Abstract: A plastic container includes a lid adapted for leak-proof sealing state with a base. Mating surfaces of the lid and base rims form one or more proximal seal zones when the lid rim and base rim are in an initially sealed state. Hinge-forming structure extends from a first hinge-joining section of the lid rim to a second hinge-joining section on the base rim. In the initially sealed state the first hinge-joining section superposes over all or part of the second hinge-joining section, the area at which the first hinge-joining-section superposes the second hinge-joining section defines an overlapping portion of the first and second hinge-joining sections. One or more vent channels are formed in either of the lid rim or base rim and located within the radially overlapping portion. The one or more channels form a complete discontinuity in the one or more proximal seal zones. Because the channels are within the overlapping portion, they are protected from tampering access.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a lid adapted for leak-proof sealing state with a base. Mating surfaces of the lid and base rims form one or more proximal seal zones when the lid rim and base rim are in an initially sealed state. Hinge-forming structure extends from a first hinge-joining section of the lid rim to a second hinge-joining section on the base rim. In the initially sealed state the first hinge-joining section superposes over all or part of the second hinge-joining section, the area at which the first hinge-joining-section superposes the second hinge-joining section defines an overlapping portion of the first and second hinge-joining sections. One or more vent channels are formed in either of the lid rim or base rim and located within the radially overlapping portion. The one or more channels form a complete discontinuity in the one or more proximal seal zones. Because the channels are within the overlapping portion, they are protected from tampering access.

Abstract: A tamper-evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim. The base includes a base rim. A frangible hinge is formed between a lid hinge segment extending outwardly from the lid rim and a base hinge segment extending outwardly from the base rim. The lid hinge segment includes at least one thumb rest that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive the thumb on a user's hand. The thumb rest has a counterpart finger rest located on the base hinge segment that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive a finger on the user's hand while the thumb of the same hand is in contact with the thumb rest. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pushing force to the thumb rest and a contemporaneous pulling force to the finger rest.

Abstract: A tamper evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim having a lid rim flange. The base includes a base rim having a base rim flange. A frangible hinge is formed between a top pinch segment peripherally projecting from the lid rim flange and a bottom pinch segment peripherally projecting from the base rim flange. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pinching force to the top pinch segment and bottom pinch segment that results in the relative vertical movement of the segments toward each other. As compared to the prior art, the container hinges about a frangible vertex instead of hinging about a square-shaped structure.

Abstract: A tamper evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim having a lid rim flange. The base includes a base rim having a base rim flange. A frangible hinge is formed between a top pinch segment peripherally projecting from the lid rim flange and a bottom pinch segment peripherally projecting from the base rim flange. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pinching force to the top pinch segment and bottom pinch segment that results in the relative vertical movement of the segments toward each other. As compared to the prior art, the container hinges about a frangible vertex instead of hinging about a square-shaped structure.

Abstract: A tamper evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim having a lid rim flange. The base includes a base rim having a base rim flange. A frangible hinge is formed between a top pinch segment peripherally projecting from the lid rim flange and a bottom pinch segment peripherally projecting from the base rim flange. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pinching force to the top pinch segment and bottom pinch segment that results in the relative vertical movement of the segments toward each other. As compared to the prior art, the container hinges about a frangible vertex instead of hinging about a square-shaped structure.

Abstract: A tamper-evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim. The base includes a base rim. A frangible hinge is formed between a lid hinge segment extending outwardly from the lid rim and a base hinge segment extending outwardly from the base rim. The lid hinge segment includes at least one thumb rest that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive the thumb on a user's hand. The thumb rest has a counterpart finger rest located on the base hinge segment that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive a finger on the user's hand while the thumb of the same hand is in contact with the thumb rest. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pushing force to the thumb rest and a contemporaneous pulling force to the finger rest.

Abstract: A tamper evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim having a lid rim flange. The base includes a base rim having a base rim flange. A frangible hinge is formed between a top pinch segment peripherally projecting from the lid rim flange and a bottom pinch segment peripherally projecting from the base rim flange. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pinching force to the top pinch segment and bottom pinch segment that results in the relative vertical movement of the segments toward each other. As compared to the prior art, the container hinges about a frangible vertex instead of hinging about a square-shaped structure.

Abstract: A tamper-evident container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a lid rim. The base includes a base rim. A frangible hinge is formed between a lid hinge segment extending outwardly from the lid rim and a base hinge segment extending outwardly from the base rim. The lid hinge segment includes at least one thumb rest that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive the thumb on a user's hand. The thumb rest has a counterpart finger rest located on the base hinge segment that is positioned, sized and shaped to receive a finger on the user's hand while the thumb of the same hand is in contact with the thumb rest. The frangible hinge is configured to rupture when the container is in the initially sealed arrangement by the application of a pushing force to the thumb rest and a contemporaneous pulling force to the finger rest.

Abstract: A single point hinge and a method of thermoforming a plastic container including a single point hinge include a lid, a tray, a single point hinge connecting the lid and the tray. The single point hinge includes an angle formed by a lid chamfer and a tray chamfer. The single point hinge further includes a lid well adjacent to the lid chamfer and a tray well adjacent to the tray chamfer, and the lid connects to the lid well and the tray connects to the tray well.

Abstract: A food container system for a take-out main course food item includes a plastic lid adapted for sealing arrangement with a plastic base and one or more securable inner vessels adapted to hold an accessory food item. The floor of the base includes one or more first vessel-receiving mechanisms designed to locate and receive the bottom of a securable inner vessel. The lid includes one or more second vessel-receiving mechanisms, each designed to receive and engage the top rim of a securable inner vessel when such vessel is received by a first vessel-receiving mechanism and the lid and base are in the sealed arrangement. The engagement of the top rim of a vessel by a second vessel-receiving mechanism of the lid results in a leak resistant seal between the vessel and the lid.

Abstract: A container includes a lid adapted to seal with a base. The lid and base rims each have vertical segments that mate upon sealing the container. The mating segments form a vertical seal zone. The vertical seal zone has a width extending across the rim surfaces. One or more vent channels are disposed on either or both rims. Each vent channel extends partially into the vertical seal zone. When pressure inside the container reaches a critical level, the lid rises and reduces the width of the seal zone, creating a vent point. Pressurized vapors traveling through the vent channel overcome rim-engaging forces at the vent point and pass through the engaged rims. Once pressure is purged, the lid descends and resumes its sealed arrangement with the base. The rims may respectively include horizontally oriented segments that engage each other to from a horizontal seal zone.

Abstract: A food container system for a take-out main course food item includes a plastic lid adapted for sealing arrangement with a plastic base and one or more securable inner vessels adapted to hold an accessory food item. The floor of the base includes one or more first vessel-receiving mechanisms designed to locate and receive the bottom of a securable inner vessel. The lid includes one or more second vessel-receiving mechanisms, each designed to receive and engage the top rim of a securable inner vessel when such vessel is received by a first vessel-receiving mechanism and the lid and base are in the sealed arrangement. The engagement of the top rim of a vessel by a second vessel-receiving mechanism of the lid results in a leak resistant seal between the vessel and the lid.