Importance

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Abstract

More facile closure of a food tray having a lid portion, a tray portion, cylindrical female locking elements disposed about a peripheral flange of the lid portion and cylindrical male locking elements disposed about a peripheral flange of the tray portion is accomplished by providing the female elements with axial ribs that both stiffen the female element with respect to closing pressure applied thereto and allow otherwise entrapped air within the female element to escape during insertion of the male element. Raised lands disposed about the peripheral flange of the lid portion adjacent the female elements act to divert a portion of the closing pressure applied, e.g., by a user's thumb, away from the closed end of the female element, thereby limiting deformation of the female element. A concave end surface of the female element also acts to alleviate deformation thereof. These various features are advantageously used either alone, or in concert with one another.

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First Claim