Thermoformed package with insert

Abstract

A container is formed in a blank having two body halves interconnected by a hinge. The container body is at least partially clear to allow inspection of an article held in the interior and an optional insert member is sized to nest within one of the body halves. The container optionally includes an integrally formed carrying handle. Empty containers are nested to minimize shipping space. Each container optionally includes stack-stabilizing structure so that plural containers may be stacked into stable stacks, and any selected container may be easily removed from the stack. The inventive container protects articles held therein during shipping and storage, and displays the articles both before and after sale.

1 . A thermoformed container, comprising: 
 a container base;    a container lid, said container lid sized to matingly engage the container base in a closed position to define an interior space configured for receiving an article;    a hinge interconnecting the container base to the container lid to allow the lid to be selectively moved from a closed position in which the lid engages the base to an open position in which the lid disengages the base;    an insert nested in the container base.    
   
   
       2 . The container according to  claim 1  in which the container base is clear and the insert is printed with indicia.  
   
   
       3 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein an indicia carrying space is defined between the container base and the insert.  
   
   
       4 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the container base defines bottom and rear panels, the container lid defines top and front panels, and the hinge interconnects the rear panel of the base to the top panel of the lid at an upper edge of said rear panel and a rear edge of said top panel.  
   
   
       5 . The container according to  claim 4  wherein the top panel defines a top panel plane, the back panel defines a back panel plane, and the hinge lies completely within the intersection between said top and back panel planes.  
   
   
       6 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the container base and container lid are clear and the insert is opaque.  
   
   
       7 . The container according to  claim 1  including means for retaining the insert nested in the container base.  
   
   
       8 . A thermoformed container, comprising: 
 a first container half;    a second container half, said first and second container halves cooperatively sized to matingly engage the one another in a closed position to define an interior space configured for receiving an article;    a hinge interconnecting the first and second container halves to allow relative selectively movement between the halves to open and close the container;    a removable insert in the first or second container half and said insert configured to conform to the said container half.    
   
   
       9 . The container according to  claim 8  including means for retaining said insert in said first or second container.  
   
   
       10 . The container according to  claim 9  wherein said means for retaining said insert in said first or second container comprises interlocking tabs and recesses formed on respective mating portions of said first or second container halves and said insert.  
   
   
       11 . The container according to  claim 8  wherein said insert is received in first container half and wherein said first container half is clear and said insert has indicia printed on a surface thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The container according to  claim 11  wherein said insert is opaque.  
   
   
       13 . The container according to  claim 8  wherein an indicia carrying space is defined between said insert and said first or second container half, and including media having indicia printed thereon is received in said space.  
   
   
       14 . The container according to  claim 13  wherein the first container half defines a base having bottom and rear panels, the second container half defines a lid having top and front panels, and the hinge interconnects the rear panel of the base to the top panel of the lid at an upper edge of said rear panel and a rear edge of said top panel.  
   
   
       15 . The container according to  claim 14  wherein the top panel defines a top panel plane, the back panel defines a back panel plane, and the hinge lies completely within the intersection between said top and back panel planes.  
   
   
       16 . Method of providing information to consumers about an article held in a container, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) packaging the article in a container defined by a clear container base, and a container lid, said container lid sized to matingly engage the container base in a closed position to define an interior space configured for receiving the article, and a hinge interconnecting the container base to the container lid to allow the lid to be selectively moved from a closed position in which the lid engages the base to an open position in which the lid disengages the base;    printing on an insert piece written indicia comprising information about the article and inserting the insert piece into the container base, said insert base sized to nest within said container base.