Thermal Energy Storage Container
A thermal energy storage container cover which is adapted to be detachably engaged with a base such that the container may define a cavity for food storage, a chamber for storing utensils, and/or a compartment which contains a thermal energy storage material.
The present invention relates to thermal energy storage containers and covers and, more particularly, to containers and covers having a thermal energy storage material located therein and to covers having a separately accessible chamber for storage of utensils and/or food accessories.
Thermal energy storage packs are generally known for use in maintaining the contents of a storage container in a heated or cooled state. For example, frozen thermal packs are pre-filled with a thermal energy storage material which can be frozen and then placed alongside food in an insulated container, such as a cooler, in order to maintain the cooler contents, such as food and drinks, in a cold state for a predetermined time period. Such thermal energy materials generally have 10-15 times the thermal capacity of frozen water and therefore maintain the cooler contents in a cold state for an extended period of time in comparison to ice alone. Such cold packs can be reused numerous times by refreezing them between use, and also avoid the problem of melting liquid contacting the items in the cooler. Energy storage materials which maintain heat are also known which can be preheated in a microwave, or through other means.
These heat or cold packs generally come in predetermined sizes which are not always convenient for a small quantity of food, such as a single person's meal. In addition, for a person desiring to transport only a single meal for later consumption, placing one or more food storage containers and a thermal energy storage pack alongside food in a cooler or box and storing utensils or other food accessories can be a significant inconvenience.
It may be advantageous to provide a single container which includes one or more cavities for food storage, a compartment which holds thermal energy storage material, and/or a chamber for utensils and other food accessories.
SUMMARYOne embodiment of the present invention is directed to a thermal energy storage container. The thermal energy storage container comprises a base and a cover. The base defines at least one food storage cavity, such that any two cavities are separated by dividing walls in the base. The cover is detachably engaged with the base along its lateral sides, and comprises a cover body, a lid, and thermal energy storage material. The cover body defines a compartment such that when the cover and base are engaged, the compartment is located adjacent to the one or more food storage cavities formed by the base. Thermal energy storage material is located in this compartment such that depending on its temperature, it can heat or cool the contents of the one or more food storage cavities. The upper surface of the cover defines a chamber that is adapted to receive at least one utensil and/or other food accessory. The lid is positioned on the upper surface of the cover, and this lid allows access to the utensils or food accessories without opening the container or interfering with the interface of the thermal energy storage material and the food storage cavities.
Another embodiment of the present invention is separately directed to a thermal energy storage container. The thermal energy storage container comprises a base and a cover. The base defines at least one food storage cavity, such that any two cavities are separated by dividing walls in the base. The cover is detachably engaged with the base along its lateral sides, and comprises a cover body, a lid, and thermal energy storage material. The cover body defines a compartment such that when the cover and base are engaged, the compartment is located adjacent to the one or more food storage cavities formed by the base. Thermal energy storage material is located in this compartment such that depending on its temperature, it can heat or cool the contents of the one or more food storage cavities. The upper surface of the cover defines a chamber that is adapted to receive a food accessory or a food item. The lid is positioned on the upper surface of the cover, and allows access to the food accessory or food item without opening the container or interfering with the interface of the thermal energy storage material and the food storage cavities. The lid rotates about an axis which is generally askew from the lateral sides of the cover body in order to decrease the possibility that opening the lid will cause the cover to detach from the base of the thermal energy storage container.
Another embodiment of the present invention is separately directed to a thermal energy storage container adapted to separately hold one or more types of consumable food product. The thermal energy storage container comprises a base and a cover. The base defines at least one food storage cavity, such that any two cavities are separated by dividing walls in the base. A lip extends generally outwardly from the edge of the base at its top edge, and includes crescent sections on opposing sides of the base. Each crescent section includes a notch therein to assist in the attachment of the cover. The cover is detachably engaged with the base along its lateral sides, and comprises a cover body, a lid, and thermal energy storage material. The cover body defines a compartment therein. Thermal energy storage material is located in this compartment such that depending on its temperature, it can heat or cool the contents of the one or more food storage cavities. A shroud extends generally outwardly from the cover body and when the cover is secured to the base, the shroud covers the lip and crescent sections of the base. A plurality of tabs along the shroud is adapted to each engage a notch in the crescent section of the base and provide a secure attachment of the cover to the base. The upper surface of the cover defines a chamber that is adapted to receive a food accessory or a food item. The lid is positioned on the upper surface of the cover, and allows access to the food accessory or food item without opening the container or interfering with the interface of the thermal energy storage material and the food storage cavities. The lid rotates about an axis which is generally askew from the lateral sides of the cover body in order to decrease the possibility that opening the lid will cause the cover to detach from the base of the thermal energy storage container.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “front”, “back,” “lower,” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the container and designated parts thereof. The language “at least one of ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’,” as used in the claims and in corresponding portions of the specification, means “any group having at least one ‘A’; or any group having at least one ‘B’; or any group having at least one ‘C’;—and does require that a group have at least one of each of ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’.” Additionally, the terms “a” and “one”, as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The term “utensil”, as used in the claims and in corresponding portions of the specification, means “any implement or food accessory used in (or with) the consumption of food or beverage items, including but not limited to a fork, a spoon, a knife, salt, pepper, a straw, chopsticks, or the like. The term “consumable”, as used in the claims and in corresponding portions of the specification, means “any item which is to be stored for later consumption or use, including but not limited to foods and beverages, including both items stored directly in the thermal energy storage system and items in separate packaging”. The above terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
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While various shapes, configurations, and features have been described above and shown in the drawings for the various embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that any combination of the above features can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is recognized by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. For example, the shape of the container, the relative dimensions of the container, the number and location of cavities adapted to receive consumables, and, if present, the location of the detachable panel may be changed without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications which are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and/or shown in the attached drawings.
