Patent ID: 8561823

Claim:
A food service container having a stacked configuration and a food containment configuration, the container comprising: a. A first stackable member made from a fibrous natural material, b. A second stackable member identical to the first stackable member; c. The first stackable member and the second stackable member each comprising: i. A substantially flat base having a smooth inner surface, ii. A continuous side wall, having a smooth inner surface, projecting from the base and forming with the base a food storage area; iii. a continuous locking ledge projecting outwardly from the continuous side wall, the continuous locking ledge having a top and a bottom; iv. a plurality of recesses in the continuous side wall extending (i) from the continuous locking ledge toward the base and (ii) less than 25% of the distance from the continuous locking ledge to the base; v. a first locking bead projecting in a direction away from the top of the continuous locking ledge, the first locking bead defining a hollow open bottom recess accessible from the bottom of the continuous locking ledge; vi. a second locking bead projection in a direction away from the bottom of the continuous locking ledge, the second locking bead defining a hollow open top recess accessible from the top of the continuous locking ledge; d. Wherein when the first stackable member and the second stackable member are in the stacked configuration, the base of the second stackable member is within the recess of the first stackable member, the first locking bead of the first stackable member is mated with the hollow open bottom recess of the second stackable member and the hollow open top recess of the first stackable member is mated with the second locking bead of the second stackable member; and e. Wherein when first and second stackable members are in their food containment configuration, the bases and sidewalls of the first and second stackable members cooperate to form a food containment chamber, the first locking bead of the first stackable member is mated with the hollow open top recess of the second stackable member and the hollow open top recess of the first stackable member is mated with the first locking bead of the second stackable member.