FOOD CONTAINER

Abstract

Certain embodiments are directed to a food receptacle having a plurality of attachment projections and plurality of attachment impressions, the attachment projections and attachment impression configure so that a first receptacle can be stacked with a second receptacle when not in use and attached to an inverted second receptacle to form a container.

Claims

1. A food receptacle comprising: a top and a bottom surface; a base portion and a raised side edge forming a container portion and a lip portion, wherein the lip portion has a plurality of attachment projections and plurality of attachment impressions, wherein the attachment projections and attachment impression configure so that a first receptacle can be stacked with a second receptacle, wherein: (i) when stacked, the bottom of an attachment projection of the first receptacle aligns with the top of an attachment projection of the second receptacle, and the bottom of an attachment impression of the first receptacle aligns with the top of an attachment impression of the second receptacle; and (ii) when employed as a container the second receptacle is inverted and used as a lid relative to the first receptacle, the top of an attachment projection of the first receptacle aligns with the a complementing attachment impression of the second receptacle and vice versa forming a reversible attachment between the first and second receptacle.

2. The food receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is circular, square, oval, triangular, or rectangular.

3. The food receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the attachment projections and the attachment impressions alternate.

4. The food receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the top surface has a hollow upstanding partition having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein bottom surface forms a hollow can complement the top surface of a second receptacle when stacked.

5. A food container comprising a first and second receptacle, the first and second receptacle comprising: a top and a bottom surface; a raised side edge forming a container portion, and a lip portion; the lip portion having a plurality of attachment projections and plurality of attachment impression, the attachment projections and attachment impression configure so that a first receptacle can be stack with a second receptacle, wherein: (i) when stacked, the bottom of an attachment projection of the first receptacle aligns with the top of an attachment projection of the second receptacle, and the bottom of an attachment impression of the first receptacle aligns with the top of an attachment impression of the second receptacle; and (ii) when employed as a container the second receptacle is inverted and used as a lid relative to the first receptacle, the top of an attachment projection of the first receptacle aligns with the a complementing attachment impression of the second receptacle forming a reversible coupling between the first and second receptacle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of the specification embodiments presented herein.

[0016] FIG. 1. A top view of one example of a receptacle.

[0017] FIG. 2. A cross-sectional side view of the example of a receptacle of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3. A top view of a second example of a receptacle.

[0019] FIG. 4. A cross-sectional side view of the example of a receptacle of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments or aspects of the invention. The term “invention” is not intended to refer to any particular embodiment or otherwise limit the scope of the disclosure. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.

[0021] This invention relates to a food receptacle and a food container formed from food receptacles, particularly a food receptacle that can be disposable, and more particularly a food receptacle that can be used in two positions or configurations a first position/configuration for receiving or holding food or other items, and a second position/configuration for enclosing contents (food or other items) in a container formed from two receptacles. In certain aspects, a first receptacle forms the base of a container and a second inverted receptacle forms the lid of the container. The lip or rim of the receptacles will be configured to be reversibly coupled, locked, or snapped together to form a container. In other aspects, the receptacles will be configured to be stackable with the bottom of a first receptacle complemented by the top of a second receptacle.

[0022] Certain aspects include a method of using a food receptacle/container. The method comprising the steps of providing a first food receptacle for receiving food and a second food receptacle for covering the food. Food is deposited on the first food receptacle. A second receptacle is inverted and positioned over the food with the complementing rim or lip portion of the food receptacle being aligned and engaged, closing the cover over the food inside the newly formed container. While enclosed, the food container can be used to store, heat or dispose of the food.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the food receptacle 100 can include base 101 having raised wall(s) 102 forming a receiving area 103. Wall(s) 102 having a top edge 104 and a bottom edge 105. The top edge 104 transitions into or is attached to a lip or rim portion 106. Lip or rim portion 106 has a top surface 107 and bottom surface 108. The bottom edge 105 of the wall(s) 102 transitions into or is attached to the base 101. In certain aspects the base 101 and lip or rim portion 106 form parallel planes. The lip or rim portion 106 includes at least one attachment projection 109 (as viewed from the top, projects from the top of the lip or rim portion) and at least one attachment impression 110 (as viewed from the top, is a hollow or impression below the lip or rim edge). In certain aspects the attachment projection 109 is on the top surface of the lip or rim portion and has a complementary hollow on the bottom surface of the lip or rim portion. The attachment projection and attachment need not be, but can be formed in the same structure. The attachment impression on one receptacle will typically have a complement projection on a second receptacle, which can form an interlocking pair. In certain aspects, an attachment projection can extend form the top surface while forming a hollow or impression on the bottom surface; and an attachment impression can form a hollow or impression on the top surface and a downward projection on the bottom surface of the lip or rim portion. The projection and impression being configured to form an attachment pair that can be coupled or interlocked to affix a first receptacle to a second inverted receptacle. In certain aspects, a first receptacle is configured to stack on top of a second receptacle. In certain aspect the receptacle is in the form of a plate or bowl. In certain aspects, a receptacle will have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more attachment pairs. In certain, aspects the attachment pairs have circular, square, rectangular, oval, curved oval, or other geometry that forms an interlocking attachment pair. At one extreme, the rim can have one attachment pair where the top surface lip or rim portion projection is along 10, 20, 30, 40 to 50 percent of the top surface, and a complementary lip or rim portion attachment impression is along 10, 20, 30, 40 to 50 percent of the bottom surface. Other aspect include two or more attachment projections along the top surface of the lip or rim and two or more complementary attachment impression along the top surface of the lip or rim. In certain aspects the attachment projections and attachment impression on a surface alternate interchange at some frequency as long a first and second receptacle can be aligned and locked by some degree of rotation of an inverted receptacle, in that the receptacles are configured to stack if in the same orientation.

[0024] In certain instances the base forms an XY (base) plane with a Z axis perpendicular to the base plane. The height of the receptacle is the distance between the base plane and the plane formed by the lip or rim portion. The wall(s) can be extend at an angle from the base to the lip or rim portion or can be perpendicular to the base plane. In certain aspects the wall(s) can be 90, 100, 110, 12, 13, 140, 150, 160 degrees to 179 degrees, including all values and ranges there between, relative to the base. In certain aspects, the height of a receptacle can have a height of 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 or more mm including all values and ranges there between. The outer diameter of the base of a receptacle can be 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, or more cm, including all values and ranges there between. In certain aspects, the top surface of the lip or rim is 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more cm wide, including all values and ranges there between. The height of an attachment projection or the depth of an attachment impression can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more mm including all values and ranges there between. The attachment projections and/or attachment impressions can have a length along the long axis of the lip or rim portion of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more cm, including all values and ranges there between.

[0025] The receptacle can be any suitable shape and depth for a food container, and can be selected from shapes that include, but are not limited to triangles, squares, rectangles, ovals, various polygons, etc.

[0026] The food receptacle of the present invention may be made of a rigid material. Suitable rigid materials include foam, plastic, and various other synthetic materials. The food receptacle may be made of cellulose or other natural fibers, including various types of recycled cellulose. If desired, additional rigidity and thermal insulating capability may be provided by the materials selected. For example, the food container may be made of corrugated board. Corrugated board comprises a generally flat layer, and a corrugated layer. The corrugated layer is not joined at all positions to the flat layer, but instead has ribs which are spaced apart from the flat layer and troughs joined to the flat layer. The ribs and troughs are often straight and parallel, but may be sinusoidal. In cross section, a rib may be S-shaped, C-shaped, Z-shaped, or have any other configuration know in the art. Furthermore, if desired, a second flat panel may be joined to the corrugated medium and disposed oppositely from the first flat panel.

[0027] The food receptacle can be molded from a pulp slurry or pressed from a blank between mating plate-shaped platens. Both methods of manufacture are well known in the art.

[0028] Suitable attachment pairs include those having two complementary portions which are peripherally spaced apart, and preferably oppositely disposed. One portion is disposed on each contacting surface of a food receptacle lip or rim portion. Suitable attachment pairs include pressure hook and loop fasteners and tab and slot fasteners. In certain aspects, an embossed and deformable mating snap fasteners wherein one wing of a first food receptacle locks or mechanically latches into the other wing of a second food receptacle may be utilized.

[0029] The food receptacle can be a disposable or a durable/reusable food receptacle. Additionally, the materials from which the food receptacle are made need not be the same throughout. For example, the lip or rim portion may be made of a heavier material than the wall and base, or vice versa.

[0030] The food receptacle may be configured in a variety of configurations and geometries. However, one of ordinary skill will recognize there are practical limits to the possible geometries.