throbber
3,968,880
`1111
`’United States Patent
`July 13, 1976
`[45]
`Ostrowsky
`______________________________._—————————————-
`
`1191
`
`.
`
`[54] PLASTIC CONTAINER
`[75]
`Inventor: Efrem M. Ostrowsky, Highland
`Park, 111.
`
`:
`
`-
`7
`[ 3] Ass1gnee
`.
`[22] Filed:
`
`’
`.
`{EA Corporation, Baton Rouge,
`'
`.
`Aug. 28, 1975
`i
`
`-
`
`,
`[21] Appl. No" 608’545
`
`[52] US. CL................................ 206/540; 220/281;
`,
`220/306; 220/339
`[51]
`Int. Cl.2 .................... B651) 43/04; B6513 43/ 14;
`'
`-
`B65D 85/56
`[58] Field of Search ............. 206/1.5, 540; 215/201, '
`215/209, 224—225; 220/281—283, 306—307,
`. 339
`
`[56]
`
`2,958,439
`3,434,614
`3,758,000 ,
`3,907,103 ‘
`
`References Cited
`V
`UNITED STATES PATENTS ,
`11/1960 Yochem.............................. 220/339
`3/1969' Moller ............. 215/224
`
`9/1973 Mack....
`220/306 x -
`
`9/1'975
`Shaw ............................
`206/540 X
`
`-
`
`'
`
`Primary Examiner—Steven E. Lipman
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Donald L. Johnson; John F.
`Sieberth; Edgar E. Spielman, Jr.
`
`.
`
`'
`‘4
`-
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`15 Claims, ‘12 DranDE Figures
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A
`A “childproof” container having reproducible opening
`and closing characteristics is disclosed. The container
`is an integrally formed, one-piece, plastic container
`having a bottom section and an overlying top section
`hinged to the bottom section. A latching assembly
`which prevents undesirable “relock” when the con-
`tainer is being opened is featured. The portion of the
`locking assembly which is carried by the bottom sec-
`tion comprises an upwardly projecting latching lug
`which is thicker at its distal end than at its proximate
`end. The top section Carries the other portion of the
`locking assembly which features a doanardly pro-
`jecting latching protuberance on its top wall and an
`inwardly projecting latching protuberance on its front
`wall. The two protuberances are spaced apart so that
`thedistance between them is less than the distal thick—
`ness of the latching lug carried by the bottom section.
`In this manner the latching lug will snap into place be—
`tween the “"0 la‘Ching Prombe’ances With the appli‘ ‘
`cation Of ‘1 CIOSing Pressure on the top and bOttom
`sections. Without this closing pressure however, the
`relocking of the container is not possible.
`
`
`
`
`
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`16
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 1
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 1
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`July 13, 1976
`
`Sheet 1 of2
`
`3,968,880
`
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`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 2
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 2
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`

`

`, US. Patent
`
`July 13, 1976
`
`Sheet 2 of2
`
`3,968,880
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`FIG. IO.
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` FIG. II.
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 3
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 3
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`

`

`3,968,880
`
`1
`
`PLASTIC CONTAINER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Recent FDA regulations will require that aspirin
`tablets and a number of items be packaged in special
`containers which have “childproof” features. The Con-
`tainers must not be openable by children under a cer—
`tain age in a certain number of attempts to open the
`containers. Satisfactory closures have been developed
`for bottle-type containers for aspirin and prescription
`drugs and other items which may be potentially danger-
`ous to children. However, difficulty has been encoun—
`tered in producing a satisfactory rectangular,
`two-
`piece, hinged, conventional container for packaging
`tablets. The problem hasprimarily been‘one of devel-
`oping a container which has a consistent opening pres-
`sure, such that only pressure applied by an adult can
`open the container.
`,
`The utilization of conventional metallic; cantainers is
`unsatisfactory as the latches provided, usually a projec-
`tion on the lower section and an indentation on the
`upper section into Which the lower indentation fits, are
`not selective enough so that the container cannot be
`opened by a child. Adapting the metal container for
`“childproof” latches is economically impractical as the
`metal from which the containers are made'is not suit—
`able for such complex latches.
