CONTAINER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A container assembly is provided. The container assembly includes a lid having a top surface; an adhesive member attached to the top surface; wherein the adhesive member comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is attached to the lid, and at least a portion of the bottom surface comprises a covered sticky surface; and a body attached to the lid.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present Application for Patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/787,841 entitled “Container Assembly”, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD

Various features relate to container assemblies, and more particularly, to container assemblies having adhesive members for securely closing the container assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Often times, hot food is available at the grocery store. It is placed in a container. After purchasing, an attempt is made to seal the container so it retains heat and the food does not spill out. Current methods to seal the container, however, are not very effective. For example, the cashier may place a rubber band on the box and/or pull tape out of a dispenser and tape the box shut in an attempt to make sure that the contents do not spill while in transit. This becomes an extra step for the already-busy cashier. Accordingly, new, easy methods of sealing the container are needed.

FIGURES

The features, nature, and advantages of the present aspects may become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the container assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the container assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the container assembly of FIG. 4.

SUMMARY

A container assembly is provided. The container assembly includes a lid having a top surface; an adhesive member attached to the top surface; wherein the adhesive member comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is attached to the lid, and at least a portion of the bottom surface comprises a covered sticky surface; and a body attached to the lid. The lid can be removably or fixedly attached to the body.

According to one aspect, at least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is integrally formed with the top lid surface. At least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is attached to the top lid surface. The sticky surface of the bottom adhesive member extends outwardly from the top lid surface and is covered with a removable material.

According to one aspect, the adhesive member comprises a length and a width, wherein the length is greater than the width. The adhesive member is attached to the lid in a length-wise fashion. The adhesive member is comprised of paper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

“Container or “container assembly” refers to any type of device for holding objects, including a receptacle, a bin, a box, a carton, and a case.

“Covered sticky surface” refers to that portion of adhesive member 106 that is covered by a material (as shown in FIG. 2). The material itself is not “sticky.” The end user may simply peel it off to expose the sticky surface. The sticky surface is covered in order to prevent it from sticking to objects prior to use by end user.

“End user” preferably refers to one or more persons that use the end product, i.e., the container assembly of the present invention. End users may refer to cashiers/clerk or those who purchase food products that are placed in the containers of the present invention. “End user” may also refer to an entity such as a grocery store or restaurant that sells prepared food. “End user” preferably does not refer to those that manufacture the container assembly itself.

Overview

In one embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 1-5 a container assembly 100 is provided. Container assembly 100 comprises a lid 102 and a body 104 attached to lid 102. Preferably, lid 102 comprises a top surface 102a and an adhesive member 106 attached to top surface 102a of lid 102. Preferably, adhesive member 106 comprises a top adhesive member surface 106a and a bottom adhesive member surface 106b, wherein at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface 106b is attached to lid 102, and at least a portion of bottom adhesive member surface 106b comprises a covered sticky surface.

Lid

In one embodiment, container assembly 100 comprises a lid 102. Lid 102 comprises top lid surface 102a and a bottom lid surface 102b. Lid 102 may be circular, rectangular/square, and/or any other shape. For example, if lid 102 is square-shaped or rectangular-shaped, it may be permanently attached to one side of body 104. If lid 102 is circular, for example, it may not be permanently attached to body 104, i.e., it may removably attached to body 104 via any mechanism known in the art, i.e., via a snap-fit closure or the like.

Preferably, adhesive member 106 (discussed further below) is attached to lid 102 during the process of manufacturing lid 102. In this manner, preferably, adhesive member 106 is attached to lid 102 and/or formed from lid 102 before container assembly 100 reaches the end user, i.e., the grocery store of restaurant. In other embodiments, adhesive member 106 is not attached to lid 102 prior to reaching the end user. For example, adhesive member 106 may be attached to lid 102 via a separate manufacturing step, i.e., adhesive member 106 may be attached once container itself is assembled. Alternatively, the end user may attach adhesive member 106 to container.

