CN109890720B - Container with a lid - Google Patents

Abstract

A container has a container member, a lid member removably attached to the container member to form a sealed storage cavity, and a bowl member removably covering the lid member to protect it during shipping. The storage chamber has an interior vertical wall dividing it into a plurality of storage compartments. The cover member has two openings, each opening being sealingly closed by an operable flap which is movable from an open position to a closed position. In the open position, the flip has a convex outer surface forming a spout for the opening. In the closed position, the flip has a concave outer surface and engages all edges of the opening to seal the opening. In use, the bowl element may be removably stowed in the bottom of the container element or used as a holding container.

Description

Container with a lid

This application claims priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application serial No. 15/703088 filed on 13.9.2017, U.S. non-provisional patent application serial No. 15/703088 claims benefit to provisional patent application serial No. 62/394877 filed on 15.9.2016, and is a partial continuation of design patent application serial No. 29/580052 filed on 5.10.2016, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved container. And more particularly to an improved container for storing and transporting food items (e.g., solid food items or snacks) therein and for holding the food items that is portable, durable, and easy to handle.

Background

Existing containers for food products are unsatisfactory because they do not completely seal the food product from contaminants, do not allow the user to dispense the food product directly into the mouth, and are sized and shaped so that they are not easily carried in a purse, bag, or cup holder. Existing food containers typically do not provide more than one separate compartment for storing and dispensing two or more different food products. Existing snack containers do not allow for serving when food is dispensed and consumed from the container. Most prior art containers require the use of two or more fingers to operate (i.e., open and close the container). The present invention addresses each of these shortcomings and proposes an improved solution.

Disclosure of Invention

The container of the present invention includes a container member, a lid member and a bowl member. The container and the cover member are removably coupled together to form a sealed storage chamber. The bowl member detachably covers the cover member to protect it from external contaminants and serves as a holding vessel.

The container member has a substantially cylindrical body with a closed bottom and an open top defining a storage cavity. The storage cavity may be divided into a plurality of storage chambers having one or more internal vertical walls.

The cover member has a substantially concave upper surface with at least one cut-away opening therein for egress of food stored in the storage cavity. Each opening is sealingly closed by an operable flap made of a resilient/elastic material having a generally oval shape with two pointed ends. One curved edge of the flap is connected to a peripheral edge of the opening and the other distal curved edge of the flap selectively engages an opposite edge of the opening to seal the opening. The outer surface of the flip varies from a convex curve of the flip proximate the opening and forming the spout to a concave curve sealing the opening through the flip. The distal curved edge of the flap may be suspended from the opposite edge of the opening to facilitate lifting of the flap with a finger.

The bowl member is removably attached to the top of the container member to cover and protect the lid member during transport. The bowl member is removably attached to the bottom of the container member or serves as a holding vessel when the container is in use.

Drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is an improved container of the present invention, fully assembled in place for travel/transport.

Fig. 2 is a modified container of fig. 1. The bowl element is placed in a shifted position to allow access to the lid element.

Fig. 3 is a modified container of fig. 1. The lid member is removed from the container member to fill the snack therein.

Fig. 4 is a modified container of fig. 2. One of the two flaps on the cover member is in an open position.

Fig. 5 is the modified container of fig. 4. The bowl member is removed from the container member and serves as a holding container.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the improved container of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is another view of fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is another view of fig. 2.

Figure 9 is another exploded view of the improved container of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the cover member with the two flaps in the closed position.

Fig. 12 through 15 illustrate different colors, materials and finishes of the improved container of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is an improved container of the present invention having two bowl elements.

Fig. 17 is a simplified view of the improved container (lid element not shown) and showing the cord lock bowl element.

Detailed Description

Reference is made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Fig. 1 through 17 illustrate an improved container 10 for storing, transporting and containing food or snack foods. The container 10 of the present invention includes a container member 100, a lid member 200 and a bowl member 300. The container member 100 and the lid member 200 are removably coupled together to form a sealed storage chamber 108. The bowl member 300 detachably covers the cover member 200 to protect the cover member 200 from external contaminants, and the bowl member 300 also serves as a holding vessel.

As shown in fig. 1-17, the container member 100 has a generally cylindrical body 102, the body 102 having a closed bottom 104 and an open top 106, the open top 106 defining a storage chamber 108. Optionally, the container member 100 includes an interior vertical wall 110 to create a plurality of storage compartments 112a and 112b within the individual container member 100. Each storage compartment 112a and 112b may be filled with a different food product. The wall 110 is removably positioned and oriented in the storage cavity 108 to allow a user to customize the container member 100. The wall 110 slides vertically into the container member 100, and the inner wall 114 of the container member 100 has one or more guide channels 116 or tabs to receive the vertical wall 110. As shown, the wall 110 is not limited to a planar wall, but may have a curvature/angle/curve relative to the wall 110, e.g., one of the walls may divide the storage cavity 108 into three or more equal or unequal sized storage compartments 112a, 112b, etc., having corresponding channels 116 for receiving walls 110 of different shapes. The container element 100 may also include more than one interior vertical wall 110 with corresponding channels. Alternatively, the vertical wall 110 may be permanently secured within the storage chamber 108.

