Stackable container with interlocking arrangement

Abstract

A food container including a container cover, a container body, and an interlocking arrangement which includes a stacking seat continuously indent at a top surface of the container cover along a peripheral edge thereof and an engaging rim continuously protruded at a bottom surface of the container body along a peripheral edge of the bottom wall, wherein the engaging rim has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat in such a manner that when the container is arranged in stack formation above another the identical container, the engaging rim is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat to engage the bottom surface of the container cover with the top surface of the identical container so as to substantially retain said two containers in position and avoid a lateral relative movement between the two containers.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 12/284,299, filed Sep. 18, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a stackable food container with interlocking arrangement, wherein the interlocking arrangement provides a stable way for two or more identical containers stacked one by one.

2. Description of Related Arts

The food container has become one of the articles of daily use and applied on many different purposes such as food storage and transportation. The food container normally comprises a container body to contain the food and a cover to enclose the container body to avoid the food leaking out from the food container and keep it fresh. It is very common that a user uses the containers for packing the food and storing it into refrigerator or food shelf. Generally speaking, the user always stacks one container on the top of another container to have more efficiency storage space. Moreover, the food containers are also for transporting the food everywhere, such as the container for bringing the leftover food home from the restaurant. Another example is the students pack their lunch or snack to school. Also, the workers may have to pack the food such as cheese, meat, or salad into the containers for selling, storing, and displaying the merchandise in the supermarket. While the food containers are transported to another place, it is convenient to stack the containers together to compact the size for efficiency transportation.

Accordingly, there exits a great need of stackable food container for stably stacking the plurality containers one by one for saving the storage space, and being securely transported to prevent the container slipped off to accidentally open the cover of the food container.

Various types of stackable container assemblies are in the market. One of the common stackable containers has a protrusion upwardly protruded from the cover of the container so that the identical containers can be stacked together. Several drawbacks can be found on this type stackable container. First, it is hard to stack any non-identical containers or boxes on the top of this stackable container. The surface of the protrusion at the cover is usually non-flat and has small contact area with another non-identical container or box so that this kind of stackable container has relatively lower friction to prevent the sliding happed while stacking the non-identical containers. Also, in order to enhance the stabilization between the stacked containers, the central portion of the top surface of the cover is correspondingly indented to relatively increase the height of the protrusion. However, the indention of the cover will decrease the capacity of the container. Furthermore, the protrusion has a curved cross section such that the containers will be relatively slipped therebetween. It may cause the food container to be accidentally opened.

It would be desirable to provide securer stackable containers for storage the food at home, to go while ordering food from the restaurant, and displaying and transporting the plurality of food containers. The exits stackable containers still not satisfy the consumers.

In addition, the conventional food container usually does not provide any means for ventilation, which is especially important for certain type of food and for reheating the food inside the food container with a microwave device. Foam food container is not microwaveable while conventional plastic and microwaveable type container does not provide any ventilation holes. Accordingly, it is undesirable to put the food container inside the microwave device.

While locking mechanism is required to prevent any food spill inside the food container, ventilation hole is required to preserve the freshness of food and to allow air passage when reheating the food with a microwave device. The conventional food container fails to fulfill both requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main objective of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that can be easily and securely stacked on top of another, so as to enhance the stabilization of stacking the containers during transportation and storage.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that has geometrically conditioned contours between the contact surfaces between two stackable containers so as to substantially avoid lateral movement therebetween and to retain the stackable containers in position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container, wherein the stacking operation is quick and easy by simply stacking up one container on top of another container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container, wherein an interlocking arrangement is provided on the top of the cover and the bottom of the container having a stacking seat and an engaging rim coupling with each other to interlock two containers while they are stacking on one another.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that the stacking seat has a U-shape cross section and two side engaging walls of stacking seat adapted to block the lateral movement of the engaging rim.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that the two side engaging walls of the stacking seat are preferred parallel to each other so that has relatively higher resistance force to occur the lateral movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that the engaging rim has a U-shape cross section and two engaging walls parallely protruding out from the bottom of the container body and extended out of the bottom of the container body in a preferred parallel manner to define a uniform width slightly smaller than the distance between two engaging walls for coupling with the stacking seat so as to form an secure interlocking system between two stackable containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that the stacking seat and the engaging rim have a substantially rectangular in shape to effectively block the lateral movement between two stackable containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container having a retention seat on the central surface of the cover and a retention member on the central bottom of the container body so that to provide double interlocking arrangement to form relatively more secure interlocking system between two stackable containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that the retention seat and the retention member have a substantially elliptical shape provided on the central surface of the cover within the stacking seat such that to utilize the coupling contact surface so as to increase the security of interlocking between two stacking container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that a embossing wall of the retention seat provided for blocking the lateral movement of the retention member is preferred parallel to the side engaging walls of the stacking seat so that has relatively higher resistance force to occur the lateral movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that an area of the retention member is slightly smaller than an area of the retention seat so that to form an interlocking between the retention member and retention seat to provide the substantial interlocking among the stacking containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that a retention wall of the retention member protruding and extending out from the bottom of the container body in a preferred parallel manner parallely to the side walls of the engaging rim so that has relatively higher resistance force to occur the lateral movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that the surface of the cover having the interlocking arrangement is flat so that a non-identical container, box, or any other food cans can stably stack on the top of the stackable container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable container that a raised cover casing is provided at the container cover so that to increase the capacity of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a food container which is microwavable, lockable, stackable and expandable.

