US3326443A - Egg carton - Google Patents

Egg carton Download PDF

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Publication number
US3326443A
US3326443A US473027A US47302765A US3326443A US 3326443 A US3326443 A US 3326443A US 473027 A US473027 A US 473027A US 47302765 A US47302765 A US 47302765A US 3326443 A US3326443 A US 3326443A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
carton
egg
base
cushions
lid
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US473027A
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English (en)
Inventor
Francis L Burkett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dow Chemical Co
Original Assignee
Dow Chemical Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dow Chemical Co filed Critical Dow Chemical Co
Priority to US473027A priority Critical patent/US3326443A/en
Priority to NL6607740A priority patent/NL6607740A/xx
Priority to DED33644U priority patent/DE1944754U/de
Priority to GB31302/66A priority patent/GB1120882A/en
Priority to FR69279A priority patent/FR1486659A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3326443A publication Critical patent/US3326443A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/30—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
    • B65D85/32—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for eggs
    • B65D85/324—Containers with compartments made of pressed material
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S264/00—Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
    • Y10S264/04—Molding and forming bendable and flexible product from rigid preform

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to an egg carton formed from foam plastic sheet material. More particularly, this invention relates to a vacuum, matched-die formed foam plastic carton construction providing numerous improvements such as an especially high-shock -absorbing cell structure for eggs and a highly secure latch construction.
  • an egg carton includes the novel foam plastic base of this invention in combination with an improved see-through film cover.
  • Prior egg cartons have also failed to provide a secure, simple latch mechanism, especially when formed of a foam plastic material. It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a substantially improved latch mechanism for a foam plastic egg carton or the like.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an all-plastic egg carton construction having extremely superior cushioning properties, structural strength to handle high-vertical loads, while providing free viewing of the contents.
  • the present invention comprises providing an all-foam plastic egg carton having improved cooperatively associated cushions in the egg cell walls and the lid to achieve high resistance to load and impact forces.
  • the cushions are formed by opposed vacuum drawing of the heated foam plastic sheet forming the carton.
  • the invention further comprises an all-foam plastic carton having a novel acute angle latch arrangement formed integrally therein to lock the carton shut in an especially secure fashion.
  • the aperture through which the locking member protrudes has a greatly strengthened bulbular ridge about its periphery.
  • an all-plastic egg carton construction having a see-through plastic top with a greatly cushioned foam plastic bottom, the combination providing a carton having high vertical load strength.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an open egg carton constducted according to the principles of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a front-elevational view thereof, with a portion broken away;
  • FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view thereof taken along reference line 3'3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view thereof taken along reference line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
  • FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof taken along reference lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;
  • FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 1 showing a step in the making of a portion thereof;
  • FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a modified form of egg carton with a portion thereof broken away;
  • FIGURE 8 is an elevational view thereof with portions broken away.
  • FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the reference line 9-9 of FIG. 7.
  • thermoplastic egg carton 10 which carton can be formed from a one-piece sheet material such as eX- panded polystyrene.
  • the carton 10 basically comprises a tray portion or base 22, cover or lid 24 and front flap 26, the lid and flap preferably hingedly connected to opposite sides of base 22.
  • the generally elongated rectangular base 22, as illustrated, has one dozen egg cells 12.
  • the carton 10 is basically formed into shape from the sheet material generally by plug assist vacuum drawing.
  • Egg cells 12 are particularly formed by a matching die technique with the plug grooved and fitted for vacuum operation so that a plurality of side ribs or cushions 14 and bottom puffed cushion pad 16 are formed, by opposed vacuum drawing, on the inside of the cell wall of each cell 12.
  • Similar opposed vacuum forming on opposite sides of the lid structure forms expanded cushions or pads 13 generally opposed to pads 16.
  • the cushions, particularly opposed cushions 16 and 18, also provide flexibility in cradling eggs of different sizes and shapes. Larger eggs will fit snugly into opposed cushions 16 and 18 while smaller eggs can still be secured between these cushions with the latter being in a less compressed state.
