Expandable food package with lid

Abstract

An expandable food package with a removable lid, is provided. The food package has a bottom, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The inner sidewall and outer sidewall are connected by a series of living hinges that allow the package to be converted between an expanded configuration and collapsed configuration. A lid may be sealed to one or both of an inner rim and an outer rim when the package is in collapsed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable food package comprising:
 a bottom;   an inner sidewall extending upward from said bottom;   a series of at least two living hinges connecting said inner side wall with an outer sidewall, wherein an inner rim is defined by an intersection between said inner sidewall and a first living hinge in said series of living hinges, wherein said outer side wall defines an outer rim on a side opposite a second living hinge in said series of living hinges; and   a lid affixed to said inner rim or said outer rim.   
     
     
         2 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein said lid is affixed to said inner rim by a first seal and to said outer rim by a second seal. 
     
     
         3 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein said series comprises at least four living hinges. 
     
     
         4 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein each said living hinge comprises an angle of orientation, the angle of orientation for each living hinge is opposite the angle of orientation for each adjacent living hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The food package of  claim 1  further comprising a lower rim defined at the intersection of said outer rim and said second living hinge, wherein said lower rim is approximately coplanar with said bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein said inner rim and said outer rim are approximately coplanar. 
     
     
         7 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein said bottom is approximately circular. 
     
     
         8 . A method of packaging a food product comprising:
 providing an expandable bowl portion of a food package in collapsed configuration, said bowl portion comprising:
 a bottom; 
 an inner sidewall extending upward from said bottom; 
 a series of at least two living hinges connecting said inner side wall with an outer sidewall, wherein an inner rim is defined by an intersection between said inner sidewall and a first living hinge in said series of living hinges, wherein said outer side wall defines an outer rim on a side opposite a second living hinge in said series of living hinges; 
   at least partially filling a compartment defined by said bottom and said inner sidewall with said food product; and   affixing a lid to said inner rim or said outer rim.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said affixing step further comprises affixing said lid to said inner rim by a first seal and to said outer rim by a second seal.