U.S. patent number 3,865,299 [Application Number 05/441,906] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for egg carton with flexible window well.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Keyes Fibre Company. Invention is credited to Kenneth L. Crabtree.
United States Patent |
3,865,299 |
Crabtree |
February 11, 1975 |
EGG CARTON WITH FLEXIBLE WINDOW WELL
Abstract
An egg carton molded of flexible material having a bottom with
two generally parallel rows of egg pockets and upwardly tapering
posts interspersed between the egg pockets, and having a cover with
a generally flat top and depending side walls adapted to overlie
the bottom in the closed carton condition. The cover includes three
downwardly recessed window wells, each having four downwardly and
inwardly flaring planar separator segments spaced from each other
to define four open egg viewing windows. The generally flat top of
the cover not occupied by the window wells, or by downwardly
tapering support posts, is yieldable to permit slight tilting
flexure of each window well, and the separator segments are also
yieldable to permit laterally shifting flexure of each window well.
The flexibility of the window wells permits minor yielding or
adjustment to accommodate for variations in spacings between the
eggs packaged in the carton to maximize visibility of the eggs and
at the same time minimize the danger of damaging them.
Inventors: |
Crabtree; Kenneth L.
(Fairfield, ME) |
Assignee: |
Keyes Fibre Company
(Waterville, ME)
|
Family
ID: |
23754775 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/441,906 |
Filed: |
February 12, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/521.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
85/324 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
85/30 (20060101); B65D 85/32 (20060101); B65s
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/2.5,29M,44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moorhead; Davis T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Connolly and Hutz
Claims
While the above described embodiment constitutes the presently
preferred mode of practicing the invention, other embodiments and
equivalents are within the scope of the actual invention, which is
claimed as:
1. An egg carton molded from flexible material comprising a bottom
having two generally parallel rows of downwardly dished egg pockets
and upwardly tapering posts interspersed between the egg pockets, a
cover having a generally flat top and downwardly and outwardly
flaring side walls adapted to overlie the bottom in the closed
carton condition, means for securing the bottom and cover together
in the closed carton condition, the cover further including at
least one window well downweardly recessed from the flat top
including four downwardly and inwardly flaring separator segments,
the segments being spaced from each other to define four open egg
viewing windows in the window well, the segments being arranged so
that they are located in the closed carton condition between two
eggs packaged in one row of egg pockets and two eggs packaged in
the other row of egg pockets and so that the four windows each
provide a view of a portion of one of the four eggs, and a web
connecting the lower portions of the segments together between the
four eggs at a level in the closed carton condition which avoids
contact with any portion of the carton bottom to permit flexure of
the window well whereby the separator segments and web can adjust
to accommodate variations in the spacings between the four
eggs.
2. A molded egg carton as in claim 1 wherein the separator segments
define windows which closely conform to the surfaces of the eggs to
be viewed to maximize the percentage of egg visible through each
window and minimize the percentage of space between eggs visible
through each window.
3. A molded egg carton as in claim 2 wherein the web is positioned
horizontally in the closed carton condition, and is of a generally
octagonal shape.
4. A molded egg carton as in claim 2 wherein the window well is
generally rectangular in plan view, the separator segments depend
from the four sides of the rectangle, and the egg viewing windows
are located at the four corners of the rectangle.
5. A molded egg carton as in claim 2 wherein the cover further
includes at least one downwardly tapering support post which in the
closed carton condition contacts an upwardly tapering post of the
bottom to strengthen the carton against vertically applied forces
and insure that the web of the window well avoids contact with any
portion of the carton bottom.
6. A molded egg carton as in claim 5 wherein the bottom includes
six egg pockets in each of two generally parallel rows, the cover
includes three window wells providing a view of a portion of each
of the eggs packaged in the twelve pockets and two downwardly
tapering support posts alternately located between the window
wells.
7. A molded egg carton as in claim 6 wherein each window well is
generally rectangular in plan view, the separator segments depend
from the four sides of the rectangle, the egg viewing windows are
located at the four corners of the rectangle, and the web is of a
generally octagonal shape in plan view with four of its opposed
sides connecting the lower portions of the segments together and
the alternate four of its opposed sides defining the lower edges of
the egg viewing windows.
8. A molded egg carton as in claim 7 wherein the generally flat top
of the cover not occupied by the window wells and the support posts
is yieldable to permit tilting flexure of each window well.
9. A molded egg carton as in claim 7 wherein the separator segments
are generally planar and yieldable to permit laterally shifting
flexure of each window well.