Another object of the present invention is to provided a food container comprising a container body and a container cover which comprises an interlocking arrangement for positioning the container body on top of the container cover in a secure and stackable manner and a ventilation arrangement for air passage.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the container of the present invention comprises a container body, a container cover, and an interlocking arrangement, wherein the container body and container cover are detachable coupling with each other and one container stacks on the top of another one by the interlocking arrangement to securely stack one by one.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a food container comprising: a container body which comprises a surrounding wall and a bottom wall to define a top opening and a storage cavity within the surrounding wall and the bottom wall; a container cover detachably coupling with the container body at the top opening to enclose the storage cavity; and an interlocking arrangement, which comprises: a stacking seat continuously indent at a top surface of the container cover along a peripheral edge thereof; and an engaging rim continuously protruded at a bottom surface of the container body along a peripheral edge of the bottom wall, wherein the engaging rim has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat in such a manner that when the container is arranged in stack formation above another the identical container, the engaging rim is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat to engage the bottom surface of the container cover with the top surface of the identical container so as to substantially retain the two containers in position and avoid a lateral relative movement between the two containers.

Preferably, the stacking seat has a base wall and two side engaging walls upwardly and spacedly extended from the base wall to define an recessing channel between the two side engaging walls, such that when the engaging rim is disposed along the stacking seat, the side engaging walls are adapted to block the lateral movement of the engaging rim.

Preferably, the engaging rim has two sidewalls downwardly protruded from the bottom surface of the container body to define a width slightly smaller than a width of the stacking seat, such that when the engaging rim is disposed along the stacking seat, the sidewalls of the engaging rim are engaged with the side engaging walls of the stacking seat respectively.

Preferably, the stacking seat has a U-shaped cross section that the recessing channel has a uniform height and a uniform width between the two side engaging walls, wherein the engaging rim has a U-shaped cross section corresponding to the stacking seat and has a uniform width slightly smaller than the width of the stacking seat.

Preferably, the stacking seat has a trapezoid cross section that the side engaging walls are inclinedly extended from the base wall, wherein the engaging rim has a trapezoid cross section corresponding to the stacking seat that the sidewalls are extended inclinedly.

Preferably, each of the stacking seat and the engaging rim is substantially rectangular in shape.

Preferably, the interlocking arrangement further comprises a retention seat indent at the top surface of the container cover and surrounded within the stacking seat, and a retention member which is integrally protruded at the bottom surface of the container body and has a size and shape geometrically matching with the retention seat, such that the retention member is complementarily coupled with the retention seat once the engaging rim is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat so as to retain the containers in a stacked manner.

Preferably, the retention seat comprises a continuous retention wall indented at the top surface of the container cover to define a retention cavity thereon, wherein the retention member has a continuous embossing wall downwardly protruded from the bottom surface of the container body and arranged in such a manner that when the retention member is received at the retention cavity of the retention seat, the embossing wall of the retention member is encirclingly engaged with the retention wall of the retention seat.

Preferably, each of the retention seat and the retention member is substantially elliptical in shape.

Preferably, the container cover comprises a sealing rim detachably coupling with a top rim of the container body, and a raised cover casing upwardly extended from the sealing rim to define the top surface on the cover casing.

Preferably, the surrounding wall, which is inclinedly extended from the bottom wall, has a plurality of discrete wall portions integrally extended in a stair manner, such that the discrete wall portions of the surrounding wall not only forms a volume indicator but also substantially increases a volume of the storage cavity in height from bottom to top.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a food container comprising:

a container body which comprises a bottom wall; and a surrounding wall upwardly and peripherally extended from the bottom wall to define a storage cavity therein and a top opening opened to the storage cavity, wherein the surrounding wall defines a surrounding edge peripherally enclosing the top opening, wherein the container body is a substantively rectangular body defining a length and a width of the container body through the surrounding edge of the container body and a depth between the surrounding edge and the bottom wall, wherein the length of the container body is greater than the width of the container body, and the width of the container body is greater than the depth of the container;

a container cover detachably and fittingly coupling with the container body to cover the top opening such that the storage cavity is enclosed while the container body and the container cover are locked into position, wherein the container cover comprises a top cover wall and a cover casing downwardly and peripherally extended from the top cover wall to define a cover cavity therein and a cover opening, wherein the top cover wall defines a cover edge peripherally enclosing the cover opening and a height of the container cover between the cover edge and the top cover wall, wherein the height of the container cover is smaller than the depth of the container body; and

a ventilation arrangement to allow air passage such that when the container body and the container cover are locked into position to enclose the storage cavity, air passage for the storage cavity is allowed, thereby the container body and the container cover are capable of locking into position to enclose the storage cavity through the cover edge and the surrounding edge while providing ventilation arrangement for air passage.

