Abstract: A plastic container is provided having a sidewall, a downwardly extending upper lip, and a perforated line defined at a top edge of the container where the lip and sidewall are joined. The sidewall and lip may be formed from a container body constructed of a single sheet of material that is wrapped such that marginal edge portions of the blank are brought together in overlapping fashion to form a side seam. When the sidewall and lip are formed from such a blank of material, the perforated line is formed a specified distance below a top edge of such blank. The perforated line reduces the amount of force, heat and lubricant required in order to form (e.g., curl, roll, fold or bend) the upper lip of the container. The slits of the perforated line may extend across a width of the blank in either a uniform or variable fashion.

Abstract: A foldable tray with stable side walls and tapered walls for convenient stacking is provided. The tray may include two outward tapered walls and two straight walls. The side walls are reinforced or stabilized by providing an interlocking end flap tab inserted through a cut line in the side wall. The tray may also include a hinged lid to form a hinged box. The lid may include an inwardly tapering wall to accommodate and overlay one of the outwardly tapering walls of the tray.

Abstract: A foldable tray with stable side walls and tapered walls for convenient stacking is provided. The tray may include two outward tapered walls and two straight walls. The side walls are reinforced or stabilized by providing an interlocking end flap tab inserted through a cut line in the side wall. The tray may also include a hinged lid to form a hinged box. The lid may include an inwardly tapering wall to accommodate and overlay one of the outwardly tapering walls of the tray.

Abstract: A plastic container is provided having a sidewall, a downwardly extending upper lip, and a perforated line defined at a top edge of the container where the lip and sidewall are joined. The sidewall and lip may be formed from a container body constructed of a single sheet of material that is wrapped such that marginal edge portions of the blank are brought together in overlapping fashion to form a side seam. When the sidewall and lip are formed from such a blank of material, the perforated line is formed a specified distance below a top edge of such blank. The perforated line reduces the amount of force, heat and lubricant required in order to form (e.g., curl, roll, fold or bend) the upper lip of the container. The slits of the perforated line may extend across a width of the blank in either a uniform or variable fashion.

Abstract: A plastic container is provided having a sidewall, a downwardly extending upper lip, and a perforated line defined at a top edge of the container where the lip and sidewall are joined. The sidewall and lip may be formed from a container body constructed of a single sheet of material that is wrapped such that marginal edge portions of the blank are brought together in overlapping fashion to form a side seam. When the sidewall and lip are formed from such a blank of material, the perforated line is formed a specified distance below a top edge of such blank. The perforated line reduces the amount of force, heat and lubricant required in order to form (e.g., curl, roll, fold or bend) the upper lip of the container. The slits of the perforated line may extend across a width of the blank in either a uniform or variable fashion.

Abstract: A plastic container is provided having a sidewall, a downwardly extending upper lip, and a perforated line defined at a top edge of the container where the lip and sidewall are joined. The sidewall and lip may be formed from a container body constructed of a single sheet of material that is wrapped such that marginal edge portions of the blank are brought together in overlapping fashion to form a side seam. When the sidewall and lip are formed from such a blank of material, the perforated line is formed a specified distance below a top edge of such blank. The perforated line reduces the amount of force, heat and lubricant required in order to form (e.g., curl, roll, fold or bend) the upper lip of the container. The slits of the perforated line may extend across a width of the blank in either a uniform or variable fashion.

Abstract: A container for food products including a receptacle having a sidewall and a bottom wall that define a container area that receives the food product, a lid removably coupled to said receptacle, and a label having a window for viewing information on an outside surface of the receptacle. The outside surface of the sidewall also includes printing thereon. The sidewall further includes at least one top embossment and at least one bottom embossment disposed thereon and the label is rotatably mounted upon the outside surface of the receptacle between the top embossment and the bottom embossment. The top embossment and the bottom embossment resist translation of the label with respect to the outside surface of the receptacle in a longitudinal direction. The label includes at least one window disposed thereon that allows a user to view a portion of the outside surface of the receptacle.

Abstract: A multiple compartment container assembly for containing at least two articles arranged one above the other. The assembly includes a carton defining a first, lower compartment and a tray suspended within carton, wherein the tray defines a second, upper compartment. The tray may be provided with tabs extending therefrom suitable for removable engagement with corresponding notches defined in the carton. The tray's tabs may each include one or more forwardly or rearwardly extending projections for engaging portions of the carton adjacent the carton's notches in order to ensure the tray is held in a suspended position within the carton. The carton's notches may each include one or more forwardly or rearwardly extending projections extending therein for retaining the tray's tabs and preventing the tabs from becoming inadvertently upwardly disengaged from the notches. It will be appreciated that the notches' projections may be deflected in order to disengage the tray's tabs.

Abstract: A container/lid assembly that includes a container having a sidewall with at least one aperture extending through the sidewall and a lid having a ring portion with at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to engage the aperture in the container sidewall for securing said lid to said container. The aperture extending from the lid ring portion can be configured to allow the lid ring portion to be inserted into the container sidewall but yet restrict the lid ring portion from being readily removed from the container sidewall.

Abstract: A condiment dispenser is provided for the dispensing of condiments such as ketchup, mustard and the like. The container includes a sidewall and two end closures. One of the end closures includes a dispensing spout attached to a resiliently flexible wall that is movable between extended and collapsed configurations to allow the spout to be recessed within the confines of the container for shipping and extended for dispensing. The container is adapted for being used and stored in an upside down condition wherein the spout is downwardly directed. The spout is configured to prevent leakage of the condiment therefrom during upside down storage.

Abstract: A method of sealing a plug with a food sauce dispensing cartridge enables leak proof operation of the dispensing cartridge at the site of the plug. The plug, having a circumferential edge, is positioned within the dispensing cartridge and oriented such that the edge is adjacent to the cartridge sidewall. A layer of hot melt adhesive is then applied to the circumferential edge and flows into a gap created between the plug and the cartridge sidewall at a sideseam formed by an overlap region of the cartridge sidewall. The hot melt adhesive subsequently bonds the plug to the cartridge sidewall and prevents food sauce from moving past the circumferential edge of the plug and out of a containment region.

Abstract: A method of sealing a plug with a food sauce dispensing cartridge enables leak proof operation of the dispensing cartridge at the site of the plug. The plug, having a circumferential edge, is positioned within the dispensing cartridge and oriented such that the edge is adjacent to the cartridge sidewall. A layer of hot melt adhesive is then applied to the circumferential edge and flows into a gap created between the plug and the cartridge sidewall at a sideseam formed by an overlap region of the cartridge sidewall. The hot melt adhesive subsequently bonds the plug to the cartridge sidewall and prevents food sauce from moving past the circumferential edge of the plug and out of a containment region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cost effective, tamper-evident container that can be effectively closed and that is easy to use. The closure includes a disc having a aperture and a tab extending across the aperture. The tab is removably coupled to the disc in a tamper-evident method around the periphery of the aperture and permanently coupled to the disc at a connecting portion. The sidewall of the container is bent inward and down to provide a locking mechanism for maintaining the tab in a closed position after it has been opened.

Abstract: A laminated end disk construction for food sauce dispensing cartridges and other food containers. A laminated end disk through which food sauce may be dispensed is provided with a valve layer and a support layer. The valve layer includes a plurality of valves, and the support layer includes one or more openings and a kiss cut defining an outer perimeter area and an inner area. A protective patch may be removably attached to the support layer along at least a portion of the outer perimeter. The invention also provides a laminated end disk wherein the ratio of the support area to the dispensing area is less than about 7.