US3865299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Egg carton with flexible window well
Assignee: Keyes Fibre Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-12
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1994-02-12
Abstract
Abstract An egg carton molded of flexible material having a bottom with two generally parallel rows of egg pockets and upwardly tapering posts interspersed between the egg pockets, and having a cover with a generally flat top and depending side walls adapted to overlie the bottom in the closed carton condition. The cover includes three downwardly recessed window wells, each having four downwardly and inwardly flaring planar separator segments spaced from each other to define four open egg viewing windows. The generally flat top of the cover not occupied by the window wells, or by downwardly tapering support posts, is yieldable to permit slight tilting flexure of each window well, and the separator segments are also yieldable to permit laterally shifting flexure of each window well. The flexibility of the window wells permits minor yielding or adjustment to accommodate for variations in spacings between the eggs packaged in the carton to maximize visibility of the eggs and at the same time minimize the danger of damaging them.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth L Crabtree
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/30; B65D85/32; B65D85/324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An egg carton molded from flexible material comprising a bottom having two generally parallel rows of downwardly dished egg pockets and upwardly tapering posts interspersed between the egg pockets, a cover having a generally flat top and downwardly and outwardly flaring side walls adapted to overlie the bottom in the closed carton condition, means for securing the bottom and cover together in the closed carton condition, the cover further including at least one window well downweardly recessed from the flat top including four downwardly and inwardly flaring separator segments, the segments being spaced from each other to define four open egg viewing windows in the window well, the segments being arranged so that they are located in the closed carton condition between two eggs packaged in one row of egg pockets and two eggs packaged in the other row of egg pockets and so that the four windows each provide a view of a portion of one of the four eggs, and a web connecting the lower portions of the segments together between the four eggs at a level in the closed carton condition which avoids contact with any portion of the carton bottom to permit flexure of the window well whereby the separator segments and web can adjust to accommodate variations in the spacings between the four eggs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
An egg carton molded from flexible material comprising a bottom having two generally parallel rows of downwardly dished egg pockets and upwardly tapering posts interspersed between the egg pockets, a cover having a generally flat top and downwardly and outwardly flaring side walls adapted to overlie the bottom in the closed carton condition, means for securing the bottom and cover together in the closed carton condition, the cover further including at least one window well downweardly recessed from the flat top including four downwardly and inwardly flaring separator segments, the segments being spaced from each other to define four open egg viewing windows in the window well, the segments being arranged so that they are located in the closed carton condition between two eggs packaged in one row of egg pockets and two eggs packaged in the other row of egg pockets and so that the four windows each provide a view of a portion of one of the four eggs, and a web connecting the lower portions of the segments together between the four eggs at a level in the closed carton condition which avoids contact with any portion of the carton bottom to permit flexure of the window well whereby the separator segments and web can adjust to accommodate variations in the spacings between the four eggs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 1 wherein the separator segments define windows which closely conform to the surfaces of the eggs to be viewed to maximize the percentage of egg visible through each window and minimize the percentage of space between eggs visible through each window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 2 wherein the web is positioned horizontally in the closed carton condition, and is of a generally octagonal shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 2 wherein the window well is generally rectangular in plan view, the separator segments depend from the four sides of the rectangle, and the egg viewing windows are located at the four corners of the rectangle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 2 wherein the cover further includes at least one downwardly tapering support post which in the closed carton condition contacts an upwardly tapering post of the bottom to strengthen the carton against vertically applied forces and insure that the web of the window well avoids contact with any portion of the carton bottom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 5 wherein the bottom includes six egg pockets in each of two generally parallel rows, the cover includes three window wells providing a view of a portion of each of the eggs packaged in the twelve pockets and two downwardly tapering support posts alternately located between the window weLls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 6 wherein each window well is generally rectangular in plan view, the separator segments depend from the four sides of the rectangle, the egg viewing windows are located at the four corners of the rectangle, and the web is of a generally octagonal shape in plan view with four of its opposed sides connecting the lower portions of the segments together and the alternate four of its opposed sides defining the lower edges of the egg viewing windows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 7 wherein the generally flat top of the cover not occupied by the window wells and the support posts is yieldable to permit tilting flexure of each window well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 7 wherein the separator segments are generally planar and yieldable to permit laterally shifting flexure of each window well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A molded egg carton as in claim 7 wherein the upper edges of the viewing windows are generally ovoid shaped to closely conform to the surfaces of the eggs to be viewed.
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) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |