Food container

Abstract

A collapsible, disposable food container for containing a food product. The food container includes a main body portion being selectively positionable between a collapsed and stowed configuration and an expanded and operable configuration, and a bottom portion extending from the main body portion. In some embodiments, a separable strip is provided and formed in at least one of the front panel, the back panel, and the one or more side panels. The separable strip is removable, in some embodiments, to bifurcate the associated panel to permit the main body portion and the bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product.

1 . A collapsible, disposable food container for containing a food product, said food container comprising:
 a main body portion being selectively positionable between a collapsed and stowed configuration and an expanded and operable configuration;   a bottom portion extending from said main body portion, said bottom portion cooperating with said main body portion to define a food pocket for substantially containing the food product,   wherein said main body portion and said bottom portion are made of a single, unitary piece of flat stock material folded to define a front panel, an opposing back panel, one or more side panels interconnecting said front panel and said opposing back panel to form lateral boundaries of said food pocket; and   a separable portion formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said separable portion being selectively separated to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 1  wherein said separable portion comprises a separable strip formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said separable strip being selectively removable therefrom to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 1  wherein said separable portion comprises a perforated section formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said perforated section being selectively removable therefrom to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 3  wherein said perforated section comprises a removable strip detachable from said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 3  wherein said perforated section comprises a plurality of perforation pairs extending along at least a portion of said perforated section in mirrored arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 2  wherein said separable strip comprises a tab portion for grasping by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 6  wherein said tab portion is bound by anchor portions being uncut and unscored. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid portion pivotally extending from at least one of said front panel and said opposing back panel for selectively enclosing said food pocket to define a volume thereinside.   
     
     
         9 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 8  wherein said lid portion comprises a retention feature selectively connectable to the other of said front panel and said opposing back panel to retain said lid portion in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 9  wherein said retention feature comprises a tab extending from said lid portion, said tab being engageable with a slot formed in said other of said front panel an said opposing back panel. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body portion and said bottom portion together being sufficiently sized to be received and retaining in a vehicle cup holder. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible, disposable food container for containing a food product, said food container comprising:
 a main body portion being selectively positionable between a collapsed and stowed configuration and an expanded and operable configuration;   a bottom portion extending from said main body portion, said bottom portion cooperating with said main body portion to define a food pocket for substantially containing the food product,   wherein said main body portion and said bottom portion are made of a single, unitary piece of flat stock material folded to define a front panel, an opposing back panel, one or more side panels interconnecting said front panel and said opposing back panel to form lateral boundaries of said food pocket, said main body portion and said bottom portion together being sufficiently sized to be received and retaining in a vehicle cup holder.   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a separable member formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said separable member being selectively separated to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product.   
     
     
         14 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 13  wherein said separable member is a separable strip, said separable strip being selectively removable therefrom to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 13  wherein said separable member comprises a perforated section formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said perforated section being selectively detachable to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 15  wherein said perforated section comprises a removable strip detachable from said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a lid portion pivotally extending from at least one of said front panel and said opposing back panel for selectively enclosing said food pocket to define a volume thereinside.   
     
     
         18 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 17  wherein said lid portion comprises a retention feature selectively connectable to the other of said front panel and said opposing back panel to retain said lid portion in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . A collapsible, disposable food container for containing a food product, said food container comprising:
 a main body portion being selectively positionable between a collapsed and stowed configuration and an expanded and operable configuration;   a bottom portion extending from said main body portion, said bottom portion cooperating with said main body portion to define a food pocket for substantially containing the food product,   wherein said main body portion and said bottom portion are made of a single, unitary piece of flat stock material folded to define a front panel, an opposing back panel, one or more side panels interconnecting said front panel and said opposing back panel to form lateral boundaries of said food pocket; and   a lid portion pivotally extending from at least one of said front panel and said opposing back panel, said lid portion having a retention feature selectively connectable to the other of said front panel and said opposing back panel to retain said lid portion in a closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a separable member formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said separable member being selectively separated to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product.   
     
     
         21 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 20  wherein said separable member is a separable strip, said separable strip being selectively removable therefrom to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product. 
     
     
         22 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 20  wherein said separable member comprises a perforated section formed in at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels, said perforated section being selectively detachable to bifurcate said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels to permit said main body portion and said bottom portion to be laid substantially flat without removal of the food product. 
     
     
         23 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 22  wherein said perforated section comprises a removable strip detachable from said at least one of said front panel, said back panel, and said one or more side panels. 
     
     
         24 . The collapsible, disposable food container according to  claim 19 , wherein said main body portion and said bottom portion together being sufficiently sized to be received and retaining in a vehicle cup holder.