US 4,602,719 A · Reclosable plastic container having improved opening release

Abstract

A reclosable plastic container is formed having a cover hingedly attached to a base and having an interlocking structure such that the cover is held on the base when the container is closed. Release tabs are formed on each of the cover and base adjacent one another and having camming surfaces on each tab which extend therefrom toward the other tab. The camming surfaces on the tabs intersect in a fulcrum such that when the user presses the tabs together, the tabs rotate about the fulcrum to pull the cover and base apart. The camming surface on each tab may be formed as a ridge formed integrally with the tab. Reinforcing ridges, extending away from the plane of the tab in a direction opposite to that of the camming surfaces, are also preferably formed in the tab to provide structural rigidity so that the tabs do not substantially bend or flex when they are pressed by the user. The tabs allow a securely closed container to be easily opened by one hand of the user.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A reclosable container comprising:

(a) a base having peripheral edges;
(b) a cover having peripheral edges and adapted to close upon and cover the base;
(c) a release tab extending from a peripheral edge of the base and having a camming surface formed therein;
(d) a release tab extending from a peripheral edge of the cover and having a camming surface formed therein, the tabs on the cover and base positioned and the camming surfaces on the tabs formed such that when the cover is in closed position on the base, the camming surfaces engage one another and such that, when the tabs are pressed toward each other, the tabs rotate about the position of intersection of the camming surfaces to force the cover and base away from each other.

1 more element

A reclosable plastic container, comprising:

(a) a base of plastic material having a bottom wall and upright side walls integrally connected together and to the bottom wall and having peripheral edges;
(b) a cover of plastic material having a top wall and side walls integrally connected together and to the top wall and having peripheral edges, the cover hingedly attached along a peripheral edge to the base to close upon and cover the same;
(c) a release tab integrally formed with and extending from a peripheral edge of the base and having a camming surface formed therein;
(d) a release tab integrally formed with and extending from a peripheral edge of the cover and having a camming surface formed therein which extends toward the camming surface on the release tab on the base when the cover is closed on the base, the camming surfaces engaging one another when the cover and base are closed and the tabs are pressed toward each other such that the tabs rotate about the position of contact of the camming surfaces to force the edges of the cover and base at the tabs away from each other;
(e) means on the cover and base for releasably interlocking the base to the cover when the cover is closed on the base.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reclosable plastic container having improved opening release

Life of this patent

Reclosable plastic container having improved opening release

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33