container

Abstract

A food container (10) has a container base (11) and a container lid (12). The container base (11) has a base portion (13) and a wall (14) upstanding from the base portion (13) to define a container base interior (15). The container lid (12) has a top cover (18) and a side edge (19), and the top cover (18) is located above the base portion (13) when the lid (12) is in closed connection with the base (11). The top cover (18) includes an elastically deformable portion (25) and a non-elastically deformable portion (26). Each of the elastically deformable portion (25) and the non-elastically deformable portion (26) is located above a different portion of the base portion (13) when the lid (12) is in closed connection with the base (11). The elastically deformable portion (25) facilitates containment of an item in the container base interior (15), the item rests on a portion of the base portion (13) located below the elastically deformable portion (25), and the item extends into contact with the elastically deformable portion (25) by elastic deformation of the elastically deformable portion (25) outward away from the base portion (13) in contact with the item when the lid (12) is displaced into closed connection with the base (11).

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application PCT / AU2020 / 050727, which entered into China on January 20, 2022, entitled "Container", with a priority date of July 22, 2019 and application number 202080052503.7.

[0002] Cross-references to related applications

[0003] This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2019208141, filed on July 22, 2019, the contents of which are considered to be incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates to a container for storing and transporting articles. The invention has been developed as a food container for storing food for later consumption (typically on the same day). Therefore, it will be convenient to describe the invention in connection with this use. However, it should be understood that the container of the invention is not limited to a food container, but can be used to hold any suitable article.

[0005] Regarding food containers, one example of the types of uses a food container can be used for is storing food that parents provide for school-aged children during lunch and snack breaks at school. Background Technology

[0006] The following discussion of the background of the invention is intended to facilitate understanding of the invention. However, it should be understood that this discussion does not imply or acknowledge that any aspect discussed is part of common general knowledge as of the priority date of this application.

[0007] Food containers are available for storing and transporting food for later consumption. Many toddlers and school-aged children store their daily meals (eating in preschool or school) in such containers. Similarly, many adult workers store their work snacks and lunches in food containers. Food containers used in this way are almost entirely made of essentially rigid plastic and consist of a base and a lid. The base typically provides the main storage space for the food, although the lid can also increase the storage capacity.

[0008] The base and the cover are typically joined together at one edge by a hinge, and at opposite edges by mating clips or latches. The clips or latches cooperate to secure the cover relative to the base in a closed position.

[0009] When the container is closed, the height of the internal storage space is determined by the distance between the opposing surfaces of the base and the lid. This height limit excludes storing food taller than the storage space. The rigidity of the base and lid means that if food taller than the storage space is to be stored in the food container, the lid must be partially open relative to the base to accommodate the larger food, or the food must be carried separately from the food container. Both outcomes are generally undesirable, as loosening or opening the lid from the base allows food to escape from the container, while carrying food separately from the container means it may be forgotten and uneaten. Sometimes food can be cut into smaller pieces, although this may be undesirable because it requires more preparation and, considering the potential for long-term storage in the container, can lead to a decline in the food's visual appearance and nutritional value.

[0010] Norwegian design registration 084240, entitled UNIKIA AS, discloses a food container with an outwardly projecting dome at one end. The dome potentially allows food items that don't fit inside other parts of the container to be accommodated within it; however, the dome's shape is fixed, thus limiting its capacity to hold such items. That is, if a square item is supported against the inner surface of the dome's perimeter, the maximum height of the dome cannot be used to accommodate the item. Furthermore, because the dome's shape is fixed, it always protrudes from the container lid, thus permanently increasing the container's volume. Therefore, this registered food container does not readily address the problem of accommodating items whose height exceeds the container's capacity.

[0011] The present invention seeks to provide a container, such as a food container, that overcomes or at least mitigates the aforementioned disadvantages of existing containers. Summary of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, a container is provided having:

[0013] The bottom of the container, and

[0014] Container lid,

[0015] The container has a base and walls rising vertically from the base to define the interior of the container bottom.

