Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~P-8239-M26
1 SPECIFICATION
3 This invention relates to a container and more parti-
4 cularly to a container and lid structure. The con~ainer of
6 this invention is capable of being compartmentalized so as
6 to present container portions of ~ixed size.
7 Containers such as the type here under consideration
8 are frequently utilized for the storage of foodstuff and
9 related items wherein it is often desirable to store there-
in various type foods which are desirably kept separate
11 from each other. ~ccording~y, the present invention pre~
12 sents a construction whereby a container is provided with
13 a central divider member. Such a concept gives a greater
14 amount of flexibility and utility to containers of the
16 present type which accordingly may also be used as lunch
1~ boxes.
17 It is also desirable to provide an effective barrier
1~ between the varying size compartments of the present con-
19 tainer so as to reduce the possible spillage therebetween ;~
ZO and to further reduce the amount of possible odor trans-
21 mittal from a material stored in one compartment to a
22 material stored ln the other. Thus, the present construc- ; `
23 tion provides a divider which is in substantially full
24 contact with the sidewalls and bottom of the container in `~
26 the lateral plane of its positioning and is in close prox-
26 imity with a cover member common to both of such container's
27 compartments. ~ccordingly, an effective seal is provided
28 between the two compartments of the present container.
29 It is therefore a primary object of the present inven~
SO tion to provide a container primarily for the storage of ~ -
31 foodstuffs and the like whereby said container can be divi-
32 ded into variable sized compartments and wherein an effec-
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tive separator is provided between such compartments of a
relatively uncomplicated and simple structural nature which is
capable of relatively low cost and high tolerance manufacture
from plastic material such as by injection molding procedures.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
storage container for foodstuffs and the like whereby separate
compartments are provided therein by means of a firmly positioned
separatcr member having at either end thereof a flange configura~
tion that stabilizes the separator or divider during all facets
of container use even when the closure is removed therefrom.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, a sealable
storage container is provided which has interconnecting side and
bottom wall construction with the side wall including inwardly
directed oppositely positioned protrusions of a width of between
about 25~ and 60~ of the height of the side wall and which extends
between points proximate the bottom wall and the upper edge of the
side wall. The protrusions gradually increase in depth towards
their upper extents to create a wedgelike appearance inwardly of
the container. An upright imperforate divider member is provided
having an upright flange at either end thereof with each of the
flanges being bounded along its vertical and upper extent by
outwardly extending walls that meet with the protrusions and
which at the lower extent thereof blend into the flange in a ~
shape compatible with the interconnection between the side and ~ ,
bottom wall construction.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent ;~
in the course of the following specification wherein the invention
will appPar more clearly from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing, by
way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventor's concept.
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IN THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the storage container
of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the storage container
of the present invention with the cover portion thereof
removed and wherein a subsidiary container is shown in
relation thereto;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of
Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1
of the drawings wherein the closure has been partially removed;
Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of the storage -~
container taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and
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1 ¦ Fig. 6 is an enlarged p~rtial elevational view of the
2 ¦ divider member positioned within the container.
3 ¦ Throughout the specification, like reference numbrals
4 ¦ are usecl to indicate like parts.
6 ¦ Re~erring to the drawings, and more particularly to
~ ¦ Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the container device 10 of the pre-
7 ¦ sent invention comprises a container or base 11, divider
8 ¦ member 12 and a cover or lid portion 13. One or more of
9 ¦ subsidiary containers 14 may be further placed within the
10 ¦ primary container 11 in a manner and through a construc-
11 ¦ tional relationship which will be hereinafter more apparent.
12 ¦ Likewise note that the subsidiary container 14 shown is -
13 ¦ also s:i~ed such that it may be independently closured by
~L4 ¦ the seal member 14a.
