US2892540A

US2892540A - Combined container and cover

Info

Publication number: US2892540A
Application number: US532981A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl S Tupper
Original assignee: Tupper Corp
Current assignee: Tupper Corp
Priority date: 1955-09-07
Filing date: 1955-09-07
Publication date: 1959-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-30

Description

June 30, 1959 E, s, TUPPER 2,892,540

COMBINED CONTAINER AND COVER Filed Sept. 7. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i7 i EARL s. TUPPER IN V EN TOR.

June 30, 1959 E. s. TUPPER COMBINED CONTAINER AND COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet-Z Filed Sept. 7. 1955 KOZEN IN VEN TOR.

EHBLS TUPIEZ y, ,Q MLA/ xzvamqr United States atent O COMBINED CONTAINER AND COVER Earl S. Tupper, Smithfield, R.I., assignor to Tupper Corporation, North Smithfield, R.I., a corporation of Delaware Application September 7, 1955, Serial No. 532,981

1 Claim. (Cl. 206--65) This invention relates generally to an intercommunieating compartmental package of resilient plastic material to inclose and accommodate a plurality of containers whether under refrigeration or not, but more specifically to a package for a plurality of containers usable for display, transportation and storage in a refrigerator or otherwise.

The main object of the invention resides in the provision of a package of heat and electrically insulating material for a plurality of similar containers which is suitable for storing in a minimum of space in a refrigerator or other storage medium, and further is suitable for transportation purposes between the filling plant, the retail establishment and the home. By reason of the physical properties of the material from which the package is formed and the structure thereof, said package is capable of preventing differential temperatures within the package during refrigeration thereby eliminating spoilage of the container contents.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a compartmental package of resilient plastic material especially suitable for space-saving in transportation, storage and display of a plurality of enclosed similar and refrigerated sealed food containers such as fruit or orange juice and the like. Moreover, the package is further suitable for initial packaging and refrigeration of the sealed food containers at the filling plant.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a compartmental package for a plurality of similar food containers which serves as a multiple type canister, which is capable of repeated use and general application for storing and transporting other materials whether they be food or otherwise.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an intercommunicating compartmental package of a locally deformable and resilient plastic material such as polyethylene or vinyl which is provided with a cover for purposes of hermetically sealing a plurality of similar food containers therewithi-n and wherein means are provided within such package to serve as a separating wall for all the containers therewithin to maintain spacing thereof, to allow air currents to circulate within the package and all around the containers for maintenance of uniform temperature.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an intercommunicating compartmental package which is aesthetic in appearance, which is advantageous to the Storekeeper for promo-ting sales of a plurality of similar food products and for saving time and expense in wrapping and for saving space within the carrier from the filling plant and within the refrigerated store display cases and the home refrigerator.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an intercommunicating compartmental package as described which is sanitary, easy to clean, safe to operate and capable of production by molding processes such as compression, injection, blow and vacuum, and

Patented June 30, 1959 which is durable in use, maintains its shape, and which can be reused.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claim.

Accompanying this specification are drawings showing preferred forms of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a compartmental package including a cover member showing one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1 across the plane 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is a compound view in perspective showing the compartrnental package of Figure 1 with the cover thereof removed, and further showing a container of frozen orange juice occupying one of the compartments of the package and three other containers disposed outside of the package.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of Figure 1 across the plane 4-4 thereof.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective showing another type of package wherein the cover member is provided with an additional spacing element.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 5 across the plane 66 thereof.

Figure 7 is another modified form of package containing three compartments instead of four as shown in Figures l6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective partly in section showing a modified type of cover member for the package shown in Figures 1-6.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the preferred forms shown, letter A designates generally the compartmental package as shown in Figures l6, and consists of a base member 10 having as a periph cry a plurality of circular segments each in excess of degrees joined together as. indicated by

numerals

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d respectively. Each of these segments follows the contour of one of a plurality of similar conwall sections follows and is integral with the periphery of said bottom wall 10, said wall segments being indicated respectively by

numerals

11a, 11b, 11c and 11d terminating preferably at about the height of the container B to result in an intercommunicating compartmental package as shown in Figures l6.

