Abstract: A convertible food container including two outwardly opening shells having inner walls interconnected along a common upper edge thereof for hinged movement of the shells between an open tray-forming position and a closed carton-forming position. The inner walls include integral tongue and recess lock components which are manually engageable to prevent movement of the inner walls, and hence the shells, relative to each other. A separate retainer enables a locking together of two overlying and facing containers in the open positions thereof.

Abstract: A package of nested paperboard trays each formed from a unitary blank and having extension tabs on side panels for engaging a subjacent tray for restricting the amount of nesting, thereby improving the ease of mechanically or manually extricating individual trays from the package incident to a filling operation during which product is placed within the individual trays.

Abstract: A folded paperboard carton including first and second longitudinally aligned compartments with a common base panel, the first compartment including a cover integral therewith and foldable to overlie the first compartment, the second compartment extends above and opens upwardly relative to the closed first compartment with the inner wall of the cover dividing the two compartments.

Abstract: A collapsible container in the form of a thin sheet material body which is capable of being collapsed by being folded upon itself. When unfolded the body assumes a cone shaped or pyramid shaped chamber. Incorporated within the body is a center section which can be deflected into a cone shape or pyramid shape which is oppositely oriented to the cone shape or pyramid shape of the chamber. The deflected center section will function to retain the container in its expanded position thereby permitting the chamber to be used for small foodstuff particles such as pretzels, potato chips, popcorn and the like. There is a further embodiment which does not require deflection but is constructed of multiple parts that are assembled in a similar cone shape or pyramid shape configuration to form two separate chambers.

Abstract: A container for the storage, transport and handling of bulk mail is provided. The container includes a top panel that is adequately secured in place thereby eliminating the need for a separate tray, elastic strap and sleeve. A plurality of containers, in combination with a pallet, top and bottom caps and side enclosures provide an improved method for the shipment of large quantities of bulk mail and eliminates the need for shrink wrapping conventional sleeves onto pallets.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hexagonal paperboard carton that is tapered with an automatic bottom. Such structures of this type, generally, provide a peeling feature that allows the consumer to remove the carton from the product in a continual, spiral strip.

Abstract: A wrapping to be used as packaging (6) has a flat backing part (1A) and another shaped flat part (1B). A window (4) can be made in the flat backing part (1A). These two parts (1A, 1B) are formed from a single piece which has been punched out and folded from a flat sheet (1) of packaging material. The use of cardboard is preferred since it is possible to use recycled paper material without detracting from the aesthetic appearance of the package.

Abstract: A foldable liquid container includes a bottom wall, four side walls hingedly secured to the bottom wall, four foldable web members each web member hingedly secured between every two neighboring side walls, two half covers respectively hingedly secured to two opposite side walls for shielding a top opening of the four side walls and two handle members respectively hingedly secured to the other two opposite side walls for carrying the container when upwardly erecting the side walls for setting up the container as tetrahydron shaped by folding each foldable web member into the assembled container to be contacted with a side wall secured with the half cover. Each half cover is cut with two sets of tongue slits each set including a lower slit and an upper slit, and each web member having a tongue portion protruding outwardly upwardly to be inserted through the lower and upper slits to be interlocked into the lower and upper slits for firmly setting up the container.

Abstract: A closable container is formed by a bottom tray having upwardly and outwardly flaring side wall and a cooperating gable-shaped top closure having side wall with a rear side wall of the top foldably interconnected with a rear side wall of the bottom tray along the length thereof. Flaps extending from the top front and rear walls connect these walls to their respective adjacent top side walls to form the gabled shaped top closure and are provided with extensions each of which projects away from the top wall of the top closure a distance farther than the free edge of the top side wall to which it is connected. These projections extend beyond the top edge of their adjacent bottom side walls and help to ensure proper alignment of the top closure and bottom tray. The front walls of the bottom tray and of the gabled top are formed respectively with an undercut and a cooperating tongue adapted to interact to hold the gabled top in close position over the bottom tray.

Abstract: Containers having a container carrying body (30) and a removable lid (29) portion, both formed of thin light weight sheet material, and including a combined latching (13) and handle (9) system carried by the container carrying body (30). The handles (9) and locking tabs (13) are integrally attached to the carrying body (30). The lid (29) includes an opening through which the handle (9) can pass, and slots which can be engaged by the locking tabs (13) to secure the lid (29) to the container body (30). The tabs (13) are placed into locking position when the handles (9) are lifted into the carrying position through the lid (29). The handles (9), locking tabs (13), and container body (30) may be stamped from a single piece of thin light weight sheet material, thereby simplifying its construction and adding to the economy of the container. In one modification, the configuration of the carrying handles (9) allows a slotted liner ( 27) to be slipped over the handles (9), before the lid (29) is attached.

Abstract: A pyramidal, truncated container is fashioned from a unitary blank of paperboard. The inner two of four top closure panel each carry a semicircular handle cut from the blank and extend upwardly in surface contact with each other to form a two ply handle. The outer two of four top closure panels carry respective slits which fold over and become aligned and receive the handles. The free edge of the topmost inner top closure panels is provided with two spaced slots each of which receives a respective lower end of the two ply handle. The paperboard material on both sides of each of these slots extends beyond the free end of the bottommost inner top closure panel. The ends of the slits and the ends of the handles resiliently and frictionally engage each other to effect a firm top closure sealing action. The container exhibits special utility as a carry out container for food.

Abstract: A reclosable food tray is disclosed generally comprising a receptacle portion and first and second pair of opposing closure flaps. The receptacle portion has a substantially trapazoidal volume defined by a rectangular shaped bottom panel and two substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels. The two pair of opposing side panels define four pair of adjacent panels which are hingedly connected in a liquid-sealed manner by a folded gusset secured to the exterior surface of one of the adjacent side panels by adhesive. Each side panel is disposed at an obtuse angle measured from the bottom panel to facilitate stacking of the receptacle portion of successive trays. The first pair of opposing closure flaps extend from one pair of opposing side panels and are capable of closing off a portion of the access opening.

Abstract: A pizza container having raised bottom wall portions for air circulation underneath a pizza. This allows single-face corrugated inserts to be eliminated for cost savings. A two-piece pizza container has lid tabs hingedly joined to the lid along respective hinge lines recessed inwardly from the respective lid edges, each tab being folded along a fold line which lies generally along the respective lid edge to define an insertion portion to be received in a cut-out in a base side wall between inner and outer portions of the side wall and a portion between the insertion portion and the hinge line which is movable to effect lifting and lowering movement of the insertion portion for more easily attaching the lid and with the height of the cut-out being reduced for more effective attachment. The base has outwardly sloping side walls, and the "spring" effect of the insertion portion against the respective outer side wall portion is provided to resist downward forces on the lid to thereby protect pizza in the box.

Abstract: A clamshell type container formed of a unitary blank of paperboard. The rear wall of the container includes a hinge line to permit opening and closing of the top cover. Buckling sometimes occurs at this hinge line upon cover opening. According to this invention four curved cut lines are provided in the common rear wall having the hinge line. The ends of these cut lines are pairwise contiguous and are spaced only slightly apart. The four pairs of contiguous cut line ends form the corners of an imaginary rectangle. Two opposite corners of the rectangle lie on the hinge line, while the remaining two opposite corners lie laterally of the hinge line on respective opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A disposable package for fast food has two bowl-shaped sections which are interconnected along the common edge of a pair of adjacent end walls. The opposite end walls have tabs defining male and female connectors whereby the sections can be joined when folded together. Also, the side walls of at least one of the sections is provided with fold-in tabs which can be used to grip an item of food contained within the package.

Abstract: A supporting panel for package comprises a rectangular base plate. Four inclining plates are formed at sides of the base plate, and provided with erecting plates, respectively. The supporting plates are formed into package members by folding the supporting panels along folds so that the inclining plates are inclined with respect to the base plate and the erecting plates are erected vertically. The packing device is composed of package members formed from the supporting panels which are opposed to each other, and partition plates disposed between the above-mentioned package members, wherein the supporting panels are connected with each other through partition plates. Plural wares can be packed one by one into parts into which a space between the package members are divided.

Abstract: A paper board having a desired pattern and a plurality of folding lines embossed thereon defining a polygonal bottom section, an inner peripheral wall section extending outwardly from each side of the bottom section and pairs of corner sections disposed between two adjacent inner peripheral wall sections permitting the formation of a container. Wall edge, outer wall and plate sections extending outwardly from each inner peripheral wall section may be folded outwardly and downwardly to the underside of the bottom section to form hollow walls of the container.

Abstract: A clamshell type carton is provided with a cut along the hinge score line connecting the upper cover and lower tray portions. A second cut is placed in the back panel of the carton, above or below the hinge score line cut, wherein the second cut is a continuous curve having a first end point located in the back panel and a second end point intersecting the cut along the hinge score line. The second cut is utilized to facilitate the easy opening and closing of the carton without buckling occurring in the back panel in the region of the hinge score line.

Abstract: A Container for the storage, transport and handling of bulk mail is provided. The container includes a top panel that is adequately secured in place thereby eliminating the need for a separate tray, elastic strap and sleeve. A plurality of containers, in combination with a pallet, top and bottom caps and side enclosures provide an improved method for the shipment of large quantities of bulk mail and eliminates the need for shrink wrapping conventional sleeves onto pallets.

Abstract: A pan (10) is formed from a single blank (12) of plastic-coated paperboard and is foldable between a three-dimensional, erect condition and a flat condition. In the flat condition, first and second isosceles trapezoid-shaped side panels (20) are folded about the side edges (18) of a bottom panel (14) to overlie the bottom panel (14) and with their upper edges (22) abutting. Additionally, in the flat condition, first and second triangular panels (34) are folded about the side edges (32) of end panels (28) to overlie the end panels (28). The end panels (28) are in the shape of isosceles trapezoids and are integrally connected to the opposite end edges (16) of the bottom panel (14) and extend continuously therefrom in the flat condition. Attachment panels (38) are foldable about the outer edges (36) of the triangular panels (34) and are secured to the side panels (20) with the side edges (24) of the side panels (20) abutting with and being foldable with the outer edges (36) of the triangular panels (34).

Abstract: A clam shell carton having a hexagonal tray with a similarly configured hexagonal cover integrally hinged thereto. The tray and cover, outward of hinge joined inner walls thereof, include alternating high and low peripheral walls with projecting locking lugs on selected ends of the high walls. The high and low walls on the cover respectively overlap the low and high walls on the tray with the locking lugs on the cover releasably interlocking with the locking lugs on the tray.

Abstract: A two-piece container for pizza or the like. The base includes a first pair of opposite side walls having end flaps. A second pair of opposite side walls are each folded to have an outer portion and an inner portion with at least one tab on the terminal edge thereof for engaging a slot in the bottom wall. The end flaps are received between the inner and outer portions. Cut-outs are provided in the second pair of side walls for securely receiving tabs of the lid between the inner and outer portions. In one aspect, the inner and outer portions have the shapes of trapezoids providing trapezoidal-shaped second side walls to effect sloping side walls for nesting of the bases for compact storage. The sloping side walls are also provided to effect a more secure attachment of the lid to the base. In another aspect, the container is composed of corrugated cardboard and at least one fold line is provided in the bottom wall and the first pair of side walls for folding the base for disposal.

Abstract: A tote container which is cut to form a blank from a single sheet of double-faced corrugated plastic material, the blank being scored to define individual panels, and those panels folded to an upright position to define a receptacle region. The corrugations of the plastic material define a grain, and the blank for the tote container is oriented upon the sheet of corrugated plastic material such that the lines of grain cross the scored fold lines separating the panels at an acute angle thereto, thereby permitting individual lines of grain to extend under the receptacle region of the tote container and traverse the tote container both laterally and longitudinally. This prevents the planar plies of the double-faced corrugated plastic sheet material from being perforated, and the convoluted intermediate ply from being crushed along the length thereof, when the blank is scored.

