Domed food container

Abstract

A food container preferably for heated food, has a lid member and a base member. The base member has complimentary embossed portions in the bottom of the base member to engage a complimentary indented portion in the top surface of the lid member. The retaining mechanism allows containers to be stacked so as to secure each container while allowing steam to escape from the lid of a container. Also, a fluid return system retains fluid in the container and promotes flow of fluid into the bottom of the container.

1 . A method of stacking a food container, the food container including a base member and a lid member capable of interlocking arrangement such that the lid member can be removably secured to cover the base member, the method comprising: 
 providing a lid member retaining mechanism including an embossed portion with uniform shape in an upper surface of the lid member;    providing one or more steam escape mechanisms in the upper surface of the lid member;    providing a base member retaining mechanism including one or more steam escape mechanism engaging portions in the bottom of the base member;    arranging the food container in stacked formation below an identical container, such that the one or more steam escape mechanisms of the lid member retaining mechanism engage the one or more steam escape mechanism engaging portions of the base member retaining mechanism on the container above it and steam can escape the food container through an engaged steam escape mechanism.    
   
   
       2 . A method of stacking a food container, the food container including a base member and a lid member capable of interlocking arrangement such that the lid member can be removably secured to cover the base member, the method comprising: 
 providing a lid member retaining mechanism including an embossed portion with uniform shape in an upper surface of the lid member;    providing one or more vented extensions in the upper surface of the lid member;    providing a base member retaining mechanism including one or more embossed portions in the bottom of the base member;    arranging the food container in stacked formation below an identical container, such that the one or more vented extensions of the lid member retaining mechanism are complementarily engaged by the one or more embossed portions of the base member retaining mechanism on the container above it and steam can escape the food container through a steam escape mechanism.    
   
   
       3 . A food container comprising: 
 a lid member, the lid member including an upper surface comprising an embossed surface defined in shape by a sidewall, the upper surface further comprising one or more steam escape mechanisms;    a base member, the base member comprising a plurality of sidewall ribs, an upper rim and, a base member lock rim;    a bottom surface of the base member comprising descending protruding surface features complementary to the sidewall defined embossed surface of the lid member and the one or more steam escape mechanisms of the lid member such that when the lid member is secured to cover the base member and the container is arranged in stacked formation with an identical container, the complementary descending features of the base member of the top container are engaged by the sidewall defined embossed surface and the one or more steam escape mechanisms of the lid member of the bottom container.    
   
   
       4 . The food container as in  claim 3  wherein the steam escape mechanism comprises openings, slits or vents.