Container apparatus and method for using the same

Abstract

A container apparatus and a method for using the container apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus can be implemented in a wide variety of ways, including but not limited to that of a food or beverage container. The container apparatus can include a lid and a body that are integral with each other.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a body, said body including a substantially horizontal score line that substantially surrounds a cross-section of said body; and   a lid;   wherein said substantially horizontal score line is substantially circular in shape when said container is in a fully open operating state.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate, a body hinge, a plate hinge, and an inner groove, wherein said substantially horizontal score line includes said body hinge and said inner groove, wherein said lid hinge connects said plate to said lid, and wherein said body hinge connects said body to said plate. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , said body further including a head-wall and a rim, wherein said rim is above said head-wall, and wherein said head-wall is above said substantially horizontal score line. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said rim has a serrated edge, wherein said lid has a wave rule edge, and wherein said lid is secured within said inner groove when said container is in a closed operating state. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , said container further comprising a plurality of flaps, a plurality of side score lines, a tab, and passageway, wherein said tab provides for blocking said passageway when said tab is in a fully closed position, wherein sad plurality of flaps are adjacent to said plate, wherein said plurality of side score lines connect said plate to said plurality of flaps, and wherein said inner groove has an inner groove angle between about 25 degrees and 35 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of chevrons, a hinge break, a plurality of flap bottom score lines, wherein the thickness of said lid is greater than the thickness of said plate, wherein said lid includes said plurality of chevrons, wherein said hinge break is located on said plate hinge, wherein said container is a cup comprised primarily of a paperboard-type material, wherein said cup has a substantially circular bottom. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , said lid further comprising a lid edge, said substantially horizontal score line comprising an inner grove within said body, wherein said lid edge is secured within said inner grove when said lid is in a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein said inner grove comprises a substantially convex shape, wherein said inner groove includes a base protrusion and a top protrusion, wherein at least a selected portion of said base protrusion is of horizontally greater magnitude than a corresponding portion of said top protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said body includes an inner wall and an outer wall separated by a layer of air. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said container includes a beverage and an aseptically sealed lid. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said container is adapted to be non-permanently closed and opened. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange attached to said lid. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate, wherein said plate is connected to said body, wherein said plate is connected to said lid, and wherein said lid does not touch said body when said container is in a fully open operating state. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein said body, said plate, and said lid are integral to each other;
 wherein said body, said plate, and said lid are comprised of a substantially identical degradable material;   wherein said body is substantially cylindrical in shape;   wherein a top surface of said lid is substantially circular in shape and substantially flat; and   wherein in said container is water tight; and   wherein said plate is substantially flat.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , said body further comprising a plurality of chevrons, said container further comprising a tear back adhesive located on a top surface of said lid, and said container further comprising a support seam attached to said body, said plate, and said lid. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , said lid including a lid edge, a tab, and a hinge break configured for securing said tab, said container further comprising a plurality of adhesive applications, wherein no said adhesive applications are located within the interior of said container, and wherein said lid edge is a wave rule edge. 
     
     
         17 . A container, comprising:
 a lid, said lid including an edge;   a body, wherein said body is substantially cylindrical in shape, said body including a rim protruding upward from the top of said body, wherein said rim does not form more an arc exceeding more than about 190 degrees of a circular cross section of said container;   a plate, said plate including a plurality of substantially horizontal score lines and a plurality of side score lines, wherein said plurality of substantially horizontal score lines includes a first substantially horizontal score line connecting said plate to said body and a second substantially horizontal score line connecting said plate to said lid, and wherein said plurality of side score lines includes a first side score line and a second side score line;   a plurality of side flaps connected to said body and said plate, said plurality of side flaps including a first side flap adjacent to said first side score line and a second side flap adjacent to said second side score line.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein said substantially horizontal score lines and said side score lines are adapted to flex in the closing and opening of said lid. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 ,
 wherein said container includes no adhesives on an interior surface of said container;   wherein said lid edge is a wave rule edge;   wherein said first substantially horizontal score line forms an inner convex groove;   wherein said body, said plate, and said lid are integral to each other;   wherein said body, said plate, and said lid are comprised of a substantially identical degradable material;   wherein a top surface of said lid is substantially circular in shape and substantially flat;   wherein in said container is water tight when in a closed position; and   wherein said inner convex groove is machined after said body is shaped.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using a container, the method comprising:
 flexing a plurality of score lines surrounding a plate that connects a lid to a body;   securing a wave rule edge of the lid into an inner convex groove within the body of the container, wherein the inner convex groove of the container is formed by a substantially horizontal score line forming a substantially complete loop around the container.