Thermoformed clamshell food package with corner lid release feature

Abstract

A one-piece thermoformed food package comprises a rectangular deep drawn base with a peripheral female rim channel and, connected to the base by a hinge, a lid having a peripheral male rim feature. In the corner of the base is a breakaway release feature which underlies a corner tab of the lid which is tucked into an inside edge of the female rim so that it cannot be accessed to open the package. When the user pushes up on the breakaway release feature, one or more frangible sections are broken and the lid corner tab is raised enough to open the package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic container comprising:
 a container base having at least one corner, peripheral rim structure extending around said corner, and a corner deck within said rim structure;   a lid conforming to said container base and attached thereto and having a corner tab which, in use, overlies the corner deck and interiorly abuts said base rim structure to inhibit access thereto; and   a breakaway section formed in the corner deck to permit a force to be applied through said section to the corner tab to lift said corner tab and substantially simultaneously at least partially separate said section from said deck.   
     
     
         2 . A plastic container as defined in  claim 1  wherein the container base and lid are integrally thermoformed so as to be attached by means of a hinge. 
     
     
         3 . A plastic container as defined in  claim 1  wherein the breakaway section is essentially rectangular and is die-cut relative to the deck leaving at least one frangible section which is broken away when said force is applied to said section to lift corner tab. 
     
     
         4 . A plastic container as defined in  claim 3  further comprising a pair of strengthening grooves on opposite sides of the breakaway tab. 
     
     
         5 . A thermoformed plastic container as defined in  claim 1  wherein the breakaway section is essentially round and is die-cut so as to be divided into generally symmetrical sections when an upward force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         6 . A method of opening a molded plastic container of the type having a base and a lid which attaches securely to the base in such a way as to tuck an edge of the lid against a peripheral rim of the base comprising the steps of:
 pushing up on a breakaway tab formed in a corner of the base underlying a conforming corner of the base underlying a conforming corner of the lid sufficiently to at least partially fracture a portion of the tab and lift a corner of the lid sufficiently to expose an edge of the lid for removal purposes.