Patent Publication Number: US-2013248537-A1

Title: Food transport and storage container having removable inner container and insulating outer sleeve

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. 61/614,232 filed Mar. 22, 2012, and Ser. No. 61/691528, filed Aug. 21, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a food container for storing and transporting food items, and in particular to a food container having a removable inner container and an insulating outer sleeve. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Food containers have been developed to carry food at either warmer or cooler temperatures than the surroundings and to maintain the temperature differential. Students or workers may carry chilled food items to school or work to ensure that the food does not spoil, and then may desire to warm the food item prior to eating, for example using a microwave oven. People going to a pot luck party or a picnic may desire to bring a hot or warm dish to the event and may wish to transport the hot food without risk of contact with the hot food container and while maintaining the food in a hot state. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a food storage and transport container having a food containing inner container, a lid that is securable to the inner container, and an outer sleeve that fits over at least a portion of the inner container. The outer sleeve is an insulating sleeve to maintain a temperature differential between the contents of the inner container and the surroundings. The inner container is removable from the outer sleeve and may be place into a heating device, such as a microwave oven, to heat the contents of the inner container. 
     A user of the present device may store chilled food items in the inner container or even place the food items in the inner container and place it in a cooling device, such as a refrigerator, to chill. The inner container with the chilled food items is placed into the insulated outer sleeve and is transported, for example, to school or work. When the user desires to eat the food items, the inner sleeve with the still chilled food items therein is removed from the outer sleeve and placed into a heating device, such as a microwave oven. The food items are heated and the user may eat the food items directly from the inner container or may transfer the food items to a plate or bowl for consumption. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an perspective view showing the food storage container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the food storage container with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the food storage container with the inner container removed from the outer sleeve; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the lid and lid gasket; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the food storage container including line A-A; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the food storage container along line A-A of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the food storage container; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a locking structure of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the outer sleeve of the second embodiment showing a projection of the locking structure; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the inner container of the second embodiment showing a bayonet slot of the locking structure; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the inner container of the second embodiment showing cross section lines through a handle; 
         FIG. 13  is a side cross-sectional view along the line D-D of  FIG. 12  showing the bayonet slot of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of the inner container of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a top, perspective, exploded view of the lid of the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of the inner container locked in the outer sleeve of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The food storage container  20  of  FIG. 1  includes a container body  22 , a lid  24 , and a collar  26 . Handles  28  extend from the collar  26  by which the container may be carried. The body  22  includes a base  30 . The container  20  has a generally wide, cylindrical shape. 
       FIG. 2  shows the food storage container  20  with the lid  24  removed. The collar  26  has a threaded lip  32  that extends upwardly from the collar  26  and defines a wide-mouth opening  34  to the container. The cylindrical lid  24  has corresponding interior threads that selectively engage the exterior threads of the lip  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the threads on the threaded collar  32  are course threads so that the lid may easily be started on the threads without risk of cross threading. The wide mouth opening  34  of the inner container readily accepts foods such as stew, chili, or other foods that might not fit so easily into a narrow mouth container. The base  30  of the illustrated embodiment is wider than the upper portion of the container  22  to add stability and prevent accidental spills. The base  30  may be formed of a pliable, non-skid material to prevent the slipping of the container. 
     The handles  28  extend outward from opposite sides of the collar  26  and include raised upper and lower edges  36  and  38  and a membrane  40  extending from the edge to the collar  26 . The user can grasp the handles  28  and lift or carry the container  20  without spilling the contents. The handles  28  extend only a short distance from the collar  26  and have a curved outer edge. The container  20  can thereby be packed away in a lunch bag or other enclosure without the handles  28  taking up unnecessary room. The exterior surfaces of the container and lid are generally smooth and un-textured to provide an easy to clean surface. 
