Patent ID: 8328039
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A produce container, comprising: a basket portion, the basket portion comprising a base and four basket portion walls extending between the base and a basket portion peripheral lip, each basket portion wall being secured to each adjacent basket portion wall; a closure portion, the closure portion comprising a terminal rim and four closure portion walls extending between the terminal rim and a closure portion peripheral lip, each closure portion wall being secured to each adjacent closure portion wall; wherein the basket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip are hingedly secured to one another at respective rear edges thereof so that the basket portion and the closure portion are relatively movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which the basket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip are in registration with one another; and wherein: the basket portion peripheral lip has at least one tab projecting upwardly from a front edge thereof, each at least one tab including an outwardly extending locking projection; a front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip includes at least one receiving slot defined inwardly of an outer surface of the front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip for receiving a corresponding tab, each receiving slot extending into a collocated recess defined in the outer surface of the front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip and having a recess engagement surface; so that, when the basket portion and the closure portion are in the closed configuration, the at least one tab is received within the at least one corresponding receiving slot so that each respective locking projection extends into the respective recess and an engagement surface on the respective locking projection cooperates with the respective recess engagement surface to secure the container in the closed configuration, each respective locking projection terminating inwardly of the outer surface of the front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip and each tab terminating below an upper surface of the closure portion peripheral lip; further comprising a lid removably secured to the terminal rim; wherein the lid comprises: a substantially square, substantially planar covering portion having four edges; four spacing walls depending downwardly from the edges of the covering portion; each spacing wall continuing into an outwardly extending upper support surface which is substantially parallel to the covering portion so that there are four upper support surfaces, the four upper support surfaces being, collectively, co-extensive with an upper surface of the terminal rim of the produce container, each upper support surface having defined therein a plurality of downwardly extending upper engagement fingers; each upper support surface continuing into a substantially downwardly extending side wall so that there are four such side walls, the side walls terminating in a generally outwardly extending peripheral skirt, each side wall having a plurality of inwardly extending side wall engagement fingers; wherein: the upper engagement fingers are vertically spaced from the side wall engagement fingers by a distance corresponding to the vertical height of the terminal rim, and the lid is removably secured to the container by an interference fit of the terminal rim between the upper engagement fingers and the side wall engagement fingers.