Interlocking carton and lid

An interlocking carton and lid, comprising:

• a) a generally rectangular storage carton having side members and a bottom member, the carton provided with a top opening for providing access into the interior of said carton, at least two opposed side members provided each with a peripheral flap integrally formed therewith at the upper edges thereof adjacent said top opening, the flaps adhesively coupled to the interior surface of the corresponding side members, the connection between the flaps and the side members forming a crease, said at least two opposed side members each provided with at least one slot located therein at a predetermined position between said crease and the outer edge of said flap, the adhesive coupling between said flap and the interior surface of the side member being positioned between said slot and the outer edge of said flap, wherein that unglued portion of the side member located between the crease and the slot is bowed outwardly due to spring tension created in said unglued portion by the close proximity of said slot to said crease, the slots being bounded by an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge of the slot also being the free edge of the unglued portion on the carton which is bowed outwardly;
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• b) a lid member having a generally rectangular, central portion, the peripheral edge portion of each side of said central portion provided with a flange member integrally formed therewith and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, the flange members including an outer member and an inner flap member, the connection between the inner flap portions and the outer members forming a crease, the flaps adhesively coupled to the interior surface of the corresponding outer members, said at least two opposed flange members each provided with at least one slit located on the flap member at a predetermined position between said crease and the outer peripheral edge of said flap, the adhesive coupling between said flap and the interior surface of the flange outer member being positioned between said slit and the outer edge of said flap, wherein that unglued portion of the flap member located between the crease and the slit is bowed outwardly due to spring tension created in said unglued portion by the close proximity of said slit to said crease, the slits in the lid and the slots in the carton being so located such that when the lid is placed on the carton the bowed out portion in the flap members pass over the bowed out portions in the carton side members so that the slots in the carton and the slits in the lid come into registration, and whereby the bowed out portion of the flap in the side members interferes with the bowed out portion of the flap on the lid flange members thereby locking the lid and carton together.