초록 ▼

A thermoplastic container for food or other articles is set forth. The container includes a base having a bottom, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending upwardly from the bottom. A pair of integral handle segments are formed with the outer rim of the base and rotata

A thermoplastic container for food or other articles is set forth. The container includes a base having a bottom, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending upwardly from the bottom. A pair of integral handle segments are formed with the outer rim of the base and rotatably attached to anchoring portions at integral hinges. The handle segments can be releasably engaged with each other and include a pair of hinged portions. Each hinged portion has at least one upwardly extending rib segment and at least one downwardly extending rib segment interconnected by integral hinges that form definite bending points for the hinged portions of the handle segments so that when the handle segments are upturned, the hinged portion assists in distributing stress and obtaining a proper balance of the container. A plurality of wells designed to retain fluid therein via capillary action or surface tension forces are formed in the bottom such that fluid does not flow out of the wells when the base is tilted or turned upside-down. A cover may be removably attached to the base to define a food storage chamber. A downwardly extending rib formed in the cover rim is intermittently provided with a plurality of cover venting notches which are aligned with respective base venting notches formed in an upwardly extending elongated rib of the base. With the cover in place atop the base, the conjunction of the base venting notches and the cover venting notches define vent openings. Another set of apertures for additional ventilation are provided in the side walls of the cover. Also, multiple containers can be stacked atop each other and the bottom includes at least one elongated recess for substantially receiving a portion of the handle segments to facilitate stacking.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A base for a thermoplastic container, comprising:a bottom;a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls, said side walls and said end walls extending upward from said bottom, said end walls extending between said side walls; anda rim encompassing an upp

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A base for a thermoplastic container, comprising:a bottom;a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls, said side walls and said end walls extending upward from said bottom, said end walls extending between said side walls; anda rim encompassing an upper edge of said side walls and said end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said bottom having a plurality of depending wells sufficiently small to retain a volume of liquid in each of said wells via capillary action or surface tension forces such that said volume of liquid therein does not flow out when said base is tilted or turned upside-down, each of said wells having an interior surface area, said container having a ratio of the capacity for said volume of liquid to said interior surface area in the range of approximately 2.8.times.10.sup.-2 in to 3.8.times.10.sup.-3 in. [7.]7. A thermoplastic container, comprising:a bottom;a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls, said side walls and said end walls extending upward from said bottom, said end walls extending between said side walls; anda base rim encompassing an upper edge of said side walls and said end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said rim having an integrally formed outer flange with a pair of opposing anchoring portions, said outer flange forming at least one handle segment, each of said handle segments having a pair of generally parallel hinged portions and a graspable portion extending between said hinged portions, said hinged portions being rotatably connected to said respective anchoring portions for upward and downward swinging movements, said handle segments having means for releasably engaging said handle segments to each other, each of said hinged portions having at least one upwardly extending rib segment extending upwardly from an upper surface of the associated hinged portion, at least one downwardly extending rib segment extending downwardly from a lower surface of the associated hinged portion, and at least one integral hinge forming a definite bending point. [41.]41. A thermoplastic container comprising:a base including a bottom, a pair of opposing base side walls, a pair of opposing base end walls, and a base rim, said base side walls and said base end walls extending upward from said bottom, said base end walls extending between said base side walls, said base rim encompassing an upper edge of said base side walls and said base end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said base rim having an upwardly protruding elongated rib with base venting notches intermittently interrupting said upwardly protruding rib; anda cover including a top, a pair of opposing cover side walls, a pair of opposing cover end walls, and a cover rim, said cover side walls and said cover end walls extending downward from said top, said cover end walls extending between said cover side walls, said cover rim encompassing a lower edge of said cover side walls and said cover end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said cover rim having a downwardly protruding rib. [56.]56. A thermoplastic container comprising:a base including a bottom, a pair of opposing base side walls, a pair of opposing base end walls, and a base rim, said base side walls and said base end walls extending upward from said bottom, said base end walls extending between said base side walls, said base rim encompassing an upper edge of said base side walls and said base end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said base rim having an upwardly protruding elongated rib; anda cover including a top, a pair of opposing cover side walls, a pair of opposing cover end walls, and a cover rim, said cover side walls and said cover end walls extending downward from said top, said cover end walls extending between said cover side walls, said cover rim encompassing a lower edge of said cover side walls and said cover end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said cover rim having a downwardly protruding rib with cover venting notches intermittently interrupting said downwardly protruding rib. [70.]70. A thermoplastic container comprising:a base including a bottom, a pair of opposing base side walls, a pair of opposing base end walls, and a base rim, said base side walls and said base end walls extending upward from said bottom, said base end walls extending between said base side walls, said base rim encompassing an upper edge of said base side walls and said base end walls and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said base rim having an upwardly protruding elongated rib, said rim having an integrally formed outer flange with a pair of opposing anchoring portions, each anchoring portion having a pair of ends, said outer flange defining a score forming at least one handle segment being rotatably connected to said respective ends of said anchoring portions at integral hinges, said elongated rib and said anchoring portion defining a middle flange portion therebetween, said score extending into said middle flange portion.