`‘
`,
`Plastic containers offer an attractive alternative in
`providing a “childproof” container. Complex latches
`are possible without overly burdensome cost and plas-
`tic materials are generally in good supply. Suitable
`plastics are those such as polypropylene, polyethylene,
`vinyl chloride, etc. Generally these plastic containers
`will havea bottom section, a top section overlying the
`bottom section and hinged to the bottom section. The
`two sections are latched together by a latching assem-
`bly which generally includes, a protuberance projecting
`from the outside front wall surface of the bottom sec.-
`tion and a recess in the inside wall of the front portion
`of the top section. The recess is designed to accommo-
`date the protuberance. Pressure on the back of the
`container releases the latch for opening.
`‘
`'
`As advantageous as these types plastic containers
`have proven to be, they still suffer from one annoying
`problem which relates to the tendency of most plastics
`to “coldset”. “Coldsetting” is defined as the character—
`istic of plastic which causes the plastic to be biased to
`a position in which the plastic has been held for a pe-
`riod of time. In the case of containers, since the con-
`tainers are usually stored in the closed position, “cold-
`set” biases the container to remain closed even after
`the latching mechanism has been actuated toiopen the
`container. Thus when the user presses down on the
`container at its rearward comers, the latches unlatch
`but due to the “coldset” of the hinge holding the upper
`section to the lower section, the latches will tend to
`relatch.
`,
`>
`Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide
`1 a plastic “childproof” container having latches holding
`the container closed which are capable of remaining in
`the ‘open mode irrespective of whether or not the resil-
`ient hinge has a “coldset” biasing the container to the
`closed position.
`'
`THE INVENTION
`
`IO
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`This invention relates to an improvement in an inte—
`grally formed, one-piece plastic container having a
`
`2
`bottom section and an overlying top section hinged to
`the bottom section; the bottom section beingcharac-
`terized in that it has a planar bottom wall, two opposed,
`upturned sidewalls, an upturned back wall, and an
`upturned front wall, all of which are integrally formed
`and connected to each other, the upturned front wall
`carrying top latching lug means; and the top section
`being characterized in that it has a planar top wall, two
`opposed downtumed sidewalls, a downtumed front
`wall, all of which are integrally formed and connected
`to each other and a downtumed back wall integrally
`formed and connected to the top wall, the downtumed
`front wall carrying bottom latching lug means for en-
`gaging the lug means on the upturned front wall of the
`bottom. section to latch the top section to the bottom
`section; which improvement comprises: the upturned
`front wall having an outwardly and upwardly projecting
`latching lug, the latching lug having an upper and lower
`surface which diverge one from the other; and the
`downtumed front wall having on its inside surface an
`inwardly projecting lower latching protuberance and
`the top wall having on its inside surface a downwardly
`projecting upper latching protuberance, at least a part
`of the lower latching protuberance and the upper latch—
`ing protuberances being in close proximity to the lower
`surface and the upper surface respectively, so that the
`distance between these parts is less than the distance
`between the surfaces at their distal ends.
`As can be appreciated from the foregoing, by having
`the distance between the latching protuberances less
`than the distance between the surfaces of the latching
`lug at their distal ends,‘locking~of the latching lug be-
`tween the latching protuberances can only be achieved
`by the utilization of closing force upon the front of the
`container.
`.
`
`Relocking is obviated due to the difference between
`the distances even though the container is urged to be
`in a closed mode by a“’coldsetting” of the hinge in the
`closed mode. Since most plastic containers which are
`kept in the closed position for any‘period of time will
`suffer a closed biased “coldset” in the hinge, the latch-
`ing assembly of this invention is an invaluable contribu-
`tion to the success of providing the art with integrally
`formed, one—piece plastic containers which are essen-
`tially “childproof”._ .
`i
`These and other features of the invention contribut—
`ing satisfaction in use and economy in manufacture will
`be more fully understood from the following descrip—
`tion of a preferred embodiment of the invention when
`taken in connection‘wi'th the accompanying drawings,
`wherein identical numerals refer to identical parts and
`in which:
`’
`FIG. 1 is a perspective, elevational view of a con-
`tainer of this invention showing the container in a
`closed position;
`.
`,
`‘
`‘
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective, elevational view
`showing the latching lug on the lower section of the
`container shown in' FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along section lines
`3—3 of FIG. 1;
`,,
`FIG. 4 is a rear View of the container shown in FIG.
`1; ,
`‘
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along section lines
`5—5 of FIG. 8;
`FIG. 6 is a front view of the container shown in FIG.
`1 ,in' the open position;
`FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the hinge and attached
`rear wall shown in FIG. 5;
`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 4
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 4
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`3,968,880
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`FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1 in
`the open position;
`FIG. 9 is an enlarged, perspective, elevational view
`showing the protuberan‘ces carried by the top section of
`the container shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the latching lug and
`latching protuberances of a container of this invention
`in the latched position;
`‘
`FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the latching lug and
`latching protuberances of a container of this invention
`in the opening phase;_and
`FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the latching lug and
`latching protuberances of a container of this invention
`in the unlatched position.
`Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3—6 and 8, a container of
`the present invention is characterized in that it is made
`from integrally formed, semi-flexible plastic material.
`The container, designated generally by the reference
`numeral 10,
`is composed of two sections, a bottom
`section, designated generally by the numeral 7 and a
`top section, designated generally by the numeral 8.
`Bottom section 7 includes a generally rectangular pla-
`nar bottom wall 16 which is integrally connected to an ‘
`upturned front wall 20. Front wall 20 and bottom wall
`16 are integrally formed with and connected to op-
`posed, upturned sidewalls 24 and 22 and to rear wall
`28. Rear wall 28 projects upward at a slight obtuse
`angle from bottom wall 16. Rear wall 28 is slightly less
`than one-half of the height of the front wall and side-
`walls of the bottom section. The bottom section side-
`walls and front wall and the top section sidewalls and
`front wall are preferably of equal height. By these walls
`being of equal height, the container can then be easily
`handled with maximum efficiency for printing, filling,
`and closing automatically. Also, it provides minimum
`exposed bottom side and front walls in the closed posi-
`tion for a child to force open the container.
`Top section 8 of the container includes a generally
`, planar top wall 12 which is integrally formed and con- '
`40
`nected to a downtumed front wall 18. The top wall 12
`, and front wall 18 areintegrally formed with and con-
`nected to two opposed sidewalls l4 and 15. Top wall 12
`has integrally formed therewith a downwardly and rear-
`wardly projecting rear wall 26. Top wall 12 and rear
`wall 26 form an obtuse angle with each other. Preferred
`angles are those within the range of from about 100° to
`about 135°. A highly preferred range is from about
`115° to about 125°. In this embodiment, by having top
`wall 12 and rear wall 26 forming an obtuse angle and‘by
`having rear wall 26 not connected to sidewalls l4 and
`15, downward pressure upon the comers of the con-
`tainer results in a forward motion of top section 8
`which will unlatch the latches’as hereinafter described.
`It is to be understood of course that other container
`configurations and designs may be utilized to obtain the
`, necessary motion for unlatching of the latches.
`Rear wall 26 and 28 are joined by an integrally
`formed living hinge section 32. As seen more clearly in
`FIG. 7, hinge section 32 has a wall thickness which is
`substantially thinner than the wall thickness of the rear
`walls 28 and 26. Preferably the wall thickness of the
`hinge section is about one—half or less than the thick-
`ness of rear walls 26 and 28. The longitudinally extend-
`ing groove 31 (which may be in any particular form,
`but is shown in the drawings as a semicircular groove)
`extends the full
`length of the hinged section. This
`groove provides a weakening of the major flexing por-
`tion of hinge section 32 to facilitate easy flexure of
`
`4
`hinge section 32 when opening and closing the con-
`tainer. Hinge section 32 has a molded end bias so that
`it is constantly exerting an upward or opening pressure
`on top section 8. It is when this bias is overcome by a
`“coldset”- that the mplded bias of the hinge is destroyed
`and that the latch assembly of this invention is so use—
`ful. It is to be understood that hinge section 32 in, the
`embodiment illustrated is not the only type of resilient,
`flexible hinge which can be used in conjunction with
`the container of this invention. Hinge section 32 need
`not be continuous as illustrated but rather may be sec-
`tioned.