[0016] The container lid has a top cover and side edges. When the lid is closed to the bottom, the top cover is positioned above the base.

[0017] The top cover includes elastically deformable and inelastic parts. When the cover is closed with the bottom, each of the elastically deformable and inelastic parts is positioned above a different portion of the base.

[0018] The resilient deformable portion helps to house the item inside the bottom of the container. The item rests on the portion of the base located below the resilient deformable portion, and when the lid is moved to close with the bottom of the container, the resilient deformable portion elastically deforms outward away from the base that is in contact with the item, and the item extends to contact the resilient deformable portion.

[0019] The container according to the invention can elastically deform outward through its elastically deformable portion to increase the height of its containing space, which advantageously facilitates the containment of articles, such as food, whose height exceeds the height of the container's containing space. The elastic deformation and the resulting increase in containing space are temporary, because once the article causing the elastic deformation is removed from the container, the elastically deformable portion can return to its pre-deformation state or shape. Such articles will hereinafter be referred to as "oversized" articles.

[0020] Advantageously, the elastic deformation of the resiliently deformable portion allows oversized items to be contained within the container, and the container lid can be closed to the bottom of the container, thus sealing the container. This prevents items from escaping from the container, which could otherwise occur if the lid is partially open relative to the bottom of the container to accommodate oversized items. Furthermore, when the lid is closed against the bottom of the container, the resiliently deformable device of the present invention allows for sealing of the container, even though oversized items are present inside, within the sealed container. This means that food requiring a sealed container to prevent spoilage or leakage can still be stored in the container, even with oversized items present. Moreover, in the container according to the invention, oversized items can be retained along with other items in the container, making it less likely that the oversized items will be forgotten.

[0021] The intention is that when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, each of the resilient and inelastic portions of the lid is spaced apart from the base of the container bottom, so that when the lid is moved to close to the bottom of the container, an article can be located under each of these portions. Therefore, the intention is to allow articles placed inside the bottom of the container to be positioned under either the resilient or inelastic portions, but where the size or height of the article hinders or prevents the lid from closing to the bottom of the container when it is under the inelastic portion, the article can be placed or repositioned under the resilient portion, whereby the outward deformation of the resilient portion helps to close the lid to the bottom of the container.

[0022] The container according to the invention can be of any suitable shape, such as generally square, rectangular, circular, or elliptical. The container according to the invention can have a container lid as a removable lid, thereby allowing the container lid to be completely removed from the bottom of the container to open the container, or the lid can be permanently attached to the bottom of the container, for example, by a hinge. The container may include suitable clips or latching devices to secure the lid in a closed connection with the bottom of the container when the container is to be closed.

[0023] In the container according to the invention, the container bottom may include at least one partition wall within the interior of the container bottom to form at least two compartments. The separate compartments allow items to be contained in the container to be separated from each other. For example, foods that may leak moisture into the container, such as previously refrigerated items like fruit or beverages, can be separated from absorbent foods like sandwiches. The interior of the container bottom may be divided into two compartments. Alternatively, more than two compartments may be provided. The dimensions of the compartments may be equal or unequal. In the case of more than two compartments, two compartments may be the same size, and one or more compartments may be different in size.

[0024] In the above-described forms of the invention, the resiliently deformable portion may be located above a single compartment. Alternatively, the resiliently deformable portion may be located above two or more compartments. For example, the resiliently deformable portion may extend across two adjacent compartments, thereby bridging over the partition wall between adjacent compartments. Alternatively, a first resiliently deformable portion may be located above one compartment, and a second resiliently deformable portion may be located above another compartment (such as an adjacent compartment). Alternatively, the compartment below the first resiliently deformable portion and the compartment below the second resiliently deformable portion may be separated from each other by other intermediate compartments. In these forms of the invention, the first and second resiliently deformable portions may be separated by a non-resilient portion.

[0025] Even in containers without partition walls, first and second resilient deformable sections can be used. These sections can be simply placed where it is necessary or desirable to accommodate oversized items within the container.

