Food container compatible with automatic feeding assembly

Abstract

A container suitable for storing a consumable therein, the container comprising: a) a container base including: i) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the consumable therein; ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature; b) a lid removably affixed, to the container base, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which is located over the lid access feature such that a bottom surface of the lid is exposed from the one or more flanges of the container base and the leading edge of the lid is accessible.

Description

FOOD CONTAINER COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMATIC FEEDING ASSEMBLYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 580,529, fried on September 5, 2023; 63 / 599, 125, filed on November I 5, 2023; 63 / 645,210, filed on May 10, 2024; and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2024; and which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirely for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a container with a removable lid which is useful for containing food. The container may be suitable for an animal eating directly therefrom. The present disclosure may find particular use in providing a container and lid which ate compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for opening ofthe container to present the food displayed therein for subsequent consumption.BACKGROUND

[0003] Automatic pet food feeders oil the market today are typically compatible with dry food, also commonly referred to as kibble. There arc some automatic pct food feeders on the market compatible wi th wet food, but not the packaging of wet food. For examp le, some automatic feeders include separa te compartments formed therein.. The pet owner dispenses wet food from individual containers or pouches into the compartments. The feeder then exposes one compartment at a time based on a timer for the animal to have access to the food in the compartment These feeders, while automatic, still present the problems including the pet owner needing to open the packaging and dispense die food; the food once placed into the feeder is not sealed against spoilage; due to spoilage, the feeder is only available to be left out and feed an animal for a limited duration of time; and the need for frequent cleaning of the feeder due to the wet food being located directly in the serving compartments.

[0004] In developing an automatic feeder able to cooperate with containers having peelable lids, store a plurality of containers therein, automatically open a container via peeling a lid away, and present the container to an animal for consumption of the food directly therefrom, a number of challenges were found with existing containers and their plastic or foil lids.

[0005] One common problem found with containers having lids removable by peeling, is that often the lid does not completely peel away, and remnants of the lid remain adhered to the rim of the container base. While in manual lid removal by a user this may simply be an annoyance that can be resolved by manually removing the remnants, (his can render functionality of an automatic feeder ineffective. Depending on the amount of material of the lid left attached to the conta iner base, an animal may simply be annoyed at. the leftover lid material blocking the path to their food in the container or may even be completely blocked from gaining access to the food. Thus, what is needed is a container having a lid which can be cleanly peeled off without leaving remnants of the lid attached to the container base.

[0006] Another problem found in the development of an automatic feeder is the amount of wet food that can splater during the internal automatic food delivery process within the feeder. Wet food for animals can be particularly odorous and create undesirably strong smells once spoiled. The amount of force required with a typical container to overcome the bond between a lid and container base to then peel the lid off the container base is prone to generating food splatter during lid removal. Thus, what is needed is a container which can reduce the amount of initial and / or end peeling force (e.g,, initiating detaching at the leading edge and / or finishing detaching at the trailing edge) to remove a lid and to help reduce splatter

[0007] One challenge in providing a container compatible with an automatic feeder is providing a container which both stores the food therein (e.g., shipping, home storage, within a feeder) and is attractive to a pet to consume directly therefrom. While many single serving, disposable containers exist today, pet owners often find themselves transferring the food from the container into a serving dish. Pets, and most often cats, prefer not eating out of certain shapes or types of feeding containers. For example, containers having sharp corners in the interior limiting access to food, small container opening diameters preventing comfortable access by an animal’s tongue, and sharp rims of a metal can of plastic base which can be felt on an animal’s face. Thus, what is needed is a container that is not only compatible with a feeding assembly but also attractive and comfortable for an animal to consume food directly therefrom.

[0008] Even another farther challenge is providing a container which is compatible with an automatic feeder and attractive for an animal to eat therefrom while also allowing for automated manufacturing and filling with food and handling (e.g., transportation, retail) for commercial retail A lid which is easily peelable by an automatic feeder may be easily damaged during transportation and retail handling. A container which is comfortably consumed therefrom by an animal may be inadequate for mass commercial filling with food. This may be due to the shallow preference of the animal as compared to deeper container preference for automated filling.

[0009] One such elegant solution is disclosed in PCT Publication No, WO 2023 / 220751 which discloses teachings resolving many of these challenges. Yet, there is still an ongoing need for providing a container which is suitable for manufacturing, filling with food and sealing, automated opening by an automated feeding assembly, direct consumption therefrom by an animal, and automated disposable within an automated feeding assembly,SUMMARY

[0010] The present disclosure relates to a container suitable for storing a food for an animal therein, the container comprising: a) a container base defining a food cavity configured to retain food therein; b) a lid removably affixed to the container base, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which extends beyond a portion of the container base and is configured for being engaged by a container opening structure for peeling the lid from the container base.[0011 | The present disclosure relates to a container suitable for storing a consumable therein, the container comprising: a) a container base including: i) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the consumable therein; ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature; b) a lid removably affixed to the container base, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which is located over the lid access feature such that a bottom surface of the lid is exposed from the one or more flanges of the container base and the leading edge of the lid is accessible .

[0012] The present disclosure relates to a container suitable for storing a consumable therein, the container coinprising: a) a container base including: i) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the food therein; ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature, wherein the one or more flanges form an outermost periphery of the container base, and wherein the cross-sectional shape or bvo-dimcnsional plan shape of the one or more flanges is different from a. cross- sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the food cavity; iii) one or more lid alignment features formed in the one or mote flanges; b) a lid removably affixed to the container base, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which is located over the fid access feature such that a bottom surface of the lid is exposed from the one or more- flanges of the container base and the leading edge of the lid is accessible.

[0013] The present disclosure relates to a container suitable for storing a food for an animal therein, the container comprising: a) a container base including: i.) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the food therein; ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature, wherein the one or more flanges form an outermost periphery of the container base, and wherein the cross- sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the one or more flanges is different from a cross- sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the food cavity; iii) one or more fid alignment features formed as one or more alignment projections extending upward and away from the one or more flanges; b) a lid removably affixed to the container base and within the one or more lid alignment features, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which is located over the lid access feature such that a bottom surface of the lid is exposed from the one or more flanges of the container base and the leading edge of the lid is acces sible; wherein the one or more flanges have an outermost peripheral shape with a cross-sectional or plan shape which is substantially semicircular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped or a combination thereof and having an indented side, having one or more lobes, having a narrowed neck, or a combination thereof; and wherein the lid has a cross-sectional or plan shape which Is substantially semicircular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0014] The present teachings provide for a container suitable for use with an automatic feeder assembly. The container may be suitable for having wet food stored and sealed therein. The container may Include a removable lid. The fid may be configured to interact with the feeding assembly forpeeling. The container may include a handling portion configured to cooperate with a container opening subassembly. The handling portion may provide for consistent placement of the lid relative to the container opening subassembly. The container may include a lid reinforcing feature or structure. The lid reinforcing feature may aid in receiving a peeling force and distributing the peeling force. The container may include one or more seal members. A seal member may have stress rise features. Stress rise features may come to one or more concentrated and / or tapered points near a leading edge and / or trailing edge of the lid. Stress rise features may aid in directing the peeling force, requiring less peeling force than without their presence, or both. Stress rise features may aid in reducing and / or eliminating the likelihood of lid remnants remaining adhered to a container base, reducing splatter during initial opening and / or finishing peeling, or any combination thereof. The container base and / or lid may include one or more lid alignment features for aligning the lid with the container base during placement. The lid may include one or more lid reinforcing features for strengthening the lid during coinmercial handling in areas which may be exposed for easy peeling. The container may be relatively shallowed with rounded edges such as to provide a comfortable eating experience for an animal.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS(00151 FIG. I is a rear perspective view of a container in a closed configuration.(0016] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a container in a closed configuration,(0017] FIG. 3 is a top view of a container .in a closed configuration.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a container in a dosed configuration.(0019 ] FIG. 5 is a right side view of a container in. a closed configuration.(0020] FIG. 6 is a rear view of a container in a closed configuration.(0021 ] FIG. 7 is a front view of a container in a closed configuration.(0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a coiitainer in an open configuration with food therein.(0023] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of a container in an open configuration.(0024] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a container in an open configuration.(0025] FIG. II is a bottom perspective view of a container in an open configuration.(0026] FIG. 12 is a top view of a container in an open configuration.( 0027] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a container in an open configuration.(0028] FIG. 14 is a right side view of? a container in an open configuration.(0029] FIG. 15 is a rear view of a container in an open configuration.(0030] FIG. 16 is a front view of a container in an open configuration.(0031] FIG. 17 is a front view of a container in an open configuration.(0032 ] FIG. 18 is a front view of a container in an open configuration.(0033 ] FIG. 19 is a top view of a container in a closed configuration.(0034] FIG. 20 is a top view of a container in a closed configuration.(0035] FIG. 21 is a left side view of a container in a dosed configuration(0036] FIG. 22 is top view of a container in a closed configuration.10037] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly.

[0038] FIG. 24 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly being loaded with containers.

[0039] FIG. 25 is a cross-section vie w of a feeding assembly in a loading position.

[0040] FIG. 26 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly in a loading position.[0041 j FIG 27 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly in an opening position. 100421 FIG. 28 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly in a feeding position.[00431 FIG. 29 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly in a disposing position.

[0044] FIG. 30 Is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly in a resting position.

[0045] FIG. 31 Is a top perspective view of a container with food therein,

[0046] FIG. 32 is a bottom perspective view of a container.

[0047] FIG. 33 is a top perspective view of a container with food therein,

[0048] FIG. 34 is a top perspective view of a container in an open configuration.

[0049] FIG. 35 is a bottom perspective view of a container in an open configuration.

[0050] FIG. 36 is a top perspective view of a container in an open configuration.

[0051] FIG. 37 is a pair of side views of containers to illustrate differing heights and volumes,

[0052] FIG. 38 is a top view of a container in a closed configuration.

[0053] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a container in a closed configuration without a lid shown,

[0054] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a container in a closed configuration without a lid shown.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled In the art with the present teachings, its principles, and its practical application. The specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the present teachings. The scope of the present teachings should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the foil scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporatedby reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.10056] The present teachings relate to a container. The container may function for storing a consumanie therein, being used as a serving dish to have an animal consume therefrom, compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for automatically opening the container, compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for being presented to an animal to consume therefrom, compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for automatic disposal, or any combination thereof. The container may have the consumable scaled therein such as to extend the shelf life of the consumable and a void the need for refrigeration,

[0057] Aconsumable may include food, liquid, and / or medicine. The consumable may include any type of consumable suitable for consumption by an animal, or even a person. Food may include wet food, dry food, or both. Wet food may include ground and / or shredded protein (e.g., meat), vegetables,grains, fruits, and / or the liked served in or mixed with a liquid. A liquid may refer to water, broth, gravy or other liquid. Dry food may refer to food substantially free of liquid, may be in the form of granular material, or both. The term food may be used herein. It can be easily envisioned how this could refer to not only food, but a consumable. Exemplary animals which may benefit from the container of the present teachings may be domestic animals as discussed herein.

[0058] The container may include a container base, a lid, one or more seal member(s). ideutifier(s), the like, or a combination thereof.

[0059] The container may include a lid which is removably coupled to the container base. The container base may define a hollow cavity (e.g., food cavity) for containing the food.

[0060] The container may have a symmetric or asymmetric shape. Symmetry may be about an axis or plane intersecting both a container base and lid.

[0061] A container may include one or more locating features (e.g., keying features, alignment features, engagement features). One or more locating features may allow for a container to be placed in a correct orientation within the feeding assembly. One or more locating .features may include a plurality of locating features. A plurality of locating features may allow for a single correct orientation or a plurality of correct orientations within the feeding assembly. Features in the containers may appear twice or more in the containers to provide for two or more “correct” orientations of the containers within a container storage assembly. Features in the containers may appear only once or in a specific pattern to provide, for duly a single “correct” orientation of the container within a container storage assembly.

[0062] A container may have an open eonfiguration, closed configuration, partially open configuration, the like, or any combination thereof.10063 ] A closed configuration may allow for shipping and storage of the container. Shipping may refer to movement of the container from a production facility to a point of retail, user, within a user's residence, and / or the like. Storage may refer to the storing at any time between production and use, including within a feeding assembly itself. A closed configuration may mean that a lid of the container is located and sealed to the container base. In a closed configuration, a lid may cooperate with a container base to completely seal a cavity (e.g., food cavity) of the cavity base. In a closed configuration, a lid may be adhered to or otherwise affixed to a flange and / or rim of a container base. In a closed configuration, one or more seal members may seal a lid to the container base. In a closed configuration, a lid may be affixed to a rim and / or flange via one or more seal members. It may be feasible to place a container into a closed configuration even after being in the open configuration. In other words, it may be possible to reseal a container base with the same lid that originally scaled the container, even after the container is opened.{0064] An open configuration and / or partially open configuration may allow for access to food within a container, consumption of food directly from the container (e.g., by an animal), accessing food for placing into a serving dish, or any combination thereof An open configuration may mean that a lid of the container is removed from a container base such as to expose the food cavity thereof. By exposingthe food cavity, the food stored therein may be accessible. An open configuration may mean that a lid and / or seal member is detached or otherwise separated from a container base, A portion or all of one or more seal members may remain on foe container base, the lid, or both when a lid is removed from a container base. An open configuration may mean that an entire cavity of foe container base is exposed. A. partially open configuration may mean that only a portion of the cavity of the container base is exposed. In the open configuration, the lid may be completely detached from the container base or remain partially attached. Being detached may allow for the lid to be disposed of separately from the container base. Remaining partially attached may allow for a lid to be reused to rescal the container base, be disposed of together with foe container base, or both.

[0065] A container may cooperate with a feeding assembly to be moved from a closed configuration to an open configuration and / or partially open configuration or vice versa.

[0066] A container may be moved from a closed configuration to an open configuration manually by a user or vice versa.