The base 104 of the container element 100 has a stepped cylindrical body 102 having a smaller outer diameter than the rest of the container element 100 to receive the bowl element 300. The base 104 of the container member 100 and the bowl member 300 have corresponding means to releasably engage each other, such as the groove 121 and the tab 301, respectively. Other means for engaging the container member 100 to the bowl member 300 known to those skilled in the art may be used, such as helical threads, 1/4 rotary gates, annular snaps, friction or by magnetic securing elements, and the like.

The inner wall 114 of the container member 100 at the top 106 has means for receiving the lid member 200, such as one or more locking rotation gates 120. Other means known to those skilled in the art for engaging the cover member 200 to the container member 100 may be used, such as helical threads, annular snaps, friction, a latch/tab and groove arrangement, or by magnetically secured friction elements, and the like.

The substantially cylindrical body 102 may range in size from 2.5 inches to 2.7 inches for its outer diameter to fit most cup holders and the like in a vehicle. However, different sizes may also be used. Further, although the container member 100 is depicted as having a substantially cylindrical body 102, other prismatic shapes (e.g., oval, any polygon, or random curve) may be used.

The container member 100 may be single-walled or double-walled. Double-walled container element 100 with vacuum insulation provides insulation properties to maintain the temperature of food stored therein, whether hot or cold. The container member 100 may be made of opaque, translucent or transparent stainless steel or plastic, as shown in fig. 12-15.

The lid element 200 is sealably attached to the top portion 106 of the container element 100 by means of a latch 204 at the lower end of the lid element 200, the latch 204 interacting and cooperating with the rotary gate 120. The cover member 200 removably seals the storage chamber 108 of the container member 100. The open top 106 of the container member 100 provides access to easily fill the storage cavity 108 or chambers 112a and 112b (see fig. 3) when the cover member 200 is removed from the container member 100. The cover member 200 is made of a hard/rigid material.

The cover member 200 has a substantially concave upper surface 206, the upper surface 206 having two cutout openings 208a and 208 b. On the lower surface 207 is a depending wall 209. When the cover member 200 is properly secured to the container member 100, the depending wall 209 is aligned with and abuts the wall 110 of the container member 100. Similarly, when the cover member 200 is properly secured to the container member 100, the openings 208a and 208b are correspondingly aligned with the separate chambers 112a and 112b of the container member 100. In this way, a user may selectively dispense from the chambers 112a and 112b through the respective openings 208a and 208 b. Due to the restricted aperture size of the openings 208a and 208b, the lid member 200 dispenses food from the container member 100 in a controlled manner. Food from the container member 100 exits the openings 208a and 208b at a controlled rate (as opposed to an uncontrolled amount of food that flows out). To the extent that the wall 110 is not planar and has a different shape or design, the depending wall 209 has a shape or design corresponding to the wall 110 to enable isolation of the chambers 112a, 112b, etc.

The openings 208a and 208b are sealably closed by operable flaps 210a and 210b, the flaps 210a and 210b being made of a resilient/elastic material, such as silicone. Each flap 210a or 210b has a generally pointed oval shape with each flap having opposing curved edges 212a or 212b and 214a or 214 b. The lower curved edge 212a or 212b of each flip cover 210a or 210b is permanently attached to the cover member 200 around the peripheral edge 216a or 216b of the opening 208a or 208 b. The distal upper curved edge 214a or 214b of each flap 210a or 210b selectively engages the inner edge 218a or 218b of the opening 208a or 208 b. The flip 210a or 210b is formed from a portion of a cylinder and the outer surface 220a or 220b of the flip 210a or 210b varies from a convex curve, wherein the opening 208a or 208b is accessible (see fig. 6 and 10) to a concave curve having the opening 208a or 208b sealed by the flip 210a or 210b (see fig. 2). The distal upper curved edge 214a or 214b of the flip 210a or 210b hangs over the inner edge 218a or 218b of the opening adjacent the concave upper surface 206 to facilitate lifting of the flip 210a or 210b with a finger. Each flap 210a or 210b can be moved from the closed position by grasping any position of the curved edge 214a or 214b on the distal end of the flap 210a or 210b with the tip of a finger and pulling it outward and away from the inner edge 218a or 218b of the opening 208a or 208b and the central axis of the container member 100. The aperture is further limited by a curved edge 214a or 214b on the distal side of the flip 210a or 210b and an inner edge 218a or 218b of the opening 208a or 208 b. The size of the openings 208a and 208b is used to control the dispensing of food from the chamber 112a or 112 b. The outer surface 220a or 220b of the flip 210a or 210b in the convex curved state forms a spout for directing the dispensed food from the chamber 112a or 112b and provides a visual means of dispensing the food (see fig. 5). The spout also allows the user to pour food items directly into the mouth due to the controlled dispensing from the restricted aperture size of the openings 208a and 208b, which is convenient for the vehicle operator.

