# US 5,699,959 A · Container with interlocking lid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,959 A - Document ID: US5699959A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/719,495 - Filed: 1996-09-25 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1996-09-25 - Assignees: Dover Industries, Inc. - Inventors: John A. Huspeka; Peter L. Calcagni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699959A ## CPC - B65D 5/685: {having an inwardly or upwardly extending tab on the lid side wall cooperating with a tab on, or an opening in, the container side wall} - 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 An interlocking container and lid assembly and a partially formed container therefor is disclosed, wherein the container has a peripheral sidewall including an upper peripheral edge portion having at least two opposed interlocking areas. Openings are formed in the sidewall interlocking areas. Folded-back flaps are connected to the upper peripheral edge portion. The flaps have an upper wall portion covering the openings and a lower wall portion attached to the sidewall. The upper wall portion is spaced from the sidewall to form a hollow space behind the openings. The lid has a top member and a peripheral flange with projections formed therein to fit into the container sidewall openings and lock the lid onto the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interlocking container and lid, comprising: a tubular container having a peripheral sidewall and a bottom closure; the sidewall including an upper peripheral edge portion having at least two opposed interlocking areas; folded-back flaps connected to the upper peripheral edge portion extending over the interlocking areas, the flaps including an upper wall portion spaced from the sidewall and a lower wall portion adhesively attached to the sidewall, means defining an opening in one of said upper wall portion and the upper peripheral edge portion in each of the opposed interlocking areas; and a container lid having a top member and a peripheral flange adapted to telescopically engage the container sidewall upper peripheral edge portion, the peripheral flange including opposed projections adapted to pass through said openings to retain the lid on the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said openings are formed in the upper peripheral edge portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 2 wherein the folded-back flaps are located on the inside of the container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising an adhesive spacer located between the upper peripheral edge portion and said upper wall portion adjacent to each of said openings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container is rectangular having two pairs of opposed side panels, said openings being formed on all said side panels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least some of the side panels are formed with a plurality of said openings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container lid has an inverted U-shaped top peripheral edge portion adapted to engage the container upper peripheral edge portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lid is formed of plastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projections are located below said inverted U-shaped top peripheral edge portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) An interlocking container and lid as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projections extend inwardly toward the top member. ### Claim 11 A partially formed container comprising: a tubular, collapsed container having a peripheral sidewall including lower, hingeably mounted flaps adapted to fold inwardly and overlap to form a bottom closure upon expansion of said collapsed container; the sidewall including an upper peripheral edge portion having at least two opposed interlocking areas upon expansion of said collapsed container; folded-back flaps connected to the upper peripheral edge portion extending over the interlocking areas; the flaps including an upper wall portion spaced from the sidewall and a lower wall portion adhesively attached to the sidewall, and means defining an opening in one of said upper wall portion and the upper peripheral edge portion in each of the opposed interlocking areas. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A partially formed container as claimed in claim 11 wherein said openings are formed in the upper peripheral edge portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A partially formed container as claimed in claim 12 wherein the folded-back flaps are located on the inside of the tubular collapsed container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A partially formed container as claimed in claim 12 wherein the peripheral sidewall has two opposed sides each having two rectangular hinged side panels thus forming a rectangular container upon expansion of said collapsed container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A partially formed container as claimed in claim 14 wherein said openings are formed on all four hinged side panels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A partially formed container as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least some of the hinged side panels are formed with a plurality of openings therein. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A partially formed container as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising an adhesive spacer located between the upper peripheral edge portion and said upper wall portion adjacent to each of said openings.