Patent Publication Number: US-7581656-B2

Title: One-piece box-shaped container with large label wrap surface

Description:
The present disclosure relates to a one-piece box-shaped plastic container, and more particularly to a child-resistant package in which the container has a large continuous label-wrap surface. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an economical box-shaped container for tablets or the like in which the container is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction and has a large continuous surface for application of a wrap-around label. 
   The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other. 
   A container in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a base and a lid interconnected by a hinge and being of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. The container base is of generally rectangular outline having a back wall to which the hinge is connected, a front wall, opposite sidewalls and an open end. The front wall is connected to the back wall opposite the open end by a continuously curving end wall so that the front wall, the back wall and the continuously curving end wall form a continuous surface for application of a label to the front wall, the back wall and the continuously curving end wall. The sidewalls have flat coplanar edges opposite the open end and adjacent to the continuously curving end wall to permit the container to be stood on end with the open end facing upwardly. The container preferably includes a child-resistant latch having a first latch element on the lid opposite the hinge and a second latch element on the front wall of the container base adjacent to the open end and opposite the hinge. A continuous label may be applied to the front wall, the back wall and the continuously curving end wall of the container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages, and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the package in  FIG. 1  stood on the lid; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container in the package in  FIG. 1  with the lid open; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the container in  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The drawings illustrate a package  10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as including a container  11  having a generally rectangular base  12  and a lid  14  connected to the base by an integral laterally extending hinge  16 . Container base  12  is generally rectangular in outline having a front wall  18 , a back wall  20 , opposed sidewalls  22 , 24  and an open end  26 . Sidewalls  22 , 24  have coplanar edges  28 , 30  opposite open end  26  to permit the container to be stood on end with lid  14  open ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) or closed ( FIG. 1 ). Front wall  18  is connected to back wall  20  opposite open end  26  by a continuously curving end wall  32  between edges  28 , 30  of sidewalls  22 , 24 . Continuously curving end wall  32  permits a large wrap-around label  33  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  6 ) to be applied from front wall  18  around end wall  32  onto back wall  20 . 
   Lid  14  is generally flat to permit package  10  to be stood on the lid when the lid is closed, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Lid  14  is generally rectangular, following the rectangular outline of container  12 , and has a generally linear edge connected to a generally linear edge of back wall  20  by laterally extending hinge  16 . Hinge  16  preferably is continuous, but could be segmented. Lid  14  has a continuous peripheral wall  34  that abuts the edges of front wall  18 , back wall  20  and sidewalls  22 ,  24  that form the continuous generally rectangular planer edge of the container base  12  around open end  26 . A continuous flange  38  extends from wall  34  and is received within open end  26  of container  12  when the lid is closed, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . There preferably is a continuous internal angulated sealing surface  36  that extends around the open end of container base  12 . Sealing flange  38  preferably has an angulated surface  40  for sealing engagement with surface  36  in the closed position of lid  14  over the open end of container base  12 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , end wall  32  preferably is disposed adjacent to but beneath the plane of sidewall edges  28 ,  30  so as not to interfere with standing the container on end. Sidewalls  18 ,  20  preferably are substantially flat and preferably angle toward each other between open end  26  and end wall  32 . Sidewalls  18 ,  20  may be slightly curved if desired. There preferably are no abrupt changes in the geometry of the wrap-around surface provided by front wall  18 , back wall  20  and end wall  32  that would interfere with application of wrap-around label  33 . Label  33  typically would be applied to container  11  to from package  10  by a product packager before or after filing container  11  with product. However, label  33  could be applied by the container manufacturer. 
   A child-resistant latch  42  preferably is provided between lid  14  and container base  12  opposite hinge  16 . Latch  42  preferably includes a latch arm  44  that extends from lid  14  opposite hinge  16  and a slot  46  on container  12  at open end  26  opposite hinge  16 . Latch arm  44  preferably extends from a tab  48  having a leg  50  that cantilevers tab  48  from the front edge of lid  14  (i.e, the edge of lid  14  opposite hinge  16  at the back edge of the lid). Latch arm  44  has an end lug  52  with an external cam surface  54 . Slot  46  preferably is provided as a gap between front wall  18  of container  12  and a strap  56  that extends along front wall  18  at the open end of the container. As lid  14  is closed, cam surface  54  of latch arm  44  engages the upper inside edge of strap  56  and cams latch arm  44  into slot  46 . Lug  52  catches beneath strap  56  to lock the lid closed. To open the lid, tab  48  is pushed inwardly against the resilient force supplied by leg  50  until lug  52  clears strap  56 , at which point tab  48  can be pushed upwardly to open the lid. Package  10 , including lid  14 , container  12  and hinge  16 , preferably is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. 
   There thus has been disclosed a container that fully satisfies all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.