To close the opening 208a or 208b, the outer surface 220a or 220b or distal upper edge 214a or 214b of the flip 210a or 210b is pushed inward toward the inner edge 218a or 218b or opening 208a or 208b by one finger tip. In the closed position, the flip 210a or 210b rests against and presses against the inner edge 218a or 218b of the opening 208a or 208b, thereby forming a substantial seal that prevents contaminants from entering or exiting food stored in the chamber 112a or 112 b. The flip cover 210a or 210b is firmly seated against the opening 208a or 208b due to the interaction between the elasticity of the flip cover 210a or 210b and the hard/rigid structure of the opening 208a or 208b of the cover member 200. The flip cover 210a or 210b does not require additional securing functions, such as snap teeth, to hold the flip cover in the closed position, rather than the open position. The flip cover 210a or 210b naturally remains stationary in either of the two positions, open or closed. The folder 210a or 210b is easily operated with one finger to be closed and opened. This feature is particularly useful for the vehicle driver.

Because the distal curved edge 214a or 214b of the flip cap 210a or 210b is positioned proximate the central axis and adjacent the concave curved surface 206 of the cover member 200 below the top edge 222 of the cover member 200, accidental lifting (e.g., opening) of the flip cap is avoided.

The bowl element 300 has a substantially planar base 302, the base 302 having a substantially cylindrical wall 304 extending from the base 302, the base defining a hollow region 306. The bowl element 300 is removably attached to either the lid element 200 or the container element 100. To protect the cover member 200 during shipping and to prevent contaminants from contacting the cover member 200, the cover member 200 acts as an additional barrier to contaminants entering the container member 100, the bowl member 300 may be attached to the cover member 200 with the rim 308 of the cylindrical wall 304 engaging the flange 224 of the cover member 200 substantially completely fitting within the hollow region 306 of the bowl member 300. Positioning the bowl member 300 on the lid member 200 also prevents the accidental flow of food from the container member 100. In the hollow area 306 not occupied by the cover member 200, for example, above the closed flaps 210a and 210b (see fig. 1 and 2) is a diametrically aligned space (see line 10-10 in fig. 2) that can be used to store appropriately sized accessories, such as foldable utensils, towelettes, and the like.

After removal from the lid member 200, the bowl member 300 may be used as a holding vessel to hold a portion of food dispensed from the container member 100 such that the food is easily accessible for grasping and eating by the fingers of a user (see fig. 5). If the bowl element 300 is not used as a holding container, it may alternatively be attached to the bottom end 104 of the container element 100 as described above (see fig. 2, 4, 8, etc.). With the bowl member 300 placed on the bottom end 104 of the container member 100, it does not interfere with the use of the operable flip caps 210a and 210b, but rather remains connected to the container member 100 so that no loose parts are lost during use or shipping. The bowl element 300 may be conveniently stowed away so that it remains clean for later use.

One or two bowl elements 300 may be used with the container element 100 and the lid element 200. If a bowl-like member 300 is used, it may be conveniently stored/carried on and above the bottom 104 of the container member 100 or the top of the lid member 200. For example, when in an automobile, the bowl element 300 may be stored on the bottom end 104 such that a user may easily use the flip covers 210a and 210b to access food contained in the container element 100; when in the bag, the bowl element 300 may be stored on top of and above the lid element 200 to prevent contaminants from reaching the lid element 200 or entering the container element 100. As shown in fig. 16, if two bowl elements 300 are used, one bowl element may be stored/carried at the bottom end 104 of the container element 100, while the other may be stored/carried on top and over the lid element 200. Having two bowl-like elements 300 allows two different foods from the two chambers 112a and 112b to be dispensed from the container element 100 and contained in two separate bowl-like elements 300 to facilitate snack/sharing.

When the bowl element 300 is received on the base 104 of the container element 100, it may fit over the stepped cylindrical body 102 such that the profile of the container element 100 is streamlined (see fig. 4, 8 and 10). Similarly, the contour of the container member 100 is also streamlined when the bowl member 300 is received on top of and over the lid member 200 (see fig. 1 and 7).

