One-Piece Food Container having an Integral Hinge with Latching Mechanisms and a Full Perimeter Seal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a one-piece food container with an integral hinge and one or more latching mechanism, a full perimeter seal, and ribbed or ridged support structures. The food container is fabricated from hybrid bio-based and polymeric a material that has heat resistance capabilities. In particular, the present apparatus and method utilize a hybrid slurry of simple, abundant and renewable materials, such as food or plant starch and calcium carbonate (limestone), and a polymeric material, that uses high temperature and high pressure presses. An optional coating, such as wax, is applied to the surface of the food container. The present invention one-piece food container has a plurality of ridges that are incorporated into the container to provide rigidity and resisting folding or bending. Lastly, the one-piece food container with has enough rigidity and strength to be stackable for efficient storage for distribution to a user. The resulting one-piece food container is strong, light, heat-resistant, and attractive.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a food container apparatus comprised of a hybrid of bio-based and polymeric materials, and in particular to an one-piece food container apparatus having a full perimeter seal, integral hinge, one or more latching mechanisms, ridge support structures and having heat resistance capability.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A popular type of disposable food container is a hinged one-piece takeout container having a clamshell configuration. These containers are typically made by thermoforming a sheet of plastic or polymeric foam material into two adjacent trays interconnected by a integral hinge. The two adjacent trays are disposed on either side of the hinge mechanism and respectively define a bottom container tray and a top lid tray. The container is held closed by some type of latching mechanism.[0003]Hinged one-piece clamshell containers may be constructed from foam materials including expanded polystyrene commonly...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a one-piece food container made from a hybrid bio-based and polymeric material that is heat-resistant, biodegradable, or compostable. It has an integral hinge and latching mechanisms for easy separation, as well as multiple ridges for rigidity. The fabrication process involves using a hybrid slurry of starch and calcium carbonate, molding into shape, and optionally coating with a biodegradable film. The resulting food container is strong, light, and attractive. Its technical effects are improved food safety, durability, and sustainability.

Problems solved by technology

Foam clamshell containers are one of the cheapest solutions of the industry and are not considered environmentally conscious.

A disadvantage of one-piece hinged takeout containers is that they are somewhat cumbersome to handle.

Also, the typical fabrication materials for the one-piece container package does not convey to the consumer an environmentally conscious resource, is wasteful, and is responsible for a high volume of waste that is filing up waste disposal dumping sites at an ever increasing pace.

In addition, most one-piece or clamshell containers are not heat resistant and therefore cannot be use in a oven environment or used with hot food.

Due to some of the inherent disadvantages of one-piece containers and their materials of construction, which are generally viewed as a cheap, non-upscale, dining ware.

Generally once the thin plastic lid is removed, it cannot be used to re-seal the bottom tray.

One of the problems with two-piece containers is that the food establishment has to store at least two separate items in the form of a base container and its corresponding cover or lid.

Thus, a food establishment ends up storing both container bases and lids for each container size and container type with all the risk of running short of one item or getting the wrong lid or having a ill-fitting lid.

Often times the closure mechanism is not secure enough for general carrying convenience and take-out situations.

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