Nestable packages

Abstract

A nestable food package, is provided. The food package has a base and a lid with a concave portion configured to receive the base of another food package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food package comprising:
 a base comprising a bottom, a sidewall and an upper rim; and   a lid affixed to said upper rim, wherein said lid comprises a concave portion configured to receive a base of a second food package.   
     
     
         2 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein said concave portion of said lid is defined by a lid sidewall and a lid bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein said base comprises a circular cross section, wherein said base comprises a first circumference, and wherein said lid sidewall comprises a circular cross section and said lid bottom comprises a second circumference, wherein said second circumference is greater than or equal to said first circumference. 
     
     
         4 . The food package of  claim 1  nested inside a concave portion of a second food package of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein said base bottom is substantially coplanar with said lid bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein said base sidewall and said lid sidewall are substantially concentric. 
     
     
         7 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein said bottom is approximately circular. 
     
     
         8 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein said base further comprises a base height defined as a distance between a plane defined by the base bottom and a plane defined by the base upper rim, wherein the lid further comprises a lid height defined as a distance between a plane defined by the lid bottom and the plane defined by the base upper rim, wherein the lid height is at least 25% of the base height. 
     
     
         9 . The food package of  claim 8  wherein the lid height is at least 33% of the base height. 
     
     
         10 . The food package of  claim 8  wherein the lid height is at least 45% of the base height. 
     
     
         11 . The food package of  claim 4  wherein said food package of  claim 1  is substantially the same size and shape as said second food package of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A method of packaging a food product comprising:
 providing a plurality of food packages, each said food package comprising:
 a base comprising a bottom, a sidewall and an upper rim; 
 a lid affixed to said upper rim, wherein said lid comprises a concave portion configured to receive a base of a second food package; 
 an interior compartment defined by said base and said lid which contains a food product; 
 nesting said food packages to form a food package bundle; and 
 at least partially covering said food package bundle with a packaging sleeve. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each said food package is substantially the same size and shape as each other food package in said food package bundle. 
     
     
         14 . A food package bundle comprising:
 a plurality of food packages, each said food package comprising:
 a base comprising a bottom, a sidewall and an upper rim; 
 a lid affixed to said upper rim, wherein said lid comprises a concave portion configured to receive a base of a second food package; 
   wherein said food packages are nested and wherein said nested food packages are at least partially covered with a packaging sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The food package bundle of  claim 14  wherein each said food package is substantially the same size and shape as each other food package in said food package bundle.