Preferably, the container cover and the container body are made of polypropylene such that both the container cover and the container body are microwave safe, wherein the ventilation arrangement comprises at least one ventilation hole provided on the container cover, thereby any food inside the food container is capable of being reheated with a microwave device without detaching the container cover from the container body.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a stackable container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the stackable container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the stackable container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view illustrating two stackable containers being in a stack formation according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic view illustrating the interlocking arrangements of the two stackable containers being in a stack formation according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of the interlocking arrangement of the stackable container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a food container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the food container according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative mode of the ventilation arrangement of the food container according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates another alternative mode of the ventilation arrangement of the food container according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a container, such as a food container, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the container comprises a container cover 20, a container body 10 sealably closed by the container cover 20.

The container body 10 comprises a bottom wall 11 and a surrounding wall 12 provided at the peripheral of the bottom wall 11 to define a storage cavity and a top opening within the bottom wall 11 and the surrounding wall 12 therein. It is appreciated that the container body 10 and the container cover 20 are preferred made by a thermoformed plastic container, and more specially made by a Polypropylene (PP5), wherein the polypropylene is durable and good for heat-resistant, it is not only reusable but also light and simple to manufacture, so that the polypropylene container can be used in a restaurant as a to-go box or at home for the food storage.

The container further comprises an interlocking arrangement 30 for the containers being arranged in stack formation. The interlocking arrangement 30 comprises a stacking seat 31 integrally provided at the container cover 20 and an engaging rim 32 integrally provided at the container body 10 to detachably interlock with the stacking seat 31 when the containers are in stacked formation.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the stacking seat 31 is continuously indented at the top surface 21 of the container cover 20 along the peripheral edge thereof. The engaging rim 32 is continuously and outwardly protruded at the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 of the container body 10 at the peripheral edge thereof, wherein the engaging rim 32 has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat 31 in such a manner that when the container is arranged in stack formation above another identical container, the engaging rim 32 is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat 31 to engage the bottom surface of the container body 10 with the top surface 21 of the container cover 20 of the identical container so as to substantially retain the two containers in position and avoid a lateral relative movement between the two containers, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the stacking seat 31 comprises a base wall 311, which is a flat bottom surface, and two side engaging walls 312 upwardly extended from the base wall 311 to define a recessing channel 313 within the base wall 311 and the side engaging walls 312. Accordingly, each of the side engaging walls 312 is a flat surface, i.e. the non-curving surface, upwardly extending from the base wall 311. Preferably, the stacking seat 31 has a U-shape cross section that the two side engaging walls 312 are upwardly extending in a parallel manner, wherein the recessing channel 313 is formed with a uniform high and width between two the side engaging walls 112. Therefore, the stacking seat 31 forms a relatively high resistance force for the lateral movement of the engaging rim 32 of the container body 20 while the engaging rim 32 is coupling with the stacking seat 31 to interlock two the stacked containers.

The engaging rim 32 is protruding outwardly from the bottom wall 11 of the container body 10 and has a size and a shape geometrically fit into the stacking seat 31 to detachably couple with the stacking seat 31, wherein the engaging rim 32 has a U-shape cross section corresponding to the stacking seat 31. Accordingly, the engaging rim 32 comprises two side walls 321 preferred parallely extended out from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 of the container body 10, wherein the engaging rim 32 has a uniform high and width slightly smaller than the recessing channel 313 of the stacking seat 31 for securely engaging the engaging rim 32 and the stacking seat 31. In order words, the stacking seat 31 and the engaging rim 32 have a substantially rectangular shape to form at the peripheral edges of the container cover 20 and the container body 10 respectively so that the interlocking arrangement 30 has relatively higher resistance for preventing the lateral movement between two stacking containers.

Accordingly, when the two containers are arranged in stack formation, the engaging rim 32 is disposed within the recessing channel 313 at a position that the engaging rim 32 is sandwiched between the two side engaging walls 312. In other words, the outer side engaging wall 312 of the stacking seat 31 forms an outer boundary to encircle the engaging rim 32 while the inner side engaging wall 312 of the stacking seat 31 forms an inner boundary to encircle the engaging rim 32. In addition, the side walls 321 of the engaging rim 32 are frictionally engaged with the side engaging walls 312 of the stacking seat 31 respectively. Therefore, the seating seat 31 and the engaging rim 32 are interlocked with each other to retain the containers in stack formation.

It is appreciated that the two side engaging walls 312A can be inclinedly extended from the base wall 311A such that the recessing channel 313A has a trapezoid shape that the area of the recessing channel 313A is gradually reducing towards the base wall 311A. Accordingly, the engaging rim 32A also has a corresponding trapezoid shape that the side walls 321A are two inclined walls, wherein the width of the engaging rim 32A is gradually reducing towards the bottom end thereof, as shown in FIG. 5.

It is worth to mention that the stacking seat 31 and the engaging rim 32 are provided at the peripheral edges of the container cover 20 and container body 10 respectively, wherein this interlocking arrangement 30 can provide the relatively largest interlocking area to efficiently prevent the lateral movement between two stacking containers.

In addition, the side engaging walls 312 of the stacking seat 31 and the side walls 321 of the engaging rim 32 have the same high and flat engaging surface so that increases the contact surface between the interlocking arrangement on the container cover 20 and container body 10, as shown in FIG. 4B, such that the friction is increasing so as to increases the resistance force of lateral movement to securely interlock the stacking containers. Moreover, the flat top surface 21 of the container cover 20 can further incorporate with other non-identical containers or other boxes.

Accordingly, the interlocking arrangement 30 further comprises a retention seat 33 provided at the container cover 20 and a retention member 34 provided at the container body 10 to incorporate with the stacking seat 31 and the engaging rim 32 for providing a double-interlocking configuration of the containers in stack formation.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the retention seat 33 is indent at a center portion of the top surface 21 of the container cover 20 and is surrounded within the stacking seat 31. The retention member 34 is integrally protruded at the bottom surface of the container body 10 and has a size and shape geometrically matching with the retention seat 33, such that the retention member 34 is complementarily coupled with the retention seat 33 once the engaging rim 32 is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat 31 so as to retain the containers in a stacked manner.

Accordingly, the retention seat 33 comprises a continuous retention wall 331 indented at the top surface 21 of the container cover 20 to define a retention cavity 332 thereon, wherein the retention member 34 has a continuous embossing wall 341 downwardly protruded from the bottom surface of the container body 10 and arranged in such a manner that when the retention member 34 is received at the retention cavity 332 of the retention seat 33, the embossing wall 341 of the retention member 34 is encirclingly engaged with the retention wall 331 of the retention seat 33, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Accordingly, the bottom wall of the retention cavity 332 also is a flat surface.

Preferably, the retention wall 331 of the retention seat 33 is a flat surface and is extended parallel to the side engaging walls 312 of the stacking seat 31. Likewise, the embossing wall 341 of the retention member 34 is a flat surface and is extended parallel to the side walls 321 of the engaging rim 32. Accordingly, the parallel interlocking arrangement can provide efficiency resistance for lateral movement so as to provide the secure stacking system.

It is appreciated that the retention seat 33 and the retention member 34 have a substantially elliptical shape located at the central surface of the container cover 20 and container body 10 within the stacking seat 31 and the engaging rim 32, wherein the elliptical shape is adapted to utilize the interlocking area so as to securely interlock two stacking containers.

In other words, both the retention wall 331 of the retention seat 33 and the embossing wall 341 of the retention member 34 are curved continuous walls extended around the top surface of the container cover 20 and the bottom surface of the container body 10 respectively. Therefore, the strength of the container cover 20 will be enhanced by the curved continuous wall of the retention seat 33 and the straight continuous wall of the stacking seat 31 for providing a bending resistance of the container cover 20. Likewise, the strength of the container body 10 will be enhanced by the curved continuous wall of the retention member 34 and the straight continuous wall of the engaging rim 32 for providing a bending resistance of the container body 10. In addition, the bottom wall of the retention member 34 is a flat surface and has an elliptical shape to maximize the holding area for retaining the food in the container body 10. Therefore, once the food is contained in the container body 10, the weight of the food is supported on the bottom wall of the retention member 34 and is formed as a downward force to enhance the interlocking structure between the retention member 34 and the retention seat 33 to retain the two containers in stack information, as shown in FIG. 4A.

It is appreciated that the retention wall 331A of the retention seat 33A can be inclinedly indented at the top surface 21 of the container cover 20 that the area of the retention cavity 332A is gradually increasing in an upward direction, as shown in FIG. 5. The embossing wall 341A of the retention member 34A is inclinedly protruded from the bottom surface of the container body 10, wherein when the retention member 34A is disposed within the retention cavity 332A, the embossing wall 341A of the retention member 34A is frictionally engaged with the retention wall 331A of the retention seat 33A, as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, two stackable containers stacked on one another according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein stacking seat 31 and the retention seat 33 of the container cover 20 are substantially engaged with the engaging rim 32 and the retention member 34 of the container body 10, so that securely interlock the two identical containers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the container cover 20 comprises a sealing rim 22 detachably coupling with a top rim 13 of the container body 10 to provide a sealing engagement for sealably closing the container body 10 by the container cover 20, so as to prevent the food inside the container leaking out and keep it fresh.

The container cover 20 further comprises a raised cover casing 23 upwardly extended from the sealing rim 22 to define the top surface 21 on the cover casing 23, such that the container cover 20 is adapted for increasing the capacity of the storage cavity of the container. Accordingly, the problem of the cover of the conventional stackable containers always indented downwardly to provide the interlocking system so as limited the capacity of the container can be improved.

Accordingly, the surrounding wall 12, which is inclinedly extended from the bottom wall 11 of the container body 10, has a plurality of discrete wall portions 121 integrally extended in a stair manner, to form an reinforcing wall of the container body 10 so as to enhance the strength of the container body 10. Accordingly, a reinforcing rib 122 is formed between two discrete wall portions 121 to provide a reinforcing effect for the surrounding wall 12. In addition, the discrete wall portions 121 of the surrounding wall 12 not only forms a volume indicator but also substantially increases a volume of the storage cavity in height from bottom to top.

