Disposable Portable Food Container Device

Abstract

A disposable portable food container device holds food in a container which can be sealed for transport, reheated, and disposed after use. The device includes a container which is cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space configured for holding food. The container is constructed of a formable metal and an upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an opening into the interior space. A lid has a central portion and a peripheral skirt conformable to extend over and around the upper edge of the perimeter wall wherein the lid sealingly engages the container enclosing the interior space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to food container devices and more particularly pertains to a new food container device for holding food in a container which can be sealed for transport, reheated, and disposed after use.

2. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container which is cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space configured for holding food. The container is constructed of a formable metal and an upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an opening into the interior space. A lid has a central portion and a peripheral skirt conformable to extend over and around the upper edge of the perimeter wall wherein the lid sealingly engages the container enclosing the interior space.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a disposable portable food container device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a container of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 but also including a lid of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a collective front view of multiple containers consistent with the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new food container device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the disposable portable food container device 10 generally comprises a cylindrical container 12 having a bottom wall 14 and a perimeter wall 16 integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall 14 to define an interior space 18 configured for holding food. The bottom wall 14 is planar and circular. The container 12 is constructed of a formable metal such as aluminum foil having sufficient thickness to be formable and inexpensive to manufacture but generally retain the cylindrical shape during use similar to large disposable commercially available roasting and baking pans. An upper edge 20 of the perimeter wall 16 defines an opening 22 into the interior space 18. The perimeter wall 16 has a curved lower section 24 and a straight upper section 26. The curved lower section 24 curves outwardly and upwardly away from a perimeter edge 28 of the bottom wall 14 to the straight upper section 26. The curved lower section 24 assists in even heat transfer into the container 12 when the container is heated within a pan holding a liquid. Further, the perimeter wall 16 has a consistent thickness wherein the curved lower section 24 provides for a curved interior surface 30 between the bottom wall 14 and the upper section 26 facilitating removal of food by an implement as no corners are formed in the interior space 18.

A lid 30 has a central portion 32 and a peripheral skirt 34. The central portion is disc shaped and circular corresponding to the diameter of the perimeter wall 16. The skirt 34 extends from the central portion 32. The peripheral skirt 34 is conformable to extend over and around the upper edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 wherein the lid 30 sealingly engages the container 12 enclosing the interior space 18. The lid 30 is constructed of a metal foil such as aluminum or the like. A lip 36 extends outwardly from the perimeter wall 16 around the upper edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16. The peripheral skirt 34 is coextensive with an outer surface 40 of the lip 36 when the lid 30 is coupled to the container 12.

The container 12 may be provided in a variety of diameters and heights while maintaining a generally cylindrical shape to enhance heat transfer into leftover food stored within the interior space 16. The diameter may be between 10 and 16 centimeters and the height may be between 6 and 15 centimeters.

In use, leftover food or prepared food for later use may be positioned in the interior space 18 of the container 12. The lid 30 corresponding to the size of the container 12 is positioned over and aligned with the opening 20. The lid 30 is pressed onto the container 12 wherein the peripheral skirt 34 is engageable to the lip 36 wherein the lid 30 is secured on the container 12. The food within the interior space 18 may then be stored, transported, and reheated as desired. The device 10 may be discarded or recycled when use is complete.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A disposable portable food container device comprising:

a container, said container being cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall to define an interior space configured for holding food, said bottom wall being planar, said container being constructed of a formable metal, an upper edge of said perimeter wall defining an opening into said interior space, said perimeter wall having a curved lower section and a straight upper section, said curved lower section curving outwardly and upwardly away from a perimeter edge of said bottom wall to said straight upper section, said straight upper section being perpendicular to said bottom wall; and

a lid having a central portion and a peripheral skirt extending from said central portion, said peripheral skirt being conformable to extend over and around said upper edge of said perimeter wall wherein said lid sealingly engages said container enclosing said interior space.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising said lid being constructed of a metal foil.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lip extending outwardly from said perimeter wall around said upper edge of said perimeter wall.

6. A disposable portable food container device comprising:

a container, said container being cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall to define an interior space configured for holding food, said bottom wall being planar, said container being constructed of a formable metal, an upper edge of said perimeter wall defining an opening into said interior space, said perimeter wall having a curved lower section and a straight upper section, said curved lower section curving outwardly and upwardly away from a perimeter edge of said bottom wall to said straight upper section, said straight upper section being perpendicular to said bottom wall;

a lid having a central portion and a peripheral skirt extending from said central portion, said peripheral skirt being conformable to extend over and around said upper edge of said perimeter wall wherein said lid sealingly engages said container enclosing said interior space, said lid being constructed of a metal foil; and

a lip extending outwardly from said perimeter wall around said upper edge of said perimeter wall, said peripheral skirt being coextensive with an outer surface of said lip when said lid is coupled to said container.