1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosed subject matter relates to a food packaging system of a disposable container for packaging and displaying food items, such as cakes. Particularly, the present disclosed subject matter is directed to a base for holding food items, wherein the base has finger recesses that allow for easy removal of the food item from the base while ensuring that the food item does not move within the package.
2. Description of Related Art
Food items, such as baked goods, are often packaged in a container including a base and interlocking lid, each formed of a thermoformed plastic sheet. For purpose of example, a cake generally lies on a cardboard food liner that is, in turn, supported by the base.
A variety of such containers are generally known and available in the art. Examples of such containers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,705,163 and 4,533,061, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Often it is desirable or necessary for food contents to be supported by a liner or the like, which is disposed on the container base. It is also desirable for the food items to remain centered on the base during shipping, storing and display, while permitting easy removal of the food item.
As such, there remains a need for a food container that allows for centering of a food item on a base, yet allows easy removal of the food item from the base when desired.
The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in and apparent from the description that follows, as well as will be learned by practice of the disclosed subject matter. Additional advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be realized and attained by the methods and systems particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the disclosed subject matter, as embodied and broadly described, the disclosed subject matter includes a base for a food container comprising a base member having a perimeter and a central region. The base member further includes a retaining ring formed between the perimeter and the central region, and a plurality of recesses defined within the retaining ring. Each recess extends across the retaining ring from the perimeter toward the central region of the base member.
As embodied herein, the central region and the retaining ring can be substantially circular in shape. The central region further contains a support structure. The retaining ring has a raised ledge including an outer side wall, a top wall, and an inner side wall. The central region of the base member includes a shoulder having a support surface proximate the retaining ring. The outer wall can be sloped downwards towards the edge of the base. The recesses can project across the width of the retaining ring and into the shoulder. The recesses can be generally arcuate in shape, and can be located diametrically opposite each other. The perimeter further includes a base rim proximate the perimeter, the base rim defining a base channel including an inner wall, a bottom wall, and an outer wall. The base rim can further include a locking feature in the form of lock projections on the inner and outer wall of the base rim.
The base can further comprise a food liner configured to be received within the central region and surrounded and held in place by the retaining ring. The food liner can be sized to be received within the retaining ring, and the thickness of the food liner can be determined as appropriate.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a food container is provided including the base as described above in combination with a lid having a perimeter configured to engage the perimeter of the base member. The bottom of the base can include a stacking feature, which can allow the base to be stacked on a substantially similarly shaped container. A method of making the base member is also provided.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosed subject matter claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the methods and apparatus of the disclosed subject matter. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosed subject matter.
The apparatus and methods presented herein can be used for storage, transportation, and display of food items and other perishable and nonperishable products. The disclosed subject matter is particularly suited for storage, transportation, and display of food items disposed on a food liner, wherein the base allows for easy lifting of the food item, in addition to preventing the food item and the food liner from shifting within the package.
In accordance with the disclosed subject matter herein, a base for a food container is provided. The base includes a base member having a perimeter and a central region. A retaining ring is formed between the perimeter and the central region, wherein the retaining ring has a width W and extends upwardly from the central region a height H. Additionally, a plurality of recesses are defined in the retaining ring, each recess extending across the width W of the retaining ring from the perimeter toward the central region of the base member.
Reference will now be made in detail to the various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, exemplary embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The structure and corresponding method of operation of the disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the system.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. For purpose of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, exemplary embodiments of the container in accordance with the disclosed subject matter are shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
With reference to
The retaining ring 106 can further have a plurality of recesses 108 defined therein. In the exemplary embodiment as shown in
With reference now to
With reference now to
The base member 100 as detailed above further includes a perimeter 102. The perimeter 102 can be in the form of a simple edge, or as depicted herein, can include a locking feature 204 or similar configuration to receive a lid or the like. Possible configurations include a base rim including a lever or other mechanically operated projection, a simple static projection such a flange, or any other suitable configuration. Additionally, or alternatively, a channel can be provided along the perimeter 102. For example and as shown in
For purpose of illustration and not limitation, reference is made to
In accordance with another aspect, the base member 100 can further include a food liner 300. The food liner 300 is generally a support member to support the bottom surface of the food item or the like to be disposed on the base member 100. As depicted in
The base member 100 and the lid 200 can be combined to form a food container 400, as shown in an exemplary embodiment in
A method of manufacturing a base, as well as a container having such base, is also provided. Generally, the method comprises providing a sheet of plastic material and shaping the sheet into a base member. The base member can include a perimeter and a central region, a retaining ring formed between the perimeter and a central region. The retaining ring can have a width W extending upwardly from the central region and a height H, and a plurality of recesses defined therein. Each recess can extend across the width W of the retaining ring from the perimeter toward the central region of the base member.
The base and lid described herein can be manufactured from any suitable material, for example and without limitation, expanded polystyrene foam, oriented polystyrene (OPS), polypropylene, mineral filled polypropylene, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET), thermoplastics, and paper. It is to be understood that the foregoing list is not exhaustive, and that the containers can be made from other suitable materials. In one exemplary embodiment, a base member 100 and lid 200 having the features described herein is each formed respectively from a single sheet of polymeric material. The material of the base member 100 can be the same as the material of the lid 200, or each can be formed of a different material. For example, the base member 100 can be formed of an opaque polymeric material, while the lid 200 can be formed of a transparent polymeric material. Forming a base member 100 can include providing a sheet of polymeric material, or other suitable material, and forming the material into a base member 100 having various features described herein. Forming a lid 200 can include providing a sheet of polymeric material, or other suitable material, and forming the material into a base 100 having various features described herein. The base member 100 and lid 200 can be formed utilizing any conventional type of thermoforming, stamping, or molding process, or other suitable process.
The base member 100 and lid 200 disclosed herein can be made of a durable construction for multiple use and washing between uses, or can be made for disposable, single use. Also, the base and lid can be constructed from materials suitable to be placed in a heating apparatus, such as a microwave, to heat the food and/or used for storage in the refrigerator or freezer.
It is to be recognized that the dimensions and relative proportions of the container will vary according to the size and intended use of the container and related contents. While a generally circular base 100, lid 200, and food container 400 are illustrated in
While the disclosed subject matter is described herein in terms of certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and improvements can be made to the disclosed subject matter without departing from the scope thereof. Moreover, although individual features of one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter can be discussed herein or shown in the drawings of the one embodiment and not in other embodiments, it should be apparent that individual features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of another embodiment or features from a plurality of embodiments.
In addition to the specific embodiments claimed below, the disclosed subject matter is also directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the dependent features claimed below and those disclosed above. As such, the particular features presented in the dependent claims and disclosed above can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the disclosed subject matter such that the disclosed subject matter should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combinations. For example and without limitation, a food container according to the disclosed subject matter can have any suitable shape, and can have any suitable number of lever projections and lock projections configured with any of the closure and release mechanism configurations described herein. Thus, the foregoing description of specific embodiments of the disclosed subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed subject matter to those embodiments disclosed.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the method and system of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.