Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous examples of food containers in the prior art fell into the categories
of
disposable merchandising packaging for marketable food products or
commercial/institutional food serving functions.
There are few prior art serving and storing assemblies that consists of multi-
compartmental food containers that are directed specifically to the object of
generating
efficiencies for the daily management of food prepared in a home or similar
environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,116 describes an assembly of dishes with open faces that
connect and
an interconnecting disc member attaches the two dishes. The interconnecting
disc
member keeps the contents of the food in the dishes separate. The disc may
also be
perforated allowing for drainable foods, such as canned tuna, placed in one
compartment
to drain into another compartment. This prior art is more specifically
directed to the
needs of home prepared, portable lunches for carrying to the workplace.
U.S. Patent No. 5,381,901 teaches a mufti-compartmental tray of recessed
indentations.
This prior art and others like it have the limitation that a particular
indentation could not
be easily be emptied, cleaned and refilled without disrupting the contents of
other
indentations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,595, another mufti-compartment food container offers the
following
description in its abstract:
A food-service kit and method includes a plurality of similar or diverse-type
containers wherein the containers may be coupled together in various
configurations to form toy-like assemblies. The respective containers include
compatible projection and socket configurations so that they may be joined
together as building blocks in order to create the toy-like devices.
The prior art of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,501,338 and 5,415,309 describe mufti-
compartmented
systems that operate by having component compartments stack one upon another.
These
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systems, in their serving functions, require two handed manipulation by the
user to access
all the different types of foodstuffs since the containers would not be
anchored to the
heavy body of a receptacle container. Also since the systems must be expanded
in a
vertical manner they are less suited to store as a singular unit on
refrigerator shelving.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,454 teaches a set of modular containers that rest on a
tray that can be
inset into a larger holding container. The tray introduces inflexibility into
the design in
that it limits the overall number and dimensional combinations of inner
containers.
Besides the tray also adding to the moulding costs of the configuration, it is
difficult to
foresee how indicia associated with each of the inner containers could be
brought into the
design. The invention of Canadian Pat. No. 2241771 has a first "lid" and a
second "lid"
with a water resistant seals between the base container and the lids. In
addition to the
compartment between the base and the first "lid", there is a compartment
between the
first and second lids. The first lid may have indentations that allow it to be
multi-
compartmented. This mufti-compartment first lid, which really has qualities of
a tray,
leads to difficulties in changing the contents of one of its compartments
without
disturbing the contents of other compartments.
Dated, singular food storage containers that provide a relatively airtight
seal with a snap-
on tight cover are relatively well known in the art, and are usually made of
plastic
material. The dating mechanisms vary in style and complexities. An early
invention of a
simple device using only the indicia associated with the days of the week was
found for a
lid of a milk bottle (U.S. Pat. No. 2,024,889). U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,858
discloses a dial
affixed to the side of a cyclindrical container to indicate a month, while the
day of the
month was referenced by the lid being rotated to a particular indexing
position. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,621,670 teaches using a single set of indicia on a vessel, with a
triangular
projection on the lid acting as an indicator. Another dated lid design,
Canadian Patent No.
2426250 teaches a resettable button affixed to a lid with a date indicator.
U.S. Pat. No.
4,662,520 discloses a dating mechanism that utilizes rotating rings on the top
of the
container lid, the rings rotating about a rod in the center of the lid and
containing date
information.
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3
These dating mechanisms were inadequate. Some required container shapes that
did not
economized on space (cylinders) or they necessitated bulky apparatuses
preventing
stackability. The ones with dates on lids involved relatively complex dating
systems
directed more at meeting dating accuracy requirements for long term storage
rather than
rapid, daily use. Furthermore, having dates on lids would result in the
problem that lids
could easily be separated from the containers or mixed up with other
containers in a
system.
A search of prior art found various embodiments of nesting features, stacking
features,
draining features, pouring features and other design features that are also
features of this
design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From this survey of the prior art, it is apparent there is a need in the art
for a multi-
compartmental, datable food container system that is efficiently convertible
from a
serving function to a storage function that provides space saving economies,
is easy to
use, and avoids the shortcomings of prior art devices.
