Container with absorption features

Abstract

A container for holding a food product. The container can comprise a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity of the container, a flange extending from the sidewall, and a material comprising at least a base layer and a barrier layer on a face of the base layer. The flange and the sidewall each can comprise a portion of the material. The barrier layer can at least partially form an interior surface of the container, and the interior surface can at least partially extend along the cavity of the container. An absorption feature can extend in at least the barrier layer for allowing liquids to pass through the barrier layer and into the base layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding a food product, the container comprising:
 a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity of the container;   a flange extending from the sidewall;   a material comprising at least a base layer and a barrier layer on a face of the base layer, the flange and the sidewall each comprising a portion of the material, wherein the barrier layer at least partially forms an interior surface of the container, and the interior surface at least partially extends along the cavity of the container; and   an absorption feature extending in at least the barrier layer for allowing liquids to pass through the barrier layer and into the base layer.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises an edge, and the base layer is at least partially exposed at the edge. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the absorption feature is spaced apart from the edge for allowing the liquids to pass through the barrier layer for absorption into the base layer at a location that is spaced apart from the edge. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the absorption feature extends in at least the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is a waterproof layer, and a moisture-proof layer is disposed on an opposite surface of the container from the waterproof layer. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer comprises a waterproof material and the base layer comprises a water-absorbing material. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base layer comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer comprises at least two layers of paperboard. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the barrier layer is a waterproof layer disposed on a first layer of the at least two layers of paperboard, and a moisture-proof layer is disposed on a second layer of the at least two layers of paperboard, opposite to the waterproof layer. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption feature comprises a plurality of voids in the barrier layer. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of voids comprises a line of voids, the voids of the line of voids extending in a linear arrangement in the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the line of voids is generally parallel to the flange. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the line of voids is a first line of voids, the plurality of voids further comprises a second line of voids extending in the sidewall, the second line of voids extending generally perpendicular to the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the line of voids is generally perpendicular to the flange. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall comprises a side panel and an end panel that is generally perpendicular to the side panel, the absorption feature comprises a first plurality of voids extending in the side panel and a second plurality of voids extending in the end panel. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the side panel is a first side panel and the end panel is a first end panel, the sidewall comprises a second side panel disposed generally opposite to the first side panel and a second end panel disposed generally opposite to the first end panel, and the absorption feature further comprises a third plurality of voids extending in the second side panel and a fourth plurality of voids extending in the second end panel. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the sidewall further comprises a first corner connecting the first side panel to the first end panel, a second corner connecting the first side panel to the second end panel, a third corner connecting the second side panel to the first end panel, and a fourth corner connecting the second side panel to the second end panel. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the flange extends along each of the first side panel, the second side panel, the first end panel, the second end panel, the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner of the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the side panel and the end panel of the sidewall are connected by a corner, and the container further comprises a plurality of pleats extending in at least the corner of the sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein absorption feature further comprises a third plurality of voids, each void of the third plurality of voids being generally collinear with a respective pleat of the plurality of pleats. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom panel, wherein the sidewall extends at least partially along a perimeter of the bottom panel, and the absorption feature extends in at least the bottom panel. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover at least partially in face-to-face contact with the flange. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cover extends over and covers the interior surface of the cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pleats extending in at least a portion of at least the sidewall, wherein the absorption feature comprises a plurality of voids in the barrier layer, and the voids of the plurality of voids are generally collinear with respective pleats of the plurality of pleats. 
     
     
         25 . In combination, the container of  claim 1  and a food item, wherein the food item is disposed in the cavity. 
     
     
         26 . A blank for forming a container for holding a food product, the blank comprising:
 a sidewall portion for forming a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity of the container formed from the blank;   a flange portion extending along the sidewall portion for forming a flange extending from the sidewall in the container formed from the blank;   a material comprising at least a base layer and a barrier layer on a face of the base layer, the flange portion and the sidewall portion each comprising a portion of the material, wherein the barrier layer at least partially forms an interior surface of the blank, and the interior surface is for at least partially extending along the cavity when the container is formed from the blank; and   an absorption feature extending in at least the barrier layer for allowing liquids to pass through the barrier layer and into the base layer.   
     
     
         27 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the flange portion comprises an edge, and the base layer is at least partially exposed at the edge. 
     
     
         28 . The blank of  claim 27 , wherein the absorption feature is spaced apart from the edge for allowing the liquids to pass through the barrier layer for absorption into the base layer at a location that is spaced apart from the edge. 
     
     
         29 . The blank of  claim 28 , wherein the absorption feature extends in at least the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         30 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier layer is a waterproof layer, and a moisture-proof layer is disposed on an opposite surface of the blank from the waterproof layer. 
     
     
         31 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the barrier layer comprises a waterproof material and the base layer comprises a water-absorbing material. 
     
     
         32 . The blank of  claim 31 , wherein the base layer comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         33 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the base layer comprises at least two layers of paperboard. 
     