Abstract: A carton including a hexagonal tray with a complementary hexagonal cover integrally hinged thereto for closing thereover. A dual locking system between the tray and cover includes projecting locking lugs coplanar with the front wall of the tray and extending beyond adjoining tray side walls for interlocking engagement with corresponding lugs on side walls of the cover which extend beyond the cover front wall. The locking assembly also includes headed upwardly extending tabs on selected tray side walls which engage through corresponding slots in the cover top panel to lock the top panel downwardly against the upper edges of the side walls from which the tabs project.

Abstract: A clamshell type carton is provided with a cut along the hinge score line connecting the upper cover and lower tray portions. Either a second cut in the back panel of the carton, above or below the hinge score line cut, or a cut-out slot encompassing the hinge score line cut, is utilized to facilitate the easy opening and closing of the carton without buckling occurring in the back panel in the region of the hinge score line.

Abstract: A paperboard clamshell carton includes a tray and a cover, hingedly connected and latched in the closed position by cooperating latching members. Detents, extending forwardly from adjacent the upper corners of the front wall of the tray, and detent engaging slots and tabs in the cover, located adjacent the lower corners of the front wall of the cover, releasably engage when the cover is folded shut over the tray. The forwardly extending detents are of double thickness, being formed by overlapped extensions of the glue flaps and side walls of the tray.

Abstract: In a carton comprising a tray and a removable cover, peripheral walls on the cover and tray overlapping and engaging each other. Outwardly projecting locking lugs on the cover and tray walls cross each other and interlock upon a movement of the cover to a closed position over the tray and provide spaced points of interlock about the periphery of the carton.

Abstract: A tray formed from a unitary paperboard blank. The tray has a locking tab at each corner, each latching tab projecting beyond the next adjacent tray wall. Two such trays may be latched together to form a closed container. The tray structure is such that two of the trays may be latched together in only one of four possible angular relations of the trays. The tray is rectangular and may be square or oblong.

Abstract: A container for accommodating foods comprising multifunctional inner and outer flaps. The pair of inner flaps are interconnectable with each other to close an opening of the container body and are disposed with various slits for receiving and supporting a spoon, fork, straw, or the like thereon. The pair of inner flaps are anchorable to side walls of the container body to allow easy access of the contents within the container body. The pair of outer flaps which have punch-out flaps thereon, are engageable with each other to permit a clasping operation by a user's hand, with the punch-out flaps and end portions of the outer flaps forming a triangular space for receiving chopsticks. The outer flaps are also interconnectable with each other to close the opening of the container body for easy transport and storage.

Abstract: A utility tote container comprising a base panel, a pair of side wall panels, and a pair of end wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel. A pair of end foldover panels are hingedly connected to each end wall panel. The side wall panels and end wall panels are pivoted upwardly to an upright configuration, and the end foldover panels are folded inwardly into parallel abutting contact with the exterior planar surface of the adjacent side wall panel. End panel securing flaps are hingedly connected to each of the end foldover panels, and are received through aligned and correspondingly sized slots in the side wall panels. The end wall securing flaps are folded into parallel abutting contact with the interior planar surface of the adjacent side wall panel, and are secured thereto using a releasable fastener such as mating hook and loop type fasteners. Each end wall panel defines a centered handgrip opening, and a folded rim or shoulder extending along the length of the top edge of the end wall panel.

Abstract: A clamshell carton formed from two integral blanks of sheet material. The front wall of the upper clamshell carries a latching aperture. The front wall of the lower clamshell half carriers a latch release panel, the latter carrying a horizontally despaired latching tongue normally engaged in the latching aperture to maintain the clamshell in a closed configuration. The latch release panel is normally resiliently biased to maintain the latch tongue engaged. The front wall of the upper clamshell half is provided with a recess along a free edge, the recess permitting direct finger force to be applied to the latch release panel to open the carton by disengaging the latch.

Abstract: A clamshell or other hinged top cover type carton for hamburgers is provided with a divider sheet formed from paperboard or a paperboard laminate. The ends of the divider sheet extend laterally beyond the side edges of the carton. A bun heel and hot hamburger patty are located in the lower half of the container and a bun crown and various toppings are located in the top container half. The divider sheet separates the hot meat patty from the cooler toppings. For hamburger consumption, the user pulls a laterally extending edge of the divider sheet laterally away from the carton, the bun crown and toppings fall on to the hot hamburger patty and bun heel, thereby preparing the hamburger sandwich. The consumer now opens the carton to gain access to the sandwich.

