Containers with interlocking covers

Abstract

A container 100 includes a cover 102 and a base 104 . The cover 102 of the container 100 includes a first closure portion 310 , an engagement portion 308 , and an alignment portion. The base 104 includes a second closure portion 212 . The first closure portion 310 of the cover 102 is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion 212 of the base 104 to define a sealed storage area. Multiple covers 102 stack together in two different ways. First, the covers 102 may be stacked into an “aligned” stack. Second, the covers 102 may be stacked into a locked stack. The alignment portion of the cover 102 is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack. The engagement portion 310 of the cover 102 is receivingly engageable by the engagement portion 308 of a second cover 602 to form a locked cover stack 728.

1 . A plastic container comprising:
 a cover including a first closure portion at the outer peripheral edge of the cover and an engagement portion;   a base including a second closure portion;   wherein said first closure portion of said cover is sealingly engageable with said second closure portion of said base so that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are sealingly engaged with each other, said cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area, and;   wherein said engagement portion of said cover is lockingly engageable with a second cover.   
   
   
       2 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said cover defines a gripping tab. 
   
   
       3 . The plastic container of  claim 2  wherein said gripping tab of said cover defines said engagement portion of said cover. 
   
   
       4 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said engagement portion of said cover is a projection downwardly directed from the top of said cover, and;
 wherein said projection is in the form of a hollow cup-like structure.   
   
   
       5 . The plastic container of  claim 4  wherein said projection comprises:
 a male cap component, and;   a female well component.   
   
   
       6 . The plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said male cap component includes at least one undercut configured as a lengthwise bead along at least a part of the bottom edge of said male cap component. 
   
   
       7 . The plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said female well component includes at least one lead-in configured as an indentation along at least a portion of the top edge of said female well component. 
   
   
       8 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said plastic container comprises at least one additional engagement portion. 
   
   
       9 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said plastic container comprises thermoformed plastic material. 
   
   
       10 . The plastic container of  claim 9  wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), polypropylene, and foamed polypropylene. 
   
   
       11 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said engagement portion of said cover is integral with said first closure portion of said cover. 
   
   
       12 . The plastic container of  claim 11  wherein said engagement portion of said cover is configured as a locking lug. 
   
   
       13 . The plastic container of  claim 11  wherein said engagement portion is formed around the entire perimeter edge of the cover. 
   
   
       14 . The plastic container of  claim 11  wherein said engagement portion is formed in discrete segments around the perimeter edge of the cover. 
   
   
       15 . A cover for a plastic container comprising:
 a first closure portion at the outer peripheral edge of said cover, wherein said first closure portion of said cover is sealingly engageable with a second closure portion of a base so that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are sealingly engaged with each other, said cover and said base define a substantially sealed storage area, and   an engagement portion wherein said engagement portion of said cover is lockingly engageable with a second cover.   
   
   
       16 . The cover of  claim 15  wherein said cover defines a gripping tab. 
   
   
       17 . The cover of  claim 16  wherein said gripping tab of said cover defines said engagement portion of said cover. 
   
   
       18 . The cover of  claim 15  wherein said engagement portion of said cover is a projection downwardly directed from the top of said cover, and;
 wherein said projection is in the form of a hollow cup-like structure.   
   
   
       19 . The cover of  claim 15  wherein said engagement portion of said cover is integral with said first closure portion of said cover. 
   
   
       20 . The cover of  claim 15  comprising thermoformed plastic material selected from the group consisting of PS (polystyrene), CPET (crystalline polyethylene terephthalate), APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PC (polycarbonate), polypropylene, and foamed polypropylene.