Leak-resistant tray and lid

Abstract

A container includes a molded tray and a molded lid, both made of unitary fiber bodies. The tray includes at least one internal well and a perimeter engaging wall extending upward from a perimeter rim. The perimeter engaging wall includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and an uppermost surface. The lid includes a ceiling and defines a perimeter engaging receiver extending upward from a perimeter rim. The rim is defined by an inner wall, an outer wall, and an uppermost wall. The perimeter engaging wall is configured to be removably received in the perimeter engaging receiver.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A container comprising:
 a unitary tray comprising a perimeter engaging wall, the perimeter engaging wall comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an uppermost surface spanning the inner surface and the outer surface, the uppermost surface at least partially defining a groove that extends along the uppermost surface; and   a unitary lid defining a perimeter engaging receiver, the perimeter engaging receiver at least partially defined by an inner wall, an outer wall, and an uppermost wall spanning the inner wall and the outer wall,
 wherein the perimeter engaging wall is configured to be removably received in the perimeter engaging receiver, and 
 wherein, when so received, the groove and the uppermost wall define a volume. 
   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the unitary tray and the unitary lid are formed of molded fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the unitary tray defines at least one internal well, the unitary lid comprises at least one ceiling, and, when the perimeter engaging wall is received in the perimeter engaging receiver, the at least one internal well and the at least one ceiling define a substantially sealed internal volume. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the unitary tray further comprises at least one partition that subdivides the at least one internal well into a plurality of wells, and wherein the unitary lid defines at least one internal channel that subdivides the at least one ceiling into a plurality of ceilings, wherein the at least one internal channel is configured to mate with the at least one partition, and
 wherein, when so mated, each well from the plurality of wells and each respective ceiling from the plurality of ceilings define a discrete substantially sealed internal volume.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one partition comprises a major partition extending from a first side of the unitary tray to a second side of the unitary tray. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one partition further comprises a minor partition extending from a third side of the unitary tray to the major partition. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one partition at least partially defines a partition groove. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the perimeter engaging wall extends upward from a perimeter rim of the unitary tray. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the perimeter rim of the unitary tray is disposed substantially orthogonally to the outer surface and the inner surface. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the perimeter rim of the unitary tray comprises an outer rim disposed adjacent the outer wall and an inner rim disposed adjacent the inner wall. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the perimeter engaging receiver extends upward from a perimeter rim of the unitary lid. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the perimeter rim of the unitary lid is disposed substantially orthogonally to the outer wall and the inner wall. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the perimeter rim of the unitary lid comprises an outer rim disposed adjacent the outer wall and an inner rim disposed adjacent the inner wall. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein, when the perimeter engaging wall is received in the perimeter engaging receiver, the inner surface contacts the inner wall, the outer surface contacts the outer wall, and the uppermost surface contacts the uppermost wall. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein, when the perimeter engaging wall is received in the perimeter engaging receiver, liquid that penetrates past sealing surfaces between the unitary tray and the unitary lid is contained in the volume to limit leakage. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the volume acts as a pressure relief. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the unitary lid further comprises at least one tab extending from the perimeter rim. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the groove is continuous. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the unitary tray defines at least two internal wells separated by a partition comprising a first well surface, a second well surface, and a partition uppermost surface spanning the first well surface and the second well surface, wherein the unitary lid comprises at least one ceiling and a soffit extending from the at least one ceiling and defining an internal recess, wherein the partition is configured to be removably received in the internal recess, and wherein, when so received, the soffit contacts at least one of the first well surface and the second well surface.