Container base and lid with planar area for flat application of adhesive membrane

Abstract

The embodiments provide a container of the type to hold fresh food or produce. Container has a base and a lid moveable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. The lid has a planar area. The base has a second planar area. In the closed position, the first planar and the second planar area include a substantially flat area suitable for receipt of an adhesive membrane, such as a self-adhesive label. The substantially flat area includes an edge of the first planar area and at least part of the second planar area.

1 . A packaged item comprising:
 a food item;   a container having a cavity containing the food item, the container having
 a lid
 defining a lid portion of the cavity and 
 having a substantially planar exterior surface area portion encompassing a first lid hole, 
 
 a base
 defining a base portion of the cavity and 
 having
 a floor, 
 a sidewall extending from the floor to a rim, and 
 an extension extending from the rim away from the floor, 
 
 
 a membrane on the substantially planar exterior surface area portion of the lid, the membrane having
 a display side
 facing substantially away from the cavity and 
 facing obliquely away from the floor, and 
 
 a reverse side
 spanning at least a portion of the first lid hole, 
 facing the substantially planar exterior surface area portion, and 
 having a portion adjacent to the first lid hole facing the base unobstructed by the lid, 
 
 
   wherein the lid and the base are each constructed from a formable material,   wherein, when the lid and the base are orientated in a substantially closed configuration
 the food item is contained within the cavity and generally disposed between the floor of the base and the lid, and 
 the extension of the rim is
 aligned with the first lid hole and 
 extends toward the membrane. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The packaged item of  claim 1  wherein,
 the base includes a base lock on the extension of the rim, 
 the lid includes a lid lock extending from adjacent the first lid hole, and
 the base lock and the lid lock are configured to secure the lid and the base in the substantially closed configuration. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The packaged item of  claim 2  wherein,
 a hinge
 rotatably connects the lid to the base and 
 is attached to a first edge of the lid; and 
 
 the first edge and the substantially planar exterior surface area portion are on opposite sides of the lid. 
 
     
     
         4 . The packaged item of  claim 3  wherein,
 when the lid and the base of the container are orientated in the substantially closed configuration,
 a surface of the extension of the rim is
 parallel to the substantially planar exterior surface area portion of the lid and 
 substantially surrounded by the membrane. 
 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The packaged item of  claim 4  wherein,
 the surface of the extension of the rim is a continuation of an interior surface of the formable material of the base, and 
 when the lid and the base of the container are orientated in the substantially closed configuration
 the surface of the extension of the rim is adjacent to the membrane. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The packaged item of  claim 1  wherein
 a hinge
 rotatably connects the lid to the base and 
 is attached to a first edge of the lid; and 
 
 the first edge and the substantially planar exterior surface area portion are on opposite sides of the lid. 
 
     
     
         7 . The packaged item of  claim 1  wherein,
 when the lid and the base of the container are orientated in the substantially closed configuration,
 a first part of a material surface area of the extension of the rim is
 parallel to the substantially planar exterior surface area portion of the lid and 
 substantially surrounded by the membrane. 
 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The packaged item of  claim 1  wherein,
 a part of a material surface area of the extension of the rim is a continuation of an interior surface of the formable material of the base, and 
 when the lid and the base of the container are orientated in the substantially closed configuration 
 the part of the material surface area of the extension of the rim is adjacent to the membrane. 
 
     
     
         9 . The packaged item of  claim 1  wherein,
 the base includes a base lock on the extension of the rim, 
 the lid includes a lid lock extending from adjacent the first lid hole, 
 the base lock and the lid lock are configured to secure the lid and the base in the substantially closed configuration, and 
 the membrane covers both the base lock and the lid lock when the lid and the base are in the substantially closed configuration. 
 
     
     
         10 . A packaged item comprising:
 a food product enclosed within a container;   the container having
 a lid and a base in a closed configuration enclosing the food product, each of the lid and the base constructed from a formable material, 
 the lid having
 a substantially flat exterior lid top surface area facing away from the base and 
 a substantially planar portion of the lid surrounding an exposure area, and 
 
 the base having
 a floor with an exterior floor surface area facing away from the lid, 
 an interior floor surface area facing towards the lid, 
 a rim, 
 a sidewall extending from the floor to a rim, and 
 a base extension extending from the rim and having an extension surface; 
 
 a membrane
 covering a portion of
 the substantially planar portion of the lid and 
 the exposure area, and 
 
 having
 a reverse side facing the substantially planar portion of the lid and 
 a display side opposite the reverse side; 
 
 
   wherein the extension surface of the base is facing through the exposure area toward the reverse side of the membrane.   
     
     
         11 . The packaged item of  claim 10  wherein,
 the base includes a base lock on the extension of the rim, 
 the lid includes a lid lock extending from adjacent the exposure area, 
 the base lock and the lid lock are configured to secure the lid and the base in the closed configuration, and 
 the membrane covers both the base lock and the lid lock. 
 
     
     
         12 . The packaged item of  claim 10  wherein,
 the container includes a hinge that
 rotatably connects the lid to the base and 
 is attached to a first edge of the lid; and 
 
 the first edge and the exposure area are on opposite sides of the lid. 
 
     
     
         13 . The packaged item of  claim 10  wherein,
 the extension surface of the base extension is a continuation of an interior surface of the sidewall, and 
 the extension surface of the base extension is adjacent to the membrane. 
 
     
     
         14 . The packaged item of  claim 10  wherein,
 the extension surface of the base facing through the exposure area is substantially planar with a portion of the membrane adjacent the exposure area. 
 
     
     
         15 . A packaged item comprising:
 a container with a lid and a base in a closed configuration forming an interior area of the container;   a food product contained within the interior area of the container;   the lid having a lid hole wholly encompassed by a substantially planar area of the lid;   a membrane with a reverse surface side and a display surface side, the membrane positioned on an exterior surface area of the container and at least partially covering the lid hole, a portion of the reverse surface side facing through the lid hole;   the base having a portion aligned within the lid hole;   wherein, the food product is disposed between a floor of the base and a top of the lid.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein,
 the membrane is positioned on the substantially planar area of the lid. 
 
     
     
         17 . The packaged item of  claim 15  wherein,
 the base includes a base lock, 
 the lid includes a lid lock adjacent the lid hole, and 
 the base lock and the lid lock are configured to secure the lid and the base in the closed configuration. 
 
     
     
         18 . The packaged item of  claim 17  wherein,
 the base lock includes the portion aligned with the lid hole, and 
 the base lock is on an extension of a rim of the base. 
 
     
     
         19 . The packaged item of  claim 15  wherein,
 a hinge
 rotatably connects the lid to the base and 
 is attached to a first edge of the lid; and 
 
 the first edge and the lid hole are on opposite sides of the lid. 
 
     
     
         20 . The packaged item of  claim 15  wherein,
 the food product is a perishable food product.