  • side cushions 14 provide flexibility in cradling eggs of Wide or narrow configurations. The exact number and shape of pads 14 may be varied from that shown and still be within the scope of the invention.
  • Latch projections 28 protrude outwardly from flap 26 at an angle a which is acute to the flat outer surface 30 of flap 26 (shown most clearly in FIG. 5). Since front wall 34 of lid 24 is substantially parallel with surface 30, projection 28 will also be at an acute angle with the front wall 34. In this particular illustration angle a is about 71, it being understood that this angle can vary several degrees in either direction and still accomplish the object of the present invention.
  • each projection 28 Adapted to mate with each projection 28 is an aperture 32 along the front wall 34 of lid 24.
  • the aperture 32 includes about its peripheral edge a bulbular ridge 36 providing an aperture highly resistant to tearing at its edges.
  • This ridge 36 is formed by squeezing the foam plastic material while in a heated condition so as to extrude a bulbular mass from under a forming tool 40, this bulbular mass forming peripheral ridge 36.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates this ridge forming step, with it being understood that aperture 32 is not fully formed at this stage but must be later cut out in a customary manner by a cutting tool (not shown). Ridge 36 is formed using only material which otherwise would have been wasted.
  • Modified carton 42 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, comprises a foam plastic tray-like base 44 and a film cover 46, which cover may be fitted to the foam bottom.
  • base 44 is formed in the manner as described earlier with respect to base 22 of carton 10.
  • base 44 includes a dozen egg cells 48 with each cell having side cushion pads 50 and a bottom cushion pad 52 which are similar to cushions 14 and 16 previously described.
  • Cover 46 is preferably formed of a clear or transparent or translucent polystyrene or other comparable plastic film or sheet material capable of maintaining its weight and shape generally without additional support. Cover 46 can be pressure formed to achieve the shape illustrated, which forming technique is well known in the art.
  • Base 44 includes pillars 50 which extend above the rim 52 of the base to a height which will support the flap top portion 54 of cover 46. By having such a high pillar structure the strength of the cover 46 is greatly increased, particularly for stacking purposes.
  • a horizontally disposed shoulder 56, formed integral with base 44 and its rim 52, is in mating disposition with a similarly disposed shoulder 58 of cover 46, the mutual support of the shoulders 56 and 58 further strengthening the stacking ability of carton 42.
  • a novel carton which achieves improved egg cushioning while permitting visual inspection of the eggs when the carton is in a closed position.
  • An egg carton having a tray-like base, a lid covering the top of said base, said base comprising foam plastic material, a plurality of egg cells integral with said base, cushions being integrally formed with the cell walls and extending interiorly about the walls of each of said cells adapted to cradle an egg, said cushions having a density less than that of the rest of the carton.
  • An egg carton having a tray-like base, a lid covering the top of said base, said base and lid comprising foam plastic material, a plurality of egg cells formed in said base, cushions being integrally formed with the cell walls and extending interiorly about the walls of each of said cells, at least one of said cushions being centrally located about the center of the bottom wall of each said cell, a cushion located in said lid in a position opposite from the bottom wall cushions of each egg cell whereby said opposing cushions cradle an egg in each cell.
  • each of said cushions has a density and cellular structure less than that of the rest of the carton.
  • a foam plastic egg carton having a tray-like base, a lid covering the top of said base and including a front wall portion, a front flap, said base hingedly connected with said lid and flap on opposite sides thereof, the flap extending upwardly from said base behind and generally parallel with front wall portion of said lid when the carton is in a closed position, at least one latch projection extending outwardly from the front surface of said flap and downwardly at an acute angle therewith to define a wedge-shaped undercut, said front wall portion includ ing an aperture mating with said latch projection, a bulbular ridge formed at least along the bottom peripheral edge of said aperture, said latch projection extending through the aperture such that an edge of the aperture fits within said undercut.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
US473027A 1965-07-19 1965-07-19 Egg carton Expired - Lifetime US3326443A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US473027A US3326443A (en) 1965-07-19 1965-07-19 Egg carton
NL6607740A NL6607740A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-07-19 1966-06-03
DED33644U DE1944754U (de) 1965-07-19 1966-06-22 Behaelter, insbesondere fuer den transport und das lagern von eiern.
GB31302/66A GB1120882A (en) 1965-07-19 1966-07-12 Egg carton
FR69279A FR1486659A (fr) 1965-07-19 1966-07-13 Emballage pour oeufs

