Locking device for egg cartons

Claim 1

An egg carton comprising a bottom section having a frontwall and a rearwall; a cover section having a frontwall and a rearwall, the cover and bottom sections'' rear walls being hingedly connected so that the cover section can assume a closed superimposed position with respect to the bottom section; a first protruding lip extending along at least a portion of the upper edge of the bottom section''s frontwall, said lip forming an angular locking channel with the outer surface of the bottom section''s frontwall; a second protruding lip along a corresponding portion of the bottom edge of the cover section''s frontwall, the protruding lips being in substantial abutting engagement with one another when the sections are in closed position; and a U-shaped and longitudinally locking bar comprising: a. a first leg hinged along its top longitudinal edge to the forward edge of the cover section''s protruding lip permitting the locking flap to be pivoted between locked and unlocked positions, said first leg extending downwardly in front of the bottom section when the bar is in locked position; b. a bottom leg extending rearwardly from the bottom longitudinal edge of the first leg; and c. a second leg extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal edge of the bottom leg, said second leg being wedged into the angular locking channel when the bar is in locked position to hold the sections together.