The primary object of the invention sought to create a kit to ease the burden
of making
available healthy, minimally processed food in an exceptionally fast,
efficient manner
with minimal attention or planning required.
The present invention has the more specific object of facilitating healthy
eating of raw, or
minimally processed vegetables for children.
It is also an object of the present invention to be able to accommodate a wide
range of
foods and their unique handling and storage requirements, including their need
for
leakproof, air tight storage.
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It is also an object of the present invention to provide a means of managing
food storage
that is very simple, functional, relatively portable and efficient,
particularly for users with
extremely busy lives, especially parents and students, very young users and
elderly users.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system of food
management that
accommodates multiple users, such as a parent preparing a meal having to
incorporate
into that meal food that has been previously prepared by another user on
another
occasion. Another example leading to this object is where a live-out caregiver
needs to
manage meals for someone in their care and they have to be aware of leftover
foods that
person may have prepared on their own. This invention addresses the need for a
multiple
food containing "filing cabinet" that fits easily into the refrigerator.
The present invention has as an object of providing simple indicators that
quickly present
to the user at a glance the date that the stored food had been prepared so as
to reduce the
necessity of prolonged analysis and/or to reduce the risk of misreading the
information.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a simple and easy-to-
use indicator
on a food container bin that can be used on non-circular containers which are
a more
efficient use of space.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dating scheme on a
food
container that is simple to use and allows a user to easily and quickly change
the date on
a container, yet is not changeable by accident or by incidental movement of
the container.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an indicator that is
located on the
portion of the container holding the food rather than the lid to prevent the
indicator from
being inadvertently separated from the food.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a serving system with
components
that can be easily wiped clean of bits of misplaced food, even in an assembled
state and
with a dating scheme that can be also be easily cleaned.
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It is also an objection of the present invention that it be relatively
inexpensive to
manufacture in terms of reduced mould costs and minimal finishing/assembly
labour
required.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system that allows
for air tight
food storage container constructed of substantially transparent material so
that the user is
aware of the exact contents of the container without having to open it, thus
protecting the
contents from exposure.
The art for meeting this object was envisioned as a receptacle with multiple,
removable
bins that, when assembled as a whole, can function as a miniature salad or
taco bar or,
more generally, a food "filing system" for daily use in a home or similar
environment
with the bins each having a simple reference indicator to aid in determining
the age of the
foods contained within.
One way that this invention is an improvement to the prior art is that the
incorporation of
a "food prep day" indicator with a mufti compartmented system allows it to
operate as an
efficient inventory management system for leftovers in the refrigerator. The
system is
designed in recognition that the food introduced into the system may have
originally been
contained in a larger prep or serving bowl and then, as it diminishes in
quantity a day or
two later, it is moved into a bin in the system which frees up space in the
refrigerator.
Therefore an indicator with information showing the original day that the food
had been
prepared is more relevant that the day the food is deposited into the bin.
Furthermore, the
slider mechanism, having only names of the days of the week, is easier to use
and
decipher in a rushed environment than the devices in the prior art.
In fact the preferred use is as a food storing and serving system,
particularly suited for
busy people, students in shared housing environments, families having two
working
parents, small children and the elderly.
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Specifically, the system confers time-saving efficiencies, space-saving
efficiencies, and
cost-saving efficiencies. It furthermore reduces the risk of inadvertently
eating foods that
are spoiled and facilitates healthy eating habits.
The system allows food to be stored food in a simple and efficient manner. The
user can
simply put the food in bins, set an indicator and set the bins in a container
that can
enclose them with one single lid. This optional usage of one single cover is
terribly
convenient and makes the food quickly accessible. It is far easier to pull out
one
receptable and remove one lid and see all the fridge food options together
than to search
through the refrigerator for many separate containers, or fiddle with a bunch
of different
lids. This invention aids significantly in preventing leftover foods from
being pushed to
the back of the refrigerator and overlooked.
The system reduces food costs. When foods are not lost in the back of the
fridge, they
can be consumed on a timely basis rather then having to be thrown out.
