Abstract: A clamshell container has a lid connected to a base by an integral hinge. The lid has a perimeter projecting member which engages with a peripheral base sealing wall in a closed configuration so that it is difficult for a user to open the container without tearing the lid along a weakened region of material along the hinge. To aid in resisting undetectable tampering, the container has a post which projects from the side wall and extends less than the length of the side wall within the container. The post has an engaging wall which faces towards a base sealing wall and which is spaced from the sealing wall to define a gap which receives the closed lid's projecting member. Distortion of the closed container which tends to urge the lid projecting member away from the base sealing wall engages it with the post engaging wall to resist tampering.

Abstract: A sheet for thermoforming is comprised of a material which is compatible with PET and which has slower crystallinity and a crystallization temperature which is at least 77° C. greater than its glass transition temperature, more preferably a crystallization temperature greater than 151° C. The material may be coextruded into a sheet with a first PET material, such that when thermoformed into a formed part the layers of second material are engaged with each other in the molded parts and for being subjected to heat sealing.

Abstract: A thermoformed thermoplastic container has a lid which closes on a base in a snap fit. A signal tab is hinged to the base and has a tubular projection which folds over the lid and is received in a friction fit with a downwardly extending lid projection. After the container is filled with product, the signal tab is pressed into place on the lid and lies flat. In order to open the lid the signal tab is pulled up, thereby severing a perforated line extending around the lid projection, and separating the lid projection from the lid which prevents the signal tab from again engaging with the lid, thereby serving as an indicator to a customer that the package has been opened.

Abstract: A container has a base with a bottom wall rib structure which deforms downwardly when an unresisted load is applied. The rib structure stiffens the base, and also can elevate the food product from liquid within the container. The bottom wall has a central platform which extends upwardly from a lower encircling segment. The lower encircling segment marks the lowermost portion of the base as molded, and extends inwardly from the lower margin of the sidewall. Two generally parallel longitudinal ribs extend across the platform and project upwardly from the platform. The longitudinal ribs extend from the lower encircling segment at the front of the base to the rear of the base. Short bridging ribs are evenly spaced parallel to one another and extend laterally between and connect the two longitudinal ribs. A plurality of cross ribs extend outwardly from each longitudinal rib to the encircling segment.

Abstract: A container has a base with a bottom wall rib structure which deforms downwardly when an unresisted load is applied. The rib structure stiffens the base, and also can elevate the food product from liquid within the container. The bottom wall has a central platform which extends upwardly from a lower encircling segment. The lower encircling segment marks the lowermost portion of the base as molded, and extends inwardly from the lower margin of the sidewall. Two generally parallel longitudinal ribs extend across the platform and project upwardly from the platform. The longitudinal ribs extend from the lower encircling segment at the front of the base to the rear of the base. Short bridging ribs are evenly spaced parallel to one another and extend laterally between and connect the two longitudinal ribs. A plurality of cross ribs extend outwardly from each longitudinal rib to the encircling segment.

Abstract: A container for carry out heated food items, such as rotisserie chicken, has a base which is connected to a lid by a mating peripheral closure which defines a liquid tight seal. The closure has an encircling inclined wall on the base, which helps to direct the lid into engagement with the base, and which also defines a cavity within the closure which can retain liquid. The base may be provided with two fold up straps which are retained by structure in the lid to lie generally flat to serve as a convenient carrying handle above the lid. The base has rib structure allowing it to distend downwardly when loaded with food to space the heated food from the customer's hand while engaged with the handle.

Abstract: Two food elements are supplied in a container assembly which may be placed on a horizontal support surface or supported in an automobile cup holder. A smaller secondary cup is received within a secondary cup cavity cantilevered to one side of a thermoformed thermoplastic primary container which has exterior dimensions suited to a cup holder. The primary container has a main compartment which receives another food element. The base of the primary container is inclined from the rim of the primary container, such that the center of gravity of the primary container with secondary cup and edible material overlies the primary container bottom wall when the bottom wall is supported on a horizontal surface. A column in the primary container side wall extends from a protruding toe portion of the bottom wall to engage and support the secondary cup cavity.

Abstract: A hanging clamshell package has a thermoformed plastic blister with a cover pivotally connected by a hinge to a base. The cover has a curved rearwardly opening front wall. A product bubble protrudes frontwardly from the cover front wall and has a curved front face. A bubble top wall extends between the cover front wall and the bubble front face, and beneath the bubble top wall, a bubble bottom wall extends between the cover front wall and the bubble front face, the forward extension of the bubble top wall is less than the forward extension of the bubble bottom wall, tending to counteract the visual impact of product settling. The base has a curved rearwardly opening base front wall of approximately the same curvature as the cover front wall. A card is clasped between the cover front wall and the base front and is thereby conformed to a curvature approximately matching that of the cover front wall.

Abstract: A plastic hinged clamshell box receives a stiff paper card within inwardly extending lid detents. The base has a bottom wall with side walls which extend upwardly and terminate at an outwardly extending peripheral lip. A skirt extends downwardly from the peripheral lip and detents extend inwardly from the skirt on multiple sides of the box. The lid has a top wall with downwardly extending side walls, with portions which extend inwardly toward the base skirt forming one or more detents on multiple sides of the lid. The card is of about the dimensions of the lid top wall and is positioned adjacent and beneath the lid top wall within the lid side walls. The stiff card is supported on the lid detents when the lid is disengaged from the base, such that the detents retain the card on the lid. The card is clasped between the base peripheral lip and the lid top wall when the lid is closed upon the base.

