U.S. patent number 3,589,554 [Application Number 04/787,049] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-29 for composite package.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Phillips Petroleum Company. Invention is credited to Ernest L. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,589,554 |
Smith |
June 29, 1971 |
COMPOSITE PACKAGE
Abstract
A composite package is provided which includes an outer
receptacle and an inner receptacle removably mounted therein. Means
are provided on the walls of the outer receptacle which releasably
engage complemental means provided on the walls of the inner
receptacle whereby the receptacles are retained in a predetermined
assembled relation. The bottom of the outer receptacle is provided
with a transversely extending ridge which forms said bottom into
contiguous compartments. The ridge subtends and supportingly
engages the inner receptacle when the latter is in the said
predetermined assembled relation.
Inventors: |
Smith; Ernest L. (Kansas City,
MO) |
Assignee: |
Phillips Petroleum Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25140277 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/787,049 |
Filed: |
December 26, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.83;
D7/629; 206/514; 206/558 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
81/3216 (20130101); B65D 25/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
81/32 (20060101); B65D 25/02 (20060101); B65d
021/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/17,20,23.83,23.86
;206/12,16 ;150/.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lowrance; George E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A disposable composite package comprising an open top outer
receptacle and an inner receptacle removably mounted therein; said
outer receptacle being of unitary construction and including a
bottom and wall delimiting same and extending upwardly therefrom,
and said inner receptacle being of unitary construction and
including a bottom and wall delimiting same and extending upwardly
therefrom, walls of said receptacles being adjacent one another
when said receptacles are in assembled relation; protruding means
formed on the wall of one receptacle and pocket means formed on the
wall of the other receptacle, said protruding means being in
interfitting relation with pocket means to releasably hold said
receptacles in assembled relation, the bottom of said outer
receptacle being provided with a transversely extending hollow rib
interconnecting opposed wall portions of said outer receptacle, the
height of said rib being less than the height of said wall, said
rib cooperating with said wall and bottom of said outer receptacle
to form contiguous independent compartments, the wall portions of
said outer receptacle delimiting one of said compartments being
offset inwardly to form an inwardly extending shoulder, said
shoulder and rib subtending and supportingly engaging the bottom of
said inner receptacle when said receptacles are in said assembled
relation.
2. The composite package of claim 1 wherein the pocket means is
formed on the wall of said outer receptacle, and the protruding
means is formed on the wall of said inner receptacle.
3. The composite package of claim 2 wherein the protruding means of
said inner receptacle includes an outwardly extending peripheral
flange formed on the upper terminating edges of upwardly extending
wall of said inner receptacle, said flange being releasably
accommodated in said pocket means.
4. The composite package of claim 1 wherein the top of said rib is
provided with an upwardly projecting stop which engages the
exterior of said inner receptacle and retains the latter in
overlying relation with respect to one of said compartments when
said inner and outer receptacles are in assembled relation.
5. The composite package of claim 1 wherein the top of said inner
receptacle is disposed beneath the top of said outer receptacle,
and said package includes a cover removably mounted on the top of
said outer receptacle and overlying said inner and outer
receptacles.
6. The composite package of claim 1 wherein said outer receptacle
is formed of a semiflexible plastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Oftentimes it is desirable to package together in a single compact
unit various types of food products (e.g., cheese spread and
crackers), various types of chemical ingredients (e.g., two-part
epoxy adhesives), various types of medical supplies (e.g., sterile
compresses and ointment), or various other products (e.g., screws
and washers).
Packages for this general purpose have heretofore been provided;
however, because of certain structural characteristics, they have
been beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: (a) the
package was awkward to assemble and handle; (b) it was susceptible
to pilferage or infestation; (c) it was costly and unattractive;
and (d) it was incapable of retaining the accommodated products in
a segregated state even when the package was subjected to normal
handling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a composite
package which is not beset with any of the aforenoted
shortcomings.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a composite
package which is inexpensive to produce, is easily loaded, and is
versatile in accommodating a variety of products.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a
composite package, the components of which do not deleteriously
affect the accommodated products.
Further and additional objects will appear from the description,
accompanying drawings and appended claims.
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a composite
package is provided which includes an outer receptacle and an inner
receptacle releasably mounted therein. The outer receptacle has a
bottom delimited by upstanding walls. The upper edge portions of
the walls delimit an open top. Formed in the bottom of the outer
receptacle is a transversely extending ridge which separates said
bottom into contiguous compartments. Opposed wall portions of the
outer receptacle are provided with means which releasably engage
complemental means provided on the walls of the inner receptacle so
as to retain the inner receptacle in a predetermined assembled
position with respect to the outer receptacle. The inner
receptacle, when in its predetermined assembled position, rests
upon the ridge formed in the outer receptacle. The outer receptacle
is provided with a cover which overlies the inner receptacle.
DESCRIPTION
For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should
be made to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view taken from above of one form
of the improved composite package.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the assembled
package shown in FIG. 1 and with a portion of the outer receptacle
removed so as to reveal the interior thereof.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary left end elevational view of the package
shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 2 with a portion of the cover
thereof removed so as to reveal the inner receptacle.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged top view of the outer receptacle
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the inner receptacle shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the inner receptacle of FIG. 8.
FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken
along lines 10-10 and 11-11, respectively, of FIG. 5.
Referring now to the drawings, one form of the improved composite
package 10 is shown. It is to be recognized at the start that the
illustrated package 10 is merely a representative embodiment of the
inventive concept and the scope of the latter is not to be limited
thereto.