Furthermore,
when foods are consumed sequentially, it ensures they are of optimal
freshness. The
consumption of previously prepared leftover food means that new food would not
have to
be prepared, thus extending the stock of food in the pantry and reducing costs
in terms of
money and time associated with replacing stocks of food that would otherwise
have to be
done more frequently.
The system reduces the need for plastic wrap. Another advantage is that it
reduces the
need for moving foods from a storing container to a serving container. The
option of
having some of the bins fitted with lids shaped as a cheese grater or
vegetable slicer
during the prep stage also reduces the preparation time and minimizes the need
to shuffle
foodstuff from a prep area to a serving vessel since the grated or sliced
items will simply
fall into the respective bins from which they will also be served.
The system provides an optional means of retarding the progression of food
spoilage by
allowing the user the fill the base container with ice or cold water or a
combination of ice
and water while serving the food. Also the base container has water fill line
indicating
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marks relating to the number of bins that are placed in it to prevent overflow
when filling
it with water to retard temperature changes of the food. The user may put warm
water
into the base to keep food warm or cold water/ice cubes with cold food. The
system also
provides users the optional method of cooling leftovers quickly before storing
in the
refrigerator by placing them in an ice or water filled bath in the container
beforehand.
The receptacle container has a drain to allow for easy drainage without having
to disturb
the bins.
The optional, insertable basket feature allows freshly washed vegetables to be
put directly
into use without having to wait for them to drain. Other foods that would
benefit from
this are olives, cubed cucumber and chickpeas.
The feature of having a resettable indicator on each of the food storage bins
aids in
keeping track of the age of the food and provides greater assurance of
accuracy than
systems that place the dates on interchangeable lids. The option of using
simple
indicators that are only the names of the days of the week is more
understandable to
young children than dates, which is a more difficult concept to grasp. The
simple
indicators also have the advantage of time-saving efficiencies than the more
complex
designs.
The system has a snap-on and off attaching mechanism for inserting or removing
the bins
individually from the base container that is easier for a child or elderly
person to use than
an attaching mechanism that creates a tighter water resistant seal. This aids
in removal of
the bins since it is a less rigid attaching mechanism and doesn't create a
vacuum,
requiring less force to free it. Allowing a bin to be removed individually,
facilitates the
exchange of old food for new, without having to disturb the contents of the
other bins.
As a mini salad bar, the system particularly aids in the human consumption of
unprocessed raw vegetables.
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The system assists in the area of getting children to eat better food,
particularly raw,
unprocessed vegetables since it is a way of serving food in a way that appeals
to children.
It is difficult to get children to eat unprocessed, raw vegetables because
they are not as
tasty as other preparation styles. It is generally known that processing and
cooking of
vegetables reduces their nutritional value. Busy parents of today, besides all
their other
social, legal and financial obligations are heavily weighted by the added
burden of
putting healthy food into their children's mouths, often under much pressure
and time
constraints. This task is particularly difficult given that children are not
predisposed to
consuming fresh, uncooked, unsweetened, unprocessed, unsalted foods. Families
today
are even more encumbered than those of yesterday due to the added burden of
having two
parents in the workforce and/or the family is headed by a single parent.
Furthermore, the
already limited amount of time and attention that parents have available to
attend to their
child feeding function is eroded daily as people are fording their legal and
financial
burdens accelerating in our consumer oriented society that is becoming
increasingly more
complex.
The advantage of this system for finicky eaters is that it offers a way of
serving food that
is particularly suited for salads or tortillas/tacos where people present at
the meal may
each have different preferences about toppings. It addresses the problem with
children
who tend to be fussy eaters by reducing the need for a parent to pay any
special attention
to their fussy habits, which in most cases would otherwise reinforce their
fussy habits.
Parents of young children know that the more involved children are in the
preparation of
the meal, the more they welcome the prospect of eating it. Also they are more
apt to buy
into a healthy meal plan where they are given a greater range of choices and
control over
what they eat. Parents also know that offering a child choices is a good way
to evoke a
desired behavior; such as eating healthily where the choices are limited to
alternatives of
healthy foods.
