Abstract:
A compartmentalized tray system is an apparatus that stores and divides food so that the taste and integrity of the food within the apparatus is preserved. The apparatus includes a tray, a lid, and a divider plate. The tray, the lid, and the divider plate are hingedly connected to each other about a rotation axis. A first compartment is defined by the tray and the lid. A second compartment is defined by the divider plate and the lid. The first compartment and the second compartment are sealed by a first set of fasteners and a second set of fasteners, respectively. The apparatus further includes a plurality of stationary dividers, which are positioned within the tray. The plurality of stationary dividers further divides the tray so that a plurality of sections may separate different foods within the first compartment.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/321,064 filed on Apr. 11, 2016. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to portable food containers. More specifically, the present invention is a compartmentalized tray system that prevents different foods within the apparatus from mixing with each other. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Portable food containers are a common storage item that is used on a daily basis. Whether an individual is in school or working or is simply traveling, portable food containers serve as a cost-effective way solution to having fresh food readily available. However, individuals who use portable food containers typically bring more than one dish with him or her. An individual may bring multiple containers or put a variety of foods within a single container. If the individual brings multiple containers, more space is required to transport the food and more containers must be washed. If an individual puts a variety of foods within a single container, the taste and quality of the food will most likely be compromised by the time the individual is able to eat. 
         [0004]    The present invention serves to maximize the amount of food stored within a single portable food container. The present invention is a compartmentalized tray system that provides two compartments for different types of food, one of which has a plurality of sections to accommodate even more types of food. The present invention preserves the integrity of the food and effectively stores the food. The present invention allows a user to transport more than one type of food within a single container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention in a closed configuration. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention in a sealed configuration. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention in an open configuration. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top side view of the present invention in a closed configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in a closed configuration taken along like  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 , wherein an at least one tab and an at least one notch of a second set of fasteners are engaged. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in a closed configuration taken along like  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 , wherein a tab and a notch of a first set of fasteners are engaged. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in a closed configuration taken along like  7 - 7  in  FIG. 4 , wherein a nub and a well of a set of stabilizers are engaged. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    The present invention is a compartmentalized tray system that prevents the unwanted mixing of foods that are contained within the apparatus. The present invention allows a user to access the food in a compartment without coming into contact of shifting the food contained in the other compartments. The present invention comprises a tray  1 , a lid  5 , and a divider plate  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The tray  1  upholds the lid  5  and the divider plate  10  and contains food. The divider plate  10  upholds food as well that is not to be mixed with the food contained by the tray  1 . The divider plate  10  also covers the food contained by the tray  1 . The lid  5  covers the food upheld by the divider plate  10 . In order to effectively contain food, the tray  1  comprises a base plate  2  and a first lateral wall  3 . The base plate  2  prevents the food within the tray  1  to come into contact with a surface beneath the tray  1 , and the first lateral wall  3  prevents the food from escaping the perimeter of the base plate  2 . The tray  1  also comprises a first lip  4  that allows the lid  5  and the divider plate  10  to be secured onto the tray  1 . Similarly, the lid  5  comprises a cover plate  6  and a second lateral wall  7  in order to enclose food onto the divider plate  10 . The cover plate  6  covers the food upheld by the divider plate  10 , and the second lateral wall  7  upholds the cover plate  6  above the food. The lid  5  also comprises a second lip  8  that allows the lid  5  to be secured onto the tray  1 . 
         [0014]    The overall configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to store and compartmentalize food. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first lateral wall  3  is perimetrically connected about the base plate  2  so that the food remains within the tray  1 . The first lip  4  is perimetrically connected about the first lateral wall  3  so that the lid  5  and the divider plate  10  may be secured onto the tray  1 . In order to define a first compartment of the present invention, the first lip  4  and the base plate  2  are positioned opposite to each other across the first lateral wall  3 . Similarly, the second lateral wall  7  is perimetrically connected about the cover plate  6  so that the food remains on top of the divider plate  10 . The second lip  8  is perimetrically connected about the second lateral wall  7  so that the lid  5  may be secured onto the tray  1 . In order to define a second compartment of the present invention, the second lip  8  and the cover plate  6  are positioned opposite to each other across the second lateral wall  7 . The food within the first compartment and the second compartment is effectively housed as the first lip  4 , the second lip  8 , and the divider plate  10  are coextensive with each other. The tray  1 , the lid  5 , and the divider plate  10  are hingedly connected to each other about a rotation axis  30 , thereby connecting the first compartment to the second compartment. The divider plate  10  is angularly positioned in between the tray  1  and the lid  5  so that the user can easily access either the first compartment of the second compartment by moving the divider plate  10 . 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid  5  further comprises a plurality of ventilation holes  9 . The plurality of ventilation holes  9  allows the food within the second compartment to breathe and prevents the food within the second compartment from becoming soggy. Any steam emitted from the food within the second compartment escapes through the plurality of ventilation holes  9  thereby preserving the quality of the food within the second compartment. 
