, the upper protrusion edge comprises an abrupt shape whereas the lower protrusion edge comprises a more gradual taper. For example, in one embodiment, the shape of the protrusion may be a reversed barb with an abrupt shape on the upper edge of the barb that would impart relatively high resistance during engagement and with a gradual taper on the lower edge of the barb that would impart little resistance during disengagement. Furthermore, during the process where the user applies force to aligned covers in a direction normal to the general cover plane so as to lock the covers together, the engagement portion may provide tactile or audible feedback upon locking. In this way, the user would sense that the covers are connected and that no further force need be applied.
- In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the container may be reusable, but it may also be constructed cheaply enough that consumers see it as a disposable item, with replacement covers and bases available separately for retail sale. The base and the cover may be fabricated by thermoforming a plastic such as clarified polypropylene homopolymer material. In another embodiment, the container may be fabricated by thermoforming a clarified random copolymer polypropylene material. Other plastic materials that would be suitable for fabricating the container by thermoforming include opposing PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), and foamed polypropylene. The material used may be generally transparent to allow a user to view the contents of the container.
- The container may include a visual indication of closure between the cover and the base. The visual indication may be a color change in the area where the cover engages the base. In one embodiment, the first closure portion on the cover may be a first color and the second closure portion on the base may be a second color. When the closure portions are sealingly engaged, the first and second colors produce a third color which is visible to the user to indicate that the container is sealed.
- The container may include a rough exterior surface to reduce slipping and to improve grasping by the user, especially if the user's hands are wet or greasy. In addition, the pinching bar may all have a rough exterior to aid in application of the pinching force supplied by a user to disengage locked covers.
- The container may include a self-venting feature. The pressure in the sealed container may increase when the sealed container and contents are heated in a microwave oven. Thus, the cover may include a self-venting mechanism that opens when the pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined value.
- The container may be divided to separate foods in the container. A divider may be integral with the container or may be a separate component. Either the base only may include a divider or both the base and the cover may each include a divider. The divider located in the cover may only partially engage the divider in the base so as to provide splash protection, or it may fully engage the divider in the base to provide varying degrees of inter-compartmental leak resistance.
- The container may include a strip indicating the temperature of the container and its contents.
- The gripping tab may include a relieved portion that provides less interference contact with the base during the removal or engagement of the cover while still providing an adequate first closure portion to maintain proper sealing of the container. The relieved portions of the gripping tab permit venting by allowing a portion of the cover to be unsealed from the base while still maintaining a seal around the remaining perimeter of the container. This feature is useful in microwave cooking where the cover prevents food from splattering onto the inside surface of the microwave while still allowing the container to vent. By using the gripping tab, less force is required to remove the cover from the base. This lower opening force also reduces the possibility of container failure from stress and fatigue. The lower opening force may improve the ability of the user to maintain control over the container components while removing the cover from the base and thus to reduce the possibility of spilling the contents stored in the container.
- The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise indicated.
- While the invention is described herein in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit the present invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is recognized that various changes and modifications to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description, and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Skilled artisans may employ such variations as appropriate, and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, any combination of the above described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims (20)
1. A plastic container comprising:
a cover including a first closure portion at the outer peripheral edge of the cover and an engagement portion;
a base including a second closure portion;
wherein said first closure portion of said cover is sealingly engageable with said second closure portion of said base so that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are sealingly engaged with each other, said cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area, and;
wherein said engagement portion of said cover is lockingly engageable with a second cover.
2. The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said cover defines a gripping tab.
3. The plastic container of claim 2 wherein said gripping tab of said cover defines said engagement portion of said cover.
4. The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said engagement portion of said cover is a projection downwardly directed from the top of said cover, and;
wherein said projection is in the form of a hollow cup-like structure.
5. The plastic container of claim 4 wherein said projection comprises:
a male cap component, and;
a female well component.
