U.S. patent application number 12/793169 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-24 for container assembly.
Invention is credited to Christopher Edwards, Michael Ramundi, Rachael Ray.
Application Number | 20110284554 12/793169 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44971637 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110284554 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ray; Rachael ; et
al. |
November 24, 2011 |
CONTAINER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A container assembly has three portions, namely a bowl, a tray,
and a cover. The tray has a sealable mounting on the bowl, and
spaced peripheral clasps for engaging a flange of the bowl to make
the seal seat tightly. The tray doubles both as a sealing lid and a
carrying frame for auxiliary containers such as for salad dressing,
condiments or the like. The tray is symmetrically arranged such
that two side accommodations bracket a third, central accommodation
for utensils. The two side accommodations are deeper than the
central accommodation. The cover encloses all of the items carried
in the tray.
Inventors: |
Ray; Rachael; (New York,
NY) ; Ramundi; Michael; (Brampton, CA) ;
Edwards; Christopher; (Toronto, CA) |
Family ID: |
44971637 |
Appl. No.: |
12/793169 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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29362230 |
May 21, 2010 |
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12793169 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/574.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00296
20130101; B65D 43/0212 20130101; B65D 2543/00527 20130101; B65D
77/048 20130101; B65D 2543/00796 20130101; B65D 81/3453 20130101;
B65D 2543/00629 20130101; B65D 51/28 20130101; B65D 2543/00361
20130101; B65D 1/36 20130101; B65D 2543/00842 20130101; A45C 11/20
20130101; B65D 2543/00166 20130101; B65D 51/247 20130101; B65D
2543/00731 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D 2543/00092
20130101; B65D 2543/00685 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/574.1 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/02 20060101
A47G019/02 |
Claims
1. A container assembly comprising: a first member; a second
member; and a third member; said first member defining a
containment vessel capable of retaining liquid; said second member
including a first portion defining a closure member for said first
member, and a second portion defining at least two accommodations,
at least one of said accommodation being an accommodation for at
least one of: (a) utensils; (b) an auxiliary container formed
matingly to sit in said at least one accommodation; and said third
member defining a cover adapted to seat over said second member and
such of (a) and (b) as may be contained in said at least one
accommodation.
2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said assembly
includes a seal that is trapped between said first member and said
second member when said first and second member are in mating
engagement.
3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second
members have mutually engaging first and second securements
co-operably to retain said second member in position enclosing said
containment vessel.
4. The container assembly of claim 3, wherein said securements
include a circumferentially extending ring of one of said first
member and said second member, and a mating grip of the other of
said second member and said first member, said mating grip being
positionable at a plurality of locations on said circumferentially
extending member whereby said second member and said first member
can be secured to each other at many different angular
positions.
5. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein said first member is
a bowl, said circumferentially extending ring is a flange of said
bowl, said second member has at least three of said grips spaced
thereabout, and each of said grips is a releasable clasp having a
finger operable to engage said flange.
6. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein: said first member is
a bowl having a base upon which to sit, and a sidewall extending
upwardly from said base; said side wall has an upper margin, said
upper margin being upwardly distant from said base of said bowl;
said second member has at least one well defined therein; and when
said second member is mounted on said first member at least a
portion of said well extend to a height lower than said upper
margin of said bowl.
7. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein said second member
defines first, second and third accommodation, said first and
second accommodations being spaced apart and said third
accommodation being defined therebetween.
8. The container assembly of claim 7, wherein said first and second
accommodations are mirror images of each other and are located
symmetrically to either side of an axis of symmetry, said axis of
symmetry then bi-secting said third accommodations.
9. The container assembly of claim 7, wherein said first and second
accommodations include first and second wells respectively, said
third accommodation has a bottom panel, and said wells have bases
that extend to a depth lower than said bottom panel of said third
accommodation.
10. The container assembly of claim 7, wherein said third member
has a depending skirt, and when said third member is mounted above
said second member said depending skirt defines at least a portion
of a boundary wall of said third accommodation.