     In  FIG. 3 , an inner container  42  has been lifted out of the outer sleeve  44 . The outer sleeve  44  is a preferred embodiment is insulated. The inner container  42  includes the threaded lip  32  and the collar  26  with the two handles  28  and also includes a cylindrical inner body  46  that fits into the cylindrical interior  48  of the outer sleeve  44 . The outer sleeve  44  has an upper lip  50  set inward from the outer wall  52  of the outer sleeve  44 . The collar  26  fits onto the upper lip  50  of the outer sleeve  44  when the inner container  42  is in position in the outer sleeve  44 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inner body  46  of the inner container  42  fits snugly into the outer sleeve  44  so that the friction fit of the inner container  42  within the outer sleeve  44  holds the two parts together, yet permits the inner  42  container to be removed from the outer sleeve  44 . The collar  26  may also have a friction fit onto the upper lip  50  of the outer sleeve  44 , although this may not be necessary. 
     In one embodiment, the inner body  46  of the inner container  42  is ridged to permit easy sliding movement of the inner container into and out of the outer sleeve. The ridges not only reduce the surface contact area, and therefore the friction, between the parts, but also provide channels for air flow so that air pressure differences do not prevent insertion and removal of the inner container  42 . 
     Other means for engaging between the inner container and outer sleeve are envisioned and are encompassed within the present invention. 
     The collar  26  and handles  28  form part of the inner container  42 . The user who has placed food items into the present container may remove the food items from the insulated outer sleeve  44  without contacting the food items. The food items and the interior container  42  are lifted and carried by the handles  28 . The interior container  42  is of a material that can withstand heating, for example. In one example, the outer sleeve  44  is of a metal material or other sturdy material to withstand possible rough treatment in being moved about and transported, and may be formed as an insulated sleeve. The interior container  42  of one embodiment is of a plastic or other microwavable material that can withstand heating of the food contents as well as being cool enough to the touch to enable the user to hold the inner container  42  by the handles  28  after heating. The material of the inner container  42  may be of a material that resists staining by certain foods, particularly during heating of the food items. 
     The user may take the inner container  42  from the outer sleeve  44 , fill the container with food items, attach the lid  24  to the threaded lip  32  of the inner container  42 , and place the inner container  42  into a refrigerator, for example, prior to leaving for work or school. When leaving for work or school, the inner container  42  is placed into the insulated outer sleeve  44  and brought with the user. The insulated outer sleeve  44  keeps the food chilled. When ready to eat, the user removes the inner container  42  from the outer sleeve  44 , removes or loosens the lid  24 , and heats the container and food in a microwave oven. The inner container  42  with the heated food may be lifted by the user using the handles  28 . The warmed food may be eaten directly from the inner container  42  or the inner container  42  may be placed back into the outer sleeve  44  to keep the heated food warm and prevent user contact with the possibly hot container. The inner container  42  may be washed separately from the outer sleeve  44 , if desired. 
       FIG. 4  shows the lid  24  that threads onto the lip of the inner container  42 . It is desirable that not only is the inner container  42  liquid tight but that the lid  24  is also liquid tight when secured to the inner container  42 . A gasket  54  is provided to effect a liquid tight seal between the inner container  42  and the lid  24 . The gasket  54  is annular shaped and seals the interior of the lid  24  against the upper edge of the threaded lip  32 . The gasket  54  ensures that liquids or food materials do not leak from the food container. A fluid tight seal can be made with only a single seal element, and without requiring a seal or even a connection between the lid and the outer sleeve. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the handles  28  enable grasping of the container  20  whether with the lid in place or with the lid removed and whether with the inner container within the outer sleeve or with the inner container removed from the outer sleeve. The handles  28  are compact to avoid occupying a significant amount of room in, for example, a lunch bag during use or in a cabinet when not in use. The circular shape of the container  20  facilitates microwave heating of the contents with fewer hot spots. The handles  28  are disposed below the top lip of the inner container  42  to enable the user to stir the contents, to access the contents with an eating or serving utensil, or to place the container  20  in a dish drying rack without the handles  28  getting in the way. 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , the container  20  in cross section reveals that the lid  24  is formed in two parts, an outer lid  56  having a domed top surface  58 , an interior-threaded circular rim  60  and a circular flange  62  within the circular rim  60 , and an inner lid  64  secured to the circular flange  62 . The outer lid  56  and inner lid  64  form a hollow interior space  66  that serves to insulate the interior of the container from the surroundings. The hollow interior space  66  of the lid  24  may be filled with air, a neutral gas, a partial vacuum, or an insulating material. The circular space between the inner lid and outer lid holds the gasket  54 , which may be formed of silicon or other low taste, heat resistant material. 