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US473027A US3326443A (en) 1965-07-19 1965-07-19 Egg carton

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3326443A true US3326443A (en) 1967-06-20

Family

ID=23877887

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US473027A Expired - Lifetime US3326443A (en) 1965-07-19 1965-07-19 Egg carton

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3326443A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1944754U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1120882A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6607740A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3372854A (en) * 1967-07-27 1968-03-12 Dow Chemical Co Latch arrangement for egg cartons
US3465947A (en) * 1967-03-08 1969-09-09 British Petroleum Co Containers
US3469764A (en) * 1969-01-07 1969-09-30 Sinclair Koppers Co Foam plastic egg carton
US3484510A (en) * 1965-07-09 1969-12-16 Scott Paper Co Method for forming foam articles
US3486678A (en) * 1968-02-26 1969-12-30 Container Corp Container for eggs or the like
US3506182A (en) * 1968-09-20 1970-04-14 United Ind Syndicate Egg cartons
US3519189A (en) * 1968-07-10 1970-07-07 Packaging Ind Inc Protective container
US3534128A (en) * 1968-11-06 1970-10-13 Alexander G Makowski Method of forming a foamed plastic article having portions of varying thickness and density
US3603499A (en) * 1969-06-05 1971-09-07 Gerald A Snow Egg carton cells
US3613987A (en) * 1969-07-10 1971-10-19 Plastimetrix Corp Egg carton
US3643855A (en) * 1969-12-10 1972-02-22 Container Corp Moulded container
US3674168A (en) * 1969-07-11 1972-07-04 Isap Spa Cupped trays made from a thin sheet of plastics material for round or pear-shaped fruits or horticultural products
US3688971A (en) * 1970-10-16 1972-09-05 Robert James Phillips Egg carton latching design
US3730420A (en) * 1969-11-03 1973-05-01 Dow Chemical Co Egg carton
USRE28364E (en) * 1965-07-09 1975-03-18 Method for forming foam articles
US3950208A (en) * 1973-08-17 1976-04-13 Borden, Inc. Method of making egg cartons
US3978182A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-08-31 Mobil Oil Corporation Method for extruding a polystyrene foam with variations in mass concentration across the sheet and thermoforming the sheet
US4143111A (en) * 1975-04-24 1979-03-06 Irwin Jere F Method of matched-mold forming from a hot sheet of polystyrene foam, an open vessel having an outward sloping flat side wall with at least one hole in said side wall
US5232094A (en) * 1992-06-22 1993-08-03 Label Makers, Inc. Shipping container
GB2562209A (en) * 2017-04-11 2018-11-14 Dubois Ltd Packaging
GB2575368A (en) * 2017-04-11 2020-01-08 Dubois Ltd Packaging
USD877626S1 (en) * 2017-03-27 2020-03-10 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Tri-fold egg carton
US10669092B2 (en) * 2016-07-07 2020-06-02 Fostag Formenbau Ag Egg pack produced by plastics injection moulding
USD894758S1 (en) * 2018-08-24 2020-09-01 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Egg carton with bubble cell pockets
USD966904S1 (en) 2018-08-24 2022-10-18 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Egg carton with bubble cell pockets

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1603854A (en) * 1977-05-07 1981-12-02 Univ Belfast Egg containers

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2737503A (en) * 1950-11-17 1956-03-06 Goodrich Co B F Method of making an expanded or cellular polyvinyl chloride composition
US2971685A (en) * 1957-05-03 1961-02-14 Kingston Products Corp Molded carton for ragile articles
US2979246A (en) * 1956-05-07 1961-04-11 Lord Baltimore Press Inc Foam plastic coated carton
US3093286A (en) * 1961-01-24 1963-06-11 Mead Corp Molded foamed plastic egg carton
US3129866A (en) * 1961-07-19 1964-04-21 Jr Charles E Wade Egg carton
US3176899A (en) * 1963-08-23 1965-04-06 Red Owl Stores Inc Egg carton
US3191791A (en) * 1961-05-22 1965-06-29 Expandolite Inc Container
US3207409A (en) * 1962-09-04 1965-09-21 Diamond Int Corp Molded pulp egg carton

