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

摘要

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

主权项

1. A food container comprising:
a first food container bottom portion and a second food container top portion; an integral hinge mechanism, said integral hinge mechanism connecting said first food container bottom portion to said second food container top portion; said first food container bottom portion having a food cavity section; full perimeter seal, said first food container bottom having a first perimeter seal configuration, said second food container top having a second perimeter seal configuration, whereby said first perimeter seal configuration is designed to removable engage said second perimeter seal configuration resulting in a full perimeter seal, said full perimeter seal functions to removably seal said food cavity section; one or more latching mechanisms, said one or more latching mechanisms designed removably engage said first food container bottom portion to said second food container top portion; one or more first ear tabs extending from said bottom container bottom portion, said one or more ear tabs off-set to facilitate separation when said one or more latching mechanisms removably engage said first food container bottom portion to said second food container top portion; a plurality of supportive structural ribbed sections incorporated on said bottom portion, said supportive structural ribbed sections function to provide rigidity and strength to said bottom portion; and one or more supportive structural full perimeter supportive structural ribbed sections incorporated on said top portion; one or more supportive structural full perimeter supportive structural ribbed sections function to provide rigidity and strength to said top portion.