U.S. patent application number 15/475398 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-26 for food storage container, and cooling system therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pa Brown. Invention is credited to Pa Brown.
Application Number | 20170305632 15/475398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60088754 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170305632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Pa |
October 26, 2017 |
Food Storage Container, and Cooling System Therefor
Abstract
A food storage container cooling system with a food storage
container with walls, at least one wall defining an internal
compartment with a top and a bottom, wherein the internal
compartment is open at the top and closed at the bottom, and a
reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit into the
compartment.
Inventors: |
Brown; Pa; (Fitchburg,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Brown; Pa |
Fitchburg |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60088754 |
Appl. No.: |
15/475398 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62326072 |
Apr 22, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/18 20130101;
Y02W 30/807 20150501; F25D 3/08 20130101; B65D 21/0233 20130101;
Y02W 30/80 20150501; B65D 53/00 20130101; B65D 81/18 20130101; F25D
2303/0843 20130101; B65D 25/04 20130101; F25D 2331/803 20130101;
B65D 43/163 20130101; F25D 2331/804 20130101; B65D 21/0219
20130101; F25D 2303/082 20130101; B65D 81/3818 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/18 20060101
B65D081/18; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16; B65D 25/18 20060101
B65D025/18; B65D 25/04 20060101 B65D025/04; B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02; B65D 53/00 20060101 B65D053/00; B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02 |
Claims
1. A food storage container cooling system, comprising: a food
storage container with walls, at least one wall defining an
internal compartment with a top and a bottom, wherein the internal
compartment is open at the top and closed at the bottom; and a
reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit into the
compartment.
2. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein
each wall of the container defines an internal compartment that is
open at the top and closed at the bottom.
3. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein
the walls are of separate containers, so that an inner container
can be removed from an outer container.
4. The food storage container cooling system of claim 3, wherein
the food storage container comprises an outer bowl and a separate
inner bowl, where the bowls are constructed and arranged to nest,
with a gap between them that defines an internal compartment.
5. The food storage container cooling system of claim 3, wherein
the food storage container comprises an outer soft cooler and an
inner rigid interior shell that is at least in part spaced from the
cooler, to define an internal compartment.
6. The food storage container cooling system of claim 5, wherein
the outer cooler has a plurality of walls, and the shell is spaced
from each of the walls.
7. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein
the internal compartments are integrally formed with the
container.
8. The food storage container cooling system of claim 7, wherein
the internal compartments project inwardly from the walls as
open-top pockets.
9. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein an
internal compartment is located within a wall.
10. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein
the ice pack is flexible, so it can be formed to the shape of the
internal compartment.
11. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, further
comprising a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the
container.
12. The food storage container cooling system of claim 11, wherein
the lid is coupled and hinged to the container.
13. The food storage container cooling system of claim 11, wherein
the lid comprises a seal that seals to the top of the
container.
14. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein
the container comprises a liquid storage container.
15. The food storage container cooling system of claim 14, wherein
the container comprises a baby bottle.
16. A food storage container cooling system, comprising: a food
storage container with a plurality of walls, each wall defining an
integrally-formed internal compartment with a top and a bottom,
wherein the internal compartments project inwardly from the walls
as open-top pockets are open at the top and closed at the bottom;
and a plurality of reusable ice packs, where the ice packs are
sized and shaped to fit into the compartments.
17. The food storage container cooling system of claim 16, further
comprising a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the
container.
18. The food storage container cooling system of claim 17, wherein
the lid is coupled and hinged to the container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application
62/326,072, filed on Apr. 22, 2016.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This disclosure relates to a food storage container.
[0003] There are many situations in which food must be kept cold
outside of a refrigerator. Food can be stored in a container, and
the container can be kept in a cooler with ice. This can be
difficult, and clumsy.
SUMMARY
[0004] All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in
any technically possible way.
[0005] Featured in this disclosure is a food storage container
cooling system. The food storage containers include thin
compartments on each of their sides. Reusable (flexible or rigid)
ice packs are provided, at least one for each such side. The ice
packs are sized and shaped to fit into a compartment. The contents
of the container are thus cooled from all sides. The container lid
is preferably attached to the container. The lid has a good seal to
the container, to help keep coolness in and moisture and
condensation out. The containers can have any convenient shape,
such as square, rectangular, round, or bowl-shaped, and can be of
any size.
[0006] In one alternative arrangement, there can be an inner
container that fits into an outer container. The inner container
may have the same shape but be smaller, so that it is spaced from
the main container. In this case the ice packs can fit between the
two containers rather than into the walls of one container. The
inner bowl can be releasably fixable to the outer bowl to allow
them to be separate. When separated, they can be used by themselves
and can be cleaned. For example, the inner bowl may be stainless
steel or another material and be adapted to be removed from the
outer bowl and then used as a serving bowl.
