Food package

Abstract

Packages for the stable display and storage of foodstuffs. Re-closeable foodstuff package are provided that include a container and a lid. The lid has a base with three feet. The feet support the package when placed horizontally. One of the feet forms a lip in the base of the container that provides stability to the package when it is displayed in a near-vertical position. Additionally, the lip allows the packages to be stacked stably while in a horizontal position to allow for easy shipping of quantities of the packages to stores for sale.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package for containing a foodstuff, comprising:
 a container comprising a base having a perimeter, a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein said side walls extend substantially vertically from the perimeter at opposite sides of said base, further wherein said front wall and said rear wall extend substantially vertically from the perimeter at opposite sides of said base, further wherein said front wall extends at a negative angle relative to said base towards a center of said container;   said container further comprising a substantially horizontal rim disposed along a portion of the front wall, said rear wall, said first side wall, and said second side wall opposite to said base;   said base comprising a first foot, a second foot, and a third foot integrally disposed in said base, wherein the first and second feet are positioned at opposite corners of said base adjacent to said rear wall, further wherein said third foot traverses the base parallel to the perimeter and is set back from said front wall so as to define a lip in said base,   wherein said front portion of said horizontal rim and said lip are adapted to rest on a horizontal surface when said package is in a near-vertical orientation, further wherein a center of mass of said package to be located above said front wall when said package is in said near-vertical configuration; and   a lid, wherein said lid fits snugly into said rim to contain said foodstuff placed in said container.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said negative angle relative to the base is between about 10 degrees and about 25 degrees relative to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the negative angle relative to the base is approximately 14 degrees relative to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the base including said lip is shaped to fit stably in a lid of a second identical package to allow stable vertical stacking of a plurality of said packages. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said side, front, and rear walls include a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes a recessed portion that is parallel to said rim towards a center of said lid and which adds rigidity to the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said package is at an angle less than six degrees from vertical when said package is in said near-vertical orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said front wall and said rear wall are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a plurality of recessed lock portions and the lid includes a plurality of locking members so that each recessed lock portion engages a locking member and thereby the lid snap fits to the container.