Adhesive Member

In one embodiment, container assembly 100 comprises an adhesive member 106 (referred to herein singularly and plurally as “106”). Preferably, adhesive member 106 comprises a top adhesive member surface 106a and a bottom adhesive member surface 106b. Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 2, at least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface 106b of adhesive member 106 comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of bottom adhesive member surface 106b of adhesive member 106 is either integrally formed with top lid surface 102a of lid 102, attached to top lid surface 102a of lid 102, and/or formed from lid 102. The portion of adhesive member 106 that comprises a sticky surface preferably projects out from a top adhesive member surface 102a of lid 102, akin to a flap. This sticky surface is preferably covered with material until it is ready to use, for example, by an end user such as cashier. At that point, the material may be peeled off by the cashier to expose the sticky surface. In other embodiments, adhesive member 106 may be attached to, and/or integrally formed with, body 104 (i.e., a side of body 104). It is to be understood that each container assembly 100 may comprise any number of adhesive members 106.

In one embodiment, adhesive member 106 comprises a length and a width. The length is preferably greater than the width. As shown in FIG. 3, adhesive member 106 is attached to lid 102 in a length-wise fashion. As shown in FIG. 2, adhesive member 106 is folded/creased in the middle, or substantially in the middle. Preferably, adhesive member 106 is manufactured that way. This allows, for example, the container assemblies to stack properly and efficiently during the shipping process. Preferably, adhesive member 106 is comprised of, or consists essentially of, paper. In this regard, adhesive member 106 is better suited to withstand heat if container assembly 100 is placed in the microwave for reheating of food contained therein. In other embodiments, the length of adhesive member 106 is not greater than width and/or adhesive member 106 is not folded in middle or substantially in the middle. In yet other embodiments, adhesive member 106 may not be comprised of paper, i.e., it may be comprised of plastic, or the like. In alternative embodiments, the adhesive member 106 may be comprised of, or consist essentially of, plastic or any other material known in the art.

Preferably, the end user does not have to attach adhesive member 106 to lid 102, as it is already attached during the manufacturing process and/or before it reaches the end user. As such, it is to be understood that container assembly 100 is provided to the end user with adhesive member 106 already attached to, and/or integrally formed with, lid 102. As such, the end user does not have to attach adhesive member 106 to lid 102. This eliminates a very time-consuming and tedious step at the check-out line of the grocery store.

Preferably, the shape of lid 102 dictates the number of adhesive members 106 it is manufactured with. For example, and as shown in FIG. 4, if lid 102 is circular, top surface 102a of lid 102 may comprise two adhesive members 106, opposite each other. On the other hand, if lid 102 is square/rectangular, that top surface 102a of lid 102 may comprise a single adhesive member 106. It is to be understood that lid 102 may be manufactured with any number of adhesive members 106. Preferably, adhesive member 106 is attached to the portion of lid 102 that opens and closes. It is to be understood that adhesive member 106 may be attached to one or more sides of lid 102 and/or body 104.

Body

In one embodiment, container assembly 100 includes a body 104. Preferably, at least a portion of lid 102 is removably attached to body 104. Body 104 may include a bottom, and one or more sides integrally formed with one another. Body 104 may be any shape, i.e., circular or rectangular/square. Together, lid 102 and body 104 form a container.

According to one example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, body 104 may include a bottom 104a and two opposing sidewalls 104b and integrally connected to two opposing end walls 104c. Sidewalls 104b and end walls 104c extend continuously upwardly from bottom 104a to form body 104.

Container Assembly

Lid 102 and body 104 of the present invention may form a box. The box may comprise wax on the inside for holding hot food. In other embodiments, lid 102 and body 104 of the present invention may form a circular soup “to-go” container. In yet other embodiments, lid 102 and body 104 of the present invention may comprise a transparent “to-go” container. Regardless of the type of container formed by lid 102 and body 104, adhesive member 106 is preferably attached to lid 102 before container assembly 100 reaches the end user.

