Baked goods container
A baked goods container is disclosed having an upright position adapted to contain a large baked goods item, the baked goods container including a plastic base and a removable lid. The base includes a first base portion adapted to accept the lid over the base, and a second base portion or divider which removably inserts into or onto the first base portion. When the baked goods container is in the “upright” position, the first and second base portions cooperate to form the base of the container to hold one type of baked goods, such as a typical sized cake or pie. When the baked goods container is in the flipped, inverted or “upside-down” position, the first and second base portions cooperate to hold different baked goods, such as cupcakes. The second base portion or divider is adapted to separate from the first base portion and rest upon a ridge or extensions in the lid to form a two level baked goods container which holds a plurality of baked goods on multiple support surfaces.
This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/484,783, filed Jul. 3, 2003, entitled “Convertible Baked Goods Keeper” and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present invention is directed to baked goods containers and more particularly to a baked goods container having an upright position adapted to contain a baked good on a single support surface, and a flipped position adapted to hold one or more smaller baked goods on multiple support surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREContainers are often used to store baked goods after cooking or purchase to preserve and/or transport the items. Typical baked goods containers often come in various sizes, include both circular and rectangular shapes, and include a single support surface and interior. Oftentimes, however, a consumer purchases or bakes a number of different items or varying sizes and shapes and finding the correct storage container can sometimes be difficult. For example, a consumer may purchase or bake a relatively large item such as a pie, along with a number of smaller items, such as muffins. In this scenario, the typical consumer would need a number of containers to store the goods, including one for the pie, and at least one for the muffins. Additionally, if the consumer purchased or baked a cake instead, the consumer would typically need another larger container to store that item as well. This may lead to some frustration on the part of the consumer as finding the right container to store a variety of goods may require a number of separate purchases of storage containers.
With the differing sizes of the containers that may be required to store various goods, a consumer may find it difficult to store the containers in a limited space. For example, a typical cake container is usually a very large product that is difficult to store and takes up a great deal of space in a storage cabinet. Additionally, the cake container purchased may not nest with and/or cooperate with a separately purchased cupcake holder, thereby increasing the amount of storage necessary. Thus, for a variety of reasons, consumers may find it sometimes difficult to justify the purchase of a cake keeper that will only have a limited usage (e.g., used only when one bakes or buys a cake), as well as a rigid storage interior (e.g. not flexible to store multiple products of varying sizes.)
Therefore, there is a continued need to improve the design of these containers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments of a convertible baked goods container are disclosed herein and described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In general, the convertible baked goods container is a plastic container comprising a base and a removable lid. The base comprises a first base portion adapted to accept the lid over the base, and a second base portion or divider which removably inserts into or onto the first base portion. When the baked goods container is in the “upright” position, the first and second base portions cooperate to form the base of the container to hold one type of baked goods, such as a typical sized cake or pie. When the baked goods container is in the flipped, inverted or in the “upside-down” position, the first and second base portions cooperate to hold different baked goods, such as cupcakes. In one example, the second base portion or divider is adapted to separate from the first base portion and rest upon a ridge or extensions in the lid to form a two level baked goods container which holds two pies, or two levels of smaller cakes (e.g., cupcakes). In another example, the divider stays in the same location but is inverted to provide a different baked good storage surface configuration.
Referring now to
Turning to
In the disclosed embodiment, the base panel insert 22 is generally circular in shape and is removably attached to the base panel 12. For example, as illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The length, width, and shape of each of the handle supports 56 are configured to operate in conjunction with a shiftable handle 64 illustrated in
The bottom handle portion 64B includes a generally crescent shaped bottom surface 66B having a straight perimeter edge 68B and a generally arcuate perimeter edge 70B. A handle skirt 72B extends generally upward from the perimeter edge 70B. The bottom handle portion 64B also includes a pair of spaced apart retaining clips 74B, and a guide extension 76, each of which are sized and positioned on a top surface of the bottom handle portion 64B, such that when the bottom handle portion 64B is inserted onto the handle support 56 along with the top handle portion 64A, the retaining clips 74B insert through the retaining slots 58 and interconnect with the retaining clips 74A of the top handle portion 64A, and the guide extension 76 inserts through the guide slot 60. The interconnection between the retaining clips 74A of the top handle portion 64A and the retaining clips 74B of the bottom handle portion 64B cooperate to retain the handle 64 on the handle support 56.
In operation, the shiftable handle 64 is assembled over the handle support 56 such that the handle 64 is shiftable between a locked position (
The handle 64 is described herein as a plurality of separate components assembled to form the handle 64. However, the handle 64 may be manufactured utilizing more than two components, or as a single molded part wherein the top handle portion 64A and the bottom handle portion 64B are integrally formed in a single molding process. Moreover, if the top handle portion 64A and the bottom handle portion 64B are separate components, the attachment device between them may be any suitable attachment device, including any permanent or removable attachment means, such as for example, gluing, welding, mechanical attachment, or other suitable means.
Turning now to
When in the locked position as shown in
Referring now to
Turning to
Continuing now to
Still another alternative manner of operation is illustrated in
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that each component may be manufactured with a variety of properties and with a variety of materials, utilizing a variety of manufacturing techniques. For example, each component may be manufactured to be transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque. Similarly, each component may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including plastic, multilayer laminates, paperboard, corrugated board, aluminum, and the like, utilizing any combination of manufacturing techniques, including, for example, molding, blow molding, extrusion, or other suitable technique.
It will also be appreciated that although at least two embodiments are described, including a generally circular and rectangular configuration, many alternate configurations developed, including square, triangular, or the like. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the container may be so sized as to accommodate a variety of objects, including any variety and size of baked goods. Finally, it will be understood that the baked good container may be constructed with any number of removable inserts, allowing the interior storage space to be subdivided into any number of smaller divisions.
Claims
1. A baked goods container comprising:
- a base panel;
- a container lid having a lid panel with a perimeter and a continuous side wall extending from the perimeter of the lid panel, the lid panel and the continuous side wall bounding a container interior having an opening, the container lid adapted to form a seal and close off the opening when the container lid is removably seated on the base panel;
- an insert configured to be optionally inserted into the container lid; and
- a support ridge formed in at least a portion of the side wall of the container lid and adapted to support the insert when the baked goods container is inverted and resting on the container lid, the lid panel and a first portion of the side wall bounding a first interior portion, and the insert and a second portion of the side wall bounding a second interior portion.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the base panel comprises a recess formed in the base panel and adapted to removably store the insert.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container lid includes a sealing lip extending radially outward from at least a portion of the continuous side wall, the sealing lip sized to bear against the base panel to provide an air resistant seal between the container lid and the base panel.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the base panel includes a plurality of spaced apart handle supports extending radially outward from the base panel.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the container lid includes a plurality of spaced apart sealing extensions extending radially outward from the continuous side wall, each of the sealing extensions spaced apart and aligned so as to bear against a corresponding one of the plurality of handle supports.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of handle supports includes at least one alignment pin extending generally perpendicular from the handle support.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of sealing extensions includes at least one aperture, the aperture being configured such that the at least one alignment pin extends into the aperture when the sealing extension bears against the handle support.
8. The container of claim 5, wherein the container further comprises a locking handle adapted to releasably secure the container lid to the base panel.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the locking handle is adapted to releasably secure at least one of the handle supports to at least one of the sealing extensions.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein at least one of the handle supports includes a pivot point, and wherein the locking handle is pivotable about the pivot point between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein at least one of the handle supports includes at least one aperture, and wherein the locking handle is shiftable along the aperture between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the at least one aperture is a plurality of spaced apart elongated retaining slots, and wherein the locking handle includes a plurality of retaining clips insertable in the plurality of elongated slots such that the locking handle is shiftable between the first and second positions.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the handle supports includes a guide slot, and wherein the locking handle includes a guide extension insertable in the guide slot, the guide slot and guide extension cooperating to direct the movement between the first and second positions.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the handle supports includes a flexible tab, and wherein the locking handle includes a notch, the tab adapted to releasably engage the notch of the locking handle upon movement of the locking handle toward the second position.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein the container lid further comprises a carrying handle integrally formed in the top panel.
16. A portable food storage and serving container comprising:
- a container lid having panel with a perimeter, an exterior wall extending from the perimeter of the panel, and an opening, the panel and the exterior wall bounding a container interior, and the exterior wall including a support ridge extending inward along at least portion of the exterior wall, the support ridge spaced away from the panel; and
- a base having a first base portion and a second base portion, the first base portion releasably attachable to the container lid, the first base portion forming a seal and closing off the opening when the first base portion is attached to the container lid, and the second base portion being storable in the container interior when the container is resting on the base, and the second base portion being supportable by the support ridge when the container is inverted and resting on the lid.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the container lid includes a sealing lip extending radially outward from the exterior wall, the sealing lip sized to bear against the first base portion to provide an air resistant seal between the container lid and the base.
18. The container of claim 16, wherein the first base portion includes a plurality of spaced apart handle supports extending radially outward from the first base portion.
19. The container of claim 18, wherein the container lid includes a plurality of spaced apart sealing extensions extending radially outward from the exterior wall, each of the sealing extensions adapted and spaced apart so as to bear against a corresponding one of the plurality of handle supports.
20. The container of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of handle supports includes at least one alignment pin extending generally perpendicular from the handle support, and wherein at least one of the plurality of sealing extensions includes at least one aperture, the at least one aperture being configured such that the at least one alignment pin extends into the aperture when the at least one of the plurality of sealing extension bears against the at least one of the plurality of handle supports.
21. The container of claim 19, wherein the container further comprises a locking handle adapted to releasably secure the container lid to the base.
22. The container of claim 21, wherein at least one of the handle supports includes a pivot axis, and wherein the locking handle is pivotable about the pivot axis between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base.
23. The container of claim 21, wherein at least one of the handle supports includes at least one aperture, and wherein the locking handle is shiftable in the aperture between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base.
24. A food storage container comprising:
- a container base having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and
- a first and a second container lid, each of the first and second container lids having a lid panel with a perimeter and a continuous side wall extending from the perimeter of the lid panel, the lid panel and the continuous side wall bounding a container interior having an opening, the first container lid adapted to form a first seal and close off the opening of the first container lid when the first container lid is removably seated on the first surface of the container base, and the second container lid adapted to form a second seal and close off the opening of the second container lid when the second container lid is removably seated on the second surface of the container base, wherein the container is configurable in a first configuration with one of the first and second container lids seated on one of the first and second surfaces of the container base, and a second configuration with both of the first and second container lids seated on the corresponding first and second surfaces of the container base.
25. The container of claim 24, wherein each of the first and second container lids includes a sealing lip extending radially outward from the first and second continuous side walls, the sealing lips sized to bear against the container base to provide an air resistant seal between each of the first and second container lids and the container base.
26. The container of claim 24, wherein the container base includes a plurality of spaced apart handle supports extending radially outward from the container base.
27. The container of claim 26, wherein each of the first and second container lids includes a plurality of spaced apart sealing extensions extending radially outward from the exterior side walls of each container, each of the sealing extensions adapted and spaced apart so as to bear against a corresponding one of the plurality of handle supports on the container base.
28. The container of claim 24, wherein the container further comprises a locking handle adapted to releasably secure each of the first and second container lids to the container base.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2005
Inventor: Carolyn McNeeley (Brunswick, OH)
Application Number: 10/883,996