Molded container

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a molded container having an upper lid portion and configured to overlay and be securely coupled to a lower tray portion so as to substantially enclose objects between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion. The molded container includes a plurality of standoffs positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion to maintain a desired displacement between the top surface of the upper lid portion and a bottom extremity of the lower tray portion. The molded container includes a multi-angle seal adapted to facilitate the secure coupling of the upper lid portion to the lower tray portion. The multi-angle seal includes surfaces to provide a resistive force when are the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced together, forced in opposite directions, and forced in opposite directions.

1 . A molded container comprising: 
 a lower tray portion;    an upper lid portion, the upper lid portion being configured to overlay and be securely coupled to the lower tray portion so as to substantially enclose objects positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion; and    one or more standoffs positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion to maintain a desired displacement between the a top surface of the upper lid portion and a bottom extremity of the lower tray portion, wherein each of the one or more standoffs providing a friction coupling adapted to minimize movement of the upper lid portion relative to the lower tray portion.    
   
   
       2 . The molded container of  claim 1 , wherein the lower tray portion is adapted to at least partially enclose objects positioned therein.  
   
   
       3 . The molded container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more standoffs comprise a first member and a second member.  
   
   
       4 . The molded container of  claim 3 , wherein the first member of the standoff is coupled to the upper lid portion.  
   
   
       5 . The molded container of  claim 4 , wherein the second member of the standoff is coupled to the lower tray portion.  
   
   
       6 . The molded container of  claim 5 , wherein the first member is adapted to be coupled to t he second member to provide a friction coupling.  
   
   
       7 . The molded container of  claim 6 , wherein the friction coupling comprises a snap coupling.  
   
   
       8 . The molded container of  claim 1 , wherein the molded container is manufactured utilizing a thermoplastic molding technology.  
   
   
       9 . A molded container comprising: 
 a lower tray portion, the lower tray portion being configured to at least partially enclose objects positioned therein;    an upper lid portion, the upper lid portion being configured to overlay and be securely coupled to the lower tray portion so as to substantially enclose objects positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion; and    one or more standoffs positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion to maintain a desired displacement between the a top surface of the upper lid portion and a bottom extremity of the lower tray portion, each of the one or more standoffs comprising a first and second member which providing a snap-coupling adapted to minimize lateral movement of the upper lid portion relative to the lower tray portion while preventing inadvertent separation of the upper lid portion from the lower tray portion.    
   
   
       10 . The molded container of  claim 9 , wherein the lower tray portion includes a plurality of enclosure rows.  
   
   
       11 . The molded container of  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure rows are configured to hold cookies.  
   
   
       12 . The molded container of  claim 11 , wherein the lower tray portion includes three enclosure rows.  
   
   
       13 . The molded container of  claim 12 , wherein each of the three enclosure rows is configured to hold eight cookies.  
   
   
       14 . The molded container of  claim 9 , wherein the first member of the standoff includes an annular ridge and an insertion neck.  
   
   
       15 . The molded container of  claim 14 , wherein the second member of the standoff includes a securement void.  
   
   
       16 . The molded container of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the annular ridge and the insertion neck are positioned in the securement void to couple the first member to the second member.  
   
   
       17 . A molded container comprising: 
 a lower tray portion;    an upper lid portion, the upper lid portion being configured to overlay and be securely coupled to the lower tray portion so as to substantially enclose objects positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion; and    a multi-angle seal adapted to facilitate the selective coupling of the upper lid portion and the lower tray portion, wherein at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced together, at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced in opposite directions, and wherein at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides resistive force to minimize lateral movement of the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion relative to one another.    
   
   
       18 . The multi-angle seal of  claim 17 , wherein the multi-angle seal is formed from at least a portion of the perimeter of the upper lid portion.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-angle seal of  claim 18 , wherein the multi-angle seal is formed from at least a portion of the perimeter of the lower tray portion.  
   
   
       20 . The multi-angle seal of  claim 19 , wherein the multi-angle seal comprises a first member and a second member.  
   
