Container system with locking tabs

Abstract

A container includes a lid and a base, each having a first and second component of an interlocking interface, the first component having a folding portion, and the second component having a boss. The folding portion has a receiving area to receive the boss and connected to either the lid or base and movable between a position of secure and releasable engagement with the boss and a position of disengagement with the boss. Upon a closing engagement of the lid and the base, a respective portion of the periphery of the base has one of the folding portion and an opposing portion of the periphery of the lid has the other of the folding portion and the boss, so that the respective opposing portions of the lid and base are secured with one another by engagement of the folding portion with the boss.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a lid; and   a base,   each of the lid and the base having at least one selected from the group consisting of a first and second component of an interlocking interface, the first component comprising a folding portion, and the second component comprising a boss, the folding portion having a receiving area dimensioned to receive the boss and being hingedly connected about a hinge to one of the lid and the base and movable about the hinge between a position of secure and releasable engagement with the boss and a position of disengagement with the boss, the boss being connected to the other of the base and lid,   the boss and the folding portion being configured such that upon a closing engagement of the lid and the base, a respective portion of the periphery of the base has one of the folding portion and an opposing portion of the periphery of the lid has the other of the folding portion and the boss, so that the respective opposing portions of the lid and base are securely and releasably engageable with one another by manipulation of the respective folding portion over the respective boss,   wherein secure engagement of the boss and the folding portion is maintained by friction between the boss and the folding portion.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base and the lid are attached to one another by a connecting hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the interlocking interfaces on the lid are the first component and all of the interlocking interfaces on the base are the second component. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the interlocking interfaces on the base are the first component and all of the interlocking interfaces on the lid are the second component. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the lid and the base has at least three corners and two of the at least three corners of the lid comprise one selected from the group consisting of the first component and the second component, and two of the at least three corners of the base comprise the other one from the group consisting of the first component and the second component. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective opposing portions of the lid and base comprise four longitudinally extending bosses on the base and four longitudinally extending folding tabs on the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the base and the lid is made of molded pulp and/or a thermoformed plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the lid and base is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of molded pulp fiber, PP, PET and PS. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises one or more dividers that span across the base to creating separate compartments. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein the compartments are configured to provide a 50/50 division, a one-third to two-thirds division, or an evenly divided three-way division. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding portion has an arcuate domed indentation that engages a respective boss. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding portion has an opening that engages a respective boss. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the folding portions is configured so as to be biased towards its disengaged position. 
     
     
         15 . A container, comprising:
 a lid; and   a base,   each of the lid and the base having at least one selected from the group consisting of a first and second component of an interlocking interface, the first component comprising a folding portion, and the second component comprising a boss, the folding portion having a receiving area dimensioned to receive the boss and being hingedly connected about a hinge to one of the lid and the base and movable about the hinge between a position of secure and releasable engagement with the boss and a position of disengagement with the boss, the boss being connected to the other of the base and lid,   the boss and the folding portion being configured such that upon a closing engagement of the lid and the base, a respective portion of the periphery of the base has one of the folding portion and an opposing portion of the periphery of the lid has the other of the folding portion and the boss, so that the respective opposing portions of the lid and base are securely and releasably engageable with one another by manipulation of the respective folding portion over the respective boss,   wherein the folding portion has an arcuate domed indentation that engages a respective boss.   
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein secure engagement of the boss and the folding portion is maintained by friction between the boss and the folding portion. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the base and the lid are attached to one another by a connecting hinge 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the base and the lid is made of molded pulp and/or a thermoformed plastic material.