Patent Grant
11117709
The present invention is directed to a modular container system having an interior dividable into compartments of variable size.
It is sometimes necessary to store a number of different types of food items in a single container, such as in packaging restaurant take-out food or leftovers to be taken home by a customer. In conventional approaches, due to cost and other factors, foods with different consistencies and temperature requirements are stored in a manner which does not maintain food quality. For example, a warm entrée may be packaged with a cold side dish, and crispy foods, such as fried potatoes, may be packaged with a main course having a gravy, sauce, marinade, and the like. Moreover, conventional approaches to storing and delivering food may result in degraded food presentation. For example, food take-out containers often have a transparent or translucent cover to allow the customer to view the food. During transport, however, food in the container may shift—arriving at its destination in an undesirable visual state. This is particularly the case when a container contains multiple food items, such as, for example, a salad with a main course.
Furthermore, while it is possible to achieve better food separation and minimize food shifting during transit using different and existing divided food containers; food providers face a challenge in having to store and use a number of fixed divided packaging solutions to fit a large and ever-changing menu. Conventional approaches may not provide SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) reduction to minimize costs, storage requirements and complexity in operations.
Thus, conventional approaches to storing food may not provide cost effective solutions for maintaining the quality and presentation of different food items while minimizing the number of food container SKU components.
The disclosed embodiments are directed to a container system for displaying, transporting, storing, and serving food that includes a container base and dividers (e.g., barriers). A container lid may also be included. The system provides a modular food container system for use in both hot and cold food applications, even simultaneously. Implementations of the system may use a container base, one or more removably-attachable dividers affixed to the base, and a lid which is removably affixed to the base. The lid may be formed of transparent or translucent plastic material to allow for observation of the contents of the container and may engage in a snap fit with the base. In implementations, the snap-fit engagement may form a leak-proof seal. In embodiments in which food is meant to be served but not transported, such as an in-store environment, a lid may not be needed.
The container may have a number of locking features to provide variation in the configuration of the container system. For example, a container base with one opposing pair of locking features (e.g., one on each of an opposing pair of substantially parallel sidewalls) provides two variations: undivided, i.e., no divider is present such that the container system defines a single unseparated content carrying space, and divided (e.g., into two sections of the space) to define two content carrying spaces. A container base with three spaced opposing pairs of locking features will provide four variations: undivided, divided (e.g., two, one-half sections) using a single divider at a midway position, divided (e.g., a one-third section and a two-thirds section) using a single divider at a one-third position, and divided using two dividers (e.g., into three, one-third sections), with one divider at a one-third position (e.g., to the left of the center position) and a second divider at a two-thirds position (e.g., to the right of the center position).
The container system described herein provides simplicity and ease of operation. The locking features are intuitive to use and require little to no training. Inserting a divider into place is performed by a press-fit operation. The dividers may be manufactured in a bundle or sheet, so the user can tear away the number of dividers needed. This approach to design and manufacturing reduces cost, efficiently uses space, and helps operationally by reducing the number of small loose parts in a kitchen environment.
A modular container system having an interior dividable into compartments of variable size may be summarized as including a base having a bottom and sidewalls extending from the bottom to define an interior volume, at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls having regions arranged opposite each other, each of the regions including one or more protrusions to form one or more pairs of opposing protrusions, each of the regions further including one or more indents positioned in correspondence with the one or more protrusions, the base having a rim at a peripheral upper edge of the sidewalls; and at least one barrier to extend between the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions to divide the interior volume of the base into a plurality of compartments, the at least one barrier having an elongate body and a tab portion extending from each end of the body, each said tab portion being bendable to orient an underside of each said tab portion to face a respective protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions, a longitudinal end of each said tab portion engaging with a corresponding indent of the one or more indents, to form a press-fit coupling between each said tab portion and the respective protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions and the corresponding indent of the one or more indents, such that when the at least one barrier is so positioned, a length of the barrier is substantially the same as a distance between the regions of the at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls.
Embodiments of the modular container system may include one or more of the following features.
Each said tab portion may have an opening on the underside thereof and the respective protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions is sized and shaped to fit at least partially within the opening on the underside of each said tab portion when forming the press-fit coupling. The regions of the at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls may be substantially planar. The modular container system may further include a lid having a rim at a peripheral edge thereof to attach to the rim of the base. At least one barrier may be formed as part of a plurality of barriers which are detachably connected as a single sheet.
The body of the at least one barrier may have sides which slope so that a transverse width of the body narrows from a bottom of the body to a top of the body. The body of the at least one barrier may have ends which slope so that a longitudinal length of the body narrows from a bottom of the body to a top of the body. Each said tab portion of the at least one barrier may have a top which slopes so that a height of each said tab portion decreases in the longitudinal direction of the body from an end of the body to a longitudinal middle of the body. The sloped ends of the body of the at least one barrier and the sloped top of each said tab portion, respectively, may be shaped to be substantially parallel when the press-fit coupling is made between each said tab portion and the respective protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions and the corresponding indent of the one or more indents. The substantially parallel sloped ends of the body of the at least one barrier and the sloped top of each said tab portion, respectively, may have a gap therebetween, when the press-fit coupling is made between each said tab portion and the respective protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions and the corresponding indent of the one or more indents, to provide space for each said tab portion to be moved inward, in a longitudinal direction of the body, toward the middle of the body to disengage the press-fit coupling.
