US3426935A

US3426935A - Container

Info

Publication number: US3426935A
Application number: US544645A
Authority: US
Inventors: James B Swett
Original assignee: Rexall Drug and Chemical Co
Current assignee: Dart Industries Inc
Priority date: 1966-03-28
Filing date: 1966-03-28
Publication date: 1969-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1986-02-11
Also published as: DE1679020C3; NL6612625A; DE1679020B2; DE1679020A1

Description

2 Feb. 11, 1969 I Y J. B. SIWETTI' CONTAINER Filed March 28, 1966 I Sheet INVENTbR.

JAMES B. SWETT Vm/a/M ATTORNEY J. B. SWETT CONTAINER Feb. 11, #969 Filed March 28, 1966 FIG.6

FIGS

RN 0 E T m S V ma 8 E M A J ATTORNEY J. B. SWETT Feb. 11, 1969 CONTAINER Sheet Filed March 28, 1966 'FIG.9

FIG.8

m W ms W S a S E M A J A TOR EY United States Patent 3,426,935 CONTAINER James B. Swett, Barriugton, R.I., assignor to Rexall Drug and Chemical Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 178,047, Mar. 7, 1962. This application Mar. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 544,645 US. Cl. 220-42 9 Claims Int. Cl. B65d 11/10, 43/16, 51/04 This application is a continuation-in-part of my previous application Ser. No. 178,047 filed Mar. 7, 1962, now forfeited.

The present invention is directed to a container for storing cheese, butter or the like in a refrigerator. The container is simple to open and close, easy to clean, provides an effective moisture and odor barrier for the contents of the container, and enables a rapid and continuous cooling of the contents of the container to be effected.

My invention is also directed to a novel seal between the base and cover of the container when such are in closed assembled relationship to each other so as to avoid loss of moisture from the contents of the container or permeation of the contents with an undesirable odor or taste.

My invention also provides a mar-resistant base usable as a cutting board for the container contents.

My invention further pertains to novel structure pro- 'vided on the base and cover of the container so as to limit the extent to which the cover may be pivotably swung about the base when such are in an open assembled relationship to each other.

In the drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of my invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation view of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of my invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of my invention with the container open;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of the cover and in particular Show the extent of its longitudinal opening;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the base and in par ticular shows the longitudinal extent of the raised supporting surface thereof; and

FIGURE 10 is a pictorial representation of the theoretically deformed shape towards which the cover of FIGURE 8 is urged when such is sealingly engaged with the base of FIGURE 9.

Briefly the present invention includes a base and a cover. The base has a substantially flat, pebbled, upper surface, a downwardly extending integral side wall affixed to and extending downwardly from the periphery of the surface and an outwardly directed flange integral with the side Wall. Handles are provided at each end of the base. The cover for the base is a hollow boxshaped member having a top wall and a continuous integral side wall aflixed to and extending downwardly from the periphery of the top wall. The underside of the cover is open. The lower edge of the side wall of the cover has a continuous outwardly extending peripheral flange. The cover fits over the base with a locking engagement since the area of contact between the base and the cover is a locking taper and the opening 3,426,935 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 in the cover is slightly smaller than the portion of the base engaged by the cover.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the base includes a flat top surface 10 having a pebbled effect 11 which are hemispherical extensions protruding slightly above the flat surface and in random orientation as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 7. The surface 10 has a downwardly directed peripheral wall 12 made up of side walls 12a and end Walls 12b to which is affixed an outwardly extending peripheral flange 13 which in turn is supported by a downwardly directed continuous leg 14 forming a base which engages a supporting surface. This configuration provides rigidity in the base. Preferably the base is fabricated from polypropylene but it may be fabricated from other plastics which give it a rigidity suitable for application to my invention.

A handle 15 is located at each of the ends of the base, which handle is preferably integral with the flange 13. The handles 15 curve upwardly and outwardly thereby permitting the insertion of the users fingers beneath the handles for lifting the container from a supporting surface. If the handles extended directly outwardly in the same manner as the flange 13 it would be extremely diflicult to grasp the handle and lift the container from the supporting surface. The outer curved surface of the handles are preferably knurled or provided with ridges for easy grasping by the users fingers.

The cover is a hollow, box-shaped member having a top Wall 16, end walls .17 and side walls 18. The juncture of the walls is preferably rounded to permit easy cleaning of the surface of the cover. A continuous, outwardly extending flange 19 is preferably provided upon the base and is integral with the lower edge of the end walls 17 and side walls 18. This flange extends outwardly substantially the same distance as the flange 13 on the base. The flange 19 is recessed at 20 at both ends of the cover to permit the handle 15 to extend above the flange 19 in the manner shown in FIGURES 3 and 6.

The cover may be lifted directly upward off from the base in the manner shown in FIGURE 1 or it may be pivotably swung thereabout as shown in FIGURE 5. It should be particularly noted in FIGURE 5 that the cover is constructed to swing upwardly about one of the handles 15 and repose on a supporting surface. The extensions of flange 19 on each side of recess 20 are also adapted to engage peripheral underportions of the flange 13 when the cover is in its open assembled position in such a manner so as to effectively limit the extent to which the cover may be pivotably swung in relation to the base. The cover is also easily swung downwardly onto the base from the position shown in FIGURE 5. Furthermore, the inner upper terminus of each handle 15 is adapted to contact outportions of corresponding cover end walls 17 so as to further effect a limited pivotal relationship between the cover and base and preferably so as to coact simultaneously with the aforementioned limited pivotal relationship between the

flanges

13 and 19 especially when the cover is to be maintained in open limited pivotal assembled relation apart from a supporting surface.

The cover is preferably fabricated from regular or low density polyethylene thereby giving a flexible resilience to the cover whereby it may he slipped over the base and the lower inside surface of the walls .17 and 18 engage against the continuous peripheral wall 12 of the base. The walls 12a and 12b may be oversize and the opening in the bottom of the cover resultantly must be forcibly pushed :onto the base thereby yielding a seal between the inside surfaces of the

walls

17 and 18 and the peripheral wall 12 of the base. It should be particularly noted that the contact area between walls 12a and 12b and

walls

17, 18 is large, and the taper of the peripheral wall 12 and the inside surface of the

walls

17 and 18 is a locking taper (about 0.5) thereby insuring that even when the base is supporting cheese or the like, the top cannot be shaken off from the base (referred to herein as a non-shake-free fit). The bottom surface of flange 19 also engages the top surface of flange 13 to form a secondary seal between the flanges (and the base and cover).

The pressure contact points for the cover on the base are at the four corners of the base. The

walls

17 and 18 are tightly stretched between the four corners to maintain the inside surfaces of

walls

17 and 18 in taut engagement with base walls 12a and 1211 between the corners thereby yielding an effective seal along the entire peripheral wall 12.

It has been further found that in rectangular cn tainers of the present type wherein the side and end walls of the cover are presented for sealing engagement with side and end walls of the base that it becomes extremely difficult to maintain effective side wall sealing engagement when the respective side walls are of a longitudinal extent exceeding that of the respective end walls by at least a 2:1 ratio. Accordingly the aforementioned structure while satisfactory in most instances does not always create effective sealing between the base and cover along long side wall extents and especially at the central areas thereof. To prevent such possible sealing difficulties the longitudinal opening available for presentation to the longitudinal extent Y of the elevated supporting surface of the base has been diminished to a distance X which is less than Y. Thus mating engagement of the cover to the base forces the end walls 17 of the cover outwardly in the direction of the arrows in FIG- URE with a resultant inwardly directed force upon the side walls 18 thereof. This inward force then urges the side walls into intimate engagement with the base side walls 12a.

Alternatively, the cover side walls 18 can be constructed initially in the actual form theoretically represented by FIGURE 10 so that the inward bow of such produces effective mating side wall sealing engagement with the base side walls 12a without necessitating a foreshortened longitudinal extent between the cover and walls 17 as illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9. Also a combination of the two separately utilizable effects may be utilized to advantage.

The pebbled surface 11 shown in FIGURE 7 effectively resists marring resulting from using the base as a cutting board for the contents of the container. This surface also aids in minimizing sliding of the contents on the base. When items such as cheese or butter are placed on the base, small vacuums are formed between a flat surface on the item and many of the recessed areas between the pebbles on surface 11. This vacuum effect also aids in minimizing movement of the item on the base. The hollow underside of the base also permis free flow of cold air therein to more rapidly cool cheese or the like positioned on surface 11.

My invention is particularly directed to the storage of perishables such as elongated pieces of cheese, butter, meat loaf or the like, but it obviously can be used for other materials.

While I have described the present proposed embodiment of my invention, it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A storage container comprising a base having a top supporting surface, a continuous base flange surrounding said top surface and extending outwardly therefrom, a handle integral with said flange at either end of the base, a cover for enclosing the top surface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portions providing an open bottom, a flange integral with said side and end wall portions and extending generally normal thereto and outwardly therefrom at said open bottom, said cover flange at either cover end wall portion being provided with centrally disposed inset portions and flange extensions at either side thereof, said handles extending upwardly and outwardly from said base flange between said cover end wall portion flange extensions, said cover being adapted to pivotally rotate around said handles from a closed position with said cover engaged with said base to an open position wherein said extensions engage with the peripheral portions of said base ends and said cover rests on said handle so as to limit the extent to which the cover can be pivotally rotated.

