Closure and drainage for molded fiber packaging

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing compostable food containers, which preserve the quality of a food product for an extended duration of time, and which optionally, allow for cooking of the food product therein. In some implementations, the food containers are sturdy, stackable, insulating, and require minimal or no manual labor to assemble. In some implementations, the food container includes a base and a cover, which cooperate to form a closed chamber for supporting, protecting, insulating and optionally cooking a food product, such as a pizza. The base and cover may each be formed of a single layer of material including, but not limited to, molded sugarcane fiber (“bagasse”), molded wood fiber, molded bamboo fiber, molded paper or plastic.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A food container comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a top surface having a perimeter; and 
 at least one of:
 a circular groove in the top surface, the circular groove extending around a center of the top surface and positioned between the perimeter and the center of the top surface; 
 a plurality of partial circumferential grooves extending along circles centered on the center of the top surface; or 
 a plurality of protrusions extending upward from the top surface, wherein the plurality of protrusions are dome-shaped. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises compostable fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one of molded sugarcane fiber, molded wood fiber, molded bamboo fiber, or molded paper. 
     
     
         4 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one of molded plastic, molded biodegradable plastic, molded thermoplastic, molded bio-based plastic, molded recycled plastic, or molded recyclable plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is planar and upwardly facing. 
     
     
         6 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter is circular. 
     
     
         7 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises the circular groove. 
     
     
         8 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a central well at the center of the top surface. 
     
     
         9 . The food container of  claim 8 , wherein the base comprises the circular groove, and wherein the circular groove extends around the central well. 
     
     
         10 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of radial grooves in the top surface. 
     
     
         11 . The food container of  claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a central well at the center of the top surface, and wherein the plurality of radial grooves comprise first radial grooves extending from the perimeter to the central well. 
     
     
         12 . The food container of  claim 11 , wherein the base comprises the circular groove, and wherein the plurality of radial grooves comprise second radial grooves extending from the perimeter to the circular groove. 
     
     
         13 . The food container of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first radial grooves delineate a plurality of sector portions of the top surface; and   each second radial groove is within a respective sector portion.   
     
     
         14 . The food container of  claim 10 , wherein the base comprises the circular groove, and wherein the circular groove is in fluid communication with the radial grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The food container of  claim 10 , wherein the base comprises the plurality of partial circumferential grooves, and wherein each partial circumferential groove from the plurality of partial circumferential grooves extends from a respective radial groove from the plurality of radial grooves. 
     
     
         16 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises the partial circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         17 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises the plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a sidewall extending upward from the perimeter. 
     
     
         19 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover sized and shaped to provide an interior chamber with the base when the cover is engaged with the base to close the interior chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The food container of  claim 19 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a central planar portion;   an outer circumferential portion outside of and raised above the central planar portion; and   a side wall depending from the outer circumferential portion.   
     
     
         21 . The food container of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the outer circumferential portion defines partial radial grooves configured to receive protruding radial grooves of a second food container when the second food container is stacked on the cover; and
 a space is provided between at least portions of a bottom surface of the second food container and the central planar portion of the cover, when the second food container is stacked on the cover.