COMPARTMENTALIZED HOT LIQUID STORAGE CONTAINER

The present invention provides methods and systems for a storage container that includes a first compartment that has an upper mouth-defining structure, a base portion, and at least one wall extending from the base, forming a cavity therein. A second compartment has an upper mouth-defining structure, a base portion, and at least one wall extending from the base, forming a cavity therein. The container contains a lid that is fixable to the upper mouth-defining structure of the second compartment, wherein the lid has a top surface and a bottom surface.

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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The present patent application/patent claims the benefit of priority of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/461,005, filed on Feb. 20, 2017, and entitled “Compartmentalized Hot Liquid Storage Container,” the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a storage container, and more generally relates to a storage container that contains at least a first compartment for storing a first food product, such as a hot liquid, and a second compartment for a second food product, such as dry items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage containers, designed to store food or liquid, generally contain a base that is engaged to a snap-on lid, and the engagement of the snap-on lid to the base forms a relatively airtight seal. Storage containers such as this are well known and may be designed for either multi-use and single use. Generally, the base of these storage containers are clear, thus allowing a user to view the contents contained within the storage container externally without opening the lid. Alternatively, the base of these storage containers may be opaque or tinted by color for a more appealing look for consumers.

The prior art storage containers contain a lid that forms the airtight seal with the base, thus preventing the flow of air into and out of the container, but also require contents to be mixed together for storing in the same storage container. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a storage container with at least a first and second compartment for storing a hot liquid and dry items separately.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a storage container of the present invention includes a first container that has an upper mouth-defining structure, a base, and at least one wall extending from the base, forming a cavity therein. A second container has an upper mouth-defining structure, a base, and at least one wall extending from the base, forming a cavity therein, and a lid that is fixable to the upper mouth-defining structure of the second compartment, wherein the lid has a top surface and a bottom surface.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a cavity of the first compartment that extends from the upper mouth defining structure to the base.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a cavity of the second compartment that extends from upper mouth defining structure to the base.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a lip disposed on the first compartment having an upper portion and a bottom portion and a lip disposed on the second compartment having an upper portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the lip of the second compartment is engaged to the upper portion of the lip of the first compartment, forming a selectively secured arrangement.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a first tab disposed on the first compartment.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a second tab disposed on the second compartment.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a third tab disposed on the lid.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a first compartment that has a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a first upper mouth defining structure. A second compartment has a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a second upper mouth defining structure, wherein the base portion of the second compartment is received within the first upper mouth defining structure of the first compartment forming a selectively secured arrangement by friction fit. A lid has a top surface and a bottom surface that extends outward to a lip having an upper portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the lid engages the second upper mouth defining structure of the second compartment.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a base portion that is generally convex.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a shelf that extends outwardly from the wall of the first compartment to an edge and a concentric portion extends upwardly from the edge.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a shelf that extends outwardly from the wall of the second compartment to an edge and a concentric portion extends upwardly from the edge.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a mouth defining structure containing a concentric portion of the first compartment that contains a lip that extends outwardly.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a lid that is opaque.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a container can withstand a temperature range from about −25° F. (−31.66° C.) to about 212° F. (100° C.).

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a first compartment that has a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a first upper mouth defining structure, a shelf that extends outwardly from the concentric wall having an upper portion and a bottom portion. A second compartment has a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a second upper mouth defining structure, a shelf extends outwardly from the concentric wall having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the base portion of the second compartment is received within the first upper mouth defining structure and the bottom portion of the shelf of the second compartment is engaged to the shelf of the upper portion of the first compartment forming a selectively secured arrangement by friction fit. A lid has a top surface and a bottom surface that extends outward to a lip having an upper portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the lid engages the second upper mouth defining structure of the second compartment.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a tab on the first compartment.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a tab on the second compartment.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage container includes a tab on the lid

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second compartment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first compartment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the container;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the edge of the lid;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the edge of the lid;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the mouth defining structure of the second compartment;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the mount defining structures of the lid and second compartment;

FIG. 12 is a side cut-away view of the engagement of the mouth defining structures of the lid and second compartment;

FIG. 13 is a side cut-away view of the mouth defining structure of the first compartment;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the second compartment and first compartment.

