Container for holding a food product or the like

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a container for holding a food product or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a folded paperboard or corrugated container or the like having automatically interlocking bottom flaps that provide the container with improved structural integrity and weight carrying ability when assembled.

1 . A container configured to selectively hold a food product or the like, comprising:
 a plurality of side/intermediate walls that are configured to be selectively folded together and assembled to form a prismatic structure; and   a plurality of bottom flaps that are one or more of connected to and integrally formed with, and that fold with respect to, the plurality of side/intermediate walls to also form the prismatic structure;   wherein selected bottom flaps include a hook feature and selected bottom flaps include a corresponding slot feature; and   wherein, when the container is assembled/expanded, the hook features automatically engage the corresponding slot features to provide integrity to the prismatic structure.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of side/intermediate walls define a handle. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the hook features comprises a recess manufactured into an edge of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the slot features comprises a cut-away structure manufactured into a central portion of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the slot features comprises a relief structure manufactured into a central portion of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       6 . A method for providing a container configured to selectively hold a food product or the like, comprising:
 providing a plurality of side/intermediate walls that are configured to be selectively folded together and assembled to form a prismatic structure; and   providing a plurality of bottom flaps that are one or more of connected to and integrally formed with, and that fold with respect to, the plurality of side/intermediate walls to also form the prismatic structure;   wherein selected bottom flaps include a hook feature and selected bottom flaps include a corresponding slot feature; and   wherein, when the container is assembled/expanded, the hook features automatically engage the corresponding slot features to provide integrity to the prismatic structure.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein one or more of the plurality of side/intermediate walls define a handle. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the hook features comprises a recess manufactured into an edge of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the slot features comprises a cut-away structure manufactured into a central portion of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       10 . The method of claim,  6 , wherein each of the slot features comprises a relief structure manufactured into a central portion of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       11 . A container configured to selectively hold a food product or the like, comprising:
 a plurality of side/intermediate walls that are configured to be selectively folded together and assembled to form a prismatic structure; and   a plurality of bottom flaps that are one or more of connected to and integrally formed with, and that fold with respect to, the plurality of side/intermediate walls to also form the prismatic structure;   wherein selected bottom flaps include a hook feature and selected bottom flaps include a corresponding slot feature;   wherein, when the container is assembled/expanded, the hook features automatically engage the corresponding slot features to provide integrity to the prismatic structure; and   wherein the hook features resist disengagement from the corresponding slot features.   
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the plurality of side/intermediate walls define a handle. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the hook features comprises a recess manufactured into an edge of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the slot features comprises a cut-away structure manufactured into a central portion of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the slot features comprises a relief structure manufactured into a central portion of the corresponding bottom flap. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein selected bottom flaps include a foldable portion.