[0026] The deformable portion can have any suitable shape. For example, it can be at least one of a generally square, rectangular, circular, or elliptical shape, although a circular shape is considered most suitable because the stress generated in the deformable portion during elastic deformation is generally generated equally across the deformable portion. However, the cover can include deformable portions of different shapes as needed. For example, where the deformable portion extends across two adjacent compartments, its length can be longer than its width, and therefore it can be rectangular or elliptical.

[0027] When the resilient deformable portion is in an undeformed or stationary state such that it has not been engaged by an oversized article while the container lid is closed at the bottom of the container, the resilient deformable portion can have a generally planar form. In this form of the invention, the resilient deformable portion deforms outward due to the stretching of the material in that portion. Alternatively, the resilient deformable portion can be formed to have a generally corrugated cross-section in the undeformed or stationary state. For a circular resilient deformable portion, the corrugations can be formed as circles with increasing diameters. In the latter form of the invention, as the resilient deformable portion deforms outward, the corrugated cross-section itself will deform as the corrugations become shallower until the corrugations disappear. Further deformation of the resilient deformable portion can then occur due to the stretching of the material in that portion. The corrugated cross-section is one example of a non-planar form of the resilient deformable portion, and other non-planar forms are also within the scope of the invention.

[0028] The resilient and inelastic portions can be formed in the top cover of the container lid in any suitable manner. For example, the resilient and inelastic portions can be formed integrally. This can be achieved by forming the resilient portion from the same material as the inelastic portion, but with thinner wall sections compared to the inelastic portion. For example, the common material for both the resilient and inelastic portions can be polypropylene, and the wall thickness of the inelastic portion can be in the range of more than 2 mm to 4 mm, while the wall thickness of the resilient portion can be in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm. This form of the invention can be produced by molding the top cover.

[0029] Alternatively, the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion can be formed separately. This form of the invention can also be produced by molding the top cover, whereby the molding process involves overmolding two separate materials, one for the elastically deformable portion and the other for the inelastic portion.

[0030] In other forms of the invention, the top cover includes a base of non-elastic material to form a non-elastic portion of the top cover, and an opening is formed in the base for receiving an elastically deformable portion. The opening may be circular, or any other suitable shape adapted to form the desired elastically deformable portion, such as a square, rectangular, or elliptical opening. In this form of the invention, the elastically deformable portion may extend across the opening, such as from above or below the opening, or the elastically deformable portion may be connected to the opening, such as to the edge of the opening.

[0031] While the deformable portion may be connected only to the edge of the opening, in an alternative arrangement according to the invention, the deformable portion may also be connected to the outer or inner surface of the inelastic portion of the top cover, wherein the connection point or area is spaced inward from the edge. This arrangement allows for a more robust connection between the deformable and inelastic portions of the top cover.

[0032] The outer or inner surface of the non-elastic portion of the top cover can be attached in any suitable manner (such as by adhesive bonding). However, removably attaching the resilient portion to the associated surface of the non-elastic portion offers advantages for cleaning purposes. Therefore, in some forms of the invention, the surface of the non-elastic portion to which the resilient portion is attached includes a channel into which a portion of the resilient portion is received and secured. The channel may completely surround the resilient portion beyond its extending opening, or channel segments may be provided in which discrete segments of the resilient portion are received and secured. In other forms of the invention, a press-fit connection may be formed between the resilient and non-elastic portions, which may include protrusions on the resilient portion that push into and retain the connection within an opening formed in the non-elastic portion.

[0033] With or without connection between the edges of the openings in the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion, a connection to the outer or inner surface of the inelastic portion of the top cover can be achieved. In some embodiments of the invention, the elastically deformable portion is connected to the outer or inner surface of the inelastic portion, and the elastically deformable portion extends beyond the opening of the inelastic portion without connecting to the edge of the opening. In other embodiments of the invention, there is an engagement between the elastically deformable portion and the edge of the opening, but the engagement is merely a bearing or contact engagement. This type of engagement can assist in securing the elastically deformable portion in place.