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2737503A (en) * 1950-11-17 1956-03-06 Goodrich Co B F Method of making an expanded or cellular polyvinyl chloride composition
US2979246A (en) * 1956-05-07 1961-04-11 Lord Baltimore Press Inc Foam plastic coated carton
US2971685A (en) * 1957-05-03 1961-02-14 Kingston Products Corp Molded carton for ragile articles
US3093286A (en) * 1961-01-24 1963-06-11 Mead Corp Molded foamed plastic egg carton
US3191791A (en) * 1961-05-22 1965-06-29 Expandolite Inc Container
US3129866A (en) * 1961-07-19 1964-04-21 Jr Charles E Wade Egg carton
US3207409A (en) * 1962-09-04 1965-09-21 Diamond Int Corp Molded pulp egg carton
US3176899A (en) * 1963-08-23 1965-04-06 Red Owl Stores Inc Egg carton

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE28364E (en) * 1965-07-09 1975-03-18 Method for forming foam articles
US3484510A (en) * 1965-07-09 1969-12-16 Scott Paper Co Method for forming foam articles
US3465947A (en) * 1967-03-08 1969-09-09 British Petroleum Co Containers
US3372854A (en) * 1967-07-27 1968-03-12 Dow Chemical Co Latch arrangement for egg cartons
US3486678A (en) * 1968-02-26 1969-12-30 Container Corp Container for eggs or the like
US3519189A (en) * 1968-07-10 1970-07-07 Packaging Ind Inc Protective container
US3506182A (en) * 1968-09-20 1970-04-14 United Ind Syndicate Egg cartons
US3534128A (en) * 1968-11-06 1970-10-13 Alexander G Makowski Method of forming a foamed plastic article having portions of varying thickness and density
US3469764A (en) * 1969-01-07 1969-09-30 Sinclair Koppers Co Foam plastic egg carton
US3603499A (en) * 1969-06-05 1971-09-07 Gerald A Snow Egg carton cells
US3613987A (en) * 1969-07-10 1971-10-19 Plastimetrix Corp Egg carton
US3674168A (en) * 1969-07-11 1972-07-04 Isap Spa Cupped trays made from a thin sheet of plastics material for round or pear-shaped fruits or horticultural products
US3730420A (en) * 1969-11-03 1973-05-01 Dow Chemical Co Egg carton
US3643855A (en) * 1969-12-10 1972-02-22 Container Corp Moulded container
US3688971A (en) * 1970-10-16 1972-09-05 Robert James Phillips Egg carton latching design
US3950208A (en) * 1973-08-17 1976-04-13 Borden, Inc. Method of making egg cartons
US3978182A (en) * 1973-12-26 1976-08-31 Mobil Oil Corporation Method for extruding a polystyrene foam with variations in mass concentration across the sheet and thermoforming the sheet
US4143111A (en) * 1975-04-24 1979-03-06 Irwin Jere F Method of matched-mold forming from a hot sheet of polystyrene foam, an open vessel having an outward sloping flat side wall with at least one hole in said side wall
US5232094A (en) * 1992-06-22 1993-08-03 Label Makers, Inc. Shipping container
US10669092B2 (en) * 2016-07-07 2020-06-02 Fostag Formenbau Ag Egg pack produced by plastics injection moulding
USD877626S1 (en) * 2017-03-27 2020-03-10 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Tri-fold egg carton
GB2562209A (en) * 2017-04-11 2018-11-14 Dubois Ltd Packaging
GB2562209B (en) * 2017-04-11 2019-10-02 Dubois Ltd Packaging
GB2575368A (en) * 2017-04-11 2020-01-08 Dubois Ltd Packaging
USD894758S1 (en) * 2018-08-24 2020-09-01 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Egg carton with bubble cell pockets
USD966904S1 (en) 2018-08-24 2022-10-18 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Egg carton with bubble cell pockets

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6607740A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-01-20
GB1120882A (en) 1968-07-24
DE1944754U (de) 1966-08-18

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