Abstract:
A container unit includes a container body having a ledge unit on the bottom thereof. A lid is slidably stored on the ledge unit and is thus stored with the container body and is readily available for use when needed. The container body also has air vent slits defined therein near the top rim thereof and the lid covers these vents when in place.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of containers, and to the particular field of container and lid combinations. 
   It is quite common for people to store food in plastic containers. This food is stored in the refrigerator or in the freezer or in a cabinet, as suitable. These containers may simply store the food or, as is often the case, provide a convenient vessel in which the food can be cooked or heated. This type of container has been very convenient. 
   However, one drawback to such containers it that the lids therefor may, and often do, become separated from the container. Thus, when one wishes to use a container, a search must be conducted for the lid. If one owns several containers, there may be many lids, all of different sizes, through which the search must be conducted. This can be time consuming and annoying. Lids often become lost, and this exacerbates the annoyance. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for storing a lid for a container in an efficient manner. 
   Sometimes, lids are stored in a location that differs from the storage location of the container. Therefore, even if the lid can be found, a user must move between two locations to form a single container. Again, this can be time consuming and annoying. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for storing a lid for a container in a location that is convenient to the container. 
   It is often difficult to properly seal a container. Air becomes trapped in the container and it must be “burped” in order to remove excess air so the container can be properly sealed. This may be difficult if a person&#39;s dexterity is limited. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a container from which air can be easily removed. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means for storing a lid for a container in an efficient manner. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for storing a lid for a container in a location that is convenient to the container. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a container from which air can be easily removed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a container having a ledge unit on the bottom into which a lid can be slidably stored. The lid remains with the container during storage and is easily removed by sliding it out of the ledge unit for use. 
   Using the combination embodying the present invention will permit a lid for a container to be efficiently stored in a convenient location, to wit: directly on the container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container and lid combination embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a container and lid combination embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of a portion of the container and lid combination shown in  FIG. 1  showing the vent slots defined in the container adjacent to the lip of the container and which will be covered and closed by the lid when the lid is in place on the container. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the lid. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic representation showing movement of the lid in the lid storage area on the container. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a container unit  10  that achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   Container unit  10  comprises a body  12  which includes a planar element  14  which is a bottom when body  12  is in use. Planar element  14  includes a first end  16 , a second end  18 , and a longitudinal axis  20  which extends between first end  16  and second end  18 . Planar element  14  also includes a first side  22 , a second side  24 , and a transverse axis  26  which extends between first side  22  and second side  24 . As is best seen in  FIG. 3 , a first surface  30  is a top surface when body  12  is in use and a second surface  32  is a bottom surface when body  12  is in use. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that body  12  further includes a first end wall  40  on first end  16  of body  12 , a second end wall  42  on second end  18  of planar element  14 , a first side wall  44  on first side  22  of planar element  14 , and a second side wall  46  on second side  24  of planar element  14 . 
   The walls extend in a plane that is perpendicular to a plane containing planar element  14  and define with the planar element  14  a storage volume  48  in which food or the like can be stored in the manner known to those skilled in the art. 
   Each wall has a rim, such as rim  50  on first side wall  44 , that is spaced apart from planar element  14  and which is a top rim when body  12  is in use. The top rims of the walls are all co-planar with each other. 
   Each side wall has an air vent, such as air vent  52  in first side wall  44 , defined therein adjacent to the top rim  50  thereof. It is noted that, if desired, the end walls can also have air vents, such as air vent  52 ′, defined therein as well. 
   Each wall has a shoulder element, such as shoulder element  54  on first side wall  44 , thereon. The shoulder elements on the side walls are located adjacent to the air vent  52  defined therein. 
   Each wall has a base portion, such as base portion  56  of first end wall  40 , located between the shoulder element  54  thereon and planar element  14 . 
   Each wall further includes a locking portion, such as locking portion  58  on first side wall  44  as shown in  FIG. 3 , located between the shoulder element  54  thereon and the rim  50  thereof. Each locking portion  58  is planar and oriented at an oblique angle to the base portion  56  thereof. The locking portion  58  of each wall extends outwardly with respect to storage volume  48  and the air vents  52  are located in the locking portion  58  of each side wall. 
   A lid storage section  60  is located on body  12  and includes a first L-shaped bracket  62  which has a first leg  64 , which includes a proximal end  66  that is fixedly secured to second surface  32  of planar element  14  adjacent to first side  22  of the planar element  14  and a distal end  68  that is spaced apart from second surface  32  of planar element  14 . Bracket  62  further includes a second leg  70 , which includes a proximal end  72  that is unitary with distal end  68  of first leg  64  and which extends from first leg  64  toward second side  24  of planar element  14 . Second leg  70  is oriented in a plane that is parallel with planar element  14  and has a distal end  74  that is spaced apart from proximal end  72  and which is located between first side  22  of the planar element  14  and second side  24  of the planar element  14 . 
   First L-shaped bracket  62  extends from first end  16  of planar element  14  to second end  18  of the planar element  14  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  20  of the planar element  14 . 
   Lid storage section  60  further includes a second L-shaped bracket  80  which is similar to the first L-shaped bracket  62  and has a first leg  82  which includes a proximal end  84  fixedly secured to second surface  32  of planar element  14  adjacent to second side  24  of the planar element  14  and a distal end  86  that is spaced apart from second surface  32  of the planar element  14 . 
   Second L-shaped bracket  80  further includes a second leg  90  which includes a proximal end  92  that is unitary with distal end  86  of first leg  82  of the second L-shaped bracket  80  and which extends from first leg  82  toward first side  22  of planar element  14 . Second leg  90  is oriented in a plane that is parallel with planar element  14  and has a distal end  94  that is spaced apart from proximal end  92  of second leg  90  and is located between second side  24  of planar element  14  and first side  22  of the planar element  14 . 
   Second leg  90  is co-planar with second leg  70  of first L-shaped bracket  62  and distal end  94  of second leg  90  is spaced apart from distal end  74  of second leg  70  of first L-shaped bracket  62  and defines a gap  98  therebetween. 
   Second L-shaped bracket  80  extends from first end  16  of planar element  14  to second end  18  of the planar element  14  in the direction of longitudinal axis  20 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 2 , lid storage section  60  further includes a third L-shaped bracket  100  which has a first leg  102  which includes a proximal end  103 , that is fixedly secured to second surface  32  of planar element  14  adjacent to second end  18  of the planar element  14 , and a distal end  104 , that is spaced apart from second surface  32  of the planar element  14 . 
   A second leg  106  of bracket  100  includes a proximal end  108  that is unitary with distal end  104  of first leg  102  of third L-shaped bracket  100  and extends from first leg  102  toward first end  16  of planar element  14 . Second leg  106  is oriented in a plane that is parallel with planar element  14  and has a distal end  110  that is spaced apart from proximal end  108  and is located between second end  18  of planar element  14  and first end  16  of the planar element  14 . 
   Second leg  106  is co-planar with the second legs  70 ,  90  of the first and second L-shaped brackets  62 ,  80  and distal end  110  is spaced apart from the distal ends  74 ,  94  of the second legs  70 ,  90  of the first and second L-shaped brackets  62 ,  80  and defines a gap  112  with the distal ends  74 ,  94  of the second legs  70 ,  90  of the first and second L-shaped brackets  62 ,  80 . 
   The second legs  70 ,  90 ,  106  of the first, second and third L-shaped brackets  62 ,  80 ,  100  define a lid-supporting ledge  120  adjacent to second surface  32  of planar element  14  of body  12 . 
   A lid  130  includes a planar portion  131  which includes a first end  132 , a second end  134 , and a longitudinal axis  136  which extends between first end  132  and second end  134 , a first side  138 , a second side  140 , and a transverse axis  142  which extends between first side  138  and second side  140 . Lid  130  further includes a first surface  148 , which is a top surface when lid  130  is in use, and a second surface  150 , which is a bottom surface when lid  130  is in use. A first end groove  152  is defined in planar portion  131  adjacent to first end  132  of planar portion  131 , a second end groove  154  is defined in planar portion  131  adjacent to second end  134  of the planar portion  131 , a first side groove  156  is defined in planar portion  131  adjacent to first side  138  of planar portion  131 , and a second side groove  158  is defined in planar portion  131  adjacent to second side  140  of planar portion  131 . The grooves of lid  130  are sized and adapted to frictionally accommodate the locking portions  58  of the walls of body  12  when lid  130  is in place on body  12 . The lid  130  further includes portions, such as portion  160  and  162 , which are located to cover the air vents  52  defined in the side walls of body  12  when the lid  130  is in place on the body  12 . 
   Lid  130  also has a projection  166  on the first end  132  of the lid  130 . Projection  166  is grasped by a user when the lid  130  is to be moved or manipulated. 
   The lid  130  is sized and adapted to be slidably accommodated in the lid-supporting ledge  120  of the lid storage section  60  between the lid-supporting ledge  120  and the second surface  32  of the planar element  14  of body  12  with projection  166  extending beyond first end  16  of planar element  14  during storage of the lid  130 . 
   Use and operation of container unit  10  can be understood by those skilled in the art based on the teaching of the foregoing disclosure and therefore such use and operation will only be briefly described. When unit  10  is stored, the lid  130  is stored in lid storage section  60  by being supported on the ledge  120  of the lid storage section  60  beneath planar element  14  after being slidingly placed on the ledge  120  in direction  170 . When the container is to be closed, the lid  130  is removed from the lid storage section  60  by grasping projection  166  and sliding the lid  130  out of the lid storage section  60  and placing the lid  130  on body  12 . While the lid  130  is being moved onto the body  12 , air will be forced out of storage volume  48  through the air vents  52 . After the lid  130  is seated on the body  12 , the lid  130  will cover the air vents  52  thereby sealing storage volume  48 . 
   Additionally, the lid  130  may rest without being moved onto the body  12  to allow hot air to be forced out of storage volume  48  through the air vents  52  when container unit  10  is used to cook or heat food. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.