Food container

Abstract

A container for food has a lid body and a base body, each of which has a side wall and a flange extending outwards from the periphery of the side wall. The lid flange and base flange contact each other around the periphery of the container when the lid body and base body are in contact. The lid flange or the base flange includes tabs on opposite sides of the container to retain the lid body and base body together while the base flange and lid flange are in contact.

1 . A container for food comprising a lid body and a base body; the lid body comprising a lid, a side wall around the lid, and a lid flange extending outwards from a periphery of the side wall; the base body comprising a base, a side wall around the base, and a base flange extending outwards from a periphery of the side wall, the base flange and lid flange being dimensioned to contact each other around a periphery of the container when the lid body and the base body are in contact, wherein on opposite sides of the container, one of the lid flange and the base flange comprises a tab to retain the lid body and base body together while the base flange and lid flange are in contact. 
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein on the opposite sides of the container, an outer edge of the one of the lid flange and the base flange that comprises the tab extends beyond an outer edge of the other of the lid flange and the base flange, whereby the other of the lid flange and the base flange is retainable between the one of the lid flange and the base flange and the tab, thereby retaining the lid body and base body together with the lid flange and base flange in contact. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein opposite sides of the lid flange each comprise a tab and an outer edge of the lid flange extends beyond an outer edge of the base flange, whereby the base flange is retainable between the tabs and the lid flange on opposite sides of the container, thereby retaining the lid body and base body together with the lid flange and base flange in contact. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein opposite sides of the base flange each comprise a tab and an outer edge of the base flange extends beyond an outer edge of the lid flange, whereby the lid flange is retainable between the tabs and the base flange on opposite sides of the container, thereby retaining the lid body and base body together with the lid flange and base flange in contact. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein a width of the base body, measured between opposite tips of the base flange, is greater than a distance between inner tips of the respective opposite tabs in the lid flange and less than a distance between outer edges of the respective opposite tabs in the lid flange. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein a width of the lid body, measured between opposite tips of the lid flange, is greater than a distance between inner tips of the respective opposite tabs in the base flange and less than a distance between outer edges of the respective opposite tabs in the base flange. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tabs are each defined by a cut line in the one of the lid flange and the base flange. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid flange extends from the side wall of the lid body substantially parallel to a plane of the lid body and the base flange extends from the side wall of the base body substantially parallel to a plane of the base. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base flange and lid flange extend from the side wall of the base body and lid body respectively at a same orientation so that the base flange and the lid flange lie against each other when the base body and lid body are retained together by the tabs. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein when the tabs extend outwards from the lid flange, the base side wall or base flange comprises an aperture for receiving the tabs and wherein when the tabs extend outwards from the base flange, the lid side wall or lid flange comprises an aperture for receiving the said tabs. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid body comprises one or more locating formations which protrude in a direction away from the lid and which fit within the base body and cooperate with an inner side of the side wall of the base body on opposite sides of the base to restrict lateral movement of the lid body relative to the base body. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 11 , wherein the one or more location formations comprise a recess formed in and extending around the side wall of the lid body. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the base body and the lid body each define four sides of the base body and the lid body respectively, and each of the four sides of the one of the lid flange and the base flange comprises one of said tabs. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the base body extends from the base at an external angle in the range of 45 to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid body and the base body are made from an insulating biodegradable material. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 15 , wherein the lid body and the base body are made predominantly of bagasse. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid body and the base body are retained together by the tabs, with the lid flange and base flange in contact, and with food in the container. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making a container according to  claim 1  comprising forming the lid body as an integral piece of material and cutting the material to form cut lines and thereby define the tabs. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 8  in which no material is discarded due to said cutting. 
     
     
         20 . A kit of parts comprising a lid body and a base body configured to form a container according to  claim 1 .