It is appreciated that the interlocking arrangement 30 is integrally provided with the container body 10 and the container cover 20, such that the interlocking arrangement 30 are formed at the time when the container body 10 and the container cover 20 are manufactured by the single mold to substantially reduce the manufacturing cost of the stackable container built-in with the interlocking arrangement 30.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, a food container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The food container includes a container body 10B, a container cover 20B, an interlocking arrangement 30B and a ventilation arrangement 40B.

The container body 10B which comprises a bottom wall 11B; and a surrounding wall 12B upwardly and peripherally extended from the bottom wall 11B to define a storage cavity therein and a top opening opened to the storage cavity. The surrounding wall 12B defines a surrounding edge 122B peripherally enclosing the top opening.

Preferably, the container body 10 B is a substantively rectangular body defining a length (L) and a width (W) of the container body 10 B through the surrounding edge 122 B of the container body 10 B and a depth (D) between the surrounding edge 122 B and the bottom wall 11B. It is worth mentioning that the length L of the container body is greater than the width W of the container body, and the width W of the container body is greater than the depth D of the container.

The container cover 20B is detachably and fittingly coupling with the container body 10B to cover the top opening such that the storage cavity is enclosed while the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are locked into position. In particular, the container cover 20B comprises a top cover wall 21B and a cover casing 23B downwardly and peripherally extended from the top cover wall 21B to define a cover cavity 24B therein and a cover opening 25B. The top cover wall 21B defines a cover edge 231B peripherally enclosing the cover opening 25B. The container cover 20B has a height H defined as a distance between the cover edge 231B and the top cover wall 21B. It is appreciated that the height H of the container cover 20B is smaller than the depth D of the container body 10B.

The interlocking arrangement 30B comprises a stacking seat 31B continuously indent at a top surface 21B of the container cover 20B along a peripheral edge thereof and an engaging rim 32B continuously protruded from the bottom wall 11B of the container body 10B along a peripheral edge of the bottom wall 11B. The engaging rim 32B has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat 31B in such a manner that the engaging rim 32B is fittingly and complementarily coupled with the stacking seat 31B to secure into position such that any lateral displacement between the container body 10B and the container cover 20B is blocked through the engaging rim 32B and the stacking seat 31B when the container body 10B is positioned on top of the container cover 20B.

In other words, when two identical food containers of the present invention is stacking in a vertical direction, the container body 10B of a first container can be secured into position with the container cover 20B of a second container. Conversely, when one food container of the present invention is in use, the container cover 20B can be detached from the container body 10B, serving as a food tray and positioner for the container body 10B such that the container body 10B can be lifted upward. Accordingly, a user can conveniently use the container cover 20B to lift the container body 10B at a distance from a table top or a table surface and position the container body 10B onto the container cover 20B through the interlocking arrangement 30B such that direct heat transfer between the container body 10B and the table surface is avoided while the container body 10B is well supported through the container cover 20B.

The stacking seat 31B has a base wall 311B and two side engaging walls 312B upwardly and spacedly extended from the base wall 311B to define a recessing channel 313B between the two side engaging walls 312B, such that when the engaging rim 32B is disposed along the stacking seat 31B, the side engaging walls 312B are adapted to block the lateral movement of the engaging rim 32B.

Preferably, the engaging rim 32B has two sidewalls 321B downwardly protruded from the bottom surface 111 of the container body 10B to define a width slightly smaller than a width of the stacking seat 31B, such that when the engaging rim 32B is disposed along the stacking seat 31B, the sidewalls 321B of the engaging rim 32B are engaged with the side engaging walls 312B of the stacking seat 31B respectively. Preferably, each of the stacking seat 31B and the engaging rim 32B is substantially rectangular in shape.

Preferably, the stacking seat 31B has a trapezoid cross section that the side engaging walls 312B are inclinedly extended from the base wall 311B, wherein the engaging rim 32B has a trapezoid cross section corresponding to the stacking seat 31B that the sidewalls 321B are extended inclinedly.

Alternately, the stacking seat 31B has a U-shaped cross section that the recessing channel 313B has a uniform height and a uniform width between the two side engaging walls 312B, wherein the engaging rim 32B has a U-shaped cross section corresponding to the stacking seat 31B and has a uniform width slightly smaller than the width of the stacking seat 31B.

Preferably, the interlocking arrangement 30B further comprises a retention seat 33B indent at the top surface 21 of the container cover 20 and surrounded within the stacking seat 31B, and a retention member 34B which is integrally protruded at the bottom surface 111 of the container body 10. In other words, the retention seat 33B is continuously indented at the top surface of the top cover wall at a center of the top cover wall 21B which is discrete from the stacking seat 31B, and the retention member 34B is protruded outwardly from the bottom wall 11B of the container body 10B at a centre of the bottom wall 11B.

It is appreciated that the retention member 34B has a size and shape geometrically matching with the retention seat 33B in such a manner that the retention member 34B is fittingly and complementarily coupled with the retention seat 33B to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between the container body 10B and the container cover 20B is blocked through the retention member 34B and the retention seat 33B when the container body 10B is positioned on top of the container cover 20B. In other words, once the engaging rim 32B is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat 31B, the retention member 34B is also complementarily coupled with the retention seat 33B, thereby a double locking mechanism is defined to retain the container body 10B and the container cover 20B into position. Accordingly, any relative lateral displacement or movement between the container body 10B and the container cover 20B is double blocked through the stacking seat 31B and the engaging rim 32B as well as the retention member 34B and the retention seat 33B when the container body 10B is positioned on top of the container cover 20B.

