Egg container and a method of removing one or more eggs from said egg container

Abstract

An egg container is disclosed which includes a hollow receptacle having a pair of sidewalls connected to a first end wall, to a second end wall, and to a bottom wall. The hollow receptacle has an open top surrounded by a rim. The rim has a pair of folded flanges formed thereon, each of which extends along at least a portion of the length of each of the pair of sidewalls. The hollow receptacle is capable of holding multiple eggs in a stationary and spaced apart fashion. The egg container further includes a lid sized and shaped to slide between the pair of folded flanges and completely cover the open top of the hollow receptacle. A method of removing one or more eggs from the egg container is also taught.

1 . An egg container comprising:
 a) a hollow receptacle having a pair of sidewalls connected to a first end wall, to a second end wall, and to a bottom wall, said hollow receptacle having an open top surrounded by a rim, said rim having a pair of folded flanges formed thereon, each of which extends along at least a portion of the length of each of said pair of sidewalls, and said hollow receptacle capable of holding multiple eggs in a stationary and spaced apart fashion; and   b) a lid sized and shaped to slide between said pair of folded flanges and completely cover said open top of said receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The egg container of  claim 1  wherein said hollow receptacle is constructed from polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene terephthalate with glycol. 
     
     
         3 . The egg container of  claim 2  wherein said hollow receptacle is molded from polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of from between about 25 to about 35 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The egg container of  claim 1  wherein said pair of folded flanges is aligned parallel to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The egg container of  claim 1  wherein said open top of said hollow receptacle has a generally rectangular configuration, and said hollow receptacle has a height of at least about 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The egg container of  claim 1  wherein said lid is planar and has a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, and said lid has a generally rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The egg container of  claim 6  wherein each of said pair of folded flanges has an upper surface, and said rim includes a pair of spaced apart upward extending protrusions formed above said second end wall, and each of said pair of upward extending protrusions extends above said upper surface of each of said pair of folded flanges, and said lid has a pair of apertures formed therethrough adjacent to said second end which corresponds with said pair of upward extending protrusions, and as said lid is slide between said pair of folded flanges and covers said open top of said hollow receptacle, said pair of apertures engage with said pair of upwardly extending protrusions and lock said lid to said hollow receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The egg container of  claim 1  wherein said lid is constructed from paperboard. 
     
     
         9 . The egg container of  claim 8  wherein said paperboard has a thickness ranging from between about 0.01 inches to about 0.02 inches. 
     
     
         10 . An egg container comprising:
 a) a hollow receptacle having a pair of sidewalls connected to a first end wall, to a second end wall, and to a bottom wall, said hollow receptacle having an open top surrounded by a rim, said rim having a pair of folded flanges formed thereon, each of which extends along at least a portion of the length of each of said pair of sidewalls, said pair of folded flanges having an upper plane, and said rim includes a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions formed above said second end wall, and each of said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions extends above said upper surface of said pair of folded flanges, and said hollow receptacle is capable of holding multiple eggs in a stationary and spaced apart fashion; and   b) a lid having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, and said lid having a generally rectangular configuration, said lid having a pair of apertures formed therethrough adjacent to said second end which corresponds with said pair of upwardly extending protrusions, and as said lid is slid between said pair of folded flanges it covers said open top of said hollow receptacle, and said pair of apertures engage with said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions to lock said lid to said hollow receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The egg container of  claim 10  wherein said hollow receptacle is constructed of a recyclable, clear plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The egg container of  claim 10  wherein said hollow receptacle has stacking nubs formed in said bottom wall. 
     
     
         13 . The egg container of  claim 10  wherein said hollow receptacle can nest with another hollow receptacle thereby saving floor space at a packaging site. 
     
     
         14 . The egg container of  claim 10  wherein said rim contains a third upwardly extending protrusion positioned above said second end wall, and said third upwardly extending protrusion stops said lid from sliding past said second end wall. 
     
     
         15 . The egg container of  claim 14  wherein said third upwardly extending protrusion is positioned between said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions. 
     
     
         16 . The egg container of  claim 10  wherein said lid is constructed from cardboard and can be printed. 
     
     
         17 . An egg container comprising:
 a) a hollow receptacle having a pair of sidewalls connected to a first end wall, to a second end wall, and to a bottom wall, said hollow receptacle having an open top surrounded by a rim, said rim having a pair of folded flanges formed thereon, each of which extends along at least a portion of the length of each of said pair of sidewalls, said pair of folded flanges having an upper plane, and said rim includes a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions formed above said second end wall and a third upwardly extending protrusion formed between said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions, each of said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions and said third upwardly extending protrusion extends above said upper surface of said pair of folded flanges, and said hollow receptacle is capable of holding at least twelve eggs in a stationary and spaced apart fashion; and   b) a lid having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, and said lid having a generally rectangular configuration, said lid having a pair of apertures formed therethrough adjacent to said second end which corresponds with said pair of upwardly extending protrusions, and as said lid is slid between said pair of folded flanges and covers said open top of said hollow receptacle, said pair of apertures engage with said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions to lock said lid to said hollow receptacle, and said third upwardly extending protrusion stops said lid from sliding past said second end wall.   
     
     
         18 . The egg container of  claim 16  wherein each of said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions has a ramp configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The egg container of  claim 16  wherein each of said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions and said third upwardly extending protrusion terminate in a respective plane. 
     
     
         20 . A method of removing one or more eggs from an egg container after said egg container has been filled with multiple eggs, said egg container including a hollow receptacle having a pair of sidewalls connected to a first end wall, to a second end wall, and to a bottom wall, said hollow receptacle having an open top surrounded by a rim, said rim having a pair of folded flanges formed thereon, each of which extends along at least a portion of the length of each of said pair of sidewalls, said pair of folded flanges having an upper plane, and said rim includes a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions formed above said second end wall, and each of said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions extends above said upper surface of said pair of folded flanges, and said hollow receptacle is capable of holding said multiple eggs in a stationary and spaced apart fashion; and a lid sized and shaped to slide between said pair of folded flanges and completely cover said open top of said receptacle, said lid having a pair of apertures formed therethrough adjacent to said second end which corresponds with said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions, and as said lid is slid between said pair of folded flanges it covers said open top of said hollow receptacle, and said pair of apertures engage with said pair of upwardly extending protrusions to lock said lid to said hollow receptacle, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) sliding said lid in a direction away from said second end wall a sufficient distance to expose one or more eggs; and   b) turning said egg container upside down to allow said one or more exposed eggs to fall out into a person's hand.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising sliding said lid towards said second end wall of said receptacle; and allowing said pair of apertures to again engage with said pair of spaced apart upwardly extending protrusions to close said open top and lock said lid to said hollow receptacle.