Container

A container having a container element, a lid element removably joined to the container element to form a sealed storage cavity, and a bowl element that removably covers the lid element to protect it during transport. The storage cavity has an interior vertical wall dividing it into multiple storage chambers. The lid element has two openings, each sealably closed by an operable flap movable from an open position to a closed position. In an open position, the flap has a convex outer surface forming a spout for the opening. In a closed position, the flap has a concave outer surface and engages all edges of the opening to seal the opening. When in use, the bowl element can be removably stowed to the bottom of the container element or used as a serving vessel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved container. In particular, an improved container for the storage and transport of food (such as solid food items or snacks) therein and the serving of food therefrom, that is portable, durable and easily operable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing containers for food items are unsatisfactory in that they do not completely seal the food items from ingress of contaminants, do not allow the user to dispense food items directly into the mouth, are not of a size and shape as to be easily portable in a purse, bag or cup holder. Existing food containers often do not offer more than one separate compartments for storing and dispensing two or more distinct food items. Existing snack containers do not allow for portioning when dispensing and eating from the containers. Most prior art containers require the use of two hands or multiple digits to operate (i.e. to open and close the container). The present invention addresses each of these shortcomings and presents an improved solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The container of the present invention includes a container element, a lid element, and a bowl element. The container and lid elements are removably joined together to form a sealed storage cavity. The bowl element removably covers the lid element to protect it from coming into contact with external contaminants and serves as a serving vessel.

The container element has a generally cylindrical body with a closed bottom end and an open top end defining a storage cavity. The storage cavity may be divided into multiple storage chambers with one or more interior vertical walls.

The lid element has a substantially concave upper surface, with at least one cut-out opening for the egress of food stored in the storage cavity. Each opening is sealably closed by means of an operable flap made of a resilient/elastomeric material having a generally vesical piscis shape. One curved edge of the flap is attached to the periphery edge of the opening, with the other, distal, curved edge of the flap selectively engages the opposite edge of the opening to seal the opening. The outer surface of the flap changes from a convex curve with the opening accessible and the flap forming a spout to a concave curve with the opening sealed by the flap. The distal curved edge of the flap may overhang the opposite edge of the opening to facilitate the lifting of the flap with a finger.

The bowl element is removably attachable to the top of the container element to cover and protect the lid element during transport. When the container is in use, the bowl element may alternatively be removably attachable to the bottom of the container element or be used as a serving vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown inFIGS. 1 to 17an improved container10for storing, transporting and serving food or snack. The container10of the present invention includes a container element100, a lid element200, and a bowl element300. The container element100and the lid element200are removably joined together to form a sealed storage cavity108. The bowl element300removably covers the lid element200to protect it from coming into contact with external contaminants and serves as a serving vessel.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 17, the container element100has a generally cylindrical body102with a closed bottom end104and an open top end106defining a storage cavity108. Optionally, the container element100includes an interior vertical wall110to create a plurality of separate storage chambers112a&112bwithin the container element100. Each storage chamber112a&112bcan be filled with a different food item. The wall110is removably placed and positioned in the storage cavity108to allow a user to customize the container element100. The wall10slides vertically into the container element100, with the inner wall114of the container element100having one or more guiding channels116or tabs to receive the vertical wall110. The wall110is not limited to a planar wall as shown in the FIGS., but can have a bent/angle/curve to the wall110, such as one that can divide the storage cavity108into three or more storage chambers112a,112b, etc. of equal or non-equal sizes, with corresponding channels116for receiving different shape walls110. The container element100may also include more than one interior vertical wall110with corresponding channels116for receiving the walls110. The vertical wall110can alternatively be permanently fixed within the storage cavity108.

The bottom end104of the container element100has a stepped-in cylindrical body102having a smaller outer diameter than the rest of the container element100to receive the bowl element300. The bottom end104of the container element100and the bowl element300have corresponding means to releasably engage each other, such as groove121and tab301, respectively. Other means for engaging the container element100to the bowl element300known to one skilled in the art, such as a helical thread, ¼ turn ramp, annular snap, friction, or via magnetic retaining element, etc. can be used.

