Interleaved containers with a single lid
A container has a first vessel and a second vessel permanently secured to and inside the first vessel. The interior compartment of the second vessel is separated from the interior compartment of the first vessel. A lid is detachably securable to the container, and includes a first portion corresponding to the opening of the first vessel, closing off the container from its environment. A second portion of the lid is integrally formed with the first portion, corresponding to the opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. The second portion of the lid seals the second opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. The interior compartments of both vessels are preferably simultaneously accessible from a top side of the container. The base of the container is optionally sized and shaped to fit within the opening of the first vessel for nestable staking of plural like containers. Optionally or additionally, the base includes a recess, sized and shaped to receive the upstanding sidewall of the second vessel of another like container, for nestable stacking of plural like containers. In one particular embodiment, the container is formed of a material that is approved by the U.S.F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human food and/or is microwave-safe.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/734,939, filed 9 Nov. 2005, the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by its reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container, and in particular, to a container with multiple compartments with a single lid.
2. Description of the Art
Customers of food establishments, such as fast food vendors, often purchase several food items at one time. Similarly, purchased food items may include multiple parts, such as a main dish and a sauce. Food establishments often use individual sealed containers to package each of the multiple food items purchased by a customer. At other times, food establishments may use containers that have multiple compartments to package the multiple food items.
A disadvantage of packaging food items using multiple containers is that a customer must juggle the multiple containers while trying to eat the food, such as when the customer eats the food while standing or traveling. As for single containers with multiple compartments, these containers often have a single lid that covers the compartments but does not seal or separate the compartments from one another. As a result, as the customer carries the container to a desired location, for example, the multiple food items often become intermixed as the container is moved or bumped, for example. Other containers with multiple compartments will often use one or more plastic or foil wrappers, for example, to seal and thereby separate the individual compartments. However, a problem with these containers is that once the foil or plastic wrappers are removed, the compartments cannot be resealed.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a container that holds multiple food items and that seals the food items from one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to overcome these and other deficiencies in the prior art, provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is a container made up of a first vessel and a second vessel permanently secured to and inside the first vessel. The second vessel has an interior compartment separated from the interior compartment of the first vessel. A lid is detachably securable to the container, and includes a first portion corresponding to the opening of the first vessel, closing off the container from its environment. A second portion of the lid is integrally formed with the first portion, corresponding to the opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. The second portion of the lid seals the second opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. Preferably, the interior compartments of both vessels are simultaneously accessible from a top side of the container.
In a more particular embodiment, a first stepped protrusion extends from the second portion, sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. Alternately or additionally, the lid includes a stepped protrusion extending from the first portion, sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the opening of the first vessel's interior compartment. The container may further include an outwardly projecting flare received within a lip extending downward from the outer periphery of the lid.
In a more particular embodiment, the base of the container is sized and shaped to fit within the first opening for nestable staking of plural like containers. Optionally or additionally, the base includes a recess, sized and shaped to receive the upstanding sidewall of the second vessel of another like container, for nestable stacking of plural like containers. The recess may be closed off on one side thereof by the base of the second vessel.
In another particular embodiment, the container is formed of a material which is approved by the U.S. F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human food. More preferrably, the container is formed of a material which is microwave-safe.
Also provided according to the present invention is a lid for detachably sealing plural compartments of a container having the same. The lid includes a first portion corresponding to an opening of a first compartment, sealing the first compartment of the container from its environment. A second portion of the lid is integrally formed with the first portion, and corresponds to a second opening of a second interior compartment of the container. The second portion is sized and shaped to sealingly engage the second opening of the second interior compartment. The lid may also include a lip extending downward from the outer periphery thereof, sized and shaped to receive the rim of the container. In a particular embodiment, the lid includes a first stepped projection extending from the second portion, sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the second opening of the second interior compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
According to an embodiment of the invention, vessel 400 is smaller than vessel 300 and is secured within the interior compartment 304 of vessel 300. Preferably, vessel 400 is oriented within vessel 300 such that the interior compartments 304 and 404 of the vessels are simultaneously accessible from a top side 101 of container 100, for example, and such that items placed within the interior compartments do not readily intermix with one another. For example, as shown in
Turning to lid 200, the lid is configured to be detachably placed over the top side 101 of container 100 and in particular, over the openings of both vessels 300 and 400, thereby simultaneously covering interior compartments 304 and 404. Preferably, lid 200 is configured such that when the lid is placed over interior compartments 304 and 404, the lid attaches to container 100 in a manner that prevents the lid from readily detaching from the container and exposing the interior compartments as the container is moved or bumped, for example. In addition, lid 200 is also preferably configured such that when the lid is attached to the container, the lid seals the interior compartments 304 and 404 so that the items in each interior compartment do not readily spill from container 100 and do not readily intermix between the vessels as the container is moved or bumped, for example. Furthermore, lid 200 is also preferably configured to be removed from and reattached to container 100 in a repeatable fashion, resealing the interior compartments 304 and 404 each time the lid is reattached to the container.
