Package Structure

Abstract

A folding package construction including a pair of body portions each having a recess therein, and a hinge portion having a triangular cross section connected to adjacent edges of the body portions. The body portions have inner and outer sides and inclined edges which provide package rigidity and permit interlocked stacking of a plurality of packages. Also, the inclined edges at the triangular hinge portion allow the body portions to pivot or fold toward each other to close the package construction. A nipple and a recess are provided on the inner sides of each body portion cooperating with the nipple and recess in the other body portion to provide a snap lock on closure of the package. The snap lock prevents the body portions from opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to package structure and refers more specifically to folding package structure which may be constructed of plastic and includes integral nipple and recess mechanical means for securing the package structure closed, and a triangular, particularly rigid hinge portion located between a pair of body portions, each of which has inclined edges to add rigidity to the package structure and facilitate stacking of a plurality of separate package structures.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior package structures have included a plurality of different means for closing the structures to insure articles packaged therein remain in the packaged structure until it is desired to remove them therefrom. In the case of prior paper or cardboard packaged slots, tabs, adhesives, tape and the like have been used to close the packages. Plastic packages have often been heat sealed. Thus, in the prior package structure closing of the packages has usually required separate closing elements, such as adhesive, tape or the like or separate production operations, such as slotting and heat sealing which have made prior package structures more expensive than necessary.

In addition, hinge structure of previous folding packages has generally included a single thickness of material across which a fold line is provided which hinge structure is not as strong or rigid as necessary for many applications. Further, with many prior package structures, interlocked stacking of the packages has not been possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a folding package construction comprising a pair of body portions each having a recess therein for receiving an article. The package structure further includes an extremely rigid triangular hinge portion which is connected to adjacent edges of the body portions to allow the body portions to pivot or fold toward each other to close the package structure. The body portions have inclined edges which provide package rigidity and aid in stacking a plurality of packages. The package structure also includes a nipple and recess on the inner side of each body member cooperable to provide a snap lock on closing of the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding package structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the package structure illustrated in FIG. 1 in the closed position and including one of the body portions in phantom line opened at a 90.degree. angle relative to the other body portion.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken substantially on line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view of the hinge portion of the package structure of FIG. 1 illustrating one of the body portions slightly open.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of one of the locking nipples and recesses of the package structure of FIGS. 1 through 4 taken substantially on line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The folding one-piece package structure 10 illustrated best in FIG. 1 includes body portions 12 and 14 having edges 16 and 18 and including recesses 21 and 22 for receiving an article, such as a gear or the like therein. A hinge portion 20 is connected between adjacent edges 16 and 18 of the body portions 12 and 14. The body portions 12 and 14 each include locking means such as nipple 26 and recess 28 cooperating with each other with the nipple 26 received in the recess 28 to provide a snap lock upon closure of the package structure 10.

The edges 16 and 18 of the body portions 12 and 14 include the inner wall 30, an upper surface 32 and outer wall 34. Abutments 37 extend inwardly of the inner walls 30 for engaging the article placed in the packages. The outer walls 34 are inclined outwardly from the surface 32 to increase the rigidity of the package structure 10 and permit interlocking of a stacked plurality of package structures.

The hinge portion 20 is located between adjacent outer sidewalls 34 of the body portions 12 and 14, as shown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The hinge portion 20 of the package structure 10 has a triangular cross section including inclined sides 36 and 38 and also has end walls 40 which are also inclined to increase the rigidity of the hinge portion 20. The hinge 20 allows the body portions 12 and 14 to pivot or fold toward each other to close the package structure 10. Furthermore, the outer sidewalls 34 at the hinge portion 20 have a sufficient incline to allow the sidewalls 34, 36 and 38 to abut one another when the plastic package structure 10 is closed.

The recesses 21 and 22 in the body portions 12 and 14 include a centrally located hub 42 surrounding a recess 44 having a bottom 46 and a vertical wall 48. The flat annular surface 50 and sidewall 52 cooperate with wall 48 to form hub 42. The recess 44 of hub 42 is equal to the depth of body portions 12 and 14 and provides support for the package structure 10 when stacked in a horizontal position. The flat annular surfaces 50 of the hubs 42 abut one another when the body portions are folded to close the package structure 10. Therefore, the centrally located hub 42 provides support centrally of the package structure 10. Furthermore, the recess 44 of hub 42 provides additional space for packaging bolts, screws or the like useful with a packaged article. Also, body portions 12 and 14 include corner recesses 54 for additional packaging areas if required.

