Patent Publication Number: US-2007102319-A1

Title: Interleaved containers with a single lid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/734,939, filed 9 Nov. 2005, the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by its reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a container, and in particular, to a container with multiple compartments with a single lid.  
      2. Description of the Art  
      Customers of food establishments, such as fast food vendors, often purchase several food items at one time. Similarly, purchased food items may include multiple parts, such as a main dish and a sauce. Food establishments often use individual sealed containers to package each of the multiple food items purchased by a customer. At other times, food establishments may use containers that have multiple compartments to package the multiple food items.  
      A disadvantage of packaging food items using multiple containers is that a customer must juggle the multiple containers while trying to eat the food, such as when the customer eats the food while standing or traveling. As for single containers with multiple compartments, these containers often have a single lid that covers the compartments but does not seal or separate the compartments from one another. As a result, as the customer carries the container to a desired location, for example, the multiple food items often become intermixed as the container is moved or bumped, for example. Other containers with multiple compartments will often use one or more plastic or foil wrappers, for example, to seal and thereby separate the individual compartments. However, a problem with these containers is that once the foil or plastic wrappers are removed, the compartments cannot be resealed.  
      Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a container that holds multiple food items and that seals the food items from one another.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In order to overcome these and other deficiencies in the prior art, provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is a container made up of a first vessel and a second vessel permanently secured to and inside the first vessel. The second vessel has an interior compartment separated from the interior compartment of the first vessel. A lid is detachably securable to the container, and includes a first portion corresponding to the opening of the first vessel, closing off the container from its environment. A second portion of the lid is integrally formed with the first portion, corresponding to the opening of the second vessel&#39;s interior compartment. The second portion of the lid seals the second opening of the second vessel&#39;s interior compartment. Preferably, the interior compartments of both vessels are simultaneously accessible from a top side of the container.  
      In a more particular embodiment, a first stepped protrusion extends from the second portion, sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the opening of the second vessel&#39;s interior compartment. Alternately or additionally, the lid includes a stepped protrusion extending from the first portion, sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the opening of the first vessel&#39;s interior compartment. The container may further include an outwardly projecting flare received within a lip extending downward from the outer periphery of the lid.  
      In a more particular embodiment, the base of the container is sized and shaped to fit within the first opening for nestable staking of plural like containers. Optionally or additionally, the base includes a recess, sized and shaped to receive the upstanding sidewall of the second vessel of another like container, for nestable stacking of plural like containers. The recess may be closed off on one side thereof by the base of the second vessel.  
      In another particular embodiment, the container is formed of a material which is approved by the U.S. F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human food. More preferrably, the container is formed of a material which is microwave-safe.  
      Also provided according to the present invention is a lid for detachably sealing plural compartments of a container having the same. The lid includes a first portion corresponding to an opening of a first compartment, sealing the first compartment of the container from its environment. A second portion of the lid is integrally formed with the first portion, and corresponds to a second opening of a second interior compartment of the container. The second portion is sized and shaped to sealingly engage the second opening of the second interior compartment. The lid may also include a lip extending downward from the outer periphery thereof, sized and shaped to receive the rim of the container. In a particular embodiment, the lid includes a first stepped projection extending from the second portion, sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the second opening of the second interior compartment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1A  shows a front perspective view of an example container according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 1B  shows an underside perspective view of an example lid for the container of  FIG. 1A  according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional front view of the container of  FIG. 1A  and the lid of  FIG. 1B  attached to the container according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows a bottom side perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1A  according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  shows multiple containers of  FIG. 1A  in a stacked configuration according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  shows a cross sectional front view of another example container and lid according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional front view of the container of  FIG. 1A  and another example lid attached to the container according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  shows a cross sectional front view of another example container and lid according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , there is illustrated a front perspective view of an example container  100  and an underside perspective view of a corresponding example lid  200  according to an embodiment of the invention. Container  100  includes two or more interleaved vessels, such as vessel  300  and vessel  400 . Vessel  300  has a rim  302  that forms an opening to an interior compartment  304  of the vessel. Vessel  300  is enclosed along the bottom and sides thereof thereby allowing items, such as food or a beverage, to be placed and retained within interior compartment  304 . Similar to vessel  300 , vessel  400  also has a rim  402  that forms an opening to an interior compartment  404  of the vessel. Vessel  400  is also enclosed along the bottom and sides thereof thereby allowing items, such as food or a beverage, to be placed and retained within interior compartment  404 .  