Example

The container of the container assembly 100 of the present invention is a “to-go” box with a waxy inside to hold hot food. An end user, i.e., a shopper at a grocery store, places a variety of hot food inside the container assembly 100 of the present invention. Container assembly 100 comprises adhesive member 106. The shopper may close the lid, but not seal it shut. When ready to check-out, another end user, a cashier, weighs container assembly 100, and the hot food container therein, in order to determine how much the hot food costs. At this point, cashier may seal lid 102 shut by removing the material covering the sticky surface, thereby exposing the sticky surface. The cashier may slightly pull adhesive member 106 so the exposed sticky surface attaches to body 104, i.e., attaches flush to a side of body 104. The cashier does not need to pull tape out of a tape dispenser and stick it onto the container, as adhesive member 106 is already attached to lid 102 when it reaches shopper and cashier. In this manner, container assembly 100 is sealed shut very easily and quickly. As such, contents of container assembly 100 may not fall out during the shopper's ride home. Also, heat is contained within the container more effectively, as the seal is tighter than simply folding the container shut or adding tape. Preferably, container assembly 100 of the present invention is microwave-safe (for quick re-heating). In this regard, the shopper may simply microwave container assembly 100 and contents therein to re-heat the contents that may have cooled down during the ride home. In yet other embodiments, container may not have a waxy inside. Additionally, the container need not be microwave-safe.

Claims

1. A container assembly compromising:

a. a lid comprising: i. a top lid surface and an opposing bottom lid surface; ii. an adhesive member attached to the top lid surface; wherein the adhesive member comprises a top adhesive member surface and a bottom adhesive member surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is attached to the lid, and at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface comprises a covered sticky surface; and

b. a body attached to the lid.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid is removably attached to the body.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid is fixedly attached to the body.

4. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is integrally formed with the top lid surface.

5. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is attached to the top lid surface.

6. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the sticky surface of the bottom adhesive member extends outwardly from the top lid surface.

7. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the sticky surface is covered with a removable material.

8. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive member comprises a length and a width; and wherein the length is greater than the width.

9. The container assembly of claim 8, wherein the adhesive member is attached to the lid in a length-wise fashion.

10. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive member is comprised of paper.

11. A container assembly compromising:

a. a lid comprising: i. a top lid surface and an opposing bottom lid surface; ii. an adhesive member attached to the top lid surface; wherein the adhesive member comprises a top adhesive member surface and a bottom adhesive member surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is attached to the lid, and at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface comprises a covered sticky surface; and

b. a body attached to the lid;

wherein at least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is integrally formed with the top lid surface; and

wherein the sticky surface of the bottom adhesive member extends outwardly from the top lid surface and is covered with a removable material.

12. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein the adhesive member comprises a length and a width; and wherein the length is greater than the width.

13. The container assembly of claim 12, wherein the adhesive member is attached to the lid in a length-wise fashion.

14. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein the adhesive member is comprised of paper.

15. The container assembly of claim 11, where the body comprises:

a bottom;

a pair of sidewalls;

a pair of end walls, the bottom, the pair of sidewalls and the pair of end walls being integrally connected.

16. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein the lid is removably attached to the body.

17. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein the lid is fixedly attached to the body

18. A container assembly compromising:

c. a lid comprising: iii. a top lid surface and an opposing bottom lid surface; iv. an adhesive member attached to the top lid surface; wherein the adhesive member comprises a top adhesive member surface and a bottom adhesive member surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is attached to the lid, and at least a portion of the bottom adhesive member surface comprises a covered sticky surface; and

d. a body attached to the lid, the body having a bottom, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls, the bottom, the pair of sidewalls and the pair of end walls being integrally connected;

wherein at least a first portion of bottom adhesive member surface comprises a sticky surface, and at least a second portion of the bottom adhesive member surface is integrally formed with the top lid surface; and

wherein the sticky surface of the bottom adhesive member extends outwardly from the top lid surface and is covered with a removable material;

wherein the adhesive member comprises a length and a width; and

wherein the length is greater than the width.

19. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein the adhesive member is attached to the lid in a length-wise fashion.

20. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein the adhesive member is comprised of paper.