15 ¦ The container, or base 11, is comprised of a generally
1~ ¦ rectangular bottom member 15 having a raised peripheral
17 ¦ supporting bead 16. The container 11 is further pro~ided
18 ¦ with sidewalls 17 which are in opposed relationship to
.9 ¦ each other and o~ a relati~ely long extent in comparison
~O ¦ to the endwalls 18 interspaced therebetween and which
21 ¦ serve as interconnections therewith. Both the sidewalls
22 ¦ 17 and the endwalls 18 are preferably upwardly and slightly
23 ¦ outwardly disposed for ease in receipt of the slidable
~4 ¦ member 12 and the container lid 13 as will hereinafter be
26 ¦ more apparent. The sidewalls 17 and the endwalls 18 up-
26 ¦ wardly terminate in a peripheral rim 19 which is sealingly
27 ¦ engaged by a downwardly opening U-shaped peripheral rim
28 ¦ l9a of the container lid 13. The sealing engagement is
2~ ¦ such that materials and particularly foodstuffs may be
30 ¦ placed therein for essentially air tight storage. The
31 ¦ seal 14a is similarly adapted for placement upon subsi~
32 ¦ diary container 14 and functions in like fashion thereto.
11~9~ 1~
l ¦ It should be noted that the sidewalls 17 are slightly
2 ¦ outwardly bowed at their central position such as shown in
3 I particular by the Fig. 4 plan view of the drawings. Thus,
¦ the width between the sidewalls 17 is slightly greater at
6 ¦ the central longitudinal location thereof than is such
~ ¦ proximate ~he endwalls 18 of the container 11.
7 ¦ The divider member 12 is generally comprised of an
8 ¦ upstanding central member or plate 20, which is imperfor-
9 ¦ ate and upwardly terminates along a generally straight top
lO ¦ wall portion or edge 21. This top edge 21 of the plate 20
ll is adapted to be in close proximity to the underside of
12 the lid 13 when such member 12 is placed between the side-
13 walls 17 in a manner as particularly shown in Fig. 2 of
14 the drawlngs. Thus with such construction the container 11
is substantially divided into two separate compartments in
16 which foodstuffs of differing consistency or material may
17 be stored in segregated position within a common container
18 and lid sealing structure.
l9 The member 12 and in particular plate 20 is provided
at each end with flanges 22 each extending normally out-
~1 wardly from either side of the plate member 20.
22 The flanges 22 as can best be seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6
23 are bounded along their vertical and upper edge extent by
~ walls 23 that protrude outwardly therefrom. This end con- -
struction of the separator is adap~ed to mate with, over
26 and around the inwardly directed protrusions 24 that are
27 formed as an integral part of container sidewalls 11. ;~
28 This mating engagement firmly affixes the divider 12
29 within the container due to the lateral extent of the pro-
trusions 24 which preferably approximate 50% of the container
31 sidewall height or depth. It should however ~e appreciated ~
32 that such may be reduced or increased depending upon the -
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l materials of construction of the elements and the size of
Z the container among other things. Furthermore, the sur-
3 rounding wall structure 23 minimizes the accessibility of
4 s~ored product to find its way into areas of contact between
6 flanges 22 and protrusions 24. Likewise, the horizontally
6 ex~ending portion thereof provides for the uniform contin-
7 uity of the upper extent or edge 21 of the plate 20. Thi~
8 further assures for retention of the edge 21 in close prox-
9 imity to the closure 13 and will minimize the transference
of product between compartments.
ll Suitable materials for the divider member 12 would be
12 high density polyethylene, polypropylene or similar copoly-
13 meric materials. The container ll is preferably formed of
14 the same materials but may also be of a low or medium density ~ ~;
polyethylene which is slightly more flexible than the mater-
16 ial from which the slidable member is made and also exhibits
17 the characteristic of being slightly locally distortable. `
~8 Turning now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, an additional
l9 feature of the invention is shown wherein a smaller subsid~
iary container 14 may be placed within the parent container
21 11 beside the member 12. This closured subsidiary container,
22 of course, can function to completely segregate container-
23 ized products in the event such is desired. Similarly, it
2~ should be evident that the size and shape of such subsidiary
Z5 container 14 is dependent upon the choice of the manufacturer.
26 It is believed, therefore, that the present inventlon
27 provides a storage container which has increased utility
28 inasmuch as such may be divided into subsidiary compartments
29 of varying size in a simple and easily constructed manner ~;
as hereinbefore set forth. While there is above dîsclosed
31 a preferred embodimen~ of the present storage container, it
is posslble to produce other embodiments without departing
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1 from the inventive concept herein disclosed and as set forth
4 irl the f lowin~ clail~s.
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