Cups and containers with a living hinge and sleeves

An injection molded, sealable cup made from molten polypropylene for holding liquid or food comprising

• (a) a lower, receptacle portion having a base, an open top, and side walls in between the base and the open top, the base having a smaller diameter than the top, the side walls forming a cylinder from the base to the open top and creating an inner and outer portion of the cup, the open top having an upper edge defining the outermost circumference of the open top and a living hinge;
• (b) the living hinge molded in the upper edge of the open top attached to the lower receptacle portion and a dome-shaped lid, the living hinge having a straight flex point, the living hinge having flat walls that extend from the straight flex point, and the flat walls extending from the straight flex point having a shape opposite the straight flex point that is contoured to the shape of the outside of the lower receptable portion and the outer edge of the dome-shaped lid allowing the dome-shaped lid to flex over the open top wherein the lid securably fits into the indentation that runs the full circumference of the inner portion of the cup;
• (c) the dome-shaped lid having a top surface and a bottom edge of a size and shape to securably fit into the inner circumference of the open top of the cup, the top surface of the lid having a dome shape rising from the outermost circumference of the open top, the circumference around the bottom surface of the lid having a lip extending down from the bottom edge of the circumference of the lid, the lip creating a dual seal structure having a rib on the bottom edge that fits in the indentation that runs the full circumference of the inner portion of the cup and a top edge that is the same size and shape as the inner circumference of the upper edge of the top, the top edge having one or more tabs extending from the top edge up and over the upper edge of the cup;
• wherein the living hinge permits the lid to bend along a line of the hinge to flexibly secure the lid to the lower receptacle portion and prevent leakage of the material held therein;
• and
• wherein when the living hinge is closed, the flat walls that extend from the straight flex point lie flat next to each other.

An injection molded, sealable container made from molten polypropylene for holding liquid or food comprising

• a lower, receptacle portion having a base, an open top, and side walls in between the base and the open top, the base having a smaller area than the top, the side walls extending from the base to the open top and creating an inner and outer portion of the container, the open top having an upper edge defining the outermost circumference of the open top and a living hinge with a flexible radius and an indentation that runs the full circumference of the inner portion of the container below the upper edge;
• the living hinge molded in the upper edge of the open top attached to the lower receptacle portion and a recessed lid, the living hinge allowing the lid to flex over the open top, the living hinge having a straight flex point, the living hinge having flat walls that extend from the straight flex point, and the flat walls extending from the straight flex point having a shape opposite the straight flex point that is contoured to the shape of the inner portion of the container and the edge of the recessed lid so that when the living hinge is closed, the lid securably fits into the indentation that runs the full circumference of the inner portion of the container;
• the lid having a top surface and a bottom surface of a size and shape to securably fit into the inner circumference of the open top of the container, the top surface of the lid being sloped downward from the outermost circumference of the open top to the center of the lid, the circumference around the bottom surface of the lid having a lip extending down from the circumference of the lid, the lip creating a dual seal structure having a rib on the bottom edge that fits in the indentation that runs the full circumference of the inner portion of the container and a top edge that is the same size and shape as the inner circumference of the upper edge of the top, the top edge having one or more l-shaped tabs extending from the top edge up and over the upper edge of the container;
• wherein when the living hinge is closed and the lid is flexibly secured to the lower receptable portion of the container and the lid is fully recessed into the lower receptable portion of the container;
• wherein when the living hinge is closed, the flat walls that extend from the straight flex point lie flat next to each other;
• and
• wherein the living hinge permits the lid to bend along a line of the hinge to flexibly secure the lid to the container and prevent leakage of the material held therein.