11. The container assembly of claim 8, wherein said container
assembly further includes first and second lidded auxiliary
containers that nest in said first and second receptacles, and
utensils that nest in said third receptacle between said first and
second receptacles.
12. A container assembly comprising: a first member; a second
member; and a third member; said first member is a bowl, said bowl
having a bottom upon which said bowl rests in use, and an upper
margin distant from said bottom; said bowl has a peripheral
sidewall that extends between said bottom and said upper margin;
said upper margin has a rim; said second member being a removable
closure panel mountable to said rim of said bowl; said second
member having a central region and an outer periphery, said outer
periphery being of a size corresponding generally to, and for
seating about, said rim of said bowl; said second member having a
seal for engaging said rim in a liquid tight closure; said second
member having a first side that, when said second member is mounted
to said first member, faces inwardly into said bowl; said second
member having a second side that, when said second member is
mounted to said first member, faces outwardly away from said bowl;
said second member having a first accommodation, a second
accommodation, and a third accommodation integrally formed therein;
said first accommodation including an upstanding peripheral wall,
said upstanding peripheral wall of said first accommodation having
a first part and a second part; said first part of said upstanding
peripheral wall of said first accommodation corresponding to a
first portion of said outer periphery of said second member; said
second part of said upstanding peripheral wall of said first
accommodation diverging away from said outer periphery of said
second member and running inwardly toward, and at least partially
across, said central region; said upstanding peripheral wall of
said first accommodation defining a seat having a first footprint;
said upstanding peripheral wall of said first accommodation having
at least one rebate of reduced wall height formed therein; said
second accommodation including an upstanding peripheral wall, said
upstanding peripheral wall of said second accommodation having a
first part and a second part; said first part of said upstanding
peripheral wall of said second accommodation corresponding to a
second portion of said outer periphery of said second member; said
second part of said upstanding peripheral wall of said second
accommodation diverging away from said outer periphery of said
second member and running inwardly toward and at least partially
across said central region; said second part of said upstanding
peripheral wall of said first accommodation being spaced apart from
said second part of said upstanding peripheral wall of said second
accommodation, said third accommodation being defined between said
respective second parts of upstanding peripheral walls of said
first and second accommodations; an auxiliary receptacle removably
mounted in said first accommodation, said auxiliary receptacle
having a footprint corresponding generally to said footprint of
said upstanding peripheral wall of said first accommodation; said
auxiliary receptacle having a closure member; said rebate in said
peripheral wall of said first accommodation providing access to
said auxiliary receptacle by which access removal of said auxiliary
receptacle is facilitated; and said third member defining a lid
positionable to cover said second member.
13. The container assembly of claim 12, wherein: said bowl has an
outwardly protruding flange located adjacent to said rim; said
second member has and array of grips for engaging said protruding
lip; and said second member has a ring seal for bearing down on
said rim to form a sealed closure when said second member engages
said first member.
14. The container assembly of claim 12, wherein: said first and
second accommodations are formed symmetrically to either side of a
diametral centerline of said second member; there is one of said
auxiliary receptacles mounted in each of said first and second
accommodations; and said first and second accommodations are deeper
than said third accommodation.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design
application No. 29/362,230, filed May 21, 2010, in the name of
Rachael Ray et al. and entitled CONTAINER ASSEMBLY, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of portable
containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is often desirable to have a container assembly that
incorporates, in one convenient package, not merely a main storage
area for food, but also auxiliary containers and utensils such as
may be used therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In an aspect of the invention there is a container assembly.
The container assembly has a first member; a second member; and a
third member. The first member defines a containment vessel capable
of retaining liquid. The second member includes a first portion
defining a closure member for the first member, and a second
portion defining at least two accommodations. At least one of the
accommodation is an accommodation for at least one of (a) utensils;
(b) an auxiliary container formed matingly to sit in the at least
one accommodation. The third member defining a cover adapted to
seat over the second member and such of (a) and (b) as may be
contained in the at least one accommodation.