[0067] A container may include a container base. A container base may function to retain food therein. A container base may function as a serving dish for an animal to consume directly therefrom. A container base may define an internal volume in which food may be placed. A food cavity may be defined by the internal volume, A container base may include one or more storage portions (e.g., food cavity), rims, flanges, keying features, alignment features, engagement features, lid access features, lid reinforcing features, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0068] The container base may include a food cavity. A food cavity may define a hollow cavity for containing foe food. A food cavity may be the portion of a container an animal consumes from. A food cavity may define a volume of food able to be stored within the container base. A food cavity may be defined by one or more bottom walls, side walls, an entry opening, a rim and / or flange, the like, or any combination thereof

[0069] The container base may include a botom wall, A bottom wall may define the bottom surface of the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with the lid and one or more side walls to seal food stored within the food cavity. The botom wall may cooperate with one of more side walls to define a food cavity. The bottom wall may have one or more features for adding strength to the container, stacking with other containers, providing stability when resting on a surface, allowing for easy removal from a stack, the like, or any combination thereof,

[0070] A bottom wall may have a punt formed therein, A punt may define a concave and / or indented portion of foe bottom wall. A. punt may be an indentation upward, toward an opening defined by a rim, toward a lid, or any combination, thereof The punt may also allow for the botom wall of the container to provide a space for one or more labels, identifiers, or other information to be located therein or on. The punt may allow for splash of food to be reduced and / or prevented when the container is being filled. The punt may aid in preventing the bottom wall of the container base from bulging outward when the container is filled with food, may allow the container to rest on a surface, or both.|(J07'! | A bottom wall may have a cross-sectional shape (cut plane parallel to longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom tip) which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop-shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, rectangular with an inwardly curved side, rectangular with one or more outwardly bowing sides, rectangular with one or more lobes, polygonal (e.g., pentagon, hexagon), diamond shaped, lemon shaped, and / or the like. The shape may have one or a plurality of sides. Sides may be joined by rounded corners, concentrated points, and / or vertices. A plurality of sides may include two or more, three or more, four or more, fi ve or more, or even six or more sides. For example, a bottom wall may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is generally rectangular with one of the four sides being arcuate arid curving outward (e.g., a wide “D-shape”). For example, a bottom wall may have an overall two- ditncnsfonal shape which is generally rectangular with one of the four sides being arcuate and curving inward. As another example, the botom wall may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially square or rectangular with rounded corners. A square or rectangular bottom wall may have one or more (e.g,, two) sides which deflect (e.g,, bow) outward, taper outward, or both. This deflection may provide for a botom wall have a two-dimensional shape which is a combination of a lemon and squaoval shape. This deflection may cooperate with a rim and / or flange shape, one or more seal member shapes and related stress-rise features, or both, A botom wall two-dimensional plan shape may be free of or include vertices. The vertices may be formed at corners and / or at deflected sides. To be free of vertices, the two-dimensional plan shape may include one or more rounded corners, may be a substantially circular or other rounded shape, be free of tapered points, or a combination thereof. A bottom w'lill plan shape may be the same as or different than a cross-sectional shape or plan shape of the one or more side walls, food cavity, rim, flange, lid, and / or overall peripheral shape of the container. A bottom wall may have one or more side walls extending therefrom.(00721 The container base may include one or more side walls. One or more side walls may define the outer surface of the food cavity. One or more side walls may determine part of, most of, or all of volume and / or height of a container and / or container base. One or more side walls may extend from the bottom wall. The one or more side walls may ha ve a closed end and a free end. A closed end may be ail end adjoining to a bottom wall. A free end may define and / or lead to the rim of the container base. One or more side walls may have or form a cross-sectional shape (cut plane parallel to longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom up) which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, rectangular with one or more inwardly curved sides, rectangular with one or more outwardly bowing sides, rectangular with one or more lobes, polygonal (c.g., pentagon, hexagon), diamond shaped, lemon shaped, and / or the like. The shape may have one or a plurality of sides. Sides may be joined by rounded corners, concentrated points, atul / or vertices. A plurality of sides may include two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, or even six or more sides. For example, the side walls may form a shape which is generally rectangular with one of the four sides being arcuate and curving outward (e.g.,a wide “D-shape”). For example, the side walls may form a two-dimensional shape which is generally rectangular with one of the four side wails being arcuate and curving inward. As another example, the side walls may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially square or rectangular with rounded corners. A square or rectangular bottom wall may have one or more (e.g., twj sides which deflect (e.g., bow) outward, taper outward, or both. This deflection may provide for the side walls have a two-dimensional shape which is a combination of a lemon and squaoval shape. This deflection may help form a rim and / or flange shape, cooperate with one or more seal member shapes and related stressrise features, or both. A two-dimensional plan shape of the one or more side walls may be the same as or different than a cross-sectional shape or plan shape of the bottom wall, food cavity, rim, flange, and / or lid. A two-dimensional plan shape of the one or more side walls may be fee of or include vertices. Being free of any vertices may aid in an animal being able to access all food within the container and no or minimal food geting stuck in corners. Vertices may provide an overall shape which is easier to package, provide more storage volume, and / or the tike. A rounded shape, free of vertices may provide for a single side wall, while a shape with two or more vertices may provide for three or more side walls. Vertices in a container base may be provided as rounded comers to alleviate problems with food access. (0073 | One or more side walls may may be at an angle relative to the bottom wall. The angle may be substantially perpendicular, obtuse, or both. The angle may be the angle between a bottom wall and a side wall measured within a food cavity. The angle may be about 90 degrees or greater, about 95 degrees or greater, about 100 degrees or greater. The angle may be about 150 degrees or less, about 140 degrees or less, about 130 degrees or less, or even about 120 degrees or less. The angle may be about 95 degrees to about 120 degrees. The one or more side walls may define a narrower diameter or width of a food cavity toward the base as compared as toward the rim. This widening toward the opening may facilitate access of an animal to the food within the food cavity. An obtuse angle may also facilitate the forming processing for forming the container base. This widening may provide improved visibility into the container as opposed to vertical sidewalls. As an example, a camera and vision detection model may be integrated into the feeding assembly and monitor the food consumed and / or remaining within the container.10074] A container base may have a radius of curvature where a bottom wall transitions io a side wall. A curved transition may make it easier for an animal to access and consume all of the food in the food cavity by eliminating sharp edges and corners. A radius of curvature may refer (o a radius measured at the interior of the container base (e.g,, from within the food cavity) and / or from an exterior of the container base. The radius of curvature between the inside and exterior may be the same or different. The ra dius of curvature may be about L5 mm or greater, about 3 mm or grea ter, about 5 rum or greater, or even about 7 mm or greater. The radius of curvature may be about 20 mm or less, about 15 mm or less, about 12.5 mm or less, or even about 10 mm or less.10075] A container base may have a radius of curvature such that a bottom wall is continuous with one or more side walls. One or more side walls may not be definable as separate from a bottom wall. Inother words, the container base may have an overall shape which is concave, half-sphere, or the like (e.g., bowl-shaped).

[0076] A container base may be configured as relatively shallow. Shallowness may be determined by the height of one or more side walls wall (e.g., from the bottom wail to a rim), from the exterior of the bottom wall to a top of the container base (upper surface of rim, flange, and / or side wall). Shallowness may allow for an animal to easily access food at the bottom of the container The height of a container base may be about .1 cm or greater, 2 cm or greater, 3 cm or greater, or even 4 cm or grea ter. The height of a container base may be about 10 cm or less, about 8 cm or fess, or even about 6 cm or fess.10077] A container base may be configured to retain a volume of food. The volume may be about 20 mL or greater, about 30 mi, or greater, or even about 50 ml or greater. The volume may be about 100 mL or less, about W mL or less, or even 70 mL or less.

[0078] A container base may include one or more rims. One or more rims may serve as the outer edge of a container base, form at leastpart of one or more flanges, or both; support one or more seal members; support a lid; or a combination thereof. One or more rims may include or be separate from one or more flanges. One or more rims may be located opposite a bottom wall, be a free end of a side wall, or both. One or more rims may be in direct contact, adhered to, or both a lid (e.g., when the container is in a closed configuration). One or more rims may have or form a cross-sectional shape (cut plane parallel to longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom up) which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, rectangular with an inwardly curved side, rectangular with one or more outwardly bowing sides, rectangular with one or more lobes, trapezoidal, polygonal (e.g., pentagon, hexagon), lobe-shaped, lemon shaped, diamond shaped, and / or the like. For example, one or more rims may form a shape which is generally rectangular with one of the sides having an arcuate shape thereto. The arcuate shape may bow inward or outward. For example, one or more rims may form a shape which is substantially rectangular, square, or both with rounded comers. For example, one or more rims may form a shape which is substantially rectangular along with one side being substantially arcuate with an outward curve. For example, one or more rims may form a shape which is substantially rectangular with one side being substantially arcuate with an in ward curve, As another example, rim may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially square or rectangular with rounded corners. A square or rectangular bottom wall may have one or more (e.g. , two) sides which deflect (e. g. , bow) outward, taper outward, or both. One or more rims may form a shape which is substantially rectangular or square with rounded corners (e.g., “squaoval”) with two opposing lobes projecting from one side. The two opposing lobes may be distanced to form a gap therebetween. The lobes may be formed via an inward curvature, A two-dimensional plan shape of the one or more rims may be the same as or different than a cross- sectional shape or plan shape of the bottom wall, one or more side walls, food cavity, one or more flanges, and / or lid. For example, the bottom wall, side walls, food cavity, and / or flanges may be free ofthe one or more lobes. The rim may be defined as the free end of the side wait The rim may define, lead into, and / or form part of one or more flanges.

[0079] A container base may include one or more flanges. One or more flanges may function to provide a surface for a lid to be adhered to, define an outer peripheral shape of the container, cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, cooperate with one or more container handling subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof. A flange may extend from a food cavity. A flange may extend from one or more side wails, one or more rims, or both. A flange may be separate from, affixed to, and / or integral with the rim of the container base. One or more flanges may project from a rim formed by the one or more side walls about the food cavity, A flange may be located along any part of the height of one or more side walls and / or rim. A. flange may be biased more toward the rim, an upper surface of a rim, a bottom wall, a bottom surface of a side wall, and / or an upper surface of a side wall, A flange may provide a surface for handling a container, adhering to a lid, supporting a sea! member, stability on a resting and / or tooling surface, handling wi thin a feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. A flange may cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, container handling subassemblies, container opening subassemblies, container holding subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof,[OOSOj One or more flanges may have a generally planar surface, non-planar surface, or both. One or more flanges may define an edge of one or more side walls. One or more flanges may extend outward, inward, upward, downward, or any combination thereof relative to one or more side walls, A flange may include one or more flange portions.[0081 One or more flange portions may extend laterally outward and / or generally orthogonally from one or more side walls. Laterally outward may be generally perpendicular to a vertical axis, parallel to a transverse plane, parallel to a flange plane, parallel to a horizontal plane, or any combination thereof One or more flanges or flange portions which may extend outward from a top edge of a side wall and / or rim may be defined as an upper surface and / or lateral flange portion of a rim and / or flange. An upper surface flange portion may include and extend from a rim.[01)82] One or more flange portions may extend downward. A downward extending -portion may be defined as a downward projecting flange portion of one or more flanges, A downward extendi ng flange portion may extend generally downward, generally opposite an entry opening, generally toward the bottom wall, and / or a combination thereof. The downward extending flange portion may be perpendicular or at an offset angle (e.g., obtuse, acute) relative to an upper surface flange portion, outermost flange portion, or both. The downward extending flange portion may be substantially parallel or at an offset angle relative to a vertical axis of the container. A flange may project generally outward (e.g., away from a side wall, vertical axis) and then project generally downward (e.g., generally parallel to side wall, vertical axis). The downward portion of the flange may be the downward projecting flange portion. The down ward projecting flange portion may adjoin to, be integral with, and / or be in between an upper surface flange portion and / or an outermost flange portion. The dow nward projecting flangeportion may extend downward about 5% or greater to about 100% or less, about 5% to about 50% or less, or even about 5% to about 30% or less of the total height of the container base. Extending the full height. (e.g„ 100%) may allow for the flange to support the container on a resting surface. Extending only a portion of the height may allow for using the flange within an automated feeding assembly as a keying feature, alignment feature, engagement feature, and / or the like, provide easier access to the food cavity from below for gripping either by a feeding assembly or by hand, or a combination thereof.[0083 j One or more flange portions may extend laterally outward and / or generally orthogonally from one or more other flange portions, such as the downward projecting portion. One or more flange portions extending away from the down ward projecting portion may be referred to as a lower surface, lower lateral portion, and / or outermost flange portion of one or more flanges, The outermost flange portion may extend laterally away from one or more side walls, be substantially perpendicular to a vertical axis of the container, be substantially parallel to an upper surface flange portion, or any com b inatiot thereof.[0084 j One or more flange portions may define the outermost periphery of the container base, the container, or both. One or more flange portions defining the outermost periphery may be defined as the outermost flange portion. The outermost flange portion may be any of the flange portions which define the outermost periphery. The outermost flange portion may be the upper surface flange portion, downward projecting flange portion, lower surface flange portion, or any combination thereof.

[0085] The shape of one or more flanges and / or flange portions may aid in protecting a lid, orienting and / or handling; of a container in a feeding assembly, or a combination thereof. A flange may have a cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape (cut plane parallel to flange, longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom up) which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, rectangular with an inwardly curved side, rectangular with an outwardly curved side, rectangular with one or more lobes, polygonal (e.g,, pentagon, hexagon), lobe-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped, semicircular, half-pill shaped, half-squaoval shaped, and / or the like. The cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape may refer to the outer peripheral shape, inner peripheral shape, or both of one or more flanges and / or flange portions. One or more flange portions may have one or more sides which curve inward, curve outward, are notched, have one or more cutouts, and / or the like. The flange and / or flange portfon(s) may have one or more contours formed therein. One or more contours may include a narrowed neck in the peripheral shape of a flange and / or flange portion. A narrowed neck may define one or more notches in the flange and / or flange portions. For example, a narrowed neck between a feeding cavity and a front side. A narrowed neck together with an inward indentation (c.g;, gap) may form opposing lobes. One or more flange portions may have a shape substantially similar or different to one or more other flange portions, the food cavity, or both. For example, all flange portions may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially rectangular with rounded corners. For example, one or more flange portions may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially rectangular or square (e.g., squaoval)with one or more sides which curve inward or outward. For example, one or more flange portions mayhave an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially half-pill shaped with an inward indentation opposite the curved side. For example, one or more flange portions may have an overall two-dimensional shape which is substantially pill-shaped with an inward indentation opposite the curved side, and narrowing at a neck on the sides to form two lobes (e.g., mouse-head shape).

[0086] A flange, and / or one or more flange portions, may have a shape substantially similar to or dissimilar to the one or more other flange portions, rims, side walls, bottom walls, food cavities, or a combination thereof, A flange and / or one or more flange portions may have a shape which is asymmetrical or symmetrical about one or more planes. A flange may have a shape which is free of symmetry, includes one plane of symmetry, two or more planes of symmetry’. Symmetry may be about the frontal plane, longitudinal plane, center line, or a combination thereof of the container, container base, or both.[00871 One or more flange portions may have a width. A width of a flange may provide sufficient surface area for affixing to a lid, cooperating with one or more seal members, cooperating with one or more components of a feeding assembly, the like, or any combination thereof. A width of one or more flanges may be measured substantially perpendicular to a vertical axis, from an edge facing toward the feeding cavity to an opposite edge facing toward an exterior, or both. A width of a flange portion may be about 2 mm or greater, about 3 mm or greater, about 3.5 mm or greater, about 3.8 mm or greater, about 4 mm or greater, about 4.5 mm or greater, or even about 4.7 mm or greater. A width a flange portion may be about 350 mm or less, about 300 mm or less, about 250 mm or less, about 225 mm or less, about 200 mm or less, about .180 mm or less, about 150 mm or less, about 125 mm or less, about 100 mm or less, about 75 mm or less, about 50 mm or less, about 25 mm or less, about 15 mm or less, about 12 mm or less, about 10 mm or less, about 7 mm or less, or even about 6 nim or less. The width of a flange portion may be substantially uniform, vary, or both. For example, a width a flange portion may be substantially uniform about a .majority of a periphery of a food cavity, but vary in proximity to a lid access feature, lid reinforcing feature, leading edge of a lid, or a combination thereof

[0088] One or more flanges and / or flange portions may define one or more overall dimensions of a container base and / or container. The edge and / or outward facing surface of a flange portion (e.g. , outermost flange portion) .may define the outermost edges of the container and / or container base. One or more flanges and / or flange portions may define a width and / or length of a container and / or container base.