Abstract: A carton erected from carton material in cut and scored blank form, the carton comprising a lower tray structure comprising a bottom wall having flap connected tray side walls folded upwardly from the bottom wall, and an easy-open easy-close cover structure having a top wall having flap connected cover side walls folded from the bottom wall including a corner wall extending from the top wall between two adjacent spaced apart end edges of two adjacent cover side walls within a plane extending at an angle with respect to the angularly related planes of the two adjacent cover side walls. The cover structure is retained in closed relation by an opening formed in the corner wall and tabs formed from a portion of carton material defining the tray structure at the interconnection of the two adjacent tray side walls.

Abstract: A paperboard tray and unitary blank for forming it. Two of the tray blanks may be joined in tandem to form, after erection, a clamshell type carton. The tray is provided with cooperating latching tongues and latching slits to maintain it erected. The specific form of the latching tongues and slits enables the tray sides to tilt outwardly after initial tongue and slit engagement and thus permit stacking. The use of the tongue and slit of this invention also permits tray formation without the need of adhesives, thus permitting safe use of the tray or clamshell carton in serving food, as at the retail level.

Abstract: A tray formed from a unitary paperboard blank. The tray has at least one pair of parallel troughs whose ends are closed by end forming flaps carried by the trough bottoms. A longitudinal arch in the general form of an inverted V in transverse cross section separates the troughs and forms one side of each. The uppermost portions of the ends of the arch extend through the ends of the tray. In one embodiment, the top of the arch is sharp in transverse cross section, while in a second embodiment, the top of the arch is truncated. In the third embodiment, the tray has three parallel troughs.

Abstract: An improved food spill catching device (10) with folded straps (12) mounted in a tray portion 10c for attaching the device around the neck of a person is described. The device is preferably provided by forming the straps 12 and trays (10b and 10c) separately as preforms (20 and 30) which are then assembled and formed into the device.

Abstract: A package for carryout food such as pizza includes a polygonal shaped tray and a separate lid. The tray is prepared from a single blank of paperboard or the like and includes a generally polygonal shaped bottom panel with integral side wall segments. At least four opposed side wall segments are provided with slotted false interior walls which support and retain the separate lid in place after the food is packaged.

Abstract: A two piece container including a tray piece for holding an item and a cover piece adapted to telescopically fit over the tray is disclosed. Each container piece has a first wall and sidewalls which extend from and taper outwardly from the first wall. The sidewalls of the tray piece meet at corners which have cut-out sections to provide for inward flexibility of the tray sidewalls when the cover is fitted over the tray. A blank for forming the tray piece according to the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A clamshell type carton bottom having integrally connected thereto a domed top with upper portions of side and front panels of the carton bottom defining seats on which there are seated seat members carried by side and front panels of the top and reversely turned so as to slope upwardly and outwardly while the side and front panels slope downwardly and outwardly. Each side panel of the bottom adjacent the front panel of the bottom is provided with a cut line which defines stop means so as to limit the movement of the top into the bottom when the carton is being closed. Further, the bottom front panel is provided with a locking flap which carries a locking tab which engages over the front seat member of the top to lock the top in place relative to the bottom.

Abstract: A carton with an integrally hinged tray and cover assembled as a preform and including a lock flange on the front wall of the cover with projecting lock tabs engageable through corresponding slots in the front wall of the tray. The lock flange is gusset-engaged at the opposed ends thereof to the side walls of the cover, and seats on support shoulders on the opposed side walls of the tray to stabilize the flange, and hence the lock tabs thereon, in an extended position for engagement of the tabs within the corresponding slots when the cover is closed.

Abstract: A flanged tray for packaging, storing, heating and serving food products comprises a plurality of compartments with each compartment pair having adjacent foldably attached walls which form a partition panel between the paired compartments. Each compartment includes gusset corner closures to provide a leak proof construction and additional glue tabs may be provided at each corner to reinforce the gussets and support the flange in a substantially horizontally disposed condition for lidding. The blank for constructing the tray is cut and scored to yield adjacent partition panels which remain substantially perpendicular to their base panels and in full face-to-face contact with one another when the tray compartments are formed so that the paired compartments are self supporting.

