Frozen food container

An improved container for storing frozen foods such as ice cream comprising a base, a cylindrical body member joined to the base, and a rim disposed on the end of the body member which includes an edge projecting radially outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. A cover adapted for slidable positioning over the rim has spaced-apart annular ridges on the inner surface thereof between which the edge of the rim is received for securing the cover on the body member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to containers, and in particular to an improved 
container for storing frozen foods such an ice cream and the like. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Containers for the storage of frozen foods such as ice cream have 
heretofore generally been fabricated of paper products, for example, 
cardboard, and utilize a cover which merely slides over the top of the 
body of the container. Such a container has the disadvantage that the 
cover thereof cannot be securely fastened to the container, which may 
result in the spillage and/or contamination of the contents of the 
container. Also, such containers usually lose their rigidity when the 
frozen contents stored therein melt, due to the absorption of some of the 
liquid by the cardboard from which the container is fabricated. In such a 
condition, the container is easily damaged and torn, thereby resulting in 
spillage of the contents of the container. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
container for frozen foods and the like which overcomes the aforementioned 
disadvantages of heretofore known containers and which is strong and 
durable and has a cover which is easily removable, yet securely fastenable 
to the container. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
container which can be integrally molded from plastic material and easily 
and simply manufactured. 
These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a container for 
storing frozen foods such as ice cream and the like, comprising a base, a 
cylindrical body member joined to the base, and a rim disposed at the end 
of the cylindrical body member opposite the base which includes an edge 
projecting radially outwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of 
the container. A cover is provided which is adapted for slidable 
positioning over the rim of the body member, and means are disposed on the 
inner surface of the cover and are adapted for interlocking engagement 
with the rim for securing the cover on the cylindrical body member. 
These and other novel features and advantages of the invention will be 
described in further detail in the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a container constructed 
according to the present invention including a base 10 and a cylindrical 
body member 11 which is joined to the base. Base 10 is generally annular 
in shape and is curved upwardly at its radially outer edge. The base 
includes a central portion 12 which is inwardly recessed with respect to 
the bottom of the base. A rim 13 is disposed at the upper end of 
cylindrical body member 11 opposite the base and includes an edge 14 which 
projects radially outwardly from rim 13 perpendicular to the longitudinal 
axis of the container (illustrated by dashed line 15 in FIG. 5). In the 
illustrated embodiment of the invention, rim 13 has a diameter which is 
greater than that of the cylindrical body member 11. A plurality of 
vertically disposed, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members 16 are 
disposed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body member 11 for 
reinforcing the lower sides of the container and providing rigidity. Base 
10, which due to recessed central portion 12 provides vertical stability 
to the container, rim 13 and rib members 16 are integrally formed with 
cylindrical body member 11 and are preferably molded from plastic material 
by means of an injection molding process. 
The container also includes a cover 17 which is adapted for slidable 
positioning over rim 13 of cylindrical body member 11. Means, illustrated 
as a first annular ridge 18 disposed on the inner surface of cover 17 and 
projecting radially inwardly perpendicular to longitudinal axis 15 of the 
container, and a plurality of second annular ridges 19 disposed on the 
inner surface of the cover and also projecting radially inwardly 
perpendicular to longitudinal axis 15, are adapted for interlocking 
engagement with edge 14 of rim 13 of cylindrical body member 11 for 
securing cover 17 on the container. Second annular ridges 19 are 
vertically spaced apart from first annular ridge 18 and are disposed below 
ridge 18 so as to form a plurality of spaces 20 on the inner surface of 
cover 17 between ridges 18 and 19 which receive edge 14 of rim 13 when 
cover 17 is disposed on cylindrical body member 11, thereby detachably 
securing the cover on the body member. Ridges 18 and 19 are integrally 
formed with cover 17, preferably from plastic material by means of an 
injection molding process. 
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with 
reference to a specific exemplary embodiment thereof. It will, however, be 
evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto 
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as 
set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, 
accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a 
restrictive sense.