STORAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A container includes a base portion made primarily of paper and a lid portion comprising plastic or other suitable material. The base portion includes a primary rim extending radially outward at, or proximate to, an opening to the interior storage region of the base portion, and circumscribing the opening. A plastic secondary rim is fixedly joined to a surface of the primary rim such that when the lid portion is removably received to the base portion, so as to close the opening, a peripheral sealing portion of the lid portion sealingly engages the plastic secondary rim, in pressed conformance therewith, making a plastic-against-plastic seal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage containers, in particular, containers suited to holding or storing prepared food and other consumables, such as soup, salads, etc, which include a storage base portion and a lid portion removably affixable thereto in a sealable manner.

Such containers of the general type including a lid portion and base portion are well know, and have long been used for storing and transporting prepared food, such as are commonly encountered in takeout food establishments. A proper and secure seal between the lid portion and the base portion is important to prevent leakage and/or spoilage by exposure of the contents to ambient air/bacteria when stored or refrigerated. In such containers, it is furthermore desirable that the lid portion is easily attached and detached from the base portion for facilitated use.

Containers having a base portion and attachable lid portion made almost entirely of paper/cardboard material are known. However, such construction does not generally insure a leakproof seal, nor does the paper base portion provide a necessary degree of stability when containing food having any significant weight, and can be deformed, creating a potential for spillage of contents.

To insure a more reliable seal between the lid portion and the base portion, such food storage containers have routinely been made entirely of plastic. While providing a more reliable seal between the lid portion and the base portion, and enhanced stability as compared with paper containers, such plastic containers do not provide a particularly environmentally friendly solution to food storage, and are relatively expensive as compared to a paper product. Applying printing, such as advertising content, to a container made exclusively of plastic, is difficult and more costly than when applied to paper.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a storage container which overcomes this and other drawbacks of the prior art, and which is optionally suited for storage of articles including, for example, food and/or other consumables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this and other objects of the present invention, a container includes a base portion made primarily of paper or other suitable printable and/or biodegradable non-plastic material, and configured for receiving a lid portion, having a peripheral sealing portion, which can be brought into mated removable engagement therewith. The base portion includes a flange, i.e, a primary rim portion, extending radially outward at, or proximate to, an opening to the interior storage region of the base portion, and circumscribing the opening. A plastic secondary rim is fixedly joined to a surface of the flange (primary rim portion) such that when the lid portion is removably received to the base portion, so as to close the opening, the peripheral sealing portion of the lid portion sealingly engages the plastic secondary rim, in contact conformance therewith, making a plastic-against-plastic seal.

It is noted herein that, when the term “paper” is used herein in described with respect to structural container portions, it will be understood that while paper or like product is deemed advantageous to practice of the invention, other biodegradable and/or printable non-plastic materials are also contemplated as suitable alternative materials for comprising such structural portions within the contemplated scope of the invention.

It is further noted that the term “plastic” as used herein, while advantageously intended to be defined as including any suitable thermoplastic resin for achieving a seal in the content of the invention, also refers to any of suitable elastomeric materials, such as, for example, rubber, silicone, etc., or any combination thereof.

The secondary plastic rim is attached to the original paper flange/primary rim portion through various suitable methods, including, for example, heat pressed sealing of a preformed plastic rim, lamination, injection overmolding, etc. The provision of such plastic secondary rim imparts enhanced strength to the base portion and concomitantly insures a proper seal when mated with the lid portion, to prevent or inhibit leakage, so as to be suitable for storing and transporting solid or liquid food.

Because a major portion of the base portion is comprised of paper, it can readily be printed with a design or other visual indicia for the purpose of customization, as well as advertising usage, in a simpler and more cost effective manner than printing on a plastic container.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least a majority, or, if so desired, optionally an entirely, of the product is compostable and/or biodegradable. A product in accordance with such embodiment is a drastically more environmental friendly alternative to other take-out disposable containers available on the market today.