   
       21 . The multi-angle seal of  claim 20 , wherein the first member and the second member cooperatively interact to prevent inadvertent separation of the upper lid portion from the lower tray portion.  
   
   
       22 . The multi-angle seal of  claim 20 , wherein the first member includes at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced together, at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced in opposite directions, and wherein at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides resistive force to minimize lateral movement of the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion relative to one another  
   
   
       23 . The multi-angle seal of  claim 20 , wherein the second member includes at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced together, at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced in opposite directions, and wherein at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides resistive force to minimize lateral movement of the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion relative to one another.  
   
   
       24 . A molded container comprising: 
 a lower tray portion, the lower tray portion being configured to at least partially enclose objects positioned therein;    an upper lid portion, the upper lid portion being configured to overlay and be securely coupled to the lower tray portion so as to substantially enclose objects positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion; and    a multi-angle seal adapted to facilitate the secure coupling of the upper lid portion and the lower tray portion, the multi-angle seal being formed from at least a portion of the perimeter of the upper lid portion and at least a portion of the perimeter of the lower tray portion, wherein at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced together, at least one surface of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced in opposite directions, and wherein at least one angle of the multi-angle seal provides resistive force to minimize lateral movement of the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion relative to one another.    
   
   
       25 . The molded container of  claim 24 , wherein the multi-angle seal comprises a first member and a second member.  
   
   
       26 . The molded container of  claim 25 , wherein the first member includes a compression sealing surface, a tension sealing surface, and a lateral sealing surface.  
   
   
       27 . The molded container of  claim 26 , wherein the second member includes a compression sealing surface, a tension sealing surface, and a lateral sealing surface.  
   
   
       28 . The molded container of  claim 27 , wherein the compression sealing surface of the first member engages the compression sealing surface of the second member, the tension sealing surface of the first member engages the tension sealing surface of the second member, and the lateral sealing surface of the first member engages the lateral sealing surface of the second member.  
   
   
       29 . The molded container of  claim 28 , wherein one or more of the sealing surfaces of the first and second member comprise transverse surface that provide a combination of resistance to lateral forces and either compressive forces or tensile forces.  
   
   
       30 . The molded container of  claim 25 , wherein the first member includes a first transverse compression sealing surface, a first perpendicular surface, a transverse tension sealing surface, a second perpendicular surface, a second transverse compression sealing surface, a top surface, and a third transverse sealing surface.  
   
   
       31 . The molded container of  claim 25 , wherein the second member includes a first transverse compression sealing surface, a first perpendicular surface, a transverse tension sealing surface, a second perpendicular surface, a second transverse compression sealing surface, a top surface, and a third transverse sealing surface.  
   
   
       32 . The molded container of  claim 24 , wherein the molded container provides an air tight seal.  
   
   
       33 . A molded container comprising: 
 a lower tray portion, the lower tray portion being configured to at least partially enclose objects positioned therein;    an upper lid portion, the upper lid portion being configured to overlay and be securely coupled to the lower tray portion so as to substantially enclose objects positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion;    one or more standoffs positioned between the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion to maintain a desired displacement between the a top surface of the upper lid portion and a bottom extremity of the lower tray portion, wherein each of the one or more standoffs comprise a first and second member which providing a snap-coupling adapted to minimize lateral movement of the upper lid portion relative to the lower tray portion while preventing inadvertent separation of the upper lid portion from the lower tray portion; and    a multi-angle seal adapted to facilitate the secure coupling of the upper lid portion and the lower tray portion, the multi-angle seal being formed from at least a portion of the perimeter of the upper lid portion and at least a portion of the perimeter of the lower tray portion, wherein at least one angle of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced together, at least one angle of the multi-angle seal provides a resistive force when the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion are forced in opposite directions, and wherein at least one angle of the multi-angle seal provides resistive force to minimize lateral movement of the lower tray portion and the upper lid portion relative to one another.