LID FOR FOOD JAR

A lid for a food jar is described that may be used to store and transport food items. The lid includes a storage compartment. A sliding door extends from the lid to open or reveal the compartment, and the sliding door retracts to the lid to cover or conceal the compartment. The lid functions with a variety of containers including insulated or uninsulated structures to store the food items, possibly at warmed or chilled temperatures for later consumption.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lid for a food jar.

BACKGROUND

Food jars or containers are often used to store and transport food items. The food items may include soups, stews, beverages, or other food items that the user prefers to consume with a separate utensil, such as a spoon or fork. The user may prefer to add additional condiments, seasonings, etc. to the food items immediately before eating the food item. Such utensils and/or food items may become lost or separated from the food jar during transportation.

SUMMARY

A lid for a food jar is described that may be used to store and transport food items or drink items. The lid includes a storage compartment. The lid functions with a variety of containers including insulated or uninsulated structures to store the food items, possibly at warmed or chilled temperatures for later consumption.

The illustrated embodiment of the lid for a food jar includes a sliding door and a compartment. The sliding door opens and closes the compartment. The lid fits over a stopper of the food jar. The stopper closes an opening of the container. The container includes an interior to store a food item or could be configured to store beverages. The lid includes the compartment that conveniently holds utensils and/or foods products in proximity to the food jar.

In another aspect, a lid for a food jar is described. The lid for the food jar includes a compartment. The compartment is configured to hold an eating utensil, a food product, or a combination thereof. The lid includes a sliding door, which is configured to slidably engage to the lid. The sliding door is configured to extend from and retract to the lid.

In another aspect, a lid for a food jar is described. The food jar includes a compartment. The compartment is configured to hold an eating utensil, a food product, or a combination thereof. The compartment is formed in an upper surface of the lid. The lid includes a sliding door. The sliding door is configured to slidably engage to the lid. The compartment includes a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. The first lateral wall is generally opposite of the second lateral wall. The compartment is generally between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall. The sliding door includes a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The first lateral edge slidably engages to the first lateral wall, and the second lateral edge slidably engages to the second lateral wall. The sliding door extends from the lid to open or reveal the compartment, and the sliding door retracts to the lid to cover or conceal the compartment.

In another aspect, a food jar includes a lid. The lid includes a compartment and a sliding door. The sliding door is configured to slidably engage to the lid. The sliding door is configured to extend from and retract to the lid. The food jar includes a stopper. The food jar includes a container having an opening and an interior configured to store a food item or beverage. The stopper is configured to close the opening. A lower opening of the lid is configured to fit over a portion of the stopper or the container.

In another aspect, a food jar includes a lid. The lid includes a compartment and a sliding door. A lower surface of the compartment includes one or more protrusions. The protrusions extend upwardly from the lower surface. A bottom surface of the sliding door includes one or more fins proximate a front edge of the sliding door. The fins project downwards from the bottom surface of the sliding door. The one or more fins proximate the front edge of the sliding door are configured to engage the one or more protrusions to bias the sliding door to remain in a closed position. The bottom surface further includes one or more fins proximate a rear edge of the sliding door. The one or more fins proximate the rear edge of the sliding door are configured to engage the one or more protrusions to stop or prevent a sliding movement of the sliding door beyond a fully extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

For purposes of this application, any terms that describe relative position (e.g., “upper”, “middle”, “lower”, “outer”, “inner”, “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, etc.) refer to an embodiment of the invention as illustrated, but those terms do not limit the orientation in which the embodiments can be used.

A lid100for a food jar50will now be described with reference toFIGS.1-17. The lid100fits over or engages a stopper400of the food jar50. The stopper400closes an opening of a container500of the food jar50. The container500includes an interior520to store food items or beverages.

The lid100includes a sliding door200and a compartment300. The sliding door200may extend from and retract to the lid100. The sliding door200may extend from the lid100to open or reveal the compartment300. The sliding door200may retract from the lid100to cover or conceal the compartment300. In certain aspects, the sliding door200may extend and retract in a direction generally perpendicular to a central vertical axis of the food jar50or the container500.

The compartment300may be formed in an upper surface105of the lid100. The compartment300may hold an optional utensil, such as a collapsible spoon110or other fork, knife, spoon, etc. In other aspects, the compartment300may hold two optional eating utensils, such as two collapsible spoons110or other forks, knives, spoons, or combinations thereof. In other aspects, the compartment300may be configured to hold other food products or items, such as condiments or condiment packages, drink additives, crackers, seasonings, salt, pepper, vitamins, supplements, other foods, etc. The compartment300conveniently holds the utensils and/or foods products in close connection with the food jar50, such that the utensils and food items are not easily separated and lost. Further, the compartment300may contain the utensils and foods items to reduce contamination from exterior sources. As such, the container500is configured to hold a first food item or beverage, and the compartment300is configured to hold a second foot item or utensil.