In particular, the retention seat 33B comprises a continuous retention wall 331B indented at the top surface of the container cover 20B to define a retention cavity 332B thereon, wherein the retention member 34B has a continuous embossing wall 341B downwardly protruded from the bottom surface 111B of the container body 10B and arranged in such a manner that when the retention member 34B is received at the retention cavity 332B of the retention seat 33B, the embossing wall 341B of the retention member 34B is encirclingly engaged with the retention wall 341B of the retention seat 33B. Preferably, the retention seat 33B and the retention member 34B are substantially elliptical in shape.

The interlocking arrangement 30B further defines a fitting member 35B continuously formed between the retention seat 33B and the stacking seat 31B of the top cover wall 21B and a fitting indention 36B continuously formed between the engaging rim 32B and the retention member 34B, wherein the fitting member 35B has a size and shape geometrically matching with the fitting indention 36B in such a manner that the fitting member 35B is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with the fitting indention 36B to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement or movement between the container body 10B and the container cover 20B is blocked through the fitting member 35B and the fitting indention 36B when the container body 10B is positioned on top of the container cover 20B, thereby the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are interlocked and secured into position.

In other words, the top cover wall 21B and the bottom wall 111B are identical in length and in width in such a manner that the top cover wall 21B is complimentary to the bottom wall 111B in size and shape such that the top cover wall 21B and the bottom wall 111B are interlocked together to prevent any lateral movement when the container body 10B is placed on top of the container cover 20B. Accordingly, a plurality of the food container of the present invention can be stacked together vertically and supported by each others. Also, the container body 10B of can also be raised through the container cover 20B of the same food container.

Preferably, the container cover 20B further comprises a provided at the cover edge 231B, and the container body 10B further comprises a top rim 13B provided at the surround edge 122B which is arranged for detachably coupling with the sealing rim 22B of the container cover 20B. As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the sealing rim 22B is a groove-like structure arranged for fittingly receiving the top rim 13B so that the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are tightly but detachably coupling with each other.

The ventilation arrangement 40B is to allow air passage such that when the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are locked into position to enclose the storage cavity, air passage for the storage cavity is allowed, thereby the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are capable of locking into position to enclose the storage cavity through the cover edge 231 and the surrounding edge 122 while providing ventilation arrangement 40B for air passage.

Preferably, the container cover 20B and the container body 10B are made of polypropylene such that both the container cover 20B and the container body 10B are microwave safe. Also, the ventilation arrangement 40B comprises at least one ventilation hole 41B provided on the container cover 20B, thereby any food inside the food container is capable of being reheated with a microwave device without detaching the container cover 20B from the container body 10B. In other words, the food container can be used to contain food object, as a to-go box or a lunch box, to facilitate transportation in a vehicle and providing stacking flexibilities when more than one container is used while providing lateral movement prevention, and to allow a user to put the whole food container inside a microwave device for reheating, to place the container body 10B on top of the container cover 20B such that direct heat transfer from the container body 10B to a table surface is prevented, and to enjoy the food object inside the container in a convenience way.

Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the surrounding wall 12B, which is inclinedly extended from the bottom wall 11B, has a plurality of discrete wall portions 121B integrally extended in a stair manner to form a reinforcing wall of the container body 10B so as to enhance a strength of the container body 10B. In other words, the discrete wall portions 121B of the surrounding wall 12B not only form a volume indicator but also substantially increase a volume of the storage cavity in height from bottom to top.

Preferably, the surrounding wall 12B has at least a first, a second and a third discrete portions 121B integrally extended in a stair manner respectively, wherein a height of the first discrete portion 121B is approximately 50% of the depth of the container body 10B, wherein a height of the second discrete portion 121B is approximately 25% of the depth of the container body 10B, wherein a height of the third discrete portion 121B is approximately 12.5% of the depth of the container body 10B, such that a sequential 50% decrease in height of the discrete portions 121B is arranged from the surrounding edge 122B of the surround wall towards the bottom wall 11B of the container body 10B and the surrounding wall 12B is inwardly inclined from the surrounding edge 122B of the surround wall 12B towards the bottom wall 11B of the container body 10B, thereby the surrounding wall 12B is strengthened to withstand against an external force in a vertical and downward direction.

In other words, the surrounding wall 12B has a staircase structure, wherein the height of each discrete wall portion 121B is increased by 50% from the bottom wall 11B to the surrounding edge 122B. While the size and shape of the bottom wall 11B and the size of the top cover wall 21B are limited by each other, flexibility in the lateral direction is provided through the staircase structure of the surrounding wall 12B. For example, when three containers are stacked together, the force of the top two food containers are exerted on the bottom one. Then, the vertical force on the bottom food container can be spread through the staircase structure which provides flexibility in the lateral direction to allow a slightly increase in surface area.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, alternatives ventilation arrangement 40B are illustrated. It is worth mentioning that the ventilation arrangement 40B can be provided in a plurality positions of the container cover 20B in such a manner that the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are tightly but detachably coupling with each other while providing air passage through the ventilation arrangement 40B.

As shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the ventilation arrangement 40B comprises four ventilation holes 41B spacedly provided on the container cover 20B. Preferably, the four ventilation holes 41B are provided on four turning points of the retention seat 33B of the container cover 20B.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, the ventilation hole 41B is provided on the cover casing 23B. The ventilation arrangement 40B comprises a ventilation guider 44B corresponding to the ventilation hole 41B which is a tube-like structure having two ends (441B, 442B) in which a first end 441B is connected to the cover casing 23B to enclose the ventilation hole 41B and a second end 442B is arranged for providing a tube opening 4421B such that air passage is guided to flow from the ventilation hole 41B towards the cover edge 231B through the first and second ends 441B, 442B of the ventilation guider 44B. Preferably, the tube opening 4421B is positioned at the cover edge 231B, slight extended beyond the cover edge 231B and is facing downwardly.

As shown in FIG. 8, four ventilation holes 41B are spacedly provided on the cover casing 23B and four corresponding ventilation guider 44B are provided respectively. In particular, the ventilation holes 41B and the ventilation guider 44B are provided in the middle position of each side of the container cover 20B.

Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the ventilation arrangement 40B comprises a plurality of ventilation members 43B spacedly provided along the sealing rim 22B of the container cover 20B such that when the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are locked into position through sealing rim 22B and the top rim 13B, air passage inside the sealing rim 22B is allowed through the ventilation members 43B. In other words, gaps between the ventilation members 43B are formed and hence air passage is allowed.

In particular, each of the ventilation member 43B is a slightly protruded portion extended from a groove bottom surface 221B of the groove-like structure of the sealing rim 22B such that the container body 10B and the container cover 20B are tightly locked into position through the sealing rim 22B and the top rim 13B while providing air passage inside the sealing rim 22B through the ventilation members 43B.

It is appreciated that air passage is not limited to passage of pure air, water moisture or the like having a particle size smaller than an opening of the ventilation hole 41B or the gap between the ventilation members 43B can also pass through the opening provided by the ventilation arrangement.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A food container, comprising:

a container body which comprises a bottom wall; and a surrounding wall upwardly and peripherally extended from said bottom wall to define a storage cavity therein and a top opening opened to said storage cavity, wherein said surrounding wall defines a surrounding edge peripherally enclosing said top opening, wherein said container body is a substantively rectangular body defining a length and a width of said container body through said surrounding edge of said container body and a depth between said surrounding edge and said bottom wall, wherein the length of said container body is greater than the width of said container body, and the width of said container body is greater than the depth of said container;

a container cover detachably and fittingly coupling with said container body to cover said top opening such that the storage cavity is enclosed while said container body and said container cover are locked into position, wherein said container cover comprises a top cover wall and a cover casing downwardly and peripherally extended from said top cover wall to define a cover cavity therein and a cover opening, wherein said top cover wall defines a cover edge peripherally enclosing said cover opening and a height of said container cover between said cover edge and said top cover wall, wherein the height of said container cover is smaller than the depth of said container body; and

a ventilation arrangement to allow air passage such that when said container body and said container cover are locked into position to enclose said storage cavity, air passage for said storage cavity is allowed, thereby said container body and said container cover are capable of locking into position to enclose said storage cavity through said cover edge and said surrounding edge while providing ventilation arrangement for air passage.

2. A food container, as recited in claim 1, wherein said container cover and said container body are made of polypropylene such that both said container cover and said container body are microwave safe, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprises at least one ventilation hole provided on said container cover, thereby any food inside said food container is capable of being reheated with a microwave device without detaching said container cover from said container body.

3. The food container, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an interlocking arrangement, which comprises:

a stacking seat continuously indented at a top surface of said top cover wall along a peripheral edge of said top cover wall;

an engaging rim continuously protruded outwardly from said bottom wall of said container body along a peripheral edge of said bottom wall, wherein the engaging rim has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat in such a manner that said engaging rim is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with said stacking seat to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is blocked through said engaging rim and said stacking seat when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover;

a retention seat continuously indented at the top surface of said top cover wall at a center of said top cover wall which is discrete from said stacking seat; and

a retention member protruded outwardly from said bottom wall of said container body at a centre of said bottom wall, wherein said retention member has a size and shape geometrically matching with said retention seat in such a manner that said retention member is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with said retention seat to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is blocked through said retention member and said retention seat when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover;

thereby a double locking mechanism is defined through said stacking seat and said engaging rim as well as said retention member and said retention seat, such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is double blocked through said stacking seat and said engaging rim as well as said retention member and said retention seat when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover.

4. The food container, as recited in claim 2, further comprising an interlocking arrangement, which comprises:

a stacking seat continuously indented at a top surface of said top cover wall along a peripheral edge of said top cover wall;

an engaging rim continuously protruded outwardly from said bottom wall of said container body along a peripheral edge of said bottom wall, wherein the engaging rim has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat in such a manner that said engaging rim is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with said stacking seat to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is blocked through said engaging rim and said stacking seat when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover;

a retention seat continuously indented at the top surface of said top cover wall at a center of said top cover wall which is discrete from said stacking seat; and

a retention member protruded outwardly from said bottom wall of said container body at a centre of said bottom wall, wherein said retention member has a size and shape geometrically matching with said retention seat in such a manner that said retention member is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with said retention seat to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is blocked through said retention member and said retention seat when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover;

thereby a double locking mechanism is defined through said stacking seat and said engaging rim as well as said retention member and said retention seat, such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is double blocked through said stacking seat and said engaging rim as well as said retention member and said retention seat when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover.