Package 10, as illustrated, includes an elongated open top outer
receptacle 11, an inner receptacle 12 removably disposed within
receptacle 11, and a removable cover or lid 13 which overlies both
receptacles 11 and 12 and is secured to the upper end of receptacle
11. If desired, the receptacles may be formed from vinyl polymers
and copolymers; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers;
homopolymers and copolymers of styrene; polyethylene,
polypropylene; copolymers of ethylene and butene, polybutene,
homopolymers and copolymers of 4-methyl- 1-butene, and polyamide.
The cover 13, if desired, may be formed of any of the
aforementioned polymers, or laminates of two or more of said
polymers, or laminates of one or more of the said polymers and
paper, or a metal foil.
The inner receptacle 12 may, if desired, be provided with a
separate cover, not shown. Whether a separate cover is to be
utilized will depend upon the types of products accommodated in the
package.
The outer receptacle 11 includes a bottom 14, and upwardly
extending walls 15 delimiting same. The bottom is provided with a
transversely extending ridge 16 which interconnects opposed wall
portions 15a. The ridge separates the bottom 14 into contiguous
compartments A and B. The wall portions of the outer receptacle 11
adjacent compartment B are offset inwardly so as to form a ledge or
shoulder 17. The upper surfaces of the ledges 17 and ridge 16 are
generally coplanar and thus, coact to provide a supporting surface
for the bottom 18 of the inner receptacle 12 when the latter is in
a predetermined assembled position with respect to outer receptacle
11, see FIGS. 2 and 4.
Spaced above the supporting surface of the ledges and ridge and
formed in the adjacent wall portions of the outer receptacle 11 are
elongated pockets 20 which open toward the interior of the outer
receptacle, see FIGS. 1, 4 and 11. The pockets 20 are disposed
adjacent the top of the receptacle.
Formed in the top surface of ridge 16 is an upwardly protruding
stop or nub 21. The stop is adapted to engage an end of the inner
receptacle 12 when the latter is in its assembled position and
prevents endwise or lateral movement in one direction of the inner
receptacle 12 with respect to the outer receptacle 11.
The inner receptacle 12 is of simple construction and includes the
bottom 18 and upwardly extending walls 22 which delimit said
bottom. The upper edges of the walls 22 terminate in an outwardly
extending flange 23. Flange 23, as seen more clearly in FIGS. 10
and 11, has an inverted substantially U-shape cross-sectional
configuration. The lower end of the outer leg 23a of the flange 23
is turned abruptly outwardly so as to form a lip 23b. A similarly
shaped flange 24 is formed at the upper edge of the walls 15
forming a part of the outer receptacle 11. Both flanges 23 and 24
reenforce the upper edges of the respective receptacles 12 and
11.
The flange 24 serves as a means of securing the cover 13 in an
overlying closing relation with respect to the open top of the
outer receptacle 11. The height of the inner receptacle 12 is such
that it will not interfere with the securing of the cover 13 on the
outer receptacle 11.
Cover 13, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, includes a flat top panel 25
suitable for having indicia formed on or a gummed label affixed to
the exposed surface thereof. The periphery of panel 25 is delimited
by a depending shoulder 26. The interior surfaces of the shoulder
26 engage the exterior surfaces of the leg 24a forming a part of
flange 24. The lower edge of shoulder 26 is shaped so as to form an
inwardly facing pocket 27 which is adapted to resiliently
accommodate a lip 24b formed on flange 24, see FIG. 4. Because of
the material of which the cover 13 is formed, the shoulder 26 and
pocket 27 of the cover may be flexed so as to facilitate assembly
or disassembly of the cover on the receptacle 11. Obviously, other
means may be utilized to secure the cover in place, such as tape,
adhesives, etc.
It will be noted in FIGS. 10 and 11 that the inner leg 24c of the
flange 24 in the vicinity of pocket 20 is offset outwardly a slight
amount with respect to the interior surface of the receptacle walls
15. This outward offsetting of the flange leg 24c facilitates
sliding of the lip 23b of the inner receptacle flange 23 downwardly
into the interior of the outer receptacle 11 until it snaps into
locking engagement with the pocket 20 formed in the receptacle
walls 15. As noted in FIG. 10, no pocket 20 is formed at the
corners 11a and 11b of the outer receptacle 11.
It will be noted in FIG. 2 that, when the inner receptacle 12 is in
its predetermined assembled position, the bottom thereof 18 closes
off the compartment B. Thus, if desired, the compartment B may
accommodate a product which is different from that disposed in
either receptacle 12 or compartment A of the outer receptacle 11.
The depth and shape of compartments A and B may vary from that
shown and will depend upon the types of products to be accommodated
therein. Furthermore, the bottom 14 of the outer receptacle 11 may
be provided with more than one transversely extending ridge. The
various components of the composite package 10 may be formed of
like or different materials and again will depend upon the types of
products to be accommodated and the esthetic appearance desired.
Furthermore, various other types of locking means may be provided
on the corresponding wall portions of the inner and outer
receptacles. For example, an outwardly facing pocket might be
formed on the walls of the inner receptacle which would resiliently
accommodate an inwardly projecting protuberance formed on the
interior surfaces of the outer receptacle walls.
Thus, it will be seen that a simple, inexpensive and efficient
composite package has been provided which is adapted to accommodate
a variety of products and retain the segregated status of the
products while the components of the package are in assembled
relation.
While several embodiments of the invention have heretofore been
described, it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is
not limited thereto, but further modifications are contemplated and
it is intended by the appended claims to cover such
modifications.
* * * * *