In this aspect, the sliding door200includes a generally rectangular shape. A front edge205of the sliding door200is generally opposite of a rear edge210of the sliding door200. The front edge205of the sliding door200may include a curved perimeter to approximately match a curved perimeter of the lid100. In other aspects, the sliding door200may include a square, triangular, ovular, or other shape.

The sliding door200further includes a first lateral edge220and a second lateral edge240. The first lateral edge220and the second lateral edge240slidably engage to the compartment300.

In the closed position, an upper surface260of the sliding door200may be generally flush with the upper surface105of the lid100. In the closed position, the sliding door200is integrated into the upper surface105of the lid100. The front edge205of the sliding door200forms a portion of an outer circumference of the lid100. The upper surface260may include an optional detent263and/or an optional depression266. The detent263and the depression266provide the user with a gripping surface or gripping point to pull and/or push the sliding door200between the open and closed positions. In other aspects, the upper surface260may include a patterned or textured surface to provide the gripping surface or other frictional contact surface.

The compartment300will now be described with reference toFIG.6. The compartment300includes a first lateral wall320and a second lateral wall340. The first lateral wall320is generally opposite of the second lateral wall340, and the compartment300is generally between the first lateral wall320and the second lateral wall340. The compartment300includes an interior305suitable for storage.

The sliding door200is generally slidably engaged to the lid100. The sliding door200and the lid100may include any of a variety of tracks, rails, guide structures, protruding members, protrusions, rims, bearing surfaces, extending members, etc. that provide for the sliding engagement between the sliding door200and the lid100. Such sliding structures may be molded into the sliding door200and the lid100. For example, the sliding door200and the lid100may include a sliding engagement where a protruding member or extending member of the sliding door200or the lid100slides under a rim or shelf of the sliding door200or the lid100. For example, the sliding door200and the lid100may include a sliding engagement where a protrusion, knob or button of the sliding door200or the lid100rides or slides in a channel or track of the sliding door200or the lid100.

In the aspect ofFIGS.1-17, the first lateral wall320of the compartment300includes a first extending rim322and second extending rim326. With respect toFIG.11, a gap324is formed between the first extending rim322and the second extending rim326. Similarly, the second lateral wall340of the compartment300includes a first extending rim342and second extending rim346. A gap344is likewise formed between the first extending rim342and the second extending rim346.

The first lateral edge220of the sliding door200includes a first protruding member224, and the second lateral edge240of the sliding door200includes a second protruding member244. The first protruding member224and the second protruding member244extend outward from the sliding door200. When the sliding door200is installed to the lid100, the first protruding member224generally slides under the first extending rim322and the second extending rim326of the compartment300, while the second protruding member244generally slides under the first extending rim342and the second extending rim346of the compartment300to provide a slidable engagement between the sliding door200and the lid100.

With respect toFIG.4, the engagement of the sliding door200to the lid100is shown. In this aspect, the first protruding member224is dropped, inserted, or otherwise placed into the gap324, and the second protruding member244is dropped, inserted, or otherwise placed into the gap344. Then, the first protruding member224may slide under the either of the first extending rim322and/or the second extending rim326, and the second protruding member244may be slid under the first extending rim342and/or the second extending rim346. This provides a sliding engagement between the sliding door200and the lid100. This also reduces or prevents upward movement of the sliding door200relative to the lid100. The sliding engagement provides lateral movement for the sliding door200relative to the lid100. In other aspects, the positioning of the first protruding member224and the second protruding member244and the extending rims322,326,342, and346may be reversed such that the sliding door200includes extending rims and the lateral walls320and340includes protruding members or combinations thereof.

When the sliding door200is fully retracted, the sliding door200is moved to a closed position. When the sliding door200is fully extended, the sliding door200is moved to a fully open position. In this aspect, as described below, the sliding door200is configured to be maintained or is biased to remain in the retracted position or closed position. This helps to reduce accidental or unintentional opening of the sliding door200. Further, in this aspect, the sliding door200is configured to prevent over-extension and/or separation of the sliding door200from the lid100. This helps to reduce loss of the sliding door200and maintain the compartment300in a closed status. Thus, the sliding door200is configured to remain in the closed position, and the sliding door200is configured to not extend past the fully open position.