[0089] A. width of a container and / or container base may be across a widest portion, perpendicular to a longitudinal plane, parallel to a transverse plane, measures side to side, or a combination thereof, A width of a container and / or container base may be about 75 mm or greater, about 85 mm or greater, about 90 mm or greater, or even about 95 mm or greater, A width of a container and / or container base may be about 200 mm or less, about 175 mm or less, about 150 mm or less, about 130 mm or less, about 120 mm or less, about 110 mm or less, or even about 100 mm or less.

[0090] A length of a container and / or container base may be across a longest portion, parallel to a longitudinal plane, perpendicular to a transverse plane, parallel to a frontal plane, measured from front (in proximity to leading edge) to rear (in proximity to trailing edge), or a combination thereof. A length of a container may be about 75 mm or greater, about 90 mm or greater, about 100 mm or greater, or even about 105 mm or greater. A length of a container may be about 200 mm or less, about 175 mm or less, about 150 rnm or less, about 140 mm or less, about 130 am or less, about 120 mm or less, or even about 115 mm or less.100911 One or more flanges and / or flange portions may be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. One or more flange portions may be substantially planar (e,g., upper surface, bottom surface) while having one or more non-planar features formed therein and / or affixed thereto. An upward facing surface of a upper surface portion, lower surface portion, outermost flange portion, or a combination thereof may be substantially planar. One or more non-planar features may include one or more keyi ng features, engagement features, alignment features, lid access features, lid reinforcing features, and / or the like. [00921 One or more flanges may include, form, and / or be one or more keying features, engagement features, alignment features, lid access features, lid reinforcing features, lid alignment features, and / or the l ike.

[0093] The container may include one or more lid alignment features. One or more lid alignment features may function to aid in aligning a lid with a container base such as to locate the lid over the food cavity, maintain the edges of the lid confined within the outer periphery of the container base, protec t one or more edges of rhe lid from being prematurely peeled, the like, or a combination thereof. The container base may include one or more lid alignment features. One or more lid alignment features may be formed about an outer periphery of the container base. One or more lid alignment features may be suitable for receiving the lid therein or therebetween. The one or more lid alignment features may include one or more alignment projections. The alignment projections may be formed as ridges, tabs, or other projections. The alignment projections may be formed on a rim and / or flange of the container base. The alignment projections may be formed on the upper surface and / or upper lateral flange portion; downward projecting portion, and / or even the outermost flange portion. The alignment projections may be formed at an outer edge of an upper surface and / or upper lateral flange portion, outwardly feeing surface of a downward projecting flange portion, or both. The alignment projections may extend above the upper surface and / or upper lateral flange portion. The alignment projection may form a lip at an outermost edge of the upper surface and / or upper lateral flange portion. The lid may rest within the alignment projections. The alignment projections may include a single or a plurality of alignment projections, A plurality of alignment projections may be distributed aboiti the rim and / or flange. The one or more alignment projections may include one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or even five or more alignment projections. The one or more alignment projections may include twenty or less, fifteen or less, ten or less, or even eight or less alignment projections. One or more alignment projections may be located at one or more planar edges, rounded edges, lobes, comers, other contours,and / or the like of the rim and / or flange or the container base. The one or more alignment projections may be located at one or snore lobes, at a rear of the container base, at opposing sides of the container base, or a combination thereof[0094 | A container may include or be free of one or more keying features. One or more keying features may .function to allow for a container to be keyed for engagement with a feeding assembly, a container magazine, or both. One or more keying features may aid in a human correctly orientating a container, one more portions of a feeding assembly correctly orientating a container, or even one or more machines within an assembly process. One or more keying features may function to allow for a container to be keyed for engagement with a container storage subassembly, container magazine, container handling subassembly, container holding subassembly, waste collection subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof One or more keying features may be formed in and / or affixed to any portion of a container which may be suitable. One or more keying features may be formed, included in, and / or affixed to one or more rims, flanges, side walls, bottom walls, lids, the like, or any combination thereof. [00951 One or more keying features may be changes m contours in one or more portions of a container base. One or more keying features may include one or more concave portions, convex portions, protrusions, indentations, flat surface, straight edges, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more keying features may include an overall shape, a two-dimensional shape, or both of one or more flanges, flange portions, or both. For example, one or more flange portions may have a cross-sectional or plan shape which is not circular, does not have radial symmetry, or both. For example, shapes such as teardrop, egg-shaped, circular with a lobe-shape, ovular with a blunt end, rectangular with an inwardly curved side, rectangular with one or more lobes, pill-shaped with two lobes, pill-shaped with two lobes and a narrowed neck, the like, or a combination thereof Such a shape may aid in providing for limited correct orientations and aid in correct placement. Exemplary keying features may include one or more notches, tabs, indented portions, rounded portions, and / or flat portions. Keying features may be formed in a flange such as to avoid impacting storage volume or shape of a storage portion of a container base. Keying features may be formed in a flange to aid in correct orientation of shapes which may have more than one plane of symmetry (e.g., square, rectangle, circle). One or more keying features may include one or more pockets formed in a flange.[0096| One or more keying features may include a single keying feature or a plurality of keying features. Keying features may or may not be mirrored on an opposing portion of a container. Mirroring may provide for a single or two or more correct orientations of a container. For example, mirroring of keying features with a container base (e.g., flange) having only symmetry about one-plane, may provide for only a single correct orientation. For example, mirroring of keying features with a container base (e.g., flange) having symmetry about, two or more planes, may provide for two or more correct orientation. A plurality of keying features may include 2 or more, 3 or more, 4 or more, or even 6 or mote keying features. A plurality of keying features may all be tire same or differen t from one another. One or more keying features may have the same and / or different shape and / or size one or more otherkeying features. For example, all of the keying features may be notches. As another example, some keying features may be notches while others are straight edges. As another example, a single keying feature may be the overall two-dimensional shape of a flange,

[0097] One or more keying features may include, function as, or be separate from one or more alignment features, engagement features, lid access features, lid reinforcing features, the like, or a combination thereof(0Q98J A container may include or be free of one or more alignment features. One or more alignment features may facilitate alignment of a container within a container storage subassembly, container magazine, container handling subassembly, or both. One or more alignment features may facilitate ali gnment of a container within a hoppen cartridge magazine, shuttle assem bly, gripper assem bly, l ifting wedge, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more alignment features may facilitate maintaining a container oriented properly during movement within a feeding assembly, facilitate loading of a container, or both. One or more alignment features may prevent rotation, teetering, or turning of a container once loaded into a container storage subassembly, container magazine, container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof.(0099] One or more alignment features may include a change in contour of a rim, flange, bottom wall, side wall(s), or any combination thereof One or more alignment features may include one or more indentations, projections, planar surface, planar edges, rounded surfaces, rounded edges, or any combination thereof in a rim, flange, bottom wall, side wall, or combination thereof One or more alignment features may include a change in contour in an upper surface, lower surface, and / or peripheral edge of a rim, flange, bottom wall, side wall, or combination thereof. One or more alignment features may include one or more protrusions extending from a rim and / or flange of the container base laterally way from the lid, generally parallel with a vertical axis, toward a bottom wall, or any combination thereof. One or more alignment features may be reciprocal in shape to or provide a reciprocal shape with one or more portions of a container storage subassembly, container magazine, container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof.

[0100] One or mote alignment features may be located at one or more engagement points with one or more components of a feeding assembly. One or more alignment features may be biased toward the rear of a container, front of a container, a leading edge and / or a trailing edge, sides of a container, or any combination thereof. One or more alignment features may be fairly centered or off-center relative to a frontal plane, longitudinal plane, or both. One or more alignment features may or may not be mirrored relative to one or more other alignment, features. One or more alignment features may be mirrored relative to one or more opposing alignment features. One or more alignment features may be located opposite one another relative to a frontal plane, longitudinal plane, or both.

[0101] One or more alignment, features may cooperate with a cradle, one or more pairs of arms, or both of a feeding assembly. Cooperation may include engagement, mating, providing a friction surface, providing a channel, providing reciprocal surfaces, or any combination thereof. For example, one ormore alignment features together with a side wall of a container and a bottom surface of a. flange may form a channel (e.g., Gshape channel). For example, one or more alignment features may include two or more projections projecting from a side wall and forming a groove, and / or channel about at least a portion of the container base. For example., one or more alignment features may include one or more indentations or projections forming a groove or channel in a bottom wall. The channel and / or groove may receive a portion of a cradle, one or more arms, a support plate (e.g., of a handling subassembly) or combination thereof and aid in maintaining the container base in a stationary position relative thereto. For example, one or more alignment features may be a planar portion of a side wall which is mostlycurved. The planar portion of the side wall may align with a planar portion of a container handling subassembly, container storage subassembly, or both.

[0102] A container may include or be free of one or more engagement features. One or more engagement features may function to engage with one or more components of a feeding assembly, container magazine, maintain proper orientation and retain of the container relative to the one or more components or both. One or more engagement features may cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, container magazines, coiitainer handling subassemblies, container holding subassemblies, or combination thereof. One or more engagement features may engage with a cradle, a pair of amis, a support plate (e.g., of a container handling subassembly), lifting wedge, or any combination thereof. One or more engagement features may be the same or separate from one or more keying features, alignment features, or both.[0103’f One or more engagement features may provide a shape which receives a portion of one or more container storage subassemblies, container handling subassemblies, container holding subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more engagement features may be provided in a rim, .flange, bottom wall, side wall, or any combination thereof. One or more engagemeat features may function to receive one or more projections partially or entirely therethrough. One or more engagement features may or may not be partially or completely reciprocal with one or more projections. One or more engagement features may include one or more holes, depressions, grooves, and / or the like.

[0104] One or more projections may include one or more pins, tabs, posts, hooks, and / or the like. One or more projections may be part of a container storage subassembly, container handling subassembly, container holding subassembly, and / or the like. One or more projections may extend from one from one or more cradles, arms, support plates (e.g., of a container handling subassembly ), lifting wedges, rails, and / or any combination thereof. For example, one or more projections may include pins protruding from one or more arms of a container handling subassembly, a gripper plate and / or support plate of a container handling subassembly, a cradle of a container handling subassembly, a lifting ramp of a container holding subassembly, or any combination thereof

[0105] Exemplary engagement features may include a plurality of holes defined at predetermined locations through a rim and / or flange of the container base. These holes may receive corresponding pins protruding from a gripper plate and / or cradle of the container handling subassembly. Together, the holesand pins may maintain proper orientation and retention of the container base within various stages of the feeding cycle.[01061 A container base may include or be free of one or more lid access features, One or more lid access features may function to allow a portion of a lid to be accessible; allow a bottom surface of a lid to be accessible, in addition to an upper surface of the lid; expose a portion of a bottom of a lid; allow for a leading edge to be accessible; receive one or more components of a container opening subassembly; allow for one or more components of a container opening subassembly io engage with a lid for subsequent removal; or a combination thereof. Otic or more lid access features may protect a leading edge, trailing edge, or both of a lid. One or more lid access features may be provided in one or more locations of a container.

[0107] A container may be configured to have a single correct orientation or multiple correct orientations for being located into a feeding assembly and / or cooperating with a container opening subassembly. A lid may be formed such that the leading edge and trailing edge may or may not be reversible. For example, a container may have no planes of symmetry or just one plane of sy mmetry to provide for one correct orientation or two planes of symmetry to provide for two correction orientations. A container with a single correct orientation may have one or more lid access features only adjacent to and / or in prox imity to a leading edge of a lid. A. container with two correct orientations may have one or more lid access features adjacent to and / or in proximity to a leading edge and a trailing edge of a lid.

[0108] One or more lid access features may include one or more pockets, one more flange indentations, one or more flange blunt surfaces, the like, or any combination thereof.[01091 One or more lid access features may include one or more pockets. One or more pockets may function to protect and maintain a handling portion of a lid. One or more pockets may crea te a pocket gap for a portion of a container opening subassembly to be received in, A pocket may be clefmed by or coupled to a rim and / or flange of a container base. A pocket may extend below the upper surface of the container base, below a flange plane, below a flange axis, below the main upper surface of a flange, or any combination thereof. A pocket may be farmed in a flange and / or rim of a container base, A pocket may be formed as an indentation, concave portion, and / or the like in a flange and / or rim. A pocket may project away from a lid, away from an upper surface of a container base, away from an upper surface of a rim and / or flange, toward a bottom of a container, generally parallel to a vertical axis of the container, or a combination thereof A pocket may be formed in proximity to and / or adjacent to a leading edge of a lid, trailing edge of a lid, a stress rise feature of a seal member, or a combination thereof A pocket may cooperate with a lid to define a pocket gap. A pocket gap may be a distance between the pocket and the lid.

[0110] One or more lid access features may include one or more flange indentations. One or more flange indentations may function to allow a bottom surface of a lid to be accessible, in addition to an upper surface; may allow for a leading edge to be accessible; may expose a portion of a lid relati ve to container; may allow for one or more components of a container opening subassembly to engage witha lid; or any combination thereof. One or more flange indentations may be formed in a flange of a container base. One or more flange indentations may be formed in proximity to and / or adjacent to a leading edge of a lid, a stress rise feature of a seal member, or both. One or more flange indentations may project inward toward a vertical axis, a center of the container, a center of a rim and / or flange, or a combination thereof. One or more flange indentations may be formed as one or more cutouts and / or notches. One or more flange indentations may be formed as one or more gaps between two opposing lobes of the flange. For example, a flange indentation may be an inwardly contoured portion of one or more flange portions such that a gap is formed between two opposing lobes also formed the one or more flange portions. One or more flange indentations may refer to a localized area of contour change of a rim and / or flange. One or more flange indentations may have a shape reciprocal with or dissimilar to one or more components of a container opening subassembly. One or more flange indentations may have a shape reciprocal or dissimilar to one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. One or more rim indentations may have a shape with a cross-sectional area equal to or larger than a cross-sectional area of one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. A cross-sectional area equal to or larger than a cross- sectional area of one or more jaws and / or hooks may allow for them to have sufficient access to a lid for removal. One or more flange indentations may be formed as one or more inwardly curved surfaces, one or more gaps between projecting lobes, or both. As an example, the one or more flange indentations may be formed opposite a curved side of the one or more flange portions.[01 I I] One or more lid access features may include one or more blunt surfaces (e.g,, straight edges). One or more blunt surfaces may function to allow a bottom surface of a lid to be accessible, in addition to an upper surface; may allow for a leading edge to be accessible; may expose a portion of a lid relative to container; may allow for one or more components of a container opening subassembly to engage wi th a lid; or any combination thereof One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in a rim and / or flange of a container base. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in proximity to and / or adjacent to a leading edge of a lid, a stress ri se feature of a seal member, or both. One or more blunt, surfaces may be formed as one or more straight edges, edges tangent to a majori ty of a contour, or both of one or more rims and / or flanges. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed as a substantially flat and / or straight edge of a rim and / or flange. One or more blunt surfaces may be dissimilar io the majority of peripheral contour of a rim and / or flange. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in a cross-sectional and / or two-dimensional plan shape coming to a straight surface. For example, one or more rounded shapes may have one or more straight edges formed therein. For example, a circle, oval, egg-shape, tear-drop shape, and / or the like may curve and / or narrow to a straight, edge to form a blunt, surface. The blunt surface may be opposite a rounded surface. One or more blunt surfaces may refer to a localized area of contour change of a rim and / or flange . One or more blunt surfaces may also define an exposed area of the lid referred to as the handling portion.|'0L 12] A container may include or be .free of one or more lid reinforcing features. One or more lid reinforcing features may function to reinforce a lid during removal .from a container base, preventtearing of the lid while peeling away from the container base, provide a structurally sufficient structure to cooperate with a container opening subassembly, or any combination thereof. One or more lid reinforcing features may function as one or more keying features, provide for consistent orientation of a lid, or both. Often, when peelable lids are peeled away from respective container bases, these lids tear, leaving remnants of the lid still adhered to the container base. The remnants may block access of an animal into the food cavity to consume food therein. This is especially problematic with an automatic feeding assembly, as a user may not be physically present to remove the remnants of the lid,(0113] The lid reinforcing feature may aid in distributing the peeling force to the outer periphery, seal member, and / or away from a center line / longitudinal plane (e.g,, while a lid is being peeled away from a container base). By distributing the peeling force outward, this reduces and / or eliminates the risk of the lid being incompletely peeled and leaving behind remnants of lid adhered to the container base. The peeling force may be distributed outward during; an initial motion of peeling, when initia ting peeling at a leading edge, before reaching a halfway point of peeling, before peeling reaches the widest portion of a container base, or any combination. thereof A lid reinforcing feature may also aid in reducing the amount of force required to initiate peeling. This may be compared to the force required in the absence of the lid reinforcing feature. This force reduction may aid in reducing and / or eliminating splater from food contained within the container base.

