Reclosable plastic container having improved opening release

Claim 2

A reclosable container comprising: (a) a base having peripheral edges; (b) a cover having peripheral edges and adapted to close upon and cover the base; (c) a release tab extending from a peripheral edge of the base and having a camming surface formed therein; (d) a release tab extending from a peripheral edge of the cover and having a camming surface formed therein, the tabs on the cover and base positioned and the camming surfaces on the tabs formed such that when the cover is in closed position on the base, the camming surfaces engage one another and such that, when the tabs are pressed toward each other, the tabs rotate about the position of intersection of the camming surfaces to force the cover and base away from each other.

Claim 3

The container of claim 1 wherein the base, cover and release tabs are formed of plastic material and wherein the cover has a top wall and side walls extending therefrom which are integrally connected together and wherein the base has a bottom wall and side walls extending therefrom which are integrally connected together.

Claim 4

The container of claim 1 wherein the base and cover are formed of plastic material and wherein the base has an outwardly overturned rim forming a peripheral shoulder and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the release tab on the base extends from the flange.

Claim 5

The container of claim 1 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are formed of a plastic material and wherein one of the release tabs is attached to the periphery of one of the cover or base by a line of weakness to form a hinge such that the one tab rotates about the line of weakness when the camming surfaces engage.

Claim 6

The container of claim 4 wherein the line of weakness defining the hinge is formed of a plastic material which is integral with but thinner than the plastic material adjacent to the line of weakness.

Claim 7

The container of claim 1 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are integrally formed of sheet plastic material and the cover is hingedly attached at a peripheral edge to the base, wherein one of the tabs is attached to the periphery of one of the cover or base by line of weakness defining a hinge such that the one tab rotates about the hinge line of weakness when the camming surfaces engage, and wherein the hinge between the cover and base and the hinge by which the one tab is attached to one of the cover or base are formed of plastic material which is thinner than the plastic material adjacent to the hinges.

Claim 8

The container of claim 1 wherein the cover and base have means thereon for releasably interlocking the base to the cover when the cover is closed on the base, the means located in proximity to the release tabs on the base and cover.

Claim 9

The container of claim 7 wherein the means for releasably interlocking the base to the cover includes an overhanging lip formed on one of the base or cover along the periphery thereof and a mating indentation formed on the other of the base or cover adapted to mate with and engage the lip.

Claim 10

The container of claim 1 wherein the cover and base have corners therein and wherein the release tabs are joined to the cover and base along joint lines which lie along a diagonal across a corner of the cover and base.

Claim 11

The container of claim 1 wherein each of the release tabs has a raised reinforcing ridge formed therein which extends a substantial portion of the width of the tab, and wherein the camming surface is formed as a ridge extending toward the other tab when the cover is closed on the base and in a direction opposite to the direction in which the reinforcing ridge is raised.

Claim 12

The container of claim 10 wherein the reinforcing ridge in each tab surrounds the camming surface on at least three sides.

Claim 13

The container of claim 1 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are integrally formed of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, acrylic copolymer, polyvinylchloride, ABS, and polyester.

Claim 14

A reclosable container comprising: (a) a base having a periphery; (b) a cover having a periphery and hingedly connected at its periphery to the base to close upon and cover the same; (c) a release tab extending from the periphery of the base; (d) a release tab extending from the periphery of the cover at a position such that the tab on the cover lies adjacent to the tab on the base when the cover is closed on the base; (e) means on the cover and base for releasably interlocking the base to the cover when the cover is closed on the base; (f) camming means on the release tabs for engaging to form a fulcrum when the tabs are pressed toward one another when the cover is closed on the base such that the tabs apply force to the cover and base to draw the same apart.

Claim 15

A reclosable container comprising: (a) a base having a periphery; (b) a cover having a periphery and hingedly connected at its periphery to the base to close upon and cover the same; (c) a release tab extending from the periphery of the base; (d) a release tab extending from the periphery of the cover at a position such that the tab on the cover lies adjacent to the tab on the base when the cover is closed on the base; (e) means on the cover and base for releasably interlocking the base to the cover when the cover is closed on the base; (f) camming means on the release tabs for engaging to form a fulcrum when the tabs are pressed toward one another when the cover is closed on the base such that the tabs apply force to the cover and base to draw the same apart.

Claim 16

The container of claim 13 wherein the base, cover and release tabs are formed of plastic material and wherein the cover has a top wall and side walls extending therefrom which are integrally connected together and wherein the base has a bottom wall and side walls extending therefrom which are integrally connected together.

Claim 17

The container of claim 13 wherein the base and cover are formed of plastic material and wherein the base has an outwardly overturned rim forming a peripheral shoulder and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the release tab on the base extends from the flange.

Claim 18

The container of claim 13 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are formed of a plastic material and wherein one of the release tabs is attached to the periphery of one of the cover or base by a line of weakness to form a hinge such that the one tab rotates about the line of weakness when the camming surfaces engage.

Claim 19

The container of claim 16 wherein the line of weakness defining the hinge is formed of a plastic material which is integral with but thinner than the plastic material adjacent to the line of weakness.