With reference toFIGS.9and10, a lower surface310of the compartment300includes one or more protrusions350and a bottom surface270of the sliding door200includes one or more fins276and278or other extending structures. The one or more fins276and278engage the protrusions350in the closed position and in the fully open positions.

The protrusions350extend upwardly from the lower surface310. In this aspect, the lower surface310includes two protrusions350. Of course, the lower surface310may include fewer or additional protrusions as preferred. In this aspect, the two protrusions350are positioned proximate a front edge312of the compartment300of the lid100. In this aspect, the two protrusions350are separated by a front of a first well360of the lid100. In other aspects, the two protrusions350may be separated by a space or flat portion of the lower surface310. In other aspects, the protrusions350may be combined into a single integral ridge.

The bottom surface270of the sliding door200includes the one or more fins276and278or other extending structures that project downwards from the bottom surface270of the sliding door200. In the aspects ofFIGS.16and17, the bottom surface270includes two fins276proximate the front edge205of the sliding door200, and the bottom surface270includes two fins278proximate the rear edge210of the sliding door200. The fins276and278help with holding or maintaining the sliding door200in the closed positioned and further help to prevent the200from fully separating from the lid100when the sliding door200is in the fully open position. The one or more fins276and278extend generally perpendicular to a direction of movement of the sliding door200. In this aspect, the bottom surface270includes the two fins276and the two fins278. Of course, the bottom surface270may include fewer or additional fins276and278as preferred. In other aspects, the two fins276and the two fins278may include different or identical structures.

In certain aspect, the protrusions350may include an angled or ramped surface facing the front edge312and a squared surface facing a rear portion314of the compartment300. The two fins276proximate the front edge205of the sliding door200may include a distal tip with angled or ramped surfaces in both the closing and opening directions of the sliding door200such that these two fins will frictionally catch against and still pass over the protrusions350. Meanwhile, the two fins278proximate the rear edge210of the sliding door200may include distal tips with a squared surface to generally hold or lock against the squared surface of the protrusions350and generally reduce further movement.

FIGS.16and17show sectional views of the lid100and the sliding door200in the closed and the fully open positions. InFIG.16, in the closed position of the sliding door200, the two fins276proximate the front edge205of the sliding door200are positioned to a right side of the protrusions350. This biases the sliding door200to remain in the closed position. When moving to the open position, the two fins276proximate the front edge205of the sliding door200move from the right side of the protrusions350to a left side of the protrusions350. The sliding door200may continue to move to the fully open position where the two fins278proximate the rear edge210of the sliding door200generally hold or lock against the protrusions350to generally prevent further movement of the sliding door200.

The sliding door200is configured to be maintained or is biased to remain in the retracted position or closed position. In order to extend the sliding door200from the closed position, the sliding door200is pulled an/or pushed with sufficient force to move the two fins276proximate the front edge205of the sliding door200over the protrusions350, which provide some frictional or physical resistance. Thus, when the sliding door200is in the closed position, the position of the two fins276biases or urges the sliding door200to remain in the closed position. This arrangement reduces the inadvertent movement of the sliding door200to the open position. Further, as the sliding door200is moved to the closed position and the two fins276proximate the front edge205of the sliding door200are moved over the protrusions350, this arrangement may provide audible or tactile “click” or indication to the user that sliding door200is in the closed position. In other aspects, the relative positions of the protrusions350and the fins276and278may be reversed between the sliding door200and the lower surface310.

Further, the two fins278proximate the rear edge210of the sliding door200help to prevent the inadvertent removal of the sliding door200from the lid100. As shown inFIG.17, these fins278generally hold or lock against the protrusion350when the sliding door200is fully extended from the lid100. This reduces a likelihood of the sliding door200from being inadvertently completely separated from the lid100by a user who over-zealously pulls and/or pushes on the sliding door200away from the lid100. The two fins278proximate the rear edge210may be longer than the two fins276proximate the front edge205to increase resistance to complete removal of the sliding door200. As described above, the two fins278proximate the rear edge210may include different shapes than the two fins276proximate the front edge205to provide different operating characteristics.

With reference toFIG.3, the stopper400closes an opening510of the container500. In this aspect, the container500includes a wide mouth opening to readily accept food items such as stews, chili, soups, beverages, or other foods that might not fit so easily into a narrow mouth container. The container500may be vacuum insulated or insulated with an insulating material. The opening510leads into the interior520of the container500that holds the food items.

