Containers with optional venting

Abstract

An optional venting container comprises a base and a lid. The lid is releasably latched to the base. The lid comprises at least one ventable area formed therein. The at least one ventable area is adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon. The lid is made from a polymeric foam.

1 . An optional venting container comprising a base and a lid being releasably latched to the base, the lid comprising at least one ventable area formed therein, the at least one ventable area being adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon and wherein the lid is made from a polymeric foam.  
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the lid are made from the group consisting of alkenyl aromatic polymeric foams, polyolefin foams and polyester foams.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the lid are made from the same polymeric foam.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a bottom, a sidewall and a first rim, the sidewall encompasses the bottom and extends upwardly from the bottom, the first rim encompasses the sidewall and extends generally outwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the lid further includes a second rim, a second sidewall and a top wall, the second sidewall encompasses and extends generally downward from the top wall, the second rim extends generally outwardly from the second sidewall, the second rim of the lid is adapted to releasably latch with the first rim of the base.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid forms a plurality of ventable areas.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid further includes a second sidewall and a top wall, the second sidewall encompasses and extends generally downward from the top wall, the top wall forms a plurality of ventable areas.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further includes a second sidewall and a top wall, the second sidewall encompasses and extends generally downward from the top wall, the top wall has an angle located near the intersection of the top wall and the second sidewall, the at least one ventable area is formed on this angle so as to improve venting when containers are stacked upon each other.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventable area is a general U-shape.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid forms a hinge to assist in moving the at least one ventable area to a vented position.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a crease is forming in the lid after the at least one ventable area is moved to a vented position.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventable area is formed by a perforation cut with at least one score formed therein.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one ventable area is formed by a perforation cut with a plurality of scores formed therein.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventable area is formed by a knife cut.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a hinge, the hinge connects the base and the lid and allows the lid to pivot with respect to the base.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a thickness of from about 30 to about 150 mils.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a bottom and a sidewall, the sidewall encompasses the bottom and extends upwardly from the bottom.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventable area, after forming the vent, remains with the remainder of the lid.  
     
     
         19 . An optional venting container comprising a base and a lid being releasably latched to the base, the lid comprising at least one ventable area formed therein, the at least one ventable area being adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon, the at least one ventable area being formed by a perforation cut, and wherein the lid is made from a polymeric foam.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the polymeric foam is an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric foam is a polystyrene foam.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the base and the lid are made from the same polymeric foam.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the lid further includes a second sidewall and a top wall, the second sidewall encompasses and extends generally downward from the top wall, the top wall has an angle located near the intersection of the top wall and the second sidewall, the at least one ventable area is formed on this angle so as to improve venting when containers are stacked upon each other.  
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the lid forms a hinge to assist in moving the at least one ventable area to a vented position.  
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein a crease is forming in the lid after the at least one ventable area is moved to a vented position.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the container further comprises a hinge, the hinge connects the base and the lid and allows the lid to pivot with respect to the base.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the container has a thickness of from about 30 to about 150 mils.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the base comprises a bottom and a sidewall, the sidewall encompasses the bottom and extends upwardly from the bottom.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one ventable area, after forming the vent, remains with the remainder of the lid.  
     
     
         30 . An optional venting polymeric foam container comprising a base, a lid and a hinge, the lid being releasably latched to the base, the lid comprising at least one ventable area formed therein, the at least one ventable area being adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon, the at least one ventable area being formed by a perforation cut, the hinge connecting the base and the lid and allowing the lid to pivot with respect to the base, and wherein the base and the lid are made from the same polymeric foam.  
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the lid forms a plurality of ventable areas.  
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the perforation cut is formed with a plurality of scores therein.  
     
     
         33 . A method of forming a polymeric foam container comprising: 
 providing a foamable resin in an extruder;    melting the foamable resin in the extruder;    extruding the foamable resin from the extruder to form an extruded material;    thermoforming the extruded material into a container comprising a base and a lid, the lid being releasably latched to the base, the lid comprising at least one ventable area formed therein, the at least one ventable area being adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further including a user moving the at least on ventable area to a venting position.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the lid forms a plurality of ventable areas.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  further including forming the at least one ventable area by a perforation cut with at least one score formed therein.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  further including forming the at least one ventable area by a perforation cut with a plurality of scores formed therein.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  further including forming the at least one ventable area by a knife cut.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the container further comprises a hinge, the hinge connects the base and the lid and allows the lid to pivot with respect to the base.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein a crease forms in the lid after the at least one ventable area is moved to a vented position.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the container has a thickness of from about 30 to about 150 mils.  
     
     
         42 . A polymeric foam lid adapted to be releasably latched to a base, the lid comprising at least one ventable area formed therein, the at least one ventable area adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon and wherein the lid is made from a polymeric foam.  
     
     
         43 . A method of forming a polymeric foam lid, the lid being adapted to be releasably latched to a base, the method comprising: 
 providing a foamable resin in an extruder;    melting the foamable resin in the extruder;    extruding the foamable resin from the extruder to form an extruded material;    thermoforming the extruded material into a lid, the lid comprising at least one ventable area formed therein, the at least one ventable area being adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon.