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 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 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 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 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 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 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 ajdacent to the tray chamfer, and the lid connects to the lid well and the tray connects to the tray well.

Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to food containers used in storing and displaying heated foods, as well as in serving foods from these containers. The food container of the present invention is an improvement over the conventional prepared food containers in that it features, among other things, an improved handle, where the heat from the container is not fully felt by the person holding the container, while still providing an advanced sealing mechanism to prevent the escape of the contents of the container.

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 ajdacent to the tray chamfer, and the lid connects to the lid well and the tray connects to the tray well.