10. A molded egg carton as in claim 7 wherein the upper edges of
the viewing windows are generally ovoid shaped to closely conform
to the surfaces of the eggs to be viewed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The claimed invention relates to the field of articles molded to
final shape from materials such as wood and paper pulp, plastics
such as thermoplastics, and the like, for the retail packaging and
merchandizing of fragile articles such as eggs.
Prior to the present invention, egg cartons of the type having a
pocketed bottom section and a cover which has a top and depending
side walls molded of non-transparent pulp or thermoplastic material
have met with significant commercial success. Such cartons have met
with increased consumer acceptance when they are provided with
visibility windows in the cover so that the contents can be
insepcted for a full count of eggs, and for their shell color. For
instance, in White U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,918 (1967) and Bixler U.S.
Pat. No. 3,362,605 (1968), visibility windows are provided in
longitudinally extending internal trough portions. One problem with
cartons constructed according to the disclosures of these patents,
however, is that they do not maximize egg visibility and at the
same time minimize the danger of damaging the eggs.
For instance, in cartons made according to the aforesaid Bixler
patent, the egg visibility windows are centered over the ribs
between egg pockets, so that minor portions of two adjacent eggs
are visible through each window but the principal focus of each
window is on the open space between the eggs. This construction
maximizes the percentage of carton material occupying the space
between eggs which is visible through each window, which the
consumer is not interested in inspecting, and minimizes the
percentage of egg visible through each window.
To overcome this problem, a carton constructed according to the
aforesaid White patent provides viewing windows which closely
conform to the surfaces of the eggs to be viewed, one egg for each
window, to maximize the percentage of egg visible through each
window, and minimize the percentage of space occupied by carton
material between eggs visible through each window. The egg viewing
windows according to the White patent, however, are provided in
elongated longitudinal troughs having relatively rigid side walls
which are reinforced by integral connection with the end walls of
the carton cover, together with central strengthening ribs, all of
which preclude useful flexure of the troughs. When eggs are placed
in one or more of the pockets in tilted fashion, or oversized eggs
are placed in the pockets, the rigid bar-like troughs of the cover
of the White carton have a tendency to damage such eggs as the
cover is rotated down over the bottom to the closed carton
condition.
Thus, the problem presented by the prior art is the inability to
provide a molded egg carton having egg visibility windows which
maximize the percentage of egg visible through each window, and
minimize the percentage of space between eggs visible through each
window, in a manner which will not create the danger of damage to
the eggs in the carton as the cover is closed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention solves the foregoing problems and provides a molded
egg carton comprising a bottom having two generally parallel rows
of downwardly dished egg pockets, a cover having a generally flat
top and downwardly and outwardly flaring side walls adapted to
overlie the bottom in the closed carton condition, and at least one
window well downwardly recessed from the flat top including four
downwardly and inwardly flaring separator segments, the segments
being spaced from each other to define four open egg viewing
windows in the window well, and a web connecting the lower portions
of the segments together at a level in the closed carton condition
which avoids contact with any portion of the carton bottom to
permit tilting and lateral flexure of the window well whereby the
separator segments and web can adjust to accommodate variations in
the spacings between eggs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Numerous advantages of the present invention will become apparent
to one skilled in the art from a reading of the detailed
description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein
similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a molded egg carton in the closed carton
condition according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial front sectional elevational view on line 2--2
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevational view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
and,
FIG. 4 is another side sectional elevational view on line 4--4 of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring in more particularity to the drawings, the egg carton 10
according to this invention comprises a bottom 12 and a cover 14.
The cover 14 is hinged as at 16 to the bottom 12 to provide an
integral unit which may be directly molded to final form from
flexible material such as wood and paper pulp, plastics such as
thermoplastics, and the like, all after the well-known fashion.
The bottom 12 of the carton 10 comprises two generally parallel
rows of downwardly dished individual egg pockets 18, separated from
each other by inverted V-shaped rib structure 20. A series of five
upwardly tapering posts 22 are interspersed between the egg pockets
18 along the center of the carton, with the ribs 20 radiating
outwardly from the upwardly tapering posts 22. The egg pockets 14
accordingly are located in groups of four around the posts 22 in
rectangularly spaced array, two pockets of each group of four being
in the front row of egg pockets, and the other two being in the
rear row.