6. The plastic container of claim 5 wherein said male cap component includes at least one undercut configured as a lengthwise bead along at least a part of the bottom edge of said male cap component.
7. The plastic container of claim 5 wherein said female well component includes at least one lead-in configured as an indentation along at least a portion of the top edge of said female well component.
8. The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said plastic container comprises at least one additional engagement portion.
9. The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said plastic container comprises thermoformed plastic material.
10. The plastic container of claim 9 wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), polypropylene, and foamed polypropylene.
11. The plastic container of claim 1 wherein said engagement portion of said cover is integral with said first closure portion of said cover.
12. The plastic container of claim 11 wherein said engagement portion of said cover is configured as a locking lug.
13. The plastic container of claim 11 wherein said engagement portion is formed around the entire perimeter edge of the cover.
14. The plastic container of claim 11 wherein said engagement portion is formed in discrete segments around the perimeter edge of the cover.
15. A cover for a plastic container comprising:
a first closure portion at the outer peripheral edge of said cover, wherein said first closure portion of said cover is sealingly engageable with a second closure portion of a base so that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are sealingly engaged with each other, said cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area, and
an engagement portion wherein said engagement portion of said cover is lockingly engageable with a second cover.
16. The cover of claim 15 wherein said cover defines a gripping tab.
17. The cover of claim 16 wherein said gripping tab of said cover defines said engagement portion of said cover.
18. The cover of claim 15 wherein said engagement portion of said cover is a projection downwardly directed from the top of said cover, and;
wherein said projection is in the form of a hollow cup-like structure.
19. The cover of claim 15 wherein said engagement portion of said cover is integral with said first closure portion of said cover.
20. The cover of claim 15 comprising thermoformed plastic material selected from the group consisting of PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), polypropylene, and foamed polypropylene.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/160,298 US20090084796A1 (en) | 2006-01-18 | 2007-01-16 | Containers with interlocking covers |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US76024606P | 2006-01-18 | 2006-01-18 | |
PCT/US2007/060570 WO2007084892A2 (en) | 2006-01-18 | 2007-01-16 | Containers with interlocking covers |
US12/160,298 US20090084796A1 (en) | 2006-01-18 | 2007-01-16 | Containers with interlocking covers |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090084796A1 true US20090084796A1 (en) | 2009-04-02 |
Family
ID=38288368
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/160,298 Abandoned US20090084796A1 (en) | 2006-01-18 | 2007-01-16 | Containers with interlocking covers |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090084796A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2007205980B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2637145A1 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ569780A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007084892A2 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200806020B (en) |
Cited By (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110114638A1 (en) * | 2009-11-16 | 2011-05-19 | Kettner Catherine E | Lid for containers and methods |
US20130306636A1 (en) * | 2011-01-28 | 2013-11-21 | Emsa Gmbh | Storage container set |
US8678230B2 (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2014-03-25 | Snapware Corporation | Vessels with air-tight lid systems |
USD719399S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2014-12-16 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD720178S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2014-12-30 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD721246S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-20 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD723864S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-03-10 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD724891S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-03-24 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD725433S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-03-31 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US9108766B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-08-18 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Storage container systems |
US9108776B2 (en) | 2012-03-09 | 2015-08-18 | Wki Holding Company, Inc. | Lid, and container system and lid |