      According to an embodiment of the invention, vessel  400  is smaller than vessel  300  and is secured within the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300 . Preferably, vessel  400  is oriented within vessel  300  such that the interior compartments  304  and  404  of the vessels are simultaneously accessible from a top side  101  of container  100 , for example, and such that items placed within the interior compartments do not readily intermix with one another. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1A , vessel  300  and vessel  400  may be configured in an upright orientation relative to each other such that rims  302  and  402  lie within the same plane or parallel planes. In this way, when container  100  is maintained in an upright orientation for example, items within the interior compartments  304  and  404  of the vessels are simultaneously accessible and do not intermix. As shown in  FIG. 1A , vessel  400  may be situated within the center of vessel  300 , although this orientation is not required. For example, vessel  400  may be positioned towards one side of vessel  300 .  
      Turning to lid  200 , the lid is configured to be detachably placed over the top side  101  of container  100  and in particular, over the openings of both vessels  300  and  400 , thereby simultaneously covering interior compartments  304  and  404 . Preferably, lid  200  is configured such that when the lid is placed over interior compartments  304  and  404 , the lid attaches to container  100  in a manner that prevents the lid from readily detaching from the container and exposing the interior compartments as the container is moved or bumped, for example. In addition, lid  200  is also preferably configured such that when the lid is attached to the container, the lid seals the interior compartments  304  and  404  so that the items in each interior compartment do not readily spill from container  100  and do not readily intermix between the vessels as the container is moved or bumped, for example. Furthermore, lid  200  is also preferably configured to be removed from and reattached to container  100  in a repeatable fashion, resealing the interior compartments  304  and  404  each time the lid is reattached to the container.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1A , vessels  300  and  400  may each have a circular/cylindrical shape, for example, although this shape is not required and other shapes such as squares/rectangles may be used. In addition, vessels  300  and  400  may each have the same general shape, as shown in  FIG. 1A , or each vessel may have a different shape. Similarly, lid  200  may have a circular shape, as shown in  FIG. 1B , or may have some other shape. In addition, lid  200  may or may not have the same general shape as vessels  300  and  400 .  
      One skilled in the art will recognize that vessels  300  and  400  are not limited to a specific size. In particular, vessel  300  may have different sizes depending on the particular application and vessel  400  may have different sizes relative to vessel  300  depending on the particular application.  
      Vessels  300  and  400  and lid  200  may be formed from any suitable material known in the art including, for example, plastic, Styrofoam, paper, wax coated paper, cardboard, metal, or some combination thereof. Preferably, the material chosen is among those approved by the U.S.F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human ford, and/or those known in the art to be microwave-safe. In addition, vessel  300 , vessel  400 , and lid  200  do not need to be formed of the same material. If container  100  is used to hold food items or beverages for example, vessels  300  and  400  and lid  200  may be formed from materials such that each vessel may retain hot substances, cold substances, or a combination of hot and cold substances, one in each vessel. Furthermore, vessel  300  and/or vessel  400  and/or lid  200  may be made of an insulator type material in order to maintain the temperature of hot and cold substances.  
      In an example method according to an embodiment of the invention, a user of container  100  may place a first item or liquid into interior compartment  304  of vessel  300  and a second item or liquid into interior compartment  404  of vessel  400 . As indicated above, the interior compartments of both vessels are preferably separate from one another so that the item placed in one vessel does not readily intermix with the item placed in the other vessel. Thereafter, lid  200  may be placed over the interior compartments  304  and  404 , preferably sealing both interior compartments and thereby preventing the first and second items from spilling from container  100  and also preventing the items from intermixing. Container  100  may then be moved to a desired location and/or stored, for example. Thereafter, lid  200  may be removed from container  100 , thereby providing access to both interior compartments  304  and  404 . Lid  200  may then once again be placed over the interior compartments  304  and  404 , resealing both compartments.  
      In an example use of container  100  according to an embodiment of the invention, food establishments, such as fast food vendors, may use container  100  to serve food. Here, container  100  may come in different sizes, such as small, medium, and large. As an example, a vendor may place two different food items and/or beverages into interior compartments  304  and  404  of vessels  300  and  400 , including both hot and/or cold food items and beverages. The vendor may then seal the vessels with lid  200 . Thereafter, the customer may carry container  100  to a desired location with lid  200  preventing the food items or beverages from intermixing and from spilling from container  100 . The customer may then remove lid  200 , thereby exposing both interior compartments  304  and  404 . The customer may thereafter hold container  100  with one hand while eating the food with the other hand. If the customer does not finish the food, for example, the customer may thereafter reattach lid  200  to container  100 , thereby resealing the interior compartments.  
