Container for protecting baked goods

Abstract

Disclosed is a container for protecting baked goods during shipment that includes, among other elements, a lid and a base. The base includes a plurality of wells and interconnected posts. Each well is adapted for supporting a baked good during shipment. The interconnected posts are formed in the base and extend upwardly from a base bottom. Each post is positioned adjacent to four of the wells and includes a retainer element that is positioned proximate an upper end of the post and adapted to positively capture baked goods in each of the four adjacent wells.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a container for protecting baked goods, comprising:
 a) providing a sheet of plastic material that is at least partially transparent;   b) forming a cover portion from a portion of the sheet of plastic material, wherein the cover portion includes a planar upper surface; and   c) forming a base portion from a portion of the sheet which includes a plurality of wells and a plurality of interconnected posts, each well adapted for supporting a baked good; and the interconnected posts are formed in the base and extend upwardly from a base bottom, each post being positioned adjacent four of the wells and including a retainer element positioned proximate an upper end of the post and adapted to positively capture baked goods in each of the four adjacent wells.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further including the step of:
 forming a hinge from a portion of the sheet joining the cover portion with the base portion, and wherein the cover portion, base portion, and hinge are unitarily formed from the sheet of plastic material.   
     
     
         15 . A container for protecting baked goods during shipment, comprising:
 a lid; and   a base that includes a main body portion and an upper peripheral rim, the main body portion defining a plurality of wells and a plurality of interconnected posts, each well adapted for supporting a baked good; and   wherein the plurality of interconnected posts extend upwardly from a base bottom, each post being positioned adjacent four of the wells and having a post height equal a height of the upper peripheral rim of the base so as to limit rotational movement of the baked goods.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the baked good is a cupcake with baking liner and the post height for each post is greater than a height of the baking liner. 
     
     
         18 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein each post includes a retainer element which projects from the post and is positioned proximate an upper end of the post and arranged to restrain axial movement of the baked goods in each of the four adjacent wells. 
     
     
         19 . The container as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the retainer element associated with the upper end of each post includes four ribs spaced around the periphery of the post, each rib projecting horizontally outward from the post over one of the adjacent wells. 
     
     
         20 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the lid includes a planar upper surface for supporting a product label. 
     
     
         21 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the lid includes a plurality of downwardly projecting spacer elements which extend from the upper planar surface and engage the upper surface of a corresponding post element. 
     
     
         22 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the lid is connected to the base through a hinge element to form a unitary structure. 
     
     
         23 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the number of wells “W” is defined by the formula W=R×C wherein “R” equals the number of well rows and “C” equals the number or well columns. 
     
     
         24 . The container as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the number of posts “P” formed in the base is defined by the formula, P=(R−1)×(C−1). 
     
     
         25 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the upper surface of each well that is formed around a perimeter of the base includes at least two horizontally projecting retaining ledge. 
     
     
         26 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the upper surface of each well that is formed in a corner of the base includes three retaining ledges. 
     
     
         27 . The container as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the baked good is a cupcake that has a cake portion and a decorative crown and the retaining element is positioned to positively capture an upper edge of the cake portion. 
     
     
         28 . The container as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the baked good is a cupcake which is contained in a baking liner and the retaining element extends over an upper edge of the baking liner to positively capture the cupcake. 
     
     
         29 . The container as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a recess is provided between interconnected posts to facilitate removal of baked goods from the wells.