BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of showing the existing food box;
FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of showing a cover and a base of a food box in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section view of showing the cover and the base of the food box in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section view of showing the cover and the base of the food box in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional assembly view of showing the cover and the base of the food box in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a transverse cross section view of showing that two covers and two bases of the food box in accordance with the present invention are being stacked up;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross section view of showing that two covers and two bases of the food box in accordance with the present invention are being stacked up;
FIG. 8 is an illustrative view in accordance with the present invention of showing the bottom surface of the cover of the base; and
FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of showing a food box structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be more clear from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a food box in accordance with the present invention, and the food box comprises a cover 2 and a base 1.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 2 and the base 1 each is formed on their edge thereof with a slant hem 12 and horizontal hem 22. An engaging portion 11 and 21 is formed at the outer periphery of the slant hems 12 and horizontal hem 22, respectively, and the engaging portion 11 and 21 is trapezoid-shaped in cross section, with its upper part smaller than its lower part. The engaging portion 11 of the base 1 is an annular protruding structure located around the periphery of the base 1 and is formed in its bottom with a groove, and likewise, the engaging portion 21 of the cover 2 is a protruding structure located around the periphery of the cover 2 and is formed in its bottom with a groove. In addition, a bevel edge 211 is formed on the outer periphery of the engaging portion 21.
Referring to FIG. 5, when the cover 2 is rested on the base 1, the engaging portion 21 of the cover 2 is engaged with the engaging portion 11 of the base 1, namely, the engaging portion 11 of the base 1 is received in the groove in the bottom of the engaging portion 21 of the cover 2, and thus the cover 2 is placed in position to seal the base 1.
During transportation or storage, a plurality of bases and covers should be stacked up for saving space, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Two bases 1 and 1′ are stacked up, the base 1 is received in the base 1′ in such a manner that the engaging portion of the base 1′ is received in the groove in the bottom of the engaging portion 11 of the base 1, and the covers 2 and 2′ are stacked up likewise. When the bases 1 and 1′ or the covers 2, 2′ are stacked up, since the engaging portion is a four-sided pyramid in cross section, the distance H between two neighboring bases 1 or between two covers 2 is less than the height of the engaging portion of a single base or a single cover. In the manner as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of bases or covers are stacked up, and storage space is substantially reduced as compared with the conventional food box.
Referring then to FIG. 8, to improving the tightness between the base 1 and the cover 2, a plurality of elastic clamping pieces 23 is provided on the periphery of the bottom of the cover 2, when the cover 2 is closed, the elastic clamping pieces 23 will clamp against the outer periphery of the base 1, preventing the disengagement of the cover 2 from the base 1.
Embodiment 2
As shown in FIG. 2, the engaging portions 11 and 21 of the base 1 and the cover 2 are an arc-shaped groove in cross section, with its upper part smaller than its lower part.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Patent Application
20070289963
