IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,287,660
Granted Patent B2
US 7,287,660 · App. 10/802,416 · Granted Oct 30, 2007

Two-compartment container

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,287,660
App. No.
10/802,416
Granted
Oct 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A two-compartment container has a lid portion and a base portion hingedly connected to one another and openable and closable in the manner of a clamshell. Both the lid portion and the base portion have partitions, which extend from the hinge and which are aligned with one another. When the container is closed, the partitions abut against one another, effectively isolating the two compartments formed in the base portion by its partition from one another. The base portion includes a locking flap which fits into a gap between the partition in the lid portion and its face and seals it to further isolate the two compartments from one another.

Claims (26)

1. A two-compartment container comprising a lid portion and a base portion, said lid portion being hingedly connected to said base portion by a hinge, thereby being openable and closable relative to said base portion in the manner of a clamshell,

said base portion having a base partition extending across said base portion in a direction substantially transverse to said hinge and dividing said base portion into a first compartment and a second compartment, said base portion further having a locking flap opposite to said hinge, said base partition extending from said hinge to said locking flap, and

said lid portion having a lid partition extending across said lid portion in a direction substantially transverse to said hinge, said lid partition extending from said hinge toward a face of said lid portion opposite to said hinge and being aligned with said base partition so as to abut against said base partition when said two-compartment container is closed, said lid partition being separated from said face of said lid portion opposite to said hinge by a gap, said locking flap on said base portion fitting into said gap in said lid portion when said lid portion is closed onto said base portion,

wherein said locking flap comprises a wedge, said wedge being aligned with said gap in said lid portion, so that said wedge fits tightly in said gap when said locking flap fits into said gap in said lid portion when said lid portion is closed onto said base portion, said wedge thereby isolating said first compartment from said second compartment,

said locking flap and said face of said lid portion together having cooperative means for maintaining said two-compartment container in a closed condition.

2. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said two compartment container in a closed condition comprises at least one nub on said locking flap and at least one hole through said face of said lid portion, said at least one nub and said at least one hole being aligned with one another whereby said at least one nub engages with said at least one hole when said locking flap fits into said gap in said lid portion when said lid portion is closed onto said base portion to place said lid portion under tension toward said base portion.

3. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wedge has an inner surface, said inner surface abutting said lid partition when said locking flap fits into said gap in said lid portion.

4. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking flap further comprises an arcuate portion outward of said wedge, said arcuate portion deforming an inside surface of said gap when said locking flap fits into said gap in said lid portion to further isolate said first compartment from said second compartment.

5. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second compartments has a bottom having a plurality of channels to collect liquid.

6. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bottom further comprises a perimeter channel running around the perimeter thereof, said perimeter channel being provided to collect liquid draining from said plurality of channels.

7. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base portion has a stepped edge exclusive of said hinge and said locking flap, and said lid portion has a correspondingly stepped edge so that said stepped edge of one of said base portion and said lid portion fits into said stepped edge of the other of said base portion and lid portion when said lid portion is closed down onto said base portion.

8. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stepped edge of said lid portion and said stepped edge of said base portion have substantially the same shape.

9. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stepped edge of one of said lid portion and base portion is separated from its respective portion by a channel.

10. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lid portion includes a top surface having a first region over said first compartment and a second region over said second compartment, at least one of said first and second regions having at least one vent to enable heat and steam to escape from at least one of said first and second compartments.

11. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 10 wherein said vent has a hinge whereby said vent may be closed or opened to any desired degree.

12. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 10 wherein said vent is in a recessed area in at least one of said first and second regions.

13. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking flap is substantially as high as said face of said lid portion to stabilize and support said lid portion when said two-compartment container is closed.

14. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 13 wherein said locking flap is thicker than said face of said lid portion.

15. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lid portion includes a top surface having a first region over said first compartment and a second region over said second compartment, and a bottom surface having a first region under said first compartment and a second region under said second compartment, said first and second regions on said top surface having raised areas and said first and second regions on said bottom surface having correspondingly indented areas, so that said two-compartment container may be stacked without sliding upon one another.

16. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 15 wherein said indented area in at least one of said first and second regions on said bottom surface of said base portion has at least one channel to allow heat and steam to escape from a vent in a container stacked below.

17. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two-compartment container is formed by molding plastic sheet material.

18. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 17 wherein said plastic sheet material is foamed.

19. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 17 wherein said plastic sheet material is unfoamed.

20. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 17 wherein said plastic sheet material is polystyrene sheet material.

21. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 20 wherein said polystyrene sheet material is foamed.

22. A two-compartment container as claimed in claim 20 wherein said polystyrene sheet material is unfoamed.

Assignments (26)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2017
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, LLC; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 044763/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2017
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, LLC; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.
To: BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 044763/0339 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, LLC; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044342/0866 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, LLC; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044342/0928 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, LLC; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044225/0079 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2015
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035813/0164 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2015
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035814/0314 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2015
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035814/0362 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES RF 028310/0199) Recorded Jun 1, 2015
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035808/0561 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2012
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 028310/0199 →
PATENT RELEASE AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2012
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION, DELAWARE CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATON; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A DELWARE CORPORATION; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC., A DELWARE CORPORATION; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028301/0582 →
PATENT RELEASE AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS AS COLLARTERAL AGENT
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
Reel/Frame 028307/0114 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 9, 2011
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 025767/0887 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS Recorded Nov 23, 2010
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025412/0510 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
Reel/Frame 025390/0258 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
Reel/Frame 025390/0354 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: OCM TEKNI-PLEX HOLDINGS II, L.P.
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
Reel/Frame 025390/0373 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: HSBC BANK USA, N.A.
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
Reel/Frame 025390/0728 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 16, 2010
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENT, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 025365/0752 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF ONE OF THE CONVEYING ENTITIES FROM "TPI/ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC." TO "TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC." PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 021838 FRAME 0118. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED TO OCM TEKNI-PLEX HOLDINGS II, L.P. Recorded Nov 21, 2008
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
To: OCM TEKNI-PLEX HOLDINGS II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 021861/0659 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 14, 2008
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI/ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
To: OCM TEKNI-PLEX HOLDINGS II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 021838/0118 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Feb 12, 2008
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 020497/0293 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2008
From: PURETEC CORPORATION; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC.; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TP/ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 020478/0767 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2008
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC
To: CITICORP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 020478/0352 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Sep 8, 2005
From: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.; PURETEC CORPORATION; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PLASTIC SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES INVESTMENTS, INC.; BURLINGTON RESINS, INC.; DISTRIBUTORS RECYCLING, INC.; NATVAR HOLDINGS, INC; TRI-SEAL HOLDINGS, INC.; TP-ELM ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.; TPI ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 016500/0583 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2004
From: RAMIREZ, RICHARD L.; BERGERON, MARK A.
To: TEKNI-PLEX, INC.
Reel/Frame 015649/0897 →