[0114] The lid reinforcing feature may aid in distributing the peeling force toward a seal member, toward a center line and / or longitudinal plane, or both (e.g., while a lid is being peeled away from a container base). By distributing the peeling; force inward, this reduces and / or eliminates the risk, of the lid being completely peeled and leaving behind remnants of lid adhered to the container base. The peeling force may be distribution outward during a latter motion of peeling, when peeling starts to reach a trailing edge, after reaching a halfway point of peeling, after peeling reaches a widest portion of a container base, or any combination thereof. A lid reinforcing .feature may also aid in reducing the amount of force required to finalize peeling. This may be compared to the force required in the absence of the lid reinforcing feature, This force reduction may aid in reducing and / or eliminating splater from food contained wi thin the container base.|0l 15] One or more lid reinforcing features may be provided as part of the lid, the container base, or both. One or more lid reinforcing features may be provided at a handling portion of a lid. A handling portion may be located toward and / or adjacent to a leading edge of a lid, a portion of a lid and / or container base (e.g., flange) a container opening subassembly may interact with, or both. A handling portion may be located adjacent to one or more lid access features. A handling portion may be exposed by a lid access feature.

[0116] One or more ltd reinforcing features may be formed as part of or separate from a flange and / or rim. The one or mote lid reinforcing features may be a part of the rim and / or flange configured to be separated from the remainder of the rim and / or flange. This may be referred to as a removable flange portion and / or removable rim portion. For simplicity, the removable flange and removable rim portionmay be referred to as a removable flange portion, A removable flange portion may be planar or nan- planar with the remainder of the flange and / or rim. A removable flange portion may be formed as a raised portion of the flange, may be even with a rim or the flange, may be in contact and adhered to a lid, or any combination thereof. The removable flange portion may be formed as an extension of the flange. In other words, the removable flange portion may be an extension of the flange that provides a greater surface area than the remainder of the flange. The removable flange portion may or may not include any removal openings. A removal opening may be similar as disclosed to that of the lid, If present, a removal opening of the removable flange portion may be aligned with the removal opening of the lid,{ 01 17] The removable flange portion may include a vertically extending portion. A vertically extending portion may define a portion of the removable flange portion that beads upwards from a flange, toward a lid, toward a same height as a top surface of a rim, or any combination thereof. A vertically extending portion may allow for the removable flange portion to be formed as a raised portion. A vertically extending portion may have a height of about I mm or greater, about 2 mm or greater, about 3 mm or greater, or e ven about 4 mm or greater. A vertically extending portion may have a height of about 20 mm or less, about 15 mm or less, about 12 mm or less, about 10 mm or less, about 8 mm or less, or even about 6 mm or less. The vertically extending portion may provide for a transition between a flange (or majority thereof) and the removable flange portion.

[0118] The removable flange portion may include a lid contact portion. A lid contact portion may define a portion of the removable flange portion in direct contact with a lid. may be in direct contact with a handling portion of the lid, may interface with one or more container opening subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof. A iid contact portion may be at the same or different plane as a flange, rim, or both, A lid contact portion may extend from a removable flange portion. A lid contact portion may define a portion of the flange and / or rim with a different contour than a remainder of a majority of the flange and / or rim. The removable flange portion may include a removal opening therein. The lid contact portion may form a leading edge of die flange and / or rim. The leading edge of die flange and / or rim may coincide with a leading edge of a lid, A lid contact portion may have a length. A length may be measured from a point of separation to a free end, from a separation feature to a free end, from an end closest to the container storage portion to an opposing end, from a vertically extending portion to an end of the lid contact -portion, across one plane, across a plane generally parallel to the horizontal and / or transverse plane, generally parallel to a flange plane, or any combination thereof, A length may be about 2 mm or greater, about 5 mm or greater, about 7 mm or greater, or even about 10 mm or greater. A length may be about 50 mm or less, about 30 mm or less, about 25 mm or less, about 20 mm or less, or even about 15 mm or less.|01 19] It is also envisioned that a lid reinforcing feature may be separate from a flange and / or rim. In other words, the lid reiiiforcing feature may be affixed to a lid and not be affixed to a rim and / or flange. A lid reinforcing feature may include a lid contact portion. A lid reinforcing feature may be free of avertically extending portion, A lid reinforcitig feature may be located adjacent to or in proximity to a lid access feature. A lid reinforcing feature may be located adjacent to a blunt surface of a rim and / or flange. A lid reinforcing feature., even if separate from a rim and / or flange, may be comprised of the same material as the flange and / or rim (e.g,, same material as the container base),(01201 One or more lid reinforcing features of a flange may be removable by one or more separation features, A separation feature may allow for a removable flange portion to be affixed to and integral with the .remainder of the flange while aiding in easy removal simultaneous with removing of a lid. A separation feature may include one or more weak spots, indentations, grooves, scoring lines, perforations, and / or the like. For example, a separation feature may include a scoring line between a removable flange portion and the remainder of the flange portion, A separation feature may be located adjacent to a vertically extending portion of a lid reinforcing feature and the remainder of the flange and / or rim. A container opening subassembly may engage with (e.g., grip, hook, etc.) the removable flange portion and the lid. As the container base and / or {he lid is moved away from the lid and / or the container base, the separation feature may first receive a peeling force before a seal member. The peeling force may cause the separation feature to break and cause separation of the removable flange portion while still being adhered io the lid,(0121] A container base may be comprised of one or more materials. One or more materials may include one or more polymers, metals, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more polymers may include one or more plasties. One or more plastics may be biodegradable, nonbiodegradable, or both. One or more materials may include one or more food-grade plastics. One or more plastics may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), the like, or a combination thereof,(0122] The container may include a lid. A lid may function to close or seal a container, preserve food within a container, or both. A lid may be shaped to be reciprocal with, similar to, dissimilar to, fully cover a food cavity of a container base , or any combination thereof, A lid may be shaped to be reciprocal with, similar to, dissimilar to, fully cover, partially cover, or any combination thereof a flange and / or rim of a container base. 'The lid may be adhered to the container base. The lid may be partially or completely removable. Removing a lid may transition a container from a closed configuration to an open configuration.(0123 ] An edge of the lid which is peeled or otherwise removed from the container first may be referred to as a leading edge. An edge of the lid which is peeled last, remains adhered, or otherwise removed may be referred to as a trailing edge, A peeling force may be applied from a leading edge toward and / or to the trailing edge.(0124] A lid may be releasably coupled to the container base. A lid may be releasably attached to the rim and / or flange. A Hd may be releasably coupled to a container base via one or more seal members. A lid may or may not be able to be recoupled to a container base.10125 ] A lid may be shaped such as to completely cover an opening of a container base defining a food cavity therein. A lid may be shaped to cover the opening defined by the rim and / or flange of a container base, A lid may be shaped such as to cooperate with a container opening subassembly. A lid may be shaped such as to allow for consistent presentation and locating relative to a container opening subassembly container magazine, or both, A lid may be shaped for repeatable and accessible gripping, clamping, hooking, and / or the like by a container opening subassembly, user, or both.[01261 A lid may be shaped such that when a lid is presented to a container opening subassembly it is presented at a consistent location with a leading edge facing toward the container opening subassembly. A lid may have a cross-sectional shape (cut plane parallel to upper surface of lid, longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom up) which is substantially circular, semicircular, ovular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagon, hexagon), squaoval, lobe-shaped, and / or the like. A lid may have a cross-sectional shape which is substantially similar to or different from a cross- sectional shape of the container base, one or more flanges and / or flange portions, or both. A lid may have a two-dimensional shape generally similar to that of one or more outermost flange portions, an outer periphery of a container base, or both. The lid may be free of an indented portion of a container base which defines a lid access feature to ensure the lid covers and is exposed by the lid access feature. A lid may have a shape which .is asymmetrical or symmetrical about one or more planes, Alid may have a shape which is free of symmetry, includes one plane of symmetry, two or more planes of symmetry. A lid shape may aid in orienting of a container within one or more components of the feeding assembly.

[0127] A fid may have a size which protects the lid during handling and storage. The size of the lid may be defined by a width and a length. A length may be measured as the longest length from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A length may be measured parallel to and / or in the same manner as the length of the container and / or container base. A width may be measured as the longest width from side to side, perpendicular to the leading edge to the trailing edge, or both. A width may be measured parallel and / or in the same manner as the width of the container and / or container base. A length of the lid may be smaller than, equal to, or greater than a length of a container and / or container base. A width of the lid may be smaller than, equal to, or greater than a width of a container and / or container base. Having a length and width smaller than that of th e container may allow for the edges of the lid to be protected and retained by the container base. Having a length and width smaller than that of the container may allow for one or more alignment projections to aid in alignment of the lid relative to the container place .

[0128] A lid may include a handling portion. A handling portion, may provide for a portion of the lid which is gripped, clamped, hooked, and / or otherwise retrieved to allow for a peeling force to be applied for removal of the lid. A handling portion may be a portion of the lid which extends beyond a container base, rim, and / or flange. A handling portion may be a portion of the lid which extends over a lid access feature, between lobes, or both of the container base. A handling portion of the fid may be a portion ofthe lid intended for engagement with a container opening subassembly. A handling portion may extend beyond most of a flange but have a lid reinforcing feature affixed thereto. A handling portion may have a removable flange portion affixed thereto. A handling portion may have a lid contact portion affixed thereto, A handling portion may extend in the same direction as a flange, laterally project away from one or more side walls of a container base, or both. A handling portion of the lid may simply refer to a general region of the lid or may be formed as a separate portion of the lid. A handling portion of the lid may be formed as an extension tab. A handling portion may not be folded over a rim and / or flange, as is typically seen in standard single use food containers,['0129 ] A lid may include a rigid engagement portion, A rigid engagement portion may be disposed on the handling portion of the lid. A rigid engagement portion may be the same or different as the lid reinforcing feature described relative to the flange. A rigid engagement portion may be the same as or different from the lid contact portion of a lid reinforcing feature. The rigid engagement portion may pre vent the lid from collapsing or moving relative to the container base and / or a remainder of the lid. A rigid engagement portion may ensure that the lid projects away from the container base and the handling portion can be reliably engaged with by the container opening subassembly. A rigid engagement structure can project beyond an edge of a rim of the container base, may be part of the flange, may be separate from the flange, may be an extension of the flange, or any combination thereof.

[0130] A handling portion may have a length author shape the same as or similar as described suitable for a lid reinforcing feature,

[0131] The handling portion of the lid may or may not include any removal openings, A removal opening may cooperate with one or more container opening subassemblies. A removal opening may be configured to receive a portion of a container opening subassembly therein. A portion of the container opening subassembly may be any portion configured to grip, grasp, hook, or otherwise engage and retain the lid for subsequent removal from a container base. A removal opening may receive a hook, post, jaw, and / or the like. A removal opening may have a shape which is or is not reciprocal with a portion of the container opening subassembly. A removal opening may have a cross-sectional size (c,g., area) about equal or larger than a portion of the container opening subassembly. A larger size may facilitate insertion of a portion therein or through. A removal opening may be biased toward a leading edge. A removal opening may be located between a leading edge and a str ess rise feature. If? the handling portion cooperates with a lid removable flange portion, a removal opening o f the handling portion maybe aligned with the removal opening of the removable flange portion. A removal opening may be referred to as a hook opening.

[0132] The handling portion of the lid may include one or more lid reinforcing features. One or more lid reinforcing features may function to reinforce the lid against damage, such as ripping and / or premature peeling. The one or more lid reinforcing features may function to provide a better grip surface as compared to a smooth lid to aid in grasping by a container opening subas sembly of a feeder assembly, a user’s hand for manual opening, or both. The one or more lid reinforcing features may be located onthe fid such that they are located over and / or in one or more lid access features (e.g., gap between lobes). The one or more lid reinforcing features may be part of a handling portion of a lid. The one or more lid reinforcing features may be located toward a front of the lid, biased toward a leading edge of the lid, or both. The one or more lid reinforcing features may be formed as one or more grooves, one or more bumped areas, one or more thicker sections, and / or the like. For example, the lid reinforcing feature may include one or more grooved depressions formed in the lid. The one or more lid reinforcing features may be aligned parallel with a leading edge of the lid. For example, a longitudinal axis of a lid reinforcing feature may be parallel with a leading edge of the lid. The one or more lid reinforcing features may include one or more, two or more, or even three or more lid reinforcing features. The one or more lid reinforcing features may include ten or less, seven or less, or even five or less lid reinforcing features.|,G133’| A lid may include one or more alignment features. One or more alignment features may aid in aligning and locating the lid onto the container base. One or more alignment features may be any suitable feature for aligning the lid with the container base such as to suitably seal a food cavity and allow access to the lid for subsequent removal. One or more alignment features may include a peripheral shape of the lid, one or more depressed areas of the lid, or both. An overall peripheral shape of the lid may be reciprocal with a shape defined by one or more features of the container base. The overall peripheral shape of the lid may be reciprocal with the shape formed by a plurality of alignment projections of the container base. The overall peripheral shape may rest inside the plurality of alignment projections when the lid is mated to the container base. The one or more depressed areas of the lid may function to rest inside one or more cavities of the container base. The one or more depressed areas of the lid may include one or more food cavity depressions. The one or more food cavity depressions may have a shape reciprocal with a shape of one or more food cavities of the container base. The food cavity depression may rest inside the food cavity when the lid is mated to the container base.

[0134] A fid may be comprised of one or more materials. One or more materials may include one or more polymers, metals, the like, or a combination thereof One or more materials of the lid may be the same as or different as compared to the one or more materials of the container base. One or more polymers may include one or more plasties. One or more plastics may be biodegradable, nonbiodegradable, or both. One or more materials may include one or more food-grade plastics. One or more plastics may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyetiiylene (HDPE), low- density polyethylene (EDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), the like, or a combination thereof One or more metals may include one or more food-safe metals. One or more food-safe metals may include aluminum, cooper, or the like One or more metals may be formed as foil. For example, the lid may be comprised of al uminum foil, A lid may be .formed as a laminate. For example, a PP-EVOH-PP laminate structure. 10135] The container may include one or more seal members. One or more seal members may function to removably couple a lid to a container base, removably adhere a lid to a container base, permanentlyadhere a lid reinforcing feature to a iid, or any combination thereof A seal member may refer to a means of directly adhering a lid io a container base, an adhesive separate from the lid and the container base, or both.