Since aplastic-against-plastic seal is desirable in practice of the invention, the lid portion will preferably be comprised of plastic, at least in a region corresponding to a peripheral portion of the lid portion adapted to come into contact with the plastic secondary rim of the base portion. In this regard, the lid portion could be made entirely of plastic or, if so desired, comprised of paper or other material in a central region and contain a plastic surface at a periphery of the lid portion positioned to face the plastic secondary rim when received to the base portion, analogous to the structural configuration described herein with regard to the base portion. A lid portion which is optionally comprised of a paper region facilitates printing of a design, advertizing information, etc. thereon, much in the manner of the base portion, and can optionally provide biodegadabiliy.

Advantageously, a container according to an embodiment of the invention would be reheatable. Also, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the containers are stackable and same-size nestable.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 depicting a lid portion separate from a base portion;

FIG. 4a is a detail cross-sectional view of the engagement region of the lid portion and the base portion of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4b is a detail cross-sectional view of the engagement region of the lid portion and the base portion of an embodiment featuring a plastic secondary rim having a modified structural configuration;

FIG. 4c is a detail cross-sectional view of another engagement region of the lid portion and the base portion of an embodiment featuring an alternative placement of a plastic secondary rim;

FIG. 4d is a detail cross-sectional view of another engagement region of the lid portion and the base portion of an embodiment featuring another alternative placement of a plastic secondary rim

FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevational cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention depicting a lid portion separate from a base portion, in which a peripherally inward central region the lid portion is comprised of paper and a plastic-enhanced peripheral engagement region is provided;

FIG. 6a is a detail cross-sectional view of the engagement region and central region of the lid portion and the base portion of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6b is a detail cross-sectional view of the engagement region and central region of the lid portion and the base portion of an embodiment having a modified structural configuration from that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6c is a detail cross-sectional view of another engagement region and central region of the lid portion and the base portion of an embodiment featuring an alternative structural configuration to that of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 6d is a detail cross-sectional view of another engagement region and central region of the lid portion and the base portion of an embodiment featuring another alternative structural configuration to that of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment in accordance with the invention is generally designated 10. Container 10 includes a base portion 1 and a lid portion 2 configured to close an opening to a storage interior of the base portion 1 when received thereto.

Base portion 1 includes a main body portion 3 comprised of a suitable paper material. Main body portion 3 can be readily produced according to conventional practice commonly used in producing paper takeout food containers. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, main body portion 3 includes a tubular portion 3a (advantageously being frustro-conically shaped in the depicted example, to facilitate nesting of two or more base portions for more compact storage prior to use). A bottom portion 3b is fastened to the lower interior wall of the tubular portion 3a so as to define the enclosure for holding food introduced into the base portion 1. Any other suitable manufacturing method can also be employed, many being well know in the art and practiced conventionally in the food container field. For example, main body portion 3 could be molded or deformed by applied pressure on a suitably configured form, as an integral unit.

Additionally, many shapes and sizes of containers can employ the features of the invention without departure from the invention. For example, while depicted as having a generally circular opening, base portion 1 can be configured to have a square or rectangular opening, for example. Furthermore, while shown as a container with no inner partitioning in each of the depicted examples, containers which include a base portion having one or more partitioned inner sections or compartments can similarly employ the features described herein with regard to a rim circumscribing an outer envelope thereof without departure from the invention.

Main body portion 3 further includes a flange portion comprised of paper which presents a primary rim 3c extending about an opening to the base portion 1 which, when engaged with the lid portion 2, retains the lid portion 2 to the base portion 1 by an interference fit therebetween. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a plastic secondary rim 4 is fixedly joined to at least a surface of the paper primary rim 3c such that when the lid portion 2 is removably received to the base portion 1, so as to close the opening, a peripheral sealing portion of the lid portion 2 sealingly engages the plastic secondary rim 4, in contact or pressed conformance therewith.

It is contemplated that the plastic secondary rim 4 can be joined to the paper primary rim 3c at different surface locations and positions on the primary rim 3c. Of course, in this regard, it will be understood that modification of the configuration of lid portion 2 may be required to insure that a peripheral portion of the lid portion 2 will contactably and sealably engage the plastic secondary rim 4 in any such selected disposition.