Claim 20

The container of claim 13 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are integrally formed of sheet plastic material, wherein one of the tabs is attached to the periphery of one of the cover or base by line of weakness defining a hinge such that the one tab rotates about the hinge line of weakness when the camming surfaces engage, and wherein the hinge between the cover and base and the hinge by which the one tab is attached to one of the cover or base are formed of plastic material which is thinner than the plastic material adjacent to the hinges.

Claim 21

The container of claim 13 wherein the means for releasably interlocking the base to the cover includes an overhanging lip formed on one of the base or cover along the periphery thereof and a mating indentation formed on the other of the base or cover adapted to mate with and engage the lip, the overhanging lip and mating indentation located in proximity to the release tabs.

Claim 22

The container of claim 13 wherein the cover and base have corners therein and wherein the release tabs are joined to the cover and base along joint lines which lie along diagonals across a corner of the cover and base.

Claim 23

The container of claim 13 wherein each of the release tabs has a raised reinforcing ridge formed therein which extends a substantial portion of the width of the tab, and wherein the camming means on each tab is formed as a ridge extending toward the other tab when the cover is closed on the base and in a direction opposite to the direction in which the reinforcing ridge is raised.

Claim 24

The container of claim 21 wherein the reinforcing ridge on each tab surrounds the camming means on at least three sides.

Claim 25

The container of claim 13 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are integrally formed of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, acrylic polymer, polyvinylchloride, ABS, and polyester.

Claim 26

A reclosable plastic container, comprising: (a) a base of plastic material having a bottom wall and upright side walls integrally connected together and to the bottom wall and having peripheral edges; (b) a cover of plastic material having a top wall and side walls integrally connected together and to the top wall and having peripheral edges, the cover hingedly attached along a peripheral edge to the base to close upon and cover the same; (c) a release tab integrally formed with and extending from a peripheral edge of the base and having a camming surface formed therein; (d) a release tab integrally formed with and extending from a peripheral edge of the cover and having a camming surface formed therein which extends toward the camming surface on the release tab on the base when the cover is closed on the base, the camming surfaces engaging one another when the cover and base are closed and the tabs are pressed toward each other such that the tabs rotate about the position of contact of the camming surfaces to force the edges of the cover and base at the tabs away from each other; (e) means on the cover and base for releasably interlocking the base to the cover when the cover is closed on the base.

Claim 27

A reclosable plastic container, comprising: (a) a base of plastic material having a bottom wall and upright side walls integrally connected together and to the bottom wall and having peripheral edges; (b) a cover of plastic material having a top wall and side walls integrally connected together and to the top wall and having peripheral edges, the cover hingedly attached along a peripheral edge to the base to close upon and cover the same; (c) a release tab integrally formed with and extending from a peripheral edge of the base and having a camming surface formed therein; (d) a release tab integrally formed with and extending from a peripheral edge of the cover and having a camming surface formed therein which extends toward the camming surface on the release tab on the base when the cover is closed on the base, the camming surfaces engaging one another when the cover and base are closed and the tabs are pressed toward each other such that the tabs rotate about the position of contact of the camming surfaces to force the edges of the cover and base at the tabs away from each other; (e) means on the cover and base for releasably interlocking the base to the cover when the cover is closed on the base.

Claim 28

The container of claim 24 wherein the base has an outwardly overturned rim forming a peripheral shoulder and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the release tab on the base extends from the flange.

Claim 29

The container of claim 24 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are formed of a plastic material and wherein one of the release tabs is attached to the periphery of one of the cover or base by a line of weakness to form a hinge such that the one tab rotates about the line of weakness when the camming surfaces engage.

Claim 30

The container of claim 25 wherein the line of weakness defining the hinge is formed of a plastic material which is integral with but thinner than the plastic material adjacent to the line of weakness.

Claim 31

The container of claim 24 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are integrally formed of sheet plastic material, wherein one of the tabs is attached to the periphery of one of the cover or base by line of weakness defining a hinge such that the one tab rotates about the hinge line of weakness when the camming surfaces engage, and wherein the hinge between the cover and base and the hinge by which the one tab is attached to one of the cover or base are formed of plastic material which is thinner than the plastic material adjacent to the hinges.

Claim 32

The container of claim 24 wherein the means for releasably interlocking the base to the cover includes an overhanging lip formed on one of the base or cover along the periphery thereof and a mating indentation formed on the other of the base or cover adapted to mate with and engage the lip, the overhanging lip and mating indentation located in proximity to the release tabs.

Claim 33

The container of claim 24 wherein the cover and base have corners therein and wherein the release tabs are joined to the cover and base along joint lines which lie along diagonals across a corner of the cover and base.

Claim 34

The container of claim 25 wherein each of the release tabs has a raised reinforcing ridge formed therein which extends a substantial portion of the width of the tab, and wherein the camming surface is formed as a ridge extending toward the other tab when the cover is closed on the base and in a direction opposite to the direction in which the reinforcing ridge is raised.

Claim 35

The container of claim 24 wherein the reinforcing ridge in each tab surrounds the camming surface on at least three sides.

Claim 36

The container of claim 24 wherein the cover, base and release tabs are integrally formed of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, acrylic copolymer, polyvinylchloride, ABS, and polyester.