         [0016]    In order to connect the lid  5  to the tray  1  and prevent the unwanted separation of the lid  5  from the tray  1 , the present invention comprises a first set of fasteners  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The first set of fasteners  14  comprises a plurality of tabs  15  and a plurality of notches  16 . The plurality of tabs  15  latches onto the plurality of notches  16  which readily receive the plurality of tabs  15 . The plurality of tabs  15  is integrated into the second lip  8  so that the user may easily attach the lid  5  to the tray  1  by utilizing the downward motion of closing the lid  5 . More specifically, the plurality of tabs  15  and the rotation axis  30  are positioned opposite each other about the lid  5  in order to best secure the lid  5  onto the tray  1 . Moreover, the plurality of notches  16  is integrated into the first lip  4 , and the plurality of notches  16  and the rotation axis  30  are positioned opposite to each other about the tray  1 . This arrangement allows the plurality of tabs  15  to connect to the plurality of notches  16 . More specifically, where the tray  1  and the lid  5  are in a closed configuration, the second lip  8  presses against the first lip  4  so that both the first compartment and the second compartment are closed. Each of the plurality of tabs  15  engages into a corresponding notch from the plurality of notches  16 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first lip  4  further comprises a fixed edge  24  and a free edge  25 . The free edge  25  freely rotates about the fixed edge  24 . The fixed edge  24  and the free edge  25  are positioned opposite to each other about the first lip  4 . The fixed edge  24  is positioned coincident with the rotation axis  30 , and the plurality of notches  16  is evenly distributed along the free edge  25  so that the plurality of tabs  15  may readily engage with the plurality of notches  16  and the lid  5  is not easily separated from the tray  1 . Similarly, the second lip  8  further comprises a fixed edge  26  and a free edge  27 . The free edge  27  freely rotates about the fixed edge  26 . The fixed edge  26  and the free edge  27  are positioned opposite to each other about the second lip  8 . The fixed edge  26  is positioned coincident with the rotation axis  30 , and the plurality of tabs  15  is evenly distributed along the free edge  27 . This configuration allows the plurality of tabs  15  to rotate about the rotation axis  30  as the lid  5  is opened and closed by the user. 
         [0017]    In order to connect the divider plate  10  to the tray  1  and prevent the unwanted separation of the divider plate  10  from the tray  1 , the present invention comprises a second set of fasteners  17 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The second set of fasteners  17  comprises at least one tab  18  and at least one notch  19 . The at least one tab  18  latches onto the at least one notch  19  which readily receives the at least one tab  18 . The at least one tab  18  is peripherally integrated into the divider plate  10  so that the user may easily attach the divider plate  10  to the tray  1  by utilizing the downward motion of closing the lid  5 . More specifically, the at least one tab  18  and the rotation axis  30  are positioned opposite each other about the divider plate  10  in order to best secure the divider plate  10  onto the tray  1 . Consequently, the at least one notch  19  is integrated into the first lip  4 , and the at least one notch  19  and the rotation axis  30  are positioned opposite to each other about the tray  1 . This arrangement allows the at least one tab  18  to connect to the at least one notch  19 . More specifically, when the tray  1  and the divider plate  10  are in a sealed configuration, the divider plate  10  peripherally presses against the first lip  4  so that the first compartment remains closed. The at least one tab  18  engages into the at least one notch  19 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the divider plate  10  further comprises a fixed edge  28  and a free edge  29 . The free edge  29  freely rotates about the fixed edge  28 . The fixed edge  28  and the free edge  29  are positioned opposite to each other about the divider plate  10 . The fixed edge  28  is positioned coincident with the rotation axis  30 , and the at least one notch  19  is centrally positioned along the free edge  29 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the at least one tab  18  may rotate about the rotation axis  30  as the divider plate  10  is opened and closed by the user. The central position of the at least one notch  19  provides a more stable attachment between the divider plate  10  and the tray  1 . Moreover, the at least one notch  19  is centrally positioned along the free edge  25  so that the at least one tab  18  may readily engage with the at least one notch  19  and the divider plate  10  is not easily separated from the tray  1 . 
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of stationary dividers  11  further separate the food within the first compartment, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The plurality of stationary dividers  11  is positioned within the tray  1  and mounted onto the base plate  2  so that the different foods within the tray  1  do not get mixed with one another. More specifically, the plurality of stationary dividers  11  comprises a first divider  12  and a second divider  13 . The first divider  12  defines a largest section of the first compartment. The second divider  13  defines a couple of small sections of the first compartment. The first divider  12  diametrically traverses within the first lateral wall  3 , and the second divider  13  traverses from the first lateral wall  3  to the first divider  12 . This arrangement allows a user to store a main food dish and a couple of side dishes within the tray  1 . 
         [0019]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a set of stabilizers  20  that prevent the lid  5  from shifting and thereby remain connected to the tray  1  via the first set of fasteners  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The set of stabilizers  20  comprises a plurality of nubs  21  and a plurality of wells  22 . The plurality of nubs  21  rests within the plurality of wells  22  which readily receive the plurality of nubs  21 . The plurality of nubs  21  is integrated into the second lip  8  and distributed along the second lip  8 . The plurality of wells  22  is integrated into the first lip  4  and distributed along the first lip  4 . This arrangement allows the lid  5  to easily align with the tray  1 . More specifically, when the tray  1  and the lid  5  are in a closed configuration, the second lip  8  presses against the first lip  4  so that both the first compartment and the second compartment are closed. This closed configuration is shown in  FIG. 1 . Each of the plurality of nubs  21  engages into a corresponding well from the plurality of wells  22 , reinforcing the alignment of the lid  5  with that of the tray  1 . 
         [0020]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a moat  23 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The moat  23  prevents the food within the second compartment from becoming soggy. The moat  23  is integrated into the divider plate  10  and oriented towards the lid  5  as to retain any drained juices or liquid that has escaped the food within the second compartment. The moat  23  is internally offset from a perimeter of the divider plate  10  so that any retained juices or liquid from the food does not come into contact with the food itself as the food is stored within the second compartment. This arrangement between the moat  23  and the divider plate  10  further seals the food within the first compartment as the moat  23  preferably is adjacent the first lateral wall  3 . 
         [0021]    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.