     The inner container  42  has the upper lip  50  threaded into the rim  60  of the lid  24 . The upper lip  50  is recessed, having a smaller outer diameter, to enable the lid  24  to form a generally continuous surface with the collar  26 . The upper lip  50  of the outer sleeve  44  is also recessed, or formed of a smaller diameter, so that the outer surface of the collar  26  forms a generally continuous surface with the outer surface of the outer sleeve  44 . A generally smooth sided container  20  is formed by the assembled lid  24 , inner container  42  and outer sleeve  44 . The handles  28  with the raised lower and upper edges  38  and  36  and central membrane  40  are visible in this view. The collar  26  extends over the lip  50  of the outer sleeve  44 , or considered another way, the lip  50  extends into the interior space of the collar  26 . 
     The lower portion  46  of the inner container  42  extends into the interior  48  of the outer sleeve  44 . The interior  48  of the outer sleeve  44  is generally form fitted to the shape of the inner container  42 . The outer sleeve  44  has an inner wall  68  and an outer wall  70  defining an insulating space  72  therebetween. The insulating space  72  may be filed with air, a neutral gas, a partial vacuum, or an insulating material. The insulating space  72  insures that hot foods in the container stay hot and cold foods stay cold. 
     The base  30  of the outer sleeve  44  encloses the lower end  74  of the outer sleeve  44  and defines a further insulating space at the bottom of the food container. 
     Thus, there is shown and described a food container having a removable inner container that seals in the food and can be heated or chilled with the food inside without the insulating sleeve. The insulating sleeve keeps the food either hot or cold as desired. Further heating or cooling of the food is facilitated by removing the outer sleeve and without the need to remove the food from the container to a separate plate or bowl. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of the present food storage container  100  in its fully assembled condition. The food storage container  100  includes a lid  102  secured onto a top ring  104  of an inner container, a pair of handles  106  extending in opposite directions from the top ring  104  of the inner container, and an outer sleeve  108  into which the inner container fits. A base  110  is provided on the outer sleeve  108 . The lid  102 , inner container and base  110  are preferably formed of a plastic material and the outer sleeve  108  is preferably formed of steel configured as a vacuum insulated container. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the lid  102  is threaded onto the top ring  104  of the inner container  114  and is thereby held in place. A gasket  112  within the lid  102  seals the lid  102  and inner container  114  together to prevent leakage of food or beverages from the inner container. The lid  102  includes a central projection  116  forming an air chamber or insulating chamber  118  to thermally insulate the interior of the inner container  114  from the environment. 
     The inner container  114  has a lower portion  120  extending into the interior of the outer sleeve  108 . The lower portion  120  of the inner container  114  is hollow and intended to hold food items that are to be kept hot or cold. Other items may of course be stored in the inner container  114 . The inner container  114  has the handles  106  extending from opposite sides at the top ring portion by which the inner container  114  can be lifted. The handles  106  can be of any shape. Here the handles are downwardly curved projections that provide fingertip spaces  122  on the underside to ensure that the container  100  does not slip as it is being lifted by the user. 
     The outer sleeve  108  fits over the lower portion  120  of the inner container  114  to enclose the lower part of the inner container  114 . The outer sleeve  108  has a double wall  124  and  126  with a partial vacuum between the walls to provide thermal insulation for the food or other items in the inner container. The inner wall  124  of the lower sleeve  108  is contoured to fit closely with the outer surface of the inner container  114 . The base  110  is mounted on the bottom of the outer sleeve  108 . The inner container  114  and the outer sleeve  108  are fastened to one another by a locking structure in the form of a bayonet lock  128 . The bayonet lock  128  includes a pair of projections  130  extending from the inner top surface of the outer sleeve  108 , which projections  130  engage into bayonet slots  132  on the outer surface of the inner container  114 . In the illustrated embodiment, the locking structures are beneath the handles, which facilitates aligning of the bayonet locking portions by the user. 
