A cake is commonly placed in a container that includes a base that supports a cardboard sheet on which the cake rests, and a cover that has a cover rim that extends around the base rim. A round cake is placed in a container with circular base and cover outer edges that are centered on a container axis. One type of container, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,607, includes a base that forms at least two threads and a cover that forms thread parts that can be screwed into place. It can be difficult to properly engage all threads. Also, in a plant where cakes are loaded onto a base and the cover is closed on the base, a very short time such as no more than a second, is allocated for closing each cover on a base. There is a need for a container that can be closed very rapidly by brute force. However, when a customer buys the cake and container, it is desirable that the customer be able to properly close and open the container using only moderate forces.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a food container is provided, especially to hold a cake, which includes a base and cover each formed of a sheet of plastic with a circular periphery, which enables the cover to be very rapidly closed on the base by brute force at a loading plant, and which thereafter enables the container to be opened and closed by a customer using only moderate force. The cover bottom has a primarily vertical cover rim wall that surrounds a base rim wall. The cover rim wall has a plurality of projections and the base rim wall has a plurality of recesses that each can receive a cover projection. The cover projections have lower surfaces that are beveled, and the base has a beveled upper surface. When the cover is pushed down forcefully the beveled surfaces ride one over the other until the cover projections lie at least partially in the base recesses to hold the cover closed.
The base recesses each includes a vertical passage and an undercut groove that extends circumferentially from a vertical passage to a stop. A customer usually opens the container by turning the cover about the axis while the cover projections each slides along a groove and into a vertical passage. The projections can be easily lifted along a vertical passage to lift the cover off the base. The customer closes the cover on the base in a reverse fashion. However, as mentioned above, the cover can be very rapidly installed at a factory, by pushing it down with brute force.
The cover and base have handles for turning the cover relative to the base. The base handle is a tab formed by a base sheet portion, that extends under the bottom of the cover rim wall and along a horizontal surface on which the base lies. The tab has a radially outer part with an upward-projection forming shoulders that can be pushed circumferentially to prevent base rotation in either direction.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
I.
The cover rim wall 44 has a plurality of radially-inward cover projections 50. The base rim wall 32 forms a plurality of radially-inward base recesses 52 which are designed to receive the cover projections to latch down the cover onto the base. The base and cover are each formed of a sheet of plastic that has been deformed (it is possible to mold the cover and base to form sheet plastic). The cover projections 50 result from radially inwardly deforming one plastic sheet and the base recesses 52 result from radially inwardly deforming another plastic sheet.
In accordance with the present invention, the cover and base are constructed so the cover can be closed on the base very rapidly, such as in one second or less. Such closing occurs after a cardboard plate 77 (
Each cover projection may lie at a variety of circumferential positions with respect to the base when a worker forcefully pushes down the cover onto the base. In rare instances the cover projections are perfectly aligned with the base vertical passages, and then the holding of the cover depends on any slight interference fit (radially or circumferentially) of the projections with the walls of the vertical passage, or applicant can rely on the weight of the cover to hold it down or rely on a clerk to turn it if there is rattling. In most instances, one end portion of each cover projection lies in a vertical passage 54 and the other end has to pass down across a groove top wall 62. A forceful downward movement of the cover by a worker accomplishes this and latches down the cover. In some instances, each cover projection 50 presses against a stop 72 (
Thus, the container allows rapid cover installation by a worker at a plant, with an interference fit to hold down the cover in almost all instances. However, the container also allows a customer with more time to “properly” open and close the cover by rotating the cover.
To facilitate rotation of the cover by about 20 degrees, applicant provides at least one handle on the base and on the cover. The cover rim wall 44 (
The cover has handles 100 (
II.
The upper two container parts 204, 206 of
As described above, the container parts can be assembled by merely forcefully pressing down one container part over a lower one until the parts snap together.
The two lowermost container parts 200, 204 of
Thus, the invention provides a container comprising a base and cover that are each formed of sheet plastic, which enables a customer to easily close and open the container using low forces, and that enables a worker to very rapidly close the container using a larger force. The base has a vertical passage through which a cover projection can easily pass down or up, and has an undercut groove extending circumferentially therefrom to a stop, with a jut on the cover projection and along the groove to hold the cover closed. The base wall over the groove and stop is beveled, and the bottom of the cover projection is also beveled, to allow cover installation by merely pressing down the cover forcefully, with beveled surfaces then forming a seal. The base has a handle in the form of a tab with a sheet part that extends radially outward under the outer edge of the cover, and with upward projection(s) that form shoulders for preventing turning of the base. The cover can have projections in its side that form shoulders that serve as handles to rotate the cover. The cover and base both can have handle formed from radially-outwardly projecting tabs. The tabs can be provided with hinge portions that enable the tabs to bend up.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,893 filed Aug. 18, 2003.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10645893 | Aug 2003 | US |
Child | 11998582 | US |