[0007] In one example the food storage container cooling system
includes a food storage container with walls, at least one wall
defining an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed
at the bottom, a reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit
into the compartment, and a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to
and close the container. The ice pack(s) may or may not be
flexible, depending on whether or not they need to be flexed in
order to fit into a compartment. Each wall of the container may
define an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed
at the bottom. The lid may be coupled and hinged to the container.
The lid may have a seal that seals to the top of the container. The
walls that form the compartment(s) may be the walls of two separate
nested containers, so that an inner container can be removed from
an outer container.
[0008] Embodiments may include one of the following features, or
any combination thereof. Each wall of the container may define an
internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the
bottom. The walls may be of separate containers, so that an inner
container can be removed from an outer container. The food storage
container may comprise an outer bowl and a separate inner bowl,
where the bowls are constructed and arranged to nest, with a gap
between them that defines an internal compartment. The food storage
container may comprise an outer soft cooler and an inner rigid
interior shell that is at least in part spaced from the cooler, to
define an internal compartment. The outer cooler may have a
plurality of walls, and the shell may be spaced from each of the
walls.
[0009] Embodiments may include one of the following features, or
any combination thereof. The internal compartments may be
integrally formed with the container. The internal compartments may
project inwardly from the walls as open-top pockets. An internal
compartment may be located within a wall. The ice pack may be
flexible, so it can be formed to the shape of the internal
compartment. The food storage container cooling system may include
a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the container.
The lid may be coupled and hinged to the container. The lid may
have seal that seals to the top of the container. The container may
be designed to store liquid, such as a baby bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for a food
storage container cooling system.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4, FIG.
2.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of a stack of three of the containers
of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6, FIG.
5.
[0016] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D, are front, top, cross-sectional,
and perspective views, respectively, of an ice pack that can be
used with the container of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a top view of a lid that can be used with the
container of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another container and
lid.
[0019] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate another container and lid, and
an ice pack for the container.
[0020] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another container and ice packs,
and a lid.
[0021] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate another container and lid, and
an ice pack for the container.
[0022] FIGS. 14, 15A and 15B illustrate another container, and
dividers for the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The food storage containers include one or more internal
compartments. Reusable ice packs are provided, one for each
internal compartment. The ice packs are sized and shaped to fit
into a compartment. The contents of the container are thus cooled
from one or more sides, without the need for any separate cooler,
or any separate ice or ice packs. The container lid is preferably
attached to the container, but can be separate from the container.
The lid has a good seal to the container, to help keep coolness in
and moisture and condensation out. The containers can have any
convenient shape, such as square, rectangular, round, or
bowl-shaped, and can be of any size.
[0024] In one alternative arrangement, there can be an inner
container that fits into an outer container. The inner container
may have the same shape but be smaller, so that it is spaced from
the main container. In this case the ice packs can fit between the
two containers rather than in the walls of one container. The inner
container can be (but need not be) releasably fixable to the outer
container, to allow them to be separated. When separated, they can
be used by themselves, and can be cleaned. For example, the inner
container may be stainless steel bowl, or another material, and be
adapted to be removed from the outer container (bowl) and then used
as a serving bowl.
[0025] In one example the food storage container cooling system
includes a food storage container with walls, at least one wall
defining an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed
at the bottom, a reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit
into the compartment, and an optional lid that is sized and shaped
to seal to and close the container. The ice pack(s) may or may not
be flexible, depending on whether or not they need to be flexed in
order to fit into a compartment. Each wall of the container may
define an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed
at the bottom. The lid may be coupled and hinged to the container.
The lid may have a seal that seals to the top of the container. The
walls that form the compartment(s) may be but need not be the walls
of two separate nested containers, so that an inner container can
be removed from an outer container.
[0026] Several non-limiting, specific, examples of the disclosure,
are shown in the drawings.
[0027] FIGS. 1-4 show food storage container 100. Container 100 has
external walls 102, 103, 112, and 114, which each extend from
bottom 104 to top rim 105. Peripheral flange 116 helps to stiffen
the walls. Bottom foot 124 is a conventional feature. Arranged
along the inside of each wall is an integrally-formed, internal
compartment, such as compartment 113 (with top opening 113a), where
compartment 113 is located between inner wall 108 and the inside of
outer wall 112, and compartment 115 (with top opening 115a), where
compartment 115 is located between inner wall 110 and the inside of
outer wall 114. Third and fourth inner walls 120 and 122 are also
illustrated. There do not need to be four compartments, and the
compartments could be of a different size and/or shape. For
example, some or all of the walls could carry more than one
compartment. For example, to accommodate a longer wall, two or more
side-by-side compartments such as shown in FIGS. 1-4 could be
located along any one or more walls. This could be a means to
accommodate a larger container, but still use the same size ice
packs.
