Food container

Abstract

A food container is provided that has a formed cavity having top edge and two or more flaps coupled with one the top edge. Each of the flaps may extend half-way or more between opposite points of the container. The flaps may include a closure mechanism to secure the flaps in a closed position to provide a covering for substantially all of the area defined by the top edge, thereby closing the formed cavity. The formed cavity may include one or more radiused portions, with one or more of the flaps including a raduised extension that extends outwardly relative to a connection point between the flap and the cavity top edge. One or more of the flaps may include a recessed portion having a flap sidewall that is located adjacent to a formed cavity sidewall when the flap is folded to cover a top opening of the food container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food container, comprising:
 a formed cavity having top edge that comprises two or more straight portions and two or more radiused portions; and   two or more flaps extending from two or more of the straight edges, one or more of the flaps extending at least half of the distance to an opposing edge of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more flaps comprise substantially planar flaps that overlap to cover substantially all of the area of the formed cavity bounded by the top edge. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more flaps comprise two or more recessed flaps each having a recessed portion that creates a flap sidewall extending around at least a portion of the flap. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the flap sidewalls are located adjacent to a portion of a sidewall of the formed cavity when the respective flap is folded to cover a portion of the container opening, 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the flaps comprise a closure mechanism to secure the flaps in a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the flaps comprise an attachment mechanism couplable with one or more items of cutlery. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more removable inserts inserted into the formed cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more removable inserts are configured to engage with two or more sidewalls of the formed cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the two or more flaps comprise two or more recessed flaps each having a recessed portion that creates a flap sidewall extending around at least a portion of the flap, and wherein the flap sidewall engages with the one or more removable inserts to secure the removable insert within the formed cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the flaps comprises a radiused extension that extends outwardly relative to a connection point with the cavity top edge, the radiused extension corresponding to one of the radiused portions of the cavity top edge. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more flaps comprise one or more upward projections from an upper surface thereof that, when the at least one flap is folded to cover an opening of the formed cavity, extend upward from the container. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the formed cavity comprises a planar bottom portion having one or more recesses in a bottom surface thereof that are configured to engage with one or more upward projections of another container when the containers are stacked. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the upward projections is configured to engage with an item of cutlery. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the formed cavity comprises a unitary body and comprises one or more dividing partitions. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more flaps are coupled with the straight edges through a perforated connection that facilitates removal of one or more of the flaps. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the formed cavity and flaps are formed as a unitary body. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a compostable material. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the compostable material comprises pulped organic material. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the pulped material is selected from one or more of: bagasse material, recycled corrugate, shredded straw, or shredded bamboo. 
     
     
         20 . A food container, comprising:
 a formed cavity having top edge extending around a top opening of the formed cavity; and   two or more flaps coupled with the top edge, one or more of the flaps comprising a radiused edge extending away from a connection point between the flap and the top edge that covers a corresponding raduised portion of the top edge when the flap is folded to cover at least part of the top opening.   
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the two or more flaps comprise substantially planar flaps that overlap to cover substantially all of the area of the top opening. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the two or more flaps comprise two or more recessed flaps each having a recessed portion that creates a flap sidewall extending around at least a portion of the flap. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the flap sidewalls are located adjacent to a portion of a sidewall of the formed cavity when the respective flap is folded to cover a portion of the container opening, 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein two or more of the flaps comprise a closure mechanism to secure the flaps in a closed position. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the flaps comprise an attachment mechanism couplable with one or more items of cutlery. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the two or more flaps comprise one or more upward projections from an upper surface thereof that, when the at least one flap is folded over the top opening, extend upward from the container. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the formed cavity comprises a planar bottom portion having one or more recesses in a bottom surface thereof that are configured to engage with one or more upward projections of another container when the containers are stacked. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the upward projections is configured to engage with an item of cutlery. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the two or more flaps are coupled with the straight edges through a perforated connection that facilitates removal of one or more of the flaps. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 20 , further comprising one or more removable inserts inserted into the formed cavity. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more removable inserts are configured to engage with two or more sidewalls of the formed cavity. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the two or more flaps comprise two or more recessed flaps each having a recessed portion that creates a flap sidewall extending around at least a portion of the flap, and wherein the flap sidewall engages with the one or more removable inserts to secure the removable insert within the formed cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the formed cavity and flaps are formed as a unitary body. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the container is formed from a compostable material.