Interlocking storage carton

Abstract

A food container includes an inner receptacle and an outer sleeve. The inner receptacle and the outer sleeve are slidably engaged to contain a food item within the container. The container has a locking mechanism that engages the inner receptacle with the outer sleeve to prevent the container from accidentally sliding open. The outer sleeve folds into a flat position so that the outer sleeve may be stored in a small space.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container comprising: 
 an inner receptacle having a bottom portion and at least one wall; and    an outer sleeve having a top portion and a bottom portion, the outer sleeve being movable between a collapsed position in which the top portion and the bottom portion of the outer sleeve are in close proximity to one another and an assembled position in which the top portion and the bottom portion of the outer sleeve are positioned a distance apart from one another; the outer sleeve being sized and shaped to slide over the inner receptacle when the outer sleeve is in the assembled position.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner receptacle has a generally triangular shape.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the inner receptacle has a front wall, two side walls and a back wall.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  additionally comprising a lip portion extending from the front wall of the inner receptacle.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve has a right side wall and a left side wall, the right and left side walls each having a pleat.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the outer sleeve is folded along the pleats when the outer sleeve is in the collapsed position.  
     
     
         7 . The container as in  claim 1 , wherein said outer removable sleeve is formed from a single piece of material.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the outer sleeve comprises a first flap and a second flap, the flaps being connected to one another.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner receptacle has a back wall with a flap extending from the back wall and the outer sleeve includes a slot opening.  
     
     
         10 . A container comprising an inner tray having a bottom portion, a plurality of side walls and an open top, and a sleeve member, the sleeve member being foldable between a use position and a storage position, the sleeve member being substantially flat when in the storage position and forming a cavity into which the inner receptacle can be inserted when in the use position.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the inner tray is shaped like a wedge.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve member is shaped like a wedge.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve member has a bottom portion comprising two flaps connected to one another.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve member in use position includes a top portion, a bottom portion and two side walls.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein each side wall has a fold line which runs generally parallel to the top portion and the bottom portion.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve member is folded along the fold lines of the side walls in the storage position so that the top portion and the bottom portion are in close proximity.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1  additionally comprising an engagement mechanism to hold the inner receptacle within the cavity of the sleeve member.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a top portion of the sleeve member and a lip protruding from a front wall of the inner receptacle past the top portion of the sleeve member.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a slot engagement mechanism.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a flap extending from a back end of the inner receptacle and a slot opening in the top portion of the sleeve member.  
     
     
         21 . A method of assembling a food carton involving: 
 unfolding an outer sleeve from a substantially flat position; and    sliding the outer sleeve over a food receptacle.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein unfolding the outer sleeve involves squeezing the outer sleeve along fold lines on side walls of the sleeve.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein squeezing the outer sleeve is accomplished with one hand.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein sliding the outer sleeve over a food receptacle involves sliding the outer sleeve over a food receptacle until a locking mechanism is engaged.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the locking mechanism is engaged when a protruding lip located at the front of the food receptacle slides past a front portion of the outer sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . The method of claims  24 , wherein the locking mechanism is engaged by inserting a flap at a backend of the food receptacle into a slot opening of the outer sleeve.