[0005] In a feature of that aspect of the invention, the assembly
includes a seal that is trapped between the first member and the
second member when the first and second member are in mating
engagement. In another feature, the first and second members have
mutually engaging first and second securements that work together
co-operably to retain the second member in position enclosing the
containment vessel. In still another feature, the securements
include a circumferentially extending ring of one of the first
member and the second member, and a mating grip of the other of the
second member and the first member. The mating grip is positionable
at a plurality of locations on the circumferentially extending
member whereby the second member and the first member can be
secured to each other at many different angular positions. In a
further feature, the first member is a bowl, the circumferentially
extending ring is a flange of the bowl, the second member has at
least three of the grips spaced thereabout, and each of the grips
is a releasable clasp having a finger operable to engage the
flange.
[0006] In another feature the first member is a bowl having a base
upon which to sit, and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base.
The side wall has an upper margin, the upper margin being upwardly
distant from the base of the bowl. The second member has at least
one well defined therein. When the second member is mounted on the
first member at least a portion of the well extend to a height
lower than the upper margin of the bowl. In a still further feature
the second member defines first, second and third accommodations,
the first and second accommodations being spaced apart and the
third accommodation being defined therebetween. In a still further
feature, the first and second accommodations are mirror images of
each other and are located symmetrically to either side of an axis
of symmetry, the axis of symmetry then bi-secting the third
accommodation. In yet a further feature, the first and second
accommodations include first and second wells respectively, the
third accommodation has a bottom panel, and the wells have bases
that extend to a depth lower than the bottom panel of the third
accommodation. In a still further feature, the third member has a
depending skirt, and when the third member is mounted above the
second member the depending skirt defines at least a portion of a
boundary wall of the third accommodation. In yet another further
feature, the container assembly further includes first and second
lidded auxiliary containers that nest in the first and second
receptacles, and utensils that nest in the third receptacle between
the first and second receptacles.
[0007] In another aspect of the invention there is a container
assembly. It has a first member; a second member; and a third
member. The first member is a bowl. The bowl has a bottom upon
which the bowl rests in use, and an upper margin distant from the
bottom. The bowl has a peripheral sidewall that extends between the
bottom and the upper margin. The upper margin has a rim. The second
member is a removable closure panel mountable to the rim of the
bowl. The second member has a central region and an outer
periphery. The outer periphery is of a size corresponding generally
to, and for seating about, the rim of the bowl. The second member
has a seal for engaging the rim in a liquid tight closure. The
second member has a first side that, when the second member is
mounted to the first member, faces inwardly into the bowl. The
second member has a second side that, when the second member is
mounted to the first member, faces outwardly away from the bowl.
The second member has a first accommodation, a second
accommodation, and a third accommodation integrally formed therein.
The first accommodation including an upstanding peripheral wall,
the upstanding peripheral wall of the first accommodation having a
first part and a second part. The first part of the upstanding
peripheral wall of the first accommodation corresponds to a first
portion of the outer periphery of the second member. The second
part of the upstanding peripheral wall of the first accommodation
diverges away from the outer periphery of the second member and
runs inwardly toward, and at least partially across, the central
region. The upstanding peripheral wall of the first accommodation
defining a seat having a first footprint. The upstanding peripheral
wall of the first accommodation has at least one rebate of reduced
wall height formed therein. The second accommodation includes an
upstanding peripheral wall. The upstanding peripheral wall of the
second accommodation has a first part and a second part. The first
part of the upstanding peripheral wall of the second accommodation
corresponds to a second portion of the outer periphery of the
second member. The second part of the upstanding peripheral wall of
the second accommodation diverges away from the outer periphery of
the second member and runs inwardly toward and at least partially
across the central region. The second part of the upstanding
peripheral wall of the first accommodation is spaced apart from the
second part of the upstanding peripheral wall of the second
accommodation. The third accommodation is defined between the
respective second parts of upstanding peripheral walls of the first
and second accommodations. An auxiliary receptacle is removably
mounted in the first accommodation. The auxiliary receptacle has a
footprint corresponding generally to the footprint of the
upstanding peripheral wall of the first accommodation. The
auxiliary receptacle has a closure member. The rebate in the
peripheral wall of the first accommodation provides access to the
auxiliary receptacle by which access removal of the auxiliary
receptacle is facilitated. The third member defines a lid
positionable to cover the second member.
[0008] In another feature of that aspect of the invention the bowl
has an outwardly protruding flange located adjacent to the rim. The
second member has and array of grips for engaging the protruding
lip. The second member has a ring seal for bearing down on the rim
to form a sealed closure when the second member engages the first
member. In another feature the first and second accommodations are
formed symmetrically to either side of a diametral centerline of
the second member. There is one of the auxiliary receptacles
mounted in each of the first and second accommodations. The first
and second accommodations are deeper than the third
accommodation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other aspects of the invention may be more readily
understood with the aid of the illustrative Figures included herein
below, showing of an example, or examples, embodying the various
aspects of the invention, provided by way of illustration, but not
of limitation of the present invention, and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment
of a container assembly according to an aspect of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 1b is a front view of the container assembly of FIG.
1a;
[0012] FIG. 1c is a side view of the container assembly of FIG.
1a;
[0013] FIG. 1d is a top view of the container assembly of FIG.
1a;
[0014] FIG. 1e is a bottom view of the container assembly of FIG.
1a;
[0015] FIG. 1f is a view taken on section `1f-1f` of FIG. 1b;
[0016] FIG. 1g is a view taken on section `1g-1g` of FIG. 1c;
[0017] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
a container assembly to that of FIG. 1a;
[0018] FIG. 2b is a front view of the container assembly of FIG.
2a;
[0019] FIG. 2c is a side view of the container assembly of FIG.
2a;
[0020] FIG. 2d is a top view of the container assembly of FIG.
2a;
[0021] FIG. 2e is a bottom view of the container assembly of FIG.
2a;
[0022] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the container assembly of
FIG. 2a with the cover thereof removed;
[0023] FIG. 3b is a front view of the container assembly of FIG.
3a;
[0024] FIG. 3c is a side view of the container assembly of FIG.
3a;
[0025] FIG. 3d is a top view of the container assembly of FIG.
3a;
[0026] FIG. 3e is an exploded view of the container assembly of
FIG. 2a;
[0027] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a tray of the container
assembly of FIG. 3a;
[0028] FIG. 4b is a top view of the tray of FIG. 4a;
[0029] FIG. 4c is a front view of the tray of FIG. 4a;
[0030] FIG. 4d is a bottom view of the tray of FIG. 4a;
[0031] FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a receptacle of the
assembly of FIG. 3a;
[0032] FIG. 5b is a top view of the receptacle of FIG. 5a;
[0033] FIG. 5c is a bottom view of the receptacle of FIG. 5a;
[0034] FIG. 5d is a front view of the receptacle of FIG. 5a;
[0035] FIG. 5e is a side view of the receptacle of FIG. 5a;
[0036] FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a fork of the container
assembly of FIG. 3a;
[0037] FIG. 6b is a side view of the fork of FIG. 6c;
[0038] FIG. 6c is a top view of the fork of FIG. 6a;
[0039] FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a spoon of the assembly of
FIG. 3a;
[0040] FIG. 7b is a side view of the spoon of FIG. 7a; and
[0041] FIG. 7c is a top view of the spoon of FIG. 7c.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] The description that follows, and the embodiments described
therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or
examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the
present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of
explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the
invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the
specification and the drawings with the same respective reference
numerals. The drawings are substantially to scale, except where
noted otherwise, such as in those instances in which proportions
may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain
features of the invention.
[0043] Following from Phillips v. AWH Corp., this definition
provided in the specification is intended to supplant any
dictionary definition, and to prevent interpretation in the US
Patent Office (or in any other Patent Office) that strays from the
customary and ordinary meaning of the terms provided herein.
