The present disclosure generally relates to food storage containers and, more particularly, relates to food storage containers adapted to withstand a wide temperature range extending from the freezer to a conventional oven.
Food storage containers come in a variety of forms. Very common examples include ceramic, glass bowls, and casserole dishes into which food can be loaded and closed using a secondary layer such as aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Given the rigid form of such containers, as well as temperature resistance of ceramics, they can easily be used across an extended temperature range including that of a conventional freezer and a conventional oven. However, they can be fairly expensive to purchase, and are susceptible to damage and chipping from relatively minor contact or droppage.
Accordingly, over time, more disposable and durable forms of food containers have been developed. Such containers are typically manufactured from a polymeric material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinylchloride. All such materials are durable but are not necessarily able to withstand such a temperature range. They also are manufactured from fossil based components, the price of which is greatly dependent upon the price of petroleum. As the price of petroleum escalates so do the cost of such polymers and thus so do the cost of such containers. In addition, environmental interests have recently dictated that alternative materials be sourced for manufacturing such containers.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a food storage container is disclosed which comprises a base and reinforcement members. The base includes a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The base and side wall are manufactured from silicone rubber. The reinforcement members are fully encapsulated in at least one of the bottom wall and side wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a food storage container is disclosed which comprises a base and reinforcement members. The base includes a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The base and side wall are manufactured from silicone rubber. The reinforcement members are provided external to the base and include a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The reinforcement members are manufactured from thermoset resin.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a food storage container is disclosed comprising a base, reinforcement members, and a lid. The base includes a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends. The base and side wall are manufactured from silicone rubber. The reinforcement members are operatively associated with the base. The reinforcement members are manufactured from a thermoset resin with the thermoset resin being one of phenolic and melamine. The lid is removably set upon the base side wall and is manufactured from silicone rubber.
These are other aspects and features of the disclosure will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to
As shown in combination with
With specific reference to
In order to not only reinforce the base 22, but also maintain the ability of the food storage container 20 to withstand a wide temperature range, the reinforcement members 28 should be manufactured from a material which has both the ability to stiffen the base 22 and withstand such a temperature range. The inventors have found that certain thermoset resins are capable of performing both functions, with phenolic and melamine being two suitable examples. Other suitable materials include, but are not limited to, ceramics, glass, metals, and wood. As used herein, the temperature range across which the food container 20 is adapted to operate extends from a conventional freezer to a conventional oven. Put another way, the container must be able to withstand temperatures extending from below the freezing point of water to above the boiling point of water, and put yet another way, the temperature range should be from at least negative 20° F. to at least positive 450° F.
With respect to the lid 24, as shown best in
Like the base 22, the lid 24 is preferably manufactured from silicone rubber as is the base 22. Silicone rubber has the advantages of a broad temperature performance range, inertness, and reasonably good release characteristics. In addition, if it is desired to provide the lid 24 with any stiffening components such as a situation with a relatively large diameter lid 24, reinforcement members (not shown) could be encapsulated within the lid 24 as well. Such reinforcement members would be manufactured from thermoset resins such as phenolic and melamine as is the case with the base 22. Other suitable materials include ceramics, glass, metals, and wood.
Referring now to
With specific reference to the reinforcement members 128, each include a bottom wall 131 from which a side wall 132 upwardly extends. Similarly, the skin 126 includes bottom wall 133 from which the side wall 134 upwardly extends and defines a storage space 135. The reinforcement member 128 includes a plurality of intersecting slats 136 as shown in
Similar to the first embodiment, the lid 124 includes a bottom plate 144 from which a handle 146 upwardly extends. Also, and again not depicted, the periphery 148 of the bottom plate 144 could be provided with a downwardly depending rib or the like which could sealingly mate with a groove provided within a top edge 150 ofthe side wall 132.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the teachings of the disclosure set forth a container which is able to withstand a wide temperature range extending from below the freezing point of water to above the boiling point of water and which is manufacturable from a material not only able to withstand those temperatures, but which does so in a durable fashion and by way of non-fossil and non-petroleum based source materials.