The cover 14 of the egg carton 10 has a generally flat top 24, and
downwardly and outwardly flaring side walls consisting of a front
wall 26, a rear wall 28 and opposed end walls 30. The side walls
are adapted to overlie the bottom 12 in the closed carton
condition. Means including a locking flap 30 hinged as at 32 to the
front of the carton bottom 12 are provided for securing the bottom
12 and the cover 14 together in the closed carton condition. In the
embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the locking means comprises
a pair of openings 34 in the front wall 26 of the cover which
cooperate with a pair of inwardly directed bridging means 36 formed
on the locking flap 30, in the manner described and claimed in
Despres U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,326.
The cover 14 further includes three window wells 40 which are
downwardly recessed from the flap top 24. Each window well 40
includes four downwardly and inwardly flaring separator segments
42, 44, 46 and 48. The segments are spaced from each other to
define four open egg viewing windows 50, 52, 54 and 56 in each
window well. The four segments are arranged so that they are
located in the closed carton condition between four eggs -- two
eggs packaged in the front row of egg pockets and two eggs packaged
in the rear row of egg pockets. With this arrangement, the four
windows 50, 52, 54 and 56 of each window well 40 provide a view of
a portion of the four eggs arranged in generally rectangular array
in the four pockets which surround one of the upwardly tapering
posts 22 of the carton bottom. A web 57 connects the lower portions
of the segments 42, 44, 46 and 48 together, and lies between the
four eggs in the closed carton condition. The web 58 is at a level
in the closed carton condition which avoids contact, see FIG. 3,
with any portion of the carton bottom 12, and particularly with the
top of the upwardly tapering posts 22. By avoiding contact between
the web or any other part of the window well and the upwardly
tapering posts or any other post of the carton bottom, flexure of
the window well is permitted whereby the separator segments and web
can adjust to accommodate variations in the spacings between the
four eggs.
The edges of the separator segments are shaped to define windows
which closely conform to the surfaces of the eggs to be viewed.
This conformity maximizes the percentage of egg visibility through
each window, and minimizes the percentage of sapce between eggs
visible through any given window. The upper edges of the viewing
windows may be made generally ovoid shaped to more closely conform
to the surfaces of the eggs to be viewed.
Each window well 40 is generally rectangular in plan view. The
separator segments 42, 44, 46 and 48 depend from the four sides of
the rectangle, and the egg viewing windows 30, 32, 34 and 36 are
located at the four corners of the rectangle. The web 58 is
horizontal, and of a generally octagonal shape in plan view. Four
of its opposed sides connect the lower portions of the separator
segments together, and the alternate four of its opposed sides
define the lower edges of the egg windows. The separator segments
42, 44, 46 and 48 are generally planar, which means that they may
be flat, but preferably have a small amount of two-dimensional
curvature but are devoid of three-dimensional rib or other
configurations which would tend to detract from their flexibility.
The upper edges of the separator segments are joined to the
generally flat top 24 of the cover at an acute angle, which permits
a certain degree of flexibility. The lower edges of the separator
segments are joined to the web 58 also at an acute angle, but only
for a limited extent to permit the requisite degree of flexibility.
Thus, the window wells are "free hanging" in the sense that the
entire window well is capable of tilting flexure due to the
yieldable nature of the generally flat top of the cover, and the
lower portions of each window well are capable of laterally
shifting flexure due to the generally planar nature of the
separator segments.
The cover 14 further includes two downwardly tapering support posts
60 which, in the closed carton condition, contact two upwardly
tapering posts 22 of the carton bottom 12. This contact strengthens
the carton against vertically applied forces, and insures that the
web of each window well avoids contact with any portion of the
carton bottom. The three window wells 40 are located, in the closed
carton condition, above the first, third and fifth posts 22 of the
carton bottom. The two downwardly tapering support posts 60 are
alternately located between the window wells, so that they contact
the second and fourth posts 22 of the carton bottom.
When twelve eggs are placed in the twelve pockets of the carton
bottom, it sometimes occurs that one or more of the eggs may be
tilted from its desired vertical orientation, and/or one or more of
the eggs may be larger than the average for which the carton is
designed, causing variations in the spacings between the eggs. When
the cover 14 is rotated down over the bottom 12 to the closed
carton condition, the lower portion of each of the three window
wells 40 move down into position between four eggs. The
above-described flexible nature of the window wells permits them to
shift and adjust to accommodate variations in the spacings between
the four eggs, since the lower portions of the window wells can
easily be moved a small amount from side to side, from front to
back, diagonally, or a combination thereof. This invention
accordingly provides a molded egg carton having egg visibility
windows which maximize the percentage of egg visibility through
each window, and minimize the percentage of space between eggs
visible through each window, and all in a manner which avoids the
danger of damage even to oversize eggs in the carton as the cover
is moved into and held in the closed condition.
* * * * *