2. A vapor-tight plastic container for storing perishables and the like in a cool atmosphere, comprising a base having a substantially flat top surface, a continuous and downwardly directed wall integral with the periphery of said top surface, said top being unobstructed over its entire surface, a continuous flange integral with said base wall and extending outwardly therefrom, said base flange being located entirely below said top surface of the base, a handle integral with said base wall flange at either end of the base, a cover for enclosing the top surface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portions providing an open bottom substantially conforming to and slightly smaller than the periphery of said base wall, a flange integral with said side and end wall portions and extending generally normal thereto and outwardly therefrom at said open bottom, said flange at either cover end wall portion being provided with a centrally disposed inset portion and flange extensions at either side thereof, said handles extending upwardly and outwardly from said base flange between said cover end wall portion flange extensions for ease in grasping, said base flange and said cover flange engageable in facing abutting relationship to provide a vapor and air seal between said flanges, said cover being adapted to pivotally rotate around said handles from a closed position with said cover engaged with said base to an open position wherein said handles engage with the peripheral portions of said ends and said cover rests on said handle so as to limit the extent to which the cover can be pivotally rotated.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the top surface of said flat top is pebbled to resist marring when perishables are cut on the surface and to minimize movement of the perishables during cutting.

4. A vapor-tight plastic container for storing perishables and the like in a cool atmosphere, comprising a base having a substantially flat top surface, a continuous and downwardly directed Wall integral with the periphery of said top surface, said top being unobstructed over its entire surface, a continuous flange integral with said base wall and extending outwardly therefrom, said base flange being located entirely below said top surface of the base, a handle integral with said base wall flange at either end of the base, a cover for enclosing the top surface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portions providing an open bottom substantially conforming to and slightly smaller than the periphery of said base wall,. a flange integral with said side and end wall portions and extending generally normal thereto and outwardly therefrom at said open bottom, said flange at either cover end wall portion being provided with a centrally disposed inset portion and flange extensions at either side thereof, said handles extending upwardly and outwardly from said base flange between said cover and wall portion flange extensions for ease in grasping, said base flange and said cover flange engageable in facing abutting relationship to provide a vapor and air seal between said flanges, said cover flange extensions being of a longitudinal extent greater than the underlying portions of said base flange, the lower inside surface of said side and end wall portions engageable with the entire base wall between the top surface of the base and the continuous flange on said base wall, the engaged surfaces of said base wall and said lower inside surface of said side and end wall portions being sloped in a matching locking taper to tightly engage the cover with the base to provide a non-shake-free fit and effective vapor and air seal between said engaged surfaces.

5. The container according to claim 4 wherein the top surface of said flat top is pebbled to resist marring when perishables are cut on the surface and to minimize movement of the perishables during cutting.

6. A vapor-tight plastic container of rectangular crosssectional configuration for storing perishables and the like in a cool atmosphere, comprising a relatively rigid nondeformable rectangular base having a top surface adapted to support a perishable material a continuous and downwardly directed base wall integral with the periphery of said top surface, said base wall comprised of side and end wall portions wherein said side wall portions exceed the extent of said end wall portions by at least a ratio of 2:1, a relatively flexible rectangular cover for enclosing the top surface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portions providing an open bottom substantially conforming to the periphery of said base wall, the engaged surfaces of said base wall and said lower inside surface of said side and end wall portions being sloped in a matching locking taper to tightly engage the cover with the base to provide a non-shake-free fit and effective vapor and air seal between said engaged surfaces.

7. A vapor-tight plastic container for storing perishables and the like in a cool atmosphere, comprising a relatively rigid rectangular base having a substantially fiat top surface, a continuous and downwardly directed wall integral with the periphery of said top surface, said base wall comprised of side and end wall portions thereof, a relatively flexible rectangular cover for enclosing the top surface of said base, said cover having downwardly directed side and end wall portions providing an open bottom substantially conforming to the periphery of said base wall, the open longitudinal extent between said cover end walls at the bottom thereof being of a lesser dimension than the corresponding longitudinal extent between said end wall portions of said base wall, the engaged surfaces of said base wall and said lower inside surface of said side and end wall portions being sloped in a matching locking taper to tightly engage the cover with the base to provide a non-shake-free fit and effective vapor and air seal between said engaged surfaces, and said cover end walls being resiliently outwardly urged and said cover side walls resiliently inwardly urged in opposition thereto.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said side wall portions exceed the extent of said end wall portions by at least a ratio of 2:1.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein said cover side walls are normally centrally inwardly bowed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,507 6/1926 Bond. 2,780,385 2/1957 Tupper 150.5 2,783,538 3/1957 Spevak 220-42 X 2,941,562 6/ 1960 Ripin 220-42 X 3,055,540 9/1962 Ringlen l-.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 660,095 5/ 1938 Germany.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

Claims

1. A STORAGE CONTAINER COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A TOP SUPPORTING SURFACE, A CONTINUOUS BASE FLANGE SURROUNDING SAID TOP SURFACE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, A HANDLE INTEGRAL WITH SAID FLANGE AT EITHER END OF THE BASE, A COVER FOR ENCLOSING THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID BASE, SAID COVER HAVING DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED SIDE AND END WALL PORTIONS PROVIDING AN OPEN BOTTOM, A FLANGE INTERGRAL WITH SAID SIDE AND END WALL PORTIONS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY NORMAL THERETO AND OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AT SAID OPEN BOTTOM, SAID COVER FLANGE AT EITHER COVER END WALL PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH CENTRALLY DISPOSED INSET POR-