The stopper400may include one or more vent passages that provides for gas to pass through the stopper400. This allows interior pressure within the container500to equalize with ambient pressure.

The compartment300includes a depression or well to hold the collapsible spoon110or items. In the aspect ofFIGS.1-17, the compartment300includes the first well360and a second well362that are sized and shaped to hold the collapsible spoon110. In this aspect, the first well360includes one or more snaps363around a perimeter of the first well360. The one or more snaps363assist in holding a mouth portion of the collapsible spoon110. In this aspect, the second well362includes a clip364to hold an end of the collapsible spoon110. In this aspect, with respect toFIG.14, the first well360is shaped to receive the mouth portion of the collapsible spoon110. In other aspects, the compartment300may be sized and shaped to accommodate different utensils and/or food related items. The compartment300may include a single main well or additional wells.

In the aspect ofFIGS.1-17, the lid includes an optional handle170. The handle170is positioned over the compartment300. The handle170includes a first handle leg172and a second handle leg174that extend upward from the upper surface105of the lid100. In this aspect, the handle170is fastened to the upper surface105and is over the compartment300. In other aspects, the handle170may be integrally molded to the upper surface105. The first handle leg172and the second handle leg174join a gripping portion176. In this aspect, the gripping portion176is generally perpendicular to a major length of the compartment300. In other aspects, the optional handle170may be omitted or orientated in a different direction or manner. In other aspects, the lid100may include carrying clips, swivel handles, carrying loops, carabineers, etc.

In this aspect, the lid100includes a generally round shape. The lid100includes the upper surface105that is generally opposite of a lower rim180. A sidewall190joins the upper surface105and the lower rim180. In this aspect, the sidewall190is integrally molded with the upper surface105, but in other aspects, the upper surface105and the sidewall190may be formed from two or more components and attached together.

In this aspect, the lower rim180of the lid100includes a snap-fit or frictional engagement to the container500. The lid100may be urged over the stopper400and snapped into place in a removable engagement. In other aspects, the lid100and the container500may include any complementary engaging structures such as complementary threads, bayonet engagement, or other engagements configured to removably attach or engage the lid100to the stopper400and/or the container500. For example, threads on an interior of the sidewall190of the lid100may engage with exterior threads on the stopper400or the container500.

In this aspect, the stopper400includes a generally round shape. The stopper400includes an upper wall420that is generally opposite of a bottom wall440. In this aspect, the upper wall420is shaped with a depression424that may partially receive a lower side of the compartment300. A sidewall460joins the upper wall420and the bottom wall440. In this aspect, the sidewall460is integrally molded with the bottom wall440, but in other aspects, the bottom wall440and sidewall460may be formed from two or more components and attached together. The stopper400may include an interior with insulation. In this aspect, the sidewall460includes exterior threads462to threadably engage with interior threads532of the container500. In this aspect, the stopper400includes a rim470to engage an upper surface512of the opening510.

In other aspects, the sidewall460or other portion of the stopper400may include interior threads to threadably engage exterior threads of the container500of the food jar50. In other aspects, the stopper400and the container500may include any complementary engaging structures such as snap-fit engagement, frictional engagement, bayonet engagement, or other engagements configured to removably attach the stopper400to the container500.

In this aspect, the stopper400is threadably engaged to the container500. The stopper400seals the container500to a closed position. The stopper400may include a seal to seal against an internal surface of a neck530of the container500. As the stopper400is screwed to the container500, the seal is urged against the internal surface of the neck530to seal the container500to the generally closed position.

The stopper400may include a single piece construction or may be formed from multiple components. In this aspect, the stopper400includes the upper wall420, which is not normally removable during normal use. The upper wall420may be glued, welded, mechanically engaged, or otherwise attached to the sidewall460.

In this aspect, the container500has a thermally insulated, double wall construction. In other aspects, the container500includes a non-insulated single-layer or multilayer construction or other insulated constructions. The container500may be formed from moldable food-grade plastics, thermoplastics, stainless steel, other metals and metal alloys, other plastics, or any combination thereof.

In other aspects, the lid100may include a hinging door that is hingedly engaged to the lid100. For example, a first side or end of the hinging door may include a hingeable connection to the lid100, and a second side or end of the door may include a clipping member or other latch that removably engages to the lid100to hold the hinging door in a closed position relative to the lid100. The hinging door may hingedly open and close the compartment300.

As such, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the particular aspects described herein, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this novel concept as defined by the following claims. Further, many other advantages of applicant's disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the claims below.