USD741171S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-10-20 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD741170S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-10-20 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD741708S1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2015-10-27 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD742224S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-11-03 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD742743S1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2015-11-10 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD744336S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-12-01 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container lid |
USD752973S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2016-04-05 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD760073S1 (en) | 2014-03-13 | 2016-06-28 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US10315809B2 (en) * | 2013-12-18 | 2019-06-11 | Toyo Seikan Co., Ltd. | Formed lid, method for fitting the lid to container, and sealing method |
JP2020097438A (en) * | 2018-12-18 | 2020-06-25 | シーピー化成株式会社 | Packaging container |
US11180289B2 (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2021-11-23 | Asahi Kasei Home Products Corporation | Lid for container |
USD937044S1 (en) * | 2019-11-25 | 2021-11-30 | William Huckestein | Sandwich container |
USD955874S1 (en) * | 2019-12-20 | 2022-06-28 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD962051S1 (en) * | 2020-02-26 | 2022-08-30 | Direct Pack, Inc. | Container |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2010047571A1 (en) * | 2008-10-23 | 2010-04-29 | Rodrigo Flavio Valdes Valdes | Container formed by the arrangement of two or more receptacles on top of each other |
US8875927B2 (en) | 2009-09-23 | 2014-11-04 | Anchor Packaging, Inc. | Container with self-venting features |
DE202011100541U1 (en) * | 2011-05-11 | 2012-08-14 | Pöppelmann Holding GmbH & Co. KG | packaging container |
Citations (45)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3353708A (en) * | 1965-03-15 | 1967-11-21 | Sweetheart Plastics | Disposable plastic article |
US3420397A (en) * | 1965-07-27 | 1969-01-07 | Continental Can Co | Container and closure lid |
US3613940A (en) * | 1970-03-31 | 1971-10-19 | Sweetheart Plastics | Slice feeding lid |
US3743133A (en) * | 1972-01-10 | 1973-07-03 | Foster Grant Co Inc | Lid and container |
US4703857A (en) * | 1986-01-20 | 1987-11-03 | Bellaplast Gmbh | Thin-walled stackable container lid |
US4742935A (en) * | 1986-07-14 | 1988-05-10 | Sandherr Packungen Ag | Packaging container |
US4826039A (en) * | 1987-09-25 | 1989-05-02 | Landis Plastics, Inc. | Container closure with anti-nesting ribs |
US5375719A (en) * | 1994-02-10 | 1994-12-27 | The Vollrath Company, Inc. | Receptacle configured for nested stacking |
US5617692A (en) * | 1992-01-31 | 1997-04-08 | Ebert Composites Corporation | Composite structure |
US5634559A (en) * | 1995-07-27 | 1997-06-03 | Plastofilm Industries, Inc. | Package tray having reversible nesting and enclosing fastening feature |
US5692617A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1997-12-02 | Adams; Kathleen | Container storage system |
US5772070A (en) * | 1996-09-24 | 1998-06-30 | Tenneco Packaging | High-strength gusseted lid for a food container |
USD411741S (en) * | 1998-06-24 | 1999-06-29 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Tall square container with lid |
US5992679A (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 1999-11-30 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container Having a selectively detachable lid including an interrupted reinforcing bead |
US6032827A (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 2000-03-07 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container having a selectively detachable lid including a rigid tab member |
US6168044B1 (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 2001-01-02 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container having a snap fit selectively detachable lid |
US6170696B1 (en) * | 1996-03-04 | 2001-01-09 | The Glad Products Company | Sealing container |
USD440470S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-04-17 | The Glad Products Company | Container for food |
USD440830S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-04-24 | The Glad Products Company | Container for food |
USD443798S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-06-19 | The Glad Products Company | Container for food |
USD448991S1 (en) * | 2000-08-10 | 2001-10-09 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container |
USD450983S1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2001-11-27 | The Glad Products Company | Reusable container for food |
USD451769S1 (en) * | 2000-11-22 | 2001-12-11 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Divided container |
US6467647B1 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2002-10-22 | The Glad Products Company | Seating container |
US6644494B2 (en) * | 2001-09-14 | 2003-11-11 | Pactiv Corporation | Smoothwall hinged containers |
USD485473S1 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2004-01-20 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container and lid |
US6700106B2 (en) * | 1998-03-20 | 2004-03-02 | Fort James Corporation | Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture |
US20040144781A1 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2004-07-29 | Dees Jerome G. | Food container with interchangeable lid - base seal provided with undercut sealing profile and asymmetric interlockable stacking ridges |
US6789393B2 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2004-09-14 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with pressure relief and lid and method of manufacture therefor |
US20040245261A1 (en) * | 2003-06-06 | 2004-12-09 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container including a bowl and a lid each having interfitting lips |
USD502061S1 (en) * | 2003-10-15 | 2005-02-22 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with selectively vented lid |
USD502060S1 (en) * | 2003-10-15 | 2005-02-22 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with selectively vented lid |
US6868980B2 (en) * | 2003-06-16 | 2005-03-22 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with detachable, selectively vented lid |
US6923338B2 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2005-08-02 | Fort James Corporation | Food container with interchangeable lid—base seal design |
US20050194390A1 (en) * | 2004-03-04 | 2005-09-08 | Savicki Alan Jr. | Stackable container lid |
US20060000842A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Maxwell Jason R | Ventable container assembly |
US20060016822A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-26 | Chih-Chien Chen | Packaging container |
US20060032858A1 (en) * | 2004-08-13 | 2006-02-16 | Lee Sang J | Air-tight reclosable processed food container |
US20060186014A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2006-08-24 | Anand Ramanujam | Container |
US20070007298A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2007-01-11 | Tucker Edward B | Container |
US20070045317A1 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2007-03-01 | Rosender Adam K | Tamper evident thermoformed containers |
US20070119743A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2007-05-31 | The Glad Products Company | Container |
US20080197134A1 (en) * | 2005-06-21 | 2008-08-21 | Maxwell Jason R | Venting Container |
US20080203096A1 (en) * | 2005-06-21 | 2008-08-28 | Maxwell Jason R | Venting Container |
US7631776B2 (en) * | 2005-06-10 | 2009-12-15 | Pwp Industries | Tamper evident container with tear-apart parts |
-
2007
- 2007-01-16 AU AU2007205980A patent/AU2007205980B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-01-16 US US12/160,298 patent/US20090084796A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-01-16 WO PCT/US2007/060570 patent/WO2007084892A2/en active Application Filing
- 2007-01-16 CA CA002637145A patent/CA2637145A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-01-16 NZ NZ569780A patent/NZ569780A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2008
- 2008-07-10 ZA ZA200806020A patent/ZA200806020B/en unknown
Patent Citations (55)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3353708A (en) * | 1965-03-15 | 1967-11-21 | Sweetheart Plastics | Disposable plastic article |
US3420397A (en) * | 1965-07-27 | 1969-01-07 | Continental Can Co | Container and closure lid |
US3613940A (en) * | 1970-03-31 | 1971-10-19 | Sweetheart Plastics | Slice feeding lid |
US3743133A (en) * | 1972-01-10 | 1973-07-03 | Foster Grant Co Inc | Lid and container |
US4703857A (en) * | 1986-01-20 | 1987-11-03 | Bellaplast Gmbh | Thin-walled stackable container lid |
US4742935A (en) * | 1986-07-14 | 1988-05-10 | Sandherr Packungen Ag | Packaging container |
US4826039A (en) * | 1987-09-25 | 1989-05-02 | Landis Plastics, Inc. | Container closure with anti-nesting ribs |
US5617692A (en) * | 1992-01-31 | 1997-04-08 | Ebert Composites Corporation | Composite structure |
US5375719A (en) * | 1994-02-10 | 1994-12-27 | The Vollrath Company, Inc. | Receptacle configured for nested stacking |
US5634559A (en) * | 1995-07-27 | 1997-06-03 | Plastofilm Industries, Inc. | Package tray having reversible nesting and enclosing fastening feature |
US5692617A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1997-12-02 | Adams; Kathleen | Container storage system |
US6170696B1 (en) * | 1996-03-04 | 2001-01-09 | The Glad Products Company | Sealing container |
US5772070A (en) * | 1996-09-24 | 1998-06-30 | Tenneco Packaging | High-strength gusseted lid for a food container |
US6467647B1 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2002-10-22 | The Glad Products Company | Seating container |
US6910599B2 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2005-06-28 | The Glad Products Company | Sealing container |
US20050199639A1 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2005-09-15 | The Glad Products Company | Sealing container |
US7261219B2 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2007-08-28 | The Glad Products Company | Sealing container |
US6700106B2 (en) * | 1998-03-20 | 2004-03-02 | Fort James Corporation | Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture |
USD411741S (en) * | 1998-06-24 | 1999-06-29 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Tall square container with lid |
US6168044B1 (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 2001-01-02 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container having a snap fit selectively detachable lid |
