Container assembly

A container assembly for keeping food stored therein fresh. The container assembly includes a plurality of nested members each having a bowl-shaped configuration comprising exterior and interior surfaces, a base and a perimeter side wall extending upwardly around the base. The perimeter side wall terminating at an upper edge. The nested members include an outer bowl, a filter, and an inner bowl. The filter is rested inside the outer bowl. The inner bowl is rested inside the filter such that the filter is interposed between the inner and outer bowls. The inner bowl having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough. A lid assembly is provided for substantially covering upper opening of the outer bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to food containers and more particularly 
pertains to a new container assembly for keeping food stored therein 
fresh. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of food containers is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
food containers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist 
basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, 
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art 
which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and 
requirements. 
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,898,273; 4,844,263; Des. 366,989; 
3,586,201; 3,037,652; and 1,584,903. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new container 
assembly. The inventive device includes a plurality of nested members each 
having a bowl-shaped configuration comprising exterior and interior 
surfaces, a base and a perimeter side wall extending upwardly around the 
base. The perimeter side wall terminating at an upper edge. The nested 
members include an outer bowl, a filter, and an inner bowl. The filter is 
rested inside the outer bowl. The inner bowl is rested inside the filter 
such that the filter is interposed between the inner and outer bowls. The 
inner bowl having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough. A lid 
assembly is provided for substantially covering upper opening of the outer 
bowl. 
In these respects, the container assembly according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of keeping food stored therein fresh. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of food 
containers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a 
new container assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for 
keeping food stored therein fresh. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new container assembly 
apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the food 
containers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a 
new container assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art food containers, either 
alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of 
nested members each having a bowl-shaped configuration comprising exterior 
and interior surfaces, a base and a perimeter side wall extending upwardly 
around the base. The perimeter side wall terminating at an upper edge. The 
nested members include an outer bowl, a filter, and an inner bowl. The 
filter is rested inside the outer bowl. The inner bowl is rested inside 
the filter such that the filter is interposed between the inner and outer 
bowls. The inner bowl having a plurality of spaced apart holes 
therethrough. A lid assembly is provided for substantially covering upper 
opening of the outer bowl. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
container assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages 
of the food containers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that 
result in a new container assembly which is not anticipated, rendered 
obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art food 
containers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new container 
assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new container 
assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
container assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with 
regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public thereby making 
such container assembly economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
container assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the 
prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming 
some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new container 
assembly for keeping food stored therein fresh. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new container 
assembly which includes a plurality of nested members each having a 
bowl-shaped configuration comprising exterior and interior surfaces, a 
base and a perimeter side wall extending upwardly around the base. The 
perimeter side wall terminating at an upper edge. The nested members 
include an outer bowl, a filter, and an inner bowl. The filter is rested 
inside the outer bowl. The inner bowl is rested inside the filter such 
that the filter is interposed between the inner and outer bowls. The inner 
bowl having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough. A lid assembly 
is provided for substantially covering upper opening of the outer bowl. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
container assembly that can especially keep fruit and vegetables stored 
therein fresh. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, a new container assembly embodying the principles and concepts of 
the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 
will be described. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the container assembly 10 
generally comprises a plurality of nested members each having a 
bowl-shaped configuration comprising exterior and interior surfaces 11,12, 
a base 13 and a perimeter side wall 14 extending upwardly around the base. 
The perimeter side wall terminates at an upper edge 15. The nested members 
include an outer bowl 16, a filter 17, and an inner bowl 18. The filter 17 
is rested inside the outer bowl 16. The inner bowl 18 is rested inside the 
filter 17 such that the filter 17 is interposed between the inner and 
outer bowls 18,16. The inner bowl 18 having a plurality of spaced apart 
holes therethrough. A lid assembly 23,24,25 is provided for substantially 
covering upper opening of the outer bowl 16. 
In closer detail, the container assembly 10 comprises a plurality of nested 
members each having a bowl-shaped configuration comprising exterior and 
interior surfaces 11,12, a base 13, and a perimeter side wall 14 extending 
upwardly around the base. The perimeter side wall terminates at an upper 
edge 15. It should be noted that the bowl-shaped configuration includes 
bowl container shapes having straight and curved perimeter side walls, and 
containers having a hemispherical, cylindrical, and rectangular 
configurations. The nested members including an outer bowl 16, a filter 
17, and an inner bowl 18. The upper edge of the outer bowl 16 defines an 
upper opening into the outer bowl 16. The exterior surface of the outer 
bowl 16 having an outwardly extending lip 19 therearound adjacent the 
upper edge of the outer bowl 16. The interior surface of the outer bowl 16 
having an inwardly extending extent 20 therearound. The extent 20 of the 
outer bowl 16 is located towards the upper edge of the outer bowl 16. 
Preferably, the extent 20 of the outer bowl 16 has a generally triangular 
transverse cross section and has a lower side lying in a plane generally 
parallel to the base of the outer bowl 16. The extent 20 is spaced apart 
from the base of the outer bowl 16 to define a receiving region 
therebetween around interior surface of the perimeter side wall of the 
outer bowl 16. 
