Abstract: A container having a base, a lid, and a tamper-evident, closed band. The base includes a sealing section and defines a space and an opening at a periphery that has an outwardly extending base flange with a contact surface. The lid has a lid sealing section and an outwardly extending lid flange having a contact surface. The base sealing section and the lid sealing section form a reclosable snap fit. The lid and base flanges can also include a removed portion to create an increased distance between contact surfaces on the lid and base flanges. The tamper-evident, closed band can attach at a first end to one of the base and lid, with a free second end, can be substantially detachable from the base or lid as a closed band, and can also extend to substantially prevent direct manual access to the lid and base flanges.

Abstract: A clam-shell container system can include first and second container pieces that are hingedly connected. The first container piece can include a perimeter and a hangable tab, the hangable tab having an opening configured to receive a rod. The hinge connection can be perforated, such that it breaks upon actuation of the hangable tab to open the container system. The second container piece can include a cutout in proximity to the hinge connection and the hangable tab. Accordingly, the cutout can provide clearance for the rotation of the hangable tab beyond the hinge connection. Further, the second container piece can have a perimeter having a shape substantially similar to the perimeter of the first container piece. The perimeters can form a substantial seal in combination.

Abstract: A container comprises a clamshell-like shape. The container includes a hinge positioned low on a viewing face and opens high on the rear end. The interior of the container is shaped so as to present its contents at a desirable viewing angle, the container intended to provide an unobstructed view through the viewing face. The container may comprise a closing mechanism at the rear end to hold the container closed. The container can contain products for sale, including cookies, slices of pound cake, other baked goods, and other products.

Abstract: A container of sheet plastic reveals when it has been opened after a clerk loaded it with food. The container has a base (12) and lid (14) that remain latched together until they are separated at an initial opening region (40) where the lid has a radially-outward projecting lid tab (44) and the base has a tear-away part (52) with a blocker (60) that blocks access to the lid tab. The blocker surrounds the radially outward edge and opposite sides of the tab. The blocker prevents access to the lid tab to lift it to open the container until the tear-away part (52) is torn along a tear line (81). The fact that the tear-away part is torn away, reveals that the container has been tampered with.

Abstract: A container comprising a base (12) and lid (14) each formed of sheet plastic, wherein after food is loaded into a base cavity (20) and the lid is closed, the lid resists opening. To open the lid, a move-away tab (64) lying along the base rim portion (30) is moved by tearing along at least one line (70) so a lid rim part (50) is exposed and can be grasped to lift the lid. The base has an outer raised rib (32) that blocks access to the lid rim part until the tab, which lies between two gaps (62, 63) in the outer rib, is moved out of the way. The base also has an inner raised rib (34) that projects into a groove (46) in the lid to form a seal.

Abstract: A bowl assembly (10) for steaming food as in a microwave oven, includes a bowl (12), a platform (14) that lies in the bowl for supporting food, and a lid (16) and lidding film (13) that close the bowl. The platform includes a plate (22) and one or more upstanding handles (46) that allow a person to lift or tilt the plate with food thereon even while the plate is hot. The bowl has a bottom wall (26) with a convexly curved upper surface (80), and with a middle that forms a recess (72) that receives a downwardly-protruding latch (70) of the plate to latch the plate to the bowl. The plate has a plurality of depressions that form liquid guiding channels (40) with holes (42) for draining liquids. The periphery of the plate is supported on an interrupted up-step (60) at the periphery of the bowl bottom wall, with gaps (18) left between the up-steps though which liquids can drain.

Abstract: A container with a base (12) and lid (14), clearly indicates if the lid has been opened after a clerk loaded food into the base and closed the lid. The base and lid each has a respective lid tab and a base tab, with one tab forming a slot (26) and the tab other projecting through the slot, and with the base tab forming a barrier wall (80) that lies over the lid tab. One of the tabs has a weakened severable line (90, 92) that can be torn to allow the lid tab to be lifted to open the container.

Abstract: A container clearly indicates that it has been opened after a store clerk loads food into the base of the container and closes a covering of the container onto the base. The covering (16) includes a peripheral cover portion (22) that becomes fixed to a peripheral base portion (32) when the clerk initially closes the container. To thereafter open the container, a person forcefully lifts a tab (30) on the covering to tear the covering along a long tear line (26) that separates the peripheral cover portion (22) from a lid (24) formed by a radially inner covering portion. The base (12) is fixed to the peripheral covering portion (22), and together they form a base device (40). After the lid has been torn free of the peripheral covering portion, the lid can be closed and latched to the base device and then can be easily opened again.

Abstract: Food containers formed of sheet plastic are latchably stackable on one another. Each container has base (14) and lid (16) elements, with one of them having an outer rim part with a pair of long handle sections (80, 82) that can be pivoted up to form a handle assembly for carrying the container. The sections that form handles are formed in the lid element (16) rather than in the base element (14), so a person does not have to contend with long bouncing sections if the person eats a meal out of the base. One of the elements has vertically undercut grooves (50) and the other element has horizontal projections (52) that slide into and along the grooves. The grooved element has vertical passages (120) along which the projections can move vertically until they can slide into and along the grooves.

Abstract: A food container formed from plastic, can be loaded with food and then closed by a clerk, and thereafter cannot be opened without tearing apart first sides (24, 26) of the base (12) and lid (16). The container is formed by a single sheet of plastic that forms a base and lid with second sides (20, 22) that are latched together and with adjacent first sides that are joined by a joint line (30) in the plastic that is creased and that has slits (40). At the joint line, the lid has a projecting lid tab (32) and the base has a projecting base tab (36). A person grasps both tabs, and lifts only the lid tab to tear apart the first sides of the base and lid along the joint line (30). Thereafter, the lid can be easily closed and reopened on the base.

