Stackable sealable food container
An apparatus for retaining food or liquid comprising a bowl and a cover is provided. The cover has a first portion, which has a plurality of holes. A means for attaching the cover to the bowl is provided so that the cover remains attached to the bowl whether the apparatus is right side up or upside down. The cover may include a rim. The means for attaching the cover to the bowl may include a plurality of protrusions attached to the rim. The cover may include an inner wall and an outer wall attached to the rim, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are each approximately perpendicular to the rim. The plurality of protrusions may be fixed to the outer wall and may protrude inwards substantially perpendicularly from the wall.
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning food containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious food containers are known in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention in one or more embodiments provides an apparatus for retaining food or liquid comprising a bowl and a cover. The cover may be comprised of a first portion, which has a plurality of holes. A means for attaching the cover to the bowl is provided so that the cover remains attached to the bowl whether the apparatus is right side up or upside down. The cover may include a rim. The cover may include an outer wall attached to the rim and an inner wall attached to the rim, wherein the inner and outer walls are approximately perpendicular to the rim. The plurality of protrusions may be fixed to the outer wall and may protrude inwards substantially perpendicularly from the outer wall. The rim of the bowl may be wedged between the inner and outer walls. The inner wall may fit tightly against an inner surface of the bowl, like a cork plugged into a bottle. This double-wall (i.e. the outer and inner wall prevents leakage. Prior art food containers, only have a single wall hugging the rim of the bowl from outside.
The bowl may include a flange, which can be overlapped by the plurality of protrusions to attach the cover to the bowl. The protrusions on the outer wall secure the cover onto the bowl by going under the flange of the bowl. The cover may be transparent so that food or liquid within the the apparatus can be seen.
The bowl may have a bottom portion. The cover may have a top channel. The bottom portion of the bowl may be sized to snugly fit into the top channel of the cover, so that an apparatus comprised of the cover attached to the bowl can be stacked on top of an identical apparatus. The cover may include a rim. The rim of the cover may be substantially parallel to the top portion of the cover. The top portion of the cover may be elevated with to the rim of the cover.
The present invention, in one or more embodiments also includes a method comprising the steps of forming a bowl and a cover as previously described. The plurality of holes is then formed in the first portion of the cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The indented portion 102 has a top surface 102a shown in
The portion 108 has a top surface 108a shown in
The channel 114 has a top surface 114a and a bottom surface 114b. The rim 116 has a top surface 116a and a bottom surface 116b. The wall 118 has an outer surface 118a shown in
An apparatus 1, such as in
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.
Claims
1. An apparatus for retaining food or liquid comprising:
- a bowl; and
- a cover comprised of a first portion which has a plurality of holes; and
- means for attaching the cover to the bowl so that the cover remains attached to the bowl whether the apparatus is right side up or upside down.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
- the cover includes a rim; and
- wherein the means for attaching the cover to the bowl includes a plurality of protrusions attached to the rim.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein
- the cover includes an outer wall attached to the rim, wherein the outer wall is approximately perpendicular to the rim;
- and wherein the plurality of protrusions is fixed to the outer wall and protrudes inwards substantially perpendicularly from the outer wall.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein
- the bowl includes a flange, which can be overlapped by the plurality of protrusions to attach the cover to the bowl.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein
- the cover includes an inner wall attached to the rim, wherein the inner wall is approximately perpendicular to the rim.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
- the cover is transparent.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
- the bowl has a bottom portion;
- the cover has a top channel; and
- and wherein the bottom portion can be snugly fit into the top channel of the cover.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein
- the cover includes a rim; and
- wherein the rim of the cover is substantially parallel to the top portion.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein
- The top portion of the cover is elevated with respect to the rim of the cover.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein
- the cover includes an outer wall attached to the rim, wherein the outer wall is approximately perpendicular to the rim;
- and wherein the plurality of protrusions is fixed to the outer wall and protrudes inwards substantially perpendicularly from the outer wall.
11. A method of forming a food or liquid container comprising the steps of
- forming a bowl;
- forming a cover forming a first portion which has a plurality of holes; and
- forming a means for attaching the cover to the bowl so that the cover remains attached to the bowl whether the apparatus is right side up or upside down.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising
- forming a rim for the cover;
- and forming a plurality of protrusions attached to the rim;
- wherein the means for attaching the cover to the bowl includes the plurality of protrusions attached to the rim.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising
- forming an outer wall attached to the rim, wherein the outer wall is approximately perpendicular to the rim;
- and wherein the plurality of protrusions is formed fixed to the outer wall and protrudes inwards substantially perpendicularly from the outer wall.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising
- forming a flange for the bowl wherein the flange can be overlapped protrusions contact the bottom surface of the flange, maybe not overlap by the plurality of protrusions to attach the cover to the bowl.
15. The method of claim 13
- the cover includes an inner wall attached to the rim, wherein the inner wall is approximately perpendicular to the rim.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein
- the cover is transparent.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising
- forming a bottom portion for the bowl;
- forming a top channel for the cover; and
- wherein the bottom portion can be snugly fit into the top channel of the cover.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein
- the cover includes a rim; and
- wherein the rim of the cover is substantially parallel to the top portion.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein
- the top portion of the cover is elevated with respect to the rim of the cover.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein
- the cover includes an outer wall attached to the rim, wherein the outer wall is approximately perpendicular to the rim;
- and wherein the plurality of protrusions is formed fixed to the outer wall and protruding inwards substantially perpendicularly from the outer wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 14, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 14, 2006
Inventor: Chih Wong (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 11/152,484
International Classification: B65D 6/28 (20060101);