Each of the regions of the at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls may include at least two pairs of opposing protrusions positioned so that the interior volume of the base can be selectively divided into at least: an approximately one-third portion and an approximately two-thirds portion; and three approximately one-third portions. Each of the regions of the at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls may include at least three pairs of opposing protrusions positioned so that the interior volume of the base can be selectively divided into at least: two equally-sized portions; an approximately one-third portion and an approximately two-thirds portion; and three approximately one-third portions. An interior surface of the bottom of the base may include at least one elongate raised portion positioned and shaped to fit within an underside opening of the body of the at least one barrier, the raised portion including raised tabs at ends thereof, the raised tabs positioned to engage with ends of the underside opening of the body of the at least one barrier. An interior surface of the bottom of the base may include raised tabs spaced apart from the at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls, the raised tabs positioned to engage with ends of an underside opening of the body of the at least one barrier.
A plastic container having an interior dividable into compartments of variable size may be summarized as including a base adapted to receive at least one barrier to divide the interior volume of the base into a plurality of compartments, the base including: a bottom having an interior surface, sidewalls extending from the bottom to define an interior volume, at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls having regions arranged opposite each other, each of the regions including one or more protrusions to form one or more pairs of opposing protrusions, each of the regions further including one or more indents positioned in correspondence with the one or more protrusions, the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions adapted to receive the at least one barrier extending therebetween, the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions forming a press-fit coupling between each protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions and a corresponding indent of the one or more indents and a respective bendable tab portion extending from each end of an elongate body portion of the at least one barrier, the corresponding indent of the one or more indents engaging with a longitudinal end of each said tab portion, and a rim at a peripheral upper edge of the sidewalls.
Embodiments of the plastic container may include one or more of the following features.
The container may further include a lid having a rim at a peripheral edge thereof to attach to the rim of the base. The one or more pairs of opposing protrusions of the base may be positioned and shaped so that the respective bendable tab portion of the at least one barrier is bendable to orient an underside of each said tab portion to face a respective protrusion of the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions. The interior surface of the bottom of the base may include at least one elongate raised portion positioned and shaped to fit within an underside opening of the body of the at least one barrier, the raised portion including raised tabs at ends thereof, the raised tabs positioned to engage with ends of the underside opening of the body of the at least one barrier. An interior surface of the bottom of the base may include raised tabs spaced apart from the at least one opposing pair of the sidewalls, the raised tabs positioned to engage with ends of an underside opening of the body of the at least one barrier. Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not necessarily intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.
In the example depicted, a single barrier 140 has been installed in the base 110 to divide the interior of the base 110 into two approximately equally-sized compartments 102. The compartments 102 may, for example, contain different foods which are separated by the barrier 140. It should be noted that, in this example, the base 110 is configured to accept three barriers but that only one is used. Alternatively, the barrier 140 can be mounted to a different protrusion 130 such that the compartments 102 can be configured as having a one-third volume compartment and a two-third volume compartment. It is also possible to have more than one barrier 140, as discussed in further detail below, or no barrier 140 to leave the container undivided.
In implementations, there is at least one barrier 140 which extends between the one or more pairs of opposing protrusions 130 to divide the interior volume of the base 110 into a number of compartments 102. The barrier 140 (see
Described in different terms, the base 110 includes a bottom surface bottom 115 bounded by upwardly extending sidewalls 120. At least two of the sidewalls 120 have opposing portions (e.g., regions 125) which, in implementations, are substantially parallel to each other. The substantially parallel regions 125 include one or more designated locking features, e.g., protrusions 130 and indents 135, to which an attachable/detachable divider, e.g., barrier 140, can be secured, providing further flexibility in food presentation and transport. Each barrier 140 has a mating feature at each end, e.g., tab portion 150, which releasably secures to a respective locking feature, e.g., protrusion 130, on an inner surface of a base sidewall 120 at regions 125. Although such a container system 100 is meant to be disposable, it can also be reusable by a consumer because the barriers 140 can be easily detached and the components of the container system 100 can then be washed.
As shown in
The body 145 of the at least one barrier 140 has sides 160 which slope so that a transverse width of the body 145 narrows from the bottom 165 of the body 145 to the top 170 of the body 145. The body 145 of the barrier 140 may have ends 305 which slope so that a longitudinal length of the body 145 narrows from the bottom 165 of the body 145 to the top 170 of the body 145. Furthermore, each tab portion 150 of the barrier 140 may have a top 315 which slopes so that a height of each tab portion 150 decreases in the longitudinal direction of the body 145 from an end of the body 145 to a longitudinal middle of the body 145.
In implementations, an interior surface of the bottom 115 of the base 110 may include raised tabs 175 (see
The various embodiments described above can be combined and/or modified to provide further embodiments in light of the above-detailed description, including the material incorporated by reference. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional application No. 62/807,517, filed Feb. 19, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700317 | Kamenstein | Jan 1929 | A |
| 9314143 | Bensussan | Apr 2016 | B2 |
| 20140026521 | Beal | Jan 2014 | A1 |
| 20190100370 | Kieling | Apr 2019 | A1 |
| 20200384143 | Burmeister | Dec 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200262611 A1 | Aug 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62807517 | Feb 2019 | US |
