Physical content indicator for foam container

Abstract

A foam container includes a content indicator in the form of a depressible foam area. The raised area has an increasing thickness from the outer edge to the When used in conjunction with alphanumeric characters, symbols or graphics, the depressible raised area, when depressed, indicates specific contents of the container, or that one or more specific items need to be inserted into the container.

1 . A foam container, comprising at least one physical content indicator.  
     
     
         2 . The foam container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical content indicator comprises a depressible raised area.  
     
     
         3 . The foam container of  claim 2 , wherein the depressible raised area comprises a center area thicker than an edge area.  
     
     
         4 . The foam container of  claim 3 , wherein a thickness of the depressible raised area gradually increases from the edge area to the center area.  
     
     
         5 . The foam container of  claim 3 , wherein the center area has a thickness of about 0.040 inches to about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The foam container of  claim 3 , wherein the edge area has a thickness of about 0.035 inches to about 0.120 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The foam container of  claim 3 , wherein the edge area has a thickness of about 0.035 inches to about 0.120 inches, and wherein the center area has a thickness of about 0.040 inches to about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         8 . The foam container of  claim 3 , wherein the center area comprises a foam nub depending into the foam container.  
     
     
         9 . The foam container of  claim 2 , wherein the depressible raised area has a circular shape.  
     
     
         10 . The foam container of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of an alphanumeric character, a symbol and a graphic near the depressible raised area.  
     
     
         11 . The foam container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical content indicator comprises a plurality of physical content indicators.  
     
     
         12 . A physical content indicator for a foam container, comprising a depressible raised area having an edge thickness less than a center thickness.  
     
     
         13 . The physical content indicator of  claim 12 , wherein the depressible raised area gradually decreases in thickness from the center thickness to the edge thickness.  
     
     
         14 . The physical content indicator of  claim 12 , wherein the edge thickness is about 0.035 inches to about 0.120 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The physical content indicator of  claim 12 , wherein the center thickness is about 0.040 inches to about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         16 . The physical content indicator of  claim 12 , wherein the edge thickness is about 0.035 inches to about 0.120 inches, and wherein the center thickness is about 0.040 inches to about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         17 . The physical content indicator of  claim 12 , wherein the depressible raised area comprises a depending foam nub in the center.  
     
     
         18 . The physical content indicator of  claim 12 , wherein the depressible raised area has a circular shape.  
     
     
         19 . A method of indicating content of a foam container, comprising: 
 providing a foam container, wherein the foam container comprises a physical content indicator; and    manipulating the physical content indicator into a content-indicating position.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the physical content indicator comprises a depressible raised area, and wherein the manipulating comprises depressing the depressible raised area into the content-indicating position.