Container with food seals

Abstract

A plastic food container has a lid and a base, each of which has a flange and an inverted U-shaped rim. The flanges and rims mate to form four seals with the rim forming a large horizontal seal and two air pockets between seals to allow for easy opening.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A plastic, molded food container having four seals comprising: 
 (A) a base having 
 (i) a substantially planar bottom;  
 (ii) base side walls extending substantially vertically upward from said bottom;  
 (iii) a base flange extending substantially horizontally outward from said base side walls;  
 (iv) an inverted, U-shaped base rim extending outward from said base flange, said base rim having 
 (a) an inner base rim surface which extends substantially vertically upward from said base flange;  
 (b) a middle base rim surface which extends substantially horizontally outward from inner base rim surface;  
 (c) an exterior base rim surface which extends substantially vertically downward from said middle base rim surface;  
 
   (B) a lid having 
 (i) a substantially planar top;  
 (ii) lid side walls extending substantially vertically downward from said top;  
 (iii) a lid flange extending substantially horizontally outward from said lid side walls;  
 (iv) an inverted, U-shaped lid rim extending outward from said lid flange and mating with said inverted, U-shaped base rim when said lid is locked onto said base, said lid rim having 
 (a) an inner lid rim surface which extends substantially vertically upward from said lid flange;  
 (b) a middle lid rim surface which extends substantially horizontally outward from said inner lid rim surface;  
 (c) an exterior lid rim surface which extends substantially vertically downward from said middle lid rim surface;  
 
   (C) a locking lip which extends vertically downward from said exterior lid rim surface and locks said lid onto said base;    (D) four seals which form when said lid is locked onto said base, said four seals being 
 (i) a horizontal inner seal formed by said lid flange and said base flange;  
 (ii) a vertical middle seal formed by said inner base rim surface and said inner lid rim surface;  
 (iii) a horizontal middle seal formed by said middle base rim surface and said middle lid rim surface;  
 (iv) a vertical exterior seal formed by said exterior base rim surface and said exterior lid rim surface;  
   (E) two air pockets between said four seals, a first air pocket formed between said horizontal inner seal and said vertical middle seal, and a second air pocket formed between said vertical middle seal and said horizontal middle seal; and    (F) said horizontal middle seal having a surface area equal to or greater than said horizontal inner seal, said vertical middle seal and said vertical exterior seal.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said lid further comprises a raised central portion on said planar top and said base further comprises a raised central portion on said planar bottom which is matable with said raised central portion of said planar top when one container is stacked on another container.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said horizontal middle seal and said vertical exterior seal are continuous.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said vertical middle seal has a surface area greater than said vertical exterior seal.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein when said lid is locked onto said base, said locking lip does not extend vertically below said base flange.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said horizontal middle seal has a surface area greater than said horizontal inner seal, said vertical middle seal, and said vertical exterior seal.