Vented package

Claim 1

A seamless plastic container for foodstuffs and the like, which comprises: a container having a bottom wall and an upwardly and outwardly flaring sidewall connected thereto; said sidewall terminating in an outwardly curled lip portion defining an open end of said container adapted to receive a snap-on lid having an annular sealing bead about its periphery in closure-forming relationship; an annular radially inwardly directed ring located adjacent said lip portion in said container sidewall, said ring being defined in radial cross section by a downwardly and inwardly extending first ledge, a first vertical land portion connected thereto, and a downwardly and outwardly extending second ledge connected to said first land portion; an annular radially inwardly opening outwardly directed channel connected to said ring, said channel being defined in radial cross section by said downwardly and outwardly extending second ledge, a second vertical land portion connected thereto, and a downwardly and inwardly extending third ledge connected to said second land portion; said second land portion being provided with a plurality of transversed grooves spaced about its circumference, said grooves defining a plurality of primary venting means which permit the egress of gases formed by the contained foodstuffs while said sealing bead, which is of slightly greater diameter than the inner diameter of said second land portion, is maintained in snap-on closure-forming contact with said second land portion.