       FIG. 9  provides an enlarged cross-sectional view through the locking structure  128 . The projection  130  on the inner wall of the outer sleeve  108  is rounded and may be in the shape of a portion of a sphere. Other shapes are of course possible. The bayonet slot  132  in the inner container wall  114  is of a size and shape to accommodate the projection  130 , preferably with room to spare. A bump  134  is provided in the bayonet slot  132  over which the projection  130  must pass to move the locking structure into the locked position. 
     In  FIG. 10 , the outer sleeve  108  has the projection  130  on the inner surface. A second such projection  130  is provided on an opposing inner wall of the outer sleeve, although it is not visible in this view. The projection is here shown with a circular shape. Other shapes are possible. 
       FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the inner container  114 . Beneath the handle  106  is an L-shaped recess or bayonet slot  132  formed into a raised rim  136  on the inner container  114 . The recess or slot  132  has a vertical portion  138  extending generally along a direction parallel to an axis of the container  100  extending to the edge of the raised rim  136  by which the projection  130  of the outer sleeve  108  may enter the recess  132 . The recess  132  has a horizontal portion  140  extending generally along a portion of the circumference of the container forming the second leg of the L-shaped recess. The locking bump  134  is near the end of the horizontal portion  140 , with sufficient space at the end of the horizontal portion to accommodate the projection  130  in the locked position. 
     A handle support rim  142  of the inner container  114  extends toward the closed end of the inner container spaced from the raised rim  136  so as to define a generally annular space  144  into which the top edge of the outer sleeve  108  fits when the inner container  114  is assembled in the outer sleeve  108 . Positioning the top edge of the outer sleeve  108  into the space  144  between the handle support rim  142  and the inner container  114  brings the upper rim of the outer sleeve  108  into position to permit the projections  130  to engage the bayonet slots  132 . A second bayonet slot is provided on the opposite side of the inner container beneath the other handle  106 . 
     The locking projection or bump  134  is visible in the second or horizontal leg  140  of the L-shaped bayonet slot. The projection  134  meets resistance upon encountering the locking projection  130  as the user rotates the inner and outer parts relative to one another. By exerting additional turning force between the inner container  114  and the outer sleeve  108 , the resistance is overcome and the projection  130  moves past the locking projection  134  to the end of the L-shaped slot  140 . The projection  130  on the outer sleeve  108  becomes trapped at the end of the bayonet slot  132 , keeping the inner container  114  and the outer sleeve  108  together, but permitting them to be separated when desired. For example, the components do not come apart when being transported to work or school, but can be easily separated to permit heating of the food in the inner container  114  using a microwave oven, for example. Once the food is heated, the inner container  114  may be inserted back into the outer sleeve  108  to transport the warmed food to a table or the user&#39;s desk. 
     The raised rim  136  of the inner container  114  also contacts ribs  146  or other structures at the top rim of the outer sleeve  108  to provide a frictional engagement of the inner and outer components—see  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the handles  106  and inner container  114 . The vertical portions  138  of the L-shaped bayonet recesses are beneath the handles  106 , offset from the center lines of the handles to receive the projections  130  on the outer sleeve  108 . The user who is holding the handles may easily align the projection and bayonet slot using the handles as a guide. 
       FIG. 13  provides a view of the L-shaped bayonet recess  132  with the handle removed to better show the shape and position of the recess. The first portion or vertical portion  138  of the recess for receiving the projection at the lower edge of the raised rim  136  leads into the horizontal or second portion  140  of the L-shaped recess. The locking projection  134  extends across the second portion  140  of the recess spaced from the end of the recess by a sufficient distance to provide a capture space  148  for holding the projection  130  of the outer sleeve  108  when the two components are locked together. 
