Container with integral hinged connection

Abstract

A clamshell container with a hinged connection is provided. The clamshell container includes a base portion and a cover portion that rotates about a hinge axis relative to the base portion into a closed position. The base portion and cover portion each include a sidewall, a perimeter rim and a perimeter flange. The hinged connection is located along the base perimeter rim and flange and the cover perimeter rim and flange. The hinged connection includes one or more indented first structural elements formed into the cover perimeter flange and one ore more raised second structural elements extending from the base perimeter flange. The first and second structural elements are positionally aligned so that when the cover portion is rotated into the closed position, the second structural elements are received within the first structural elements. The structural elements increase rigidity of the hinged connection and limit potential deformation and fracture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base portion comprising a bottom wall, a base rear perimeter sidewall extending from the bottom wall, a base perimeter rim located along an end of the base rear perimeter sidewall, and a base perimeter flange extending from the base perimeter rim;   a cover portion comprising a top wall, a cover rear perimeter sidewall extending from the top wall, a cover perimeter rim located along an end of the cover rear perimeter sidewall, and a cover perimeter flange extending from the cover perimeter rim; and   a hinged connection located between the base perimeter flange and the cover perimeter flange and configured to enable the cover portion to rotate relative to the base portion about a hinge axis extending through the hinged connection, the hinged connection comprising:
 a first structural element located on the cover perimeter flange, the first structural element comprising an indention, depression, channel, or recess defined into the cover perimeter flange; and 
 a second structural element located on the base perimeter flange, the second structural element comprising a projection, protrusion, or ridge extending outward from the base perimeter flange; 
   wherein the second structural element is configured to be at least partially received within the first structural element when the cover portion is rotated about the hinge axis into a closed configuration relative to the base portion.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection further comprises:
 a plurality of base hinge tabs extending outward from the base perimeter flange and spaced apart along a length of the base perimeter flange; and   a plurality of cover hinge tabs extending outward from the cover perimeter flange and spaced apart along a length of the cover perimeter flange;   wherein the plurality of base hinge tabs are connected to the plurality of cover hinge tabs along the hinge axis.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the hinged connection further comprises a plurality of openings defined along a length of the hinged connection and positioned between adjacent base hinge tabs and between adjacent cover hinge tabs. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection comprises a plurality of first structural elements spaced apart along a length of the cover perimeter flange and a plurality of second structural elements spaced apart along a length of the base perimeter flange. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of second structural elements positionally corresponds to one of the plurality of first structural elements. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of second structural elements is at least partially received within one of the plurality of first structural elements. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection of the container further comprises:
 a third structural element located along the cover perimeter rim and adjacent the first structural element, the third structural element comprising a projection, protrusion, or ridge extending outward from the cover perimeter rim; and   a fourth structural element located along the base perimeter rim and adjacent the second structural element, the fourth structural element comprising an indention, depression, channel, or recess defined into the base perimeter rim;   wherein the third structural element is configured to be at least partially received within the fourth structural element when the cover portion is rotated about the hinge axis into the closed configuration relative to the base portion.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the hinged connection comprises a plurality of third structural elements spaced apart along a length of the cover perimeter flange and a plurality of fourth structural elements spaced apart along a length of the base perimeter flange. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of third structural elements positionally corresponds to one of the plurality of fourth structural elements. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of third structural elements is at least partially received within one of the plurality of fourth structural elements. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a molded fiber or pulp material. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover perimeter flange comprises a depressed region extending downwardly relative to the cover perimeter rim, and a generally horizontally-extending end region extending outwardly from the depressed region. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the depressed region of the cover perimeter flange generally conforms to the shape and curvature of the base perimeter rim and the base perimeter rim is at least partially received within the depressed region when the cover portion is rotated about the hinge axis into a closed configuration relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         14 . A clamshell-style carton comprising:
 a base portion having a base perimeter rim and a base perimeter flange extending from the base perimeter rim;   a cover portion having a cover perimeter rim and a cover perimeter flange extending from the cover perimeter rim;   a hinged connection located between the base perimeter flange and the cover perimeter flange, the hinged connection comprising:
 a base hinge tab extending outward from the base perimeter flange; 
 a cover hinge tab extending outward from the cover perimeter flange, wherein the cover hinge tab is connected to the base hinge tab forming a hinge axis between the base portion and cover portion; 
 a first structural element located on the cover perimeter flange, the first structural element comprising an indention, depression, channel, or recess defined into the cover perimeter flange; and 
 a second structural element located on the base perimeter flange, the second structural element comprising a projection, protrusion, or ridge extending outward from the base perimeter flange; 
   wherein the cover portion is configured to rotate about the hinge axis into a closed position relative to the base portion;   wherein when the cover portion is rotated into the closed position, the second structural element is at least partially received within the first structural element.   
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 14 , wherein the hinged connection comprises a plurality of the base hinge tabs spaced apart along the base perimeter flange and a plurality of the cover hinge tabs spaced apart along the cover perimeter flange, wherein each base hinge tab is connected to a corresponding cover hinge tab defining a plurality of openings between the base perimeter flange and cover perimeter flange. 
     
