Positive latch for two-lid egg cartons

Claim 2

An egg carton comprising: An egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; latching means carried by said latching flap comprising an opening therein; latChing means carried by said other lid surface means comprising a button projecting upwardly therefrom and extending through said opening when said flap is in latched position to hold said lids in closed position whereby the edge of said opening and said button will coact to resist opening of said lids when said flap is in latched position and said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids.

Claim 3

An egg carton comprising: An egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; latching means carried by said latching flap comprising at least one ear extending in a longitudinal direction therefrom; latching means carried by said other lid surface means comprising at least a recessed portion conforming in shape to said at least one ear and the corresponding portion of said flap from which the ear extends; said ear and corresponding portion of said flap from which the ear extends being received in said recessed portion when the flap is in latched position whereby said ear and its corresponding portion of said recessed portion con coacts to resist opening of said lids and said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids.

Claim 4

An egg carton comprising: An egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; latching means carried by said latching flap comprising at least one ear extending in a longitudinal direction therefrom; latching means carried by said other lid surface means comprising at least a recessed portion conforming in shape to said at least one ear and the corresponding portion of said flap from which the ear extends; said ear and corresponding portion of said flap from which the ear extends being received in said recessed portion when the flap is in latched position whereby said ear and its corresponding portion of said recessed portion con coacts to resist opening of said lids and said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids.

Claim 5

An egg carton comprising: An a egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; latching means carried by said flap comprising at least one ear extending in a longitudinal direction therefrom; latching means carried by said other lid surface means comprising an opening; said opening, the ear and the portion of said flap from which the ear extends being so proportioned and arranged that when the flap is in latched position, the ear will extend in the opening beyond the boundary of the opening under the surface means of said other lid and coact with the edge of the opening to resist opening of said lids whereby said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids.

Claim 6

An egg carton comprising: An a egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; latching means carried by said flap comprising at least one ear extending in a longitudinal direction therefrom; latching means carried by said other lid surface means comprising an opening; said opening, the ear and the portion of said flap from which the ear extends being so proportioned and arranged that when the flap is in latched position, the ear will extend in the opening beyond the boundary of the opening under the surface means of said other lid and coact with the edge of the opening to resist opening of said lids whereby said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids.

Claim 7

An egg carton comprising: An egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; and latching means carried by said latching flap and latching means carried by said other lid surface means cooperating with said latching flap means when said flap is in latched Position to hold said lids in closed position; said cooperating latching means being so constructed and arranged relative to each other to provide a positive mechanical interlock when said flap is in latched position whereby said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids; said other lid having a recess in said surface means thereof receiving the entire flap therein when said flap is in latched position; said recess including a pair of longitudinally spaced walls; said longitudinally spaced walls and the corresponding edges of said flap being closely adjacent each other to resist substantial relative longitudinal movement between said lids.

Claim 8

An egg carton comprising: An egg receiving bottom tray comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls; a pair of lids each comprising outer surface means terminating at an inner longitudinal edge and a free longitudinal edge; each lid being pivotally connected at its said inner longitudinal edge to a respective one of said sidewalls whereby the lids can pivot in a direction toward each other into a closed position covering said tray; a latching flap pivotally connected to one of said lids and when the lids are in said closed position extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edges and a substantial portion thereof engages said outer surface means of the other of said lids; and latching means carried by said latching flap and latching means carried by said other lid surface means cooperating with said latching flap means when said flap is in latched Position to hold said lids in closed position; said cooperating latching means being so constructed and arranged relative to each other to provide a positive mechanical interlock when said flap is in latched position whereby said flap is placed in tension when an opening force is applied to said lids; said other lid having a recess in said surface means thereof receiving the entire flap therein when said flap is in latched position; said recess including a pair of longitudinally spaced walls; said longitudinally spaced walls and the corresponding edges of said flap being closely adjacent each other to resist substantial relative longitudinal movement between said lids.

Claim 9

The structure as recited in claim l wherein there is an undercut in the portion of said button which coacts with the edge of sad said opening to resist opening of said lids; at least a portion of the edge of said opening of said lids; at least a portion of the edge of said opening is disposed in said undercut when the flap is in latched position.

Claim 10

The structure as recited in claim 2 wherein a pair of ears are provided which extend in opposite longitudinal directions from opposite sides of the free end of said recessed portion.

Claim 11

The structure as recited in claim l wherein said latching means carried by said flap further comprises at least one ear extending in a longitudinal direction therefrom and said latching means carried by said other lid surface means further comprises an opening; said opening, the ear and the portion of said flap from which the ear extends being so proportioned that when the flap is in latched position, the ear will extend in the opening beyond the boundary of the opening under the surface means of said other lid and coact with the edge of the opening to additionally resist opening of said lids and to prevent the edge of said flap opening and said button from being dislodged from a latching position.

Claim 12

The structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said surface means of each lid comprises a first sidewall, one longitudinal edge of which is said inner edge pivotally connected to the sidewall of said tray; a second sidewall one edge of which is said free edge; and a planar top wall the longitudinal edges of which join the other longitudinal edges of said lid sidewalls; said opening carried by the other lid surface means being on the planar top wall thereof.

Claim 13

The structure as recited in claim 8 wherein the pivotal connection of said flap to said one lid is generally at the juncture of said second sidewall and said planar top wall.

Claim 14

The structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said surface means of each lid comprises a first sidewall, one longitudinal edge of which is said inner edge pivotally connected to the sidewall of said tray; a second sidewall, one edge of which is said free edge; and a planar top wall the longitudinal edges of which join the other longitudinal edges of said lid sidewalls; a said opening carried by the other lid surface means being on the first sidewall. ll. The structure as recited in claim 10 wherein said latching means carried by said flap comprises a pair of ears which extend in opposite longitudinal directions from opposite sides of the free end of said flap.

Claim 15

The structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said surface means of each lid comprises a first sidewall, one longitudinal edge of which is said inner edge pivotally connected to the sidewall of said tray; a second sidewall one edge of which is said free edge; and a planar top wall the longitudinal edges of which join the other longitudinal edges of said lid sidewalls; said latching means carried by the other lid surface means being on the planar top wall thereof; the pivotal connection of said flap to said one lid being generally at the juncture of said second sidewall and said planar top wall; and said other lid has said recess in said planar top wall thereof.

Claim 16

The structure as recited in claim l wherein said surface means of each lid comprises a first sidewaLl, one longitudinal edge of which is said inner edge pivotally connected to the sidewall of said tray; a second sidewall, one edge of which is said free edge and a planar top wall the longitudinal edges of which join the other longitudinal edges of said lid sidewalls; said latching means carried by the other lid surface means being on the planar top wall thereof; said pivotal connection of said flap to said one lid defining an integral connection between said flap and lid and being generally located at the juncture of said second sidewall and said planar top wall; an opening in said second sidewall of said one lid from which said flap is pivoted; said button is located on said top wall of said other lid; the portion of the surface of said button coacting with the edge of said opening is from the uppermost portion of the button toward the top wall of said one lid slanted in a direction toward said first lid.

Claim 17

The structure as recited in claim l wherein said surface means of each lid comprises a first sidewall, one longitudinal edge of which is said inner edge pivotally connected to the sidewall of said tray; a second sidewall, one edge of which is said free edge, and a planar top wall, the longitudinal edges of which join the other longitudinal edges of said lid sidewalls; said button being on the planar top wall of said other lid; the pivotal connection of said flap to said one lid being generally at the juncture of said second sidewall and said planar top wall.

Claim 18

The structure as recited in claim 14 wherein an opening is in said second sidewall of said one lid from which said flap is pivoted.

Claim 19

The structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said other lid has a recess in said planar top wall thereof receiving the entire flap therein; the walls of said recess and the corresponding edges of said flap being arranged to engage each other to resist substantial relative longitudinal movement between said lids.

Claim 20

The structure as recited in claim l wherein said latching means carried by said flap further comprises at least one ear extending in longitudinal direction therefrom and said latching means carried by said other lid surface means further comprises a recessed portion; said ear and corresponding portion of said flap from which the ear extends being received in said recessed portion when the flap is in latched position; said recess portion being so shaped that said ear and its corresponding portion of said recessed portion coacts to additionally resist opening of said lids.

Claim 21

The structure as recited in claim 17 wherein said surface means of each lid comprises a first sidewall, one longitudinal edge of which is said inner edge pivotally connected to the sidewall of said tray; a second sidewall, one edge of which is said free edge; and a planar top wall, the longitudinal edges of which join the other longitudinal edges of said lid sidewalls; said button and said recessed portion being on the planar top wall of said other lid; the pivotal connection of said flap to said one lid being generally at the juncture of said second sidewall and said planar top wall.

Claim 22

The structure as recited in claim 18 wherein an opening is in said second sidewall of said one lid from which said flap is pivoted.

Claim 23

The structure as recited in claim 18 wherein said recess receives the entire flap therein when said flap is in latched position; said recess including a pair of longitudinally spaced walls; said longitudinally spaced walls and the corresponding edges of said flap being closely adjacent each other to resist substantial relative longitudinal movement between said lids.