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(11) | EP 0 089 664 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Egg container |
| (57) The invention discloses an egg container comprised of a base tray (T) and a cover
(C), with the base tray (T) having a plurality of egg cells (10), each egg cell (10)
having egg-gripping portions (30) therein to hold and cushion the egg. The cover (C)
also includes egg-cushioning means (108) thereon. |
[0002] The use of egg containers is well known in the art. Conventionally, egg containers have consisted of a tray and cover portion which may be hingedly connected thereto, with the egg tray having a plurality of egg cells. The eggs are placed in the egg cells and are not retained therein; normally, the eggs are free to move to a certain extent within each egg cell since, for any size of egg, there is a certain variation permitted. This movement of the eggs in a conventional container, permits a substantial breakage to occur. Normally, such trays are formed of a cardboard or a foam material.
[0003] The art also contains various proposals for means to cushion eggs. However, many such proposals have been deemed to be too complicated to manufacture and too expensive, and accordingly, they have not gained wide acceptance in the art.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an egg container wherein the eggs are securely held while being cushioned and which tray may be easily manufactured.
[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an egg container wherein a single size container is adapted to receive several different sizes of eggs including variations in any one size.
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided an egg container which comprises a base tray and a cover therefor. The base tray includes a plurality of separate egg-receiving cells. Each egg-receiving cell is adapted to receive a single egg and is separated from each other egg-receiving cell. Each cell has a plurality of egg-gripping means therein, which egg-gripping means are such that they will adapt to different sizes of eggs while retaining the egg securely spaced from adjacent eggs and from the bottom of the container. The cover portion includes egg-cushioning means for the top of each egg located in an egg cell.
[0007] Preferably, the container includes a further bottom section adapted to fit about the tray section and which section conveniently may be formed of a cardboard or paperboard or like material. Such a section can easily be adapted to receive advertising and the like and adds rigidity to the tray pervse.
[0008] The tray, as aforementioned, includes a plurality of egg cells therein with each cell having a plurality of egg-gripping sections, which sections are partially deformable outwardly in response to the force of an egg being placed in the cell such that the gripping sections exert a restraining force inwardly on the eggs. Due to the deformable nature of the gripping sections, different sized eggs may be accommodated in a single size tray.
[0009] Locking means on the tray are provided, which locking means co-operate with locking means on the cover.
[0010] Preferably, the tray and cover portions are made of plastic materials for reasons which will become apparent from the description hereinafter.
[0011] Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an egg package of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the tray of the egg package of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan view, with the cover removed on a portion thereof, of the package of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an elevational view, partially cut away, of the package;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along the lines 6-6 of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a sectional view along the lines of 7-7 of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a sectional view along the lines of 8-8 of Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a sectional view along the lines of 9-9 of Figure 3; and
Figure 10 is a sectional view along the lines of 10-10 of Figure 3.
[0012] In greater detail, the egg package of the present invention includes a tray section T, a cover C and a base portion B.
[0013] Tray portion T consists of a plurality of egg cells, each adapted to contain a single egg. In the embodiment illustrated, the package consists of two half-sections, each having six egg cells therein.
[0014] Tray section T is of a generally rectangular configuration and has an outer side wall 16 having a plurality of inwardly extending ribs 18 formed therein to add rigidity to the wall. At the corners of the wall sections 16, an angled portion 14 is provided as shown in Figure 2. Extending inwardly from the upper margin of sidewall 16 is an upper horizontal wall portion generally designated by reference numeral 20.
[0015] Tray section T as aforementioned, includes a plurality of egg cells generally designed by reference numeral.10. Each egg cell is partially defined by a generally circular lower cell wall 22 having a plurality of corrugations or flutes 24 therein. Extending along the lower margin of lower cell wall 22 is a bottom cell wall 26.
[0016] At the upper margin of lower side wall 22 is an intermediate horizontal wall section 34. Intermediate horizontal wall section 34 terminates in an upper side wall portion 32. Forming a portion of upper side wall 32 are a plurality of egg gripping sections generally designated by reference numeral 30. Each cell 10 has four of such egg-gripping sections 30, each of which sections 30 is adapted to flex outwardly when an egg is placed in such cell 10 and thereby retain the egg in its desired position.
[0017] Each section 30 terminates in at least a partial dome portion. In this respect, in the center of tray T there are provided five full dome portions 28, each of which has four egg-gripping sections'30 extending therefrom. Similarly, there are provided twelve half-dome sections 27 which have two egg-gripping sections 30 extending therefrom and at the four corners of the container, there are provided quarter-dome sections 29 each having a single egg-gripping section 30 extending therefrom.
[0018] Upper horizontal wall section 20 terminates at an upper outer wall generally designated by reference numeral 38. As may be seen from Figure 2, half-dome portions 28 are formed in two different alternating configurations. In a first configuration, horizontal wall section 20 extends inwardly a slightly greater distance than usual and upper outer wall 38 has a projection 36 extending outwardly therefrom. Projection or nose 36 has an arcuate upper surface 37 and a lower substantially horizontal surface 39. In the alternate configuration, horizontal wall section 20 does not extend inwardly to the same extent as that previously described and upper outer wall 38 merely terminates at the drop of half-dome 27 without any projection thereon.
