Containers for comestible products

Abstract

A container for storing a plurality of food items having a base portion with a peripheral edge at a base peripheral edge plane. The base portion can include a plurality of cavities with each cavity having an interior wall surface extending up a first axis from a cavity base wall. At least a first portion of the interior wall surface terminates at a cavity rim formed where the first portion of the interior wall surface intersects with the peripheral edge surface, wherein an exterior cavity rim portion can be formed by the plurality of cavities. An interior support member formed within the base portion can extend up from the base portion to a first plane above the peripheral edge plane. A lid support member can extend down from the top surface of the lid portion and contact the top surface of the interior support member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of containers having a lid portion and a base portion, wherein the lid portion has a plurality of de-nesting lugs within a recess proximate to the peripheral edge of the container, wherein the de-nesting lug does not come into contact with the peripheral edge of the lid portion;   providing a food item within one or more cavities in the container; and   sealing the package using a line conveyor comprising a minimizer to ensure a closure at the peripheral edge of the package using continuous movement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a de-nesting lug in each recess. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the container further comprises an interior support member extending up from the base portion to an interior support member plane and a portion of the interior support member forms a part of the interior cavity wall, wherein the interior support member plane is above a peripheral edge plane and configured to maintain the food item within the cavity and inhibit the movement of the food item from moving out of the prescribed cavity of the food item. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 forming a base portion of a container with a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity has an interior wall surface extending up a first axis from a cavity base wall, wherein at least a first portion of the interior wall surface terminates at a cavity rim formed where the first portion of the interior wall surface intersects with a peripheral edge surface of the base portion, wherein an exterior cavity rim portion is formed by the plurality of cavities;   forming a lid portion of the container with a lid peripheral edge surface defining a lid peripheral edge plane, an upper lid surface, and a lid sidewall extending down an axis from the upper lid surface to the lid peripheral edge surface, wherein the lid portion comprises an internal peripheral lip edge that approximates a portion of the cavity rim, wherein the internal peripheral lip edge extends planarly past an edge of the portion of the cavity rim and overlies a portion of the cavity;   configuring the lid portion to removeably couple to the base portion;   extending interior support members up from the base portion, wherein each interior support member has a top surface that approximates a bottom surface of a lid support member; and   extending lid support members from the top surface of the lid portion.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the internal peripheral lip edge to approximate the entire cavity rim, wherein the internal lip extends planarly past the edge of cavity rim and overlies a portion of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the top surface of the interior support member to include a groove, which contacts the lid support member, wherein the groove allows for movement of the lid support member when contacting the interior support member. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring a portion of the cavity interior wall surface to extend to a second plane below the peripheral edge plane. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring a portion of the cavity interior wall surface to extend to a third plane above the peripheral edge plane. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the interior support member to extend up from the base portion to an interior support member plane, wherein a portion of the interior support member forms a part of the interior cavity wall surface of each of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising configuring the interior support member plane to be above the peripheral edge plane to limit the movement of a food item within the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the lid sidewall into a partial dome. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising configuring the dome portion to approximate the top portion of a food item in the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the domed portion of the lid sidewall to be a part of the internal lid peripheral edge to minimize the movement of a food item within the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the lid support member to approximate the shape of a food item within the cavity to maintain the food item within its prescribed cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising coupling the lid support members together by a bridge to provide structural rigidity to the lid during transportation and storage. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising maintaining separation between the plurality of cavities to maintain adequate separation between food items in the container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising connecting the lid portion to the base portion along the base peripheral edge and the lid peripheral edge to form a hinge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising perforating the hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the lid portion to be separated from the base portion to display the food items in the container, wherein the lid portion can still be coupled to the base portion via coupling. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 forming a lid portion and a base portion of a container, wherein the lid portion has a plurality of de-nesting lugs within a recess proximate to a peripheral edge of the container, wherein the de-nesting lug does not come into contact with the peripheral edge;   incorporating a plurality of cavities in the base portion, wherein each cavity has an interior wall surface extending up a first axis from a cavity base wall, wherein at least a first portion of the interior wall surface terminates at a cavity rim formed where the first portion of the interior wall surface intersects with the peripheral edge surface, wherein an exterior cavity rim portion is formed by the plurality of cavities;   configuring the lid portion to have a lid peripheral edge surface defining a lid peripheral edge plane, an upper lid surface, and a lid sidewall extending down an axis from the upper lid surface to the lid peripheral edge surface, wherein the lid portion comprises an internal peripheral lip edge that approximates a portion of the cavity rim, wherein the internal peripheral lip edge extends planarly past an edge of the portion of the cavity rim and overlies a portion of the cavity;   extending interior support members up from the base portion, wherein each interior support member has a top surface that approximates a bottom surface of a lid support member; and   extending lid support members from the top surface of the lid portion.