Food storage system

Abstract

The present invention provides for aa food container designed to fit onto a cup, the container comprises a bottom and sidewalls extending from the bottom, the sidewalls having an upper end, the upper end of the sidewalls folds to form an extended portion and forms an open topside leading to a compartment, and the extended portion comprises a lower end forming a lip, the sidewalls and the extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of the container, and the upper end of the side walls of the container comprising an opening leading to the cavity.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a food container and more specifically, to a food storage system having an attachable upper food storage device and a lower liquid storage device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides for a food container comprising a bottom and sidewalls extending from the bottom, the sidewalls having an upper end, the upper end of the sidewalls folds to form an extended portion and forms an open topside leading to a compartment, and the extended portion comprises a lower end forming a lip, the sidewalls and the extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of the container, the upper end of the sidewalls of the container comprising an opening leading to the cavity, wherein the container is designed to fit onto a cup, and wherein the container is made of a pliable material. The pliability of the container allows it to be attached and detached to a cup.

In another embodiment, the sidewalls extend upwardly from the bottom and the extended portion extends downwardly leading to the lip. In yet another embodiment, the container further comprises a cup. In still another embodiment, the lip of the lower end of the extended portion is designed to be situated upon a top end of the cup.

In still another embodiment, a portion of the compartment is situated below a rim of the cup and a portion of the compartment is situated above the rim of the cup.

In still yet another embodiment, there is ratio between the portion of the compartment situated below and above the rim of the cup, and the ratio is 50:50. In a further embodiment, there is a percentage of the portion of said compartment is situated below the rim of the cup, and the percentage is from about 10% to about 90%. In another further embodiment, there is a percentage of the portion of the compartment is situated above the rim of the cup, and the percentage is from about 10% to about 90%. It is important to note that the present invention provides for a balanced system; the food container sits atop the liquid container and must be balanced to provide a stable food storage device.

In yet a further embodiment, the length of the sidewalls is greater than the length of the extended portion. In still a further embodiment, the length of the sidewall is from about 1 to about 5 times greater than the length of the extended portion.

In still yet a further embodiment, the container of the present invention is stackable with other containers. In another embodiment, there is a plurality of containers and the containers are stackable on top of one another for storage purposes.

In a further embodiment, the container is disposable (it is constructed of a material that is disposable).

In another embodiment, the container further comprises a removable lid. In yet another embodiment, the lip of the extended portion of the container comprises a tab and the lid is attachable to the tab.

In still another embodiment, the container further comprises a straw, and the opening is designed to receive the straw. In still yet another embodiment, the opening is designed to be a drinkable spout.

In a further embodiment, the sidewalls are upwardly tapered and the extended portion is downwardly tapered. In another further embodiment, at least a portion of the upper end of the sidewalls is angled.

In yet another further embodiment, the lip of the extended portion has a circumference from about 85 mm to about 105 mm.

In still another further embodiment, the present invention relates to a solid and liquid container system comprising: a first container comprising a bottom and sidewalls extending from the bottom, the sidewalls having an upper end, the upper end of the sidewalls having a return and forming an extended portion and forming an open topside and a first compartment, the extended portion comprising a lower end forming a lip, the sidewalls and the extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of the first container, the topside of the first container comprises an opening leading to the cavity, wherein the container is made of a pliable material, and a second container comprising a cup, and the cup has a top side leading to a rim, the lip of the first container is designed to attach to the rim on the top side of the cup. The pliability of the container allows it to be attached and detached to a cup.

In a further embodiment, a portion of said first compartment is situated above the rim of the cup and a portion of the first compartment is situated below the rim of the cup. In yet a further embodiment, the system further comprises a lid.

In still a further embodiment, there is ratio between the capacity of the cup and the capacity of the compartment of the first container, said ratio is from about 4:1 to about 1:1.

In still yet a further embodiment, the present invention provides for a food storage system comprising: a first container comprising a bottom and sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom, the sidewalls having an upper end, the upper end of the sidewalls overlapping downwardly to form an extended portion and forming an open topside and a compartment, the extended portion comprising a lower end forming a lip, the sidewalls and the extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of the compartment, the topside of the compartment comprising an opening leading to the cavity, wherein the first container is designed to fit over a second container, and wherein the container is made of a pliable material. In a further embodiment, the system comprises a second container which is a cup. The pliability of the container allows it to be attached and detached to a cup.

In another further embodiment, the system further comprises a plurality of first containers, and the first containers are nestable with one another.

In yet another further embodiment, a portion of the upper end of the sidewalls of the first container is sloped opposite of the opening. In still another further embodiment, the system further comprises a lid, and the lid is integral to a portion of the extended potion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the present invention showing the first container, the cup and a lid;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 without a lid;

FIG. 3 is a topside perspective view of the food container of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a overhead view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an underside perspective view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the food container with a lid; and

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the cup and container.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate the solid and liquid container system 1 of the present invention. The system 1 comprising: a first container 2 comprising a bottom 3 and sidewalls 4 extending from the bottom 3. The sidewalls 4 have an upper end 4a, and the upper end 4a of the sidewalls 4 having a return and forming an extended portion 5 and forming an open topside 6 and a first compartment 7. The extended portion 5 comprising a lower end 5b forming a lip 8. The sidewalls 4 and the extended portion 5 form a cavity 9 on an underside 66 of the first container 2. The topside 6 of the first container 2 comprises an opening 10 leading to the cavity 9. The system 1 further comprises a second container comprising a cup 22, and the cup 22 has a top side 26 leading to a rim 28. The lip 8 of the first container 2 is designed to attach to the rim 28 on the top side 26 of the cup 22. There is a lid 50 to cover the open topside 6 of the first container 2. The lid 50 can have a lid tab 55.