Claims
1. A container adapted to separately hold at least one of a food, a utensil, and a food accessory, comprising:
- a base defining at least one cavity adapted to receive food; and
- a cover detachably engaged with the base, the cover comprising: a cover body having lateral sides and an upper surface defining at least one chamber adapted to receive at least one utensil; the cover body defining a compartment located such that, while the cover is engaged with the base, the compartment is located adjacent to the at least one cavity formed by the base; thermal energy storage material located in the compartment and adapted to heat and/or cool food located in the at least one food receiving cavity in the base; and a lid positioned along the upper surface of the cover body and adapted to, in combination with the cover body, enclose the at least one chamber, wherein the at least one chamber allows the at least one of the utensil and the food accessory to be added to the container while simultaneously heating and/or cooling any food contained in the base body and reducing the transfer of thermal energy between any food in the base body and the atmosphere surrounding the container.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover body includes a detachable panel located on a surface opposite from the lid adapted to allow access to the compartment.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material is configured as a removable insert to allow the thermal energy storage material to be heated or cooled separately from the cover.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid rotates around an axis that is generally askew from the lateral sides of the cover body.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover has a major surface with a generally rectilinear shape and the lid has a generally rectilinear shape, the generally rectilinear shape formed by the lid being generally askew to the generally rectilinear shape formed by the cover.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid is aligned at an angle relative to the upper surface of the cover body
7. A container, comprising:
- a base defining at least one cavity adapted to receive food; and
- a cover detachably engaged with the base, the cover comprising: a cover body having lateral sides and an upper surface defining at least one chamber adapted to receive a food accessory and/or food; the cover body defining a compartment located such that, while the cover is engaged with the base, the compartment is located adjacent to the at least one cavity; thermal energy storage material located in the compartment and adapted to heat and/or cool food located in the at least one food receiving cavity in the base; and a lid positioned along the upper surface of the cover body and adapted to, in combination with the cover body, enclose the at least one chamber, wherein the lid rotates around an axis that is generally askew from the lateral sides of the cover body.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein at least one utensil is located in the at least on chamber.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein when the lid is closed, an outer surface of the lid is generally flush with the upper surface of the cover surrounding the at least one chamber.
10. The container of claim 7, wherein the cover has a major surface with a generally rectilinear shape and the lid has a generally rectilinear shape, the generally rectilinear shape formed by the lid being generally askew to the generally rectilinear shape formed by the cover.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the lid is pivotally connected to the cover body via a hinge.
12. The container of claim 10, wherein the thermal energy storage material is a gel.
13. The container of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of taps depending from the lateral sides of the cover body and adapted to engage the base.
14. The container of claim 7, wherein the cover body includes a detachable panel located on a surface opposite from the lid adapted to allow access to the compartment.
15. The container of claim 7, wherein the thermal energy storage material is configured as a removable insert to allow the thermal energy storage material to be heated or cooled separately from the cover.
16. A container adapted to separately hold consumables, comprising:
- a base comprising: a base body defining at least one cavity adapted to receive food; a lip extending generally outwardly from an edge of the base body proximate to the opening of the at least one cavity, the lip including generally crescent sections on opposing sides of the base body, the crescent sections each including a notch therein;
- a cover detachably engaged with the base, the cover comprising: a cover body having lateral sides and an upper surface defining at least one chamber adapted to receive a food accessory and/or food; the cover body defining a compartment located therein; thermal energy storage material located in the compartment and adapted to heat and/or cool food located in the at least one food receiving cavity in the base; and a lid positioned along the upper surface of the cover body and adapted to, in combination with the cover body, enclose the at least one chamber, wherein the lid is aligned at an angle relative to the upper surface of the cover body; a shroud extending generally outwardly from the cover body and adapted to, when the cover is secured to the base, cover the lip and the crescent sections of the base body, the shroud further including a plurality of tabs each adapted to engage a notch in the base body when the shroud covers the lip of the base body; and
- at least one utensil located in the at least one chamber.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the cover body includes a detachable panel located on a surface opposite from the lid adapted to allow access to the compartment.
18. The container of claim 16, wherein the thermal energy storage material is configured as a removable insert to allow the thermal energy storage material to be heated or cooled separately from the cover.
19. The container of claim 18, wherein the base body defines multiple cavities for receiving food with dividing walls configured to prevent thermal energy storage material from completely leaving the compartment if the panel is dislodged while the cover is engaged with the base.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 9, 2008
Publication Date: Jan 14, 2010
Inventors: Donna Roth (Plymouth, MA), Henry Roth (Plymouth, MA)
Application Number: 12/169,925
International Classification: B65D 88/74 (20060101);