A few examples of different plastic secondary rim configurations and/or placements, disclosed for illustrative purposes and not intended to be limiting of the invention, are shown in FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b, FIG. 4c and FIG. 4d.

FIG. 4a depicts a plastic secondary rim 4 affixed to a lower surface of paper primary rim 3c, and having a radially outward engagement region 4a which is locally thicker than a remainder of the plastic secondary rim 4, which engagement region 4a engages an overlapping portion 2a of lid portion 2.

FIG. 4b depicts an embodiment in which a plastic secondary rim 4′ is affixed to paper primary rim 3c′ in a form of a uniform thickness laminate which is sealably engaged by a protrusion 2a′ on lid portion 2′. FIG. 4c depicts an alternative example in which a plastic secondary rim 4″ is affixed to an upper surface of paper primary rim 3c″ which sealably contacts a lower surface of the lid portion 2′ to maintain a seal.

While the embodiments of FIGS. 4a-4c all include a plastic secondary rim being disposed only on either the lower or upper side of the primary rim, it is entirely possible to have the plastic secondary rim formed as a layer that either wraps around the primary rim (for example produced by over-molding), as shown in FIG. 4d, to cover all or portions of the upper and lower surfaces, or could be formed only on the upper and lower surfaces as two separate layers (see, for example, FIG. 6d).

A mentioned above, the lid portion could be made entirely of plastic or, if so desired, comprised of paper or other biodegradable material in a central region and contain a plastic surface or surfaces at a periphery of the lid portion positioned to face the plastic secondary rim when received to the base portion, analogous to the structural configuration described herein with regard to the base portion. Such configuration is depicted in FIGS. 5, 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d.

Referring to FIG. 5, a container 20 includes a base portion 1 and a lid portion 22 configured close an opening to a storage interior of the base portion 1 when received thereto. It is noted that for illustration purposes, base portion 1 is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 3, and therefore further description thereof is omitted as redundant.

Lid portion 22 includes a central region 22a comprised of paper or other biodegradable and or printable non-plastic material and a peripheral engagement region 22b comprised of plastic. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a plastic ring of suitable configuration is fixedly joined to a peripherally located surface of the paper central region 22a so as to define the peripheral engagement region 22b, such that when the lid portion 22 is removably received to the base portion 1, so as to close the opening, a surface of peripheral engagement region 22b of the lid portion 22 sealingly engages the plastic secondary rim 4, advantageously in contact or pressed conformance therewith.

As described with respect to the plastic secondary rim 4 of the embodiment of FIG. 3, peripheral engagement region 22b can be analogously joined to the paper central region 22a at different surface locations in the peripheral location thereof.

A few examples of different configurations and/or placements of the peripheral engagement region 22b relative to the central region 22a and various combinations thereof with differently configured rim portions of the base portion 1, disclosed for illustrative purposes and not intended to be limiting of the invention, are shown in FIG. 6a, FIG. 6b, FIG. 6c and FIG. 6d.

FIG. 6a depicts a plastic secondary rim 4 affixed to a lower surface of paper primary rim 3c, and having a radially outward engagement region 4a which is locally thicker than a remainder of the plastic secondary rim 4. Plastic peripheral engagement portion 22b is fixed to a top surface of central region 22a, and includes an overlapping portion 23 which engages engagement region 4a of base portion 1 when the lid portion 22 is received to base portion 1.

FIG. 6b depicts an embodiment in which plastic peripheral engagement portion 22b is fixed instead to a bottom facing surface of central region 22a, and includes a protrusion 23′ which engages plastic secondary rim 4′ affixed to the bottom surface of paper primary rim 3c′ of base portion 1′.

FIG. 6c depicts an embodiment in which the plastic secondary rim 4″′ is formed as a layer that wraps around the primary rim 3c′″. Plastic peripheral engagement portion 22b is fixed to the bottom facing surface of central region 22a, and includes a protrusion 23′ which engages a lower surface of plastic secondary rim 4″′ as well as engaging a top surface of plastic secondary rim 4″′ affixed to the paper primary rim 3c′′ of base portion 1″′.