Abstract: A thermoformed thermoplastic blister is connected to a backing card. The blister has a peripheral flange which is positioned adjacent the backing card, and a bubble which protrudes frontwardly from the flange. A catch is formed in the flange, and is deformed rearwardly through an opening in the card to extend downwardly. The plastic catch extends into a narrow slot on the bubble of another like package. The slot is approximately the same width as the catch and need be only slightly taller than the thickness of the flange. With this connection structure multiple packages may be supported one upon another. In addition, the packages will automatically link to one another when extracted from a shipping carton. The rearwardly protruding catch may be formed from the plastic flange alone, or may be formed together with a portion of the backing card for additional strength.

Abstract: A transparent thermoformed thermoplastic blister has a product bubble which protrudes from a flange which is connected to a backing card. The bubble has an access opening which is selectably uncovered by a pivotable door hinged to the flange and to a hinge panel by parallel hinges, with the hinge panel hinged to the flange to define an over-center hinge arrangement. The lengths of the hinge panel and door, as well as the spring constants of the hinges may be selected to form a closure which will tend to remain opened once opened, or alternatively one which will automatically spring closed when finger pressure on the door is released. The closure may alternatively be formed in a clamshell package. The physical manipulation of the door is similar to the throwing of a light switch, and hence is readily apprehended by new users.

Abstract: A dispensing container for packaging a product for presentation upon a retail shelf comprising of a bottom sheet, a thermoformed concave tray attached to the bottom sheet and defining therebetween a space, product within the space, the thermoformed concave tray defining an opening, a thermoformed semirigid lid covering the opening, a flexible adhesive substrate attached to the thermoformed lid and the thermoformed concave tray hinging the thermoformed lid to the thermoformed concave tray; and printed indicia on the adhesive substrate hinge.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed material with a bubble body for sealing to a plastic backing card is disclosed. The bubble body has top, left, right, and bottom flanges, and faces defining a bubble which encloses an article compartment. An egress opening is formed in one face or in portions of several faces of the body. The reclosable display package includes a cover independent of the body and connected to the body by an integral hinge. The cover is pivotable about the integral hinge to fully close the egress opening in the body of the package. The bottom, left, and right flanges of the blister together with portions of the attached backing card may be removed to form a package with no protruding flange on three sides.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed material with a bubble body for mounting on a backing card is disclosed. The bubble body has top, left, right, and bottom flanges, and faces defining a bubble which encloses an article compartment. An egress opening is formed in one face or in portions of several faces of the body. The reclosable display package includes a cover independent of the body and connected to a flange of the body by an integral hinge. The cover is pivotable about the integral hinge to fully close the egress opening in the body of the package.

Abstract: A flexible reclosable thermoformed thermoplastic container is disclosed which has a base with side walls and a peripheral shoulder extending from the side walls which has a downwardly depending rim. The cover of the container has peripheral edges with depending side walls and is preferably attached by an integral hinge to the base. The cover is adapted to close upon and cover the base. A locking tab with two opposed faces spaced to fit between the base rim and side walls is connected by an integral hinge to the cover. The locking tab of the cover may be rotated about the integral hinge and inserted between the side wall and rim wall of the base to close the container. Containers with depressions in the base or cover side walls to facilitate opening are also disclosed. Containers may have two locking tabs connected on opposite sides of the cover by integral hinges which permit the cover to be removed entirely from the container.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed material with a bubble body for mounting on a backing card is disclosed. The bubble body has continuous top, left and right peripheral flanges, a bottom flange, a front face to the body, and an egress opening in the front face. The reclosable display package includes a cover integral with the body and connected to the body by an integral hinge. The cover is pivotable about the integral hinge to fully close the egress opening in the front face of the package. The cover has a sealant tool opening adapted to permit the passage of a heat or pressure sealing tool through the plastic of the cover to make direct contact with the bottom peripheral flange and seal it to the backing card.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic container is formed having a cover hingedly attached to a base and having an interlocking structure such that the cover is held onto the base when the container is closed. The interlocking structure includes a locking mechanism for attaching a hinged cover to the container base in a positive-manner so that the cover will not open upon impact, but may conveniently be opened and closed when required. The locking mechanism includes a locking tab hingedly connected to the cover and an outwardly extending projection formed on the base in direct alignment with the locking tab.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed plastic material includes a rear base having a recess for containing any articles to be displayed, and substantially flat mating surface surrounding the recess and extending upwardly to a rear top edge, and two forwardly beveled rear base side flanges and one rear base bottom flange which extend rearwardly from three other edges of the flat mating surface to form a rear base skirt. Additionally, the display package includes a front cover which is integrally hinged along a hinge line to the non-beveled rear base bottom flange and is movable between open and closed positions, the front cover having a front plane which extends upwardly to a front top edge, two front cover side flanges which are forwardly beveled and one front cover bottom flange which extend rearwardly from three other edges of the front plane to form a front cover skirt.