[0136] A seal member may be located on a flange, lid, or combination thereof. A seal member may be located about all or a portion of one or more flanges, flange portions, or both. One or more seal members may be located on one or more upper surface and / or upper lateral flange portions. One or more seal members may be located about a food cavity. One or more seal members may also be located on one or more lid reinforcing features, such as a removable flange portion. One or more seal members may be located between a container base and a lid. One or more seal members may be located between one or more flanges and / or flange portions and a lid.

[0137] When a lid is removed (e.g., peeled) from a container base, a seal member may be fully detached from, partially detached from, anchor remain atached to the container base and / or the lid.[01381 A seal member may include one or more first seal members, one or more second seal members, or both.

[0139] One or more first seal members may function to removably adhere a lid to a container base, seal a food cavity, or both. A first seal member may be located about the food cavity. A first seal member may be located between an upper surface anchor upper lateral flange portion and the lid.

[0140] One or more second seal members may function to adhere a lid to a lid reinforcing feature, adhere a lid to a lobe, adhere a lid over a fid access feature, or a combination thereof. One or more second seal members may be located between a lid contact portion and / or lobes and the lid. One or more second seal members may be located on an upper surface flange portion. One or more second seal members may be located in proximity to the lid access feature. One or more second seal members may be located an on opposite side of a of a separation feature (e.g„ scoring line) as the first seal member, One or more second seal members may be located on opposing lobes.

[0141] One or more seal members may have a shape substantially reciprocal with one or more portions of a lid, container base, or both, A seal member may have a shape substantially reciprocal with crosssection of the storage portion (e.g., side wall, food cavity), a rim, and / or flange of a container base. For example, a first seal member may have a shape substantially reciprocal with a food cavity and / or rim and / or flange (e.g,, upper surface flange portion) of a container. For example, a first seal member may have a shape substan tially reciprocal with a rim while having a shape dissimilar to that of the one or more flange portions of the container base. A first seal member may have a shape substantially reciprocal with an inner periphery of one or more flange portions (e.g., upper surface flange portion) while being dissimilar to at least part of the outer periphery of the one or more flange portions. A seal member may have an cross-sectional and / or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom up) which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, have one or more inwardly curved sides, have one or more outwardly curved sides, one or more gaps between projecting lobes, polygonal (e.g,, pentagon, hexagon), lemon-shaped,diamond-shaped, and / or the like. The shape may have one or a plurality of sides. Sides may be joined by rounded corners, concentrated points, and / or vertices. A plurality of sides may include (wo or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, or even six or more sides. For example, if a food cavity has a substantially circular plan shape or cross-section, the seal member may have a substantially circular plan shape or cross-section. For example, if a food cavity has a substantially square, rectangular, and / or squaoval plan shape or cross-sectional shape, the seal member may have a substantially square, rectangular, and / or squaovai plan shape or cross-sectional shape. A seal member may come to one or more concentrated points and / or tapered portions. A plan shape or cross-sectional shape may be a combination any of the preceding shapes with lemon-shaped, diamoadr-shaped, the like, or a combination thereof. For example, a first seal may have a plan shape or cross-sectional substantially reciprocal (e.g,, substantially same) with a cross-sectional shape of a food cavity. The cross-sectional shape of the food cavity may be defined by one or more side walls and / or bottom wail.[01421 A seal member may include one or more stress rise features. One or more first seal members, second seal members, or both may include one or more stress rise features. One or more stress rise features may facilitate removal of a lid from a container base, may reduce splatter of food from within the container base to the outside, may require less force to initiate peeling of the lid off the container base at a leading edge (as compared to seal member without a stress rise feature), may require less force (as compared to a seal member without a stress rise feature) to complete peeling of the container at a trailing edge, the like, or a combination thereof A seal coming to one or more concentrated and / or tapered points (e.g,, vertices) may provide for one or more stress rise features. One or more stress rise features may include sharp edges (e.g., vertices) at axial ends of a seal member. Sharp edges (e.g., vertices) may be disposed at a location where peeling of the lid from the containers may be first start (e.g,, leading edge) and / or end (e.g,, trailing edge). One or more stress rise features may be provided at opposing axial ends of a seal member (e.g,, first seal member). One or more stress rise features may include a. single stress feature or two or more stress rise features. Two stress rise features may be oppose one another, A first stress rise feature may be located toward a lid access feature, adjacent to, in proximity to, and / or at the leading edge of the lid, or both. A second stress rise feature may be located opposite a first stress rise feature, toward a rear of the container base, in proximity to, adjacent, to, and / or at the trailing edge of the lid, or a combination thereof.[01431 The one or more seal members may provide one or more tensioning features. One or more tensioning features may function to couple a lid to a container base. One or more tensioning features may function to apply te nsion to a lid ac ross a lid access feature, secure a lid at a front of a container to avoid the lid prematurely peeling, or both. One or more tensioning features may be located at one or more predetermined locations. One or more tensioning features may be located on one or more outer edges of a lid. One or more tensioning features may be located where an outer edge of a lid is located atop a portion of a rim. One or more tensioning features may be located on one or more flange portions. One or more tensioning features may be located at one or more lobes, flanking a lid access feature, orboth. One or more tensioning features may include one or more heat sealed dots, spot welds, adhesives, the like, or combination thereof. One or more tensioning features may be proximate to, adjacent to, on either side of, in front of, or a combination thereof one or more stress rise features. One or mote tensioning features may be used in combination with a seal member and / or in lieu of a seal member. One or more tensioning features may be a seal member. One or more tensioning features may be one or more second seal members. Each lobe may include a tensioning feature. In other words, the lid may be adhered to both of the opposing lobes by a respective, second seal member.10144] One or more seal members may include one or more weld joints, adhesives, and / or the like. One or more adhesives may include one or more pressure sensitive and / or hot melt glues. One or more adhesives may include polyvinyl acetate (PVA), vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE), vinyl acetate acrylates (VAAA), ethylene- vinyl acetate (EVA), metallocene, polyurethane reactive material, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more weld joints may be created via one or more weld methods. One or more weld methods may include ultrasonic plastic welding, vibration welding, laser welding, spin welding, infrared welding, hot plate welding, heat staking, the like, or any combination thereof One or more seal members may include one or more food-safe adhesives and / or joining methods.(0145 ] The container may include one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers may function to indicate one or more parameters associated with the container, One or more identifiers may include one or more visual identifiers, signal identifiers, or both. One or more visual identifiers may include one or more quick response (“QR”) codes, bar codes, colored pattern, textures, surface reflectivity patterns, the like, or a combination thereof One or more signal identifiers may include one or more radio frequency identification tags (“RFID”), near-field communication (“NFC”) tags, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more RFID identifiers may be passive. The one or more identifiers may be disposed on one or more portions of the container. The one or more identifiers may be disposed on an exterior of the container. One or more identifiers may be located o» an exterior of the lid, a» exterior the one or more side walls of the container base, a bottom wall of a container base, the like, or any combination thereof The one or more identifiers may be placed on a container such as to be accessible and readable by an identification sensor. The one or more parameters associated with an identifier may include compatibility with the feeding assembly, a. type of food in the container, a volume of food in the container, nutritional values associated with the food in the container, a brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, a production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, an amount of time food may be unsealed and exposed to ambient temperatures before beginning to spoil, an expiration date., the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more parameters associated with the identifier may include one or more instructions to access one or more databases to retrieve information about the container or food.

[0146] One or more portions of a container may define or be defined by one or mote axes, planes, or both.[01471 The one or more axes may include a vertical axis, horizontal axis, longitudinal axis, frontal axis, transverse axis, flange axis, the like, or any combination thereof. A vertical axis may extend through a container base and lid, through a bottom of a container base and cavity defined therein, through a bottom of a container base and an aperture defined by a rim and / or flange, or any combination thereof A vertical axis may be generally perpendicular to the bottom of a container base, rim, flange, lid, or a combination thereof. A vertical axis may be generally parallel to a side wall of a container base. A. frontal and / or center axis may be a vertical axis which is generally centered with the container,container base, lid, pr combination thereof, A horizontal axis may be generally perpendicular to a vertical axis. A horizontal axis may be generally parallel with a rim, flange, lid, bottom of a container base, or combination thereof A 'horizons! axis may intersect or be free of intersecting a vertical axis . A longitudinal axis may be a horizontal axis. A longitudinal axis may include a center line of the container. A transverse axis may be a horizontal axis. A flange axis may be an axis which is generally parallel with a majority of a surface area of a flange. A flange axis may be generally parallel or offset from a horizontal axis, longitudinal axis, or both.[01481 The one or more planes may include a flange plane, rim plane, lid plane, longitudinal plane, transverse plane, frontal plane, the like; or a combination thereof A flange plane may be a plane defined by a majority of a surface area (e.g., upper surface, surface facing toward lid) of a flange. A flange plane may have a flange axis lying therein (e.g., parallel, not intersecting). A flange plane may be substantially parallel to a transverse plane, a lid plane, or both. A rim plane may be a plane defined by a majority of a surface area of a rim. A rim plane may be parallel to a flange plane , lid plane, and / or transverse plane. A rim plane may be the same or offset from a flange plane. A lid plane may be a plane defined by a majority of the surface area of a lid (e.g., bottom or top stirface of lid). A lid plane may be generally parallel or offset from a flange plane. A lid plane may be parallel to a transverse plane, a flange plane, or both. A frontal plane may be a plane intersecting through the container, the container base, the lid, or a combination thereof. A frontal plane may divide a container between a front and a rear, A frontal plane m ay define one or more planes of symmetry of one or more component s of the container, A frontal plane may be located between a leading edge and a trailing edge of a lid. A frontal plane may have a vertical axis and / or frontal axis lying therein (e.g., parallel, not intersecting). A frontal plane may be generally perpendicular to a flange plane, lid plane, longitudinal plane, transverse plane , or a combination thereof. A longitudinal plane may be generally perpendicular to a transverse plane, frontal plane, flange plane, lid plane, or a combination thereof A longitudinal plane may divide a container between sides (e.g., left and right). A longitudinal plane may have a longitudinal axis, vertical axis, and / or frontal axis lying therein and / or be parallel to. A longitudinal plane may have a centerline of the container lying therein (e.g., parallel to and lying in). A transverse plane may define an upper portion and a lower portion of a container. A transverse plane may be formed between a lid and a container base or may cut through the container base. A transverse plane may be perpendicular to a transverse plane, longitudinal plane, or both. A transverse plane may be parallel to a flange plane, lid plane, or both,10149] A container may or may not have a symmetrical shape. Symmetry may be symmetry about one or more planes. Symmetry may mean symmetry about a frontal plane, longitudinal plane, or any other symmetry plane such as any plane intersecting a center point of the container, A container having only one plane of symmetry may have one correct orientation for interaction with a feeding assembly, removal of a lid, or both. A container having two or more planes of symmetry may have two or more correct orientations for interaction with a feeding assembly, removal of a lid, or both. Interaction with a feeding assembly may include placement and / or orientation in and / or relative to a container storage subassembly, container handling subassembly, container opening subassembly, container holding subassembly, container disposal subassembly, waste collection subassembly, or a combination thereof Interaction with a feeding assembly may include placement and / or orientation in and / or relative to a hopper, container magazine, jaws, hook, grabbing / retaining feature, cradle, lifting wedge, container display opening, disposal bar, waste receptacle, or a combination thereof. A single correct orientation may increase the accuracy of component interactions while reducing complexity and cost in container design, manufacturing, and / or shipping. Two or more correct orientations may reduce the probability of loading errors by a user. Loading errors may include incorrect orientation such that one or more features of a container intended to interact with one or more components of a feeding assembly are unable to perform their function and / or cooperate together.

[0150] The present teachings may relate to a feeding assembly. The feeding assembly may be any device that includes and dispenses a consumable as taught herein. The feeding assembly may be beneficial in cooperating with the container of the present teachings.[0151 1 The feeding assembly may be useful in presenting food in a container, removing food from a container, or both. The feeding assembly may be useful in retrieving or otherwise accessing a container of food stored therein and providing the contents of the container to be accessible by an animal . The animal may be any domestic animal, A domestic animal may include a dog, cat, pig, rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, ferret, the like, or any combination thereof. In a typical pet-owning household, the domestic animal may include one or more cats, dogs, or both,

[0152] The feeding assembly may include one or more of the following features; a housing, container storage subassembly, container handing subassembly, transport subassembly, container opening subassembly, container holding subassembly, disposal subassembly, waste collection subassembly, feeding area, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0153] The feeding assembly may include a housing. A housing may function to house and / or support various components of the feeding assembly, provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the feeding assembly, or both. A housing may include one or more bases, mid-supports, support plates, top covers, the like, or any combination thereof. A housing may provide for or define a feeding area.

[0154] A housing may provide for a feeding area. A feeding area may be a portion of a housing which presents a container and / or food to an animal such that il is accessible by the animal for consumption. A feeding area may be located at any level of the housing. A feeding area may be provided at the base,mid-support, support plate, top cover, or a combination thereof, A feeding area may be provided adjacent to (e.g., in front of) a base, mid-support, support plate, top cover, or any combination thereof, A feeding area may be defined by a container display opening,

[0155] The feeding assembly may include a container storage subassembly. A container storage assembly may function to have one or a plurality of containers temporarily disposed and stored therein. Disposed may mean stacked vertically, horizontal, radially, mounted to, the like, or any combination thereof. A container storage subassembly may provide for a single stack or a plurality of stacks of containers. A container storage assembly may provide for a single circular array of a plurality of containers or a plurality of circular arrays.

[0156] A container storage assembly may include one or more hoppers. One or more hoppers may be configured to store a plurality of containers therein. The containers may be stacked or otherwise aligned in a column, A hopper may receive the containers directly or receive a container magazine holding a plurality of containers. One or more hoppers may include 1 or more, 2 or more, or even 3 or more hoppers.

[0157] A container storage subassembly may include one or more restraint mechanisms. One or more restraint mechanisms may function to retain one or a plurality of containers within a hopper and / or container magazine; work against gravity; selectively release a container (e.g., when ready to be consented); or any combination thereof One or more restraint mechanisms may be located adjacent to, partially disposed in. in proximity to, and / or the like one or more hoppers. One or more restraint mechanisms may include one or more rollers, drive units, gears, pulleys, and / or the like.

[0158] A container storage assembly may include and / or be configured to removably receive a container magazine. A container magazine may function to store a plurality of containers together as a set, allow for multiple containers to be disposed into the coiiiainer storage assembly In a single loading step, allow fora plurality of containers to be shipped together and then loaded into the container storage assembly together, provide for easy user access for loading containers, or any combination thereof. A container magazine may function as a cartridge to insert a plurality of containers into the feeding assembly.

[0159] The feeding assembly may include a container handling subassembly. A container handling subassembly may function to receive a container from a container store subassembly, retain a container during transport to a feeding area, retain a container in a feeding area, retain a container base during removal of a lid, transport a container for disposal after use, or any combination thereof A container subassembly may be configured to releasably engage one or more containers. A container handling subassembly may be configured to be disposed in or adjacent to a feeding area, A container handling subassembly may be configured to actively retrieve (e.g., grasp) a container, have a container disposed therein, or both. A container handling subassembly may be configured to actively release a container, have a container disposed therefrom, or both, A container handling subassembly may include one or more shuttle assemblies, gripper assemblies, or both. A container handling subassembly may includeone or more cradles, holding supports, bearings, through holes, disposal bars, arms, plates, bases, actuators, the Like, or any combination thereof[016O’| A container handling subassembly may be coupled to a transport subassembly. A container handling subassembly may be affixed to or part of a transport subassembly. A container handling subassembly may be moved between positions via a transport subassembly.[0161 1 A container handling subassembly may be moveable to one or more positions within the feeding assembly. The container handling subassembly may be moveable to various positions to interact with one or more containers and / or other subassemblies. One or more positions may include a loading position, opening position, feeding position, disposing position, resting position, the like, or a combination thereof.[<) 162] The feeding assembly includes a transport subassembly, A transport subassembly may function to cooperate with a container handling subassembly, move a container handling subassembly and / or container among varying positions withing a feeding assembly, or both. A transport subassembly may function to transport a container to a container opening subassembly, feeding area, and / or container disposal subassembly. A transport subassembly may function to move a container handling subassembly to a loading position, opening position, feeding position, disposing position, resting position, the like, or any combination thereof. A transport, subassembly may function to move a container handling subassembly and / or container along one or more axes, one or more linear directions, or both. A transport subassembly may move a container handling subassembly along a single axis, along three dimensions, along two axes, and / or along three axes.101631 The feeding assembly may include a container opening subassembly. A container opening subassembly may function to open a container, to remove a lid, to separate a lid from a container base, to remove or at least partially open a casing, the like, or a combination thereof. A container opening subassembly may be referred to as lid removal subassembly or structure.[0164 | A container opening subassembly may be configured to releasably couple to the lid, apply a pulling force to a lid, and remove a lid from a container base, A container opening subassembly may engage with a l id, peel the lid from the container base as the lid and / or the container base is moved (e.g., via a transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, or both). A container opening subassembly may be configured to move the lid away from the container base while the container base is held static, retain the lid in place while the container base is moved, or move the lid away from the container base while the container base is also simultaneously moved away from the lid.

[0165] A container opening subassembly may include or include components which fenction as an arm, knife, hook, clamp, can opener, vacuum source, jaws, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0166] The feeding assembly may include a container holding subassembly. The container holding subassembly may function to retain a container in a feeding area, present a container lit a feeding area, or both. The container holding subassembly may cooperate with one or more container handling subassemblies, transport subassemblies, portions of the housing, or any combination thereof to preventmovement of a container white in a feeding area, to facilitate presenting of a container in a fceditig area, or both. A container holder subassembly may include or be a lifting wedge, amis, rails, shroud, or combination thereof.10167’| The feeding assembly may include one or more container disposal subassemblies. A container disposal subassembly may urge a used container into a waste collection subassembly, cooperate with a container handling subassembly, cooperate with a transport subassembly, or any combination thereof. A container disposal subassembly may have a configuration which cooperates with a path of movement of a container handling subassembly. A container disposal subassembly may cause disposal of a container (e.g. , used container base) from a container handling subassembly when moving away from a feeding position, at the disposing position, moving toward a resting position, moving toward a loading position, the like, or any combination thereof. A container disposal subassembly may be configured io move out of the way or otherwise not disturb a container in a container handling subassembly white moving toward a feeding position. A container disposal subassembly may be located along a path of movement of a container handling subassembly. A container disposal subassembly may be located on one or both sides of a channel. The one or more container disposal subassemblies may include two opposing disposal subassemblies on each side of a channel. A container disposal subassembly may be configured to retract away from a channel and / or travel path and avoid disturbing a container when a container handling subassembly is traveling toward a feeding position. A container disposal subassembly may be configured to extend into a channel and / or travel path to transfer a biasing force to a container handling subassembly to urge a container to be disposed. A container disposal subassembly may be located above, in proximity to, below, and / or adjacent to one or more waste collection subassemblies. A channel may be the channel in a mid-support, support plate, or both. A container disposal subassembly may include a mount, plunger, spring, ramped surface, levers, and / or the like.

[0168] The feeding assembly may include one or more waste collection subassemblies. A waste collection subassembly may be configured to collect one or more lids, container bases, food, and / or the like; collect one or more lids after removal from a container base; collect one or more container bases after an animal has been given the opportunity to consume therefrom; collect residual waste; the like; or any combination thereof A waste collection subassembly may be easily accessible such that a user may be able to easily access waste contents within the waste collection subassembly for disposal. A waste collection subassembly may include one or more waste receptacles, openings, residual waste collectors, or both. A waste collection subassembly may include one or more waste receptacles, openings, removable lids, seals, trash bags, the like, or any combination thereof. A waste receptacle may be configured to receive lids, container bases, residual waste, or a combination thereof.

[0169] The feeding assembly may include one or more drive units. One or more drive units may be configured to drive movement of one or more components of die feeding assembly. The one or more drive sources may be associated with container storage assembly (c,g., restraint mechanism), a transportsubassembly, a container opening subassembly, a container handling subassembly (e.g,tgrippers), a moveable cover (e.g., covering the container display opening), and / or the like. One or more drive sources may be shared amongst different components or be dedicated drive sources. For example, a dri ve source associated with the transport subassembly may also be associated with a container opening subassembly. A drive unit may also be referred to as an actuator.[01701 The feeding assembly may include one or mare sensing devices. One or more sensing devices may function to sense a presence of one or more containers, obtain one or more parameters of one or more containers and / or container magazines, sense a position of one or more- subassemblies, or any combination thereof. One or more sensing devices may generally function to sense a status of one or more components within the feeding assembly. One or more sensing devices may be in electrical communication with one or more controllers. One or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors, container presence sensors, holder position sensors, weight sensors, the like, or any combination thereof[0171 1 One or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors. One or more identification sensors may function to read and / or communicate with one or more identifiers. One or more identification sensors may be disposed proximate to the container storage subassembly. One or more identification sensors may be disposed such as to have a view of, form a connection with, or both one or more identifiers of one or more containers. One or more identification sensors may function to obtain one or more parameters associated with the container and / or food therein, obtain access to a database or other repository having one or more parameters associated with the container and / or food therein, or both. One or more identification sensors may be any type of transceiver compatible with any identifier disclosed herein, able scan or read an identifier, able to obtain parameters associated with a container or food therein, able to direct a controller as to where to obtain parameters associated with a container or food therein, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more identification sensors may include one or more radio frequency transmitters, barcode readers, QR code readers, nearfield communication transmitters (NFC), image sensors, the like, or any combination, thereof The identification sensor may be an optical sensor (e.g., a UV sensor, a» IR sensor, a CCD camera, a» electrical sensor, etc.). The one or more identification sensors may be compatible with one or more identifiers including a bar code, a QR code, a reflective feature, a scannable optical feature, an IR or UV visible printed feature, raised or recessed features, or an electrical circuit (e.g., a resistive electrical circuit), an NFC chip, an RFID, or any other visual, electric, or electromagnetic indicator.

[0172] The feeding assembly may be in communication with or include one or more power sources, A power source may function to provide power to one or more components of the device . A power source may be any typical power source for consumer products. A power source may be an outlet, direct current, alternating current, the like, or a combination thereof The device may house an adapter for a power source, such as in base of the feeding assembly.101731 The feeding assembly may include one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may function io receive one or more signals, transmit one or more signals, control operations of one or more components of the device, or a combination thereof, The one or more controllers may be configured to control overall operation of the feeding assembly. The one or more controllers may be in communication with one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, other components, or any combination thereof The one or more controllers may be adapted to receive one or more signals irorn the one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, and / or the like. The one or more controllers may be in electrical communication with one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, and / or the like,

[0174] Teachings from US Provisional Application No. 63 / 341,962, filed May 1.3, 2022; and PCT Application Nos.: PCT / US2023 / 066997 and PCT / US2023 / 066998, both filed on May 15, 2023 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.101751 Illustrative Examples

[0176] The following figures and explanations are intended as illustrati ve examples. Features of one example may be combined with features of another example. For example, the height of the flange as shown in FIG, 31 may be combined with the flange(s) as shown in any of FIGS, I to 22, For example, the notches formed in the outermost flange of FIG. 34 may be formed in any of the flange portions of any of FIGS. 1 to 22. For example, the extensions tabs and scoring lines as shown in FIGS, 31 to 33 and FIGS, 39 and 4G may be combined with the flange(s) as shown in FIGS. 1 to 22.

[0177] Features and figures as shown in any of U.S. Provisional Application Nos 63 / 580,529, filed on September 5, 2023: 63 / 599,125, filed on November 15, 2023: 63 / 645.210, filed on May 1ft. .2024; and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2024, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Features as shown in these provisional applications may be combined with any of the illustrated examples.

[0178] FIGS. I to 7 illustrate a container 16 in a closed configuration C. The container 16 includes a lid 54. The 11 d 5'4 is located on a container base 52. The fid 54 covers a food cavity 55. The food cavity 55 is formed in the container base 52. The lid 54 extends over and is protected by a lid access feature 193. The lid access feature 193 is formed as a gap 194. The gap 194 is formed between opposing lobes 195 of the container base 52. The two lobes 195 provide support for and protect the lid 54 while allowing the lid 54 to extend over the gap 194. The lid 54 may have a peripheral shape substantially similar to or dissimilar io the peripheral shape of the container base 52.

[0179] The lid 54 may include one or more lid alignment features 362. One lid alignment feature 362 of the lid may include a peripheral shape 364 of the outside of the lid 54. The lid 54 may have an overall outer size (e.g,, cross-sectional area* width, length) which, is smaller than the outer size (e.g,, cross- sectional area, width, length) of the container base 52,

[0180] Another lid alignment feature 362 of the lid 54 may include one or more depressed areas 368. A depressed area 368 may function to align the lid 54 with a cavity of the base 52. The one or moredepressed areas 368 may include a food cavity depression 370. The food cavity depression 370 may function io align the lid 54 with the container base 52 by partially sitting within the food cavity 55.

[0181] 'Die container base 52 may include one or more lid alignment features 362. One or more alignment features 362 may include one or more alignment projections 366, The alignment projections 366 may be formed as ridges or other projections. The alignment projections 366 may be formed on a rim 76 and / or flange 77 of the container base 52. The alignment projections 366 may be formed at the outer edge of an upper surface of a rim 76 and / or flange 77. The lid 54 may rest within the alignment projections 366. The alignment projections 366 may include a single or a plurality of alignment projections 366. A plurality of alignment projections 366 may be distributed about the rim 76 and / or flange 77. One or more alignment projections 366 may be located at. one or more planar edges, rounded edges, lobes, comers, other contours , and / or the like of the rim 76 and / or flange 77 or the container base 52. The peripheral shape 364 of the lid 54 may rest within the alignment projections 366.[01821 The container 16 may include one or mote lid reinforcing feature 203. The one or more lid reinforcing features 203 may be integrated into the lid 54, The lid reinforcing feature 203 may function to reinforce the lid 54 against damage (e,g. , ripping, premature peeling). The lid reinforcing feature 203 may be located at and / or near the lid access feature 193, biased toward a front of the container 16, biased toward a leading edge of the lid 54 or a combination thereof. The lid reinforcing feature 203 may be located between opposing lobes 195 when the lid 54 is engaged with the container base 52. The lid reinforcing feature 203 may be formed as one or more grooves, one or more bumped areas, one or more thicker sections, and / or the like. For example, the lid reinforcing feature 203 may include one or more grooved depressions formed in the lid 52 such as to be located in the gap 194 between the lobes 195 of the base 52.1’0183} FIG. 8 illustrates a container 16 in an open configuration O. hr the open configuration 16, the food cavity 55 is exposed. In other words, a lid 54 is not covering the food cavity 55. Food F is located within the food cavity 55.

[0184] FIGS. 9 to 18 illustrate a container 16 in an open configuration O. In the open configuration O, the container 16 is free of a lid 54 (not shown) or otherwise the lid 54 is not covering the food cavity 55. The container 16 includes a container base 52. The container base 52 includes a food cavity 55 formed therein. The food cavity 55 is formed by one or more side walls 51 and a bottom wall 53. The bottom wail 53 may have a punt or other curvature formed therein. The bottom wall 53 includes has a two-dimensional shape which is substantially square or rectangular and includes two sides (e.g., at rear and front) which deflect outward. This deflection may provide for a bottom wall having a two- dimensional shape substantially similar to the combination of a lemon and squaoval shape. The opening into the food cavity 55 is defined by a rim 76. The rim 76 is formed at an end of the one or more side walls 51 opposite of the bottom wall 53.

[0185] The rim 76 may include, take the form of, and / or extend into a flange 77, The flange 77 may protrude outward, away from the side wall(s) 51, and / or away from the food cavity 55. The flange 77may include one or more flange portions 78, A flange portion 78 may include an upper surface and / or upper lateral portion 78 a. The upper surface 78a may function to cooperate with the lid 54 (not shown). A flange portion 78 may include a side surface and / or downward projecting portion 78b . The downward projecting portion 78b may be located on an opposite end of the upper surface and / or upper lateral portion 78a as the side wall(s) 51 . A flange portion 78 may include a lower surface, lower lateral portion, and / or outermost flange portion 78c. This outermost flange portion 78c projects outward from the downward projecting portion 76b.(0186] The flange 77 may form the overall outer peripheral shape 191 of the container base 52, container 16, or both. The outermost flange portion 78c may form the overall outer peripheral shape191, The outer peripheral shape 191 may be generally C-shaped, U-shaped, semicircle shaped, semioval shaped, half-pill shaped, half-squaoval shaped, the like, or a combination thereof. The outer peripheral shape 191 may have an inward indentation. This inward indentation may provide for a lid access feature 193. The inward indentation may be formed as a gap 194. The gap 194 may be formed between two lobes 195. The flange 77 may form the two lobes 195.(0187] The rim 76 and / or flange 77 may have a varying width about the periphery of the container base 52. The container 16 includes a plurality of keying features 188. Tire keying features 188 include the overall peripheral shape 191 of' the container base 52 and / or container 16. In other words, one or more flanges 77 and / or flange portions 78 may form or include one or more keying features 188. The overall peripheral shape 191 can be defined as the outmost periphery of the container, such as that formed by the rim 76 and / or flange 77. The food cavity 55 may have a cross-sectional shape differing from or similar to the peripheral shape 191.

[0188] The keying features 188 may include notches 192. The notches 192 are formed hr the rim 76 and / or flange 77. The notches 192 may be formed in all or only some flange portions 78. The notches 192 may be an indentation formed in the peripheral shape 191 adjacent to the lobes 195. The notches 192 may only be formed in the upper surface 78a and downward. projecting portion 78b of the flange 77, The notches 192 may form a narrowed neck in the cross-section or two-dimensional shape of one or more flange portions 78.

[0189] The container base 52 may include one or more lid alignment features 362. The lid alignment features 362 include one or more alignment projections 366.(0190] The container base 52 may include a lid access feature 193. The lid access feature 193 may be formed a gap 194 between two lobes 195. The lid access feature 193 may be an inward contour in the peripheral shape 191 between two lobes 195.(0191 ] The container base 52 includes one or more seal members 198. One or more seal members 198 may be located about the food cavity 55. One or more seal members 198 located about the food cavi ty 55 may be referred to as a first seal member 198a. One or more seal members 198 located about the food cavity 55 may be located on the rim 76 and / or flange 77, One or more seal members 198, such asa first seal member 198a, may be located on the upper surface portion 78a of the flange 77. The seal member 198 located about the food cavity 55 includes two opposing stress rise features 196.10192] One or more seal members 198 includes stress rise features 196. One or more first seal members 198a include one or more stress rise features 196, The stress rise features 196 arc located near where the leading edge 206 and trailing edge 208 of the hd 54 are adjoined to tire container base 52 (leading edge 206 and trailing edge 208 may be as shown hi FIG. 3),[0193 } The seal member 198 includes a first seal member 198a and second seal member 198b. The first seal member 198a is located on the rim 76, such as the upper surface flange portion 78a, The second seal member 198b is located on the flange 77, such as the upper surface flange portion 78a,

[0194] One or more seal members 198 may he located on each side of the lid access feature 193. In other words, seal members 198 may flank the gap 194, One or more seal members 198 may be located at one or more lobes I 95. The seal members I 98 at the lobes I 95 aid in keeping the lid 54 affixed to the container base 52 and located over the gap 194 of the lid access feature 193. The one or more seal members 198 located on either side of the lid access feature 193 and / or the lobes 195 may be referred to as one or more second seal members 198b. The one or more seal members 198 located on either side of the lid access feature 193 may be referred to as tensioning features 197.

[0195] As shown in FIGS . 17 and 18, the volume of food storage of a container 16 is deter mined by the volume of the food cavity 55. For example, the side walls 51 may be increased in height H. to provide for a greater volume.[bl 96] FIGS. 19 and 20 show a top view of a container 16 in a closed configuration C. This view focuses on the lid 54. The lid 54 includes a handling portion 201. As shown in FIG. 19, the handling portion 201 includes a plurality of lid reinforcing features 203. As shown in FIG. 20, the lid 52 may include a hook opening 204, The hook opening 204 may be located in a handling portion 201,

[0197] In FIGS. 19 and 20, the lid 54 includes an identifier 186.[() 198] FIG. 21 is a left side view of container I 6 in a closed configuration C. The container 16 includes a vertical axis VA. The vertical axis VA extends through the container base 52 through the opening defined by the rim 76 and / or flanges 77 (e.g., entry into food cavity 55) and / or the lid 54, A transverse plane TP lies substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis VA, The transverse plane is substantially parallel to a flange plane Fp and or a rim plane RP A flange plane FP is defined by an upper surface of one of the flange portions 78, such as the outermost flange portion 78c, A rim plane RP is defined by an upper surface of the rim 76, such as the upper surface flange portion 78 a,

[0199] FIG. 22 is a top view of a container 16 in a closed configuration C. A longitudinal plane LP extends from the front to the rear of the container 16, A longitudinal plane LP may define a center line CL of the container 16. A frontal plane FRF extends from side to side of the container 16. The frontal plane FRP divides the container 16 from front and -rear.

[0200] As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the container 16 includes a height H, length L, and width W, The height H is measured parallel to a vertical axis VA. The height H is measured from a top to the bottomof the container 16. The length L is measured from front io rear. The length L is measured parallel to a longitudinal plane UP. The width W is measured side to side. The width W is measured parallel to a frontal plane FRP. The container base 52. includes a height Hl , length LI , and width W 1. The length LI and the width Wl of the container base 52 define the height H and length L of the container 16 overall. The lid 54 includes a length L2 and width W2. The lid 54 is smaller than the container base 52 such that the length L2 and width W2 of the lid are smaller than the length LI and the width Wl of the container base 52.102011 FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10, container storage subassembly 12, waste collection subassembly 14. The feeding assembly 1 presents a container 16 in an open configuration O. The housing 1.0 includes a base 1.8, mid-support 28, support plate 20, and top cover 22. The base 18 houses the waste collection subassembly 14. The support plate 20 includes a feeding area 32. The support plate 20 includes a container display opening 24. About the container display opening 24 and atop the support plate 20 is a guard 26.[02021 FIG. 24 illustrates a method of refilling a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is refilled with a plurality of containers 16. The plurality of containers 16 are each in a closed configuration C. The plurality of containers 16 are held together by a container magazine 40. The plurality of containers 16 are stacked together within the container magazine 40, The container magazine is inserted into a container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in a top cover 22. The container refill opening 34 provides access to a container storage subassembly 12, It is also feasible the container magazine 40 is the container storage subassembly 12. For example, the container storage subassembly 12 may be fully removable from the feeding assembly 1 for locating the containers 16 therein.

[0203] FIG. 25 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is filled with a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed configuration C. The containers 16 are held in place within a hopper 48. in proximity to the hopper 48 may be an identification sensor 138. The containers 16 are held in place by a restraint mechanism 50 (not shown). In proximity to the container storage subassembly 12 is a container handling subassembly 42, The container handling subassembly 42 is shown in a loading position LP. In the loading position UP, the container handling subassembly 42 may be aligned with the container storage subassembly 12. Alignment may allow for a container 16 to be transferred from the container storage subassembly 12 to the container handling subassembly 42, [0204| FIG. 26 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly 1 . The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is filled with a plurality of containers 16> The containers 16 are in a closed configuration C. A container handling subassembly 42 is adjacent to the container storage subassembly 12 and in the loading position LR The container handling subassembly 42 is aligned with a hopper 48. A restraint mechanistn 50 (not shown) may urge a container 16 into the container handling subassembly 42,1'0205] FIG. 27 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly 1 . A container handling subassembly 42 moves from a loading position LP to an opening position OP. The container handling subassembly 42 moves from the container storage subassembly 12. toward a feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 moves a container 16 which is in a closed configuration C from the container storage subassembly 12 toward a container opening subassembly 46 The container opening subassembly 46 engages with a lid 54, In this example, the container opening subassembly 46 pinches the lid 54. The container opening subassembly 46 is configured to grasp onto the lid 54 at a leading edge 206 (not shown) and / or handling portion 201 (not shown). The container opening subassembly 46 configured to access the lid 54 via the lid engagement feature 193 (not shown) winch is configured as the gap 194 (not shown). As the container handling subassembly 42 continues to move toward the feeding area 32, the container opening subassembly 46 continues to retain a portion of the lid 54. By maintaining a portion of the lid 54 as subs tantially static, or even moving upwards and / or away from the feeding area 32 (e.g., rearwards), while a container base 52 continues to move to a feeding area 32, the lid 54 is removed from the container base 52.(0206] FIG. 28 is a cross-section of a feeding assembly 1. A container handling subassembly 42 is located within, below; and / or adjacent to a feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 is in a feeding position FP. The container handling subassembly 42 includes a container 16 therein. The container 16 is in an open configuration O. The lid 54 has been previously removed. The lid 54 is located within a waste collection subassembly 14. The lid 54 is within a waste receptacle 36 of the waste collection subassembly 14. The container handling subassembly 42 moves horizontally and / or vertically up into the feeding area 32. The upward motion may result in the container 16 being moved up into a container display opening 24.{0207 ] FIGS. 29 and 30 are a cross-section of a feeding assembly 1 . A container handling subassembly 42 is moved toward a trash subassembly 56, The trash subassembly 56 cooperates with die container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly is in a disposing position DP. Interaction between the trash subassembly 56 and the container handling subassembly 42 urges a container 16 into a waste collection subassembly 14. The container 16 (alls into a waste receptacle 36. After the container 16 is disposed into the waste collection subassembly 14, the container handling subassembly 42 rests in a resting position RP The container handling subassembly 42 may wait in this position until a subsequent container 16 from the container storage subassembly 12 is ready to be dispensed and presented to an animal for consumption .

[0208] FIGS. 31 to 33 illustrate a container 16 in an closed configuration O but without the lid 54 shown. The container 16 includes a container base 52 which retains food F therein, The food F is located within a food cavity 55 of the container base 52. The food cavity 55 is formed by side walls 51 and a bottom wail 53. The bottom wall 53 may have a punt or other curvature formed therein. The volume of food storage, of a container 16 is detenniiied by the volume of the food cavity 55. For example, the side walls 51 may be increased in height to provide for a greater volume, such as shown in FIG. 33 ascompared to FIG. 31, The opening into the food cavity 55 is defined by a rim 76. The rim 76 is formed on the side walls 51 opposite of the bottom wall S3. The rim 76 forms a portion of a flange. 77. The flange 77 includes a plurality of portions 78. The flange 77 includes a top surface and / or lateral portion 78a. The flange 77 includes a downward projecting portion 78b. Extending from the downward projecting flange portion 78b is an outermost flange portion 78c. The container 16 includes a plurality of keying features 188. The keying features 188 include the overall peripheral shape 191 of the container 16. The o verall peripheral shape 191 can be defined as the outmost periphery of the container, such as that from the rim 76 and / or flange 77, The keying features 188 include notches 192, The notches 192. arc formed in the flange 77, The container base 52 includes an extension tab 202. The extension tab 202. forms a lid reinforcing feature 203. The extension tab 20:2 includes a hook opening 204. The extension tab 202 is continuous with the flange 77, specifically the top surface and / or lateral portion 78a. The extension tab 202 is able to be separated from the flange 77 via a scoring line 210. The extension tab 202 may include a hook opening 204. The extension tab 202 may be part of or define a handling portion 201.(0209] FIGS. 34 to 37 illustrate a container 16 in an open configuration O. In the open configuration O, the container 16 is free of a lid 54 (not shown). The container 16 i nchides a container base 52 which retains food F (not shown) therein, The food F is located within a food cavity 55 of the container base 52. The food cavity 55 is formed by side walls 51 and a botom wall 53. The botom wall 53 may have a punt or other curvature formed therein. The volume of food storage of a container 16 is determined by the volume of the food cavity 55. For example, the side walls 51 may be increased in height H to provide for a greater volume, such as shown FIG. 36 and 37. The opening into the food cavity 55 is defined by a rim 76. The rim 76 is formed on the side walls 51 opposite of the bottom wall 53. The rim 76 forms part of a flange 77. The flange 77 inchides a plurality of Hauge portions 78. The flange 77 includes an upper surface and / or lateral portion 78a. The flange 77 Includes a downward projecting portion 78b. The flange 77 includes an outermost flange portion 78c. The container 16 includes a plurality of keying features 188, The keying features 188 include the overall peripheral shape 191 of the container 16. The overall peripheral shape 191 can he defined as the outmost periphery of the container, such as that from the rim 76 and / or flange 77. The keying features 188 include notches 192. The notches 192 are formed in the flange 77. The container base 52 may include a lid access feature 193. The lid access feature 193 may be formed as an inward depression in the rim 76 and / or flange 77, side wall(s) 51, or both. The lid access feature 193 may be an inward contour from the peripheral shape 191.10210] FIG. 38 illustrates a container 16 in a closed configuration C A lid 54 is located on the container base 52 such as to cover the food cavity 55. The lid 54 extends over the lid access feature 193. The lid access feature 193 is formed as an inward depression in the outside periphery. In other words, the overall periphery of the container base may have a rounded comer rectangular shape with an arcuate wail (e.g., inwardly curved and / or having projecting lobes 195). The contour also forms two lobes 195 adjacent tothe lid access feature 193. The two lobes provide support for the lid. 54 as it extends over the lid access feature 193. The lid 154 may include an identifier 186 thereon.[021 1'| FIG. 39 and 40 illustrate a container 16 in a closed configuration C without the lid 54 shown. The container base 52 includes a food cavity 55, The food cavity 55 is defined by one or more side walls 51 and a bottom wail 53. Opposite the botom wall, the container base 52 includes a rim 76. The rim 76 forms part of a flange 77. The flange 77 includes a plurality of flange portions 78. The flange 77 includes includes as upper surface and / or lateral portion 78a, a downward projecting portion 78b, and an outermost flange portion 78c. The container base 52 includes keying features 188, The keying features 188 may be defined as the overall peripheral shape 191 (e.g., 2-dimensional plan shape and / or cross-section) of a rim 76 and / or flange 77. The keying features 188 may include one or more notches 192 formed in the rim 76 and / or the flange 77, The container base .52 includes a lid access feature 193. The lid access feature 193 is formed in the flange 77, The lid access feature 193 includes an extension tab 202. The lid access feature 193 may also be referred to as a lid reinforcing feature 203. The container base 52 may include a scoring line 210, The scoring line 2.10 is located between the extension tab 202 and the remainer of the container base 52. The scoring line 210 is formed in the flange 77.[0212 j Unless otherwise stated, any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component, a property, or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that intermediate range values such as (for example, 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51 , 30 to 32 etc.) are within the teachings of this specification. Likewise, individual intermediate values are also within the present teachings. For values which arc less than one, one unit is considered to be 0,0001 , 0.001 , 0,01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

[0213] Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately'’ in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of? at least the specified endpoints,(0214] The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about + / - 10° or less, about. fr / ~ 5” or less, or even about + / - 1° or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about %- 0,0 P or greater, about. %- o»leor greater, or even about + / - 0,5*’ or greater. The terms “generally” or substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about •+- / • 10% or less, about • / / - 5%orJess,or even ab<xrt + / - 1% or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about %- 0.01 % or greater, about + / - 0.1 % or greater, or even about + / - 0.5% or greater.1'02151 The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of’ to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients? components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms '‘comprising’’ or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of or even consist of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.[0216| It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applieations besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon -reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of ail articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part' of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:Claim 1 . A container suitable for storing a consumable therein, the container comprising: a) a container base including: i) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the consumable therein; ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature; b) a lid removably affixed to the container base, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which is located over the lid access feature such that a bottom surface of the l id is exposed from die one or more flanges of the container base and die leading edge of the lid is accessible.Claim 2. The container of Claim 1, wherein the leading edge is an edge of the lid which is configured to be peeled or otherwise removed from the container first; and wherein the lid includes a trailing edge opposite of the leading edge.Claim 3. The container of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the container inchides one or more seal members which removably adhere the ltd to the container base.Claim 4, The container of Claim 3, wherein the one or more seal members include one or more first seal members, second seal members, or both.Claim 5. The container of Claim 4, wherein the one or more first sea l members are located abou t the food cavity mid located on an upper surface flange portion of the one or more flanges.Claim 6, The container of Claim 4 or 5. wherein the one or more first seal members have a shape substantially reciprocal with a food cavity, the flange of the container base, or a combination thereof.Claim 7. The container of any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the one or more first seal members include one or more stress rise features.Claim 8. The container of Claim 7, wherein the one or more stress rise features allow for a lesser pulling force to initiate peeling of the lid off the container base and / or finalize peeling of die lid from the container base than without the presence of the one or more stress rise features.Claim 9. The. container of Claims 7 or 8, wherein the one or more stress rise features are one or more concentrated and / or tapered points of the seal member.Claim 10. The container of any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the one or more stress rise features are one or more sharp edges (e.g., vertices) at opposing axial ends of a seal member.C laim 11 . The container of any of Claims 7 to 10, wherein t he one or more stress rise features are located adjacent to and / or at the leading edge, a trailing edge, or both of the lid.Claim 12, The container of Claim 1 l„ wherein the one or more stress rise features come to a concentrated and / or a tapered point of the one or more first seal members at or adjacent to the leading edge, the tailing edge, or both of the lid.Claim 13, The container of any of Claims 7 to 12, wherein the one or more first seal members include two or more stress rise features which oppose one another.Claim 14. The container of Claim 13, wherein the two or more stress rise features include a first stress rise feature at or in proximity to the leading edge opposite a second stress rise feature at or in proximity to the trailing edgeClaim 15. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the trailing edge is configured to be an edge of the ltd which is peeled last, remains affixed to the container base, or both.Claim 16. The container of any of Claims 4 to 15, where in the one or more first seal members has a cross-sectional or plan shape which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, polygonal (c.g., hexagonal), with an arcuate side, having one or more inwardly curved sides, having one or more outwardly curved sides, lemon-shaped, diamondshaped, rectangular with one or more projecting lobes, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 17. The container of Claim 16, wherein the one or more first seal members has the cross- sectional or plan shape which is substantially square, squaoval, rectangular, lemon-shaped, diamondshaped, or a combination thereof.Claim 13. The container of Claim 17, wherein the one more first seal members has the cross- sectional or plan shape which is a combination of substantially square, squaoval, and / or rectangular with lemon-shaped.Claim 19. The container of any of Claims 4 to 18, wherein the one or more second seal members are located on an upper surface portion of the one or more flanges and in proximity to the lid access feature.Claim 20. The container of Claim 19, wherein the one or more second seal members include two or more seal members which flank the lid access feature such as to removably affix the lid to the container base on opposite sides of the lid access feature.Claim 21. The container of Claim 19 or 20. wherein the one or more second seal members are located on one or more lobes of the container base.Claim 22, The container of any of Claims 19 to 21 , wherein the one or more second seal members are one or more tensioning features which apply tension to the lid across the lid access feature.Claim 23, The container of any of Claims 3 to 22, wherein the one or more seal members is an adhesive separate from the lid and the container base, a formed joint (e.g., weld joint) between the lid anti the container base, or both.Claim 24, The container of any of Claims 4 to 23, wherein one or more second seal members include a heat seal dot, spot weld, adhesive, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 25, The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more flanges form one or more keying features configured to provide for one or more orientations of the container.Claim 26. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more flanges project substantially laterally away from the one or mote side walls.Claim 27. The container of Claim 26, wherein the one or more flanges project from a rim formed by the one or more side walls about the food cavity.Claim 28. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more flanges include one or more flange portions.Claim 29 The container of Claim 28, wherein the one or more flanges include a plurality of flange portions.Claim 30. The container of Claims 28 or 29, wherein the one or more flanges include one or more upper surface (e.g.supper lateral) flange portions, downward projecting flange portions, outermost flange portions (c.g., lower surface, lower lateral), the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 31 . The container of Claim 30, wherein the one or more upper surface flange portions include and extend from the rim of the one or more side walls.Claim 32. The container of Claims 30 or 31, wherein the one or more upper surface flange portions extend laterally way from the one or more side walls, arc substantially perpendicular to a vertical axis of the container, or both.Claim 33. The container of any of Claims 30 to 32, wherein the one or more downward projecting flange portions extend generally downward, opposite an entry opening of the food cavity, or both.Claim 34. The container of Claim 33, wherein the one or more downward projecting flange portions are substantially parallel or at an offset angle relative to the vertical axis of the container.Claim 35. The container of Claims 33 or 34, wherein die one or more downward projecting flange portions adjoin the one or more upper surface flange portions.Claim 36, The container of any of Claims 30 to 35. wherein the one or more downward projecting flange portions extend partially or completely down to a bottom of the container.Claim 37. The container of any of Claims 33 io 36, wherein the one or more downward projecting flange portions extend downward about 5% to about 100% of a total height of the container base.Claim 38. The container of Claim 37, wherein the one or more downward projecting flange portions extend downward about 5% to about 30% of a total height of die container base.Claim 39. The container of any of Claims 30 to 38, wherein the one or more outermost flange portions extend laterally away from one or more side walls, are substantially perpendicular to a vertical axis of the container, or both.Claim 40. The container of any of Claims 30 to 39, wherein the one or more outermost. flange portions form an outermost periphery of the container base.Claim 41 . The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more flanges have a cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially similar or different to a cross- sectional or two-dimensional plan shape of the food cavity.Claim 42. The container of Claim 41 , wherein the one or more flanges have a cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially different to the cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape of the food cavity.Claim 43, The container of Claim 41 or 42, wherein the cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape refers to the outer peripheral shape of the one or more flanges.Claim 44. The container of any of Claims 29 to 43, wherein the one or flange portions have a cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, semicircular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped, with an arcuate side, having one or more inwardly curved sides, having one or more outwardly curved sides, having an indented side, lemon-shaped, diamond-shaped, having one or more lobes, have a narrowed neck, the like, or a combination thereofClaim 45. The container of Claim 44, wherein the one or more flange portions have a cross- sectional or two-dimensional plan shape similar to or different from one or more other flange portions.Claim 46. The container of Claim 45, wherein the one or more flange portions have the cross- sectional or two-dimetisional plan shape different from the one or more other flange portions.Claim 47. The container of Claim 44 to 46, wherein an upper surface flange portion, a downward projecting flange portion, or both have the cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially half-pill shaped with an indented side opposite a curved surface such as to form two opposing lobes.Claim 48. The container of Claim 47, wherein the upper surface flange portion, die downward projecting flange portion, or both have the cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which includes a narrowed neck such as to form two notches to define the two opposing lobes.Claim 49. The container of any of claims 43 to 49, wherein the upper surface flange portion, the downward projecting flange portion, or the combination of both form or have the cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which resembles a mouse-headed shape.Claim 50. The container of any of Claims47 to 49, wherein a gap formed between the two opposing lobes forms the lid access feature.Claim 51. The container of any of Claims 43 to 50, wherein an outermost flange portion has the cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially half-pill shaped with an indented side opposite a curved surface such as to form two opposing lobes.Claim 52. The container of any of Claims 43 to 51 , wherein the outermost flange portion forms an outermost periphery of the container base.Claim 53. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container base includes one or more lid alignment features.Claim 54. The container of Claim 53, wherein the one or more lid alignment features are configured to align the ltd to the container base so that edges of the lid ate contained within the container base.Claim 55. The container of Claim 53 or 54, wherein the one or more lid alignment features include one or more alignment projections.Claim 56, The container of Claim 55, wherein the one or .more alignment projections are formed in and / or extend from the one or more flanges opposite the food cavity, away from an upper surface flange portion, or both.Claim 57. The container of Claim 55 or 56, wherein the one or more alignment projections are formed in and / or extend from one or more upper surface flange portions, downward projecting flange portions, or both.Claim 58. The container of any of Claims 55 to 57, wherein the one or more alignment projections are formed about only portions of the one or more flanges or about the entirely of the one or more flanges.Claim 59. The container of Claim 58, wherein the one or more alignment projections include a plurality of alignment projections distributed about the one or more flanges.Claim 60. The container of Claim 59, wherein the plurality of alignment projections include about three to about twenty alignment projections.Claim 61. The. container of Ciaim 59 or 6ft, wherein the plurality of alignment projections are located at one or more lobes, a rear, a front, one or more sides, or a combination thereof of the container base.Claim 62. The container of Claim 61 , wherein the plurality of alignment projections are located at two or more lobes, the rear, and two opposing sides of the container base.Claim 63. The container of any of Claims 55 to 62, wherein the one or mom alignment projections form one or more lips, ridges, tabs, fingers, and / or the like about a periphery of the one or more flanges.Claim 64. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more side walls taper away from the bottom wail such that a width of the food cavity toward the botom wall is narrower than a width of the food cavity toward a rim.Claim 65. The container of Claim 64, wherein the one or more side walls are angled related to the bottom wall such that they form an angle which is perpendicular or obtuse of the botom wall.Claim 66. The container of Claim 65, wherein the angle is about 90 degrees or greater to about 150 degrees or less.Claim 67. The container of Claim 66, wherein the angle is about 95 degrees or greater to about 120 degrees or less.Claim 68. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein a height of the container base is determined as a distance from a bottom wail to a rim of one or more side walls, a lid, or both.Claim 69, The container of Claim 68, wherein the height of the container base is about 1 cm or grea ter to about I ft cm or less.Claim 70, The container of Claim 69, wherein the height of the container base is about 2 cm or greater to about 7 cm or less.Claim 71. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein there is a radius of curvature where one or more side walls join a bottom wall.Claim 72. The container of Claim 71 , wherein the radius of curvature is about 1,5 mm or greater to about 20 mm or less.Claim 73, The container of Claim 72, wherein the radius of curvature is about 5 mm or greater io about 15 mm or less.Claim 74. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the food cavity, the one or more side walls, the botom wall, or a combination thereof has a cross-sectional or plan shape which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, with an arcuate side, having one or more inwardly curved sides, having one or more outwardly curved sides, lemon-shaped, diamond-shaped, rectangular with one or more projecting lobes, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 75. The container of Claim 74, wherein the food cavity, the one or more side walls, the bottom wall, or a. combination thereof has the cross-sectional of plan shape which is substantially square, squaoval, rectangular, lemon*- shaped, diamond-shaped, or a combination thereof.Claim 76. The container of Claims 74 or 75, wherein the food cavity, the one or more side walls, the bottom wall, or a combination thereof has the cross-sectional or plan shape which is a combination of substantially square, squaoval, and / or rectangular with lemon-shaped.Claim 77. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein a punt is formed in the bottom wall of the container base.Claim 78. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container base is comprised of one or more food grade materials (e.g . food-grade plastics),Claim 79, The container of Claim 78, wherein the container base is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HOPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 80. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein t he lid is shaped to he reciprocal with, similar to. dissimilar to, and / or fully cover the food cavity of a container base.Claim 81, The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid does not extend beyond a majority or all of the one or more flanges of a container.Claim 82, The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid has a cross-sectional or plan shape reciprocal with, similar to, and / or dissimilar to that of the one or more seal members, the food cavity, the bottom wall, the one or more side wails, a rim, one or more flanges, one or more flange portions, or a combination thereof.Claim 83. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid has a cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, squaoval, rectangular, semiciicular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped, with an arcuate side, having one or more inwardly curved sides, having one or more outwardly curved sides, having an indented side, lemon-shaped, diamond-shaped, having one or more lobes, have a narrowed neck, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 84. The container of Claim 83, wherein the lid has a cross-sectional or two-dimensional plan shape which is substantially square, squaoval, rectangular, semicircular, semi ovular, half pillshaped, the like, or a combination thereofClaim 85. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the hd Includes a handling portion.Claim 86. The container of Claim 85, wherein the handling portion is configured to cooperate with an automated feeding assembly for automated.peeling of rhe lid away from the container base.Claim 87. The container of Claim 85 or 86, wherein the handling portion is biased toward and / or at the leading edge of the lid.Claim 88. The container of any of Claims 85 to 87, wherein the handling portion includes one or more lid reinforcing features, hook openings, or both.Claim 89. The container of Claim 88, wherein the one or more lid reinforcing features include one or more grooves, one or more bumped areas, one or more thicker sections, and / or the like.Claim 90. The container of Claim 88 or 89, wherein the one or more lid reinforcing features have a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the leading edge of the lid.Claim 91. The container of any of Claims 88 to 90, wherein the one or more lid reinforcing features are located on the lid such as to be located over and'or within one or more lid access features of the container base.Claim 9.

2. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid includes one or more lid alignment features.Claim 93. The container of Claim 92, wherein the one or more lid alignment features are configured to align the lid with the container base.Claim 94, The container of Claim 92 or 93, wherein the one or more lid alignment features include one or more depressed areas.Claim 95. The container of Claim 94, wherein die one or more depressed areas are configured to align and rest within one or more cavities of the container base.Claim 96. The container of Claim 95, wherein the one or more depressed areas include a food cavity depressed configured to align and rest within the food cavity of the container base.Claim 97. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is free of any symmetry, is symmetrical only about one plane of symmetry, or is symmetrical about two or more planes of symmetry.Claim 98. The container of Claim 97, wherein the container is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane which extends through the leading edge of the lid to a. trailing edge of the lid and intersects both the lid and the container base.Claim 99, The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes one or more identifiers which are configured to identify ene or more parameters related to the container, the food, or both.Claim 100. The container of Claim 99, wherein the identifier includes one or more visual identifiers, signal identifiers, or both.Claim 101. The container of Claim 100, wherein the one or more visual identifiers may include one or more quick response (“QR”) codes, bar codes, colored pattern, textures, surface reflectivity patterns, the like, or a combination thereof; andwherein the one or more signal identifiers include one or more radio frequency identification tags (“RFID”), near-field communication (“NFC”) tags, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 102, The container of any of Claims 99 to 101 , wherein the one or more parameters include compatibility with a feeding assembly, a type of food in the container, a volume of food in the container, nutritional values associated with the food in the container, a brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, a production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, an amount of time food may be unsealed and exposed, to ambient temperatures before beginning to spoil, the like, or any combination thereof; and / or wherein the one or more parameters include one or more instructions to access one or more databases to retrieve information about the container or the food.Claim 101 The container of any of Claims 99 to 102, wherein the one or more identifiers are located on and / or in the lid, the container base, or both.Claim 104. The container of any of Claims 99 to 103, wherein the one or more identifiers are located on and / or in an exterior surface of the lid (e.g., an upper surface); a rim, a flange, a base wall, and / or one or more side walls of the container base; or a combination thereofClaim 106. The container of any of the preceding claims, wherein the consumable is a food, a liquid, and / or a medicine.Claim 107. The container of Claim 106, wherein the consumable is a consumable for an animal.Claim 108. The container of Claims 106 or 107, wherein the consumble is the food and the food is a wet food, a dry food, or both.Claim 109. A container suitable for storing a consumable therein, the container comprising; a) a container base including: i) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the food therein;:ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature, wherein the one or more flanges form an outermost periphery of the container base, and wherein the cross-sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the one or more flanges is different from a cross- sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the food ca vity; iii) one or more lid alignment features formed in the one or more flanges;b) a lid removably affixed to the container base, wherein the lid includes: i) a handling portion which is located over the lid access feature such that a bottom surface of the fid is exposed from the one or more flanges of the container base and the leading edge of the lid is accessible.Claim 110. The container of Claim 109 including any of the features of any of Claims 2 to 108.Claim 111. A container suitable for storing a food for an animal therein, the container comprising: a) a container base including: i) one or more side walls and one or more bottom walls which define a food cavity configured to retain the food therein; ii) one or more flanges extending from the one or more side walls, wherein the one or more flanges include a lid access feature, wherein the one or more flanges form an outermost periphery of the container base, and wherein the cross-sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the one or more flanges is different from a cross- sectional shape or two-dimensional plan shape of the food cavity; iii) one or more lid alignment features formed as one or more alignment projections extending upward and away froin the one Or more flanges; b) a lid removably affixed to the container base and within the one or more lid alignment features, wherein the lid inchides: i) a handling portion which is located over the lid access feature such that a bottom surface of the lid is exposed from the one or more flanges of the container base and the leading edge of the lid is accessible; wherein the one or more flanges have an outermost peripheral shape with a cross-sectional or plan shape which is substantially semicircular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped or a combination thereof and having an indented side, having one or more lobes, having a narrowed neck, or a combination thereof; and wherein the lid has a cross-sectional or plan shape which is substantially semicircular, semi ovular, half pill-shaped, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 112 The container of Claim i l l including any of the features of any of Claims 2 to 108.

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