The feature of having the indicators as different colours can also teach
children about
healthy eating habits. The bins can have different coloured indicators that
correspond to
CA 02510224 2005-06-10
9
each of the food groupings on the Canadian Food Guide. For instance, the bin
with a
yellow indicator would be for croutons, the blue for cheese, the green for
vegetables and
the red for chopped hard boiled egg. The optional lazy susan table caddy
device to
encase the receptacle can be whimsically shaped to create an appealing meal
experience
for children and a place for setting out serving utensils.
The indicator feature provides additional efficiencies where there are
multiple food
preparers in a home and they have time sensitive schedules that do not permit
them to
communicate thoroughly about food leftover in the refrigerator and how old it
is.
The invention is also particularly suited to people who are concerned about
eating a
sufficient number of servings of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. When
used as a
salad bar on a daily basis, the system provides an efficient way of cycling
through salad
bar ingredients and/or toppings. The feature of an indicator on every bin lets
the user
know when the bin contents had been prepared. The user can rely on this
information
together with their observations of the conditions of the food to make a
better decision
about whether it is consumable or to be disposed of.
The system can conveniently accommodate a user who desires to have something
new
everyday with minimal preparation. For instance the user can review the bins
and
dispose of the contents of the bin for which the indicator shows the day is
longest past.
The bin can then replaced with new ingredients.
The system provides an efficient manner of managing away-from-home meals in a
workplace with minimal preparation. As a mini salad bar, it permits a way for
a user in
the workplace to easily keep a stock of salad ingredients. The base holding
container can
be left at the workplace for use on a day-to-day basis. It lets the user
easily prepare a
lunch of a salad having a variety of ingredients, without having to transport
all the
different ingredients on a daily basis. Rather than transporting salad
ingredients in several
containers on a daily basis, a user can transport a single item in a single
container to be
added to the system with its pre-existing ingredients upon arrival at the
workplace.
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1~
The simplicity of the indicators and efficiencies would also appeal to elderly
people who
have difficulties with dials and buttons. The sliding mechanism of the
indicators
necessitates only having to use their thumb or one forger to set the position.
The elderly also have reduced sensory perception which hinders their ability
to observe
the quality of foods. Their memories are also worse resulting in difficulty in
recalling
when a stored refrigerated food had been prepared. The day of the week
indicator will
provide additional information to help them to determine the age of food.
Alternatively,
the elderly user or their caregiver can use the container as part of a system
which involves
a habit of emptying the contents automatically on the same day every week to
reduce the
risk of consuming spoiled foods. The feature of bins just snapping onto the
base (rather
than fitting on to it to make a water resistant seal) is also more appealing
the elderly since
they need things that require less force to manipulate.
The feature of the snap on and snap off sliders ensures that any food on or
under the
indicator can easily be wiped away. Similarly, when all the bins are nested
into the base
holding container, the collars of the different bins meet together to create a
barner to
prevent food from slipping into the base and allow for easy wiping of
misplaced food
from the collar surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the bins snapped into a base holding
container and a
base cover;
FIG. 2 is a detailed front view of one of the bins shown in FIG. 1 clearly
showing the
indicator mechanism;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a bin lid;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a slider;
FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a slider;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the slider of FIG. 5 with the back portion cut away;
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11
FIG. 7 is a side view of one of the bins shown in FIG. l;
FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a bin lid;
FIG. 9 is an exploded side illustrating the base, a bin, a bin lid, and a
cover with cut away
portions;
FIG. 10 is a side view of the components of FIG. 10 in their sealed state;
FIG. 11 is a view of the underside of an alternative embodiment of the base
holding
container whereby it has a drain spout;
FIG. 12 is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the base holding
container shown
in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a side view of a drain spout cap.
FIG. 14 is a side view of a table caddy.
FIG. 15 is an elevated view of table caddy lids.
Dotted lines in drawings are for purposes of illustration and do not form part
of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention is preferably embodied as a kit comprised of a plurality of bins
with a base
holding container such as that shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment,
the kit is
used for food serving and storing. Practically, the components of the kit can
also be used
separately.
For the purpose of illustrating the kit assembly of the invention, there are
shown in the
drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure, preferred embodiments
of the
components of the kit. The various components of the kit assembly of the
invention may
be generally arranged as shown in the drawings, or as described hereinbelow.
