Locking structure for thermoformed plastic containers for food and other
articles wherein the lid and the base of the containers are provided with
locking means, specifically a detent and a tab. The detent, which depends
from the front of the lid, has rounded ends and an inwardly extending lip
disposed on its outer side. The tab, which depends from the front of the
base, has an upper surface, a lower surface, and two end surfaces. The
upper surface is angled toward the lower surface and the end surfaces are
substantially flat. The upper surface and the inwardly extending lip are
constructed and arranged with respect to each other so that when the
detent is pressed into the tab the inwardly extending lip will snap into
position beneath the upper surface and interlock with it to lock the lid
and base.