Container having snap fit closure

Abstract

A container having first and second parts and having snap fit closure for holding contents therein. The first part has a trim extending outwardly along a perimeter of the first part and a first tab extending outwardly from the trim at a first side of the first part and the first part has a second tab extending outwardly from the trim at a second side of the first part; and a second part has a rim extending around its perimeter, the second part defining a first opening at the rim at a first side of the second part, the second part defining a second opening at the rim at a second side of the second part. The first tab is received in the first opening and the second tab is received in the second opening thereby providing a snap fit closure between the first part and the second part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding contents therein, the container comprising:
 a first part comprising a trim extending outwardly along a perimeter of the first part, the first part also comprising a first tab extending outwardly from the trim at a first side of the first part and the first part also comprising a second tab extending outwardly from the trim at a second side of the first part, wherein the second side of the first part is opposite to the first side of the first part; and   a second part comprising a rim extending around its perimeter, the second part defining a first opening at the rim at a first side of the second part, the second part defining a second opening at the rim at a second side of the second part, wherein the second side of the second part is opposite to the first side of the second part,   wherein the first tab is configured to be received in the first opening and the second tab is configured to be received in the second opening thereby providing a snap fit closure between the first part and the second part.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first part is a base and the second part is a lid. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first part is a lid and the second part is a base. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening, the second opening, or both is a slot. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening, the second opening, or both has an oblong shape, a circular shape, a semi-circular shape, a polygonal shape, an asymmetrical shape, or other geometrical shape. 
     
     
         6 . A container for holding contents therein, the container comprising:
 a base comprising a trim extending outwardly along a perimeter of the base, the base also comprising a first tab extending outwardly from the trim at a first side of the base and the base also comprising a second tab extending outwardly from the trim at a second side of the base, wherein the second side of the base is opposite to the first side of the base; and   a lid comprising a rim extending around its perimeter, the lid defining a first opening at the rim at a first side of the lid, the lid defining a second opening at the rim at a second side of the lid, wherein the second side of the lid is opposite to the first side of the lid,   wherein the first tab is configured to be received in the first opening and the second tab is configured to be received in the second opening thereby providing a snap fit closure between the base and the lid.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the first opening, the second opening, or both is a slot. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the first opening, the second opening, or both has an oblong shape, a circular shape, a semi-circular shape, a polygonal shape, an asymmetrical shape, or other geometrical shape. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, pulp, paper, fiber, metal, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, pulp, paper, fiber, metal, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the fiber is a molded fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber is a molded fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid comprises a renewable, compostable, or recycled material. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a renewable, compostable, or recycled material. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the second tab is oversized relative to the second opening so that, when the second tab is received in the second opening, the second tab extends through the second opening and past an outer surface of the rim of the lid. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a first plurality of tabs including the first tab extending outwardly from the trim at the first side of the base, the base comprises a second plurality of tabs including the second tab extending outwardly from the trim at the second side of the base, the lid defines a first plurality of openings including the first opening at the rim at the first side of the lid, and the lid defines a second plurality of openings including the second opening at the rim at the second side of the lid. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid has rounded corners. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base has rounded corners. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the first opening, the second opening, or both is positioned at one of the rounded corners. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid further comprises a third opening. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the lid defines the third opening at the rim at a third side of the lid, the lid defines a fourth opening at the rim at a fourth side of the lid, the third side of the lid is opposite to the fourth side of the lid, the base comprises a third tab extending outwardly from the trim at a third side of the base, the base comprises a fourth tab extending outwardly from the trim at a fourth side of the base, the fourth side of the base is opposite to the third side of the base, the third tab is configured to be received in the third opening, and the fourth tab is configured to be received in the fourth opening. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the lid has a third side with no openings defined at the third side, the lid has a fourth side with no openings defined at the fourth side, the base has a third side with no tabs defined at the third side, and the base has a fourth side with no tabs defined at the fourth side. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the lid has two openings defined at the first side of the lid and one opening defined at the second side of the lid, and wherein the base comprises two tabs at the first side of the base and one tab at the second side of the base. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the container is configured to form a seal or locking when in a closed state, with the container being in a closed state when the first tab is received in the first opening and when the second tab is received in the second opening. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the seal or the locking is configured to reduce leakage of the material from the container. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the container is configured to hold food therein. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a first handle configured to be grasped to assist in separating the base from the lid. 
     
     
         30 . A container for holding contents therein, the container comprising:
 a base comprising a rim extending around a perimeter of the base, the base defining a first opening at the rim at a first side of the base, the base defining a second opening at the rim at a second side of the base, wherein the second side of the base is opposite to the first side of the base; and   a lid comprising a trim extending outwardly along a perimeter of the lid, the lid also comprising a first tab extending outwardly from the trim at a first side of the lid and the lid also comprising a second tab extending outwardly from the trim at a second side of the lid, wherein the second side of the lid is opposite to the first side of the lid; and   wherein the first tab is configured to be received in the first opening and the second tab is configured to be received in the second opening.   
     
     
         31 . A container for holding contents therein, the container comprising:
 a lid comprising a rim extending around a perimeter of the lid, the lid defining a first opening at the rim at a first side of the lid, the lid defining a second opening at the rim at a second side of the lid, wherein the second side of the lid is opposite to the first side of the lid; and   a base comprising a trim extending outwardly along a perimeter of the base, the base also comprising a first tab extending outwardly from the trim at a first side of the base and the base also comprising a second tab extending outwardly from the trim at a second side of the base, wherein the second side of the base is opposite to the first side of the base; and   wherein the first tab is configured to be received in the first opening and the second tab is configured to be received in the second opening.