Microwavable container with sleeve

Abstract

A container for use in microwave heating. The container includes a bottom, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, and a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom. The flange includes a rim section configured to receive a sealing film and a recessed section including a plurality of handles. A pair of catch members are located between the plurality of handles. The catch members extend radially outwardly on opposed sides of the container.

1 . A container for use in microwave heating, the container comprising: 
 a bottom;    a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end;    a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including:    a rim section configured to receive a sealing film;    a recessed section including: 
 a plurality of handles, and  
 pair of catch members located between the plurality of handles, the catch members extending radially outwardly on opposed sides of the container.  
   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes a base section, an intermediate section, and an upper section, the upper section including a collar and a stacking wall.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the base section defines a transverse, cross-sectional radius of from about 0.25 to about 1.0 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the intermediate section is linear in transverse cross-section.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate section defines an angle relative to the horizontal plane of from about 70 to about 89 degrees.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed section includes two opposed linear edges.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handles includes a grip that defines a plane that is lower than the plane defined by the surface of the rim section.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed section includes a pair of opposed lateral sides and a pair of opposed longitudinal sides, the union of a lateral side and a longitudinal side defining a corner wherein each of the plurality of catch members radially extend from the lateral sides.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein a handle is located at each of the corners.  
   
   
       10 . A food package kit comprising: 
 a first tray including; 
 a bottom;  
 a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end;  
 a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including: 
 a rim section configured to receive a sealing film;  
 a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle;  
 an outwardly extending catch member disposed between the handles on each of the lateral edges;  
 
 a sealing film adapted to be attached to the rim section;  
 a sleeve adapted to hold the tray therein, the sleeve including a sleeve top and a sleeve base, wherein the sleeve base contains an aperture having a port, the catch member disposed through the port.  
   
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve includes a first side disposed between the sleeve top and the sleeve base, wherein the port is defined by the portion of the aperture on the first side.  
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve includes a flap for securing the sleeve base to the sleeve top.  
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve includes a second side disposed between the sleeve base and the flap, wherein a second port is defined by the portion of the aperture on the second side.  
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve includes a second aperture having a plurality of ports, wherein a perforation line is located on the sleeve between the first aperture and the second aperture.  
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a second tray including; 
 a bottom;    a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end;    a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including: 
 a rim section configured to receive a sealing film;  
 a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle;  
 a catch member disposed on each of the lateral edges, between the handles;  
 and a sealing film adapted to be attached to the rim section;  
   wherein the catch member of the second tray is at least partially disposed through a port of the second aperture.    
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve top comprises an easy open and re-close partition.  
   
   
       17 . A method of preparing food for subsequent sale, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container including; 
 a bottom;  
 a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, the sidewall defining an interior;  
 a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including: 
 a rim section configured to receive a sealing film;  
 a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle;  
 a catch member disposed on each of the lateral edges, between the handles;  
 
 dispensing food in the interior of the container;  
 attaching a sealing film to the rim section;  
 providing a sleeve including a sleeve top and a sleeve base, wherein the sleeve base contains an aperture having a port; and  
 placing the tray in the sleeve so that the catch member is at least partially disposed through the port.  
   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of fastening the sleeve top to the sleeve base.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of placing a second tray in the sleeve, the second tray including: 
 a rim section configured to receive a sealing film;    a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle;    a catch member disposed on each of the lateral edges, between the handles, such that the catch member of the second tray is at least partially disposed in the port.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of placing a second tray in the sleeve further comprises orienting the second tray such that the rim section of the second tray is in contact with the rim section of the first tray.  
   
   
       21 . A food package kit comprising: 
 a first tray and a second tray, the first tray and second tray each including; 
 a bottom;  
 a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end;  
 a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including: 
 a rim section configured to receive a sealing film;  
 a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle;  
 an outwardly extending catch member disposed between the handles on each of the lateral edges;  
 
 a sleeve adapted to hold the first tray and the second tray therein such that the rim section of the first tray and the rim section of the second tray are each between the bottom of the first tray and the bottom of the second tray, the sleeve including a sleeve top, a sleeve base, a first sleeve side and a second sleeve side, wherein the first sleeve side contains an aperture having a generally hourglass shape having a narrow portion between two wide portions and the second sleeve side contains an aperture having a generally hourglass shape having a narrow portion between two wide portions.