`
`Referring now to FIGS. 3, 5 and 8, it can be seen that
`bottom section 7 and top section 8 of the container
`have their sidewalls 24 and 22 and 15 and 14 respec—
`tively provided with rearwardly tapered sections 51 and
`50 for sidewalls 15 and 14 and tapered sections 34 and
`33 for sidewalls 24 and 22. Tapered sections 34 and 33
`serve to provide a pivotal point upon which top section
`12 will pivot upon application of pressure thereon. The
`pivot point is formed by the intersection of tapered
`sections 34 and 33 with the remaining portion of the
`top edges of sidewalls 24 and 22. When top section 8 is
`pressed downwardly top wall 12 contacts the above-
`described pivot point causing the front portion of top
`section 8 to pivot upwardly in response to the down-
`ward pressure. This upward motion of the front portion
`of top section 8 is useful in aiding the disengagement of
`the two sections when unlatching is performed.
`Tapered sections 51 and 50 provide clearance so that
`the rear comers of top section 8 do not press into the
`fingers of the user while pressing on the top section.
`Also there will be no interference with the action of-the
`container of this invention when it is opened by press-
`ing down on the comers of top section 8 when the
`container is resting upon a table.
`‘
`Maintaining top section 8 and bottom section 7 in a
`locked relationship is a latching assembly which pos-
`sesses a no—relatch capability. From FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6 and
`8—12 it can be seen that a latching assembly of this
`invention has a latching lug, generally designated by
`the numeral 100, and cooperatinglatching protuber-
`ances generally designated by the numeral 102. Latch-
`ing lug 100 depends from upturned front wall 20 and
`extends outwardly and upwardly from the outside sur-
`face thereof. 'Latching lug 100 has a lower planar sur-
`face 78 and an upper planar surface 72. As can be seen
`in FIGS. 10—12, these two surfaces diverge in an out-
`ward direction thus giving latching lug 100 a greater
`width at itsdistal end than at its proximate end. Con-
`necting lower planar surface 78 and upper planar sur-
`face 72 is end surface 74. Completing the configuration
`of latching lug 100 are two side surfaces, one of which
`is numbered 76 and the other (which is not shown but
`is identical to side surface 76). Even though the latch—
`ing lug shown in the drawings has a generally rectangu-
`lar configuration, it is to be understood that other con—
`figurations may be utilized which will serve the same
`purpose as the rectangular configuration shown. The
`only requirement of any configuration is that the lug
`must have a width which is larger at its distal end than
`at its proximate end. The necessity of such a relation—
`ship in width will be hereinafter described. Immediately
`below latching lug100 is recess 70 which is to aid in
`accommodation of side protuberance 81 described
`below.
`-
`
`The other portion of the latching assembly is made
`up of latching protuberance 102 which are carried by
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`CLARIANTX 1022; Page 5'
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 5
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`3,968,880
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`5
`top section 8. One of the protuberances, side protuber-
`ance 81, is carried by downtumed front wall 18. The
`other protuberance, top protuberance 96 is carried ‘by
`top wall 12. As can be seen in FIG. 10, in the closed
`position the distance between upper protuberance 96
`and side protuberance 81 is less than the distal width of
`latching lug 100. It should alsobe noted that the re—
`cessed space 93 between the two protuberances and
`downtumed front wall 18 and top wall 12 is sufficiently
`large to accommodate the larger distal end of latching
`lug 100 without placing downtumed front wall 18 or
`top wall 121n a stressed position. AidingIn providing
`space 93 is recess 101. Preferred configurations for
`latching protuberance 102 are depicted in the draw-
`ings. Upper protuberance 96 is generally triangular in
`cross-section as can be seen in FIGS. 10—12. Upper,
`protuberance 96 has rearward facing surface 92 and
`frontward facing surface 94, which meet to form an
`arcuate surface 90. It is preferred that these two sur-
`faces meet to form an arcuate. surface so that in opera—
`tion this smooth or arcuate surface can move freely
`upon upper surface 72 of latching lug 100. Completing
`upper protuberance96 are two side surfaces, one of
`which is labeled 95 and the other which is identical
`thereto but whichIs not shown
`Side protuberance 81 also has a triangular shapein
`cross-section as can be seen in FIGS. 10—12. Side pro-
`tuberance 81 has upwardly extending camming surface
`82 which extends from the inside surface of down—
`turned front wall 18 until it reaches an intersection with
`upper surface 80. Preferably upper surface 80 closely
`parallels lower planar surface 78 by latching lug 100
`when the container is in the latched position. Side pro-
`tuberance 81 has side surfaces which complete its
`shape, one of which is side surface 84 and the other
`which is not shown but which is identical thereto.
`'As before mentioned, the’only requirement of the
`latching assembly of this invention is that the latching
`lug be greater in width at its distal end than at its proxi-
`mate end and that
`the latching protuberances be
`spaced apart one from the other such that the distance
`between them is less than the greater distal width of the
`latching lug.,As can be appreciated therefore, many
`different dimensions and configurations for the latch-
`ing lug and latching protuberances are possible without
`departing from the principles of this invention. By way
`of example, the latching assembly used in a standard
`sized tablet container depicted in the drawings features
`a latching lug which can have a width from about 0.040
`inch to about 0.065 inch at A and a width of from about
`0.045 inch to about 0.070 inch at B. The angle at which
`upper surface 72 of latching lug 100 forms with the
`horizonkcan range from about 15° to about 45", while
`the angle with which the lower surface 78 forms with
`the horizon can range from about 0° to about 30°. The
`distance C which upper protuberance 96 extends down
`from the inside of top wall 12 can range from about
`0.015 inch to about 0. 100 inch. The distance D with
`which side protuberance 81 extends from the inside of
`downtumed sidewall 18 can range from about 0020
`inch to about 0 100 inch Camming surface 82 of side
`protuberance 81 is preferably substantially parallel
`with end surface 74 of latching lug 100.
`In operation, the container of this invention is the
`paragon of simplicity and reliableness. With the con-
`tainer in the closed position, the user merely has to
`apply a downward pressure at the rear corners of the
`top section (at the SQUEEZE HERE marks) to open
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`the container. When the downward pressure is applied
`at the rearward corners of the container, the top wall
`12 is forced downward at the rear and makes contact
`
`with the pivots formed by tapered. sections 34 and 33.
`As before mentioned, these pivot points will cause the
`front portion of top section 8 to be pulled in an upward
`direction. Also downward pressure will cause top sec-
`tion 8 to move forward due to the obtuse angle formed
`by d0wnward rear wall 26 and top wall 12. This cut—
`ward and upward force on the latch assembly will cause
`latch protuberance 96 to move‘ along the upper surface
`of latching lug 100 “and side protuberance 81 to move
`along lower surface 78 of latching lug 100.*As the two
`protuberances move to a position where the distance
`betweenthem is less than the width of latching lug 100
`deformation of the juncture between top wall 12 and
`downtumed front wall 18 will occur to allow the protu-
`beranceto fit over the wider distal end of latching lug
`100. This deformation is shown in FIG. 11. After protu-
`berance 96 and 81 have cleared the larger end of latch— ,
`ing lug 100, ‘as shown in FIG. 12, top wall 12 and down-
`turned front wall 18 will assume a relaxed position as
`shown in FIG. 12. As can be seen in FIG. 12, the re—
`latching of the container is impossible without applying
`a downward force on front portion of top section 8.
`This is so because the distance between protuberances
`81 and 96 is smaller than the width of the distal-end of
`latching lug 100.
`To close the container the user need only to apply
`downward pressure on, the front portion of top section
`8. This downward pressure will_¢ause camming surface
`81 to ride upon end surface 74 of latching lug 100. By
`camming surface 81 so riding, the juncture of top wall
`12 and downtumed front wall 82 will be stressed to
`cause‘divergence of top wall 12 and front wall 82 thus 1
`increasing the distancebetween protuberances 81 and
`96. Once the distance between the protuberances is
`sufficiently large to allow the larger distal end of latch-
`ing lug 100 to fit therebetween, latching lug 100 will
`snap into recess 93. After this snapping action has been
`accomplished downtumed front wall 18 and top wall
`12 will return to the relaxed position As can be appre-
`ciated1n the closed mode, no part of the latchis under
`stress
`This13 an important feature as there15 no problem
`with the “coldsetting” phenomena affecting the reli—
`ability of the latch.
`The container of the present invention may be fabri—
`cated from any suitable, flexible, thermoplastic mate—
`rial. Suitable thermoplastic materials are high, medium
`and low density polyethylene, polypropylene, copoly-
`mers of ethylene and propylene with other monomers,
`plasticized PVC and copolymers of vinyl chloride with
`other monomers. The container of the present inven—
`tion may be easily formed by injection molding or by
`thermoforming of suitable plastic material. The con-
`tainer is suitable for packaging medicants in that it can
`be designed to provide a “childproof” container.
