Packaged food product with integrated support features

Abstract

Packages for food products and food products packaged in such packages are described. A packaged food product may include a plurality of food items and a package comprising a container removeably coupled to a lid. The container may define an interior configured to receive the plurality of food items. The container can include a bottom portion and opposing first and second sidewalls forming a plurality of support portions configured to support the plurality of food items independent from one another. The support portions each include a support surface extending upward along at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls and across the bottom portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaged food product comprising:
 a plurality of food items; and   a package comprising a container removeably coupled to a lid, the container defining an interior configured to receive the plurality of food items, the container comprising a bottom portion and opposing first and second sidewalls forming a plurality of support portions configured to support the plurality of food items independent from one another,   wherein the support portions each comprises a support surface extending upward along at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls and across the bottom portion.   
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface of each support portion comprises a curved portion. 
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 2 , wherein the curved portion extends along the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein the support surface of each support portion comprises a lower generally planar portion. 
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 4 , wherein the planar portions of the support portions are generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the planar portions of the support portions are angled relative to the top of the package such that the plurality of food items are shingled within the interior of the package. 
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of food items comprise individual packagings. 
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior contour of the container corresponds to the interior contour of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a molded container and the support portions are integrally formed as part of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert configured to be received within the interior and conform to at least a portion of some of the support portions and be configured to provide visual information to users through the container. 
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the support portions decreases along the height of the container. 
     
     
         12 . A package for food products, the package comprising:
 a top; and   a container removeably coupled to the top and comprising a pair of opposing sidewalls, a pair of opposing endwalls extending between the opposing sidewalls, and a bottom;   wherein the bottom defines a plurality of stepped support portions, each stepped support portion joining with a pair of side support portions extending up the opposing sidewalls;   wherein the side support portions are curved along at least a portion of the height of the opposing sidewalls; and   wherein the side support portions decrease in width along at least a portion of the height of the opposing sidewalls.   
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the stepped support portion and the pair of side support portions form a support surface configured to maintain a food product at a non-perpendicular orientation relative to the top within the package 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein each stepped support portion comprises an upward-angled surface. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the width of each stepped support portion decreases along the upward angled surface. 
     
     
         16 . A packaged food product comprising:
 a top; and   a container releasably coupled to the top and defining an interior configured to receive and support a plurality of food products, the container comprising a plurality of support surfaces, each support surface configured to support one of the plurality of food products, each support surface comprising a bottom stepped support portion and a pair of side support portions extending up from the bottom stepped support portion;   wherein the plurality of support surfaces are configured to orient the plurality of food products within the interior in a shingled fashion.