However,
the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements, configurations,
dimensions
and/or instrumentalities shown in these drawings, or described hereinbelow.
The
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12
arrangements, configurations, dimensions and instrumentalities may be
otherwise, as
circumstances reqmre.
In the drawings, like reference symbols indicate the same components
throughout the
different views.
The figures of the drawings illustrate a kit comprised of plastic food serving
and storing
equipment. The dimensions of the equipment can vary to the extent that the
equipment
retains the functions it was intended for. Likewise the shape of the equipment
can vary to
the extent that it retains its functional purpose. For instance, the corners
on the containers
may be rounded for structural flexibility where the material used is a thinner
plastic. The
appearance of the plastic may also vary to be coloured, solid, translucent or
clear.
Particular components of the kit may be coloured differently from other
components.
The Bin with Indicator
FIGS. 2-8 show a bin and bin lid for containing food for serving or storing.
The bin in its
preferred embodiment is generally rectangular, which ensures optimal use-of
space
efficiencies that circular designs don't have. It has a generally flat floor,
side walls and
an open top. In one embodiment, as can be seen in the sideview FIG. 7, the
floor has
curved sides to aid in the function of scooping food out of the bin. The bin
has a collar
which is a generally uniform width around the upper perimeter of the bin. The
collar
angles in a downward fashion away from the bin. In an alternative embodiment,
the
collar can generally have a square shape, initially jutting out from the bin
perpendicularly
then bending downward at a right angle. The collar has an elongated section 23
on two
opposing planes as can be seen in FIG. 7. On one wider section there is an
indicator 25
as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates the bin with the assembled indicator 25
having
indicia 24 associated with of the names of the days of the week. In the
preferred
embodiment the indicia are raised, although they can also be stamped. An
alternative
embodiment would have an additional indicator with indicia corresponding to
the number
of servings or other symbols, such as a garbage can. There may also be two
indicator
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13
mechanisms on each bin - on opposite edges, with each showing different
categories of
indicia. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator has a resettable slider
that can be set
to indicate a day of the week that food deposited into the bin had been
prepared.
Illustrated on the slider in FIG. 4 are ridges 26. The ridges fit into grooves
27 as shown
on FIGS. 2 & 8. The slider has a protruding centre post 28 shown on FIGS. 4 &
6 that
fits into notches 29 on FIG. 2 to prevent accidental movement of the slider
and to
synthesize an audible click when it is moved from one position to another.
In one embodiment, and the one preferred, the slider is made of flexible
plastic. It may
also be constructed of flexible metal such as that used for the production of
eyeglass
frames.
One embodiment of the invention is in making the indicators different colours.
Another
is in making the indicators different shapes. Yet another embodiment is to
form the slider
with a small ridge or post to make it easier for the user to move. FIG. S
shows another
embodiment whereby the underside of the slider has ribs 30 to assist a user in
getting
traction as the slider is adjusted from one setting to another.
In one embodiment of the appearance of the bin and the one preferred, the side
walls
would be clear so as to permit a user to see what's inside it without opening
it. A bin
may also be coloured, opaque, or solid or have material added to the plastic
to make it
sparkle, be mufti-coloured, or the colour may changeable depending on a
condition (ie.
temperature) of its contents.
In one embodiment of the bin, and the one preferred, the side walls are also
formed in a
tapered fashion so as to engender multiple bins with a nesting capability for
storing
empty or stacking in preparation for washing.
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14
The Bin Lid and Closure Mechanism
A lid for the bin is shown in FIG. 3. There is more than one closure mechanism
that can
be employed for the purpose of the invention and all its embodiments. The
preferred
embodiment is a mating seal whereby the top edge of the bin is analogous to a
male that
can insert into the female counterpart 21 of the bin lid as can be seen in the
cut away
portion of the drawing of FIG. 3. This seal creates a liquid impermeable
barrier.
A further embodiment of the lid involves the lid being formed with a
cylindrical spout 31
as shown in FIG. 8. The spouted lid has a spout cap to seal the lid spout in a
substantially
liquid impermeable arrangement. The seal can be created by several closure
mechanisms. The preferred embodiment is a mating seal as previously described.