      Alternately or additionally, the container  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be used in packing retail prepared foods. The container  100  may be resealed after opening, and advantageously maintains the contents of each container vessel separate from each other.  
      Advantageously, because vessels  300  and  400  are secured to each other, the customer does not need to juggle multiple containers while eating the multiple food items. In addition, because lid  200  seals interior compartments  304  and  404 , the customer may move container  100  without the food items becoming intermixed. Furthermore, because lid  200  can be reattached to the container, the customer can reseal the interior compartments  304  and  404  after each use. Because the container  100  of the preferred embodiment includes plural compartments that are separate from one another, less desirable alternatives for carrying two separate food products, such as stacking two separate containers on one another, or placing a second container directly into a food item held in a first container, can be obviated. The food products in each vessel are isolated from one another, improving the sanitary condition of both.  
      One skilled in the art will recognize that while container  100  is described above as being used by food establishments and as holding multiple food items and/or beverages for example, container  100  is not limited to these uses.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a cross sectional side view of example container  100  and lid  200  according to an embodiment of the invention. Note that  FIG. 2  shows lid  200  attached to the top side  101  of container  100 . Beginning with vessel  300 , the vessel may include a base  306 , upstanding sidewalls  308  attached to base  306 , and a rim  302 . Preferably, base  306  is flat thereby allowing container  100  to be securely placed on a table, for example. Vessel  400  may include a base  406 , upstanding sidewalls  408  attached to base  406 , and a rim  402 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , base  406  may be raised above base  306  by sidewalls  310 , thereby forming a cavity  102  on the bottom side  103  of container  100 . Cavity  102  is also shown in  FIG. 3 , which is a bottom side perspective view of container  100 . As further described below, cavity  102  allows for the stacking of multiple containers  100 .  
      Accordingly, the combination of sidewalls  308 , sidewalls  310 , and base  306  form the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300  and the combination of sidewalls  408  and base  406  form the interior compartment  404  of vessel  400 , for example. As described above, the interior compartments  304  and  404  of the two vessels are preferably separate from one another so that items placed within the interior compartments of the two vessels do not readily intermix.  
      As indicated above, vessels  300  and  400  are not limited to a specific size and shape. For example, sidewalls  408  and base  406  of vessel  400  may be configured relative to sidewalls  308  and  310  and base  306  of vessel  300  such that the volume of interior compartment  404  is substantially smaller than the volume of interior compartment  304 . Alternatively, the two interior compartments may have approximately the same volume, for example.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , bases  306  and  406  and sidewalls  308 ,  310 , and  408  of the two vessels may be formed as one composite unit, integrally molded from a single material such as plastic, Styrofoam, etc., for example. In this way, vessel  400  is permanently secured within the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300 . Nonetheless, one skilled in the art will recognize that the two vessels do not need to be formed in this fashion. For example, sidewalls  308  and  310  and base  306  may be formed as one integral unit and sidewalls  408  and base  406  may be formed as a second integral unit. The two units may thereafter be permanently secured to one another using an epoxy or the like, for example, thereby forming container  100 .  
      According to an embodiment of the invention, multiple containers  100  are stackable in order to save space when the containers are not in use, for example. As such, as shown in  FIG. 2 , sidewalls  308  and  310 , for example, of vessel  300  may be configured at a slant/angle with sidewalls  308  slanting inward as the sidewalls progress from the top side  101  of container  100  towards the bottom side  103  and with sidewalls  310  slanting outward as the sidewalls progress from the top side of the container towards the bottom side. Through the combination of these slanting sidewalls and cavity  102 , multiple containers  100  may be stacked, as shown by stacked containers  100   a  and  100   b  in  FIG. 4 , for example. As seen in  FIG. 4 , cavity  102  of container  100   a  receives sidewalls  408  of container  100   b  and interior compartment  304  of container  100   b  receives sidewalls  308  and  310  and base  306  of container  100   a , thereby allowing the containers to be stacked.  
      One skilled in the art will recognize that the configuration of sidewalls  308 ,  310 , and  408  and bases  306  and  406  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  is for example purposes only and other configurations may be used in order to form stackable containers. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the configuration of the sidewalls and bases may be varied in order to determine how tightly multiple containers  100  may be stacked within one another. For example, if space is an issue, base  406  may be shifted upward relative to base  306 , thereby increasing the size of cavity  102  and decreasing the size of interior compartment  404 . In this way, multiple containers  100  may be more tightly stacked within one another. Alternatively, if space is not an issue for example, base  406  may be shifted downward relative to base  306 , thereby decreasing the size of cavity  102  and increasing the size of interior compartment  404 . In this way, multiple containers  100  may be less tightly stacked within one another.  