     Locking the inner container  114  into the outer sleeve  108  is performed by inserting the lower portion of the inner container  114  into the outer sleeve  108  until the projections  130  on the outer sleeve  108  contact the raised rim  136 . After being slid into the outer sleeve  108 , the inner container  114  and outer sleeve  108  are rotated relative to one another until the projections  130  reach the locking recesses  132  so that the projections  130  slide into the vertical portions  138  of the recesses. The inner container  114  and outer sleeve  108  are rotated relative to one another to move the projections  130  along the horizontal portions  140  of the recesses until resistance is met as a result of the outer sleeve projections  130  contacting the locking projections  134 . By applying force to overcome the resistance to further turning, the user is able to move the projections  130  over the locking projections  134  and engage into the space  148  at the closed end of the locking recess  132 . The locking projection  134  prevents rotation out of the locked position unless an unlocking force is applied. The components are thereby secured together. 
     The latching of the inner container  114  to the outer sleeve  108  can be accomplished by a single projection and a single bayonet recess or by multiple projections and multiple recesses. A combination of more bayonet recesses than projections may be provided to permit locking in several rotational positions. Other latching means to secure the components together may be provided as well. 
     Unlocking the inner container  114  from the outer sleeve  108  is performed by applying a twisting force or rotation force to overcome the locking resistance and permit the outer sleeve projection  130  to move over the locking projection  134 . Further turning of the inner container  114  in the outer sleeve  108  moves the projection  130  to the open end of the horizontal recess  140 , where the sleeve  108  and container  114  may be separated by a vertical motion. The user may thereby remove the previously locked inner container  114  for heating or washing and may lock the inner container into the outer sleeve for transport and insulation. 
     The lid engaging threads  150  on the upper edge of the inner container  114  are shown. Cooperating threads are provided in the lid  102 . 
       FIG. 14  shows the inner container  114  fit into and locked to the outer sleeve  108 . Food items may be placed into the interior of the inner container  114  for storage or transport and are thermally isolated from the environment so the food is kept warm or cool. The bayonet slots  132  are positioned beneath each handle  106  to enable the user to use the handles as a guide to aligning the locking projections  130  with the locking recesses  132 . The user is able to visually align the handles  106 , here shown at opposite sides of the inner container  114 , with the projections  130  on the inside of the outer sleeve  108 . Latching of the inner container  114  and outer sleeve  108  is thereby easily accomplished without the user needing to search for the latching recess  132  by rotating the components over significant rotational angles. 
       FIG. 15  shows the lid  102  and lid gasket  112  that is affixed to the rim of the inner container by threaded connection. The gasket  112  of one embodiment is of silicon, although other materials are possible. The lid  102  is of a plastic material in one embodiment, although other materials are possible. The lid gasket  112  is fit into the recess in the lid  102  and remains there during use. The gasket  112  forms the seal between the inside surface of the lid  102  and the edge of the rim of the inner container  114 . The lid  102  need not be removed from the inner container  114  to remove the inner container  114  from the outer sleeve  108  or to insert it into the outer sleeve  108 . As such, the lid  102  can remain in place to prevent spilling of soup or other foods while removing the inner container. The lid  102  is removed from the inner container  114  before heating the food, for example, in a microwave oven. 
       FIG. 16  shows the inner container  114  in the outer sleeve  108  but without the lid  102 . The inner container  114  has been secured to the outer sleeve  108  by the bayonet connection. The outwardly projecting flange with the downwardly directed outer edge, or handle support rim,  142  on the inner container  114  extends over the rim of the outer sleeve. In addition to providing a more unitary structure to the assembled components, this structure prevents food from getting between the components. The inner container  114  is of a plastic material, and preferably a material that is microwavable with food contained therein. The outer sleeve  108  of a preferred embodiment is of stainless steel with a plastic base  110 . After the food is heated in the microwave in the inner container, the inner container  114  may be slid into the outer sleeve  108  to insulate the heated food from the cooler environment. The inner container  114  may also be placed into a refrigerator or other cool place to cool the food, and the cooled food and inner container  114  then slid into the outer sleeve to keep the food cool. 
     The inner container  114  and outer sleeve  108  may be held together by friction, by a latching structure—one example of which is shown—or by a combination of both friction and a latching structure. 
     Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.