In this
embodiment the spout cap may be attachable to the lid by a connector piece
having
opposite side axels that fit snugly into hooks molded onto the lid creating a
hinge.
In a further embodiment of the lid, when the lid is joined with the bin, the
lid's surface is
formed to mate with the bottom floor of another bin to aid in the stackability
of the bins.
The Base
FIGS. 1, 9 & 10 illustrate how the bins insert in the base and snap into
place. The bin is
suspended by the base by means of having the lower edge of its bin collar rest
on the base
top edge. This bin collar configuration on the base edge creates a barrier
against serving
food falling into the base while the bins are inserted. The illustration of
the FIG. 9 shows
the top edge of the base having a bead 41 surrounding the outside perimeter.
The bin
similarly has a bead 42 from one side through to the other side of the wider
section of the
collar as can also be seen FIG. 9. In an alternative embodiment, the bead 42
would be
intermittent, being placed only at each side section of the elongated bin
collar, on either
side of the indicator. The bead 42 is located on the underside of the
elongated section of
the bin collar. Together with the flexing properties of the plastic material,
the beads 41
CA 02510224 2005-06-10
1$
and 42 interface to create a mechanism allowing the bin to be snapped on and
off the top
edge of the base. In fact, the mechanism can be designed to make a snapping
sound, thus
confirming to the user that the bin is firmly in place. FIG. 2 shows the
indicator as being
centered on the collar tab. In an alternate embodiment, the indicator would be
off center,
freeing up a section of the collar face, and the bin collar would have, in
that spare section
of the collar face, a protruding ridge tab for the user to pull up on when
releasing the bin.
In this embodiment the bead 42 would be confined to a length that is roughly
the same
width as the protruding ridge tab.
The base can accommodate a combination of bins having different respective
widths such
as the second bin 22 shown in FIG. 1. Likewise the base can accommodate a
combination of bins having different respective heighths. Each bin or
respective lid in a
kit may also be a different colour from the others.
Another feature of the invention that is shown in FIG. 10 is that when the bin
is
suspended in the base, there is a space of approximately 1 inch between the
floor of the
base and the floor of the bin. This is for the purpose of allowing the base to
optionally
have a fluid, most likely water alone or water with ice cubes, poured into it
for the
purpose of slowing the temperature change of the food contained in the bin.
FIG. 1
shows a gradation mark 43 on the side of the base for the purpose of showing
the user the
maximum volume of water that can be put in the base while it contains the
maximum
number of bins to prevent overflow. In an alternative embodiment, there can be
a series
of gradation marks depending on the number of bins in the system. The
placement of the
single mark 43 on the illustration is for purposes of explanation and the
actual placement
may be above or below that which is illustrated.
An alternate embodiment of the base would include a foot 44 as shown in FIG.
12. The
foot is on the exterior of the base bottom and is inset in the range of 5 mm
to 20mm from
juncture where the bottom meets the side walls. The inset feature assists the
user in
picking up the base from a table or counter surface. It also reduces the
effects that a
counter or table surface temperature could otherwise have on the foodstuffs
contained in
CA 02510224 2005-06-10
16
the equipment. Another alternative embodiment of the base is that it has a
small round
drain spout on its floor as shown in FIGS. 11 & 12. The spout is offset to
allow the base
to hang over the edge of a sink. The spout is sealable with a removable rubber
plug or
spout cap such as that shown in FIG. 13. When the plug or cap is removed any
fluid
content can drain out without disturbing the remaining contents held by the
base. To aid
in complete fluid drainage, in this alternate embodiment, the base floor would
be angled
slightly to channel the fluid toward the drain as shown in FIGS. 11 & 12.
FIG. 1 also illustrates a label holder 50 as a further embodiment of the base.
It is capable
of having a removable label slipped into it.
FIG. 1 shows another feature of the base which is a base collar. It has a
uniform width
surrounding the perimeter of the base that angles downward. This is for the
purpose of
handling ease when the base is carried and it also provides a ledge for
attaching the
cover.
