Clamshell container movement control stabilizers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548691-B2
Application number	US-202016936729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2020
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

In an embodiment, the invention comprises a container apparatus with a lateral stability rail system. At least one rail extends within the lid portion and at least one track extends through the base portion. The rail terminates in a tooth and the track terminates in a pocket. When the container is in a hingedly closed position, the at least one rail nests within the at least one track and the at least one tooth nests within the at least one pocket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container apparatus, comprising:
a base section defining a base surface and one or more sidewalls extending upwardly from the base surface to define a container portion having an upper base periphery circumventing the base surface, wherein the upper base periphery terminates at a top surface of the one or more sidewalls;
a base flange projecting outward from the upper base periphery;
a lid section hingedly connected to the base section, the lid section defining a lid surface and a lid periphery circumventing the lid surface, wherein a contact portion of the lid periphery aligns with the top surface of the upper base periphery when the lid section is in a hingedly closed position relative to the base section; and
a lid flange projecting outward from the lid periphery;
wherein the upper base periphery and the lid periphery include an integrally formed rail system comprising:
at least one rail which extends a length which is at least from the contact portion of the lid periphery to the lid flange;
at least one tooth which extends from the at least one rail, beyond the lid flange, wherein:
the at least one rail has a width and a depth, and
the depth of the at least one rail extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one rail; and

at least one track which extends a length which is at least from the top surface of the upper base periphery to the base flange;
at least one pocket which extends from the at least one track, beyond the base flange, wherein:
the at least one track has a width and a depth, and
the depth of the at least one track extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one track,

wherein when the container is in a hingedly closed position:
the at least one rail nests within the at least one track; and
the at least one tooth nests within the at least one pocket.

2. The container apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is parallel to the top surface of the one or more sidewalls.

3. The container apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the container is in a hingedly closed position, the contact portion is seated atop the top surface of the one or more sidewalls.

4. The container apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the container is in a hingedly closed position, the lid flange is parallel to the base flange.

5. The container apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the container is in a hingedly closed position, the lid flange is seated atop the base flange.

6. The container apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rail extends away from the lid section, and the at least one track is recessed into the base section.

7. The container apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least two rails.

8. The container apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least two tracks.

9. The container apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising at least one locking mechanism.

10. The container apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising at least one rib disposed in the base section.

11. The container apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising a hinge connecting the lid section and the base section, wherein the at least one rail is disposed in the lid periphery portion opposite the hinge and the at least one track is disposed in the upper base periphery portion opposite the hinge.

12. The container apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
at least one additional rail disposed in the lid periphery portion adjacent the hinge; and
at least one additional track disposed in the upper base periphery portion adjacent the hinge, wherein:
the at least one additional rail extends a length which is at least from the contact portion of the lid periphery to the lid flange, wherein:
the at least one additional rail has a width and a depth, and
the depth of the at least one additional rail extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one rail; and

the at least one additional track which extends a length which is at least from the top surface of the upper base periphery to the base flange, wherein:
the at least one additional track has a width and a depth, and
the depth of the at least one additional track extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one track,

wherein when the container is in a hingedly closed position, the at least one additional rail nests within the at least one additional track.

13. The container apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one additional rail extends away from the lid section, and the at least one additional track is recessed into the base section.

14. The container apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least two additional rails.

15. The container apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least two additional tracks.

16. A container apparatus, comprising:
a base section defining a base surface and one or more sidewalls extending upwardly from the base surface to define a container portion having an upper base periphery, wherein the upper base periphery terminates at a top surface of the one or more sidewalls;
a base flange projecting outward from the upper base periphery;
a hinge connecting the base section to a lid section;
the lid section defining a lid surface and a lid periphery, wherein a contact portion of the lid periphery aligns with the top surface of the upper base periphery when the lid section is in a hingedly closed position relative to the base section; and
a lid flange projecting outward from the lid periphery;
wherein the upper base periphery and the lid periphery include an integrally formed rail system comprising:
at least one rail which extends a length which is at least from the contact portion of the lid periphery to the lid flange;
at least one tooth which extends from the at least one rail, beyond the lid flange, wherein the tooth extends lengthwise, and wherein:
the at least one rail has a width and a depth,
the depth of the at least one rail extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one rail, and
the at least one rail is disposed in the lid periphery portion opposite the hinge;

at least one track which extends a length which is at least from the top surface of the upper base periphery to the base flange;
at least one pocket which extends from the at least one track, beyond the base flange, wherein the at least one pocket extends lengthwise, and wherein:
the at least one track has a width and a depth,
the depth of the at least one track extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one track, and
the at least one track is disposed in the upper base periphery portion opposite the hinge,

wherein when the container is in a hingedly closed position:
the at least one rail nests within the at least one track; and
the at least one tooth nests within the at least one pocket;

at least one additional rail disposed in the lid periphery portion adjacent the hinge; and
at least one additional track disposed in the upper base periphery portion adjacent the hinge, wherein:
the at least one additional rail extends a length which is at least from the contact portion of the lid periphery to the lid flange, wherein:
the at least one additional rail has a width and a depth, and
the depth of the at least one additional rail extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one rail; and

the at least one additional track extends a length which is at least from the top surface of the upper base periphery to the base flange, wherein:
the at least one additional track has a width and a depth, and
the depth of the at least one additional track extends perpendicular to the length of the at least one track,

where

Assignees

• Sonoco Dev Inc

Inventors

• Figgins Travis L
• Hanna Jr Roger D

Classifications

• B65D1/26

  Thin-walled containers, e.g. formed by deep-drawing operations {(B65D1/165 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D2543/00796

  Totality · CPC title

• B65D2543/0037

  Flexible or deformable · CPC title

• B65D1/46

  Local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent closures · CPC title

• B65D2543/0062

  Groove or hollow bead · CPC title