초록 ▼

Embodiments of the present invention provide collapsible cheese mold that eliminates or reduce the shortcomings of prior collapsible cheese molds. One embodiment of the present invention includes a container for transporting cheese, comprising a base and four wall panels mounted on the base, each si

Embodiments of the present invention provide collapsible cheese mold that eliminates or reduce the shortcomings of prior collapsible cheese molds. One embodiment of the present invention includes a container for transporting cheese, comprising a base and four wall panels mounted on the base, each side wall comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and two end faces. A first two of the wall panels comprise a set of hooks protruding from the end faces and a second two of the wall panels comprise hook receivers. Each hook receiver defines an opening through a corresponding wall panel inner surface and comprises a receiver rib spanning the width of the opening. A receiver rib has an outer face to engage an inner face of the respective hook. Each opening and receiver rib is sized to allow a portion of the respective hook to pass over the receiver rib.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A container for transporting cheese, comprising: a base; four solid wall panels mounted on the base, each side wall panel comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and two end faces; a lid adapted to fit over the wall panels; wherein a first two of the wall panels compris

What is claimed is: 1. A container for transporting cheese, comprising: a base; four solid wall panels mounted on the base, each side wall panel comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and two end faces; a lid adapted to fit over the wall panels; wherein a first two of the wall panels comprise a set of hooks protruding from the end faces and a second two of the wall panels comprise hook receivers inset from the ends of the second two of the wall panels so that a portion of the inner surfaces of the second two of the wall panels overlap the end faces of the first two of the wall panels when the container is assembled; wherein each hook receiver defines an opening through a corresponding wall panel inner surface and comprises a receiver rib spanning the width of the opening, the receiver rib having an outer face to engage an inner face of the respective hook and wherein each hook receiver is adapted so that the respective hook passes through the corresponding wall panel to hook to the outside of that wall panel; wherein at least one receiver rib comprises a detent on that receiver rib's outer face and the respective hook comprises a protrusion on the hook's inner face adapted so that the protrusion and detent engage through a vertical sliding movement; and wherein each opening and receiver rib is sized to allow a portion of the respective hook to pass over the receiver rib. 2. The container for transporting cheese of claim 1, wherein the detent and protrusion are adapted to inhibit vertical movement of connected wall panels relative to each other. 3. The container for transporting cheese of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the protrusion rests in the detent when the container is assembled. 4. The container for transporting cheese of claim 1, further comprising: a pressboard; and a plurality of springs contacting the pressboard and the lid. 5. The container of claim 4, wherein the pressboard further comprises a smooth bottom surface and a ribbed top surface. 6. The container of claim 5, wherein the ribbed top surface comprises spring aligners. 7. The container of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of springs is a leaf spring. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the plurality of springs comprise five springs, wherein one of the five leaf springs is over a center of the pressboard. 9. The container of claim 4, wherein the lid comprises an internally ribbed structure. 10. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a top face with corners, the top face having a smooth raised center portion comprising a majority of the top face and transitioning to a plurality of lower portions located proximate to the corners of the lid such that the center portion of the top face is raised compared the lower portions. 11. The container of claim 10, wherein the lid further comprises a substantially vertical rib at to an outside of each lower portion placed to limit horizontal movement of a leg of a stacked container resting on the corresponding lower portion. 12. The container of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of each wall panel is ribbed. 13. A container for transporting cheese substantially formed from molded plastic, comprising: a base having at least one upwardly extending base rib; four solid wall panels mounted on the base and aligned by the at least one upwardly extending base rib, each wall panel comprising an inner surface, a ribbed outer surface and two end faces; a lid having a top face with corners and an outer lip and defining a cavity, wherein the outer lip of the lid fits on the outside of the four wall panels when the lid is in place; a plurality of leaf springs contacting an underside of the lid; a pressboard having a top surface contacting the plurality of leaf springs; wherein a first two of the wall panels comprise a set of hooks protruding from the end faces and a second two of the wall panels comprise hook receivers inset from the end faces of the second two of the wall panels so that a portion of the inner surfaces of the second two of the wall panels overlap the end faces of the first two of the wall panels when the container is assembled; wherein each hook receiver defines an opening through a corresponding wall panel inner surface and a receiver rib spanning the width of the opening, the receiver rib having an outer face to engage an inner face of the respective hook; wherein each hook receiver is adapted so that the respective hook passes through the corresponding wall panel to hook to the outside of that wall panel in a position that does not protrude from the outer surface of that wall panel; wherein at least one receiver rib comprises a detent on that receiver rib's outer face and the respective hook comprises a protrusion on the hook's inner face adapted wherein the protrusion and detent engage through a vertical sliding movement; and wherein each opening and receiver rib is sized to allow at least a portion of the respective hook to pass over the receiver rib. 14. The container of claim 13, wherein the detent and protrusion are adapted to inhibit vertical movement of connected wall panels relative to each other. 15. The container of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the protrusion rests in the detent when the container is assembled. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein the lid comprises an internally ribbed structure. 17. The container of claim 13, wherein the top face comprises a smooth raised center portion comprising a majority of the top face and transitioning to a plurality of lower portions located proximate to the corners of the lid such that the center portion of the top face is raised compared the lower portions. 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the lid further comprises a substantially vertical rib at each lower portion placed to limit horizontal movement of a leg of a stacked container resting on the corresponding lower portion. 19. The container of claim 18, wherein the pressboard comprises a set of spring aligners to align the plurality of leaf springs, wherein at least one leaf spring is aligned to straddle a center of the pressboard.