[0034] While the above discussion has mentioned the option of connecting the resiliently deformable portion to the outer or inner surface of the inelastic portion of the top cover, it is anticipated that if a connection is provided, it will typically be connected to the inner surface of the inelastic portion. In this arrangement, where the engagement between the resiliently deformable portion and the edge of the opening is merely a bearing or contact engagement, the arrangement allows the resiliently deformable portion to be connected to the inner surface of the inelastic portion, and a portion of the resiliently deformable portion can extend into the opening in the inelastic portion and be supported against the facing edge of the opening.

[0035] The resiliently deformable portion can be formed as part of a seal that is attached to the inside of the container lid and seals against the surface of the container bottom when the lid is closed to the base. The seal can seal against, for example, the upper end or facing edge of a wall of the container bottom and the upper end or facing edge of any partition wall located within the container bottom. The seal may include a channel for sealing purposes, into which the upper end of the container bottom wall and / or any partition wall extends when the lid is closed to the base.

[0036] The seal can be attached to the container lid in any suitable manner, and can be attached by the same connection arrangement as described above regarding the connection arrangement of the resiliently deformable portion to the lid.

[0037] Therefore, the seal may include a sealing portion and a resiliently deformable portion, and both portions may be made of the same material, making the seal a single-piece component. The sealing portion may extend over the entire base of the container bottom (except for the portion of the base below the resiliently deformable portion), or, if the container bottom is divided, the sealing portion may extend over one or more compartments. In some forms of the invention, the seal extends over two compartments, with the resiliently deformable portion over one compartment and the sealing portion over the other. In one form of the invention, the container bottom includes three compartments, and the seal is over two of the compartments.

[0038] The resiliently deformable portion can consist of two separate bases, including an outer base and an inner base, each extending beyond the opening of the inelastic portion. In some forms of the invention, the outer base can be attached to the edge of the opening, and the inner base can be attached to an edge-spaced inner or outer surface of the inelastic portion of the top cover. It is contemplated that the inner base is typically attached to the inner surface of the inelastic portion. In this form of the invention, one of the inner base and the inner surface of the inelastic portion can define a channel, and the other of the inner base and the inner surface of the inelastic portion can have a protrusion for reception in the channel, whereby reception of the protrusion in the channel attaches the inner base to the inner surface of the inelastic portion. In other forms of the invention, a press-fit connection can be formed between the inner base and the inner surface of the inelastic portion, which may include a protrusion on the inner base that is pushed into and held in connection with the opening formed in the inelastic portion.

[0039] In the above-described form of the invention, the outer substrate is a covered molding and the inner substrate is a removable seal. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To gain a more complete understanding of the present invention, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] Figure 1 A container according to the invention is shown, wherein the container is shown in a closed state.

[0042] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A container in which the lid is slightly open or half-open.

[0043] Figure 3 Through Figure 1 The section AA cut Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the container.

[0044] Figure 4 Through Figure 1 The section AA cut Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the container, but in which the lid of the container is positioned as follows: Figure 2 The position shown is slightly open or half-open.

[0045] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the container, showing the elastically deformable portion deforming outwards.

[0046] Figure 6 It shows Figure 1 A container in which the lid is fully open.

[0047] Figures 7 to 12 Different arrangements for forming the elastically deformable portion are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The accompanying drawings illustrate a food container according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the food container 10 in the drawings is only one form of container to which the present invention applies.

[0049] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The food container includes a container bottom 11 and a container lid 12. The container bottom 11 has a base 13, and a wall 14 rises from the base 13. The base 13 and the wall 14 define an interior 15 of the container bottom. A carrying strap 16 is attached to the front wall 14.

[0050] The container lid 12 has a rectangular top cover 18 and side edges 19, wherein the side edges 19 form a lip extending downward around the top cover 18, and when the container 10 is closed, the lip overlaps with the upper end of the wall 14. The side edges 19 extend approximately perpendicular to the top cover 18.

[0051] The lid 12 is connected to the container bottom 11 via a rear hinge 21 and a hinge clip or latch 22. Figure 1 In the closed position shown, the hinge clip or latch 22 is locked around the protrusion 23. Clearly, the container 10 can be opened by releasing the latch 22 from the protrusion 23, and the lid 12 can rotate upwards about the hinge 21 and away from the bottom 11.

[0052] The container 10 includes an elastically deformable portion 25 and an inelastic portion 26. Figures 3 to 5 The non-elastic portion 26 is shown to be interrupted at the elastically deformable portion 25. The non-elastic portion 26 forms the main part of the top cover 18 in the container 10. Figure 1 It is evident that, with the container 10 closed, both the elastically deformable portion 25 and the inelastic portion 26 are located above the base 13 of the container bottom 11. However, the corresponding portions 25 and 26 are located above different parts of the base 13.

[0053] Figure 3 It shows the position Figure 1 The closed state and through Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of container 10 taken from section AA. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The container 10 is also shown as a section cut through section AA, but in Figure 4 In the middle, the cover 12 is slightly half-open from the bottom 11, while... Figure 5 In the diagram, the cover is in a closed state, but the elastically deformable portion 25 is shown in an outward deforming state. Figure 4 and Figure 5 In each of them, a spherical food item 30 in the form of an apple is shown located inside the bottom of the container 15.

[0054] Figure 6 This is a view of container 10 with the lid 12 fully open relative to the bottom 11 of the container. Figure 6 The bottom 11 of the container is shown to include a partition wall 31 extending upward from the base 13. Figure 2 A partition wall 31 is also shown, although it is partially obscured. Therefore, the bottom 11 of the container forms separate compartments for storing different foods separately. Although from... Figures 3 to 5 Two compartments, 32 and 33, are clearly visible in the middle, but... Figure 6 The container 10 is shown to include three compartments 32 to 34. Compartments 32 and 33 are substantially the same in shape and configuration and are generally square, while compartment 34 extends from front to back along the side of the bottom 11 of the container to form a single generally rectangular compartment, which is approximately the same size as the combined compartments 32 and 33.

[0055] from Figures 3 to 5As can be clearly seen, the elastically deformable portion 25 is part of a larger sealing component 35, which extends over compartments 32 and 33 and seals over the respective compartments 32 and 33. Figure 3 As shown, the elastically deformable portion 25 is located only above the compartment 33. Of course, the elastically deformable portion 25 can also be arranged to extend above the compartment 32, or it can include a separate elastically deformable portion extending above that compartment. Therefore, although in Figure 3 The image shows the elastically deformable portion 25 positioned above compartment 33, but it is not limited to this position, or to being positioned above only a single compartment.

[0056] Therefore, the sealing member 35 includes a sealing portion 36 and an elastically deformable portion 25. The sealing portion 36 is located below a section of the inelastic portion 26, and the sealing member 35 is secured to the cover 12 by protrusions 37, 38, and 39, which are received within channels formed in the cover 12. The elastically deformable portion 25 extends through an opening 40 in the inelastic portion 26 of the top cover 18 and engages an edge 41 of the opening 40, wherein the edge 41 is located within a corresponding recess formed in the outer periphery of the elastically deformable portion 25. The opening 40 is a circular opening, therefore the edge 41 is a circular edge.

[0057] The entire sealing component 35 is formed of an elastically deformable material (preferably silicone). Therefore, the material of the elastically deformable portion 25 continuously extends through the sealing portion 36 and the corresponding protrusions 37, 38, and 39. The sealing component 35 is intended to seal against the upper end or edge of the wall 14 and the upper end or edge of the partition wall 31 defining the compartments 32 and 33. The sealing component 35 is not located above the compartment 34 and therefore does not seal above the compartment 34. This arrangement is merely an example to illustrate one form of the invention; therefore, different sealing configurations can be provided to seal different compartments, or the seals can be provided in all compartments at the bottom of the container.

