VENTED HOT BAKED GOODS CONTAINER

Abstract

A container (16) that is especially useful to hold hot baked goods to vent moisture and thereby increase the life of the baked goods. The container includes base and lid elements (12, 14), both formed of plastic sheeting, with especially the lid element having a plurality of small (preferably not more than ⅛th inch diameter) vent holes (50, 40, 42, 44, 52) that allow the escape of moisture while resisting the entry of dirt or objects.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Baked goods such as bread, cakes and pies, are often placed in a non-vented container consisting of a base and lid, as soon as the goods cool to about 110° F. The container then may be placed in a refrigerator. Moisture emitted from the baked goods tends to condense on the inside of the lid and reduce the shelf life of the baked goods from about 14 days (if not placed in a container) to 7 days. Applicant notes that cooked foods such as cooked vegetables, tend to emit odors and corresponding gases right after they are cooked and, unlike baked goods, tend to have a longer shelf life if immediately stored in a non-vented container than if placed in a vented container.

One way to vent gases for baked goods is to place a moisture-penetrable porous flexible film over a large hole in the base or lid, or to place a filter patch over a hole in the lid though which moisture can escape. The patch or film is almost always opaque or translucent but not fully transparent, and has pores that allow a slow flow of gases (moisture) and that prevents the entrance of spilled or splashed water. The patch or film also prevents a toothpick that a person might try to insert through a pore without authorization, to taste the food. A food container construction that allowed the venting of moisture while avoiding the need to mount a patch or film over a hole in the container, could reduce the cost of the container. It is preferable that such venting means not block or interfere with a clear view of the stored baked goods through the lid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a food container is provided that is especially useful to store hot baked goods. The container includes a base on which goods are placed and a lid that covers the base and that has a vertical axis and that has lid side walls extending about the axis. The lid side walls have a plurality of vent holes spaced about the axis, with each vent hole preferably being no more than ⅛th inch in diameter, and preferably at least 1/64th inch in diameter.

Venting can be encouraged through the base by constructing the base with a raised platform that lies close to a base periphery that is designed to rest on a horizontal support surface. A plurality of vertical vent holes are formed in the raised platform to allow moisture to escape though the holes and then outwardly through gaps between the base periphery and the horizontal support surface.

Where vent holes lie in an upper portion of the lid side walls, lower portions of the lid side walls are preferably formed to extend at downward-and-radially inward inclines. This resists the flow of moisture back into the lid though lower vent holes.

The lid can be provided with a plurality of pockets wherein each pocket projects radially inward into the cavity formed under the lid. Each pocket has circumferentially opposite pocket side walls that each has a vent hole.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a container of one embodiment of the invention wherein the container has vent holes in a top rib of the lid, in vertical lid side walls, and in a raised platform of the base.

FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a container that is identical to FIG. 1 but in an upside-down orientation.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 1 in a fully assembled configuration.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a container of another embodiment of the invention wherein the lid has pockets with vent holes.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a container of another embodiment of the invention, wherein lower walls of the container extend at downward and radially-inward inclines.

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of a container of another embodiment of the invention wherein the base has a peripheral rib at its bottom with vent holes in the rib.

FIGS. 1-2 are the same as figure in applicant's patent application Ser. No. 11/998,582 filed Nov. 30, 2007 except those figures do not show vent holes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a food container 10 which includes a base or base element 12 on which food, especially baked goods, can rest, and a lid or cover element 14 that covers the base and that forms a cavity 16 over the base. The container has a vertical axis 20, and the base and lid extend around the axis although they could be rectangular instead of round. The base is essentially flat, with a support surface 22 that supports the goods, such as a cake C (FIG. 2). The lid has side walls 24 that extend primarily vertically (about 7° from the vertical) and that extend around the axis, a primarily horizontal top wall 26 with an upstanding rib 30 that extends around the top wall, and a transition wall 32 that transitions from primarily vertical at 34 to primarily horizontal at 36 in a continuous curve. As shown in FIG. 1A wherein the food container labeled 10A has a transition wall 32A that is curved about adjacent points lying on a circle 39. The transition wall provides greater strength than a sharp bend. The upstanding rib 30 (FIG. 1) increases the rigidity of the top of the lid. The base and lid are each formed of semi-rigid sheet plastic which has been thermoformed to the indicated shape.