Abstract: A molding apparatus can include a primary mold, a stripper, and a swinging member. The swinging member can comprise a molding surface defining an undercut portion of a molded item. The swinging member can directly contact or attached to the stripper and the primary mold. To facilitate removal of a molded item, the swinging member can withdraw through a hole in the primary mold as a direct result of a motion of the stripper to pull the molded item off the primary mold. The molded item can then be easily removed.

Abstract: A food container formed from plastic, can be loaded with food and then closed by a clerk, and thereafter cannot be opened without tearing apart first sides (24, 26) of the base (12) and lid (16). The container is formed by a single sheet of plastic that forms a base and lid with second sides (20, 22) that are latched together and with adjacent first sides that are joined by a joint line (30) in the plastic that is creased and that has slits (40). At the joint line, the lid has a projecting lid tab (32) and the base has a projecting base tab (36). A person grasps both tabs, and lifts only the lid tab to tear apart the first sides of the base and lid along the joint line (30). Thereafter, the lid can be easily closed and reopened on the base.

Abstract: A container can include a base, a lid, and a tamper-evident, closed band. The base can define a space and an opening at a periphery, the opening can include at least one outwardly extending base flange, and the flange can have a contact surface. The base can also include a base sealing section. The lid can have a shape that generally matches the opening of the base generally at a periphery of the lid. The lid can also include at least one outwardly extending lid flange with a contact surface at the periphery, as well as a lid sealing section. The base sealing section and the lid sealing section can together form a reclosable snap fit when the lid is forcibly applied to the opening of the base to generally close the opening. Further, the base flange and lid flange can be in at least approximate alignment when the opening is closed such that the lid and base flanges can be manually pulled apart to separate the lid and base and overcome the snap fit.

Abstract: The claimed invention is a novel container system that adds utility and convenience for the consumer “on-the-go”. The container system claimed includes a main tray member that holds food product (e.g. carrots), and lid member that is configured so that, when it is inverted, it acts as a secondary tray member that holds food product (e.g. condiment) and is further attachable to the rim of the tray member via an interference fit or snap-fit grip fit. The resulting utility is that the consumer is able to hold the main tray member with one hand or have held the main tray member (e.g. in a recess in an automobile consol) and access the contents of both trays with a free hand.

Abstract: Food containers formed of sheet plastic are latchably stackable on one another. Each container has base (14) and lid (16) elements, with one of them having an outer rim part with a pair of long handle sections (80, 82) that can be pivoted up to form a handle assembly for carrying the container. The sections that form handles are formed in the lid element (16) rather than in the base element (14), so a person does not have to contend with long bouncing sections if the person eats a meal out of the base. One of the elements has vertically undercut grooves (50) and the other element has horizontal projections (52) that slide into and along the grooves. The grooved element has vertical passages (120) along which the projections can move vertically until they can slide into and along the grooves.

Abstract: A food container formed from plastic, can be loaded with food and then closed by a clerk, and thereafter cannot be opened without tearing apart first sides (24, 26) of the base (12) and lid (16). The container is formed by a single sheet of plastic that forms a base and lid with second sides (20, 22) that are latched together and with adjacent first sides that are joined by a joint line (30) in the plastic that is creased and that has slits (40). At the joint line, the lid has a projecting lid tab (32) and the base has a projecting base tab (36). A person grasps both tabs, and lifts only the lid tab to tear apart the first sides of the base and lid along the joint line (30). Thereafter, the lid can be easily closed and reopened on the base.

Abstract: A container clearly indicates that it has been opened after a store clerk loads food into the base of the container and closes a covering of the container onto the base. The covering (16) includes a peripheral cover portion (22) that becomes fixed to a peripheral base portion (32) when the clerk initially closes the container. To thereafter open the container, a person forcefully lifts a tab (30) on the covering to tear the covering along a long tear line (26) that separates the peripheral cover portion (22) from a lid (24) formed by a radially inner covering portion. The base (12) is fixed to the peripheral covering portion (22), and together they form a base device (40). After the lid has been torn free of the peripheral covering portion, the lid can be closed and latched to the base device and then can be easily opened again.

Abstract: A container system suitable for food can comprise a tray, a lid and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may comprise locking means, means to impede access to the locking means and a skirt with a skirt edge. A container system can comprise a tray, a lid, an aperture, a flap and an activation member. The activation member of the a first container system can be configured to release heated gases from a second container system by depressing the flap of the second system when the first system is stacked on top the second system. The container system can also comprise a dome surface, at least one stacking rib and an aperture surface. The aperture surface can comprise the aperture and flap. The aperture surface can be at least partially above the dome surface and below the at least one stacking rib. The aperture surface may be sloped.

Abstract: A food container formed from plastic, can be loaded with food and then closed by a clerk, and thereafter cannot be opened without tearing apart first sides (24, 26) of the base (12) and lid (16). The container is formed by a single sheet of plastic that forms a base and lid with second sides (20, 22) that are latched together and with adjacent first sides that are joined by a joint line (30) in the plastic that is creased and that has slits (40). At the joint line, the lid has a projecting lid tab (32) and the base has a projecting base tab (36). A person grasps both tabs, and lifts only the lid tab to tear apart the first sides of the base and lid along the joint line (30). Thereafter, the lid can be easily closed and reopened on the base.