US6032827A (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 2000-03-07 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container having a selectively detachable lid including a rigid tab member |
US5992679A (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 1999-11-30 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container Having a selectively detachable lid including an interrupted reinforcing bead |
USD440470S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-04-17 | The Glad Products Company | Container for food |
USD440830S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-04-24 | The Glad Products Company | Container for food |
USD443798S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-06-19 | The Glad Products Company | Container for food |
USD446077S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-08-07 | The Glad Products Company | Tab for container lid |
USD447382S1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2001-09-04 | The Glad Products Company | Corner of container lid |
USD448991S1 (en) * | 2000-08-10 | 2001-10-09 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container |
USD450983S1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2001-11-27 | The Glad Products Company | Reusable container for food |
USD451769S1 (en) * | 2000-11-22 | 2001-12-11 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Divided container |
US7032773B2 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2006-04-25 | Fort James Corporation | Food container with interchangeable lid—base seal provided with undercut sealing profile and asymmetric interlockable stacking ridges |
US6923338B2 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2005-08-02 | Fort James Corporation | Food container with interchangeable lid—base seal design |
US20040144781A1 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2004-07-29 | Dees Jerome G. | Food container with interchangeable lid - base seal provided with undercut sealing profile and asymmetric interlockable stacking ridges |
US6644494B2 (en) * | 2001-09-14 | 2003-11-11 | Pactiv Corporation | Smoothwall hinged containers |
US6789393B2 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2004-09-14 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with pressure relief and lid and method of manufacture therefor |
USD485473S1 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2004-01-20 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container and lid |
US7063231B2 (en) * | 2003-06-06 | 2006-06-20 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container including a bowl and a lid each having interfitting lips |
US20040245261A1 (en) * | 2003-06-06 | 2004-12-09 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container including a bowl and a lid each having interfitting lips |
US6868980B2 (en) * | 2003-06-16 | 2005-03-22 | S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with detachable, selectively vented lid |
USD502061S1 (en) * | 2003-10-15 | 2005-02-22 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with selectively vented lid |
USD502060S1 (en) * | 2003-10-15 | 2005-02-22 | S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc. | Container with selectively vented lid |
US7264135B2 (en) * | 2004-03-04 | 2007-09-04 | The Glad Products Company | Stackable container lid |
US20050194390A1 (en) * | 2004-03-04 | 2005-09-08 | Savicki Alan Jr. | Stackable container lid |
US20060000842A1 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-05 | Maxwell Jason R | Ventable container assembly |
US7357272B2 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2008-04-15 | The Glad Products Company | Ventable container assembly |
US20060016822A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-26 | Chih-Chien Chen | Packaging container |
US20060032858A1 (en) * | 2004-08-13 | 2006-02-16 | Lee Sang J | Air-tight reclosable processed food container |
US20070007298A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2007-01-11 | Tucker Edward B | Container |
US20070119743A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2007-05-31 | The Glad Products Company | Container |
US20060186014A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2006-08-24 | Anand Ramanujam | Container |
US7726483B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2010-06-01 | The Glad Products Company | Stacked containers |
US7631776B2 (en) * | 2005-06-10 | 2009-12-15 | Pwp Industries | Tamper evident container with tear-apart parts |
US20080197134A1 (en) * | 2005-06-21 | 2008-08-21 | Maxwell Jason R | Venting Container |
US20080203096A1 (en) * | 2005-06-21 | 2008-08-28 | Maxwell Jason R | Venting Container |
US20070045317A1 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2007-03-01 | Rosender Adam K | Tamper evident thermoformed containers |
Cited By (38)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110114638A1 (en) * | 2009-11-16 | 2011-05-19 | Kettner Catherine E | Lid for containers and methods |
US8678230B2 (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2014-03-25 | Snapware Corporation | Vessels with air-tight lid systems |
US20130306636A1 (en) * | 2011-01-28 | 2013-11-21 | Emsa Gmbh | Storage container set |
US8714394B2 (en) * | 2011-01-28 | 2014-05-06 | Emsa Gmbh | Storage container having locking lid |
US9108776B2 (en) | 2012-03-09 | 2015-08-18 | Wki Holding Company, Inc. | Lid, and container system and lid |