At a commercial bakery, hot baked goods such as bread, cakes and pies are allowed to cool to about 112° F. and then are placed in the container and the container is placed in a refrigerator. Considerable amounts of moisture are emitted by the baked goods. Applicant allows the moisture to escape by providing vent holes in the lid and also in the base. Applicant provides upper vent holes 50 in an upper portion 51 of the side walls 24 of the lid at locations closer to the top of the side walls than to the bottom or even the middle of the height of the side walls. The lid of FIG. 1 has four vent holes 50 in its side walls. Applicant also provides vent holes in the upstanding rib 30, including vent holes 40, 42, 44 in the radially outer rib wall 45, in the top rib wall 46, and in the radially inner rib wall 47. Much of the moisture emitted by hot or warm baked goods tends to condense at the top or upper portions of the lid, and the vent holes provide a ready escape path.

Applicant also provides vent holes 52 in the base 12. Some of the condensed moisture tends to run down the inside of the lid and onto the base. The base has a periphery 60 on a generally upward flange 62 (FIG. 3) whose radially outer edge is unsupported, or free. The peripheral surface can rest on a flat support surface S (FIG. 3) such as a table top, and has a plurality of upstanding platforms at 22 that support a cake or other goods. The outer platform or rib 22A is of a hat shaped cross-section (FIG. 3). The base vent holes 52 are formed in the outermost platform 22A. The outermost platform 22A and the periphery 60 are part of a base outer portion 81 (FIG. 1). Moisture can flow though the vent holes, especially moisture that condenses before it rises to the top of the container. The peripheral surface 60 that can rest on a flat surface is slightly “wavy” and moisture can flow under gaps 64 between the peripheral surface and a flat table top.

The container 10 (FIG. 1) has an upper transition region 62 that extends generally upward from the bottom 38 of the transition wall 32 to the radially inner surface of top rib wall 46 at 64. The continuous curve 32 and the upstanding rib 30 provide a transition from primarily vertical to horizontal.

The assembled container also has a lower transition region 70 (FIG. 2) that extends from the bottom 72 of the side wall 24 to the periphery 60 of the container. The lower transition region has latches 74, 76 (FIG. 1) that fasten the base and lid together and strengthen them. The lower transition region has a small flare 79 at the bottom of the side walls, and also has a horizontal wall 78 in the form of a radially outward-extending flange under the bottom of the side walls. A downward-extending tube 80 of the lid fits in a groove 82 in the base. The primarily vertical container side wall 24 may be considered a middle transition region that connects the upper and lower transition regions. Moisture containing a moderate amount of water, such as from hot cake icing, tends to vent through a hole in the side wall. The most important vent hole locations depend upon the particular hot baked goods. There is preferably a vent hole in at least one and possibly in all three, of the transition regions.

FIG. 4 shows a container 100 of the same shape as the container of FIGS. 1-3, but which has pockets that extend into the container cavity 104, with vent holes in the pockets. Pockets 110, 112 in the lid side walls 114 extend radially inward toward the axis 116, while a pocket 120 in a top wall 122 extends downward. The pocket 120 in the top wall has an extension 124 that is narrower than the rest of the pocket. A label 130 adheres to the top wall 122 and covers much of the pocket while leaving an end part 126 of the extension uncovered. The pocket 120 in the top wall has laterally opposite sides 132 that lie on opposite sides of the container axis 136 and extend perpendicular to the adjacent top wall 122. The pocket 120 also has an inner or bottom wall 140 that lies furthest from the adjacent lid outer wall 122. The opposite side walls have vent holes 142 and the inner wall 140 also has vent holes 144. Moisture emanating from the vent holes 142, 144 can pass along the narrow extension 124 into the environment.

