Thermoformed container

Abstract

A thermoformed container comprises a tray having walls that join a bottom surface and form an opening opposite the bottom surface. The walls are curved where they join the bottom surface. A tray flange surrounds the opening and extends outwardly from the walls. A lid has a recessed panel surrounded by peripheral sides, wherein the lid and the tray are configured to lock together. A lid flange surrounds the peripheral sides and extends outwardly therefrom. Marks on the bottom surface are configured to indicate increments of the bottom surface.

1 . A thermoformed container comprising: 
 a tray having walls that join a bottom surface and form an opening opposite the bottom surface,    wherein the walls are curved where they join the bottom surface;    a tray flange surrounding the opening and extending outwardly from the walls;    a lid having a recessed panel surrounded by a peripheral sidewall,    wherein the lid and the tray are configured to lock together;    a lid flange surrounding the peripheral sidewall and extending outwardly therefrom; and    marks on the bottom surface that are configured to indicate measure increments.    
     
     
         2 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the marks further comprise numbers.  
     
     
         3 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the marks further comprise letters.  
     
     
         4 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the marks are configured to indicate substantially equal increments.  
     
     
         5 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the marks are transposed on a contained product, thereby enabling easy division of the contained product into corresponding increments when the contained product is removed from the thermoformed container.  
     
     
         6 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed panel comprises a structure that enables the lid to be pushed down into the opening to lock the lid and the tray together.  
     
     
         7 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the lid flange substantially mirrors structurally at least a portion of an upper surface of the tray flange for sealing purposes.  
     
     
         8 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray flange and the lid flange comprise structures that form a hermetic seal.  
     
     
         9 . The thermoformed container of  claim 8 , wherein the flange of the tray and the flange of the lid further comprise sealant layers to hermetically seal the container.  
     
     
         10 . The thermoformed container of  claim 8 , wherein the hermetical seal comprises a peelable seal that enables the lid to be easily removed from the tray.  
     
     
         11 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray and the lid comprise substantially rigid plastic film structures.  
     
     
         12 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray and the lid comprise substantially semi-rigid plastic film structures  
     
     
         13 . The thermoformed container of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially rigid plastic film structure comprises an oxygen barrier material.  
     
     
         14 . The thermoformed container of  claim 12 , wherein the substantially semi-rigid plastic film structure comprises an oxygen barrier material.  
     
     
         15 . The thermoformed container of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially rigid plastic film structure comprises a release agent.  
     
     
         16 . The thermoformed container of  claim 12 , wherein the substantially semi-rigid plastic film structure comprises a release agent.  
     
     
         17 . The thermoformed container of  claim 13 , wherein the release agent comprises glycerol mono stearate.  
     
     
         18 . The thermoformed container of  claim 14 , wherein the release agent comprises glycerol mono stearate  
     
     
         19 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray walls further comprise grooves thereon and the lid sides further comprise projections thereon.  
     
     
         20 . The thermoformed container of  claim 19 , wherein the projections engage the grooves when the lid and the tray are brought together.  
     
     
         21 . The thermoformed container of  claim 19 , wherein the projections comprise structures arranged in series.  
     
     
         22 . The thermoformed container of  claim 19 , wherein the lid and the tray are configured such that a downward sliding movement of the lid into the tray is arrested when the lid projections engage the corresponding grooves of the tray.  
     
     
         23 . The thermoformed container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray and the lid further comprise corresponding locking lugs.  
     
     
         24 . A thermoformed container for holding a food product comprising: 
 a tray having walls that join a bottom surface and form an opening opposite the bottom surface,    wherein the walls form a curved surface where they join the bottom surface;    a tray flange surrounding the opening and extending outwardly from the walls;    a lid having a recessed panel surrounded by a peripheral sidewall,    wherein the lid and the tray are configured to lock together;    a lid flange surrounding the peripheral sidewall and extending outwardly therefrom; and    marks on the bottom surface that are configured to indicate increments of the bottom surface,    wherein images corresponding to the marks are transposed on the food product after settling into the tray, thereby enabling easy division of the food product into increments corresponding to the marks when the food product is removed from the thermoformed container.    
     
     
         25 . The thermoformed container of  claim 24 , wherein the marks further comprise at least one of numbers and letters to indicate a size of the increments.  
     
     
         26 . In combination, a food product in a thermoformed container, the combination comprising: 
 a volume of food extruded out of a metering device and settled into a tray of the thermoformed container; and    at least one image on a bottom surface of the food product, the at least one image corresponding to at least one mark on a bottom surface of the tray,    wherein the at least one image enables easy division of the food product into increments when the food product is removed from the thermoformed container.