[0058] It should be understood that, in cases such as Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 With the container 10 closed, the maximum height of the items that can be stored in the compartment 34 is height H. 34This height is the distance between the inner surface of the lid 12 and the inner surface of the base 13, and for compartment 34, no seal is inserted between these surfaces. Therefore, due to the presence of the sealing portion 36, the maximum height of items that can be accommodated in compartment 32 is slightly less than the maximum height of items in compartment 34. Assuming the sealing portion 36 is formed of an elastically deformable material, items taller than the distance between the inner surface of the base 13 and the facing surface of the sealing portion 36 will cause the sealing portion 36 to deform towards the lid 12, but the deformation will cease once the sealing portion 36 engages the inner surface of the lid 12. Thus, for compartments 32 and 34, substantially the same maximum height applies to items that can be stored in these compartments when the lid 12 is closed to the container bottom 11.

[0059] However, the same height restriction no longer applies to items placed in compartment 33. Figure 5 It can be clearly seen that, because the height exceeds the height H 34 Food 30, which is not suitable for compartments 32 or 34, can be successfully placed into compartment 33, and the lid 12 closes above the bottom 11 of the container. This is due to the fact that when the lid 12 is moved to close connection with the bottom 11 of the container, the elastically deformable portion 25 elastically deforms outward (away from the base 13) when the food 30 engages with the elastically deformable portion 25.

[0060] It is important to understand that although the food item 30 is shown as a spherical article, the resiliently deformable portion 25 will elastically deform outward when it comes into contact with any article within the compartment 33 exceeding the height between the facing surface of the base 13 and the inner surface 45 of the resiliently deformable portion 25. Furthermore, except when engaging with an article, the resiliently deformable portion 25 has a generally planar configuration at all times. Upon engagement, portion 25 will deform outward to accommodate the article within the compartment 33. Of course, the degree to which the resiliently deformable portion 25 deforms outward is limited, but it is anticipated that the article placed within the container 10 will generally have a height less than H. 34 The height, or if greater than that height, will only be slightly larger. That is, a resiliently deformable portion 25 is provided to accommodate what is typically only slightly larger than H. 34 Larger items.

[0061] Figures 7 to 10 Different arrangements for forming the elastically deformable portion 25 are shown. Figures 7 to 11 The layout is different Figures 3 to 6 The elastically deformable portion 25 is shown in this manner. Figures 7 to 11The figures show part 50 of the inelastic portion of the container lid and the elastically deformable portion of the lid, respectively. Each figure shows the elastically deformable portion in two positions (i.e., the static position (top) and the elastically deformable position (bottom)).

[0062] refer to Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the overall structure, showing a non-elastic portion 50 located on either side of the elastically deformable portion 51. Portion 51 is a thinned segment made of the same material as the non-elastic portion 50, and can be formed, for example, by forming both portions 50 and 51 from polypropylene. As described above, the wall thickness of the non-elastic portion 50 can be in the range of more than 2 mm to 4 mm, while the wall thickness of the elastically deformable portion 51 can be in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0063] Figure 8 Another monolithic construction is shown, but in Figure 8 In this structure, the elastically deformable portion is formed by corrugated sections. Therefore, the outward elastic deformation is initially achieved through the deformation of the corrugated profile of portion 51, and further deformation can be achieved by straightening or flattening the corrugations themselves. Once the corrugations are flattened, further deformation can be achieved through the elastic stretching of portion 51.

[0064] Figure 9 An overmolding arrangement is shown, in which a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or other suitable soft elastic material (such as a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) portion 53) is overmolded with a non-elastic plastic material (such as PP-polypropylene) of a non-elastic portion 50. The opposing edges of the TPU portion 53 are connected to the facing edges of the portion 50 to form chemical bonds during the overmolding process that holds the two materials together.

[0065] Figure 10 An arrangement is shown in which the inelastic portion 50 includes a downwardly extending protrusion 54 to which an elastically deformable but removable seal 55 is secured. The seal 55 is located below the overmolded portion 56 and can be referenced above. Figure 9 The same method is used to mold the covered molding segment 56 onto the inelastic portion 50.

[0066] Figure 10 The arrangement also illustrates how the elastically deformable portion 25 can be applied to the container 10 without simultaneously providing the sealing portion 36 of the entire sealing component 35. Therefore, in Figure 3 In this arrangement, the elastically deformable portion 25 may terminate at the protrusion 38, rather than extending into the sealing portion 36. Also referencing... Figure 6 Only compartment 33 will be sealed.

[0067] Figure 11It shows the relationship with Figure 10 Similar arrangement, therefore Figure 11 The non-elastic portion 50 and the overmolded section 56 connected between the non-elastic portions 50 are shown, but Figure 11 A removable peripheral seal 58 is also shown applied to the downwardly extending protrusion 54. The peripheral seal 58 is not located on... Figure 9 Instead of being below the covering molding section 56, it extends around or surrounds the covering molding section 56.

[0068] Figure 12 It shows the relationship with Figure 8 Similar arrangement, therefore Figure 12 An integral structure including an inelastic portion 50 located on either side of the elastically deformable portion 60 is shown. The portion 60 includes a thinned segment 61 that is integral with the inelastic portion 50 and made of the same material as the inelastic portion 50. The segment 61 is a corrugated segment. The portion 60 also includes an overmolded segment 62 molded into the corrugations of the upper surface of the segment 61. Figure 12 The arrangement of the molding section 62 forms the outer surface of the elastically deformable portion 60, and the corrugated section 61 forms the inner surface of the elastically deformable portion 60.

[0069] The advantages of this arrangement are most relevant to food-grade containers. In these containers, silicone is typically used as the surface that comes into contact with food. However, silicone is more expensive than other materials. Figure 12 In this design, thin, corrugated food-grade PP (section 61) is combined with overmolded TPE (section 62). This reduces the amount of silicone used (because section 61 is thinner) and also contributes to a pleasing and aesthetically pleasing appearance on the exterior of the container by using TPE that can be appropriately colored and has a soft touch.

[0070] Back Figure 3 and Figure 4 The elastically deformable portion 25 generally extends from the flat upper surface of the non-elastic portion 26. While this is aesthetically pleasing, in other forms of the invention, it may be employed... Figure 10 The arrangement is such that the elastically deformable portion 55 extends below the outer surface of the inelastic portion 50, but when engaged with an article, the elastically deformable portion 55 will squeeze through and pass through the outer surface of the inelastic portion 50, depending on the amount of deformation required to accommodate the article.

[0071] The elastically deformable portion 25 elastically deforms outward, thus allowing the accommodating space H to... 34 The increased height of the food container 10 advantageously helps to accommodate food with a height exceeding the height H of the container's storage space. 34 Items, such as food.

[0072] When the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” or “encompassing” are used in this specification (including the claims), they shall be construed as specifying the presence of the stated feature, integral, step, or component, but not excluding the presence of one or more other features, integrals, steps, or components.

[0073] Those skilled in the art will understand that, in addition to those specifically described, the invention described herein is readily adaptable and modifiable. It should be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications falling within its spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A food container, said container having: The bottom of the container, and Container lid, The container bottom has a base and a wall extending vertically from the base to define the interior of the container bottom. The container lid has a top cover and side edges. When the lid is closed to the bottom, the top cover encloses the interior of the container bottom and is located above the base. The container bottom includes at least one partition wall within the interior of the container bottom to form at least two compartments. The top cover includes a resiliently deformable portion and a non-resilient portion. When the container cover is closed to the bottom of the container, each of the resiliently deformable portion and the non-resilient portion is located above a different portion of the base. Each of the resiliently deformable portion and the non-resilient portion of the top cover is spaced apart from the base of the container bottom. When the cover is displaced to be closed to the bottom of the container, an article can be located below each of the resiliently deformable portion and the non-resilient portion. The non-resilient portion is located above at least one partition wall, and the resiliently deformable portion is located above at least one compartment of the at least two compartments. The top cover includes an inelastic material substrate forming the inelastic portion and at least one opening formed in the substrate, and the elastically deformable portion extends beyond the at least one opening. The inelastic portion forms the main part of the top cover of the container. The resiliently deformable portion helps to house an item inside the bottom of the container, the item resting on the portion of the base located below the resiliently deformable portion, and when the lid is displaced to close to the bottom of the container, the resiliently deformable portion elastically deforms outward away from the base that contacts the item, the item extending to contact the resiliently deformable portion.