The inner wall114of the container element100at the top end106has means for receiving the lid element200, such as one or more lock turn ramps120. Other means for engaging the lid element200to the container element100known to one skilled in the art, such as a helical thread, annular snap, friction, latch/tab and groove, or via magnetic retaining element friction, etc. can be used.

The dimensional range for the generally cylindrical body102can be 2.5″-2.7″ for its outer diameter, so as to fit into a majority of cup holders found in vehicles, etc. However, different sizes can be used. Further, although the container element100is described as having a generally cylindrical body102, other prism shapes (such as oval, any polygon, or random curve) can be used.

The container element100can be single- or double-walled. A double walled container element100with vacuum insulation provides insulative properties to maintain the temperature of the food stored therein, whether it is hot or cold. The container element100can be made of stainless steel or plastic, and be opaque, translucent or transparent, as illustrated inFIGS. 12-15.

The lid element200sealably attaches to the top end106of the container element100by means of a latch204at the lower end of the lid element200that interacts and mates with the lock turn ramp120. The lid element200removably seals the storage cavity108of the container element100. When the lid element200is removed from the container element100, the open top end106of the container element100provides access to easily fill the storage cavity108or chambers112a&112b(seeFIG. 3). The lid element200is made of a stiff/rigid material.

The lid element200has a generally concave upper surface206, with two cut-out openings208a&208b. On the lower surface207is a depending wall209. The depending wall209aligns with and abuts the wall110of the container element100when the lid element200is properly affixed to the container element100. Similarly, the openings208a&208bcorrespondingly align with the separate chambers112a&112bof the container element100when the lid element200is properly affixed to the container element100. As such, a user can selectively dispense from the chambers112a&112bthrough the corresponding opening208a&208b. Due to the restricted aperture size of the openings208a&208b, the lid element200dispenses food item from the container element100in a controlled manner. Food items from the container element100exits the openings208a&208bat a manageable rate (as opposed to uncontrolled amount of food flowing out). To the extent wall110is not planar and has a different shape or design, the depending wall209has a corresponding shape or design as wall110to be able to isolate the chambers112a,112b, etc.

The openings208a&208bare sealably closed by means of operable flaps210a&210bmade of a resilient/elastomeric material such as silicone. Each flap210aor210bhas a generally vesical piscis shape, with opposing curved edges212aor212b&214aor214b. The lower curved edge212aor212bof each flap210aor210bis permanently attached to the lid element200around the peripheral edge216aor216bof the opening208aor208b. The distal, upper, curved edge214aor214bof each flap210aor210bselectively engages the inner edge218aor218bof the opening208aor208b. The flap210aor210bis formed from a section of a cylinder, and the outer surface220aor220bof the flap210aor210bchanges from a convex curve with the opening208aor208baccessible (seeFIGS. 6 and 10) to a concave curve with the opening208aor208bsealed by the flap210aor210b(seeFIG. 2). The distal, upper, curved edge214aor214bof the flap210aor210boverhangs the inner edge218aor218bof the opening adjacent the concave upper surface206to facilitate the lifting of the flap210aor210bwith a finger. Each flap210aor210bis movable from a closed position by grasping anywhere along the distal, upper, curved edge214aor214bof the flap210aor210bwith the tip of a finger, and pulling it outwards and away from the inner edge218aor218bof the opening208aor208band the central axis of the container element100. The distal, upper, curved edge214aor214bof the flap210aor210band the inner edge218aor218bof the opening208aor208bfurther restrict the aperture size of the openings208a&208bfor controlled dispensing of food from the chambers112aor112b. The outer surface220aor220bof the flap210aor210bin a convex curve state forms a spout for the guided dispensing of food from the chambers112aor112b, and provides a visual view of the food being dispensed (seeFIG. 5). The spout also allows a user to pour food items directly into one's mouth due to the controlled dispensing from the restricted aperture size of the openings208a&208b, which is convenient for a driver of a vehicle.