     
         16 . The carton of  claim 15 , wherein the first structural element and the second structural element are positionally aligned with one of the plurality of openings between the base perimeter flange and cover perimeter flange. 
     
     
         17 . The carton of  claim 14 , wherein the hinged connection further comprises:
 a third structural element located along the cover perimeter rim and adjacent the first structural element, the third structural element comprising a projection, protrusion, or ridge extending outward from the cover perimeter rim; and   a fourth structural element located along the base perimeter rim and adjacent the second structural element, the fourth structural element comprising an indention, depression, channel, or recess defined into the base perimeter rim;   wherein the third structural element is configured to be at least partially received within the fourth structural element when the cover portion is rotated about the hinge axis into the closed position relative to the base portion.   
     
     
         18 . A clamshell-style carton comprising:
 a base portion having a base rear sidewall portion and a base perimeter rim and a base perimeter flange provided along an outer end of the base rear sidewall portion;   a cover portion having a cover rear sidewall portion and a cover perimeter rim and a cover perimeter flange provided along an outer end of the cover rear sidewall portion, wherein the cover perimeter flange and the base perimeter flange are connected together;   a hinge line provided between the base perimeter flange and the cover perimeter flange, wherein the hinge line provides a bending axis about which the cover portion rotates relative to the base portion;   a plurality of base hinge tabs extending outward from the base perimeter flange;   a plurality of cover hinge tabs extending outward from the cover perimeter flange, wherein each of the plurality of cover hinge tabs is connected to a corresponding base hinge tab of the plurality of based hinge tabs along the hinge line;   a plurality of first structural elements provided along a length of the cover perimeter flange, wherein each first structural element comprises a recessed channel defined into the cover perimeter flange;   a plurality of second structural elements provided along a length of the base perimeter flange, wherein each second structural element comprises a raised ridge extending away from the base perimeter flange;   a plurality of third structural elements provided along a length of the cover perimeter rim, wherein each third structural element comprises a raised ridge extending away from the cover perimeter rim; and   a plurality of fourth structural elements provided along a length of the base perimeter rim, wherein each fourth structural element comprises a recessed channel defined into the base perimeter rim;   wherein the plurality of second structural elements are configured to be at least partially received in the plurality of first structural elements and the plurality of third structural elements are configured to be at least partially received in the plurality of fourth structural elements when the cover portion of the carton is rotated about the hinge line to overlay the base portion of the carton.   
     
     
         19 . The carton of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of first structural elements are spaced apart along the length of the cover perimeter flange, wherein the plurality of second structural elements are spaced apart along the length of the base perimeter flange, wherein the plurality of third structural elements are spaced apart along the length of the cover perimeter rim, and wherein the plurality of fourth structural elements are spaced apart along the length of the base perimeter rim. 
     
     
         20 . The carton of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of third structural elements are aligned with the plurality of first structural elements, and wherein the plurality of second structural elements are aligned with the plurality of fourth structural elements.