FREEZER TO CONVENTIONAL OVEN CONTAINER WITH MATCHING LID

Abstract

A food storage container manufactured from silicone rubber is disclosed. The container can take the shape of a bowl and lid mounted thereto and is able to withstand a wide temperature range extending from below the freezing point of water to above the boiling point of water. In certain embodiments, the silicone rubber can be stiffened in desirable locations such as the side walls and bottom wall of the base of the container. The base can be so reinforced by fully encapsulating reinforcement members therein. The reinforcement members may be made of thermoset resins such as phenolic and melamine the reinforcement members may also be made of such materials as ceramics, glass, metal, and wood. The base may be alternatively reinforced by forming an external cage made of one of the aforementioned materials and fused to an external skin of the silicone rubber.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to food storage containers and, more particularly, relates to food storage containers adapted to withstand a wide temperature range extending from the freezer to a conventional oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Food storage containers come in a variety of forms. Very common examples include ceramic, glass bowls, and casserole dishes into which food can be loaded and closed using a secondary layer such as aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Given the rigid form of such containers, as well as temperature resistance of ceramics, they can easily be used across an extended temperature range including that of a conventional freezer and a conventional oven. However, they can be fairly expensive to purchase, and are susceptible to damage and chipping from relatively minor contact or droppage.

Accordingly, over time, more disposable and durable forms of food containers have been developed. Such containers are typically manufactured from a polymeric material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinylchloride. All such materials are durable but are not necessarily able to withstand such a temperature range. They also are manufactured from fossil based components, the price of which is greatly dependent upon the price of petroleum. As the price of petroleum escalates so do the cost of such polymers and thus so do the cost of such containers. In addition, environmental interests have recently dictated that alternative materials be sourced for manufacturing such containers.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a food storage container is disclosed which comprises a base and reinforcement members. The base includes a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The base and side wall are manufactured from silicone rubber. The reinforcement members are fully encapsulated in at least one of the bottom wall and side wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a food storage container is disclosed which comprises a base and reinforcement members. The base includes a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The base and side wall are manufactured from silicone rubber. The reinforcement members are provided external to the base and include a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The reinforcement members are manufactured from thermoset resin.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a food storage container is disclosed comprising a base, reinforcement members, and a lid. The base includes a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The base and side wall are manufactured from silicone rubber. The reinforcement members are operatively associated with the base. The reinforcement members are manufactured from a thermoset resin with the thermoset resin being one of phenolic and melamine. The lid is removably set upon the base side wall and is manufactured from silicone rubber.

These are other aspects and features of the disclosure will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food storage container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1, but depicted in an open configuration with the lid removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure showing an external support;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the container of FIG. 4, but depicted in an open configuration with the lid removed; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the container of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a food storage container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral 20. While the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings will be set forth in conjunction with a container in the form of a casserole dish and lid, it should be understood that the teachings of the disclosure are applicable to other forms of food storage containers such as bags and other dishes including, but not limited to, bowls, plates, pans, and the like.

As shown in combination with FIGS. 2 and 3, the container 20 includes a base 22 to which a lid 24 is removably mounted. Beginning with the base 22, as shown best in FIG. 3, it includes an exterior skin 26 in which reinforcement members 28 are fully encapsulated. By “fully encapsulated,” it is meant that the reinforcement members are completely covered by the exterior skin 26 on all sides. The base 22 includes a bottom wall 30 from which a side wall 32 upwardly extends. As the exterior skin 26 is preferably manufactured from silicone rubber, the reinforcement members 28 are provided therein to stiffen the base 22. Accordingly, the base 22 is able to retain its shape to thereby define storage space 34.

With specific reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the reinforcement members 28 at least in the depicted embodiment is not of a solid continuous shape, but rather is formed from a plurality of slats 36. More specifically, the bottom wall of the reinforcement members 28 is formed from a plurality of intersecting slats 36 extending radially outward from a central hub 40. The intersecting slats 36 then extend upwardly at a roughly 90° angle to the bottom wall to form the side wall 32. In so doing, openings 42 are provided between the slats 36. Of course the reinforcement members 28 can be formed from a continuous piece of material but in order to reduce cost and weight, the inventors have found that such a formation is not necessary.

In order to not only reinforce the base 22, but also maintain the ability of the food storage container 20 to withstand a wide temperature range, the reinforcement members 28 should be manufactured from a material which has both the ability to stiffen the base 22 and withstand such a temperature range. The inventors have found that certain thermoset resins are capable of performing both functions, with phenolic and melamine being two suitable examples. Other suitable materials include, but are not limited to, ceramics, glass, metals, and wood. As used herein, the temperature range across which the food container 20 is adapted to operate extends from a conventional freezer to a conventional oven. Put another way, the container must be able to withstand temperatures extending from below the freezing point of water to above the boiling point of water, and put yet another way, the temperature range should be from at least negative 20° F. to at least positive 450° F.

