Patent US2525008A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4053099A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4053099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article tray
Assignee: Mead Corp
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Filing: 1976-10-04
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Granted: 1977-10-11
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Expires: 1996-10-04
Abstract
Abstract An article tray comprises a bottom wall, spaced side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of the bottom wall, a top wall foldably joined respectively along the side edges thereof to the upper edges of the side walls, spaced end panels foldably joined respectively to the end edges of the bottom wall, a plurality of apertures formed in the top wall, the apertures adjacent the ends of the tray having a locking surface adjacent and parallel to the ends of the tray, a plurality of stabilizing tabs formed on the end panels at each end of the carrier and disposed in abutting engagement with the underside of the top wall, a plurality of locking tabs interspersed between the stabilizing tabs and formed on the end panels at each one end of the carrier and disposed within the apertures, and a pair of shoulders formed on each locking tab and disposed in an overlapping abutting relationship with the topside of the top wall, and the lower edges of the shoulders being disposed in approximately the same horizontal plane as the upper edges of the stabilizing tabs.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph H. Lock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D71/00; B65D71/70; B65D71/72; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S229/00; Y10S229/902; Y10S229/904; Y10S229/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An article tray comprising a bottom wall, a top wall disposed parallel to said bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls disposed perpendicular to said top and bottom walls, a pair of end panels foldably joined respectively to the end edges of said bottom wall, at least one aperture formed in said top wall and having a locking surface disposed on the periphery of said aperture generally adjacent and parallel to the end edge of said top wall at one end of the tray, a stabilizing tab formed on the upper edge of the end panel at said one end of the tray adjacent said aperture and disposed in abutting engagement with the underside of said top wall, a locking tab formed on the upper edge of said end panel at said one end of the tray and disposed within said aperture and in abutting engagement with said locking surface, and a first shoulder formed on said locking tab and disposed in overlapping abutting relationship with the topside of said top wall, the lower edge of said shoulder at the point of contact with said top wall being disposed generally in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of said stabilizing tab to cause a tension force across at least a portion of said end edge of said top wall at said one end of the tray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An article tray comprising a bottom wall, a top wall disposed parallel to said bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls disposed perpendicular to said top and bottom walls, a pair of end panels foldably joined respectively to the end edges of said bottom wall, at least one aperture formed in said top wall and having a locking surface disposed on the periphery of said aperture generally adjacent and parallel to the end edge of said top wall at one end of the tray, a stabilizing tab formed on the upper edge of the end panel at said one end of the tray adjacent said aperture and disposed in abutting engagement with the underside of said top wall, a locking tab formed on the upper edge of said end panel at said one end of the tray and disposed within said aperture and in abutting engagement with said locking surface, and a first shoulder formed on said locking tab and disposed in overlapping abutting relationship with the topside of said top wall, the lower edge of said shoulder at the point of contact with said top wall being disposed generally in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of said stabilizing tab to cause a tension force across at least a portion of said end edge of said top wall at said one end of the tray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein a second shoulder is formed on said locking tab remote from said first shoulder and is disposed in an overlapping abutting relationship with the topside of said top wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tray according to claim 2 wherein the lower edges of said shoulders diverge in a direction away from said locking tab.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tray according to claim 3 wherein a pair of notches are formed respectively in the upper edge of said end panel and on opposite sides of said locking tab adjacent and below said shoulders to facilitate the entry of said locking tab into said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in said top wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein the end edges of said end panel at the one end of the tray converge in a direction away from said bottom wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article tray comprising spaced apart generally parallel top and bottom walls, a plurality of apertures formed in said top wall adjacent each end edge thereof, and end panel joined along its bottom edge to each end edge of said bottom wall and disposed in substantially normal relation to said top and bottom walls, a plurality of upstanding locking tabs each having a pair of shoulders and being formed along the top edge of each of said end panels and respectively disposed in said apertures with the shoulders of each locking tab in abutting contact with the top surface of said top wall, and a plurality of upstanding stabilizing tabs formed along the top edge of each of said end panels and interspersed between said locking tabs and arranged to engage the bottom surface of said top wall, the top wall contacting parts of said shoulders being disposed at a level relative to the top wall contacting parts of said stabilizing tabs such that a frictional tray stabilizing relationship is established between said top all and said end panels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article tray comprising spaced apart generally parallel top and bottom walls, a plurality of apertures formed in said top wall adjacent each end edge thereof, and end panel joined along its bottom edge to each end edge of said bottom wall and disposed in substantially normal relation to said top and bottom walls, a plurality of upstanding locking tabs each having a pair of shoulders and being formed along the top edge of each of said end panels and respectively disposed in said apertures with the shoulders of each locking tab in abutting contact with the top surface of said top wall, and a plurality of upstanding stabilizing tabs formed along the top edge of each of said end panels and interspersed between said locking tabs and arranged to engage the bottom surface of said top wall, the top wall contacting parts of said shoulders being disposed at a level relative to the top wall contacting parts of said stabilizing tabs such that a frictional tray stabilizing relationship is established between said top all and said end panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tray according to claim 7 wherein the difference in the levels of the top wall contacting parts of said shoulders and of said stabilizing tabs is less than the thickness of said top wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tray according to claim 7 wherein the portions of the top edge of each of said end panels on opposite sides of each of said locking tabs are cutaway to allow clearance for and slight downward bowing of said top wall thereat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein an auxiliary panel is foldably joined to the end edge of said top wall at said one end of the tray and wherein said auxiliary panel extends generally downwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tray according to claim 10 wherein an aperture is formed in said end panel at said one end of the tray and wherein a tab is formed on the lower edge of said auxiliary panel and disposed within said aperture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein at least one aperture is formed in each of said side walls and in each of said end panels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein a stabilizing flap is foldably joined to said top wall and is arranged to extend downwardly generally in a vertical position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tray according to claim 1 wherein a notch is formed on each end of said side walls to facilitate folding of said end panels.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-10 | 1981-04-11 | 1981-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-10 | 1985-04-11 | 1985-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-10 | 1989-04-11 | 1989-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |