Egg carton

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a lid;
• and
• a tray hingedly connected to said lid, said tray having a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs, each said cell having a tubular side wall defining opposed first and second ends, said first end being open, a planar base extending across said second end, said base having an interior surface facing said first end and an exterior surface facing away from said first end, said exterior surface defining a generally planar resting surface and a raised portion extending inwardly of said resting surface toward said first end, wherein said first portion of said base is located between said raised portion and said interior surface, said first portion being formed with a first density, and a second portion of said base is located between said resting surface and said interior surface, said second portion being formed with a second density, said first density being greater than said second density.

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a lid;
• and
• a tray hingedly connected to said lid, said tray having a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs, each said cell having a tubular side wall defining opposed first and second ends, said first end being open, a planar base extending across said second end, said side wall having an inwardly facing egg receiving surface defining a first diameter at a first distance from said base, wherein a plurality of inwardly extending cushions protrude from said side wall, each said cushion defining an inner contact point spaced from said egg receiving surface, said inner contact points of said cushions collectively defining a second diameter, said second diameter being also located at said first distance from said base, said second diameter being less than said first diameter, wherein each said cushion is formed with a pleat shape having inner and outer surfaces, said inner contact point being defined by said inner surface, said outer surface extending from said first end of said cell towards said second end of said cell and being tapered to define a downwardly facing open mouth spaced from said first end, said open mouth being formed to nestingly receive a similar shaped cushion.

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a lid;
• and
• a tray hingedly connected to said lid so that said lid can rotate relative to said tray, said lid being selectively rotatable between an open position with said lid being spaced from said tray and a closed position with said lid abutting said tray, said tray having a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs, each said cell having a tubular side wall defining opposed first and second ends, said first end being open, a planar base extending across said second end, said side wall having an inwardly facing egg receiving surface with at least one channel being recessed thereinto, said channel extending from said first end into proximity with said base, wherein said egg carton defines a vent to communicate air entrapped in said carton, with said lid being said closed position, with ambient air.

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a lid;
• and
• a tray hingedly connected to said lid, said tray having a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs, said tray having an open top and a generally rectangular shape with two longitudinal sides and two ends, said cells being spaced apart with webs extending between adjacent said cells, said cells located along each said longitudinal side of said tray defining outwardly extending arcuate portions, said webs located along said longitudinal sides being recessed inwardly of said arcuate portions, wherein a stacking ledge corresponds to each of said webs located along said longitudinal sides, each said stacking ledge being located intermediate respective said web and said open top of said tray, and each said stacking ledge extends outwardly from said tray to define a free edge spaced outwardly from respective said web.

A polystyrene egg carton for accommodating a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a tray having a plurality of cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs;
• and
• a lid hingedly connected to said tray, said lid having a planar top portion and an upstanding side wall extending about said top portion, said side wall having an inwardly facing inner surface and an outwardly facing outer surface, said side wall being formed with at least one straight portion and at least one corner, said straight portion being cross-sectionally formed with a first thickness as measured between said inner and outer surfaces, said corner being cross-sectionally formed with a second thickness as measured between said inner and outer surfaces, said second thickness being greater than said first thickness.

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a tray having a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs;
• and
• a lid hingedly connected to said tray, said lid having a planar top portion and an upstanding side wall extending therefrom, said lid also having a post extending from top portion, said post being bounded by said side wall, said post having a support surface spaced from said top portion and a post side wall extending continuously between said support surface and said top portion, said post side wall having an indentation being formed therein.

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a lid;
• and
• a tray hingedly connected to said lid, said tray having spaced-apart first and second ends, and a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs, wherein said plurality of cells includes first and second cells located adjacent to said first end, both said first cell and said second cell each having a tubular side wall defining opposed first and second cell ends, said first cell end being open, a planar base extending across said second cell end, said side wall being arcuately formed about an axis disposed perpendicular to said base with various diameters being defined by said side wall between said first and second cell ends, said various diameters including a maximum diameter, said maximum diameter being the largest of said various diameters which is generally parallel to said first end, wherein said maximum diameter of said first cell and said maximum diameter of said second cell being aligned generally collinearly to define a reference axis, and wherein said first and second cells being joined by a cell divider, said cell divider being low cut at locations between said reference axis and said first end to define a plenum adjacent said first end.

A polystyrene egg carton for packaging a plurality of eggs, said egg carton comprising:

• a lid;
• and
• a tray hingedly connected to said lid, said tray having a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells for accommodating the eggs, each said cell having a tubular side wall defining an inner surface, an outer surface, and opposed first and second ends, said first end being open, a planar base extending across said second end, said base having an interior surface facing said first end and an exterior surface facing away from said first end, said interior surface extending from said inner surface, said exterior surface defining a generally planar resting surface and a raised portion extending inwardly of said resting surface toward said first end, wherein said outer surface of said cell extends to said resting surface.