Containers for securing food items

Abstract

A container for holding food item(s). The container having a base, a cover, and a tray. The base includes base receptacle(s), and an inner base volume is defined in each base receptacle. The tray includes tray receptacle(s), and each tray receptacle includes tab(s). An inner tray volume is defined in each tray receptacle of the tray receptacle(s) that is configured to receive a food item of the food item(s). The tray is positioned between the cover and the base when the container is in a closed state so each tray receptacle is received in the inner base volume defined a respective base receptable. Tab(s) are configured to move to an extended position when the container is in a closed state so that tab(s) contact the food item received in the inner tray volume defined in each tray receptacle, thereby restricting movement of the food item(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding at least one food item, the container comprising:
 a base including at least one base receptacle, wherein an inner base volume is defined in each base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle;   a cover; and   a tray comprising at least one tray receptacle, wherein each tray receptacle of the at least one tray receptacle comprises at least one tab, and an inner tray volume is defined in each tray receptacle of the at least one tray receptacle that is configured to receive a food item of the at least one food item,   wherein the tray is positioned between the cover and the base when the container is in a closed state such that each tray receptacle of the at least one tray receptacle is received in the inner base volume defined a respective base receptable, and the at least one tab is configured to move to an extended position when the container is in a closed state so that the at least one tab contacts the food item received in the inner tray volume defined in each tray receptacle of the at least one tray receptacle, thereby restricting movement of the at least one food item.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each tab of the at least one tab comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to contact a respective base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle when the container is in a closed state to urge the at least one tab to an extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle comprises at least one protrusion, wherein each protrusion of the at least one protrusion is configured to contact a respective tab of the at least one tab when the container is in a closed state to urge the at least one tab to an extended position. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a column, and wherein the column is configured to contact the tray when the container is in a closed state. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the column is configured to avoid direct contact with the at least one food item when the container is in a closed state. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tray receptacle comprises two or more tray receptacles. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one tray receptacle comprises four or more tray receptacles. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab comprises two or more tabs. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tab comprises four or more tabs. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab includes a tab having a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, or a U-shape. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a tray wall extending in a first plane. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the tray comprises a tray rim extending radially outwardly from the tray wall, and, when the container is in a closed state, the tray rim is configured to contact a base sealing wall of the base and a cover sealing wall of the cover. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises four corners, and a base corner tab is positioned at each of the four corners of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the cover comprises four corners, and a cover corner tab is positioned at each of the four corners of the cover. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a wall between each base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . A method for using a container for holding a food item, the method comprising:
 providing a tray comprising a tray receptacle, wherein the tray receptacle comprises a tab, and wherein an inner tray volume is defined in the tray receptacle;   providing a base including a base receptacle, wherein an inner base volume is defined within the base receptacle;   providing a cover;   providing the food item;   positioning the food item in the inner tray volume;   positioning the tray relative to the base such that the tray receptacle is received within the inner base volume of the base receptacle; and   positioning the cover in a closed position relative to the base and the tray,   wherein the tab moves to an extended position when the cover is in a closed position so that the tab contacts the food item, thereby restricting movement of the food item.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tab comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to contact the base receptacle when the container is in a closed state to urge the tab to an extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base receptacle comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to contact the tab when the container is in a closed state to urge the tab to an extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tray comprises four or more tray receptacles, and the base comprises four or more base receptacles. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each tray receptacle comprises four or more tabs.