Containers with trays for securing food items

Abstract

Containers are provided herein that better restrict the movement of food items therein, limiting damage to these food items. Methods of using these containers are also contemplated. Containers may include a base, tray, and cover. The base may include base receptacles, and food items may be received within internal volumes within the base receptacles. The tray may be positioned relative to the base so that the tray is positioned above the food item(s) and other portions of the base so that a portion of the food item(s) positioned in the base receptacles are allowed to extend through tray opening(s) in the tray. However, the tray openings may be smaller than undecorated portions of food items. Thus, a tray wall of the tray may come in contact with the undecorated portions of the food items, restricting the movement of the food items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding at least one food item, the container comprising:
 a base including at least one base receptacle, wherein an internal volume is defined within each base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle;   a cover; and   a tray defining at least one tray opening,   wherein the internal volume of each base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle is configured to receive a food item of the at least one food item, wherein the tray is positioned between the cover and the base when the container is in a closed state such that the tray is configured to contact the food item received in the internal volume, and wherein the tray is configured to permit a portion of each food item of the at least one food item to extend through the at least one tray opening.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each tray opening of the at least one tray opening defines a first cross-sectional size, each food item of the at least one food item defines a second cross-sectional size, and the first cross-sectional size is smaller than the second cross-sectional size, thereby preventing the at least one food item from moving fully through the at least one tray opening when the container is in the closed state. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each tray opening of the at least one tray opening defines a first diameter, each food item of the at least one food item defines a second diameter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, thereby preventing the at least one food item from moving fully through the at least one tray opening when the container is in the closed state. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a first column, and wherein the first column is configured to contact the tray when the container is in a closed state to cause the tray to maintain contact with the at least one food item. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the first column is configured to avoid direct contact with at least one food item when the container is in a closed state. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the base comprises a support surface, and, when the container is in a closed state, the tray is held in position by contact with the support surface and the first column. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the cover includes a second column, the second column is configured to contact the tray when the container is in a closed state to cause the tray to maintain contact with the at least one food item, and the first column is configured to avoid direct contact with at least one food item when the container is in a closed state. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tray opening comprises two or more tray openings, and the at least one base receptacle comprises two or more base receptables. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tray opening comprises six or more tray openings, and the at least one base receptacle comprises six or more base receptables. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each food item of the at least one food item comprises a decorated portion and an undecorated portion, the tray is configured to contact the undecorated portion of the at least one food item when the container is in a closed state, and the tray is configured to avoid contacting the decorated portion of the at least one food item when the container is in a closed state. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the tray is configured to allow the decorated portion of the at least one food item to extend past the tray through the at least one tray opening while other portions of the at least one food item are positioned on an opposite side of the tray relative to the decorated portion. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a tray wall extending in a first plane. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the tray comprises a tray rim extending radially outwardly from the tray wall, and, when the container is in a closed state, the tray rim is configured to contact a base sealing wall of the base and a cover sealing wall of the cover. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises four corners, and a base corner tab is positioned at each of the four corners of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises four corners, and a cover corner tab is positioned at each of the four corners of the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a wall between each base receptacle of the at least one base receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . A method for using a container for holding a food item, the method comprising:
 providing a tray defining a tray opening;   providing a base including a base receptacle, wherein an internal volume is defined within the base receptacle;   providing a cover;   providing a food item;   positioning the food item in the internal volume;   positioning the tray relative to the base such that the tray is in contact with the food item and such that the food item extends partially through the tray opening; and   positioning the cover in a closed position relative to the tray and the base.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the tray opening defines a first cross-sectional size, the food item defines a second cross-sectional size, and the first cross-sectional size is smaller than the second cross-sectional size, thereby preventing the food item from moving fully through the tray opening when the container is in the closed state. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the cover includes a first column, the first column contacts the tray when the cover is in a closed position to cause the tray to maintain contact with the food item, and the first column avoids direct contact with the food item when the cover is in a closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the food item comprises a decorated portion and an undecorated portion, and the tray contacts the undecorated portion of the food item when the cover is in a closed position.