Carton for egg-shaped containers

Claim 1

A collapsible base carton for egg-shaped containers of the type having a circular transverse cross-section, wherein the diameter of said cross-section varies from top to bottom, with the largest effective diameter being slightly nearer the bottom than the top and formed by a plurality of radially extending projections, wherein said base carton comprises: a. a die-cut, pre-folded pre-glued blank means having a first, flattened or knocked down position and a second, unfolded or open position for receiving said containers; b. said blank means including a front wall, rear wall, and a pre-formed, pre-glued bottom wall means; c. said bottom wall means being so connected to the lower edge of said front and rear walls, that when said blank is in said first, flat position, said pre-formed bottom wall means is folded up in between said front and rear walls, and when said blank is opened to said second position, said bottom wall means is resultingly moved to an extended position forming a double thickness, bottom wall without the necessity of any further securing means; d. each of said front and rear walls including a retaining means along the top edge thereof, said retaining means comprising at least one downwardly and inwardly foldable flap, and upon folding, the lower free edge of said flap is initially spaced from the corresponding front or rear wall defining a diameter less than the said largest effective diameter of said container with the projections to provide a resiliently biased retaining means; and e. the distance between the lower edge of said flaps and the bottom wall of said carton is greater than the vertical distance between the bottom of said egg-shaped container and the horizontal plane containing said projections, wherein when said container is emplaced in said carton, the largest effective diameter of said container is below said retaining means.