Tenneco Packaging Inc.

Pactiv Corporation

Tenneco Packaging Specialty and Consumer Products, Inc.

Mark E Spencer

Thomas J Hayes

Raj K Mangla

Michael J Sagan

Mark A Erickson

J Scott Dellinger

Suzanne R Maslach

James N Gomoll

Chadd R Chatterton

Wee Liong Phan

Ronald G Hellenbrand

Thom Hayes

Thomas A Hayes

Bowl and lid

Cover for a container

A thermoplastic container for food or other articles is set forth. The container includes a base having a bottom, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending upwardly from the bottom. A pair of integral handle segments are formed with the outer rim of the base and rotatably attached to anchoring portions at integral hinges. The handle segments can be releasably engaged with each other and include a pair of hinged portions. Each hinged portion has at least one upwardly extending rib segment and at least one downwardly extending rib segment interconnected by integral hinges that form definite bending points for the hinged portions of the handle segments so that when the handle segments are upturned, the hinged portion assists in distributing stress and obtaining a proper balance of the container. A plurality of wells designed to retain fluid therein via capillary action or surface tension forces are formed in the bottom such that fluid does not flow out of the wells when the base is tilted or turned upside-down. A cover may be removably attached to the base to define a food storage chamber. A downwardly extending rib formed in the cover rim is intermittently provided with a plurality of cover venting notches which are aligned with respective base venting notches formed in an upwardly extending elongated rib of the base. With the cover in place atop the base, the conjunction of the base venting notches and the cover venting notches define vent openings. Another set of apertures for additional ventilation are provided in the side walls of the cover. Also, multiple containers can be stacked atop each other and the bottom includes at least one elongated recess for substantially receiving a portion of the handle segments to facilitate stacking.

Vented container with handles and embossment

Bottom for a container

Food container

Wall for container

A plastic container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a top wall and a lid side wall extending downward from the top wall. The base includes a bottom wall and a base side wall extending upward from the bottom wall. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the lid includes a first stepped flange extending laterally outward from a lower portion of the lid side wall, and the base includes a second stepped flange extending laterally outward from an upper portion of the base side wall. Internal portions of the respective first and second stepped flanges form a button latch for securing locking the container in a closed position. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lid side wall includes a plurality of facets interconnected at corners. The corners are arced outwardly in radial cross-sections taken generally perpendicular to the top wall and through the respective corners, and the facets are arced inwardly in a cross-section taken generally parallel to the top wall and through the facets.

Growing community of inventors

Gurnee, IL, United States of America

Mark E Spencer