Food container with interchangeable lid - base seal design

摘要

There is provided a container having both male and female sealing regions disposed about its periphery in a pattern making it possible to seal a container with another container having substantially identical sealing regions. The male sealing regions used in the practice of the present invention may take the form of a U-shaped ridge which is undercut along at least one leg of the U. Typically, a container will be thermoformed from lightweight thermoplastic material giving the U-shaped ridge considerable flexibility. The female sealing regions used in the practice of the invention may take the form of an undercut channel adapted to receive and match the undercut U-shaped ridges found in the male portion of the container wherein the walls and base of the channel are sufficiently flexible that the undercut portions of the U-shaped ridge are urged into engagement with the undercut portions of the channel and the crest of the ridge is urged into the channel. Preferably, both a medial portion of the crest of the U-shaped ridge and a mating medial portion of the bottom of the corresponding channel are substantially mating so that as the undercut portions of the channel and the undercut portions of the U-shaped ridge are urged into engagement, substantial surface to surface contact between the mating portions of the crest of the U-shaped ridge and the bottom of the channel will form an additional seal. In one particularly preferred mode of practicing the invention an enclosed container having identical top and bottom portions is provided with circumferential interlocks about the portions of the rim transitioning between male and female portions.