CONTAINER WITH SELF-ALIGNING LID

Abstract

A novel and unique container of a general clamshell configuration with a self-aligning lid is provided. The hinge of the container provides a hinged connection between the lid and the base of the container. The hinge includes pins that extend into corresponding receiving slots on the base that align the lid in the X and Y directions over the open top end of the base as the lid is pivoted closed. With the lid aligned on the base, downward pressure in the Z direction results in better and more reliable frictional engagement of the lid to the base. As a result, the container with self-aligning lid is particularly well-suited for use in automatic machinery for filling and closing such containers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This patent document relates generally to containers, such as those in the configuration of packages and tubs, which may or may not have a lid. Further, the container relates to such containers that are used to store articles, such as food.

2. Background of the Related Art

It is well known in the art that containers are commonly used to store food, but it should be understood that the invention relates to any type of container for any type of purpose.

More specifically, the container with self-aligning lid relates to disposable food containers, which have particular application for containing food that is for sale, such as at a food market. These containers are commonly made out of disposable and recyclable materials, such as paper and plastic. As a result, there is a first concern as to the use of material that can be recycled. Also, there is a concern that the packaging container be clear or have a window so the consumer can inspect the food prior to purchase. In view of these needs, a container base is provided that houses the food with a lid secured thereto. Commonly the lid simply snaps to the base to seal the food contents therein. The lid can be a separate member or hingedly connected to the base. A container with the lid hingedly connected to the base is commonly referred to as a “clamshell” container configuration. These container configurations are very well known in the art.

In use, the food manufacturer or food preparer simply loads the food into the base, hingedly pivots the lid over the base and then pressed downwardly to snap the lid thereon and into communication with the base. However, prior art clamshell container configurations suffer from the disadvantage of the lid frequently not properly aligning with the base prior to closure. This can result in a damaged container that does not close properly, necessitating that the container be discarded, resulting in waste. This is particularly true when these containers are filled and then closed using automated machinery because such automated machinery requires that the lid be near or perfectly aligned as possible with the base prior to closure to ensure a proper friction fit.

In view of the above, present clamshell containers suffer from many disadvantages in that they have difficulties when automatic machine closures are employed thereby increasing waste and expending additional time. There is a need for a container that is includes a self-aligning lid, yet does not necessitate costly changes to the container. There is further demand for a container that is less expensive and complicated to manufacture than prior art containers. There is yet another need to provide a container that speeds filling of containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The container with self-aligning lid preserves the advantages of prior art containers. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available containers and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available containers.

The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique container that has a general clamshell configuration. The hinge of the container is unique in that it not only provides a hinged connection between the lid and the base of the container for ease of use by the food manufacturer during filling but is also self-aligns with the base of the container assisting closing and sealing. To accomplish this, the hinge is specially configured to include a pair of conical locating pins that engage a reciprocal pair of tapered slots on the flange of the base. By way of example, the tapered slots may be U-shaped or V-shaped.

It is therefore an object to provide a container with a self-aligning lid that is easy to fill with food.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container that has a lid that is self-aligning when it is hingedly closed over the base in preparation for downward pressure for closure, either by automated machinery or by hand.

Another object of the container described herein is to provide a container with a self-aligning lid that can be manufactured using common thermoforming equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are characteristic are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the container in an open condition;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the container in a closed condition;

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the hinge of the container shown in the inset of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view with the lid in a half-closed condition, showing the pins starting to engage the tapered slot for lid alignment;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the peripheral engage of the lid resting, and not fully engaged, with the top flange of the container;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the container in a closed condition;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view, top view showing pins engaging the tapered slots on the contained;

FIG. 8 is a side cross-section view through line 8-8 of FIG. 2, showing the pin seated in the tapered slot and the peripheral edge of the lid fully seated in the flange of the container;

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the hinge of the container shown in the inset of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 10 is shown to be of a general clamshell configuration with a base 12 and a lid 14 hingedly connected thereto via hinge 16. The hinge 16 may be a breakaway or tear-away hinge (such as with the use of perforations, not shown) or permanently attached to the base 12 or lid 14. For ease of discussion the container 10 is shown in FIG. 1 is an open condition. The container 10 is also shown in a closed condition in FIG. 2. The base 10 includes a top edge 17 with a peripheral bead or flange 18. As is shown in FIGS. 2, 4-6, the lid 14 may be pivoted about the hinge 16 to a closed position over the base 12. The peripheral edge 20 of the lid 14 frictionally snaps into the top edge 17 of the base 12 and secured by the peripheral bead or flange 18, as is well known in the art. Such frictional engagement of the lid 14 to the base 12 requires a downward pressure on the top of the lid 14 toward the base 12. This can be carried out by hand or by automated machinery, which is well known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a close-up view of the container 10 and the unique hinge 16 construction is shown. The hinge 16 is connected at its top portion to the lid 14 and extends laterally away from the lid 14 and then down forming a middle portion (best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8). The middle portion of the hinge 16 is connected to a flange 18 emanating outwardly from the top edge 17 of the base 12. Reinforcing rib members 22 may be formed on the middle portion of the hinge 16, which add rigidity and structural support to the hinge 16, allowing the use of thinner plastic. Additional reinforcing rib members 22 may be formed on the bottom flange portion of the base 12.

Protruding inwardly from the hinge 16 is a pair of locating pins 24, which are preferably conical in shape but could be of any configuration. Opposite the pins 24 and formed in the flange 18 are corresponding slots 26, as best seen in FIG. 3, which are preferably tapered but may be of any configuration. By way of example, the tapered slots 26 may be U-shaped or V-shaped. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the tapered slots 26 are configured to receive and guide the tips of the pins 24 on the hinge 16 as the lid 14 is transitioned from an opened condition to a closed condition. As the pins 24 enter the wider opening of the tapered slot 26, the pins 24 are guided within the tapered slot 26. As a consequence, the lid 14 is centered in the XY plane over the body 12 of the container 10 as the lid 14 descends to the base 12 in the Z direction (best seen in FIG. 5). As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the length of the conical pins, space the hinge and, consequently, the lid 14 in the X direction over the base 12. The slots 26 further align the pins 24 and, consequently, the lid 14 in the Y direction over the base 12. As a result, the lid 14 is accurately aligned over the base 12 in preparation for being finally pressed downwardly toward the base 12 by applying pressure in the Z direction, thereby snapping the lid 14 closed onto the base 12 (as seen in FIGS. 2, 6 and 8).

As can be understood, the appropriate plastic of the desired mil thickness is provided, which is typically clear but may be translucent or otherwise. As well known in the thermoforming of clamshell containers, a sheet of plastic is placed into a tool, heated and trimmed to form a unitary body, as best seen in FIG. 1, with the lid 14 connected to the base 12. A new and unique hinge member 16 is provided to connect the lid 14 to the base 12 to automatically provide the aforesaid alignment functionality during the lid closure process to ensure better and more reliable closure results.

Also, for example, the material used is preferably 0.025 inch Ga. Polyethylene terephthalate (“PETE”) plastic. The reinforcing ribs 22 are optionally provided in different locations on the container 10 to provide desired additional rigidity at those locations of container 10. Further, these reinforcing ribs 22 may be provided of any desirable size and shape to make various portions of the container 10 more rigid without increasing the thickness of the material used.

The container 10 configuration is particularly well-suited for thermoformed containers that are made out of plastic, which may be transparent, translucent or opaque. The walls may be of, for example, 10 mil in thickness but may be of any desired thickness and flex. The profile of the hinge 16 may be modified so that it may spring in any desired direction to facilitate separation of the lid 14 from the base 12. Thermoforming, using the appropriate tooling (not shown), is so well known in the art that it need not be discussed in detail herein. Suffice it to say that the tooling would be appropriately manufactured to provide the desired base 12, lid 14 and hinge 16 profiling. Containers 10 made out of other materials by other methods can also be achieved using the container with self-aligning lid described herein.

In view of the foregoing, a new and novel container with a self-aligning lid is provided. The unique self-aligning lid greatly assists in aligning the lid with the base before closing pressure is applied to the lid thus ensuring that the lid is optimally located when pressure is later applied to the lid for closure to the base thereby reducing risk of damage to the container or poor closure of the lid to the container. As a result, the container with self-aligning lid of the present invention is particularly well-suited for filling and closure by automatic machinery.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the container with self-aligning lid and any appended claims.

Claims

1. A container, comprising: a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall with a top peripheral edge defining an open top end;a lid, having a peripheral edge, hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when positioned proximal to the top peripheral edge;a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base; the hinge member including a bottom edge, a top edge and a middle portion;at least one alignment member extending from the hinge; andat least one slot formed on the base proximal to the top peripheral edge and respectively corresponding to the at least one pin;whereby moving the lid from an open condition to the closed condition causes the at least one alignment member to move into a respective at least one slot thereby aligning the lid over the open top end of the base in the X and Y directions in preparation for downward pressure in the Z direction to frictionally secure the lid to the container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the base, lid and hinge are made of plastic.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the base, lid and hinge are made of thermoplastic.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic is PETE.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the hinge member includes a pair of pins for alignment members and a corresponding pair of slots on the base.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot is tapered.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the at least one slot is U-shaped.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one alignment member is tapered.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one alignment member is conical in shape.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid is removable from the base.

11. A thermoformed container, comprising: a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall with a top peripheral edge defining an open top end;a lid, having a peripheral edge, hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when positioned proximal to the top peripheral edge;a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base; the hinge member including a bottom edge, a top edge and a middle portion;at least one pin extending from the middle portion of the hinge; andat least one slot formed on the base proximal to the top peripheral edge and respectively corresponding to the at least one pin;wherein the base, lid, and hinge member are integrally formed from a thermoplastic;whereby moving the lid from an open condition to the closed condition causes the at least one pin to move into a respective at least one tapered slot thereby aligning the lid over the open top end of the base in the X and Y directions in preparation for downward pressure in the Z direction to frictionally secure the lid to the container.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the middle portion of the hinge member includes a pair of pins and a corresponding pair of tapered slots on the base.

13. The container of claim 11, wherein the at least one slot is U-shaped.

14. The container of claim 11, wherein the at least one pin is conical in shape.

15. The container of claim 11, wherein the lid is removable from the base.

16. A thermoformed container, comprising: a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall with a top peripheral edge defining an open top end;a lid, having a peripheral edge, hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when positioned proximal to the top peripheral edge;a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base; the hinge member including a bottom edge, a top edge and a middle portion;a pair of spaced-apart pins extending from the middle portion of the hinge, said pins having a conical shape; anda pair of spaced-apart slots formed on the base proximal to the top peripheral edge and respectively corresponding to the pair of pins, said slots being tapered;wherein the base, lid, and hinge member are integrally formed from a thermoplastic;whereby moving the lid from an open condition to the closed condition causes the at least one pin to move into a respective at least one slot thereby aligning the lid over the open top end of the base in the X and Y directions in preparation for downward pressure in the Z direction to frictionally secure the lid to the container.

17. The container of claim 15, wherein the lid is removable from the base.