`WhatIS claimedis:
`1.1n an integrally formed, onepiece plastic con—
`tainer having a bottom section and an overlying top
`section hinged to said bottom section wherein:
`said bottom section is characterized in that it has a
`planar bottom wall, two opposed, upturned side-
`walls, an upturned back wall, and an upturned
`front wall, all of which are integrally formed and
`connected to each other; and
`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 6
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`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 6
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`

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`7
`said top section is characterized in that it has a planar
`top wall,
`two opposed, downturned sidewalls, a
`downturned front wall, all of which are integrally
`formed and connected to each other and a down-
`turned back wall integrally formed and connected
`to said top wall;
`the improvement which comprises: said upturned front
`wall having an outwardly and upwardly projecting
`latching lug, said latching lug having an upper and
`lower surface which diverge one from the other; and
`said downturned front wall having on its inside surface
`an inwardly projecting lower latching protuberance
`and said top wall having on its inside surface a down-
`wardly projecting upper latching protuberance, at least
`a part of said lower latching protuberance and said
`upper latching protuberance being in close proximity
`to said lower surface and said upper surface respec-
`tively, so that the distance between said parts is less
`than the distance between said surfaces at their distal
`ends.
`-
`2. The container of claim 1 wherein said lower sur-
`
`‘
`face is a planar surface.
`3. The container of claim 1 wherein said container is
`made of material from the group consisting of polyeth-
`ylene and polypropylene.
`. 4. The container of claim 1 wherein said container
`has at least two latching lugs and an upper and a lower
`protuberance for cooperating with each latching lug.
`5. The container of claim 1 wherein said downturned
`back wall forms an obtuse angle with said planar top
`wall.
`'
`
`6. The container of claim 1 wherein said upper sur-
`face is a planar surface.
`7. The container of claim 6 wherein said upper latch-
`ing protuberance has an arcuate surface which is in
`close proximity to said upper planar surface.
`
`3,968,880
`
`8
`8. The container of claim 1 wherein said upper sur-
`face and said lower surface are planar surfaces and said
`upper surface forms an angle of from about 15° to.
`about 45° with the horizontal plane and said lower
`surface forms an angle of from about 0° to about 30°
`with the horizontal plane.
`9. The container of claim 8 wherein said upper planar
`surface and said lower planar surface are connected by
`a third planar surface which forms the distal end of said
`latching lug.
`10.» The container 'of claim 8 wherein said lower
`latching protuberance has a first planar surface which
`substantially parallels and is in close proximity to said
`lower planar surface.
`11. The container of claim 10 wherein said lower
`
`latching protuberance has a second planar surface
`which extends from said first planar surface downward
`to the inside surface of said downturned front wall.
`12. The container of claim 11 wherein said upper
`planar surface and said lower planar surface are con-
`nected by a third planar surface which forms the distal
`end of said latching lug and said third planar surface is
`substantially parallel to said second planar surface of
`said lower latching protuberance.
`'
`13. The container of claim 1 wherein said upturned
`sidewalls each provide a pivot point about which said
`planar top wall pivots upon application of downward
`pressure on the rear portion of said planar top wall.
`14. The container of claim 13 wherein said down-
`turned back wall forms an obtuse angle with said planar
`top wall.
`15. The container of claim 12 wherein said sidewalls
`have a horizontal section and a downwardly tapering
`section and said pivot point is formed by the intersec—
`tion of these two sections.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 7
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.m'
`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 7
`
`

`

`
`
` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`PATENTNO.
`
`DATED
`
`:
`
`:
`
`3,968,880
`
`July 13, 1976
`
`INVENTOR(S)
`
`: Efrem M. Ostrowsky
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above—identified patent and that said Letters Patent
`are hereby corrected as shown below:
`
`Col. 8,
`
`line 33 reads claim 12, should read claim 13.
`Signed and Scaled this
`
`[SEAL]
`
`A mst:
`
`Twenty-fourth D a )l 0f May 1977
`
`RUTH. C. MRSON
`Arresting Officer
`
`C. MARSHALL DANN
`('nmmissinm'r :i/‘l’arenls and Trademarks
`
`
`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 8
`
`CLARIANTX 1022 Page 8
`
`

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