Food container having improved ventilation

Abstract

A plastic food container for crisp or crunchy foods includes a lid adapted for sealing arrangement with a base. Exhaust vents are selectively disposed on the top surface of the container, such that when the container is closed, rising vapors in the container easily flow out of the container. The convection movement of rising hot vapors causes the induction of ambient air into the container through a first air intake port and a counterpart air intake port disposed between the two engaged rims. The first intake port and its counterpart allow inducted air to enter directly and horizontally into the container. One or more channels are formed in the floor of the base and are aligned with a line defined by the first intake port and its counterpart to allow for the cross flow of drier inducted air underneath the container's food contents.

1 . A plastic food container comprising:
 a lid and a base;   the lid and base each having a peripheral rim;   the lid rim adapted for closing engagement with the base rim;   the lid rim and base rim when in closed engagement forming an interior of the container, a first intake port disposed between the two rims and a first counterpart intake port disposed between the two rims;   the first intake port and the first counterpart intake port being further disposed between the two engaged rims such as to permit air to enter directly and generally horizontally into the container;   the first intake port and the first counterpart intake port defining a line in the interior of the container that extends from the first intake port to the first counterpart intake port;   the base comprising a floor, the floor having at least one channel formed therein that is aligned with the line defined by the first intake port and the first counterpart intake port;   the lid including a top surface and one or more outermost side surfaces, the one or more outermost side surfaces having no vents disposed on them; and   the top surface of the lid having a plurality of exhaust vents disposed on it.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of exhaust vents disposed on the top surface of the container lid numbers between eight and fourteen vents. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes a contour and the plurality of exhaust vents on the top surface of the lid are disposed on the lid top surface so that they follow the contour of the lid shape. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the exhaust vents disposed on the top surface of the lid are formed so that they direct rising gases and vapors outward in relation to the outermost side surfaces of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The food container of  claim 1  wherein the lid rim and base rim when in closed engagement form a second intake port disposed between the two rims and a second counterpart intake port disposed between the two rims; and
 the second intake port and the second counterpart intake port are disposed between the two engaged rims such as to permit air to enter directly and generally horizontally into the container. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the second intake port and the second counterpart intake port define a second line in the interior of the container that extends from the second intake port to the second counterpart intake port and the floor has a second channel formed therein that is aligned with the second line. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral rim of the lid comprises at least two sealing projections, the peripheral rim of the base has a channel and when the lid and base are in the closed arrangement the at least two sealing projections of the lid rim are engaged by the channel in the peripheral rim of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid is hinged to the base.