[0044] To commence, FIGS. 1a-1g illustrate a container assembly,
indicated generally as 20. Container assembly 20 includes a first
member 22, a second member 24, and a third member 26.
[0045] First member 22 defines a containment vessel, such as may be
used for carrying solids or liquids, and most particularly, such as
may be used for foodstuffs whether soup or stew, or sauces, or
vegetable dishes, or such other foods as may be. First member 22
may have the shape of a bowl 30 and may be made of a material
suitable for placement in either a microwave of conventional oven,
and may be made of a ceramic material. In some embodiments that
material may be a vitreous or refractory material, be it glass,
fired clay, or a material such as sold under the brand name "Pyrex"
of Dow Corning. As may be appreciated, in some embodiments first
member 22 may have the form of a body of revolution formed about a
vertical axis, such that it is circular at any given horizontal
plane. Bowl 30 may be bulging, having a substantially hemispherical
shape, or may be parabolic, or may be a truncated cone. Bowl 30 may
have a bottom or base portion 32, and an upwardly extending
sidewall portion 34 that may be tapering or curved as previously
noted. Sidewall portion 34 may have an upper margin 36, such as may
be termed a mouth, or lip, or rim, defining an opening 40 of bowl
30 distant from base portion 32 by which contents may be added to
or removed from the interior chamber 38 defined within bowl 30.
Upper margin 36 may be circular, and may include a outwardly
extending member or array, 42, which may be in the nature of a
flange 44, which may also be termed a lip or ridge. Flange 44 may
have the form of a radially outwardly extending annulus, and may be
so formed to provide a securement locus. That securement locus may
include a downwardly protruberant circumferentially extending
distal bead, or ridge at the radially outermost extreme of flange
44.
[0046] Second member 24 spans the opening of bowl 30. In some
embodiments second member 24 defines an outflow governor for bowl
30, second member 24 being movable between a first and a second
position relative to bowl 30. The first position may be a mounted,
or closed, position, in which second member 24 seats athwart
opening 40 and in such position may prevent egress of material from
bowl 30. The second position is on open position in which second
member 24 obstructs the opening of the bowl to a lesser degree than
in the closed position, thus permitting materials to be introduced
into or taken out of the bowl. In one embodiment the open position
may be a detached position in which second member 24 is completely
removed from first member 22.
[0047] In one embodiment second member 24 may have the form of a
panel 46 with an engaging peripheral closure fitting 48 that mates
with upper margin 36 of bowl 30. Closure fitting 48 may have the
form of a circumferentially extending labyrinth, or rebate, or
groove, or slot that seats about the rim defined by upper margin
36. Closure fitting 48 may include a seal 50, which may have the
form of a Nylon.TM. or neoprene O-ring captured in the slot or
groove of fitting 48.
[0048] Second member 24 may be made of any of the glass, ceramic,
clay or earthenware materials noted above in connection with a
number of possible embodiments of bowl 30. Alternatively, however,
second member 24 (and in some embodiments bowl 30) may be made of a
plastic or composite material, such as an high density nylon or
other plastic, and such as may be suitable for use in a microwave
oven, for example.