As shown in
One skilled in the art will recognize that vessels 300 and 400 are not limited to a specific size. In particular, vessel 300 may have different sizes depending on the particular application and vessel 400 may have different sizes relative to vessel 300 depending on the particular application.
Vessels 300 and 400 and lid 200 may be formed from any suitable material known in the art including, for example, plastic, Styrofoam, paper, wax coated paper, cardboard, metal, or some combination thereof. Preferably, the material chosen is among those approved by the U.S.F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human ford, and/or those known in the art to be microwave-safe. In addition, vessel 300, vessel 400, and lid 200 do not need to be formed of the same material. If container 100 is used to hold food items or beverages for example, vessels 300 and 400 and lid 200 may be formed from materials such that each vessel may retain hot substances, cold substances, or a combination of hot and cold substances, one in each vessel. Furthermore, vessel 300 and/or vessel 400 and/or lid 200 may be made of an insulator type material in order to maintain the temperature of hot and cold substances.
In an example method according to an embodiment of the invention, a user of container 100 may place a first item or liquid into interior compartment 304 of vessel 300 and a second item or liquid into interior compartment 404 of vessel 400. As indicated above, the interior compartments of both vessels are preferably separate from one another so that the item placed in one vessel does not readily intermix with the item placed in the other vessel. Thereafter, lid 200 may be placed over the interior compartments 304 and 404, preferably sealing both interior compartments and thereby preventing the first and second items from spilling from container 100 and also preventing the items from intermixing. Container 100 may then be moved to a desired location and/or stored, for example. Thereafter, lid 200 may be removed from container 100, thereby providing access to both interior compartments 304 and 404. Lid 200 may then once again be placed over the interior compartments 304 and 404, resealing both compartments.
In an example use of container 100 according to an embodiment of the invention, food establishments, such as fast food vendors, may use container 100 to serve food. Here, container 100 may come in different sizes, such as small, medium, and large. As an example, a vendor may place two different food items and/or beverages into interior compartments 304 and 404 of vessels 300 and 400, including both hot and/or cold food items and beverages. The vendor may then seal the vessels with lid 200. Thereafter, the customer may carry container 100 to a desired location with lid 200 preventing the food items or beverages from intermixing and from spilling from container 100. The customer may then remove lid 200, thereby exposing both interior compartments 304 and 404. The customer may thereafter hold container 100 with one hand while eating the food with the other hand. If the customer does not finish the food, for example, the customer may thereafter reattach lid 200 to container 100, thereby resealing the interior compartments.
Alternately or additionally, the container 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be used in packing retail prepared foods. The container 100 may be resealed after opening, and advantageously maintains the contents of each container vessel separate from each other.
Advantageously, because vessels 300 and 400 are secured to each other, the customer does not need to juggle multiple containers while eating the multiple food items. In addition, because lid 200 seals interior compartments 304 and 404, the customer may move container 100 without the food items becoming intermixed. Furthermore, because lid 200 can be reattached to the container, the customer can reseal the interior compartments 304 and 404 after each use. Because the container 100 of the preferred embodiment includes plural compartments that are separate from one another, less desirable alternatives for carrying two separate food products, such as stacking two separate containers on one another, or placing a second container directly into a food item held in a first container, can be obviated. The food products in each vessel are isolated from one another, improving the sanitary condition of both.
One skilled in the art will recognize that while container 100 is described above as being used by food establishments and as holding multiple food items and/or beverages for example, container 100 is not limited to these uses.
Referring now to
Accordingly, the combination of sidewalls 308, sidewalls 310, and base 306 form the interior compartment 304 of vessel 300 and the combination of sidewalls 408 and base 406 form the interior compartment 404 of vessel 400, for example. As described above, the interior compartments 304 and 404 of the two vessels are preferably separate from one another so that items placed within the interior compartments of the two vessels do not readily intermix.
As indicated above, vessels 300 and 400 are not limited to a specific size and shape. For example, sidewalls 408 and base 406 of vessel 400 may be configured relative to sidewalls 308 and 310 and base 306 of vessel 300 such that the volume of interior compartment 404 is substantially smaller than the volume of interior compartment 304. Alternatively, the two interior compartments may have approximately the same volume, for example.
As shown in
According to an embodiment of the invention, multiple containers 100 are stackable in order to save space when the containers are not in use, for example. As such, as shown in
One skilled in the art will recognize that the configuration of sidewalls 308, 310, and 408 and bases 306 and 406 as shown in
One skilled in the art will also recognize that container 100 does not need to be stackable. For example, referring to
Referring again to lid 200, as described above, the lid preferably attaches to container 100 so that the lid does not readily detach from the container when the container is moved or bumped, for example. In addition, the lid preferably seals the interior compartments 304 and 404 of the two vessels, preventing items therein from intermixing and from spilling from container 100. Furthermore, the lid can preferably be removed from and reattached to container 100, resealing the interior compartments each time the lid is reattached.
According to an embodiment of the invention and as shown in
As also shown in
Referring now to
One skilled in the art will recognize that the above described mechanisms for detachably securing lid 200 (and similarly 200a) to container 100 (and similarly 100c) and for sealing interior compartments 304 and 404 are examples and any mechanism known in the art for both securing lid 200 to container 100 and for sealing the compartments may be used.
One skilled in the art will also recognize that while container 100 (and similarly 100c) is described above as having two vessels, container 100 may include more than two vessels in various configurations. For example, the multiple vessels may all be interleaved one inside the other. For example, vessel 400 may be secured within the interior compartment 304 of vessel 300 as described above and a third vessel may be secured within interior compartment 404 of vessel 400, etc. Alternatively, multiple vessels may be secured in a non-interleaved arrangement within the interior compartment 304 of vessel 300, for example. One skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations are possible. Regardless of the configuration of the vessels, a lid similar to lid 200 or 200a, for example, preferably detachably secures to the container and seals the interior compartments of the multiple vessels, preventing items within each vessel from intermixing and from spilling from the container.
One skilled in the art will further recognize that while vessel 400 is preferably secured within vessel 300 of container 100 (and similarly 100c), the two vessels do not need to be permanently secured to one another as was described above. For example, referring to
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a first vessel having a first interior compartment enclosed along the bottom thereof by a first base and along a periphery thereof by a first upstanding sidewall extending upward from the first base to a first rim of the first vessel, the first rim defining a first opening into the first interior compartment;
- a second vessel permanently secured to the first vessel and within the first interior compartment thereof, the second vessel having a second interior compartment separated from the first interior compartment, the second interior compartment enclosed along a bottom thereof by a second base and along a periphery thereof by a second upstanding sidewall extending upward from the second base to a second rim of the second vessel, the second rim defining a second opening into the second interior compartment; and
- a lid detachably securable to the container having a first portion corresponding to the first opening and closing off the container from the environment of the container, and a second portion corresponding to the second opening integrally formed with the first portion, wherein the second portion seals the second opening of the second interior compartment.
2. The container according to claim 1, the lid further comprising a first stepped protrusion extending from the second portion, the first stepped protrusion sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the second opening of the second interior compartment.
3. The container according to claim 1, the lid further comprising a second stepped protrusion extending from the first portion, the second stepped protrusion sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the first opening of the first interior compartment.
4. The container according to claim 1, further comprising an outwardly projecting flare extending from the first upstanding sidewall and received within a lip extending downward from the outer periphery of the lid.
5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first base is sized and shaped to fit within the first opening for nestable stacking of plural like containers.
6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first base comprises a recess formed therein, the recess sized and shaped to receive the second upstanding sidewall of another like container for nestable stacking of plural like containers.
7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the recess is closed off on one side thereof by the second base.
8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first interior compartment and second interior compartment are simultaneously accessible from a top side of the container.
9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rims are substantially coplanar.
10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a material which is microwave-safe.
11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a material which is approved by the U.S. F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human food.
12. A lid for detachably sealing plural compartments of a container having the same, the lid comprising:
- a first portion corresponding to a first opening of a first compartment of the container, and sealing the first compartment of the container from the environment of the container; and
- a second portion corresponding to a second opening of a second interior compartment of the container, integrally formed with the first portion, sized and shaped to sealingly engage the second opening of the second interior compartment.
13. The lid according to claim 12, further comprising a lip extending downward from the outer periphery of the lid sized and shaped to receive a first rim of the container.
14. The lid according to claim 12, further comprising a first stepped projection extending from the second portion, the first stepped projection sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the second opening of the second interior compartment.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 9, 2006
Publication Date: May 10, 2007
Inventor: Steven Sperrazza (Westbury, NY)
Application Number: 11/595,259
International Classification: B65D 1/34 (20060101);