Food storage container with easy open feature

Abstract

A food storage container has a base with a bottom surface and a wall extending upward from a base perimeter of the bottom surface. The wall terminates at a top edge and defines an open top of the base. A rim extends at least partially around the base and extends radially outward from the upstanding wall. A lid is removably received over the open top of the base. The lid has a generally horizontal section with a lid perimeter that engages the top edge of the wall. An opening tab extends radially outward from part of the lid perimeter a sufficient distance to define an exposed tab segment adjacent a portion of the rim.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A food storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom surface and a wall extending upward from a base perimeter of the bottom surface, the wall terminating at a top edge and defining an open top;    a rim extending at least partially around the base and extending radially outward from the upstanding wall;    a lid removably received over the open top of the base, the lid having a generally horizontal surface with a lid perimeter engaged to the top edge of the wall; and    an opening tab extending radially outward from part of the lid perimeter a distance to define an exposed tab segment adjacent a portion of the rim.    
     
     
         2 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall is a curved wall that defines a generally circular open top to the base.  
     
     
         3 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall has interconnected wall sections that define in concert a generally rectangular open top to the base.  
     
     
         4 . A food storage container according to  claim 3 , wherein the open top is substantially square.  
     
     
         5 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim is a continuous rim extending completely around the wall.  
     
     
         6 . A food storage container according to  claim 5 , wherein the continuous rim has at least one radially inward cut out region that can align with the opening tab to provide clearance for the exposed tab segment.  
     
     
         7 . A food storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein the continuous rim has a pair of radially inward cut out regions opposite one another.  
     
     
         8 . A food storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein the continuous rim has a plurality of cut out regions spaced apart around the wall.  
     
     
         9 . A food storage container according to  claim 5 , wherein the continuous rim has at least one pair of rim portions arranged opposite one another on the wall and that extend further from the wall than a reminder of the continuous rim, and which can be utilized as handles.  
     
     
         10 . A food storage container according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one pair of rim potions each also have a radially inward cut out region.  
     
     
         11 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim is at least one rim segment extending only partly around the wall.  
     
     
         12 . A food storage container according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one rim segment has a radially inward cut out region that can align with the opening tab to provide clearance for the exposed tab segment.  
     
     
         13 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim is a pair of rim segments arranged opposite one another on the wall, each rim segment extending only partly around the wall.  
     
     
         14 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a lid attachment structure carried partly on the rim and partly on the lid for removably securing the lid to the base.    
     
     
         15 . A food storage container according to  claim 14 , wherein the lid attachment structure comprises: 
 an attachment tab extending from the perimeter of the lid generally opposite the opening tab; and    an attachment portion of the rim adapted for removably coupling to the attachment tab.    
     
     
         16 . A food storage container according to  claim 15 , wherein the lid attachment structure further comprises: 
 an opening formed in the attachment tab; and    a corresponding pin carried on the attachment portion of the rim, the pin being removably received in the opening.    
     
     
         17 . A food storage container according to  claim 15 , wherein the lid attachment structure further comprises: 
 a hook formed in the attachment tab that hooks over the attachment portion of the rim.    
     
     
         18 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the exposed tab segment of the opening tab extends radially beyond a circumferentially juxtaposed portion of the rim.  
     
     
         19 . A food storage container according to  claim 18 , wherein the juxtaposed rim portion is a radially inward cut out region of the rim.  
     
     
         20 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the exposed tab segment of the opening tab is disposed circumferentially adjacent a portion of the rim.  
     
     
         21 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening tab has an upwardly domed top surface defining a finger recess on an underside of the opening tab, and has a depending lip extending from a perimeter of the opening tab.  
     
     
         22 . A food storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening tab has a downwardly concave top surface defining a thumb recess on the top surface of the opening tab, and has a depending lip extending from a perimeter of the opening tab.  
     
     
         23 . A method of installing and removing a lid of a food storage container, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container base having a bottom panel and a base wall extending upward from a base perimeter of the bottom panel, the wall terminating at a top edge and defining an open top and having a rim flange extending at least partially around the base and extending radially outward from the wall;    removably installing a lid over the open top of the base, the lid having a top panel with a lid perimeter engaged to the top edge of the wall and having an opening tab extending radially outward from part of the lid perimeter a distance to define an exposed tab segment adjacent a portion of the rim flange;    gripping a portion of the rim flange; and    lifting the opening tab via the exposed tab segment upward to pry the lid from the base.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , further comprising the step of: 
 aligning the opening tab with a radially inward cut out region provided on the rim flange prior to the step of installing.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of: 
 aligning the opening tab with a selected one of a plurality of the radially inward cut out regions.