[0049] Bowl 30 and second member 24 may include mutually engaging
securement fittings. In one embodiment, those securement fittings
may include a releasable grip or closure array 60, which may
include one or more releasable clasps or clamps 62. In one
embodiment there may be four such clasps or clamps spaced on 90
degree centers about the periphery. In another embodiment there may
be three clamps on 120 degree centers. To the extent that the
depending arms 64 of each clamp 62 have a radially inwardly
extending finger or tooth 66 that has a bump or detent to engage to
engage, or capture, or grip, the downwardly formed bead of radial
circumferential flange 44, the mating first and second members of
the securement (namely the clasp and the flange) have a snap-fit
securement. Since flange 44 extends fully about the circumference
of bowl 30, second member 24 may be positioned at any angle
relative to bowl 30, i.e., it is infinitely adjustable, and the two
parts accept each other at any angle. When the clasps engage, they
may tend to draw second member 24 onto the rim of the bowl,
compressing the seal. Other forms of securement may be used, such
as a threaded lid and threaded rim. However, when the container
holds liquids, it may be preferred that the action of closing and
opening the assembly involve motion that is either predominantly or
entirely in one direction, namely the single axial degree of
freedom in the direction of the z-axis (i.e., the vertical axis
when bowl 30 is sitting on a level surface such as a kitchen
counter). In the axial direction, when the clasps are released, the
tips of a user's fingers fit easily between the upward face of
flange 44 and the underside of the downwardly facing portion or
skirt 70 of second member 24, aiding in dislodging and moving
second member 24 axially away from its closed position.
[0050] Second member 24 may have the form of a spider, or
framework, or tray 72, that spans the opening of bowl 30. In the
embodiment illustrated the tray is a continuous moulding such that
when in place, second member 24 seals the container. The spider or
framework or tray, 72 may include a first accommodation, 74, a
second accommodation 76, and a third accommodation 78. Tray 72 may
have a central region or portion 80, which is surrounded at its
radially outermost periphery be a depending skirt 82 whose
lowermost margin seats about the rim of bowl 30. Central region or
portion 80 is substantially flat and planar. It is bounded on
either side by first and second retainer arrays 84, 86, which may
in some embodiments have the form of upstanding wall structures
such as first upstanding wall structure 88 and second upstanding
wall structure 90. First and second upstanding wall structures 88
and 90 may in some embodiments be continuous peripheral walls that
define surrounding walls of first accommodation 74 and second
accommodation 76.
[0051] Considering first peripheral wall structure 88, we see that
it has a first portion 92 and a second portion 94. First portion 92
runs along, and generally corresponds to the outer
circumferentially running depending skirt at the radially outermost
extremity of second member 24. In some instances, the outer wall of
first portion 92 may be flush with skirt 70. First portion 92 may
extend about some portion of the periphery of second member 24. In
one embodiment, it may be from roughly the 1 o'clock to roughly the
5 o'clock position, or something in the range of about 100 to 140
degrees of included arc. Second portion 94 may meet with first
portion 92 at first and second vertices, and be spaced radially
inwardly therefrom to create the space that defines first
accommodation 74. Expressed differently, second portion 94 extends
away from the outer periphery of second member 24 toward the midst
of central region or portion 80, and extends thereacross. Second
portion 94 may include first, second and third sections 96, 98,
100, in which sections 96 and 100 extend substantially radially,
but are truncated short of the center of central region or portion
80, and section 98 joins sections 96 and 100, extending generally
parallel to the Noon to 6 o'clock diameter of second member 24.
Expressed somewhat differently, first peripheral wall structure 88
may be thought of as having a first or major axis that is parallel
to the Noon to 6 o'clock direction; and a second, or minor axis
that is coincident with the 3 o'clock direction. The overall width
of first peripheral structure 88 in the direction of the minor axis
is less than the overall radius of second member 24. It may also be
noted that the overall length of first peripheral structure 88
along the major axis is longer than the overall radius of second
member 24.
[0052] First portion 92 may include a rebate, or relief, or
carve-out 102, which may be located at the three o'clock position.
That rebate, or carve-out 102 may have the form of a dip in the
axial direction. Aside from rebate 102, the upper edge or face of
peripheral wall structure 88 may have higher elevation closer to
the center of central region or portion 80, with a decline, or
sloping away toward the radially outermost edge. Peripheral wall
structure 88 (and 90) may be re-entrant. That is, the base or floor
or bottom panel 104 defining the bottom surface of first
accommodation 74 (and a corresponding portion of the top wall, or
roof of the enclosed container of bowl 30 when in use), may be at a
level that is generally lower than, or depressed inwardly toward
the inside of bowl 30 relative to, the general level of the
adjacent central region or portion 80 lying to the other side of
second portion 94. That is, whereas central region or portion 80
lies at a level that is approximately at the level of the rim of
upper margin 36, or somewhat proud thereof, bottom panel 104 lies
below that level, being shy of the level of the rim of upper margin
36.
