Pulp-molded container

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a pulp-molded container comprising a tray comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating in a flange that at least partially defines an open top, the flange having a channel defined by spaced inner and outer channel walls connected by a bottom channel wall; and a cover closing the open top in a closed configuration, the cover including a protrusion biased against the inner and outer channel walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulp-molded container comprising:
 a tray comprising:
 a bottom wall; 
 a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating in a flange that at least partially defines an open top, the flange having a channel defined by spaced inner and outer channel walls connected by a bottom channel wall; and 
 a cover closing the open top in a closed configuration, the cover including a protrusion biased against at least one of the inner channel wall or the outer channel wall and forming a sealing interface between the protrusion and at least one of the inner channel wall or the outer channel wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner channel wall includes a surface roughness equal to or between 200 and 1020 Sheffield Units. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the surface roughness is equal to or between 800 and 1020 Sheffield Units. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein, in the closed configuration, the protrusion is in contact with the inner and outer channel walls and is spaced from the bottom channel wall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is U-shaped and opens upward; and
 wherein the protrusion is J-shaped and opens upward.   
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the inner channel wall and the outer channel wall defines a channel width; and
 in an unflexed configuration of the protrusion, a width of the protrusion is greater than the channel width.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein insertion of the protrusion into the channel flexes the protrusion from the unflexed configuration to a flexed configuration such that the protrusion applies a biasing force against the at least one of the inner channel or the outer channel wall. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein, in a flexed configuration of the protrusion, the protrusion applies an inward force to the inner channel wall and applies an outward force to the outer channel wall, relative to a center of the tray. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein in the flexed configuration, an outer edge of the protrusion is disposed in the channel below a top of the outer channel wall. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the outer channel wall defines an outer channel wall length between the bottom channel wall and the top of outer channel wall; and
 in the flexed configuration, the outer edge of the protrusion is aligned between 65% and 75% of the outer channel wall length.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the inner channel wall or the outer channel wall is planar. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the inner channel wall and the outer channel wall are planar, and the bottom channel wall has a planar portion and a pair of curved portions extending from the planar portion and connected to the inner channel wall and the outer channel wall. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein, in the flexed configuration, the protrusion and the channel cooperate to provide a liquid seal between the tray and the cover. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the outer channel wall is shorter than the inner channel wall. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusion includes an outer resilient member that defines an outer resilient member plane; and
 the protrusion includes an angled tab defining the outer edge, the angled tab extending at an angle relative to the outer resilient member plane.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein, in the flexed configuration, the protrusion is in contact with the inner channel wall and the outer channel wall and the protrusion is not in contact with the bottom channel wall. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the inner channel wall is vertical or angled such that a bottom portion of the inner channel wall angles away from the peripheral side wall; and
 wherein the outer channel wall is vertical or angled such that a bottom portion of the outer channel wall is angled toward the peripheral side wall.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the flange includes an outer flange wall extending downward from a top of the outer channel wall such that at least some of the outer flange wall is spaced from the outer channel wall; and
 wherein the outer channel wall and the outer flange wall are disposed in a U-shaped configuration that opens downward.   
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a rectangular configuration, a circular configuration, or an oval-shaped configuration; and
 the container is devoid of plastic.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising a hinge rotatably connecting the tray with the cover.