USD752973S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2016-04-05 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD721246S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-20 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD723864S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-03-10 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD724891S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-03-24 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD725433S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-03-31 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US9108766B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-08-18 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Storage container systems |
USD720178S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2014-12-30 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD741171S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-10-20 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD741170S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-10-20 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US10138020B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2018-11-27 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Storage container systems |
USD742224S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-11-03 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD911098S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2021-02-23 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container lid |
USD744336S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2015-12-01 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container lid |
USD719399S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2014-12-16 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US10583961B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2020-03-10 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Storage container systems |
US9682799B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2017-06-20 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Storage container systems |
USD797552S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2017-09-19 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD829545S1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2018-10-02 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container bowl |
USD741708S1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2015-10-27 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD742743S1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2015-11-10 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US10315809B2 (en) * | 2013-12-18 | 2019-06-11 | Toyo Seikan Co., Ltd. | Formed lid, method for fitting the lid to container, and sealing method |
USD760073S1 (en) | 2014-03-13 | 2016-06-28 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
US11180289B2 (en) * | 2018-09-12 | 2021-11-23 | Asahi Kasei Home Products Corporation | Lid for container |
JP2020097438A (en) * | 2018-12-18 | 2020-06-25 | シーピー化成株式会社 | Packaging container |
USD937044S1 (en) * | 2019-11-25 | 2021-11-30 | William Huckestein | Sandwich container |
USD955874S1 (en) * | 2019-12-20 | 2022-06-28 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD966096S1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-10-11 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD966094S1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-10-11 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD966112S1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-10-11 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD966095S1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-10-11 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD966093S1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-10-11 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD971015S1 (en) | 2019-12-20 | 2022-11-29 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Container |
USD962051S1 (en) * | 2020-02-26 | 2022-08-30 | Direct Pack, Inc. | Container |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007084892A3 (en) | 2008-01-03 |
NZ569780A (en) | 2011-04-29 |
ZA200806020B (en) | 2009-07-29 |
CA2637145A1 (en) | 2007-07-26 |
AU2007205980A1 (en) | 2007-07-26 |
AU2007205980B2 (en) | 2013-01-10 |
WO2007084892A2 (en) | 2007-07-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
AU2007205980B2 (en) | Containers with interlocking gripping tabs covers | |
US8118190B2 (en) | System of releasably interlocking container covers | |
AU2006216965B2 (en) | A container | |
US20080041850A1 (en) | Container | |
US20120138608A1 (en) | Storage device having an articulated cover fitting inner and outer containers | |
US20090166369A1 (en) | Container having an articulated cover | |
NZ560383A (en) | A container with stackable and lockable lids | |
US7097063B2 (en) | Plate container with detachable cover | |
US7097066B2 (en) | Plate container with detachable cover | |
US8157123B2 (en) | Container | |
US20110180543A1 (en) | Container Having Adjustable Vented Cover | |
CA2425353C (en) | Plate container with detachable cover |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONMENT FOR FAILURE TO CORRECT DRAWINGS/OATH/NONPUB REQUEST |