General Mills, Inc.

Henry J Landis, Ii

Donald P Messer

A two part plastic container for food products is provided having a main body and a base for being attached to the bottom of the body. The body has a frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim and the base has a shorter frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim. The rims are advantageous in that they allow stacks of the container bodies and bases to be processed with container feeding equipment presently in use as the rims provide distinct structure for being fed by the mechanical devices of the equipment. An energy director area is provided between the rims for ultrasonically attaching the container body and base. The container body has a smooth sidewall over substantially its entire extent without indentations or bumps for maximizing the printing area thereon. Both the container body and base minimize the size of their respective nest intervals when stacked to conserve space for shipping and processing purposes while still allowing for easy denesting with parts readily separated from the stack due to the provision of the rims.

Plastic container for food products

A two part plastic container for food products is provided having a main body and a base for being attached to the bottom of the body. The body has a frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim and the base has a shorter frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim. The rims are advantageous in that they allow stacks of the container bodies and bases to be processed with container feeding equipment presently in use as the rims provide distinct structure for being fed by the mechanical devices of the equipment. An energy director area is provided between the rims for ultrasonically attaching the container body and base. The container body has a smooth sidewall over substantially its entire extent without indentations or bumps for maximizing the printing area thereon. Both the container body and base minimize the size of their respective nest intervals when stacked to conserve space for shipping and processing purposes while still allowing for easy denesting with parts readily separated from the stack due to the provision of the rims. In a preferred form, the inner edges of the stacking shoulders of the bases are outwardly tapered for self-centering when stacked. The lip of the body defining the mouth of the container includes inner and outer annular portions, with the inner annular portion extending upwardly relative to the outer annular portion and terminating in a wedge shape for enhanced sealing.

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Orland Park, IL, United States of America

Henry J Landis, Ii