Folded plastic container with snap lid

A closable container of the re-openable type comprising a sleeve-like container portion and a closure portion, said closure portion being adapted for generally transverse disposition at an end of said container portion, and at least one set of snap type locking means for securing said closure portion into closed engagement relative to said container portion under a greater opening force than closing force, said locking means comprising:

• a. tab means of said container member, with a base portion of said tab means being carried by a wall portion of said container portion at an end portion of said container portion, with said tab means having an initial disposition with said wall portion when said closure portion is in unassembled disposition relative to said container portion, and terminating in a free tab edge of a width adapted when directed longitudinally inwardly of said container portion to extend to a predetermined depth from the adjacent end of said container portion, said initial disposition of said tab means being longitudinally into said container portion at a first acute angle, with the free tab edge being directed inwardly of said container portion to said predetermined depth in the unassembled disposition of the closure portion relative to the container portion, and
• b. protrusion means carried by said closure portion and disposed within said container portion and being directed toward said wall portion of said container portion when said closure portion is in assembled disposition relative to said container portion, said protrusion means defining ledge means located at substantially said predetermined depth from the adjacent end of said container portion when said closure portion is in assembled disposition relative to said container portion, said ledge means facilitating abutting engagement with said free tab edge, said closure means having flange means in overlying relation to an outer surface portion of a container wall portion at said end of said container portion adjacent said closure portion, wherein said protrusion means has camming surface means facing toward an opposite end of said container portion, and whereby said tab means is resiliently displaceable to a position at a second acute angle with said wall portion after assembly of said closure portion and container portion into closed disposition, with said second acute angle being no greater than said first acute angle, and wherein said closure portion has a central portion that is in recessed relation relative to the adjacent end of said closure portion when said closure portion and container portion are assembled, wherein said flange means is disposed in overlying relation to an outer surface portion of the container portion, entirely about the periphery of said container portion when said closure portion and container are assembled, wherein said container portion and closure portion are comprised of separate elements, wherein said container portion is sleeve-like, of generally rectangular configuration and wherein said closure portion is of mating rectangular configuration, wherein there are four said locking means, for locking engagement of said closure portion with each wall of said container portion, wherein both said container portion and said closure portion are constructed of material that is substantially transparent, and wherein said container portion and said closure portion are of thermoplastic material construction.

A plastic container comprising:

• a. a first piece of plastic, said first piece being a piece of folded sheet plastic, said first piece comprising:
• i. a plurality of surfaces, the number of said plurality of surfaces being denominated as N;
• ii. N extension tabs, one each of said N tabs extending from each one of said N surfaces;
• iii. A folding seam tab;
• b. a second piece of plastic, said second piece being of vacuum formed construction and having the shape of a polygon having N sides, said second piece comprising:
• i. a flange, said flange having N sides and being suitably disposed for contacting relation with said N surfaces of said first piece, each of the N sides of said flange being suitably disposed for contact with any one of said N surfaces of said first piece;
• ii. a center portion, said center portion being suitably disposed for insertion within said N surfaces of said first piece, when said container is in its assembled condition, in an orientation such that said center portion is surrounded by said N surfaces of said first piece and such that said center portion is substantially perpendicular to each of said N surfaces of said first piece;
• iii. connecting structure means connecting said flange and said center portion, said connecting structure means having N sides, each one of said N sides connecting one side of said flange with said center portion;
• and
• iv. at least N nibs, at least one of said nibs being oriented on each of said N sides of said connecting structure means, for retaining in suitable engaged relation said extension tabs of said first piece of plastic, at least one said nib being oriented for retaining each of said extension tabs;
• wherein said first and second pieces of plastic, when in engaged relation respectively form the N sides and a bottom of a container, said bottom being formed by said second piece of plastic and said N sides of said container being formed by said first piece of plastic, said bottom being adapted to be easily attached to said N sides in engaged relation by inserting said connecting structure means of said second piece of plastic into engagement with said N extension tabs until at least two of said extension tabs are securely retained by at least two of said nibs, said engagement resulting in a container wherein said bottom of said container can only be disassembled from said sides with an effort substantially greater than the effort required to insert said bottom into engagement with said sides of said container.