Container article

Abstract

A container article is described, designed for a deformable food composition, comprised of: a bowl-shaped body having a generally planar base; said base having substantially circular bottom panel with a slightly elevated center portion; said body further comprising a depending sidewall integral with said base, thereby defining a cavity therein; said sidewall being tapered, with the bottom cross-sectional diameter being smaller that the top cross-sectional diameter, said sidewall terminating in a lip; wherein said lip is a convex flange having a substantially flat seal surface extending outwardly in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said base, and further comprising at least two arcuate outer rib sidewall sections that surround the top portion of said bowl sidewall discontinuously so as to form handles at the discontinuities.

1 . An article of manufacture comprising a container comprising:
 a bowl-shaped body having a generally planar base;   said base having substantially circular bottom panel with a slightly elevated center portion;   said body further comprising a depending sidewall integral with said base, thereby defining a cavity therein;   said sidewall being tapered, with the bottom cross-sectional diameter being smaller that the top cross-sectional diameter,   said sidewall terminating in a lip;   wherein said lip is a convex flange having a substantially flat seal surface extending outwardly in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said base;   and further comprising at least two arcuate outer rib sidewall sections that surround the top portion of said bowl sidewall discontinuously so as to form handles at the discontinuities.   
   
   
       2 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said container has a bowl-shaped body for receiving a liquid or semi-solid, deformable savory food or vegetable oil containing food composition. 
   
   
       3 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said sidewall is tapered, with the bottom cross-sectional diameter being smaller that the top cross-sectional diameter, preferably having an angle relative to the vertical axis of about 5 to about 30 degrees, with a height (or cavity depth) of about 2 to about 4 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said substantially semi-circular ribs are provided so as to fill in the empty space within said convex flange with the plastic material of the container, resulting in an outer rib sidewall section that may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of base. 
   
   
       5 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein where said ribs are discontinuous in surrounding the top sidewall, said handles are formed by the empty space within the convex flange. 
   
   
       6 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein when two said ribs are
 provided, said ribs are situated symmetrically opposite, thereby forming two handles that are symmetrically opposite.   
   
   
       7 . The article according to  claim 1  having than two said handles formed by
 a plurality of said discontinuities in said ribs.   
   
   
       8 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said container is variable in size.