FIG. 6d depicts an alternative example in which a plastic secondary rim 4″″ is formed only on the upper and lower surfaces as two separate layers on paper primary rim 3a″″ of base 1″″, but which still functions to provide redundant sealing, top and bottom. Also, to illustrate the many ways that the peripheral engagement region can be attached to the central region of the lid portion, in the depicted embodiment, a version of the engagement region 22b″ is overmolded about the central region 22a such that a peripheral portion of the central region 22a is sandwiched between top and bottom portions of the engagement region 22b″.

The plastic secondary rim 4, 4′, 4″, 4″′ is attached to the paper primary rim 3c, 3c′, 3c″, 3c″′ (and analogously, the peripheral engagement region 22b, 22b′ to the central region 22a) through various suitable methods, including, for example, heat pressed sealing or gluing of a preformed plastic rim, lamination, injection overmolding, etc. The provision of such plastic secondary rim 4, 4′, 4″, 4″′ imparts enhanced strength to the base portion 1 and insures a proper seal when mated with the lid portion 2, to prevent or inhibit leakage, so as to be suitable for storing and transporting solid or liquid food. The same holds true by analogy to peripheral engagement region 22b, 22b′, which imparts enhanced mechanical strength to the lid portion 22 and insures a proper seal when mated with the base portion 1.

Further, to optionally make the paper base portion 1 (or lid central region 22a) water resistant, when so desired, the paper interior surfaces can be lined with any suitable water proofing/resisting agent, including, for example, wax, foil, polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid/polylactide (PLA), etc.

Optional use of PLA as a water proofing/repellent liner, the plastic secondary rim 4 and/or a portion of entirety of the lid portion 2, maintains biodegradability of container 10, when so desired.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage container, comprising:

a base portion comprised of a non-plastic material being configured to provide an interior space in which material is receivable and containable, said base portion including a primary rim extending radially outward of an opening to said interior space;

a secondary rim being affixed to a selected surface portion or portions of said primary rim, said secondary rim being comprised of at least one of plastic or elastomeric material; and

a lid portion being removably receivable to said base portion, said lid portion being configured to close the opening in said base portion, said lid portion including sealing structure being comprised of plastic or elastomeric material configured to engage a surface of said secondary rim when the lid portion is received to said base portion.

2. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein said material is food or consumable liquid.

3. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein said non-plastic material is paper.

4. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein said lid portion comprises a central region including a non-plastic material and a peripheral engagement region including at least one of plastic or elastomeric material.

5. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said base portion facing said interior space is treated with a water proofing or resisting agent.

6. A storage container according to claim 5, wherein said water proofing or resisting agent includes at least one of wax, foil, polyethylene, polylactic acid or polylactide.

7. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein said non-plastic material is biodegradable.

8. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein said plastic or elastomeric material of at least one of the lid portion or the base portion comprises polylactic acid or polylactide.

9. A storage container, comprising:

a base portion comprised of a paper material being configured to provide an enclosed volume in which food is receivable and containable, said base portion including a primary rim extending radially outward of an opening to said enclosed volume;

a secondary rim being affixed to a selected surface portion or portions of said primary rim, said secondary rim being comprised of a plastic material; and

a lid portion being removably receivable to said base portion, said lid portion being configured to close the opening in said base portion, said lid portion including sealing structure comprised of a plastic material for engaging a surface of said secondary rim when the lid portion is received to said base portion to thereby provide a plastic-against-plastic seal between said lid portion and said base portion.

10. A storage container according to claim 9, wherein the paper material includes a surface suitable for receiving printing.

11. A storage container according to claim 9, wherein said lid portion comprises a central region including a paper material and a peripheral engagement region carrying said sealing structure and including a plastic material.

12. A storage container according to claim 9, wherein a surface of said base portion facing said interior space is treated with a water proofing or resisting agent.

13. A storage container according to claim 12, wherein said water proofing or resisting agent includes at least one of wax, foil, polyethylene, polylactic acid or polylactide.

14. A storage container according to claim 9, wherein said base portion and said lid portion are suitable for reheating along with the food stored therein.