June 10, 1952 R. M. SCHILLING 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Filed Dec. 3, 1945. 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 10, 1952 R. M. SCHILLING 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Filed Dec. 3, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1952 R. M. scHILLING 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Filed Dec. 3, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 aese essessease VAWA) All ly/AWA WAITWA/WAIVIM/WATWIAI (AAA-AA-AA-AA C - seese Neerae YawawasaNANAAAAAALI sSSSSSS27 As Area - June 10, 1952 R. M. SCHILLING 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Filed Dec. 3, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 a 4642 50464,2346 042 42 4620 37 June 10, 1952 R. M. SCHILLING 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Filed Dec. 3, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 20 63 67 63 69 67 62 (seeAll 4 INA Y 69E9E9E9E9E9ESISDEES's Se21 Eas EastEs 62 22769393 21 N *2\Stats: NS4 (S.395 S. 60 62 62. 69.64 72 3: 6 22 7a 64.7065777a TT66 Zze 67, Sebsite&ressbváxissilsEA 2. NS 55 626Z 241.3 Sa:É, ASL June 10, 1952 R. M. SCHILLING 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Filed Dec. 3, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 s. 24.) be Patented June 10, 1952 2,600,130 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,600,130 EGG CARTON Ruth M. Schilling, St. Paul, Minn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Shellmar Products Cor poration, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela Ware Application December 3, 1945, Serial No. 632,331 8 Claims. (C. 229-2.5) 2 My invention relates to an improvement in by my carton from movement in any direction. egg carton wherein it is desired to provide a Cartons have previously been formed of molded simple and effective container for eggs or other pulp comprising a tray having receptacles de fragile articles. signed to receive individual eggs and a hinged In the handling of eggs it is usual practice 5 Cover foldable over the eggs. Such a carton has for the producer to place the eggs in an egg the advantage of Supporting the eggs and ad case of considerable size and to ship the eggs vertising the Same. However, this type of carton in this form to the market. The eggs are then can not be most successfully used in egg cases uSulally removed from the egg cases and placed because of the fact that the cover Section does in Smaller packages such as cartons capable of lO not hold the eggs from upward movement and holding a dozen eggs. In this form the eggs does not protect the eggs from injury from above. are sold to the ultimate consumer. A further feature of the present invention This procedure requires the handling of the resides in the provision of a carton which holds eggs Several times. It is necessary to place the the eggs from injury during shipment and which eggs in individual cells in the egg case and to 5 includes an added protection in the form of a later remove the eggs to place them in the smaller cover which overlies the upper carton section. cartons. Considerable time is required for these As a result a carton is formed possessing suffi operations. cient rigidity to withstand considerable weight, Egg Cases of the usual type contain for ex thus preventing injury to the eggs in the lower ample thirty dozen eggs, and each egg must be mOSt cartons of an egg case or the like. COntained in an individual cell within the case A further feature of the present invention lies to protect the egg from damage during ship in the provision of a cover extending over the ment. Usually egg flats formed of molded pulp complete egg carton, which serves as a cushion or the like are placed between superimposed to assist in supporting the weight of superim layers of eggS and fillers which provide individual 2 5 pOSed cartons. cells hold these egg flats in spaced relation. It A further feature of the present invention is economically desirable to form the fillers out resides in the provision of a two section egg car of inexpensive material such as chip board or ton in Which each Section includes recesses for the like which possesses little strength. As a partially enveloping an egg and in adding to result the fillers occasionally become damaged 30 this carton a cover having a top and attached in Shipment causing a resulting loss of eggs. sidewalls. As a result the cover forms in effect It is an object of the present invention to pro an inverted tray which is extremely resistant to vide an egg carton of a type capable of holding compression. a dozen eggs, or any other convenient number for which it may be used, to replace the egg A further feature of the present invention cartons, flats and fillers previously required. The 35 resides in the provision of an egg carton having eggs are merely placed in my cartons by the two Sections which fold together to contain eggs producer and a series of the cartons are placed therebetween and which are provided with a Within the egg case. The cartons are so con marginal flange extending about the same. A Structed as to protect the eggs during shipment COver is hingedly connected to one of the two of the caseS and at the same time provide an 40 Sections and is designed to fold over and en attractive carton which may be furnished the close one of the sections. This cover is pro COSUe. - vided With a marginal peripheral flange which A feature of the present invention resides in rests upon the flanges of the first mentioned the provision of a carton formed of three con 45 CartOn Sections to provide a structure which is llected elements. Two of these elements are extremely resistant to compression. arranged to enclose the egg and to protect the An added feature of the present invention re same from damage during handling or shipment. Sides in the provision of an egg carton having The third element is designed to fold over the a Series of recesses designed to partially enclose remaining elements to form a top closure there 50 an egg and in providing ribs or other spacing for and to provide an attractive cover which means in the Walls of these recesses for engag may be printed or stencilled with the name of ing the egg at Spaced points. As a result the the producer or with an attractive design. eggs are held with the major portion of their A further feature of the present invention area in Spaced relation to the walls of the re resides in the fact that the eggs are protected 55 cesses, thus allowing a free circulation of air about, 2,600,130 3 4. the eggs and flexibly supporting the eggs against surface 5. However, as the pockets 6 are rather injury due to shock. close together the adjoining walls of the pocket These and other objects and novel features of do not extend up to the surface of the frame 5. my invention will be more clearly and fully Set Each pocket 6 includes a base 28 which is shaped forth in the following specification and claims. 5 as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the draw In the drawings forming a part of Iny Speci ings. A circular or octagonal raised ring 2 ex fication: tends above the level of the margins of the base Figure 1 is a perspective view of an egg carton to hold an egg B in position. A central depres showing my new construction. sion 22 is formed within the ring 2 to permit Figure 2 is a sectional view transversely the rounded surface of the egg to be properly through the carton illustrated in Figure 1. centered upon the base. Obviously When the Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carton in section 2 is inverted upon the section i) the ring completely open condition. 2 extends below the surface of the base and the Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cartoin in central depression 20 is above the level thereof. partially closed condition. The side walls of each pocket 6 are composed Figure 5 is a plan view of a detail portion of of a series of trapezoidal surfaces extending from the case. the base 2G either to the surface 5 or into merg Figure 6 is a sectional view through an egg ing relation with a surface of the next adjacent case showing the manner in which egg cartons pocket. The posts 9 are formed by one wall of may be packed therein. each of four adjacent pockets i8, the posts 9 Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modified form being formed at the center between these four of carton construction in open position. pockets. Two opposed walls 23 and 24 of each Figure 8 is a sectional view through the carton pocket terminate along parallel lines Substan shown in Figure 7 when in closed position. tially parallel to the ends 25 of the Sections. A Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified forin of second opposed pair of walls 25 and 2 of each carton construction in open position. pocket terminate on lines substantially parallel Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of to the side edges of the carton sections or parallel the carton illustrated in Figure 9. to the fold lines and 3. The diagonally ex Figure 1 is a Sectional view transversely tending faces 29 of the pockets 6 either combine through the carton shown in Figures 9 and 10 in 30c to form the posts 9 or else extend to the Surface closed position of the carton.