Fragile object packaging design

Abstract

Packaging is provided having a molded base portion with a plurality of cells or compartments each sized and shaped to retain one object. Each of the plurality of cells or compartments have a bottom surface and upstanding peripheral walls with a top edge. The top edge of the peripheral walls define an opening to allow an object to be placed in the cell or compartment. To improve the ease with which a user can remove objects from the base portion, a centrally disposed aperture is provided in the bottom surface of each of the plurality of cells or compartments. The centrally disposed aperture is sized and shaped to permit a user to insert a finger from under the base portion through the centrally aperture in order to raise the object in the cell or compartment to more easily facilitate removal of the object with the user's other hand.

1 . A package having a molded base portion with a plurality of cells or compartments, each cell or compartment sized and shaped to retain one object, each of the plurality of cells or compartments having a bottom surface and upstanding peripheral walls with a top edge, the top edge of the peripheral walls define an opening to allow an object to be placed in the cell or compartment, the improvement comprising providing a centrally disposed aperture in the bottom surface of each of the plurality of cells or compartments, the centrally disposed aperture sized and shaped to permit a user to insert a finger of one of the user's hands from under the base portion through the centrally disposed aperture in order to raise the object in the cell or compartment to more easily facilitate removal of the object from the packaging with the user's other hand and wherein a raised collar is provided around the periphery of the centrally disposed aperture in the bottom surface of each cell or compartment and wherein the raised collar extends upwardly from the bottom surface of the cell or compartment to support the object placed in the cell or compartment and prevent the object from extending through the centrally disposed aperture. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The package according to  claim 1  wherein the package is an egg carton having a molded base portion in the form of base tray having a plurality of cells or compartments, each cell or compartment sized and shaped to retain one egg wherein each cell or compartment has a bottom surface and upstanding peripheral walls with a top edge, the top edge of the peripheral walls defining an open end to allow an egg to be placed in the cell or compartment. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The package according to  claim 4  wherein the plurality of cells or compartments are arranged in two or more parallel rows running the length of the base tray of the carton. 
     
     
         8 . The package according to  claim 5  wherein the plurality of cells or compartments are arranged in two or more parallel rows running the length of the base tray of the carton. 
     
     
         9 . The package according to  claim 6  wherein the plurality of cells or compartments are arranged in two or more parallel rows running the length of the base tray of the carton. 
     
     
         10 . The package according to  claim 5  wherein at an intersection of four adjacent cells or compartments is an integrally molded upstanding post extending above the top edge of the peripheral walls of the cells or compartments. 
     
     
         11 . The package according to  claim 6  wherein at an intersection of four adjacent cells or compartments is an integrally molded upstanding post extending above the top edge of the peripheral walls of the cells or compartments. 
     
     
         12 . The package according to  claim 4 , wherein the diameter of the centrally disposed aperture is between 9.5 mm and 25.4 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The package according to  claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the centrally disposed aperture is between 9.5 mm and 25.4 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The package according to  claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the centrally disposed aperture is between 9.5 mm and 25.4 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The package according to  claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the centrally disposed aperture is about 19 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The package according to  claim 13 , wherein the diameter of the centrally disposed aperture is about 19 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The package according to  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the centrally disposed aperture is about 19 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The package according to  claim 12 , wherein the height of the collar is between 1.6 mm and 12.8 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The package according to  claim 13 , wherein the height of the collar is between 1.6 mm and 12.8 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The package according to  claim 14 , wherein the height of the collar is between 1.6 mm and 12.8 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The package according to  claim 18 , wherein the height of the collar is 6.4 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The package according to  claim 19 , wherein the height of the collar is 6.4 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The package according to  claim 20 , wherein the height of the collar is 6.4 mm 
     
     
         24 . The package according to  claim 4  made from fibrous pulp materials, expanded polystyrene or other thermoformed plastic material. 
     
     
         25 . The package according to  claim 5  made from fibrous pulp materials, expanded polystyrene or other thermoformed plastic material. 
     
     
         26 . The package according to  claim 6  made from fibrous pulp materials, expanded polystyrene or other thermoformed plastic material.