[0053] It may be that second peripheral wall structure 90 is the
mirror image of first peripheral wall structure 88. It could also
be of a different shape. However, whether the shame shape or
different, second peripheral wall structure 90 is spaced from first
peripheral wall structure 88 to leave a space therebetween defining
third accommodation 78. In one embodiment, second peripheral wall
structure 90 is the mirror image of first peripheral wall structure
88, and the layout of the upper or outwardly or upwardly facing
surface, or surfaces, of second member 24 are symmetrical about the
Noon- to 6 o'clock diameter (and, in this instance, also about the
3 o'clock to 9 o'clock diameter that is perpendicular to it). Third
accommodation then has a first wide part, 110, (bounded by
respective sections 96); a narrow waist 112 (bounded on either side
by respective central sections 98); and a second wide part 114
(bounded on either side by respective sections 100).
[0054] Assembly 20 may include a first auxiliary container 120 that
seats removably in first accommodation 74. It may also include a
second auxiliary container 122 that seats removably in second
accommodation 76. First accommodation 74 may have a footprint of a
given shape, in this case the shape being that of the outline of
bottom panel 104 (which can also be expressed as the inside
projected shape of first peripheral wall structure 88). Auxiliary
container 120 may have a base 124 having a footprint of a
corresponding shape for nesting within accommodation 74. Auxiliary
container 120 may also have an upstanding peripheral sidewall 126
and a lid, or cover or closure member 128. Container 120 may
include a lifting member 130, which itself may be a portion of
closure member 128. Lifting member 128 may overhang rebate 102,
such that a finger may be used to urge container 120 out of
accommodation 74. Second auxiliary container 122 may be the same as
container 120, or may be its mirror image, and whatever its shape,
it may nest correspondingly in accommodation 76. The overall depth
of auxiliary container 120 is such that when seated in
accommodation 76 its lid lies substantially flush with, or slightly
shy of the profile of the adjacent upper edges of second member 24.
Since first and second accommodations 74, 76 define wells, and the
wells are made deeper than otherwise by extending the bottom of
each well past the plane of the base or bottom of third
accommodation 78 and past upper margin 76 when the unit is
assembled and closed, the volume of auxiliary containers 120, 122
may be larger than otherwise without extending above the
corresponding roof line profiles of second member 24 and third
member 26.
[0055] Utensils 132 may be removably stored in third accommodation
78. In one embodiment utensils 132 include a spoon 134 and a fork
136 that have handles shaped to seat in the waist of third
accommodation 78, which the broadened ends thereof occupy the
broader end regions of accommodation 78. In this way utensils 132
are retained.
[0056] Third member 26 is a lid or cover 140 that seats upon second
member 24, enclosing auxiliary containers 120 and 122, and utensils
132 while doing so. Lid 140 has a main portion 142 that has an
internal and external profile that conforms to the profile of the
upper edges of second member 24, and to auxiliary containers 120
and 122 seated therein. Lid 140 also has circumferentially running
a depending skirt 144 that seats about the outside of the
peripheral wall of second member 24, that skirt closing off the
radially outward ends of third accommodation 78, forming at least a
portion of the boundary thereof. Lid 140 also has lifting members
in the nature of wing tabs 146 suitably spaced about the edge of
skirt 144. In one embodiment there are two such wing tabs 146
located on 180 degree centers. In another embodiment there may be
three such tabs on 120 degree centers.
[0057] The principles of the present invention are not limited to
these specific examples, which are given by way of illustration. It
is possible to make other embodiments that employ the principles of
the invention and that fall within its spirit and scope of the
invention. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described
embodiments may be made without departing from the nature, spirit
or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to
those details, but only by the appended claims.
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