Covered container for enclosing a food product or the like

• US 7,980,452 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huhtamaki Incorporated (Huhtamaki Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Paris Packaging, Inc. (Huhtamaki Oyj)
• Inventors: Burton, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins; Gary E
• Application Number:
  US12/537,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20100032475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 229/114, 229/145, 229/146, 229/148, 229/902, 229/906, 229/125.26, 229/125.28, 229/125.32
• US Class Current: 229/114
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/667 Lids in the form of an inverted tray
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/902 Box for prepared or processed food

Abstract

The present invention provides a container configured to selectively enclose a food product or the like, including: a tray including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom that collectively define a compartment configured to hold a food product or the like, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each include an enlarged flap; and a tapered cover including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a tapered top, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the back wall, and the top are substantially coextensive with the tray, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each include an enlarged flap that is configured and positioned to interlock with the corresponding enlarged flap of the first side wall and the second side wall of the tray.

Claims

1. A container configured to selectively enclose a food product or the like, comprising:

a tray comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom that collectively define a compartment configured to hold a food product or the like, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the tray each comprise an enlarged flap that protrudes above the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the back wall of the tray; and

a tapered cover comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a top tapered along the first and second cover side walls, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the back wall, and the tapered top of the tapered cover are substantially coextensive with the tray, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the tapered cover each comprise an enlarged flap that protrudes below the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the back wall of the tapered cover and that is configured and positioned to interlock with the corresponding enlarged flap of the first side wall and the second side wall of the tray, wherein the enlarged flaps of the tray and the corresponding enlarged flaps of the tapered cover interlock in a side by side configuration.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tray is disposed substantially adjacent to the front wall of the tray and opposite the bottom.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tray comprises one or more of substantially straight features, substantially arcuate features, ridges, and notches.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tapered cover is disposed substantially adjacent to the back wall of the tapered cover and opposite the top.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tapered cover comprises one or more of substantially straight features, substantially arcuate features, ridges, and notches.

6. A method for providing a container configured to selectively enclose a food product or the like, comprising:

providing a tray comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom that collectively define a compartment configured to hold a food product or the like, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the tray each comprise an enlarged flap that protrudes above the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the back wall of the tray; and

providing a tapered cover comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a top tapered along the first and second cover side walls, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the back wall, and the tapered top of the tapered cover are substantially coextensive with the tray, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the tapered cover each comprise an enlarged flap that protrudes below the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the back wall of the tapered cover and that is configured and positioned to interlock with the corresponding enlarged flap of the first side wall and the second side wall of the tray, wherein the enlarged flaps of the tray and the corresponding enlarged flaps of the tapered cover interlock in a side by side configuration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tray is disposed substantially adjacent to the front wall of the tray and opposite the bottom.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tray comprises one or more of substantially straight features, substantially arcuate features, ridges, and notches.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tapered cover is disposed substantially adjacent to the back wall of the tapered cover and opposite the top.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the enlarged flaps of the tapered cover comprises one or more of substantially straight features, substantially arcuate features, ridges, and notches.