Disposable foam container for food products

Abstract

A foam container with an upper portion and a lower portion is provided. Upper lips formed by edges of upper walls of the upper portion distal from the top of the upper portion extend outward from the upper walls, while lower lips formed by edges of lower walls of the lower portion distal from the bottom surface extend outward from the upper walls. A groove is defined by the upper lips, and a rim is disposed at least partially along the lower lips. A peripheral indented segment in the lower walls and a peripheral ridge formed by the upper walls are dimensioned so as to render the container securably stackable with other containers. Arcs may be formed on the lower walls and the upper walls. The arcs may be centered on the walls with the walls having a thicker cross-section within at least a portion of the arcs.

1 . A foam container comprising: 
 an upper portion forming a top of a container, said upper portion having a top surface and defining upper walls extending from said top surface;    a lower portion forming a base of said container, said lower portion having a bottom surface and defining lower walls extending from said bottom surface;    a hinge disposed between one of said lower walls and one of said upper walls, said hinge connecting said upper portion and said lower portion together;    upper lips extending outward from said upper walls, said upper lips defining a groove therein;    lower lips extending outward from said lower walls, wherein a rim extends above said lower lips; and    wherein said upper portion and lower portion are capable of being placed in a closed position so that said upper lips reside proximal to said lower lips and said groove engages said rim.    
     
     
         2 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein said upper walls comprise four integral walls extending from said top surface and said lower walls comprise four integral walls extending from said bottom surface.  
     
     
         3 . A container as in  claim 2 , wherein said hinge is disposed between one of said upper lips and one of said lower lips.  
     
     
         4 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein said upper walls extend from said top surface at an angle between about 90° and about 150°.  
     
     
         5 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein said lower walls extend from said bottom surface at an angle between about 90° and about 150°.  
     
     
         6 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein said groove fits over said rim in such a manner that said upper walls extend below said rim when said upper portion and said lower portion are placed in said closed position.  
     
     
         7 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein said rim is formed by at least a portion of said lower walls and at least a portion of said lower lips.  
     
     
         8 . A container as in  claim 7 , wherein said rim is an extension of said portion of said lower walls.  
     
     
         9 . A container as in  claim 1 , further comprising a latch system wherein said upper portion and lower portion are securable together by said latch system when said upper portion and said lower portion are in said closed position.  
     
     
         10 . A container as in  claim 9 , wherein said latch system is disposed on one of said upper walls and one of said lower walls distal from said hinge.  
     
     
         11 . A container as in  claim 9 , wherein said latch system comprises a latch extending from one of said upper walls distal from said hinge and a slot defined in one of said lower walls distal from said hinge, whereby said latch is slidable into said slot to close the container.  
     
     
         12 . A container as in  claim 1 , wherein said lower walls form a peripheral indented segment therein proximal to said bottom surface.  
     
     
         13 . A container as in  claim 12 , wherein said upper walls form a peripheral ridge that extends above and around said top surface.  
     
     
         14 . A container as in  claim 13 , wherein said peripheral indented segment and said peripheral ridge are dimensioned so as to render the container stackable with another container of the same construction.  
     
     
         15 . A container as in  claim 1 , further comprising arcs formed by said lower walls and said upper walls, said arcs centered on each of said upper and lower walls and said upper and lower walls having a thicker cross-section within at least a portion of said arcs.  
     
     
         16 . A foam container comprising: 
 an upper portion forming a top of a container, said upper portion having a top surface and defining upper walls extending from said top surface;    a lower portion forming a base of said container, said lower portion having a bottom surface and defining lower walls extending from said bottom surface;    a peripheral indented segment formed within said lower walls, said peripheral indented segment being proximal to said bottom surface;    a peripheral ridge formed by said upper walls, said peripheral ridge extending above and around said top surface;    said peripheral indented segment in said lower walls and said peripheral ridge formed by said upper walls being dimensioned so as to render the container securably stackable with another container of the same construction.    
     
     
         17 . A container as in  claim 16 , further comprising a hinge disposed between one of said lower walls and one of said upper walls, said hinge connecting said upper portion and said lower portion together so that said upper portion and lower portion are capable of being placed in a closed position.  
     
     
         18 . A container as in  claim 17 , further comprising a latch system wherein said upper portion and lower portion are securable together by said latch system.  
     
     
         19 . A container as in  claim 18 , wherein said latch system is disposed on a side of said upper portion and a side of said lower portion distal to said hinge.  
     
     
         20 . A container as in  claim 19 , wherein said latch system comprises a latch extending from said upper wall distal from said hinge and a slot defined in said lower wall distal from said hinge, whereby said latch is slidable into said slot to close the container.  
     
     
         21 . A container as in  claim 17 , further comprising upper lips extending outward from said upper walls and lower lips extending outward from said lower walls.  
     
     
         22 . A container as in  claim 21 , further comprising a groove defined by said upper lips and a rim that extends above said lower lips.  
     
     
         23 . A container as in  claim 22 , wherein said upper lips reside against said lower lips and said groove is disposed around said rim when said upper portion and lower portion are placed in said closed position.  
     
     
         24 . A container as in  claim 16 , further comprising arcs formed by said lower walls and said upper walls, said arcs centered on each of said upper and lower walls and said upper and lower walls having a thicker cross-section within at least a portion of said arcs.  
     
     
         25 . A foam container comprising: 
 an upper portion forming a top of a container, said upper portion having a top surface and defining upper walls extending from said top surface;    a lower portion forming a base of said container, said lower portion having a bottom surface and defining lower walls extending from said bottom surface;    arcs formed by said lower walls and said upper walls, said upper and lower walls having a thicker cross-section within at least a portion of said arcs.    
     
     
         26 . A container as in  claim 25 , wherein said upper walls comprise four integral walls extending from said top surface and said lower walls comprise four integral walls extending from said bottom surface.  
     
     
         27 . A container as in  claim 26 , wherein said arcs are centered on each of said walls so that an apex of each arc is proximal to the center of a length of said wall on which said arc is formed.  
     
     
         28 . A container as in  claim 25 , further comprising a hinge disposed between one of said lower walls and one of said upper walls, said hinge connecting said upper portion and said lower portion together so that said upper portion and lower portion are capable of being placed in a closed position.  
     
     
         29 . A container as in  claim 28 , further comprising a latch system wherein said upper portion and lower portion are securable together by said latch system.  
     
     
         30 . A container as in  claim 29 , wherein said latch system is disposed on a side of said upper portion and a side of said lower portion distal to said hinge.  
     
     
         31 . A container as in  claim 30 , wherein said latch system comprises a latch extending from said upper wall distal from said hinge and a slot defined in said lower wall distal from said hinge, whereby said latch is slidable into said slot to close the container.  
     
     
         32 . A container as in  claim 28 , further comprising upper lips extending outward from said upper walls and lower lips extending outward from said lower walls.  
     
     
         33 . A container as in  claim 32 , further comprising a groove defined by said upper lips and a rim that extends above said lower lips.  
     
     
         34 . A container as in  claim 33 , wherein said upper lips resides against said lower lips and said groove is disposed around said rim when said upper portion and lower portion are placed in said closed position.  
     
     
         35 . A container as in  claim 25 , wherein said lower walls form a peripheral indented segment therein proximal to said bottom surface.  
     
     
         36 . A container as in  claim 35 , wherein said upper walls form a peripheral ridge that extends above and around said top surface.  
     
     
         37 . A container as in  claim 36 , wherein said peripheral indented segment and said peripheral ridge are dimensioned so as to render the container stackable with another container of the same construction.