Convertible container for packaging and cooking

Claim 1

An expandable container for storing and cooking food, comprising: a rectangular bottom wall; a first and second side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and respectively joined to one pair of opposing edges of said bottom wall; a third side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and joined to a third edge of said bottom wall, said first and second side walls forming a first pair of corners with opposite extremities of said third wall and respectively joined to the last-mentioned extremities by a first pair of tuck flaps, each of said first pair of tuck flaps comprising a pair of segments formed integral with each other and with said third side wall and the corresponding first and second side wall whereby to prevent leakage of contents within said container through said first corners; a first swingable panel formed integral with said bottom wall and joined to the fourth edge of said bottom wall by a fold line in the latter, said first swingable panel being swingable between a horizontal position essentially coplanar with said bottom wall forming an extension of the latter, and an upright position forming a fourth side wall of said container, the opposite extremities of said first swingable panel being respectively hingedly connected to said first and second panels by folding flaps; and a second swingable panel formed integral with the combination of said first swingable panel and said bottom wall, and joined along one edge of said first swingable panel by a fold line in the latter, said second swingable panel being swingable between a horizontal position forming a top wall of said container when said first panel is in said upright position thereof, and an essentially upright position forming said fourth side wall of said container when said first panel is in said horizontal position thereof, the opposite extremities of said second panel forming corners with said folding flaps when said second panel is in said upright position thereof and respectively joined to said folding flaps by a second pair of tuck flaps, each of said latter-mentioned tuck flaps comprising a pair of segments formed integral with each other and with the corresponding ones of said fold flaps whereby to prevent leakage of contents within said container through said second corner, said bottom wall and said second panel being essentially equal in length and the width of said bottom wall exceeds the width of said second panel whereby to form an opening in the top of said container when said second panel is in said horizontal position thereof.