Pop up tab tray with intack shoulder portion
AssigneePressware International, Inc.
InventorDavid J. Bulcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a paperboard food container, especially the clamshell type used in the fast food industry, a releasably interlocking means between the container and a lid. The interlocking means includes a slot formed in the container which not only leaves a continuous, coplanar shoulder around the circumference of the container which allows complete sealing with a lid structure, but additionally provides a tab which extends above the slot, allowing the lid structure to have either a flange extending under the container tab or, in addition to the flange, a tab inserting into the slot.
Claims3
In a food tray formed from a paperboard sheet and having, in an operable orientation, a horizontal bottom wall, sidewalls which extend upward from the edges of the bottom wall, a narrow step extending outwardly from the top of the sidewalls and encompassing the circumference of the tray, a rim extending upwards from the step and a flange which extends outwardly from the top of the rim, an improved releasably interlocking means comprising:
- a slot formed outwardly of and spaced from a bend between the sidewall and the step, the slot being an aperture extending through the rim and up to the flange leaving a continuous coplanar step around the circumference of the container for continuously contacting a lid, and a tab which is integrally cut in said sheet and which extends from the flange inwardly and above the slotted region for releasably interlocking with a peripheral edge of a lid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.