US3556337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package with hinge
Assignee: PETER ECKRICH AND SONS Inc
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Filing: 1969-02-18
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1989-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An integral one piece food package for stacked sliced luncheon meat and the like which has opposing shell halves joined by a hinge offset from the seam line. Each shell half has a peripheral flange projecting outwardly along the seam line and the hinge interconnects the flanges of the shell halves to provide an integral one piece package. A cooperating groove and channel system provides a weak snap lock along the seam line and, this in addition to the natural resilience of the flange and hinge, keeps the package closed when not in use. The channel can have a transverse depression rendering it peripherally contractible.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Harmon
- 👤 Ronald L Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/162; B65D2251/00; B65D2251/10; B65D2251/1016; B65D2251/1033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises: shell means Including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line; resilient hinge means offset from said seam line joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package and urging the package to a normally closed condition; said walls including top and bottom walls and generally vertical sidewall means therebetween; outwardly projecting flange means on each of said two shell members extending around the enclosure at said seam line with the flange means of one shell member facing and abutting the flange means of the other shell member when the package is closed; and snap lock means along the seam line adjacent the junction of the flange means with the shell sidewall means comprising a shoulder below the flange means of one shell member in an upstanding wall projecting inwardly at a slight acute angle and spaced from said sidewall and a generally channel-shaped lip around the enclosure defining portion of the other shell member with its outer channel upstanding from the channel base at a slightly acute inwardly directed angle for engaging within and snap locking over the top edge of the wall upstanding from the shoulder of the first shell member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises: shell means Including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line; resilient hinge means offset from said seam line joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package and urging the package to a normally closed condition; said walls including top and bottom walls and generally vertical sidewall means therebetween; outwardly projecting flange means on each of said two shell members extending around the enclosure at said seam line with the flange means of one shell member facing and abutting the flange means of the other shell member when the package is closed; and snap lock means along the seam line adjacent the junction of the flange means with the shell sidewall means comprising a shoulder below the flange means of one shell member in an upstanding wall projecting inwardly at a slight acute angle and spaced from said sidewall and a generally channel-shaped lip around the enclosure defining portion of the other shell member with its outer channel upstanding from the channel base at a slightly acute inwardly directed angle for engaging within and snap locking over the top edge of the wall upstanding from the shoulder of the first shell member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls including top and bottom walls and generally vertical sidewall means forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line in the sidewall means, resilient hinge means for opening and closing said package along said seam line and a plurality of laterally spaced vertical channels extending between the top and bottom walls forming grooves on the inner surface of the sidewall means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls including top and bottom walls and generally vertical sidewall means forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line in the sidewall means, resilient hinge means for opening and closing said package along said seam line and a plurality of laterally spaced vertical channels extending between the top and bottom walls forming grooves on the inner surface of the sidewall means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises: shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having top, bottom and sidewalls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line in the sidewalls; outwardly projecting flange means on each of said two shell members extending around the enclosure at the seam line with the flange means of one shell member facing and abutting the flange means of the other shell member when the package is closed; and resilient hinge means offset from said seam line joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package and urging the package to a normally closed condition, said hinge means consisting essentially of a heat seal facially securing a portion of said flanges to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises: shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having top, bottom and sidewalls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line in the sidewalls; outwardly projecting flange means on each of said two shell members extending around the enclosure at the seam line with the flange means of one shell member facing and abutting the flange means of the other shell member when the package is closed; and resilient hinge means offset from said seam line joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package and urging the package to a normally closed condition, said hinge means consisting essentially of a heat seal facially securing a portion of said flanges to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises: shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line; resilient hinge means joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package along the seam line; outwardly projecting flange means on each of said two shell members extending around the enclosure at said seam line with the flange means of one shell member facing and abutting the flange of the other shell member when the package is closed; adhesive means on said flanges peripherally of the seam line releasably sealing the flanges in facial contact with the package in closed condition to seal said enclosure, and channel means extending from the enclosure interior at the seam line to said adhesive line for evacuation of air from the enclosure during sealing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises: shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line; resilient hinge means joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package along the seam line; outwardly projecting flange means on each of said two shell members extending around the enclosure at said seam line with the flange means of one shell member facing and abutting the flange of the other shell member when the package is closed; adhesive means on said flanges peripherally of the seam line releasably sealing the flanges in facial contact with the package in closed condition to seal said enclosure, and channel means extending from the enclosure interior at the seam line to said adhesive line for evacuation of air from the enclosure during sealing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line in the two shell members peripherally of the enclosure, resilient hinge means offset from said seam line joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package, snap lock means comprising male and female snap lock elements extending along said seam lIne and between the seam line and hinge means for releasably holding the package closed and means transversing said male snap lock member rendering the male snap lock member peripherally contractible.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
A package for containing sliced stacked meat products or the like which comprises shell means including a plurality of at least two shell members having walls forming an enclosure when closed along a seam line in the two shell members peripherally of the enclosure, resilient hinge means offset from said seam line joining said two shell members for movement relative to each other to open and close the package, snap lock means comprising male and female snap lock elements extending along said seam lIne and between the seam line and hinge means for releasably holding the package closed and means transversing said male snap lock member rendering the male snap lock member peripherally contractible.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The package of claim 2 wherein said walls include generally flat and parallel top and bottom walls and generally vertical sidewall means therebetween and said seam line is in the sidewall means in a plane between the top and bottom wall and at an angle to the top and bottom walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The package of claim 1 including a hanging hole in the portion of the flange means opposing the hinge means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said two shell members and hinge means are of integral one piece stiff transparent plastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The package of claim 8 wherein the hinge means is offset from the seam line by a flange on each of said two shell members interconnecting the hinge means with the seam line and wherein said flanges and hinge means are of resilient material for normally urging the package to closed condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The package of claim 9 wherein said hinge means comprises a tubular element of generally cylindrical cross section extending along the flange edges.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The package of claim 1 including adhesive means on said flanges releasably sealing the flanges in facial contact with the package in closed condition to seal said enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The package of claim 5 wherein said rendering means comprises means defining a resilient yieldable area traversing said male snap lock member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The package of claim 12 wherein said resilient area defining means comprises a groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |