Abstract:
A sealable food container includes a base serving member such as a plate having a generally planar central portion, a sidewall extending generally upwardly and outwardly therefrom and a base outer flange portion extending outwardly from the sidewall. The sidewall defines a sealing area with an undercut annular sealing surface disposed between the substantially planar central portion of the base serving member and the base outer flange portion. The sidewall portion of the plate defines a base stop ridge adjacent the upper edge of the undercut annular sealing surface of the sidewall as well as a laterally extending retaining shelf adjacent the lower edge of the undercut annular sealing surface of the base serving member. A matching sealing lid is typically provided with a dome, a flexible sidewall and an annular sealing portion configured to cooperate with the base stop ridge and the sealing surface of the serving member sidewall of the base serves to position the sidewall engaging cover during sealing of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall of the lid has upwardly projecting flutes and the base has an outer recess at the lower portion of its sidewall configured to engage the upwardly projecting flutes to render the containers securely stackable.
Abstract:
A disposable drinking device comprising a cup is disclosed. The cup defines a cup cavity and comprises a cup opening communicated with the cup cavity and a cup brim annularly associated with the cup opening. The cup brim comprises a brim curl having a lip configuration and a flare configuration. When the brim curl is in the lip configuration, the brim curl arcuately and concavely extends away from the cup opening to form a brim lip. When the brim curl is in the flare configuration, the brim curl arcuately and convexly extends away from the cup opening to form a brim flare. The described configuration results in the cup brim being destroyed when the lid is removed from the cup, making subsequent re-capping impossible.
Abstract:
A disposable filter press device for making a brewed beverage from a combination of liquid and material to be brewed includes a first disposable cup and a second disposable cup. The first disposable cup has a closed bottom, an open top and a sidewall extending around the entire circumferential extent of the first cup, while the second disposable cup is sized and configured to be positioned in the first cup. The second cup has a bottom end, an open top and a sidewall extending around the entire circumferential extent of the second cup. The second cup also includes a filter for filtering the brewed beverage from the material used to brew the brewed beverage as the second cup is moved relative to the first cup. The filter press device can also be provided with a mechanism for connecting the second cup to the first cup with the second cup being in an inverted, bottom end up position. The filter press device provides enhanced beverage taste over conventional drip brewed coffee, coffee ground or tea leaf separation from the brewed beverage, a spill proof closure of the brewed beverage cup, and improved insulation and structural rigidity of the cup both during and after brewing. Also, single-cup brewing, disposability and convenience are realized.
Abstract:
An improved lidded container includes a receptacle portion with a brim having a plurality of lateral substantially straight brim wall segments provided with medial sealing beads extending between corners of the brim. The medial sealing beads are characterized in that they project away from the respective walls upon which they are disposed a maximum distance at a central portion of the wall and the medial sealing beads extend over a major portion of the length of the lateral sealing wall upon which they are disposed. Most preferably, the beads are tangent with and terminate at rounded corners between the wall segments.
Abstract:
There is provided a container having both male and female sealing regions disposed about its periphery in a pattern making it possible to seal a container with another container having substantially identical sealing regions. The male sealing regions used in the practice of the present invention may take the form of a U-shaped ridge which is undercut along at least one leg of the U. Typically, a container will he thermoformed from lightweight thermoplastic material giving the U-shaped ridge considerable flexibility. The female sealing regions used in the practice of the invention may take the form of an undercut channel adapted to receive and match the undercut U-shaped ridges found in the male portion of the container wherein the walls and base of the channel are sufficiently flexible that the undercut portions of the U-shaped ridge are urged into engagement with the undercut portions of the channel and the crest of the ridge is urged into the channel.
Abstract:
A domed lid 12 for a food container 10 is configured for ease of engagement and removal from a container base 14. The lid characteristically includes: (a) a dome portion 16 with a top wall 24 and a sidewall 26; (b) a flange portion 28 extending outwardly away from a lower portion of the sidewall; and (c) a tab portion 30 extending outwardly from the flange. The flange portion is provided with a rim 32 having a variable profile around the rim characterized in that: (i) the rim is provided with a securing undercut portion 36 extending around the majority of its periphery adapted to secure the lid to an outer border of base 14; and (ii) the rim has a pair of relatively passive engagement profile portions 42, 44 on either side of tab 30, extending to the securing undercut portion of the rim, the passive engagement profile portions are configured so that they are undercut less than the securing undercut portion of the lid, thereby facilitating engagement of the lid with, or removal of the lid from, base 14.
Abstract:
A container comprising at least one receptacle wall defining an opening. A brim is formed about the opening. The brim includes a brim curl in a first configuration. The brim curl is adapted to deform into a second configuration. The container may further comprise a lid removably and sealingly engaged to the receptacle. The lid is adapted to deform the brim curl upon removal of the lid from the receptacle. The lid cannot sealingly engage the deformed brim curl.
Abstract:
A container ensemble for food packaging comprising a substantially planar lid member formed of a polymeric material which has a plurality of substantially planar lids which are integrally formed and separably joined to each other, each of the lids including a sealing channel around its perimeter and a skirt extending outwardly therefrom. The lid member is provided with tearable portions to facilitate separation. The other component of the ensemble is a cup member formed of a polymeric material defining a plurality of cups which are integrally formed and also separably joined to each other, the cups including a bottom, a sidewall, and a brim about an upper opening of each cup. Each cup has a skirt extending outwardly from its brim provided with tearable portions to facilitate separation. The sealing channels of the lids of the lid member are adapted to mate with the brims of the cups to provide a plurality of separably joined sealed containers when the lid member and cup member are joined in sealing engagement; the ensemble being thereby adapted for sequentially: (i) receiving serving portions of food in a plurality of cups; (ii) lidding the cups to provide sealed containers containing individual portions; (iii) separating the sealed containers; and (iv) distributing the portions.