# US 2014/0190862 A1 · Hinge configuration for container for frangible items > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190862 A1 - Document ID: US20140190862A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/202,987 - Filed: 2014-03-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-15 - Assignees: Pactiv Canada Inc. - Applicants: Pactiv Canada Inc. - Inventors: Francois Blanchette; Germain Archambault - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190862A1 ## CPC - B65D 85/32: for eggs - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A container for receiving frangible items comprises a sheet of polymer formed into a base portion having a plurality of item-receiving cavities for supporting frangible items. A cover portion has an item-covering concavity for covering the frangible items. A first hinge portion is positioned between a first longitudinal edge of the base portion and the cover portion for rotating the cover portion onto the base portion to hold the frangible items captive in the item-receiving cavities. The first hinge portion comprises a pair of longitudinal grooves formed into the first hinge portion and extending parallel to the first longitudinal edge of the base portion, with a web defined between the longitudinal grooves, and a hinge-reinforcement wall at at least one end of the longitudinal grooves. A fold line is formed in the web and in the hinge-reinforcement wall when the cover portion is rotated onto the base portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container for receiving frangible items comprising: a base having a base longitudinal edge disposed proximate an end thereof and a plurality of item-receiving cavities each configured to support a frangible item therein; a cover moveable between an open position and a closed position relative the base and configured to secure to the base in the closed position, the cover having a cover longitudinal edge disposed proximate an end thereof and a concavity configured to cover the frangible items; and a hinge joining the cover to the base, the hinge disposed between the base longitudinal edge and the cover longitudinal edge, the hinge comprising: a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed into a surface of the hinge and aligned parallel to the base longitudinal edge, a web defined between the longitudinal grooves, and a hinge-reinforcement wall disposed proximate at least one end of the longitudinal grooves, a fold line formed in the web and the hinge-reinforcement wall when the cover portion is moved from the open position toward the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises two hinge-reinforcement walls, each hinge-reinforcement wall disposed proximate an opposing end of the longitudinal grooves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the hinge-reinforcement wall is substantially flat and has a substantially uniform thickness when the cover is in the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the hinge-reinforcement wall has a dimension between about 0.25 inch and about 2.0 inches along a longitudinal axis of the hinge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal grooves each have a width of about 0.125 inch and a depth of about 0.09 inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the web has a width of about 0.03 inch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, further comprising: an intermediate cover having a plurality of item-covering concavities each configured to cover one of the frangible items when in the closed position; and an opposing hinge disposed between an opposing base longitudinal edge and the intermediate cover to join the intermediate cover to the base, the opposing hinge further comprising: a plurality of further longitudinal grooves formed into a surface of the opposing hinge and aligned parallel to the opposing base longitudinal edge, a further web defined between the further longitudinal grooves, and a further hinge-reinforcement wall disposed proximate at least one end of the further longitudinal grooves, a further fold line formed in the further web and the further hinge-reinforcement wall when the intermediate cover is moved from the open position toward the closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the frangible items are eggs, and each of the item-receiving cavities receives one egg. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed from a sheet of plastic material. ### Claim 10 A container for receiving frangible items comprising: a base having a top surface defining an opening of a plurality of item-receiving cavities each configured to support a frangible item therein; a cover moveable between an open position and a closed position relative the base and having a concavity configured to cover the frangible items in the closed position, the cover comprising a top wall, a peripheral wall extending from a perimeter of the top wall and defining at least a portion of the concavity, and a plurality of reinforcement beams extending from the top wall and aligned along an axis of the cover, each reinforcement beam spaced inward from the perimeter and spaced apart from the other reinforcement beam, the reinforcement beams engaging the top surface of the base when the cover is in the closed position; and a hinge joining the cover to the base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The container according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcement beams are aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The container according to claim 10, wherein an end of each of the reinforcement beams comprises a frustoconical portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The container according to claim 12, wherein an opposing end of each of the reinforcement beams comprises a further frustoconical portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The container according to claim 10, wherein the cover further comprises at least one rib projecting into each of the reinforcement beams. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The container according to claim 14, wherein the at least one rib is disposed proximate a center of each of the reinforcement beams. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The container according to claim 10, wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of ridges, each ridge disposed proximate an intersection of the top wall and a corresponding one of the reinforcement beams. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The container according to claim 16, wherein each ridge projects outwardly from the top wall toward the corresponding reinforcement beam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The container according to claim 16, wherein each ridge circumscribes the corresponding reinforcement beam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The container according to claim 10, wherein the concavity is configured as a single item-covering concavity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The container according to claim 10, wherein the container is formed from a sheet of plastic material.