The nipple 26 and recess 28 are also provided on the body portions 12 and 14 cooperating with one another when the body portions are closed to lock the package structure 10 closed. As shown best in FIG. 5 recess 28 has an initial inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer circumference of nipple 26. Therefore, when the nipple is received within the recess 28, the diameter of the recess 28 has a tendency to fit snugly about the nipple and to indent the nipple adjacent the flat surface 32. Therefore, when the nipple 26 is received within the recess 28 a snap lock is provided to secure the package structure in a closed position.

The package structure 10 may be made out of plastic, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate or polyethylene compounds. The material used should be capable of being vacuum formed.

A heat-sealing process is not necessary to close package structure 10 because of the snap lock means. Therefore, when the package is finished, an article is placed within the recess and the body members 12 and 14 are pivoted closed and the nipples are forced into the recesses to secure the article within the package structure 10.

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A folding one-piece package structure comprising a pair of rectangular body portions each having four edges and an inside side and an outside side, each of the edges of each body portion converging from the outside side toward the inside side, recesses in each body portion extending from the inside side toward the outside side for receiving articles to be packaged, a hinge portion extending longitudinally of adjacent one edges of the body portions and connected thereto by an integral flexible hinge, said hinge portion having a triangular cross section, and triangular end parts for imparting rigidity to the hinge portion inclined toward each other and from the outside side toward the inside side of the body portions at substantially the same angle as the two edges of the body portions perpendicular to the one edges thereof and adjacent thereto are and inclined toward the inside side of the body portions, said inclined one edge of each of the body portions and said hinge structure effecting a 90.degree. corner at each one edge of the body portions with the body portions positioned over each other by folding the one-piece package structure at the two flexible hinges and placing the inside sides of the body portions in surface to surface contact with each other.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means integral with the package structure for securing the body portions of the package structure together with the inside sides of the body portions in surface-to-surface contact.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the recesses in each of the body portions include a first annular recess extending from the inside side toward the outside side of the body portions and a second circular recess concentric with the annular recess and of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the annular recess extending from the inside side of the body portions to the outside side of the body portions and generally triangular recesses extending from the inside sides of the body portions toward the outside sides thereof at each of the corners of the body portions and extending into the annular recesses whereby on placing the inside sides of the pair of body portions in surface-to-surface contact the annular recess and triangular recesses form a first compartment for a first article and the circular recess forms a second compartment for another article.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for securing the body portions of the package structure together with the inside sides of the body portions in surface-to-surface contact comprises a recess adjacent one of said two edges and a nipple adjacent the other of said two edges on one body portion and a recess adjacent the other of the two edges on the other of said body portions and a nipple adjacent the one of said two edges on the other of said body portions with the nipples and recesses in the two body portions being aligned so that the recesses receive the nipples with the inside sides of the body portions in surface-to-surface engagement, said nipples being of slightly larger diameter than said recesses to provide a snap fit of the nipples within the recesses whereby the body portions are retained in a position with the inside sides in surface-to-surface contact.

5. A folding one-piece package structure comprising a pair of rectangular body portions each having four edges and an inside side and an outside side, each of the edges of each body portion converging from the outside side toward the inside side, recesses in each body portion extending from the inside side toward the outside side for receiving articles to be packaged including a first annular recess extending from the inside side toward the outside side of the body portions and a second circular recess concentric with the annular recess and of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the annular recess extending from the inside side of the body portions to the outside side of the body portions and generally triangular recesses extending from the inside sides of the body portions toward the outside sides thereof at each of the corners of the body portions and extending into the annular recesses whereby on placing the inside sides of the pair of body portions in a surface-to-surface contact the annular recess and triangular recesses form a first compartment for a first article and the circular recess forms a second compartment for another article, a hinge portion extending longitudinally of adjacent one edges of the body portions and connected thereto by an integral flexible hinge, said hinge portion having a triangular cross section, and triangular end parts for imparting rigidity to the hinge portion inclined toward each other and from the outside side toward the inside side of the body portions at substantially the same angle as the two edges of the body portions perpendicular to the one edges thereof and adjacent thereto are and inclined toward the inside side of the body portions, said inclined one edge of each of the body portions and said hinge structure effecting a 90.degree. corner at each one edge of the body portions with the body portions positioned over each other by folding the one-piece package structure at the two flexible hinges and placing the inside sides of the body portions in surface-to-surface contact with each other, and means integral with the package structure for securing the body portions of the package structure together with the inside sides of the body portions in surface-to-surface contact including a recess adjacent one of said two edges and a nipple adjacent the other of said two edges on one body portion and a recess adjacent the other of the two edges on the other of said body portions and a nipple adjacent the one of said two edges on the other of said body portions with the nipples and recesses in the two body portions being aligned so that the recesses receive the nipples with the inside sides of the body portions in surface-to-surface engagement, said nipples being of slightly larger diameter than said recesses to provide a snap fit of the nipples within the recesses whereby the body portions are retained in a position with the inside sides in surface to surface contact.