With respect to the lid 24, as shown best in FIG. 3, it includes a bottom plate 44 from which a handle 46 upwardly extends. While not depicted, the bottom plate 44 may include a groove or the like about its outer periphery 48 to more securely sit upon or within a groove (not shown) provided about the top edge 50 of the base side wall 32. Other shapes and mating structures can be provided to more effectively seal the lid 24 to the base 22 if desired.

Like the base 22, the lid 24 is preferably manufactured from silicone rubber as is the base 22. Silicone rubber has the advantages of a broad temperature performance range, inertness, and reasonably good release characteristics. In addition, if it is desired to provide the lid 24 with any stiffening components such as a situation with a relatively large diameter lid 24, reinforcement members (not shown) could be encapsulated within the lid 24 as well. Such reinforcement members would be manufactured from thermoset resins such as phenolic and melamine as is the case with the base 22. Other suitable materials include ceramics, glass, metals, and wood.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, an alternative embodiment of a container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral 120. As shown therein, the container 120 similarly includes a base 122 to which a lid 124 is removably mounted. However, a difference with respect to the first embodiment is that reinforcement members 128 are not fully encapsulated within skin 126 but rather are provided external thereto. Such a feature may be desirable in the event that the container 120 is to be translucent in that openings 130 are provided between vertical slats 138.

With specific reference to the reinforcement members 128, each include a bottom wall 131 from which a side wall 132 upwardly extends. Similarly, the skin 126 includes bottom wall 133 from which the side wall 134 upwardly extends and defines a storage space 135. The reinforcement member 128 includes a plurality of intersecting slats 136 as shown in FIG. 5 which continue in a vertical direction to form side wall 132. Intersecting slats 136 extend radially outwardly from a central hub 140.

Similar to the first embodiment, the lid 124 includes a bottom plate 144 from which a handle 146 upwardly extends. Also, and again not depicted, the periphery 148 of the bottom plate 144 could be provided with a downwardly depending rib or the like which could sealingly mate with a groove provided within a top edge 150 ofthe side wall 132.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the teachings of the disclosure set forth a container which is able to withstand a wide temperature range extending from below the freezing point of water to above the boiling point of water and which is manufacturable from a material not only able to withstand those temperatures, but which does so in a durable fashion and by way of non-fossil and non-petroleum based source materials.

Claims

1. A food storage container, comprising:

a base having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the base and side wall being manufactured from silicone rubber; and

reinforcement members being fully encapsulated in at least one of the bottom wall and side wall.

2. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement members are manufactured from a thermoset resin, or ceramic or tapered glass.

3. The food storage container of claim 2, wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic.

4. The food storage container of claim 2, wherein the thermoset resin is melamine.

5. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement members are manufactured from one of ceramics, glass, metal, and wood.

6. The food storage container of claim 1, further including a lid adapted to sit atop the base side wall, the lid being manufactured from silicone rubber.

7. The food storage container of claim 6, wherein the lid further includes reinforcement members fully encapsulated in the silicone rubber.

8. The food storage container of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement members are manufactured from a thermoset or resin.

9. The food storage container of claim 8, wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic.

10. The food storage container of claim 8, wherein the thermoset resin is melamine.

11. The food storage container of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement members are made of one of ceramics, glass, metal, and wood.

12. A food storage container, comprising:

a base having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the base and side wall being manufactured from silicone rubber; and

reinforcement members provided external to the base, the reinforcement members including a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the reinforcement members being manufactured from a thermoset resin.

13. The food storage container of claim 12, wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic.

14. The food storage container of claim 12, wherein the thermoset resin is melamine.

15. The food storage container of claim 12, wherein the side wall of the reinforcement members are formed from a plurality of vertical slats.

16. The food storage container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wall of the reinforcement members are formed from a plurality of intersecting slats.

17. The food storage container of claim 12, further including a lid adapted to sit atop the base side wall, the lid being manufactured from silicone rubber.

18. The food storage container of claim 17, wherein the lid further includes reinforcement members fully encapsulated in the silicone rubber.

19. The food storage container of claim 18, wherein the reinforcement members in the lid are manufactured from a thermoset resin.

20. The food storage container of claim 19, wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic.

21. The food storage container of claim 19, wherein the thermoset resin is melamine.

22. A food storage container, comprising:

a base having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the base and side wall being manufactured from silicone rubber;

reinforcement members being operatively associated with the base, the reinforcement members being manufactured from a thermoset resin, the thermoset resin being one of phenolic and melamine; and

a lid removably set upon the base side wall, the lid being manufactured from silicone rubber.