Fig. 17 illustrates another embodiment in which a bowl element 300a is releasably tethered to the top end 106 of the container element 100 by a flexible/resilient tether element 310, the tether element 310 having a length of material connecting two interconnected rings 312. The two rings 312 engage the groove 314 in the cylindrical wall 304 of the annular groove member 300a and the annular groove 122 adjacent the top end 106 of the container member 100. The rings 312 may be stretched to fit into the grooves 314 and 122, or they may be frictionally secured for easy release from the bowl element 300a or the container element 100. Alternatively, the bowl member 300a may be tied to the channel 121 with the bowl member 300a resting on the bottom end 104 of the container member 100.

Fig. 12-15 illustrate that the container member 100, lid member 200, and bowl member 300 may be made of different colors, materials, and finishes, such as plastic, glass, stainless steel, glossy, matte, transparent, translucent, opaque materials, and the like.

The features of the invention illustrated and described herein are preferred embodiments. It is understood, therefore, that this description is intended to cover unforeseeable embodiments that may have insubstantial differences within the spirit of the description.

Claims (16)

1. A container for storing, transporting and holding food products, comprising:

a container element having a substantially cylindrical body with a central axis, the body having a closed bottom and an open top defining a storage cavity for storing food;

a cover member made of a rigid material detachably connected to the container member to seal the storage cavity, the cover member having a substantially cylindrical sidewall and a substantially concave upper surface with at least one opening for a food outlet and at least one flap made of an elastic material movable from an open position to a closed position for selectively sealing the respective opening;

wherein each of said at least one opening has a peripheral edge disposed along said sidewall of said cover member and an opposing edge disposed along said concave upper surface of said cover member proximate said central axis;

wherein each of the at least one flap has an outer surface, a lower curved edge connected to the peripheral edge of the opening, and an upper curved edge that selectively engages the opposing edge of the opening to selectively seal the opening to the closed position;

wherein, when the flip cap is in the open position, the outer surface of the flip cap has a convex curve forming a spout of the opening, the convex curve forming a continuation of the cylindrical sidewall of the lid member to provide a smooth flow of food product from the container member, and when the flip cap is in the closed position, the outer surface of the flip cap has a concave curve; and

at least one bowl element removably covering the lid element in a first position.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the flip cap has a substantially pointed oval shape.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container element further comprises at least one internal vertical wall for dividing the storage cavity into two or more storage chambers.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the at least one interior vertical wall is removably insertable into the storage cavity.

5. The container of claim 3 wherein said container element has an inner wall with means for slidably receiving and positioning said at least one interior vertical wall in said storage cavity.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container member has means for removably attaching the cover member to the container member.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the upper curved edge of the flap overhangs the opposite edge of the opening in the closed position to facilitate moving the flap to the open position.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein said cover member has a top edge and said opposite edge of said opening is located below said top edge on said substantially concave upper surface.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the bowl element is removably attached to the closed bottom of the container element in a second position.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein said bowl member is removed from said lid member and serves as a holding vessel for said food product to be discharged from said container in a third position.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the closed bottom of the container element is smaller than the diameter of the open top of the container element such that the container element and the bowl element have a smooth streamlined profile at the junction, wherein the bowl element mates with the container element.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the bowl element and the closed bottom of the container element have corresponding means for removably attaching to each other.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the means for removably connecting comprises a length of material connecting two interconnected rings, each ring being removably connected to the bowl element and the container element, respectively.

14. The container of claim 1 wherein the bowl element has a substantially flat base with a substantially cylindrical wall extending therefrom, the base defining a hollow region substantially surrounding the lid element in the first position.

15. The container of claim 1 wherein there is a first bowl element and a second bowl element, the first bowl element being in the first position and the second bowl element being in the second position, the first bowl element and the second bowl element being removably connected to the closed bottom of the container element.

16. A container for storing, transporting and holding food products, comprising:

a container element having a substantially cylindrical body having a central axis and an internal vertical wall, the body having a closed bottom and an open top defining a storage cavity for storing food, the internal vertical wall dividing the storage cavity into two storage chambers;

a cover member made of a rigid material detachably connected to the container member to seal the storage cavities, the cover member having a substantially cylindrical sidewall and a substantially concave upper surface having two openings for serving as food outlets from either of the two storage cavities and either of two flaps made of an elastic material, the flaps being movable from an open position to a closed position for selectively sealing the respective openings;

wherein each of said openings has a peripheral edge disposed along said sidewall of said cover member and an opposite edge disposed along said concave upper surface of said cover member proximate said central axis;

wherein each of said flaps has an outer surface, a lower curved edge connected to said peripheral edge of said respective opening, and an upper curved edge selectively engaging said opposite edge of said respective opening to selectively seal said respective opening in said closed position;

wherein, when the flip cover is in the open position, the outer surface of the flip cover has a convex curve forming a spout of the corresponding opening, the convex curve continuing with the cylindrical sidewall of the cover member to allow a smooth outflow of food product from the respective storage chamber, and when the flip cover is in the closed position, the outer surface of the flip cover has a concave curve; and

at least one bowl element removably covering the lid element in a first position.

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