     
         34 . The blank of  claim 33 , wherein the barrier layer is a waterproof layer disposed on a first layer of the at least two layers of paperboard, and a moisture-proof layer is disposed on a second layer of the at least two layers of paperboard, opposite to the waterproof layer. 
     
     
         35 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the absorption feature comprises a plurality of voids in the barrier layer. 
     
     
         36 . The blank of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of voids comprises a line of voids, the voids of the line of voids extending in a linear arrangement in at least the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         37 . The blank of  claim 36 , wherein the line of voids is generally parallel to the flange portion. 
     
     
         38 . The blank of  claim 37 , wherein the line of voids is a first line of voids, the plurality of voids further comprises a second line of voids extending in at least the sidewall portion, the second line of voids extending generally perpendicular to the flange portion. 
     
     
         39 . The blank of  claim 36 , wherein the line of voids is generally perpendicular to the flange portion. 
     
     
         40 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the sidewall portion comprises a side portion and an end portion that is generally perpendicular to the side portion, the absorption feature comprises a first plurality of voids extending in the side portion and a second plurality of voids extending in the end portion. 
     
     
         41 . The blank of  claim 40 , wherein the side portion is a first side portion and the end portion is a first end portion, the sidewall portion comprises a second side portion disposed generally opposite to the first side portion and a second end portion disposed generally opposite to the first end portion, and the absorption feature further comprises a third plurality of voids extending in the second side portion and a fourth plurality of voids extending in the second end portion. 
     
     
         42 . The blank of  claim 41 , wherein the sidewall portion further comprises a first corner portion connecting the first side portion to the first end portion, a second corner portion connecting the first side portion to the second end portion, a third corner portion connecting the second side portion to the first end portion, and a fourth corner portion connecting the second side portion to the second end portion. 
     
     
         43 . The blank of  claim 42 , wherein the flange portion extends along each of the first side portion, the second side portion, the first end portion, the second end portion, the first corner portion, the second corner portion, the third corner portion, and the fourth corner portion of the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         44 . The blank of  claim 40 , wherein the side portion and the end portion of the sidewall portion are connected by a corner portion, and the blank further comprises a plurality of score lines extending in at least the corner portion of the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         45 . The blank of  claim 44 , wherein absorption feature further comprises a third plurality of voids, each void of the third plurality of voids being generally collinear with a respective score line of the plurality of score lines. 
     
     
         46 . The blank of  claim 26 , further comprising a central portion for forming a bottom wall when the container is formed from the blank, wherein the sidewall portion extends at least partially along a perimeter of the central portion, and the absorption feature extends in at least the central portion. 
     
     
         47 . The blank of  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of score lines for forming a plurality of pleats when the container is formed from the blank, wherein the plurality of score lines extends in at least a portion of at least the sidewall portion, the absorption feature comprises a plurality of voids in the barrier layer, and the voids of the plurality of voids are generally collinear with respective score lines of the plurality of score lines. 
     
     
         48 . A method of forming a container, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a material having at least a base layer, a barrier layer on a face of the base layer and at least partially forming an interior surface of the blank, and an absorption feature extending in at least the barrier layer for allowing liquids to pass through the barrier layer and into the base layer, wherein the blank comprises a sidewall portion and a flange portion each comprising a portion of the material;   forming a sidewall comprising at least the side portion of the blank, the sidewall at least partially defining a cavity of the container with the interior surface at least partially extending along the cavity of the container; and   forming a flange comprising at least the flange portion of the blank, the flange extending from the sidewall.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the flange comprises an edge, the base layer is at least partially exposed at the edge, and the absorption feature is spaced apart from the edge for allowing the liquids to pass through the barrier layer for absorption into the base layer at a location that is spaced apart from the edge. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the barrier layer is a waterproof layer, and a moisture-proof layer is disposed on an opposite surface of the container from the waterproof layer. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the barrier layer comprises a waterproof material and the base layer comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the base layer comprises at least two layers of paperboard, the barrier layer is a waterproof layer disposed on a first layer of the at least two layers of paperboard, and a moisture-proof layer is disposed on a second layer of the at least two layers of paperboard, opposite to the waterproof layer. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the absorption feature comprises a plurality of voids in the barrier layer. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the forming the sidewall comprises forming a side panel and an end panel that is generally perpendicular to the side panel, the absorption feature comprises a first plurality of voids extending in the side panel and a second plurality of voids extending in the end panel. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the side panel and the end panel of the sidewall are connected by a corner, the blank further comprises a plurality of score lines extending in at least a portion of the sidewall portion, the absorption feature further comprises a third plurality of voids, each void of the third plurality of voids being generally collinear with a respective score line of the plurality of score lines, the forming the sidewall comprises forming a plurality of pleats along the plurality of score lines, and the plurality of pleats extend in at least the corner. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising disposing a food product in the cavity of the container and attaching a cover at least partially in face-to-face contact with the flange.