Carton with common tray-cover components

A folding carton formed of a pair of identical, nestable, hingeable, interlockable, tray-like body-cover components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to paperboard cartons and more 
particularly to a two-piece tray-type carton formed from separate but 
identical tray-shaped components which may be joined together in both 
hinged and latchable relationships. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A prior art search in the United States Patent and Trademark Office 
directed to the subject matter of this application disclosed the following 
U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 219,132; Des. 222,786; Des. 225,512; Des. 230,569; 
Des. 236,692; Des. 241,820; Des. 241,821; Des. 241,822; Des. 244,833; Des. 
245,579; Des. 256,097; Des. 263,684; Des. 263,798; 265,589; 1,251,921; 
1,367,356; 1,950,934; 2,771,986; 2,898,028; 2,917,218; 3,013,711; 
3,038,650; 3,315,796; 3,338,468; 3,412,888; 3,511,433; 3,576,271; 
3,827,624;* 3,876,130; 3,968,921; 3,968,922; 4,013,214; 4,132,344; 
4,143,805; 4,226,358; 4,266,713* 4,232,816; 4,294,371; 4,360,147. 
None of the prior art patents uncovered in the search discloses a tray-type 
container and a cover formed from two identical, nestable, hingeable, 
interlockable components. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a folding carton having 
separate tray and cover members which may be hingedly attached to each 
other and also joined to each other in latchable relationship. 
A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a carton of 
the type described, of separate components which are identical and can be 
used to form either the tray or cover portions of the carton. 
Another specific object of the invention is to provide a combination 
body-cover component that is completely nestable and stackable with 
similar components. 
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an 
examination of the following description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention 
it will be seen that the novel carton, indicated at C in FIGS. 6-8, may be 
formed from a pair of identical combination body-cover members, indicated 
generally at TL. 
Each of the body-cover members TL may be formed from a unitary blank B of 
foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, illustrated in FIG. 1. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that each body-cover 
component TL includes a generally rectangular main panel 8 having a pair 
of end panels 10 foldably joined on fold lines 11 to end edges thereof. 
Each of the end panels 10 is provided at opposite ends thereof with corner 
flaps 12 which are foldably joined to the end edges thereof, along fold 
lines 13, and adapted to be adhesively secured to adjacent portions of 
respective side panels. 
Also, joined to the front and rear side edges of main panel 8 on fold lines 
15 and 17, respectively, are a pair of first and second side panels 14 and 
16. 
Second side panel 16 is provided with a locking flap 18 which is foldably 
joined to the upper edge of second side panel 16 along spaced fold lines 
19a. Intermediate the fold lines 19a there is a cut line 19b which forms a 
slit 19 between the flap and the panel. The purpose of the slit is 
described later in the specification. 
It will be noted that cut line 19b is bowed toward panel 16 to form a 
projection or lock tongue 20, the purpose of which is also described later 
in the specification. 
Turning now to first side panel 14, it will be seen that the central 
portion thereof has an upwardly extending projection 22 which is provided 
with a slit or hole 23. Adjacent the hole there are a pair of downwardly 
converging slits 25 which define therebetween a lock tab 26. 
It will be understood that, because of the sloping side and end panels of 
the carton components TL, they may be stacked or nested one inside the 
other to occupy a minimum amount of space. 
Also, by providing a carton formed from identical components the number of 
problems associated with the inventory of components is greatly reduced. 
In assemblying the carton, as best seen in FIGS. 3-6, the hinge connection 
is formed first. This is accomplished by passing first side panel 
projection 22 through slit 19 in locking flap 18 and then bending over the 
locking flap until lock tongue 20 extends through opening 23 in extension 
22. At this point the carton is in the form of a tray with a hinged cover, 
as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. 
In order to provide an interlockable or latchable connection between the 
other sides of the carton components, projection 22 on the cover is passed 
through the slit 19 in the locking flap 18 of the body, and then the 
locking flap is rotated upwardly until lock tongue 20 extends into the 
opening 23 in front of lock tab 26. Thus, there is provided a positive 
hinging arrangement and a positive latching arrangement between two 
identical components.