Bottom wall 10 is provided with a central and upstanding lug or spacing element such as spherical portion 12 to serve as a check for substantial shifting of the containers B when disposed within the package to prevent physical contact. In addition to the spacing function of spherical portion 12, it is to be noted that junction ele ments 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d between wall sections Ila-11d further serve to prevent line contact of the containers B as indicated in Figure 2.

A cover member preferably made of the same material as package A and generally indicated by numeral 14 is adapted to telescope over the top rim 15 of the package and is provided with a top wall 16 and a peripheral downwardly extending skirt 17 for engagement with the package rim portion.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, cover member 16 is provided with a spherical section 18 centrally depending from the lower surface thereof, said spherical section being in alignment with the section 12 on the bottom wall 10 of the package for spacing considerations.

Figure 8 shows a different type of package cover being indicated generally by numeral 19 and consists of top wall 20 and an upstanding, peripheral and inverted grooved engaging rim following the shape of the side wall of the compartmental package, said grooved rim having an inner 'wall21, a top wall '22, an outer wall 23 provided with an outwardly extending flange or offset portion 24. Hermeticalengagement between package rim- 15 and cover 19 may be effected 'by the gripping of the inner surface of outer wall 23 against the outer surface of rim portion 15 of the package, and for this purpose the inner lateral dimension of outer wall 23 should be smaller than the outer lateral dimension of the package rim 15 for line engagement and consequent hermetical sealing.

Cover member 19 (Figure 8) operates expeditiously in the manner as set forth in US. Patent No. 2,487,400 issued to the applicant herein on November 8, 1949, and provides a sealing closure which is capable of being peeled off from the rim by grasping flange 24 and thereby expanding the groove between the walls 21 and '23 for initial separation. In applying cover 19 the same is forced over the package portion 15 at any point and the rest of the cover is applied by sliding thumb pressure along the top wall 22 of the groove.

I It is to be observed from an inspection of Figure 2 that each of the four containers B is disposed within the package in spaced relationship so that each is freely exposed to air circulation with the package. Such exposure maintains uniformity of temperature within the containers B. If such exposure were absent, temperature differentials would be set up resulting in deposition of frost on the containers and spoilage of the container contents due to temperature differences. Such spoilage has been a problem to filling operators, carriers and storekeepers where refrigerated products are piled one on top of the other without access to complete air circulation.

As shown in Figures l-6 and 8, containers B are compactly assembled in the package A and occupy little added space when so arranged. Moreover, by reason of the vvyieldability of package A, it may be made to accommodate itself to tight spots in a refrigerator or refrigerated display case. These features also apply to refrigerated carriers.

As mentioned, the heat insulating properties of package A maintains refrigeration during the interval between transfer from the filling plant to the carrier; between transfer from the carrier to the refrigerated display case of the storekeeper; and between transfer from the display case to the home refrigerator or freezer.

In Figure 7 is shown a package similar to that shown in Figures 1-6 being designated generally by letter A, but

consists of three compartments instead of four compartments. The corresponding elements thereof are similar to those shown in Figures 1-6, the cover member thereof being indicated generally by numeral 14 in contrast to numeral 14 in Figures 3.

The package including the cover as described is capable of being formed in shapes other than those described, the shape being dictated by the container itself. Moreover, the material from which either the package or cover or both are formed need not be locally deformable nor resilient to effectuate some of the purpose of the invention.

I Wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the shape, number of intercommunicating compartments, means of formation and location and material of parts may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An intercommunicating compartmental refrigerable package of locally deformable and resilient plastic material for a plurality of similar frozen food containers, comprising a bottom wall having a peripheral shape conforming to semi-circular segments of the bottom walls of a plurality of similar containers lying adjacent to each other, an upstanding side Wall integral with said bottom Wall and having a cover engaging rim and following the periphery of said bottom wall to form therewith communicating compartments to receive said containers in adjacent relationship, spacing means on the bottom wall to separate and prevent contact and shifting of the containers in said compartments and for air circulation therethrough, and a removable cover member engageable with said rim to serve as a removable seal for said package, said cover member having aligned spacing means on the underside with respect to said spacing means on the said bottom wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,528 Meyers June 10, 1924 2,094,009 Goebert Sept. 28, 1937 2,253,273 Haycock Aug. 19, 1941 2,514,364 Bates July 11, 1950' 2,618,937 Francis Nov. 25, 1952 2,729,328 Van Rossen Jan. 3, 1956