Heat sealed food container

Claim 2

A food package comprising a tray member of rigid, heat sealable plastic, said tray including side walls, each of said walls having a narrow surrounding flange portion, the upper surfaces of said flange portions being disposed in co-planar alignment, said flanges defining a continuous frame, a flap member integrally formed with one of said flanges between the ends thereof, the length of said flap being less than the length of said one of said flanges, said flap and flange being separated by a line of perforations defining a hinge, the side marginal edges of said flap, when the latter is bent 180* with respect to said one flange, being in overlapping relation to the side flanges adjacent said one flange, a transparent heat sealable cover sheet of a size adapted to register with said frame secured to the surface of said flap which is uppermost in the unhinged position along a continuous connection line interposed between said hinge line and the free end of said flap, said flap being bent 180* into registry with said one flange, and a continuous Ushaped, co-planar heat seal connection line formed between said cover sheet and said flange portions, said connection beginning adjacent one said side marginal edge of said flap and terminating adjacent the other said side marginal edge.

Claim 3

As a new article of manufacture, a package adapted to be filled with food and thereafter sealed by a continuous U-shaped heat seal formed in a single plane, said article comprising a tray member of rigid heat sealable plastic, said tray member including a rectangular mouth portion surrounded by two side flanges and two end flanges, said flanges together defining a continuous, outwardly extending rectangular frame, the uppermost surface of said frame being disposed in a common plane, an integral flap member extending outwardly from one of said end flanges, said flap member being hingedly connected to said end flange along a weakened fold line of connection located substantially in alignment with the outermost marginal edge of said end flange, said flap member being of lesser longitudinal extent than said end flange, the side marginal edges of said flap being aligned with a central portion of the side flanges surrounding said end flange, a transparent cover sheet of a size adapted to register with said frame, said cover sheeT being adhesively secured to the upper surface of said flap along a narrow attachment line extending the length of said flap and interposed between said line of connection and the longitudinal free marginal edge of said flap, whereby when said flap is folded over into registry with said end flange, said container may be sealed by a continuous, planar, U-shaped heat seal connection between said cover sheet and said flanges, said seal beginning adjacent the side marginal edges of said flap and extending the length of said side and other end flanges.

Claim 4

As a new article of manufacture, a package adapted to be filled with food and thereafter sealed by a continuous U-shaped heat seal formed in a single plane, said article comprising a tray member of rigid heat sealable plastic, said tray member including a rectangular mouth portion surrounded by two side flanges and two end flanges, said flanges together defining a continuous, outwardly extending rectangular frame, the uppermost surface of said frame being disposed in a common plane, an integral flap member extending outwardly from one of said end flanges, said flap member being hingedly connected to said end flange along a weakened fold line of connection located substantially in alignment with the outermost marginal edge of said end flange, said flap member being of lesser longitudinal extent than said end flange, the side marginal edges of said flap being aligned with a central portion of the side flanges surrounding said end flange, a transparent cover sheet of a size adapted to register with said frame, said cover sheeT being adhesively secured to the upper surface of said flap along a narrow attachment line extending the length of said flap and interposed between said line of connection and the longitudinal free marginal edge of said flap, whereby when said flap is folded over into registry with said end flange, said container may be sealed by a continuous, planar, U-shaped heat seal connection between said cover sheet and said flanges, said seal beginning adjacent the side marginal edges of said flap and extending the length of said side and other end flanges.

Claim 5

A nested stack of packages in accordance with claim 2 wherein said flaps in said stack are disposed in registering relation with each other.