Transparent egg carton

Abstract

The present invention provides an egg carton having a tray having a first row of a first plurality of spaced egg compartments and a second row of a second plurality of spaced egg compartments, the first row of egg compartments being disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the second row of egg compartments; a plurality of spaced tower elements extending along a centerline of the tray and extending vertically from a plane of the tray, each tower element having four egg contacting surfaces; a plurality of spaced post elements extending along a front edge of the tray and extending vertically from a plane of the tray, each post element having two egg contacting surfaces; and a lid hingedly connected along a rear edge of the tray and movable from an open condition to a closed condition.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An egg carton comprising:
 a tray having a first row of a first plurality of spaced egg compartments and a second row of a second plurality of spaced egg compartments, the first row of egg compartments being disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the second row of egg compartments;   a plurality of spaced tower elements extending along a centerline of the tray and extending vertically from a plane of the tray, each tower element having four egg contacting surfaces;   a plurality of spaced post elements extending along a front edge of the tray and extending vertically from a plane of the tray, each post element having two egg contacting surfaces; and   a lid hingedly connected along a rear edge of the tray and movable from an open condition to a closed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The egg carton of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of post elements is aligned with each of the plurality of tower elements. 
     
     
         3 . The egg carton of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of egg compartments and the second plurality of egg compartments comprises at least two egg compartments. 
     
     
         4 . The egg carton of  claim 1  wherein the post elements are positioned between adjacent egg compartments of the first plurality of egg compartments. 
     
     
         5 . The egg carton of  claim 1  wherein one of each of the two egg contacting surfaces of the post elements form a portion of each of two adjacent egg compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The egg carton of  claim 1  further comprising a first button tab on a first post element and a first mating button surface on the lid, wherein when the egg carton is in the closed condition the first button tab is positioned in the first mating button surface to releasably interlock the lid to the tray. 
     
     
         7 . The egg carton of  claim 6  wherein the first mating button surface is an indentation in the lid or a through hole in the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The egg carton of  claim 6  further comprising a second button tab on a second post element and a second mating button surface on the lid spaced from the first mating button surface, wherein when the egg carton is in the closed condition the second button tab is positioned in the second button surface to releasably interlock the lid to the tray. 
     
     
         9 . The egg carton of  claim 8  wherein the second mating button surface is an indentation in the lid or a through hole in the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The egg carton of  claim 8  further comprising a third button tab on a third post element positioned between the first post element and the second post element and a third mating button surface on the lid positioned between the first mating button surface and the second mating button surface and wherein when the egg carton is in the closed condition the third button tab is positioned in the third mating button surface. 
     
     
         11 . The egg carton of  claim 8  wherein the first button tab comprises a flange extending outwardly from a portion of the first post element and having a downwardly facing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The egg carton of  claim 11  wherein the downwardly facing surface has a groove dimensioned to releasably retain the first mating tab surface. 
     
     
         13 . The egg carton of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of spaced supports positioned along a rear edge of the tray that extend vertically from a plane of the tray. 
     
     
         14 . The egg carton of  claim 13  wherein each support of the plurality of supports have two egg contacting surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The egg carton of  claim 13  wherein one of each of the plurality of supports is in alignment with one of each of the plurality of tower elements. 
     
     
         16 . The egg carton of  claim 13  wherein the supports are positioned between two adjacent egg compartments of the second plurality of egg compartments. 
     
     
         17 . The egg carton of  claim 13  wherein the tower elements extend a first vertical distance from a plane of the tray, the post elements extend a second vertical distance from the plane and the supports extend a third vertical distance wherein the first vertical distance is greater than the second vertical distance and the third vertical distance. 
     
     
         18 . The egg carton of  claim 17  wherein the second vertical distance is greater than the third vertical distance. 
     
     
         19 . The egg carton of  claim 1  further comprising a gutter extending from the front edge of the tray and dimensioned to releasably retain a portion of the lid when in the closed condition.