To close the opening208aor208b, the outer surface220aor220bor distal upper edge214aor214bof the flap210aor210bis pushed inwards and towards the inner edge218aor218bor the opening208aor208bwith the tip of a finger. In a closed position, the flap210aor210brests and presses against the inner edge218aor218bof the opening208aor208bcreating a substantial seal against the ingress of contaminants or the egress of food stored in the chamber112aor112b. The flap210aor210bsecurely rests against the opening208aor208bdue to the interaction between the resiliency of the flap210aor210bagainst the stiff/rigid structure of opening208aor208bof the lid element200. The flap210aor210brequires no additional retention features such as snap teeth to keep the flap in a closed position, nor the open position. The flap210aor210bnaturally stays at rest in each of the two positions, open or closed. The flap210aor210bis easily operated with one finger, to both close and open. This feature is particularly helpful for a driver of a vehicle.

Due to the positioning of the distal curved edge214aor214bof the flap210aor210bbeing near the central axis and adjacent the concave curved surface206of the lid element200below the top edge222of the lid element200, accidental lifting (i.e. opening) of the flap210aor210bis avoided.

Bowl element300has a substantially flat base302with a generally cylindrical wall304extending from the base302defining a hollow area306. The bowl element300removably attaches to the lid element200or the container element100. To protect the lid element200during transport and to prevent contaminants from contacting the lid element200as an additional barrier to ingress of contaminants into the container element100, the bowl element300is attachable to the lid element200with the rim308of the cylindrical wall304engaging a flange224of the lid element200. The lid element200is substantially entirely fit within the hollow area306of the bowl element300. Positioning the bowl element300over the lid element200also prevents the accidental egress of food items from the container element100. In the hollow area306not taken up by the lid element200, e.g. above the closed flaps210a&210b(seeFIGS. 1 & 2), is a diametrically aligned space (see line10-10inFIG. 2) that can be used to store appropriately sized accessories such as a foldable utensil, a towelette, etc.

The bowl element300, after removal from the lid element200can be used as a serving vessel to hold a portion of the food items dispensed from the container element100so that the food items are easily accessible by the user's fingers to grasp and eat the food items (seeFIG. 5). If the bowl element300is not used as a serving vessel, it may alternatively be attached to the bottom end104of the container element100as described above (seeFIGS. 2, 4, 8, etc.). With the bowl element300placed on the bottom end104of the container element100, it is out of the way so it does not hinder access to the operable flaps210a&210b, but stays connected to the container element100so there are no loose parts to lose in use or transport. The bowl element300can be conveniently stowed away in a way that it stays clean for later use.

When the bowl element300is stowed on the bottom end104of the container element100, it can fit over the stepped-in cylindrical body102such that the profile of the container element100is streamlined (seeFIGS. 4, 8 and 10). Similarly, when the bowl element300is stowed on the top of and over the lid element200, the profile of the container element100is also streamlined (seeFIGS. 1 and 7).

FIG. 17shows another embodiment where the bowl element300ais releasably tethered to the top end106of the container element100by means of a flexible/elastomeric tether element310having a length of material connecting two interconnected loops312. The two loops312engage an annular groove314on the cylindrical wall304of bowl element300aand an annular groove122adjacent the top end106of the container element100, respectively. The loops312may be stretched to fit into the grooves314&122or they may be frictionally held to be easily releaseable from the bowl element300aor the container element100. The bowl element300amay alternatively be tethered to groove121with the bowl element300aplaced on the bottom end104of the container element100.

The features of the invention illustrated and described herein are the preferred embodiments. Therefore, it is understood that the specification is intended to cover unforeseeable embodiments with insubstantial differences that are within the spirit of the specification.