[0028] In this particular, non-limiting example, the compartments
are a bit shorter than the outer wall of the container, such that
their tops lie below container rim 105. This allows the ice packs
(explained below) to be grasped for insertion and removal from a
compartment. Also, the inner walls (such as wall 108), can define a
small cutaway (e.g., cutaway 109) that can also help a person to
grasp an ice pack between the thumb and a finger. As best shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6, the rounded corner shape of bottom wall 104 and the
slight draft of the containers allows them to be nested, with
bottom wall 104 siting on the tops of the inner walls.
[0029] Ice pack 150, shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, is particularly adapted
to fit snugly into each of these four compartments. Front face 152
has a contour that follows the contour of the inner container wall.
Top lip 154 protrudes slightly from an inner wall cutaway, such as
cutaway 109; together they allow a user to grasp lip 154 and pull
the ice pack out of the compartment after it has been used, so it
can be re-frozen.
[0030] The containers should have a top or lid, but do not have to
have a top. The top can be attached, or not. FIG. 8 shows a
removable top 160 that snap fits over rim 105, and includes a
flexible, rubber seal 162 that is conventional in food storage
container lids, to help seal in the contents and keep cold in the
container. When ice packs are placed in the compartments and food
is loaded into the container, and the top is applied, the ice packs
will help to keep the contents cold, without any need for the
container to be placed in a cooler or the like.
[0031] FIG. 9 schematically depicts food storage container cooling
system 10 that includes food storage container 12 and attached (or
optional, separate) lid 14. Container 12 is square or rectangular,
but could be another shape such as round or oval, for example. Each
of the four outer walls is made from spaced integral panels that
define an empty slot or compartment between them, such as
compartment 16. There are four re-usable ice packs, each sized and
shaped to fit into and more or less fill one compartment, an
example being ice pack 18. The ice packs are placed into the
compartments. Lid 14, with rubber seal 22, is then closed and
latched using latches 20 and 21. The latch designs are known types
of storage container lid closure designs.
[0032] Another alternative design contemplates the type of cooler
with soft sides and a rigid interior shell. The shell can be
designed to be smaller than the inside dimensions of the cooler, to
leave a gap between the cooler walls and the shell. Ice packs can
be fitted into this gap, in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.
9, or in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1, where the
pockets are located between the contoured interior shell and the
outer part (e.g., the soft sides) of the cooler.
[0033] A round design 30 is depicted in FIGS. 10A and 10B, where
container 32 defines circumferential compartment 34. Ice pack 38 is
generally rectangular and is flexible, so that it can be rolled and
fitted into compartment 34. Lid 36 is attached and can be held or
latched closed, and also includes an environmental seal, such as
described above.
[0034] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrates another example. Food storage
container cooling system 50, FIG. 11, includes outer (e.g.,
plastic) bowl 54 and inner (e.g., stainless steel) bowl 56 that
fits into bowl 54 and preferably (but not necessarily) clips to it,
e.g., with clips 60 protruding up from the inside of the bottom of
bowl 54. Side clips 61 can also be included to help maintain
inter-bowl spacing, but may not be necessary. Empty compartment 68
is formed between the two bowls. Ice packs 62 and 63 are sized and
shaped to each fill about one-half of compartment 68. Separate lid
with rubber lining 64 (FIG. 12) can fit over and seal to bowl 54.
Food carried in bowl 56 can be served by removing bowl 56 and using
it for serving.
[0035] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a bottle (e.g., a water bottle,
or a baby bottle) 82, with cover or cap 90. Bottle 82 has outer
compartment/cavity 84 with top opening 86. Flexible thin ice pack
88, FIG. 13B, can be rolled up and inserted into compartment 84 via
opening 86. This will help to keep the bottle contents cold.
[0036] FIGS. 14, 15A and 15B illustrate another container 200 where
two or more angled, removable dividers (212, 214, 222, and 224) can
be fitted into the container, to create four generally triangular
compartments 231-234. The dividers can interfit by creating a
necessary number of slots such as slot 213 in one set of dividers,
so that they can be placed over one or more cross dividers, as
would be apparent to one skilled in the field. Gaps 210 and 220
between parallel dividers provide room for properly sized and
shaped ice packs.
[0037] Other alternatives are possible, and features in one drawing
could be used in examples of other drawings, as would be apparent.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it
will be understood that additional modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts
described herein, and, accordingly, other embodiments are within
the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *