Microwavable container with sleeve

1. A food package kit comprising:

a first tray including:

a bottom;

a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, the sidewall comprising a base section extending upwardly from the bottom, an intermediate section extending upwardly from the base section, and an upper section extending upwardly from the intermediate section, wherein the upper section includes structure defining a collar extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section, and a stacking wall extending upwardly from the collar and terminating at the top end of the sidewall, such that the upper section is adapted to inhibit a second tray from entirely nesting within the first tray thereby allowing easy disassembly of the second tray from the first tray;

a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including

a rim section configured to receive a sealing film,

a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle, and

an outwardly extending catch member disposed between the handles on each of the lateral edges; and

a sealing film adapted to be attached to the rim section; and

a sleeve adapted to contain the first tray completely therein, the sleeve including a sleeve top a first depending sleeve side, a second depending sleeve side and a sleeve bottom, wherein the first tray is disposed within the sleeve by frictional force between the first tray and the sleeve.

2. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a flap for securing the sleeve base to the first depending sleeve side.

3. The kit of claim 2 , further comprising a second tray including;

a bottom;

a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, the sidewall comprising a base section extending upwardly from the bottom, an intermediate section extending upwardly from the base section, and an upper section extending upwardly from the intermediate section, wherein the upper section includes structure defining a collar extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section, and a stacking wall extending upwardly from the collar and terminating at the top end of the sidewall, wherein the collar of the second tray is adapted to be received and supported on the flange of the first tray upon stacking of the first tray and the second tray;

a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including

a rim section configured to receive a sealing film,

a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle, and

a catch member disposed on each of the lateral edges, between the handles; and

a sealing film adapted to be attached to the rim section;

wherein the second tray is located atop the first tray and completely disposed within the sleeve by frictional force between the first tray and the sleeve.

4. The kit of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve top comprises a tab to facilitate removal of the first tray from the sleeve.

5. The kit of claim 4 , wherein the tab is located in the same plane as the sleeve top when the kit is in an unopened position.

6. The kit of claim 5 , wherein the tab is located outside the plane of the sleeve top when the kit is in an opened position.

7. The kit of claim 4 , wherein the tab is formed by mechanical scoring techniques.

8. The kit of claim 4 , wherein the tab is formed by laser scoring techniques.

9. The kit of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve top further includes a plurality of perforation lines extending from the tab to an edge of the sleeve top.

10. The kit of claim 4 , wherein the tab includes a generally half-circular configuration.

11. A food package kit comprising:

a first tray including;

a bottom;

a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, the sidewall comprising a base section extending upwardly from the bottom, an intermediate section extending upwardly from the base section, and an upper section extending upwardly from the intermediate section, wherein the upper section includes structure defining a collar extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section, and a stacking wall extending upwardly from the collar and terminating at the top end of the sidewall, such that the upper section is adapted to inhibit a second tray from entirely nesting within the first tray upon stacking thereby allowing easy disassembly of the second tray from the first tray;

a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including

a rim section configured to receive a sealing film,

a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle, and

an outwardly extending catch member disposed between the handles on each of the lateral edges; and

a sealing film adapted to be attached to the rim section;

a second tray disposed atop the first tray, the second tray including;

a bottom;

a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, the sidewall comprising a base section extending upwardly from the bottom, an intermediate section extending upwardly from the base section, and an upper section extending upwardly from the intermediate section, wherein the upper section includes structure defining a collar extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section, and a stacking wall extending upwardly from the collar and terminating at the top end of the sidewall, wherein the collar of the second tray is adapted to be received and supported by the flange of the first tray upon stacking of the first tray and the second tray;

a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including

a rim section configured to receive a sealing film,

a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle, and

an outwardly extending catch member disposed between the handles on each of the lateral edges; and

a sealing film adapted to be attached to the rim section; and

a sleeve adapted to hold the first tray and the second tray completely therein using only frictional force, the sleeve including a sleeve top, a first depending sleeve side, a second depending sleeve side and a sleeve bottom, wherein the first tray and the second tray are disposed within the sleeve by frictional force between the first tray, the second tray, and the sleeve.

12. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve includes a flap for securing the sleeve base to any one of the depending sleeve sides.

13. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve top comprises a first tab proximate to the second tray to facilitate removal of the second tray from the sleeve.

14. The kit of claim 13 , wherein the sleeve top comprises a second tab proximate to the forth tray to facilitate removal of the forth tray from the sleeve.

15. The kit of claim 14 , wherein the first tab and the second tab are each located in the same plane as the sleeve top when the kit is in an unopened position.

16. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the any one of the first tab and the second tab are located outside the plane of the sleeve top when the kit is in an opened position.

17. The kit of claim 16 , wherein the sleeve top further includes a plurality of perforation lines extending from the first tab to an edge of the sleeve top.

18. The kit of claim 17 , wherein the first tab includes a generally half-circular configuration.

19. A method of preparing food for subsequent sale, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a container including;

a bottom;

a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating at a top end, the sidewall defining an interior, the sidewall comprising a base section extending upwardly from the bottom, an intermediate section extending upwardly from the base section, and an upper section extending upwardly from the intermediate section, wherein the upper section includes structure defining a collar extending radially outwardly from the intermediate section, and a stacking wall extending upwardly from the collar and terminating at the top end of the sidewall, such that the upper section is adapted to inhibit a second container from entirely nesting within the first container upon stacking thereby allowing easy disassembly of the second container from the first container;

a flange extending from the sidewall opposite the bottom, the flange including

a rim section configured to receive a sealing film,

a recessed section extending from the rim section, the recessed section terminating in a pair of opposed lateral edges and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, wherein each of the opposed longitudinal edges intersect with a lateral edge at a corner, wherein each corner contains a handle, and

a catch member disposed on each of the lateral edges, between the handles;

dispensing food in the interior of the container;

attaching a sealing film to the rim section;

providing a sleeve including a sleeve top, a first depending sleeve side, a second depending sleeve side and a sleeve base; and

placing the container completely within the sleeve so that frictional force between the container and the sleeve keeps the container inside the sleeve.