The pockets 110 at the top of the lid side walls 114 have opposite side walls 152 and a bottom wall 154 that extend radially inward towards the axis. Each of the walls 152, 154 has at least one vent hole 160, 162. The top 164 of the pocket is open. If a label 166 is placed over the pocket 110 as shown, moisture can still escape though the open top at 164. Lower pockets 112 have four sides that extend radially inward and have a radially innermost wall, with each wall having at least one vent hole. It should be noted that applicant prefers to form the container symmetrically about the axis 136, so there are at least two pockets of the type shown at 110 and 112.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of a container lid 200 which has pockets 110A, 112A similar to those 110,112 of the lid of FIG. 4 with vent holes 114. However, the lid side walls in FIG. 5 below vent holes 114 are constructed with a backdraft 202 where the side walls extend at a downward and radially inward angle toward the axis 204. Any condensed moisture that flows down along the side walls 212, tends to drip at 214 into a region around the container. This avoids the moisture flowing back into the container cavity 214 though holes 220, 222.

FIG. 6 shows a container 300 comprising a base 302 and lid 304, wherein the lid has a lower and radially outer upstanding rib 310 that lies over a peripheral portion 312 of the base. the upstanding rib 310 has a plurality of holes 212 that enable the escape of moisture into the environment.

The vent holes are preferably small, to allow moisture to escape but to prevent the entrance of harmful material or implements. For example, the vent holes are designed to avoid the entrance of spilled water into the containers. Also, the vent holes are designed to make it difficult for a person to insert an object, such as a finger or even a toothpick though a vent hole in order to taste frosting on a cake. The narrowest common toothpick is a round toothpick of 0.08 inch diameter, while flat toothpicks are larger. In order to leave some frosting or other part of the goods on the toothpick, the hole must be at least ⅛th inch (0.125″) diameter. Thus, applicant prefers to use vent holes no larger than ⅛th inch diameter and in any case having an area no more than the area (0.035 inch²) of a round 3/16th inch diameter hole. Greater ventilation is achieved by providing more vent holes.

The containers shown in the figures have bases of small height and lids with side walls that form most of the height of the food-holding cavity. However, it should be understood that the base can have tall primarily vertical side walls that form a major part or a majority of the height of the cavity, and the lid can be of small height.

FIG. 1A shows a container 10A of the same construction as the container 10 of FIG. 1, except that the container 10A is oriented in an upside-down position. That is, the container 10A has a support 14A that holds food such as cookies or small pieces of cheesecake, with a cavity 16A that opens upward, and has a cover 12A that covers the cavity. Applicant prefers to form one or more vent holes in the now-downward facing peripheral horizontal wall 78A. The rib 30A rests on a horizontal support surface S such as a store shelf.

Thus, applicant provides a container comprising a base and lid each formed of sheet plastic, and which is especially useful to hold hot baked goods. The container has vent holes that are no more than 3/16th inch and preferably no more than ⅛th inch in diameter, or have an equivalent area. The vent holes can be provided in the primarily vertical side walls of the lid. The lid can be provided with a top wall having an upstanding rib, and vent holes can be provided in the upstanding rib. The base can be provided with an outermost platform with a plurality of vent holes in the platform. A lid can be provided that has pockets with vent holes in inner walls of the pockets. A label can be installed over much of a pocket but moisture still can exit out of the container. The lid side walls can be provided with a backdraft below upper vent holes, to prevent moisture in the form of water from flowing back into the container through a lower vent hole. The lid can be provided with a bottom upstanding rib with vent holes therein.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. A container for receiving hot baked goods, said container having a base, a lid that covers said base, and a vertical axis, said base and lid formed of sheet plastic, wherein:

said lid has primarily vertical lid side walls extending about said axis, a primarily horizontal top wall, and an upper transition region that extends from a top of said lid side walls to said primarily horizontal lid top wall;

said upper transition region including a transition wall with a lower portion extending primarily upward from a top of said lid side walls, and with an upward portion extending primarily horizontally to a top rib, said top rib projecting upwardly from a top of said transition wall;

said lid top rib extends around said axis and has radially inward and radially outward primarily vertical rib walls, and a top rib wall;

at least one vent hole in said upper transition region, with said vent hole having an area no more than that of a 3/16th inch diameter hole.

2. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said at least one vent hole lies in one of said rib walls.

3. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said side walls extend at an upward and radially inward incline of less than 20° from the vertical, and said transition wall extends in a continuous curve about adjacent points on a circle that lies within said side walls and is centered on said axis.

4. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said base has a base peripheral portion with a bottom for resting on a horizontal surface, a raised platform lying closer to a base periphery that to said axis, and a circular groove centered on said axis that lies between said base periphery and said raised platform, with said base peripheral portion having a plurality of vent holes.

5. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said top rib projects upward and is centered on said axis and said radially inward and outward rib walls face respectively toward and away from said axis and said top rib wall faces upward;

said outward top rib wall having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced vent holes.

6. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said lid side walls have a plurality of pockets that each projects radially inward into said outer walls, each pocket having a primarily vertical recess inner wall and circumferentially spaced opposite vertically-extending side walls, and each recess having a vent hole in its walls.

7. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said container lies in an orientation wherein said lid is bottommost and said top rib lies on and is supported on a horizontal surface.

8. The container described in claim 1 wherein:

said at least one vent hole lies in said top rib wall.

9. A container for receiving hot baked goods, said container having a base, a lid that covers said base, and a vertical axis, said base and lid formed of sheet plastic, wherein:

said lid has primarily vertical lid side walls extending about said axis, and said lid having a lid bottom portion that includes a primarily radially-outward extending flange under the bottom of said lid side walls, and a downward extending tube that extends downward from a radially outward end of said flange;

said base has a base peripheral portion including a radially outer base periphery, a raised platform, and a ring-shaped base groove lying between said raised platform and said base periphery, said downward-extending tube of said lid lying in said base groove;

said container has a lower transition region that includes said lid bottom portion and said base peripheral portion, said lower transition region having at least one vent hole with a hole area no more than that of a 3/16th inch diameter hole.

10. The container described in claim 9 wherein:

said raised platform has inner and outer primarily vertical platform walls and a horizontal top platform wall that joins said vertical platform walls;

said base peripheral portion has a radially outer part that is free of support and is designed to rest on a horizontal support surface, and said at least one vent hole lies in one of said platform walls.

11. A container for receiving hot baked goods, said container having a base on which the goods lie and a lid that covers said base, said base and lid each formed of sheet plastic, wherein:

said lid has a vertical axis and has lid side walls extending around said axis, said lid side walls having an upper portion forming at least one vent hole;

said lid side walls have a lower portion that has at least one vent hole, said lid lower portion having a part that extends at a downward and vertically inward incline, whereby to direct moisture exiting said upper vent holes and flowing down along said lid side wall lower portion, away from said lower vent holes.

12. A container for receiving hot baked goods, said container having a base on which the goods lie and a lid that covers said base, said base and lid formed of sheet plastic, wherein:

said base has a radially outer portion with a periphery having a periphery part that is designed to rest on a horizontal support surface, and said outer portion has a raised platform lying radially inside said base periphery and covered by said lid, said outer portion having at least one vent hole.

13. A container for receiving hot baked goods, said container having a base, a lid that covers said base, and a vertical axis, said base and lid formed of sheet plastic, wherein:

said lid has primarily vertical lid side walls extending about said axis, a primarily horizontal top wall, an upper transition region that extends from a top of said lid side walls to said primarily horizontal lid top wall, and a lower transition portion extending downward from a bottom of said lid side walls;

said lid side walls having at least one vent hole, with said vent hole having an area no more than 0.035 inch2.

14. The container described in claim 13 wherein:

said at least one vent hole is primarily a circle with a diameter no more than 3/16th inch.

15. A container with a food-holding cavity for receiving hot baked goods, said container having a base on which goods can lie and a lid that covers said base, said base and lid formed of sheet plastic, wherein:

said lid has a vertical axis and has lid top walls and primarily vertical lid side walls extending about said axis, with said lid side walls and lid top walls and base defining said cavity, said lid walls having a plurality of pockets wherein each pocket has a plurality of pocket sides including a pair of opposite primarily vertical pocket sides extending into said cavity, with a plurality of said pocket walls each having a vent hole.

16. The container described in claim 15 wherein:

a first of said pockets lies in said lid top walls, said first pocket having a pocket extension that is narrower than the distance between said pair of opposite primarily vertical pocket walls of said first pocket, with said extension extending in said lid top walls;

a label that lies against said lid top walls and over said first pocket but that leaves at least a portion of said pocket extension open.

17. The container described in claim 15 including:

a label partially covering at least one of said pockets.

18. The container described in claim 15 wherein:

a first of said pockets further defines a channel extending that allows the escape of moisture.