The filter 17 is rested inside the outer bowl 16 such that the base of the 
filter 17 rests on the base of the outer bowl 16 and the perimeter side 
wall of the filter 17 is positioned in the receiving region of the outer 
bowl 16. The filter 17 preferably comprises a breathable paper material so 
that air may flow through the filter 17 and is also adapted for absorbing 
fluids such as water such that the filter 17 may be soaked with water. The 
inner bowl 18 is rested inside the filter 17 such that the filter 17 is 
interposed between the inner and outer bowls 18,16. The base of the inner 
bowl 18 rests on the base of the filter 17 and the perimeter side wall of 
the inner bowl 18 is positioned in the receiving region of the outer bowl 
16. 
The inner bowl 18 has a plurality of spaced apart holes 21,22 therethrough 
between the interior and exterior surfaces of the inner bowl 18. A 
plurality of the holes 21 of the inner bowl 18 are located on the 
perimeter side wall of the inner bowl 18. Another plurality of the holes 
22 of the inner bowl 18 are located on the base of the inner bowl 18. The 
holes 21 of the inner bowl 18 located on the perimeter side wall of the 
inner bowl 18 are arranged in a grid shape has a plurality of rows 
extending around the perimeter side wall of the inner bowl 18 and a 
plurality of columns extending between base of the inner bowl 18 and the 
upper edge of the inner bowl 18. The rows of holes 21 of the perimeter 
side wall of the inner bowl 18 lie in planes generally parallel to one 
another and generally parallel to the base of the inner bowl 18. The rows 
of holes 21 of the perimeter side wall of the inner bowl 18 are also 
preferably spaced apart at generally equal intervals. The columns of holes 
21 of the perimeter side wall of the inner bowl 18 are preferably extended 
generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to the rows 
of holes of the perimeter side wall of the inner bowl 18. The columns of 
holes 21 of the perimeter side wall of the inner bowl 18 are also ideally 
spaced apart at generally equal intervals. 
A lid assembly is preferably provided for substantially covering upper 
opening of the outer bowl 16. The lid assembly comprising an upper lid 23, 
a lower lid 25 and a lid filter 24 interposed between the upper and lower 
lids 23,25. The upper and lower lids 23,25 and the lid filter 24 each have 
top and bottom faces, and an outer periphery. Preferably, the outer 
peripheries of the upper and lower lids 23,25 and the lid filter 24 are 
generally circular or a similar shape to the upper edge of the outer bowl. 
The bottom face of the upper lid 23 rests on the upper edge of the outer 
bowl 16 to substantially cover the upper opening of the outer bowl 16. The 
bottom face the upper lid 23 has an annular sealing channel 27 extending 
along the outer periphery 26 of the upper lid 23. The sealing channel 27 
of the upper lid 23 and the lip 19 of the outer bowl 16 are of 
complementary transverse cross sections such that upper lid 23 is 
releasably held to the outer bowl 16. 
The bottom face of the upper lid 23 also has an inner groove 28 extending 
around the outer periphery 26 such that the sealing channel 27 of the 
upper lid 23 is interposed between the outer periphery of the upper lid 23 
and the inner groove 28 of the upper lid 23. The inner groove 28 of the 
upper lid 23 defines a central region on the bottom face of the upper lid 
23. The upper surface of the lid filter 24 is positioned adjacent the 
bottom surface of the upper lid 23 in the central region of the upper lid 
23. The lid filter 24 comprising a breathable paper material so that air 
may flow through the lid filter 24 and is also adapted for absorbing 
fluids such as water such that the lid filter 24 may be soaked with water. 
The lower lid 25 is positioned in the central region of the upper lid 23 
such that the lid filter 24 is interposed between the upper lid 23 and the 
lower lid 25. The lower lid 25 is held to the upper lid 23. In particular, 
the outer periphery 29 of the lower lid 25 and the inner groove 28 of the 
upper lid 23 are of complementary transverse cross sections such that the 
lower lid 25 is releasably held to the upper lid 23. 
The lower lid 25 also has a plurality of holes 30 therethrough between the 
top and bottom surfaces of the lower lid 25. The holes 30 of the lower lid 
25 permit passage of air therethrough. Preferably, the holes of the lower 
lid 25 are spaced apart from one another and arranged in a grid-like 
fashion has a plurality of rows and columns. Optionally, the upper lid 23 
may also have a plurality of holes 31 therethrough between the top and 
bottom surfaces of the upper lid 23. These holes 31 also permit passage of 
air therethrough. The holes 31 of the upper lid 23 are also preferably 
spaced apart from one another and arranged in a grid-like fashion has a 
plurality of rows and columns. 
Ideally, the outer periphery 26 of the upper lid 23 has a lift tab 32 
outwardly extending therefrom. The lift tab 32 is adapted for aiding 
removal of the lid assembly from the outer bowl 16. The lift tab 32 and 
the upper lid 23 lying in a generally common plane. Ideally, the inner and 
outer bowls 18,16 and the upper and lower lids 23,25 all comprise a 
plastic material that is resiliently flexible enough to permit sufficient 
flexing to detach the lids from the bowls. Optionally, the inner and outer 
bowls 18,16 and the upper and lower lids 23,25 may all comprise wax or 
plastic coated paper such as used in disposable food containers. 
In use, foodstuffs may be placed in the inner bowl 18 nested in the outer 
bowl 16 with the lid assembly covering the outer bowl. The filters 17,24 
should preferably be soaked with water before placing foodstuff in the 
container assembly to help keep the foodstuff fresh during storage in the 
container assembly To open the container assembly, a user preferably 
squeezes the sides of the outer bowl to slightly deform the outer bowl so 
that the inner bowl can be detached from the outer bowl. The lift tab may 
be used to help lift the lid assembly off of the outer bowl. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.