      One skilled in the art will also recognize that container  100  does not need to be stackable. For example, referring to  FIG. 5  there is shown example container  100   c  according to another embodiment of the invention. Container  100   c  is similar to container  100  but has sidewalls that are vertically oriented rather than slanted, for example, and does not include a cavity  102 .  
      Referring again to lid  200 , as described above, the lid preferably attaches to container  100  so that the lid does not readily detach from the container when the container is moved or bumped, for example. In addition, the lid preferably seals the interior compartments  304  and  404  of the two vessels, preventing items therein from intermixing and from spilling from container  100 . Furthermore, the lid can preferably be removed from and reattached to container  100 , resealing the interior compartments each time the lid is reattached.  
      According to an embodiment of the invention and as shown in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2 , lid  200  may include on the underside thereof a stepped protrusion  202  that has a shape that substantially conforms to the opening of vessel  400  as formed by rim  402 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when lid  200  is placed over the interior compartments  304  and  404 , rim  402  of vessel  400  preferably fits snuggly around stepped protrusion  202 , or in other words, stepped protrusion  202  preferably fits snuggly within the opening of vessel  400 . In this way, lid  200  seals the interior compartment  404  of vessel  400 , thereby preventing items within the two interior compartments  304  and  404  from intermixing.  
      As also shown in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2 , lid  200  may also include around the outer periphery thereof a substantially U-shaped lip  204  that snaps over rim  302  of vessel  300 . Rim  302  of vessel  300  may also include an outward projecting flare  305 , for example, over which lip  204  may snap. In this way, lid  200  secures to container  100  preventing the easy detachment of the lid as the container is moved or bumped, for example. In addition, the snap fit of lid  200  to rim  302  also seals the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300 , preventing the items therein from spilling from container  100 . Furthermore, the snap fit of lid  200  also allows the lid to be removed from container  100  and reattached to the container, resealing interior compartments  304  and  404 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 6  there is shown an example lid  200   a  according to another embodiment of the invention. Lid  200   a  is similar to lid  200  and may further include on the underside thereof a second stepped protrusion  206  that further seals the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300 . Stepped protrusion  206  may have a shape that substantially conforms to the opening of vessel  300  as formed by rim  302 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , when lid  200   a  is placed over the interior compartments  304  and  404 , rim  302  of vessel  300  preferably fits snuggly around stepped protrusion  206 , or in other words, stepped protrusion  206  preferably fits snuggly within the opening of vessel  300 .  
      One skilled in the art will recognize that the above described mechanisms for detachably securing lid  200  (and similarly  200   a ) to container  100  (and similarly  100   c ) and for sealing interior compartments  304  and  404  are examples and any mechanism known in the art for both securing lid  200  to container  100  and for sealing the compartments may be used.  
      One skilled in the art will also recognize that while container  100  (and similarly  100   c ) is described above as having two vessels, container  100  may include more than two vessels in various configurations. For example, the multiple vessels may all be interleaved one inside the other. For example, vessel  400  may be secured within the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300  as described above and a third vessel may be secured within interior compartment  404  of vessel  400 , etc. Alternatively, multiple vessels may be secured in a non-interleaved arrangement within the interior compartment  304  of vessel  300 , for example. One skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations are possible. Regardless of the configuration of the vessels, a lid similar to lid  200  or  200   a , for example, preferably detachably secures to the container and seals the interior compartments of the multiple vessels, preventing items within each vessel from intermixing and from spilling from the container.  
      One skilled in the art will further recognize that while vessel  400  is preferably secured within vessel  300  of container  100  (and similarly  100   c ), the two vessels do not need to be permanently secured to one another as was described above. For example, referring to  FIG. 7  there is shown an example container  100   d  according to another embodiment of the invention. Here, vessel  300  may be formed as one integral unit from sidewalls  308  and base  306  and vessel  400  may be formed as a second integral unit from sidewalls  408  and base  406 . The two vessels may in turn be detachably secured at the adjacent faces of bases  306  and  406  using an interlocking mechanism  104 , such as clips, for example. Such a configuration may be useful if container  100   d  is of a reusable form, thereby simplifying the cleaning of the two vessels.  
      Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein.