Patent Publication Number: US-2012037623-A1

Title: Method and Apparatus for Containing Leftover Foods

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a food container and bag. More particularly, its objective is to provide an environmentally beneficial and easy way to pack and store leftover foods. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Styrofoam is one of the most used packaging vessels used in restaurants today when leftovers are asked to be packed. Because it is so commonly used, it has become one of the most dangerous materials to those keeping these packed containers. Typically, people bring out the leftovers stored in Styrofoam boxes and microwave the food with the Styrofoam. Styrofoam, when heated in a microwave, releases toxic chemicals into the contained food products. These hazardous chemicals released are known to threaten reproductive systems along with other health functions. 
     Styrofoam, also known as Polystyrene, is a petroleum-based plastic that is also harmful to the environment as well as to us humans. To process such a material, human workers exposed regularly to Styrofoam&#39;s foundational basis, Styrene, are prone to numerous adverse health effects. In addition, it is noted that 57 chemical by-products are released while being processed. These hazardous by-products pollute the air as well as land and water by its disposed liquid and solid waste. Furthermore, Styrofoam is becoming less and less practical to recycle due its diminishing recycling market. 
     To finally rid the popular use of Styrofoam as containers in restaurants, the present invention intends to provide an environmentally and family friendly container to package and store these leftover foods. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bag. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front side view of the present invention showing a plane upon which a section view is taken and shown in  FIG. 3 . The diagram shows the stacking of the plastic containers. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the plastic container with the lid detached. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention showing a plane upon which a section view is taken and shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the lid. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The showings of  FIG. 1-4  illustrate the basic arrangement of components in accordance with the practice of the present invention. In reference to  FIG. 1 , the present invention&#39;s final arrangement of a plastic container  1  and a bag  2  is viewed in casual perspective. In the showing of  FIG. 4 , the final arrangement of components implicate how a number of the plastic containers  1  of the invention maybe be employed within the bag  2 , given that the components of the bag  2  exist to support the structure of its apparatus.  FIG. 3  provides another perspective of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 . Schematically illustrated in  FIG. 5  is the plastic container  1 , showing a lid  11  and a container body  12 , wherein the leftover foods are to be placed and covered. In reference to the showings of  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the lid  11  is schematically diagramed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the bag  2  comprises of bag handles  21 , a hemmed opening  22 , walls  23 , side gussets  24 , bottom gussets  25 , and a cardboard bottom  26 . The apparatus for containing leftover foods involves the bag handles  21  being connected to the hemmed opening  22 . The hemmed opening  22  outlines the opening of the bag  2 , which is enclosed by walls  23 , the side gussets  24 , the bottom gussets  25 , and the cardboard bottom  26 . The side gussets  24  and the bottom gussets  25  serve to provide structural stability, strength, and the ability to expand the bag  2  by connecting the walls  23  to one another. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the side gussets  24 , being connected to the bottom gussets  25 , are connected in normal relation to the cardboard bottom  26 . The cardboard bottom  26  outlines the walls  23  in conjunction with the width of the side gussets  24  to fully enclose the bag  2  excluding the hemmed opening  22 . The user holding the plastic container  1  will pass the plastic container  1  through the hemmed opening  22  and will place the plastic container  1  onto the cardboard bottom  26 . The user will then grab onto the bag handles  21  to lift and carry for transport. When the bag  2  is not being used and stored, the side gussets  24  and the bottom gussets  25  are arranged to allow easy folding. The bag  2  can be folded and compressed into a flat configuration for easy storage. 
     In reference to the showing of  FIG. 5 , the container body  12  comprises an opening  121 , a recessed space  122  and separators  123  which create a plurality of compartments  123   a , body handles  124 , and an inner-ridged rim  125 . The container body  12  being cylindrical in form contains the recessed space  122 , which is concentrically cylindrical in relation with the container body  12 , and is divided by inserting the separators  123  therein. The combined recessed space  122  and separators  123  forms the plurality of compartments  123   a  in which the leftover food is to be distributed. The opening  121  leads into the recessed space  122 , while the inner-ridged rim  125  is circumferentially positioned on the container body  12  adjacent to the opening  121 . The body handles  124  connect peripherally in perpendicular relation to the container body  12  adjacent to the inner-ridged rim  125 . This arrangement of components allows the user to carry the container body  12  by the body handles  21  with the leftover food being distributed among the plurality of compartments  122   a  to be lifted and placed into the bag  2 . 
     In reference to the showings of  FIG. 5-7 , the lid  11  comprises vent holes  111 , an opening tab  112 , an outer-ridged rim  113 , a lid opening  114 , a lid recessed space  115 , and a surface indent  116 . The lid  11  being cylindrical in form encloses the lid recessed space  114  into which the surface indent  115  extrudes, as seen in  FIG. 6 . The lid recessed space  115  is in concentric cylindrical relation with the lid  11 . While the lid opening  114  leads into the lid recessed space  115 , the outer-ridged rim  113  circumferentially positions onto the lid  11 , adjacent to the lid opening  114 . The opening tab  112  connects peripherally in perpendicular relation to the lid  11 , adjacent to the outer-ridged rim  113 , illustrated in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . This combination of components allows the user to open the plastic container  1  by pulling the opening tab  112  in the direction normal to the opening tab  112  and away from the container body  12 . To close the plastic container  1 , the user aligns the outer-ridged rim  113  concentrically around the inner-ridged rim  125 , and then applies downward force onto and along the outer-ridged rim  113  until fitted clasp. As seen in  FIG. 7 , the vent holes  111  are positioned on the surface indent  115  of the present invention to relieve the stored pressure within the plastic container  1  that comes from heating leftover foods. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.