Damage resistant container and locking feature

Abstract

The invention encompasses packaging containers and locking features enabling damage resistant closed containers that are suitable for mechanized and automated closing and loading operations.

1 . A produce package comprising:
 a packaging container with a lid and a basket, both engageable to form a closed package;   the lid and basket each include a portion of a locking feature configured such that each portion of the locking feature can be engaged together to enable secure closure of the container; and   the locking feature comprising a receiving feature arranged at one of the lid or the basket and a complementary engagement member arranged at the other of the lid or the basket, such that when the lid is closed the engagement member engages with the receiving feature reversibly locking the container in a closed configuration,   the package configured such that,   the receiving feature includes a guide feature and a lock; and   the complementary lock engagement member includes a protrusion that is configured to mate with the receiving feature and engage with the lock to reversibly lock the container when closed.   
     
     
         2 . The produce package recited in  claim 1 , wherein,
 the locking feature includes a receiving feature and complementary lock engagement member;   the receiving feature comprises a recess arranged on the lid;   the complementary lock engagement member is arranged at upper portion of the basket and includes a protrusion that is configured to mate with and engage the recess in the lid to reversibly lock the container when closed.   
     
     
         3 . The produce package recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving feature is arranged at upper portion of the basket and includes a guide feature and the lock;
 the complementary lock engagement member is arranged on the lid and includes a protrusion that is configured to mate with the receiving feature and engage with the lock to reversibly lock the container when closed.   
     
     
         4 . The produce package recited in  claim 3 , wherein an upper portion of the basket comprises a substantially circumferential ridge feature and a lower portion of the lid comprises a substantially circumferential ridge feature, wherein the two ridge features are configured to engage one another when the container is closed and wherein said closing is assisted by the guiding of the complementary lock engagement member into position to engage the receiving feature and lock. 
     
     
         5 . The produce package recited in  claim 4 , wherein the guide feature is arranged in the inner sidewall of the first ridge. 
     
     
         6 . The produce package recited in  claim 3 , wherein the protrusion has a shaft portion that extends toward a tip arranged at a distal end of the protrusion, said tip including a flared portion that is wider than the shaft in at least one dimension; and
 wherein the guide feature comprises a pocket comprising a pocket sidewall that extends downward to a bottom of the pocket, the inside of the pocket having a neck and the lock comprises a bulge near the bottom of the pocket, the bulge being wider than the neck in at least one dimension and operating as the lock; and   and wherein the flared portion of the protrusion is wider than the neck in at least one dimension thereby functioning as the lock, such that when the container is closed the protrusion is guided into position by the guide feature of the of the receiving feature and the flared portion engages with the bulge reversibly locking the closed container.   
     
     
         7 . The produce package recited in  claim 3 , wherein the protrusion has a first width and wherein the lock comprises an orifice arranged to receive the protrusion and orifice is sized smaller than the protrusion in at least one dimension such that when the container is closed the protrusion reversibly engages the orifice in a press fit to reversibly lock the container in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The produce package recited in  claim 3 , wherein the receiving feature comprises a groove arranged at and extending around a substantial portion of the upper portion of the basket; and
 the protrusion of the complementary lock engagement member is arranged at and extending around a substantial portion of the lid and is configured to engage with the groove of the basket.   
     
     
         9 . The produce package recited in  claim 8 , wherein the guide feature of the receiving feature comprises at least one tapered sidewall of the groove arranged to enable ease of engagement with the protrusion of the lid;
 the protrusion having at least one tapered sidewall having a taper that is generally complementary to the taper of the groove sidewall and includes a locking tab suitable for engaging lock catch of the groove when the container is closed.   
     
     
         10 . The produce package recited in  claim 3 , wherein the guide feature of the receiving feature comprises at least one tapered sidewall; and
 the protrusion further comprises at least one tapered sidewall having a taper that is generally complementary to the taper of the guide feature and includes a locking tab suitable for engaging a locking catch of the receiving feature when the container is closed.   
     
     
         11 . The produce package recited in  claim 10  wherein the locking tab of the protrusion comprises a portion of a protrusion sidewall and is arranged to engage the catch when the container is closed. 
     
     
         12 . The produce package recited in  claim 11 , wherein the guide of the receiving feature comprises a plurality of tapered sidewalls; and
 the protrusion further comprises a plurality of tapered sidewalls; and   the locking tab of the protrusion comprises a portion of at least one of the plurality of sidewalls if the protrusion.   
     
     
         13 . A produce package comprising:
 a packaging container comprising a lid operatively attached with a basket with a hinge, both engageable to form a closed package;   the lid and basket each include a portion of a locking feature configured such that each portion of the locking feature can be engaged together to enable secure closure of the container; and   the locking feature comprising a receptacle arranged at one of the lid or the basket and a complementary projection arranged at the other of the lid or the basket, such that when the lid is closed the projection engages with the receptacle reversibly locking the container in a closed configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The produce package recited in  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle of the locking feature comprises a slot having an opening having a sidewall extending down to a bottom of the slot such that the sidewall tapers down from a wider opening to a narrower bottom portion and the projection having a wider base portion tapering down to distal tip portion wherein the tip portion is narrower than the opening in at least one dimension and wherein the projection is inserted into the receptacle to engage the feature. 
     
     
         15 . The produce package recited in  claim 14 , wherein the projection includes a sidewall that includes a locking tab and the slot sidewall includes a recess sized to engage the tab enabling securement of the locking feature when the container is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The produce package recited in  claim 15 , wherein the projection a flared out portion near the tip of the projection and the receptacle has a neck portion and an expanded bulge portion near a bottom of the receptacle the bulge being wider than the neck in at least one dimension, the flared out portion being wider than the neck enabling the flared out portion to engage the bulge one the flared out portion is moved past the neck further enabling further securement of the locking feature when the container is closed. 
     
     
         17 . The produce package recited in  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle has a guide feature than enables the complementary projection to be guided into position as the container is closed. 
     
     
         18 . The produce package recited in  claim 13 , wherein
 the projection includes a tip portion at an end of the projection configured such that the tip portion includes a flared end that is larger than a portion of the projection proximal to the tip portion,   the receptacle includes an end portion at a bottom of the receptacle configured such that the end portion includes a narrow neck portion expanding into a bulge that is wider than the neck at a portion of the receptacle closer to the bottom than the neck and wherein said neck is narrower in at least one dimension that the flared end of the projection; and   the locking feature is configured such that when the container is closed the flared end of the protrusion engages the bulge in the receptacle to lock the locking feature.   
     
     
         19 . The produce package recited in  claim 13 , wherein
 the projection includes a tip portion at a distal end of the projection,   the receptacle includes a neck portion proximal to a bottom of the receptacle, the neck sized such that when the projection and receptacle are engaged when the container is closed a press fit between the neck and the tip portion locking feature is engaged locking the container closed.   
     
     
         20 . A method of closing a produce packaging container, the method comprising:
 having a packaging container with a lid attached to a basket with a hinge, the lid and basket each include a portion of a locking feature configured such that each portion of the locking feature can be engaged together to enable secure closure of the container, the locking feature comprising a receptacle arranged at one of the lid or the basket and a complementary projection arranged at the other of the lid or the basket, such that when the lid is closed the projection engages with the receptacle reversibly locking the container in a closed configuration;   closing the lid onto the basket such that the operation of closing the lid comprises guiding the projection into position using a guide feature of the receptacle; and   reversibly locking the container in a closed configuration by engaging the complementary projection with the receptacle.