Container for frangible items

Abstract

A container comprises a sheet of polymer formed into a base portion. The base portion has cavities for receiving frangible items. An intermediate cover portion has cavities for covering the frangible items. A first hinge rotates the intermediate cover portion onto the base portion to hold the frangible items captive. A top cover portion has at least one concavity. A second hinge rotates the top cover portion onto the intermediate cover portion to hold the base, intermediate and the top cover portions closed together. Flanges define peripheries of the base, intermediate and top cover portions. The intermediate peripheral flange has a cut-out at each corner of the intermediate cover portion defining a cut-out edge that is non-parallel to the longitudinal edges of the base portion, and has a dimension greater than a corresponding lateral flange portion of the top peripheral flange in a longitudinal dimension of the container.

1 . A container for receiving frangible items comprising:
 a sheet of polymer formed/cut into:
 a base portion having item receiving cavities for supporting frangible items, and a base peripheral flange defining a periphery of the base portion; 
 an intermediate cover portion having item covering cavities for covering the frangible items in the item receiving cavities, the intermediate cover portion having an intermediate peripheral flange defining a periphery of the intermediate cover portion; 
 a first hinge between a first longitudinal edge of the base portion and the intermediate cover portion for rotating the intermediate cover portion onto the base portion to hold the frangible items captive in sets of the item receiving cavities and item covering cavities; 
 a top cover portion having at least one concavity and a top peripheral flange defining a periphery of the top cover portion; 
 a second hinge between a second longitudinal edge of the base portion, and the top cover portion for rotating the top cover portion onto the intermediate cover portion to hold the base portion, the intermediate cover portion and the top cover portion closed together; 
 a cut-out in the intermediate peripheral flange at each corner of the intermediate cover portion away from the first hinge, each said cut-out defining a cut-out edge being non-parallel to the longitudinal edges and having a dimension greater than a corresponding lateral flange portion of the top peripheral flange in a longitudinal dimension of the container; and 
 strengthening protrusions in each said corner, inward of the intermediate peripheral flange and adjacent to a respective cut-out. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out edges are straight edges. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out edges are at an angle ranging between 10 degrees and 80 degrees from the respective lateral edges of the intermediate peripheral flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the cut-out edges are at an angle of 45 degrees from the respective lateral edges of the intermediate peripheral flanges. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the intersections of the cutout edges with a remainder of the intermediate peripheral flange are rounded. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of polymer is die-cut to define the cut-outs. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the frangible items are eggs, and each of the sets of egg receiving cavities and egg covering cavities receives one egg. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the strengthening protrusions are arched protrusions.