FIG. 15 is a side cut-away view of the engagement of the mouth defining structure of the second compartment and the first compartment.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a storage container is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is shown generally at reference numeral 10. The container 10 comprises a first compartment 12 having a base portion 14 with an upper mouth defining structure 13 and a generally concentric wall 21 that extends substantially upwardly from the base portion 14, forming a cavity 15 therein, as shown in FIG. 6. The base portion 14 of the first compartment 12 may be generally convex in shape, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A second compartment 16, as shown in FIG. 5, comprises a base portion 18 having an upper mouth defining structure 19 and a generally concentric wall 29 that extends substantially upwardly from the base portion 18. The container 10 also includes a lid 20 that has continuous top and bottom surfaces, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, The upper mouth defining structure 13 of the first compartment 12 contains a shelf 22 having an upper portion and a bottom portion. The shelf 22 extends outwardly to an outer edge from the generally concentric wall 21, thus forming the shelf 22 structure having the upper portion and the bottom portion. A concentric portion 23 extends upwardly from the outer edge of the shelf 22 to an upper edge that contains a lip 17 that extends outwardly from the upper edge. A first tab 24 is also disposed on the upper mouth defining structure 13 of the first compartment 12, and preferably engaged to or in close proximity to the lip 17. Alternatively, the first tab 24 may be integral with the lip 17 and extend outwardly from the lip 17. Although only illustrated with one first tab 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 13, two or more first tabs 24 may extend from the lip 17 or be integral with the lip 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second compartment 16 contains a continuous shelf 26 that extends outwardly to an outer edge from the generally concentric wall 29, thus forming the shelf 26 structure having the upper portion and the bottom portion. A concentric portion 27 extends upwardly from the outer edge of the shelf 26 to an upper edge and contains a lip 25 that extends outwardly from the upper edge. A second tab 28 is also disposed on the upper mouth defining structure 19 of the second compartment 16, and preferably engaged to or in close proximity to the lip 25, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. Alternatively, the second tab 28 may be integral with the lip 25 and extend outwardly from the lip 25. Although only illustrated with one second tab 28, two or more second tabs 28 may extend from the lip 25 or be integral with the lip 25.

The base portion 18 of the second compartment 16 is generally flat. The bottom portion of the shelf 26 of the second compartment 16 may be placed adjacent to the upper portion of the shelf 22 of the first compartment 12, forming a selectively secured arrangement as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The diameter of the concentric portion 27 of the second compartment 16 has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the concentric portion 23 of the first compartment 16, allowing the second compartment 16 to be placed within the cavity 15 of the first compartment 12. The concentric portion 27 of the second compartment 16 has the same general structure as the concentric portion 23 of the first compartment 12, except for the reduction in diameter, allowing the second compartment 16 to be held within the cavity 15 of the first compartment 12 by friction fit. The bottom portion of the lip 25 of the second compartment 16 rests upon the upper portion of the lip 17 of the first compartment 12. The fit also is water tight, so as not to allow liquid contents in the first compartment 12 to exit when the second compartment 16 is placed within the cavity 15 of the first compartment 12.

The first tab 24 that extends slightly beyond the perimeter of the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 16. The user may grasp the first tab 24 and pull downwards, allowing the first compartment 12 to separate from the second compartment 16. The second tab 28 extends slightly beyond the perimeter of the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 16. The user may grasp the second tab 28 and pull upwards, allowing the lid 20 to separate from the first compartment 12. Alternatively, the second tab 28 may be pulled downwards, allowing the second compartment 16 to separate from the lid 20.

The lid 20 may cover the first compartment 12 or second compartment 16. Preferably, the lid 20 covers the second compartment 16, as the second compartment 16 sits above the first compartment 12, as described above and as shown in FIGS. 7, 11, and 12. The lid 20 has a top surface and a bottom surface that extends substantially outwardly to an edge, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The edge of the lid 20 is directed downwardly forming a first side portion 42 to a base portion 30 and then extending upwardly forming a second side portion 44 to a concentric lip 34. A trough 40 is formed between the interior side of the first side portion 42, the interior side of the base portion 30, and the interior side of the second side portion 44 that is concentric and surrounds the lid 20. The lid 20 preferably covers the second compartment 16 and includes a third tab 36 that extends slightly beyond the perimeter of the second compartment 16. The user may grasp the third tab 36 and pull upwards, allowing the lid 20 to separate from the second compartment 16.

The bottom side of the trough 40 extends within the cavity 38 of the second compartment 16. In other words, the exterior side of the second side portion 44 engages the interior side of the concentric portion 27 of the second compartment and the bottom side of the trough 40 engages the upper portion of the shelf 26. The bottom portion of the lip 34 of the lid 20 engages the upper portion of the lip 25 of the lid 20.

The container 10 comprises a first compartment 12 and a second compartment 16, wherein the second compartment 16 is arranged in a stacked configuration with the first compartment 12. For example, the second compartment 16 may be positioned above or on top of the first compartment 12, when the container 10 is placed in an upright position such that it rests on the base portion 14 of the first compartment 12. However, other arrangements of the compartments (12, 16) are possible, such as the second compartment 16 below the first compartment 12. Alternatively, the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 16 can be arranged in a side-by-side configuration. The second compartment 16 contains a cavity 38 for retaining various items, such as dry food and the like.

The first compartment 12 may consist of the larger of the two compartments; however, the opposite may also be true. The second compartment 16 may have a smaller cavity 38 than the cavity 15 of the first compartment 12.

During use, the first compartment 12 contains a first food product and the second compartment 16 contains a second food product. Preferably, the first food product contained within the first compartment 12 may be a soup or pho broth. The food product contained within the second compartment 16 may be meat, tofu, and/or vegetables meant to be dispersed and mixed within the soup or pho. It is intended to keep the soup or pho from the food products of the second compartment 16 meant to be mixed therein. The user is able to mix the food products from the first compartment 12 as desired and at the appropriate time. The container 10 is preferably a take-out container, allowing the user to arrive at home prior to mixing the food products of the second compartment 16 into the soup or pho of the first compartment 12.

