Produce Container

Abstract

A produce container including a receptacle and a lid. A mouth is circumscribed by a rim with a first bearing surface substantially parallel to a receptacle base. A first outer wall portion of the rim is folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base. One or more first locking formations is carried on the first outer wall portion. The lid can close off the mouth and is circumscribed by a skirt with a second bearing surface substantially parallel to the base when the lid is closed. The skirt has a first inner wall portion substantially perpendicular to the base when the lid is closed. The skirt has one or more second locking formations carried on the first inner wall portion of the lid. Each second locking formation is complementary to a first locking formation. The rim includes one or more chamfered portions above the first locking formation inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion.

What is claimed as deserving the protection of Letters Patent: 
     
         1 . A produce container including:
 a receptacle which defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim; the rim having a first bearing surface being substantially parallel to a base of the receptacle, a first outer wall portion being folded back on and substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle, and one or more first locking formations carried on the first outer wall portion; and   a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid being circumscribed by a skirt, the skirt having a second bearing surface being substantially parallel to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position, a first inner wall portion being substantially perpendicular to the base of the receptacle when the lid is in its closed position, and one or more second locking formations carried on the first inner wall portion of the lid, each of the second locking formations being complementary to one of the one or more first locking formations;   wherein the rim includes one or more chamfered portions located above the first locking formation, each of the one or more chamfered portions being inclined to the first bearing surface and the first outer wall portion.   
     
     
         2 . The produce container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more chamfered portions is outwardly and upwardly facing with an upper edge adjoined to the first bearing surface and a lower edge adjoined to the first outer wall portion. 
     
     
         3 . The produce container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more chamfered portions includes a length of flat chamfer in the middle with a lark's tongue finish at both of its ends. 
     
     
         4 . The produce container of  claim 3 , wherein the length of flat chamfer is in registry with the first locking formation. 
     
     
         5 . The produce container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more chamfered portions is a continuous flat chamfer running along a selected or the entire length of the rim. 
     
     
         6 . The produce container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more first locking formations includes a recess. 
     
     
         7 . The produce container of  claim 6 , wherein each recess has a slanting upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The produce container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more second locking formations includes a lug being aligned with a corresponding recess. 
     
     
         9 . The produce container of  claim 8 , wherein the lug includes a first tapered plane adapted to engage the corresponding inclined chamfered portion of the rim as the lid comes into contact with the mouth of the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The produce container of  claim 9 , wherein the first tapered plane slopes from the first bearing surface towards the first outer wall portion. 
     
     
         11 . The produce container of  claim 9 , wherein the first tapered plane of the lug is complementary to the corresponding inclined chamfered portion so as to facilitate effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion into engagement with the recess where the lug is received, as the lid closes on the mouth of the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The produce container of  claim 11 , wherein the effortless and imperceptible moving of the lug over and beyond the lower edge of the corresponding chamfered portion is assisted by the flexibility of the material of which the produce container is made. 
     
     
         13 . The produce container of  claim 9 , wherein the lug includes a second tapered plane adapted to engage a slanting upper portion which forms part of the recess when the lid is in a closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The produce container of  claim 1 , which includes four pairs of locking formations, each pair comprising the first and second locking formations. 
     
     
         15 . The produce container of  claim 14 , wherein two pairs of the locking formations are provided along the front of the produce container. 
     
     
         16 . The produce container of  claim 14 , wherein one pair of the locking formations is provided on each of the lateral sides of the produce container.