Microwaveable nested trays
One embodiment includes a package system containing a main container with a smaller container nested in it. The smaller container is filled with a secondary food item designed to be mixed into the primary food item. The smaller container is placed within the main container. The area of the main container not occupied by the smaller container includes a main food item. Both containers are sealed with one film. Before consumption, a consumer will place the package in a microwave to heat. Once heated, the smaller container is removed from the main container, creating space in the main container previously occupied by the smaller container. The main food item in the main container will re-position creating space between the top of the main food item to the edge of the main container. The secondary item can be added into the main container without overflowing out of the main container.
1. A microwavable container system comprising:
a base container, having a pair of sides and having a pair of substantially rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends for defining a base interior cavity, the base container further having a continuous outwardly turned edge extending from an inner periphery of the base container, the inner periphery defined along a top portion of the pair of sides and rounded shaped ends;
a tray disposed within a first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, the tray having a pair of tray sides and a pair of diametrically opposed tray ends positioned between the tray sides for defining a tray interior cavity, and wherein one of the opposed tray ends has an inwardly bowed profile;
wherein the base container further includes an indented ledge defined in the inner periphery about only one of the rounded shaped ends in the base container, the ledge extends along the, inner periphery away from the rounded shaped end and continues along the inner periphery about the pair of sides to a pair of terminals, the terminals ending along the pair of sides prior to a mid-point defined between the pair of rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends, and wherein the tray includes an upper outwardly turned edge sized complementary to rest on the ledge when the tray is disposed within the first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, and the outwardly turned edge includes ends substantially abutting the terminals of the ledge, wherein the inwardly bowed profile of the opposed tray end is positioned prior to and towards the mid-point in the base container; and
wherein a second portion of the base interior cavity not occupied by the tray includes a first food component, and wherein the tray interior cavity includes a second food component, that are combinable after microwave cooking by removing the tray from the base interior cavity and adding the second food component with the first food component in the base interior cavity which becomes larger with the removal of the tray.
2. The microwaveable container system of claim 1 , wherein the base container includes a notched depression on a portion of the indented ledge about the rounded shaped end in the base container.
3. The microwaveable container system of claim 2 , wherein the tray includes at least one member protruding from a portion of the outwardly turned edge on a side opposite the end with the inwardly bowed profile, the at least one member defined to include an upper area and a lower area depending from a sidewall with a sidewall depth defined such that the lower area of the at least one member is received within the notched depression.
4. The microwaveable container system of claim 1 further comprising a removable plastic film securable onto the upper outwardly turned edge defined by the base container.
5. A microwavable container system comprising:
a base container, having a pair of sides and having a pair of rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends for defining a base interior cavity, the base container further having a continuous outwardly turned edge extending from an inner periphery of the base container, the inner periphery defined along a top portion of the pair of sides and rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends, and wherein the base container further includes an indented ledge defined in the inner periphery about only one of the rounded shaped ends in the base container, the ledge extends along the inner periphery away from the rounded shaped end and continues along the inner periphery about the pair of sides to a pair of terminals, the terminals ending along the pair of sides about a mid-point defined between the pair of rounded diametrically opposed ends; and
a tray disposed within a first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, the tray having a pair of tray sides and a pair of diametrically opposed tray ends positioned between the tray sides for defining a tray interior cavity, and wherein one of the opposed tray ends has an inwardly bowed profile, and wherein the tray includes an upper outwardly turned edge sized complementary to rest on the ledge when the tray is disposed within the first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, and the outwardly turned edge includes ends substantially abutting the terminals of the ledge, wherein the inwardly bowed profile of the opposed tray end is positioned about and towards the mid-point in the base container.
6. The microwaveable container system of claim 5 , wherein a second portion of the base interior cavity not occupied by the tray includes a first food component, and wherein the tray interior cavity includes a second food component, that are combinable after microwave cooking by removing the tray from the base interior cavity and adding the second food component with the first food component in the base interior cavity which becomes larger with the removal of the tray.
7. The microwaveable container system of claim 5 , wherein the base container includes a notched depression on a portion of the indented ledge about the rounded shaped end in the base container.
8. The microwaveable container system of claim 7 , wherein the tray includes at least one member protruding from a portion of the outwardly turned edge on a side opposite the end with the inwardly bowed profile, the at least one member defined to include an upper area and a lower area depending from a sidewall with a sidewall depth defined such that the lower area of the at least one member is received within the notched depression.
9. The microwaveable container system of claim 8 further comprising a removable plastic film securable onto the upper outwardly turned edge defined by the base container.