Patent US3576271A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3576271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hinged plastic container
Assignee: PLASTOFILM Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-04
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A container thermoformed from semirigid plastic sheet material, having separate cover and base portions connected by a hinge including a tongue in the cover portion which is insertable into a slit in the base portion, and which includes detent means on said tongue for preventing withdrawal of the tongue from the slit. Hinge is free acting, tending neither to pop cover open when closed, nor closed when open. With this hinge construction cover can be manufactured from a transparent material for display or functional purposes, even though base is manufactured from an opaque material.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Seeley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/163; B65D2251/00; B65D2251/10; B65D2251/1016; B65D2251/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A container comprising a base piece and a top piece thermoformed from semirigid plastic sheet, the base piece having an opening means in the top thereof and a generally horizontal surface surrounding said opening means, the top piece having a generally horizontal surface about its periphery and positioned in juxtaposition to said surface of the base piece, one of said surfaces defining a flat tongue projecting outwardly therefrom approximately parallel to the one surface, said tongue having a given thickness, the other of said surfaces having an upright slit therethrough, said slit having a width less than said given thickness, said tongue extending through said slit and forming a hinge-type connection between the pieces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A container comprising a base piece and a top piece thermoformed from semirigid plastic sheet, the base piece having an opening means in the top thereof and a generally horizontal surface surrounding said opening means, the top piece having a generally horizontal surface about its periphery and positioned in juxtaposition to said surface of the base piece, one of said surfaces defining a flat tongue projecting outwardly therefrom approximately parallel to the one surface, said tongue having a given thickness, the other of said surfaces having an upright slit therethrough, said slit having a width less than said given thickness, said tongue extending through said slit and forming a hinge-type connection between the pieces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said other surface defines openings at each end of the slit extending in one direction from the slit, whereby the slit and the openings define a tab having three sides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said slit is a cut so that the plastic edges on opposite sides thereof are substantially abutting when the tongue is not positioned therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said other surface is on said base piece and said surface is on said top piece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A container as set forth in claim 4, wherein said base piece is formed of an opaque plastic and said top-opening means is divided into a plurality of individual openings, a plurality of removable transparent plastic trays positioned respectively in the individual openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container as set forth in claim 5, wherein said top piece is transparent plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base piece is formed of an opaque plastic and said top-opening means is divided into a plurality of individual openings, a plurality of removable transparent plastic trays positioned respectively in the individual openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container as set forth in claim 7, wherein said top piece is transparent plastic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1002543A
Cited
US3315796A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |