The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 25, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1998
James L Capo, Middletown, OH (US);
Graphic Packaging Corporation, Golden, CO (US);
Abstract
A container body formed from two substantially identical interlocking container members with each of the container members comprising a substantially planer base portion and a plurality of opposing sidewalls connected to the base portion and tab portions extending from at least one pair of the opposing sidewalls with each of the tab portions including an opening and an adjacent interference element is set forth. The interference elements of a first of the two container members is received in respective openings of a second of the two container members for securing the second container member in an inverted condition with respect to the first container member. A blank for forming the respective container members similarly includes a base portion and at least two pairs of opposing sidewalls hingedly connected to the base portion along lines of weakness and tab portions extending from each sidewall of one of the pairs of opposing sidewalls with each of the tab portions including an opening and adjacent interference element. When erected, the container blank forms one of a cover or tray which are nestably received within one another for packaging, shipping and storing of the container members. When in use, the container body is erected by interlocking a first container member and a second container member. The container members are capable of being interlock with another irrespective of their longitudinal orientation with respect to one another. The tab portions of each of the container members which include both an interference member and an adjacent opening for receiving an interference member are aligned with one another even if the container members are rotated 180.degree. with respect to one another. Particularly, the tab portions on each of side walls are identical, thus the need to provide the correct longitudinal orientation is eliminated.