[0019] Each half-dome section 27 includes a recess 41 therein, which recess forms a portion of the locking means as will be discussed hereinbelow. As will be seen from Figure 2, the half-dome 27 formed at either of the ends of the tray T have projection 36 formed on upper outer wall 38.
[0020] Base portion B which may be made of a suitable paperboard or cardboard material comprises a bottom 60 and walls 62 adapted, by means of glue 64, to adhere to outer side walls 16.
[0021] Cover portion C, in the embodiment illustrated, is divided into two half-sections 100 and 102, each section being substantially identical and being joined by an intermediate section 104.
[0022] Cover C includes an upper horizontal top wall 106 having, at a location corresponding to the top of each egg cell 10, a dimple or egg-cushioning means generally designated by reference numeral 108. In addition, two additional dimples 108 are provided adjacent intermediate section 104. Extending downwardly in an arcuate manner as will be described in greater detail, is cover side wall 110. Cover side wall 110, as may be noted from Figures 5, 6 and 8 through 10, extends outwardly and downwardly adjacent cushioning means 108 at a different angle than where recesses 41 are provided. Adjacent recesses 41, cover side wall 110 extends substantially downwardly and terminates in an outwardly extending horizontal portion generally designated by reference numeral 112.
[0023] Formed within horizontal section 112 is a male projection 115 adapted to seat in recess 41. Also, in those portions of cover side wall 110 corresponding to where projections 36 are located, there is provided an outwardly extending flange portion 116 and subsequent undercut 114 which is adapted to receive projection 36 and thus provide a locking means for the cover to the tray.
[0024] Cover side wall 110 includes a plurality of inwardly extending corrugations or flutes 118 which add rigidity to the cover structure. In addition, corrugations or flutes.118 are provided in intermediate section 104 as seen in Figures 1 and 9.
[0025] Both the tray and cover are preferably made of a suitable plastic material having the desired flexibility for proper functioning of the container. Preferably, the cover is made of a transparent material such that visual inspection of the eggs may be had.
[0026] In packaging the eggs, each egg is placed in a cell 10 and a gentle downward pressure may be exerted thereon. This causes egg-gripping sections 30 to flex inwardly while exerting a pressure on the eggs. In this respect, it will be noted that egg-gripping sections 30 are arcuate in nature in both directions - i.e. from the top of dome section 28, they curve inwardly down to lower cell wall 22. This permits the eggs to be securely held and the container may be turned upside down without the eggs falling out. The container is sized such that the eggs do not touch bottom cell wall 26. Preferably, the placement of the egg is such that approximately 60% of the height of the egg is below the point of first contact of egg-gripping section 30 with the egg.
[0027] Following placement of the egg in the cell 10, cover C is placed on top. The cover is sized such that dimples 108 are adapted to just touch the top of an egg placed in an egg cell 10. Dimples 108 will act as a cushioning means for the eggs due to the flexible nature of the plastic material forming cover C. As may be seen from the figures, the mating of projections 36 with flange 116 and undercut 114 forms a locking means to retain the cover on the tray. In addition, the mating of recesses 41 and male projection 115 prevent the side walls 110 from flexing outwardly when a pressure is put on top 106.
[0028] It has been found that the egg container of the present invention may be adapted to hold several different sizes of eggs in a single size container. Due to the nature of egg-gripping-sections 30 and the design of the container, the single size container may serve to package and hold securely both small and medium (and in some instances large) eggs.
1. An egg container comprising a tray portion and a cover, said tray comprising a
plurality of egg-receiving cells, each egg-receiving cell being separated from every
other egg-receiving cell, each cell having a plurality of egg-gripping means therein,
each egg-gripping means adapted to flex outwardly in response to the insertion of
an egg in the cell and to exert a pressure on said egg to retain the egg in the cell,
said cover having means for cushioning the top portions of an egg placed in said egg
cells, said cover and tray having co-operating locking means to secure said cover
to said tray, and said tray and cover providing air vent means therebetween.
2. An egg container comprising: a base tray including,
a plurality of egg cells each of which is adapted to receive a single egg. each of said cells having a wall extending thereabout to define the cell, said wall including a plurality of egg-gripping sections extending inwardly toward the interior of the cell, each egg-gripping section being partially deformable outwardly in response to the force of an egg being placed in the cell such that the gripping section exerts a retaining force on the egg, and locking means adapted to secure the cover to the tray;
said cover including a top wall portion and a side wall portion, said top wall portion having a plurality of egg cushioning means therein, said side wall portion having locking means thereon adapted to co-operate with the locking means on the tray.
3. The container of claim 2 wherein said tray is a one-piece unit formed of a plastic
material.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein said cover is a one-piece unit formed of a transparent
plastic material.
5. The container of claim 2 wherein said tray includes an outer side wall spaced.from
said wall defining said egg cells.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein each cell has four egg-gripping sections, each
egg-gripping section extending arcuately inwardly towards said cell in two directions.
7. The container of claim 6 further including an outer base portion of a paperboard
material.
8. The cover of claim 7 wherein said egg cells are further defined by a bottom wall
extending between said wall extending about said cell, said tray being sized such
that an egg placed in an egg cell is spaced from said bottom wall.
9. The container of claim 5 wherein said tray includes a plurality of recesses formed
on a horizontal section thereof and said cover includes a plurality of male projections
adapted to seat in said recesses.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein said locking means includes a projection on a
side wall of said tray and a recess formed in said cover side wall to receive said
projection.