Container for the shipment and display of a product

Abstract

A container for the shipment and display of a food product includes a four-sided, collapsible, corrugated plastic sleeve that is selectively enclosed by a pair of opposing plastic trays. Each tray includes inner and outer flanges which are formed along the periphery of a planar plate in a spaced apart relationship and together define a continuous groove dimensioned to receive an open end of the sleeve. The inner flange includes a tapered interior surface which widens the groove towards its distal end to facilitate the process of aligning and inserting an open end of the sleeve therein. A series of projections, each semicircular in lateral cross-section, are formed onto the outer flange and are dimensioned to fittingly protrude through corresponding slots formed in the sleeve to retain the container in its assembled state during the process of packaging and transporting the designated product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for the shipment and display of a product, the container comprising:
 (a) a sleeve having an open top end and an open bottom end; and   (b) a pair of opposing trays releasably mounted on the top and bottom ends of the sleeve, each of the pair of opposing trays comprising,
 (i) a planar plate that includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer peripheral edge, 
 (ii) a continuous outer flange formed on the inner surface along the entirety of the outer peripheral edge, the continuous outer flange having a distal end, and 
 (iii) a continuous inner flange formed on the inner surface spaced at a fixed distance inward from the continuous outer flange, the continuous outer flange having a distal end; 
   (c) wherein the planar plate, the continuous outer flange, and the continuous inner flange define a continuous, peripheral groove which is adapted to receive either of the open top end and the open bottom end of the sleeve, the groove having a width that increases towards the distal ends of the inner and outer flanges.   
     
     
         2 . The container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inner flange projects out from the inner surface of the plate and includes a tapered interior surface in communication with the groove. 
     
     
         3 . The container as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the tapered interior surface of the inner flange extends out from the inner surface of the plate in the direction away from the outer flange. 
     
     
         4 . The container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the tapered interior surface of the inner flange extends out from the inner surface of the plate at an angle of approximately 75 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the outer flange projects orthogonally out from the inner surface of plate. 
     
     
         6 . The container as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the outer flange has an interior surface. 
     
     
         7 . The container as claimed in  claim 6  wherein a plurality of projections protrudes out from the interior surface of the outer flange and extends into the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The container as claimed in  claim 7  wherein each of the plurality of projections is semicircular in lateral cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The container as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the sleeve is adapted to be collapsed into a flattened, generally planar configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The container as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sleeve is constructed of a unitary, corrugated plastic member having a thickness of approximately 0.24 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The container as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sleeve includes four sidewalls. 
     
     
         12 . The container as claimed in  claim 11  wherein each of the four sidewalls includes a linear slot along the bottom end of the sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The container as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each of the plurality of projections on the outer flange of one of the pair of opposing trays is dimensioned to protrude through a corresponding linear slot along the bottom end of the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The container as claimed in  claim 13  wherein each of the four sidewalls for the sleeve is provided with a set of circular openings. 
     
     
         15 . The container as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the set of circular openings in each of the four sidewalls is in alignment with the set of circular openings in its opposing sidewall to promote laminar airflow through the container upon assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each of the inner and outer flanges has a height of approximately 0.38 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The container as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the inner and outer flanges are spaced apart approximately 0.24 inches on the inner surface of the plate. 
     
     
         18 . The container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each of the pair of opposing trays is constructed as a unitary plastic member. 
     
     
         19 . The container as claimed in  claim 18  wherein each of the pair of opposing trays is shaped to define a central opening.