The Base Cover and Closure Mechanism
The cover as shown on FIGS. 1, 9 & 10 is intended to cover the base while it
contains
bins, whether or not they have separate bin lids. The cover will also attach
securely to
the base even where the base contains no bins. To improve the handling
characteristics
of the base, and specifically to provide an ergonomic improvement in
facilitating the
cover enclosed base to be held securely with one hand, FIG. 1 also illustrates
the cover
having a square brow ridge 46. In the preferred embodiment, the brow ridge is
a straight
protruding ridge perpendicular to the top edge of the container. As such it
could be inset
from the top cover edge in the range of 1 to 4 mm and have a height in the
range of 1-3
mm. The brow ridge is intended to aid in handling the covered container by
preventing
it from sliding away when there is condensation on it. In an alternative
embodiment, that
would also fulfill the handling function, a lip would be formed in the cover
surface that
would be located on the top perimeter edge of the cover. The lip would be a
formed by
CA 02510224 2005-06-10
17
defining a recess on the lid for stably engaging the thumb of the user
gripping the base
container while it is enclosed by its cover.
In the preferred embodiment of the cover, FIG. 10 shows the bottom opening
edge of the
cover as having a slight overhang 47 when secured to the base collar. Together
with the
angled out base collar, this permits room for the fingers of the user room to
get leverage
on the cover for releasing the seal closure in order to easily pry it off the
base.
The following dimensional characteristics and FIGS. 9 & 10 illustrate the
closure
mechanism for the cover in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The
cover has a
bead 48 formed on the inside wall of the rim, being inset from the edge in the
range of 1
- 3 mm. The width of the bead is approximately 3mm. The cover also has a
flange 49
jutting out in a slightly downwards fashion from the side wall and located in
the range of
7 - 20 mm from the edge. The flange and the bead are shown in the cut away
portion of
the FIG. 9 illustration. The flange thickness is in the range of 1 -2 mm and
it's width is in
the range of 3-5 mm.
An alternate embodiment of the cover is that it may have a recessed
indentation to
accommodate the bottom foot of the base container, to allow that a second kit
may be
stacked upon the first.
Material & Construction
The bin, the bin lid, base, cover and slider may be injection molded,
thermoformed,
extrusion blow molded or otherwise manufactured from any suitable material,
and are
preferably made of a plastic material such as polypropylene, high density
polyethylene,
Iow density polyethylene, polyester, nylon, polystyrene, polycarbonate,
polyethylene
terephthalate or various multi-layer plastic substrates, polyurethane, and the
like. In the
preferred embodiment of the bin the material a microwavable plastic so it can
be heated
without distortion.
CA 02510224 2005-06-10
18
Basket
A further embodiment of the kit, not illustrated, would be the inclusion of a
rigid,
perforated basket of the same proportions as a bin but slightly smaller for
the purpose of
it being able to insert into a bin to permit drainable foods to drain into the
bin. The
basket would have four pedestals so as to create an open area for drained
liquid to
accumulate in the bin without it touching the food suspended in the basket. An
alternative embodiment of the invention, where an air tight enclosure is not
important, is
to have additional bins that are perforated allowing the contents to drain
into the base
container and let air circulate.
Other Utensils
A further embodiment of the kit would include serving utensils, such as those
shown in
FIG. 14 or other similarly common kitchen gadgets associated with the
preparation of
food. A further embodiment of the kit would include one or more bins lids that
have the
flat lid surface being alternately shaped as a cheese grater or carrot slicer.
Tote bag
A further embodiment of the kit would include an insulated tote bag shaped to
the carry
the base with the bins and accessories and handles to facilitate transport.
Table Caddy and Additional Containers
A further embodiment of the kit includes a table caddy such as that shown in
FIG. 14.
The caddy would be capable of holding the base together with its bins. The
caddy has a
built in rotating lazy Susan 51 to provide easy access to the food contents.
The caddy also
has indentations 52 capable of holding additional containers containing
foodstuff, with or
without their container lids. A narrower, deeper indentation 53 is shaped to
accommodate serving utensils. The caddy also has a compartment 54 that can
contain a
pump action liquid dispenser. FIG. 15 illustrates the caddy tops for the caddy
of FIG. 14
that can enclose the compartments for the base and the liquid dispenser.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently
considered
CA 02510224 2005-06-10
19
to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
the
invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the
contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