The container further comprises a straw 99, and the opening 10 is designed to receive the straw 99 (See FIG. 2). In another embodiment, the opening 10 is designed to be a drinkable spout.

FIGS. 3-7 depicts a food container 2 comprising a bottom 3 and sidewalls 4 extending from the bottom 3. The sidewalls 4 have an upper end 4a, and the upper end 4a of the sidewalls 4 folds to form an extended portion 5 and forms an open topside 6 leading to a compartment 7. The extended portion 5 comprises a lower end 5b forming a lip 8. The sidewalls 4 extend upwardly from the bottom 3 and the extended portion 5 extends downwardly leading to the lip 8. The sidewalls 4 and the extended portion 8 form a cavity 9 on an underside 66 of the container 2. The upper end 4a of the sidewalls 4 of the food container 2 comprises an opening 10 leading to the cavity 9, and wherein the container 2 is designed to fit onto a cup 22.

The food container 2 further comprises a removable lid 50. The lip 8 of the extended portion 5 of the food container 2 comprises a tab 77 and the lid 50 is attachable to the container tab 77 (See FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 shows a portion of the compartment 7 is situated below a rim 28 of the cup 22 and a portion of the compartment 7 is situated above the rim 28 of the cup 22.

The mechanism including, but limited to the device for moving the movable element and the pivoting mechanism can be used and interchanged to form various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A food container comprising a bottom and sidewalls extending from said bottom, said sidewalls having an upper end, said upper end of said sidewalls folds to form an extended portion and forms an open topside leading to a compartment, said extended portion comprising a lower end forming a lip, said sidewalls and said extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of said container, said upper end of said sidewalls of said container comprising an opening leading to said cavity, wherein said container is designed to fit to a cup, and wherein said container is made of a pliable material.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said pliability of said container allows a user to attach and detach said container to cup.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls extend upwardly from said bottom and said extended portion extends downwardly leading to said lip.

4. The container of claim 1 further comprising a cup.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein said lip of said lower end of said extended portion is designed to be situated upon a top end of the cup.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein a portion of said compartment is situated below a rim of the cup and a portion of said compartment is situated above the rim of the cup.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein there is ratio between said portion of said compartment situated below and above the rim of the cup, said ratio is 50:50.

8. The container of claim 6 wherein there is a percentage of said portion of said compartment is situated below the rim of the cup, said percentage is from about 10% to about 90%.

9. The container of claim 6 wherein there is a percentage of said portion of said compartment is situated above the rim of the cup, said percentage is from about 10% to about 90%.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein the length of said sidewalls is greater than the length of said extended portion.

11. The container of claim 10 where the length of said sidewall is from about 1 to about 5 times greater than the length of said extended portion.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein said container is stackable with other containers.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein said container is disposable.

14. The container of claim 1 further comprising a removable lid.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein said lip comprises a tab and said lid is attachable to said tab.

16. The container of claim 1 further comprising a straw, said opening is designed to receive said straw.

17. The container of claim 1 wherein said opening is designed to be a drinkable spout.

18. The container of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls are upwardly tapered.

19. The container of claim 1 wherein said extended portion is downwardly tapered.

20. The container of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said upper end of said sidewalls is angled.

21. The container of claim 1 wherein said lip of said extended portion has a circumference from about 85 mm to about 105 mm.

22. A solid and liquid container system comprising:

a first container comprising a bottom and sidewalls extending from said bottom, said sidewalls having an upper end, said upper end of said sidewalls having a return and forming an extended portion and forming an open topside and a first compartment, said extended portion comprising a lower end forming a lip, said sidewalls and said extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of said first container, said topside of said first container comprising an opening leading to said cavity, wherein said container is made of a pliable material; and

a second container comprising a cup, said cup having a top side leading to a rim, said lip of said first container is designed to attach to said rim on said top side of said cup.

23. The container of claim 22 wherein said pliability of said container allows a user to attach and detach said container to cup.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein a portion of said first compartment is situated above said rim of said cup.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein a portion of said first compartment is situated below said rim of said cup.

26. The system of claim 22 further comprising a lid.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein there is ratio between the capacity of said cup and the capacity of said compartment of said first container, said ratio is from about 4:1 to about 1:1.

28. A food storage system comprising:

a first container comprising a bottom and sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom, said sidewalls having an upper end, said upper end of said sidewalls overlapping downwardly to form an extended portion and forming an open topside and a compartment, said extended portion comprising a lower end forming a lip, said sidewalls and said extended portion forming a cavity on an underside of said compartment, said topside of said compartment comprising an opening leading to said cavity, said container is designed to fit over a second container, wherein said container is made of a pliable material.

29. The container of claim 28 wherein said pliability of said container allows a user to attach and detach said container to cup.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein a portion of said first compartment is situated above said rim of said cup.

31. The system of claim 28 further comprising a second container, said second container comprises a cup.

32. The system of claim 28 further comprising a plurality of first containers, said first containers are nestable with one another.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein a portion of said upper end of said sidewalls of said first container is sloped opposite of said opening.

34. The system of claim 28 further comprises a lid, said lid is integral to a portion of said extended potion.