Food tray and matable lid

Abstract

A container configured to contain food stuffs. The container includes a food tray and a matable lid. The food tray includes a tapered portion connected to an upper lip having an upper lip edge perimeter. The matable lid includes a mating portion including an inwardly tapered portion and an outwardly tapered portion forming an undercut region having an undercut region perimeter. The undercut region perimeter is less than the upper lip edge perimeter such that the undercut region flexes when a force is exerted on the matable lid during mating with the food tray. This permits the upper lip to overcome the undercut region and be held in place in a recess in the mating portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container configured to contain food stuffs, the container comprising:
 a food tray including a tapered portion connected to an upper lip having an upper lip edge perimeter; and   a matable lid including a mating portion including an inwardly tapered portion and an outwardly tapered portion forming an undercut region having an undercut region perimeter, the undercut region perimeter is less than the upper lip edge perimeter such that the undercut region flexes when a force is exerted on the matable lid during mating with the food tray, thereby permitting the upper lip to overcome the undercut region and be held in place in a recess in the mating portion.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the matable lid includes a peripheral portion having alternating inwardly and outwardly chamfered portions extending therefrom, the alternating inwardly and outwardly chamfered portions configured to hold the upper lip of the food tray in place with respect to the matable lid. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper lip extends outwardly from the tapered portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the undercut region extends an entire perimeter of the matable lid. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein when the matable lid is being mated to the food tray, the undercut region is configured to contact a portion of a peripheral edge of the upper lip. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein when the matable lid is mated to the food tray, a peripheral edge of the upper lip is located at least partially within a recess formed by the undercut region. 
     
     
         7 . A container configured to contain food stuffs, the container comprising:
 a food tray including a tapered portion connected to an upper lip having an upper lip edge perimeter, the food tray including a paperboard layer; and   a matable lid including a mating portion including an inwardly tapered portion and an outwardly tapered portion forming an undercut region having an undercut region perimeter, the matable lid formed of a plastic material, and the undercut region perimeter is less than the upper lip edge perimeter such that the undercut region flexes when a force is exerted on the matable lid during mating with the food tray, thereby permitting the upper lip to overcome the undercut region and be held in place in a recess in the mating portion.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the paperboard layer includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface has an inner surface coating coated thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the inner surface coating includes a polyethylene (PE) resin. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the outer surface is uncoated. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plastic material is a transparent, semi-transparent or opaque plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plastic material is polystyrene (PS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         13 . A container configured to contain food stuffs, the container comprising:
 a food tray including a tapered portion connected to an upper lip; and   a matable lid including a mating portion including an inwardly tapered portion and an outwardly tapered portion forming an undercut region, a first taper angle of the inwardly tapered portion is less than a second taper angle of the outwardly tapered portion and a first peripheral width of the inwardly tapered portion is less than a second peripheral width of the outwardly tapered portion such that the undercut region flexes when a force is exerted on the matable lid during mating with the food tray, thereby permitting the upper lip to overcome the undercut region and be held in place in a recess in the mating portion.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the matable lid includes a peripheral portion having alternating inwardly and outwardly chamfered portions extending therefrom, the alternating inwardly and outwardly chamfered portions configured to hold the upper lip of the food tray in place with respect to the matable lid. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein when the upper lip is seated within the recess, alternating inwardly and outwardly chamfered portions abut an inner surface of a portion of the tapered portion. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the tapered portion includes an upper tapered portion and a lower tapered portion, and the upper tapered portion is offset the lower tapered portion. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the food tray is configured to withstand a baking or cooking process at a range of ovenable temperatures in a range of recommended baking or cooking times. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the range of ovenable temperatures is 300° F. to 600° F. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the range of recommended baking or cooking times is 15 minutes to 5 hours. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the recess has a width in a range of 0.040 to 0.060 inches.