Abstract: A container which can be constructed in one-piece or in two pieces. The container is preferably of corrugated paper-like material and is preferably of the "E-flute" type of corrugated material. The container includes a body member or body portion and a cover member or cover portion. The container includes a latch which automatically operates to latch the container in closed condition when the container is closed. The container has panels and walls which are relatively angular so that the opposing walls are in effective covering relationship when the container is closed. Also, the angular relationship between the panels and the walls permits a plurality of the containers to be nested and stacked in a stack having a minimum height.

Abstract: A foldable carton for various products which is particularly suitable for storing, microwave cooking and serving of food products. The carton is formed from a one-piece paperboard sheet having a polygonal bottom panel, plurality of side and end panels foldably joined to the edges of the bottom panel and extending completely around the periphery of the bottom panel. Side web assemblies foldably join the side and end panels together in a continuous band and include fold lines positioned to elevate the side and end panels with respect to the bottom to provide a liquid impervious tray. The carton further includes extension panels foldably joined to an outer periphery of the side and end panels, together with extension web assemblies that also form a continuous band completely encircling the outer periphery of the side and end panels.

Abstract: A carton having a tray and cover locked in closed position by means of a pair of detents extending forwardly and above the front wall of the tray. The detents are of double thickness being formed by overlapped extensions of the glue flaps and side walls of the tray. A pair of slots in the cover receives the detents in a closed position to lock the cover to the tray.

Abstract: A container suitable for packaging food items such as hamburgers or fried chicken is disclosed. The container includes two complementary container pieces, namely a tray and a cover closable over the tray. Each piece has opposing sidewalls provided with tip portions which project longitudinally outwardly over the central portion of each adjacent sidewall without such tip portions to pass through a plane determined by the central portion of each such adjacent sidewalls. The tip portions of each complementary piece interlock to securely close the container.

Abstract: A multi-compartment carton folded from a unitary cardboard blank and including a central partition defined by a pair of generally spaced partition panels. The opposed ends of the partition section incorporate laterally directed glue flaps which adhesively bond to opposed aligned pairs of side walls. The side walls, along each side of the formed compartments, in turn include projecting integral extensions which overlie and bond to each other above and independently of the glue flaps to provide a rigid interlock of the aligned walls and a rigid fixing of the compartments relative to each other. Closures, either unitary with the blank of the carton or as separate lids, close and segregate the defined compartments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container for packaging foods and particular frozen foods. The container includes a bottom tray and a like tray which has been inverted and turned 90 degrees to form a lid or cover for the bottom tray.The tray is formed from a thermoplastic coated paperboard blank having a base portion, a plurality of cut and scored lines forming opposing upstanding walls when folded, and bonding panels extending from upper or lower edges of one pair of opposing upstanding walls. A cohesive emulsion is used on the bonding panels to secure the bottom tray to the lid.The substantially identical cover and bottom tray can be made utilizing convential machinery and from various substrates including plastics. Other features of the container include vents for allowing release of pressure during heating and upwardly diverging walls allowing nesting. Another embodiment includes a compartmented container having multiple bottom trays and a single continuous cover unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pack for filling materials which are capable of flow, comprising a tube which is formed by at least one longitudinal sealing seam and which has a bottom and a top mounted to the ends thereof, of which the top has a pouring opening in the vicinity of its outer edge, wherein the tube comprises carrier material, for example cardboard, which is coated with thermoplastic material at least on one side, and the bottom is quadrangular and is formed from the folded-over tube of the pack in the form of a fold closure.

Abstract: Disclosed are various diagonal incisions adjacent the hinge line of a clamshell container. These diagonal incisions allow opening of the clamshell container without permanent buckling. Also disclosed are ribs formed above, below, and parallel to, the hinge line of a clamshell container.

Abstract: A casket lid and method of manufacture is disclosed. The lid is formed by cutting corrugated fiberboard to form a blank having a central section and end sections, the central section being scored on parallel lines extended longitudinally of the lid, and the central section is flexed on the score lines to provide a domed configuration.