Abstract: A two-piece nestable cup-like container comprising a continuous side wall having an open upper end and includes a recessed bottom. The side wall is formed from a single double ended sheet of a heat-shrinkable thermoplastic material. The ends of the sheet are joined to one another along a liquid-tight seam. The side wall extends downwardly from a point near the open mouth of the upper end of the container to a point near the bottom and is thereafter folded at its lower edge upwardly to form a double wall portion and a radially inwardly extending annular portion that underlies a separate bottom member that is sealingly joined to the radially inwardly extending portion on the bottom edge of the side wall. In accordance with the method and apparatus, a sleeve made from the sheet by joining the ends is heat shrunk on a mandrel and the free edge at the lower portion of the side wall is caused to shrink inwardly.

Abstract: A disposable, dual purpose box or carton, made from suitable material such as light weight corugated cardboard, with two configurations unlikely designed and constructed so that the empty box of configuration (1), a closed shipping, handling and storage carton for material can be refolded into a new configuration (2), an open top container or tray with new dimensions and volume suitable for reuse for display or to facilitate the use of the material contained in the box when in configuration (1).

Abstract: A carton comprising a cover structure formed from a cut and scored flat blank of carton material. The cover structure includes a top wall having a plurality of side walls extending therefrom along a straight common fold line therebetween within a plane defining an interior included angle with the top wall of less than 180.degree.. The cover structure includes a plurality of over center toggle action tabs having indicia operatively associated with each tab. Each over center toggle action tab is defined by cuts and edge lines formed in the top and side walls so as to contain a predetermined length of the common fold line therebetween which divides the tab into two tab sections. The cuts enable the peripheral edge portion of the tab defined thereby to move toward and away from the adjacent cut top and side walls while the peripheral edge portions of the tab defined by said edge lines hinge with respect to the adjacent top and side walls.

Abstract: An improved reclosable dispensing carton is provided. The carton includes a dispensing end having a plurality of flaps which, when the carton is closed, are in parallel planes. The flaps include major inside and outside flaps and a pair of slide slidably positioned therebetween. A removable security tab is provided on the major outside flap and is removably affixed to both slide flaps prior to opening the carton.

Abstract: Latching structure for thermoformed plastic containers for food and the like wherein the lid and base of the containers are each provided with mating male and female elongated elements where the locking takes place at the end of the elongated elements rather than along the sides of these elements.

Abstract: A carton (11) with parallel flat front and rear surfaces joined by curved sides and a flip-top lid (10) hinged to the carton. The carton is composed of two superimposed layers adhesively secured at a joint line at lapped edges. The outer layer is slit along its front surface parallel to the carton ends and along upwardly extending curves around the sides to a fold line parallel to and raised above the front slit and the inner layer (12) has a cutout in its front surface above the front slit of the outer layer. The cutout curves upwardly short of the sides where tags (13) are cut out of the sides of the inner layer and the outer layer overlaps the inner layer at the carton ends. Top and bottom closures are adhesively secured to the outer layer at the ends of the carton.

Abstract: A packaging carton and insert assembly for use in packaging an article. The assembly has an outer carton and a stiffening insert. The outer carton is collapsible to form a relatively flat profile and has a non-collapsed wedge shaped profile. The insert has a general wedge shaped profile and when inserted into outer carton, wedges two opposite sides of the carton apart to prevent the carton from collapsing.

Abstract: A tote container for perishable produce such as asparagus comprising a pair of identical molded end shells which form the side walls of the tote container, with an intermediate blank cut and scored from a sheet material such as double-faced corrugated plastic extending between and securely attached to each of the end shells. The blank is folded to form a bottom panel, back panel, pivoting top lid and front lid panels, and a front tray panel to the tote container. The tote container defines a receptacle region with an open top and front, and the blank defines a bottom tray portion within that receptacle region.

Abstract: An improved tote box construction is disclosed which incorporates into the corners of a tote box during the assembly thereof corner enhancer structural elements which do not require any mechanical fasteners such as rivets or the like to secure the corner structural elements.

Abstract: A carton for packaging ice cream or the like, one embodiment of which includes front, rear and bottom panels. A lid is operably associated with the front, rear and bottom panels for forming a hollow tube having first and second open ends. The lid includes a cover panel and means for securing the cover panel to one of the front, rear and bottom panels. A first set of end flaps are operably associated with the first open end of the hollow tube for sealing the first open end. A second set of end flaps are operably associated with the second open end of the hollow tube for sealing the second open end. The first set of end flaps include at least first and second end flaps, the first end flap is offset inwardly of the second end flap. A first membrane flap extends from the second end flap of the first set of end flaps and inwardly toward the second set of end flaps.

Abstract: A multi-piece flat top container including a thermoplastic coated paperboard body of a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, a thermoplastic adapter ring having an annular recess formed therein for mounting over the top edge of the body and fusion sealed thereto, and a tamper-evident flat membrane or any suitable material sealed adjacent its peripheral edge to the top edge of the adapter ring. An optional over-cap may be mounted over the membrane and adapter ring without being sealed thereto.

Abstract: A carton for containing food suitable for microwaving, having a pair of spaced end walls coupled with a base, a top closure wall and a side wall for each end wall of the pair of end walls adapted to fit thereover, tear portions on each of the side walls for dividing thereof into first and second portions, and seals for sealing the side walls with the end walls, the second portions being separable from the first portions to form handles for supporting the carton.