5. The food container, as recited in claim 3, wherein said interlocking arrangement further defines a fitting member continuously formed between said retention seat and said stacking seat of said top cover wall; and a fitting indention continuously formed between said engaging rim and said retention member, wherein said fitting member has a size and shape geometrically matching with said fitting indention in such a manner that said fitting member is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with said fitting indention to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is blocked through said fitting member and said fitting indention when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover, thereby said container body and said container cover are interlocked and secured into position.

6. The food container, as recited in claim 4, wherein said interlocking arrangement further defines a fitting member continuously formed between said retention seat and said stacking seat of said top cover wall; and a fitting indention continuously formed between said engaging rim and said retention member, wherein said fitting member has a size and shape geometrically matching with said fitting indention in such a manner that said fitting member is fittingly and complimentarily engaged with said fitting indention to secure into position such that any relative lateral displacement between said container body and said container cover is blocked through said fitting member and said fitting indention when said container body is positioned on top of said container cover, thereby said container body and said container cover are interlocked and secured into position.

7. The food container, as recited in claim 6, wherein said top cover wall and said bottom wall are identical in length and in width.

8. The food container, as recited in claim 5, wherein said surrounding wall has a plurality of discrete wall portions integrally extended in a stair manner to form a reinforcing wall of said container body so as to enhance a strength of said container body.

9. The food container, as recited in claim 5, wherein said surrounding wall has at least a first, a second and a third discrete portions integrally extended in a stair manner respectively, wherein a height of said first discrete portion is approximately 50% of the depth of said container body, wherein a height of said second discrete portion is approximately 25% of the depth of said container body, wherein a height of said third discrete portion is approximately 12.5% of the depth of said container body, such that a sequential 50% decrease in height of said discrete portions is arranged from said surrounding edge of said surround wall towards said bottom wall of said container body and said surrounding wall in inwardly inclined from said surrounding edge of said surround wall towards said bottom wall of said container body, thereby said surrounding wall is strengthened to withstand against an external force in a vertical and downward direction.

10. The food container, as recited in claim 7, wherein said surrounding wall has at least a first, a second and a third discrete portions integrally extended in a stair manner respectively, wherein a height of said first discrete portion is approximately 50% of the depth of said container body, wherein a height of said second discrete portion is approximately 25% of the depth of said container body, wherein a height of said third discrete portion is approximately 12.5% of the depth of said container body, such that a sequential 50% decrease in height of said discrete portions is arranged from said surrounding edge of said surround wall towards said bottom wall of said container body and said surrounding wall in inwardly inclined from said surrounding edge of said surround wall towards said bottom wall of said container body, thereby said surrounding wall is strengthened to withstand against an external force in a vertical and downward direction.

11. The food container, as recited in claim 5, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprises four ventilation holes spacedly provided on said top surface of said container cover.

12. The food container, as recited in claim 7, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprises four ventilation holes spacedly provided on said top surface of said container cover.

13. The food container, as recited in claim 10, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprises four ventilation holes spacedly provided on said top surface of said container cover.

14. The food container, as recited in claim 13, wherein said four ventilation holes are provided on four turning points of said retention seat of said container cover respectively.

15. The food container, as recited in claim 5, wherein said ventilation hole is provided on said cover casing, wherein said ventilation arrangement further comprises a ventilation guider which is a tube-like structure having a first end connecting to and enclosing said ventilation hole and a second end having a tube opening for air passage such that air is guided to flow from said ventilation hole to said tube opening.

16. The food container, as recited in claim 10, wherein said ventilation hole is provided on said cover casing, wherein said ventilation arrangement further comprises a ventilation guider which is a tube-like structure having a first end connecting to and enclosing said ventilation hole and a second end having a tube opening for air passage such that air is guided to flow from said ventilation hole to said tube opening.

17. The food container, as recited in claim 10, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprises four ventilation holes spacedly provided on said cover casing, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprises four ventilation guiders for said four ventilation holes respectively, wherein each said ventilation guider is a tube-like structure having a first end connecting to and enclosing said ventilation hole and a second end having a tube opening for air passage such that air is guided to flow from said ventilation hole to said tube opening.

18. The food container, as recited in claim 1, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprising a plurality of ventilation members spacedly provided along said sealing rim of said container cover such that when said container body and said container cover are locked into position, air passage between said ventilation members is allowed.

19. The food container, as recited in claim 5, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprising a plurality of ventilation members spacedly provided along said sealing rim of said container cover such that when said container body and said container cover are locked into position, air passage between said ventilation members is allowed.

20. The food container, as recited in claim 9, wherein said ventilation arrangement comprising a plurality of ventilation members spacedly provided along said sealing rim of said container cover such that when said container body and said container cover are locked into position, air passage between said ventilation members is allowed.