Hinged plastic container

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view taken approximately along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing transposition of cover.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of this invention in which the cover portion is partially shown removed.

FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken approximately along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational cross-sectional view also taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the transposition of the lid.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view shown detail of detent means on the hinge tongue of the lid shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although the following disclosure offered for public dissemination, in return for the grant of a patent, is detailed to

3,576,271 from slot 14'. In addition, when the cover, generally 12’ is pressed in the opening direction, tongue 20' bears against the lower edge of tab 16 (and against the surface 69 at the opposite side of slit 14'), thus forcing tab 16 slightly upward as 5 shown in FIG. 6. The wedging action by which this movement of tab 16 is achieved is effected by reason of the fact that slit 14' is narrower in the width dimension than is the dimension of the thickness of tongue 20' extending through the slit. In the condition illustrated in FIG. 6, skirt 77 in cover 12' rests ¹⁰ upon the top of ridge 70, and tab 16 bears against opposed surface of tongue 20' at a point substantially above the level of planar portion 69. It will be appreciated that, in such position, tab 16 serves to prop cover, generally 12', in the open position. Movement of cover, generally 12', in the closing ’ direction towards the position shown in FIG. 5, forces tab 16 downwardly so that in the closed position tab 16 abuts the lower surface of tongue 20'. Thus, by providing slot extensions 15 to form tab 16, means are provided for propping cover, generally 12', in open position. It is also noted that tongue 20' is short enough to permit pivoting of cover, generally 12' to closed position as shown in FIG. 5 without causing tongue 20' to strike interior surface of dependent skirt 72.

ACHIEVEMENT 25

Thus, in accordance with this invention, thermoformed containers can be manufactured using a first material, for example, 0.030-inch-thick high-impact opaque polystyrene, for the base or receptacle portion, and a second, transparent sheet 30 material, for example, transparent 0.024-inch-thick polyvinyl chloride for the cover portion. The resulting packages are highly useful for display purposes, e.g. for packaging and displaying corsages, baby shoes, and the like. In addition the packages are highly useful for functional reasons as in diagnostic test trays and the like. In addition, the novel two-piece containers can be thermoformed from semirigid plastic sheeting by the well-known vacuum forming techniques. Moreover, the two-piece containers can be assembled by merely inserting tongues situated on the edge of the cover into the slot situated in the base portion thereof. It is manifest that the highly useful articles of this invention are extremely practical, and economical, both from the point of view of use, and from the point of view of manufacture. Hence, it is economically feasible, as a result of this invention to provide disposable diagnostic test trays. The novel hinge of this invention is completely free acting, having no tendency to reclose or pop open.