Food receptacles

Abstract

The nature of the invention described herein is a training dish that will aid in maintaining food on a utensil and stop food from sliding off of the dish. The training dish comprises a feature that allows the dish to be stacked one on top of the other for the purposes of micro waving two or more entrees at one time, transporting the training dish with and/or without containing food, and for storage. Said feature also provides a mechanical disadvantage toward the tendency to tip when a utensil applies a force against the upper training wall.

Having thus described the invention. What is novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A food receptacle comprising: 
 a base    a continuous wall integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly from an upper face of said base to an upper edge thereby forming a food receiving recess, said continuous wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is never greater than the thickness at the intersection of said wall with said base, the outer perimeter of the upper edge of said continuous wall forming a defined configuration, and    means for forming a recess in a lower face of said base, said recess having inwardly facing edge portions arranged in said defined configuration for abutting a substantial portion of the outer perimeter of the upper edge of an adjacent stacked food receptacle, whereby a plurality of food receptacles may be stacked.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said continuous is a straight sided taper.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said food receptacle is injection molded whereby no cams are necessary in the molding process.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said defined configuration of the continuous wall is circular.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said defined configuration of said continuous wall is non-circular.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as in  claim 5  wherein said defined configuration of said continuous wall is oval.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one interconnecting wall integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly from said upper face of said base and intersecting spaced points on said continuous wall to form a compartment.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said interconnecting wall has the same cross-sectional configuration as said continuous wall.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising means for venting said food receiving recess when a plurality of said food receptacles are stacked whereby the heat build-up of food in said food receiving recess is controlled.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said venting means comprises at least one interruption in the upper edge of said continuous wall such that a passage to the exterior is formed when a plurality of food receiving receptacles are stacked.