Racetrack-shaped container with lid

Abstract

A container comprises a bottom, a sidewall extending up therefrom, and a top opening opposite the bottom. In one advantageous form, the sidewall of the container has a uniform racetrack dimension from the bottom to proximate the top opening. The top opening has the same racetrack shape as the bottom and the top opening is in the form of a complete racetrack defined by the sidewall of the container body. In another advantageous form, one or more lip portions, in the form of one or more flanges, extends radially outwardly from the sidewall along the opposing parallel sides which form a perimeter around the top opening.

1 . A container comprising:
 a container body having a bottom, a sidewall extending up therefrom, and a top opening opposite the bottom, the sidewall having, in cross-section, a uniform racetrack dimension from the bottom to proximate the top opening, wherein the top opening has the same racetrack shape as the bottom, and the top opening is in the form of a complete racetrack shape defined by the sidewall of the container body.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a lip extending exteriorly from a portion of a perimeter of the top opening. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the lip is absent from a central portion of at least one curved sidewall which comprises the racetrack shape of the top opening. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the lip is absent from both central portions of the curved sidewalls comprising the racetrack shape of the top opening. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable lid adapted to snap onto the container body over the top opening. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the lid has substantially the same racetrack shape as the container body. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the lid has a textured exterior surface. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body is shaped to be comfortably held between a user's thumb and finger. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a substantially smooth and non-contour surface along its entire length. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is transparent or translucent so that one can view the contents inside the container body through the sidewall. 
   
   
       11 . A container comprising:
 a container body having a bottom, a sidewall extending up therefrom, and a top opening opposite the bottom, the sidewall having a racetrack shape comprising two opposed parallel sides and two opposed curved sides; and   one or more lip portions exteriorly extending from a perimeter of the top opening along the opposed parallel sides.   
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the lip is absent from a central portion of at least one of the curved sides of the perimeter of the top opening. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the lip is absent from both central portions of the curved sides which comprise the perimeter around the top opening. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising a removable lid adapted to snap onto the container body over the top opening. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the lid comprises a skirt with an interiorly facing bead, wherein when the lid is disposed on the container body, the bead engages the container body below the one or more lip portions. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the lid comprises a plurality of tabs extending radially outward from a central portion of the lid toward the skirt. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the sidewall is transparent or translucent so that one can view contents inside the container body through the sidewall. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising food items. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container body is shaped to be comfortably held between a user's thumb and finger.