It is preferable that the container 10 and it constituent components may be constructed from materials able to withstand a wide range of temperatures. The container 10 should be able to withstand freezing temperatures in a freezer and high temperatures caused by heating in a microwave, thus allowing a user to freeze liquids within the container 10 and allow the user to heat liquids in a microwave. Preferably, the container 10 should be able to withstand a temperature range from about −25° F. (−31.66° C.) to about 212° F. (100° C.), including all points in between. These temperature ranges are the expected temperature ranges that the container 10 will experience during ordinary and intended use.

The container 10, including the first compartment 12, the second compartment 16, and the lid 20, may be constructed of a substantially transparent material, such as plastic that would allow a user to view the contents of the container 10 externally. As stated above, the container 10 may alternatively be constructed of an opaque or color-tinted material, such as plastic. In another alternative embodiment, the compartment (12, 16) and the lid 20 may be composed of different materials or at least composed of different colored materials. For example, the first compartment 12 may be composed of a black plastic and the second compartment 16 and lid 20 may be composed of a transparent or clear plastic.

In an alternative embodiment, the second compartment 16 may include compartments for separating the food products contained within the second compartment 16.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Claims

1. A storage container comprising:

a first compartment that has an upper mouth-defining structure, a base portion, and at least one wall extending from the base, forming a cavity therein;
a second compartment that has an upper mouth-defining structure, a base portion, and at least one wall extending from the base, forming a cavity therein; and
a lid that is fixable to the upper mouth-defining structure of the second compartment, wherein the lid has a top surface and a bottom surface.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the first compartment extends from upper mouth defining structure to the base.

3. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the second compartment extends from upper mouth defining structure to the base.

4. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a lip disposed on the first compartment having an upper portion and a bottom portion and a lip disposed on the second compartment having an upper portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the lip of the second compartment is engaged to the upper portion of the lip of the first compartment, forming a selectively secured arrangement.

5. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a first tab disposed on the first compartment.

6. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a second tab disposed on the second compartment.

7. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a third tab disposed on the lid.

8. A storage container comprising:

a first compartment having a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a first upper mouth defining structure;
a second compartment having a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a second upper mouth defining structure, wherein the base portion of the second compartment is received within the first upper mouth defining structure of the first compartment forming a selectively secured arrangement by friction fit; and
a lid having a top surface and a bottom surface that extends outward to a lip having an upper portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the lid engages the second upper mouth defining structure of the second compartment.

9. The storage container according to claim 8, wherein the base portion is generally convex.

10. The storage container according to claim 8, further comprising a shelf that extends outwardly from the wall of the first compartment to an edge and a concentric portion extends upwardly from the edge.

11. The storage container according to claim 8, further comprising a shelf that extends outwardly from the wall of the second compartment to an edge and a concentric portion extends upwardly from the edge.

12. The storage container according to claim 10, further comprising a mouth defining structure containing a concentric portion of the first compartment that extends to an upper edge and contains a lip that extends outwardly therefrom.

13. The storage container according to claim 8, wherein the first compartment, second compartment, and lid are opaque.

14. The storage container according to claim 8, wherein the container can withstand a temperature range from about −25° F. (−31.66° C.) to about 212° F. (100° C.).

15. A storage container comprising:

a first compartment having a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a first upper mouth defining structure, a shelf that extends outwardly from the concentric wall having an upper portion and a bottom portion;
a second compartment having a base portion that extends to an edge and a concentric wall that extends generally upwardly from the edge of the base portion to a second upper mouth defining structure, a shelf extends outwardly from the concentric wall having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the base portion of the second compartment is received within the first upper mouth defining structure and the bottom portion of the shelf of the second compartment is engaged to the shelf of the upper portion of the first compartment forming a selectively secured arrangement by friction fit; and
a lid having a top surface and a bottom surface that extends outward to a lip having an upper portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the lid engages the second upper mouth defining structure of the second compartment.

16. The storage container according to claim 15, further comprising a tab on the first compartment.

17. The storage container according to claim 15, further comprising a tab on the second compartment.

18. The storage container according to claim 15, further comprising a tab on the lid.

19. The storage container according to claim 15, wherein the first compartment, second compartment, and lid are opaque.

20. The storage container according to claim 8, wherein the container can withstand a temperature range from about −25° F. (−31.66° C.) to about 212° F. (100° C.).

Patent History
Publication number: 20180237188
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 20, 2018
Publication Date: Aug 23, 2018
Applicant: GBC Food Services, LLC (Farmers Branch, TX)
Inventors: Katie Hang AUNG (Irving, TX), Thein Htike AUNG (Irving, TX)
Application Number: 15/900,008
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 25/04 (20060101); B65D 1/36 (20060101); B65D 85/72 (20060101);