2. The food container according to claim 1, The non-elastic portion is larger than the portion of the elastically deformable portion above the interior of the container bottom, and the non-elastic portion includes at least one opening formed therein, the elastically deformable portion closing the at least one opening, and the elastically deformable portion forming part of a seal attached to the interior of the lid, and the seal sealing the surface of the container bottom when the lid is closed to the container bottom.

3. The food container of claim 2, wherein the resiliently deformable portion is located above two or more of the at least two compartments.

4. The food container of claim 3, wherein the elastically deformable portion comprises a first elastically deformable portion and a second elastically deformable portion, the first elastically deformable portion being located above one of the at least two compartments, and the second elastically deformable portion being located above the other of the at least two compartments.

5. The food container according to claim 4, wherein the first elastically deformable portion and the second elastically deformable portion are separated by a non-elastic portion. When the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the non-elastic portion is located above the at least one partition wall, and the elastically deformable portion is located above at least one of the at least two compartments; and The first opening and the second opening are formed in the non-elastic portion of the container lid, the first elastically deformable portion closes the first opening and the second elastically deformable portion closes the second opening.

6. The food container according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable portion and the non-elastic portion of the top cover are integrally formed.

7. The food container according to claim 6, wherein the wall thickness of the elastically deformable portion of the top cover is thinner than the wall thickness of the non-elastic portion.

8. The food container of claim 7, wherein the elastically deformable portion has a generally corrugated cross-section without contacting the contents inside the bottom of the container.

9. The food container according to claim 2, in, When the container lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the non-elastic portion is completely above at least one of the at least two compartments, while the elastically deformable portion is above at least the other of the at least two compartments.

10. The food container according to claim 9, wherein the at least one opening is a circular opening.

11. The food container of claim 9, wherein the at least one opening has an edge, and the resiliently deformable portion is attached to the edge, wherein the opening of the non-resilient portion is offset from the center of the top cover.

12. The food container of claim 9, wherein the at least one opening has an edge, and the resiliently deformable portion is attached to the edge and an inner surface of the top cover spaced apart from the edge.

13. The food container of claim 12, wherein the inner surface of the top cover to which the resiliently deformable portion is attached at least partially includes a channel, and a portion of the resiliently deformable portion is received and secured in the channel.

14. The food container of claim 9, wherein the resiliently deformable portion is removably attached to the surface of the non-resilient portion.

15. The food container of claim 14, wherein when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the seal seals the upper end of the wall of the bottom of the container, wherein the seal seals one or more of the at least two compartments but not all of the at least two compartments.

16. The food container of claim 15, wherein the seal includes a channel into which the upper end of the wall of the bottom of the container extends when the lid is closedly connected to the bottom of the container.

17. The food container of claim 14, wherein when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the seal seals the upper end of the at least one partition wall, wherein when the container lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the elastically deformable portion is located above only one of the at least two compartments, and the non-elastic portion is located above the remaining compartments of the at least two compartments.

18. The food container of claim 17, wherein the seal includes a channel, and the upper end of the at least one partition wall extends into the channel when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container.

19. The food container according to any one of claims 2 and 9-18, wherein when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the seal seals the upper end or facing edge of the wall of the bottom of the container and the upper end or facing edge of the at least one partition wall, wherein the at least one partition wall within the interior defines at least three compartments, and wherein when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the resiliently deformable portion is located above one or two of the at least three compartments and the inelastic portion is located above the remaining compartments of the at least three compartments.

20. The food container of claim 19, wherein the seal includes a channel, wherein when the lid is closed to the bottom of the container, the upper end of the wall of the bottom of the container and the upper end of the at least one partition wall extend into the channel.

21. The food container of claim 6, wherein the elastically deformable portion and the inelastic portion of the top cover are integrally formed by molding the top cover.

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