US2845104A - Plastic containers with hinged relatively movable parts - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1958 M. FRANKEL 2,

. PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH HINGED RELATIVELY MOVABLE PARTS Filed Oct. 5, 1956 mmvron flo/mls Emu/(a.

ATTORNEK United States Patent PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH 'HINGED 'RELA- TIVELY MOVABLE PARTS Morris Eranke l, Teaneck, N. J. Application October 5, 1956, Serial No. 614,109

4 Claims. (Cl. 150--.5)

This invention relates to containers composed of two hingedly coupled parts shaped to conform with a predetermined article or product to be positioned therein and, wherein, each part includes projecting coupling flange portions arranged upon the greater portion of the periphery of the parts and intermediate hinge sections hingedly joining the parts so that they can be moved into open and closed positions at will.

More particularly, the invention deals with containers of the character described, which are formed from plastic material and, wherein, the parts can be shaped by vacuum drawing processes, as known in the art.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of one form of container which I employ, illustrating the parts in closed and retained position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts in extended or opened position.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, illustrating one part in extended position in dot-dash lines; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 4, diagrammatically illustrating the means 'for stiffening the flanged edges of the container parts.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a container formed of hingedly joined parts to facilitate coupling and uncoupling of the parts in various uses thereof and, particularly, containers fashioned from plastics which can be vacuum drawn into the desired shapes or contours to suit the containers for different uses. Such plastics as styrene, polyethylene, butyrate, acetate and the like are examples. It will also be understood, at this time, that 'wall thicknesses of the containers will depend entirely upon the use to which the container is to be put.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown a container formed of two substantially similar dish-shaped parts 10 and 11, which are shown in extended position in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Each part has, at its periphery, an extending coupling flange 12 and 13, respectively, one of these flanges, the flange 12 of the part 10, being shown in enlarged sectional diagrammatic detail in Fig. 6 of the drawing to illustrate a multiplicity of beads 14 therein to give stiffness and rigidity to the flanges, particularly when formed of thin or of a relatively thin material. 'These beads are not shown in any of the figures in order to simplify the showing. However, the beads will be in all of the flange portions and extend circumferentially, as well as radially, except for the hinge flange portions 15 and 16,

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the latter of which are joined in the rounded hinge portion 17.

In the accompanyingdrawing, the parts I0and 11 are substantially identical in contour. However, .in many different uses, the one part may have a contour or shape totally different from the other part. The flange "12 of the part 10 has, at circumferentially spaced intervals, radial apertures or openings 18, three being shown in the accompanying drawing. The companion par'tfl'l has it flange 13 cutout to form coupling tabs '19 at positions to register with theopenings 18,1t'he tabs having inner V-shaped side coupling members L20 and outer laterally directed coupling tonguesZll. The tabs 19 are adapted to be passed through the apertures 18, so to dispose the. coupling members 20 upon the outer surface of the flange 12, as clearly noted in .Fig. 3 of the draw-v ing, as well as in Fig. 1 and also to correspondingly position the tongues 21. The flanges are flexible in construction and, thus, can be forced through the apertures 18 in establishing the coupling engagement between the parts 10 and 11 and this same forcible flexure in the opposite direction serves to uncouple the flanges in separating the container parts for movement from the closed I position of Fig. 1 into the open position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

In other words, a container of the character described can be utilized for not only packaging, shipment and delivery of articles or products but can be used and reused as a supporting casing or covering for articles of merchandise of any type or kind. The freely flexing tabs 19 will retain the parts against accidental separation. However, by forcibly moving the tabs through the apertures 18, the two casing parts will be quickly separated for movement into open position. With relatively large container parts, the tabs can be sufficiently large to facilitate the above operation by the use of the finger of a hand, whereas, insmaller containers a small rod or other tool can be utilized in movement of the tabs into both operative and inoperative positions.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A plastic container of the character described, comprising two substantially similar dish-shaped parts, integral means hingedly coupling said parts, the parts having outwardly projecting flanges alined one with the other and extending the major portion of the length of the periphery of said parts and terminating in flange ends adjacent said integral means, interengaging means alined and spaced circumferentially of the flanges for detachably coupling said flanges in securing the parts in closed position one upon the other, said hinge means comprising parts disposed intermediate and in alinement with the flange ends, and a straight round hinge portion joining said hinge parts.

2. A plastic container of the character described, comprising two substantially similar dish-shaped parts, integral means hingedly coupling said parts, the parts having outwardly projecting flanges alined one with the other and extending the major portion of the length of the periphery of said parts and terminating in flange ends adjacent said integral means, interengaging means alined and spaced circumferentially of the flanges for detachably coupling said flanges in securing the parts in closed position one upon the other, said hinge means comprising parts disposed intermediate and in alinement with the flange ends, a straight round hinge portion joining said hinge parts, and said interengaging means comprising tabs on the flanges of one part fitting in alined apertures on the flanges of the other part.

3. A plastic container of the character described, comprising two substantially similar dish-shaped parts, integral means hingedly coupling said parts, the parts having outwardly projecting flanges alined one with the other and extending the major portion of the length of the periphery of said parts and terminating in flange ends adjacent said integral means, interengaging means alined and spaced circumferentiallyof the flanges for,detach.- ably coupling said flanges in securing the parts in closed position one upon the other, said hinge means comprising parts disposed intermediate and in alinement with the flange ends, a straight round hinge portion joining said hinge parts, said interengaging means comprising tabs on the flanges of one part fitting in alined apertures on the flanges of the other part, and each of said tabs having, at the base thereof, V-shaped coupling members.

4. A plastic container of the character described, comprising two substantially similar dish-shaped parts, integral means hingedly coupling said parts, the parts having outwardly projecting flanges alined one with the other and extending the major portion of the length of the periphery of said parts and terminating in flange ends adjacent said integral means, interengaging means alined and spaced circumferentially of the flanges for detachably coupling said flanges in securing the parts in closed position one upon the other, said hinge means comprising parts disposed intermediate and in alinernent with the flange ends, a straight round hinge portion joining said hinge parts, said interengaging means comprising tabs on the flanges of one part fitting in alined apertures on the flanges of the other part, each of said tabs having, at the base thereof, V-shaped coupling members, and outer laterally projecting tongues.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 87,314 Wilmot Feb. 23, 1869 2,293,952 Stroop Aug. 25, 1942 2,631,631 Vogel Mar. 17, 1953 2,642,912 Berger June 23, 1953 2,687,157 Cowan Aug. 24, 1954 2,765,832 Tupper Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 398,044 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1933

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