Portable container system

Abstract

A portable container system includes a central locking hub that assembles a set of containers into a carrier unit. The hub is cylindrical, and the container is an angle wedge horizontally protruding outwards from the hub. Each container includes a vessel having a defined interior volume and a lid. When the container is received around the hub base, the container is reversibly secured to the hub, and the hub upper portion is secured to the base, thereby locking the container in place. Registration means are integrated inside and between mating surfaces of the central hub and the container, including mutually paired extrusion and depression in a circular pattern. When the load bearing unit reaches its destination, the hub upper portion is removed from the base. The user may then remove the container when they think appropriate.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority from the following applications:

[0003] U.S. patent application No. 17 / 661,964, filed on May 4, 2022, entitled “REUSABLE FOOD TRANSPORT DEVICE”; and

[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 295,322, filed on April 4, 2023, and entitled “PORTABLE CONTAINER SYSTEM.” Technical Field

[0005] The present invention relates to the field of food storage and, more particularly, to a device for transporting selected food containers. Background Art

[0006] Food storage containers must serve multiple purposes, including physical protection, barrier protection, containment, portion control, convenience, and safety (tamper resistance). In addition, food containers can provide visible information and marketing to customers. In the prior art, there are countless containers designed to hold and transport food.

[0007] These containers fall into two main categories: those that are destined to be used once and thrown away, and those that are designed to be reused.

[0008] Single-use containers are often associated with takeout and food delivery services, and are also used to transport small quantities of prepared foods or ingredients from grocery stores, specialty food outlets, etc. They are also used to hold leftover food for patrons of dine-in establishments. They can be recyclable or compostable, but are usually single-use items. They come in a variety of rectangular and round shapes and materials, from foil cans with flat cardboard lids to plastic container and lid combinations, cartons, deli containers, polystyrene (Styrofoam) clamshell containers, and even the ubiquitous and iconic Chinese food takeout boxes.

[0009] Reusable food containers are generally considered to be for personal use and are accepted for daily preparation, transportation, and consumption of food during school, work, or other outings. Like their disposable counterparts, they are usually round or rectangular in shape and may contain internal partitions to isolate food contents. They are usually made of food-grade plastic materials, glass, or stainless steel. These consumables come individually or sometimes in coordinated groups of different sizes.

[0010] The rise of compelling mobile app-based food delivery services has taken the concept of food delivery beyond the traditional neighborhood pizza joint, sandwich shop, and Chinese food delivery. Now, restaurant-quality dishes of almost any kind can be delivered at the touch of a button. As an industry, the use of online food delivery (OLFD) apps has increased significantly in recent years. This trend is influenced by a variety of factors, including the popularity of mobile devices and the rise of on-demand services, as well as changes in consumer behavior and preferences. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the food delivery industry, with many people turning to these services to pick up their meals while maintaining social distance. As pandemic-related restaurant closures and social distancing practices have weakened, demand for food delivery services has continued to increase, albeit at a slower pace. In fact, data collected in the summer of 2022 showed that 42% of American adults order takeout an average of three times a week. As the increase in these OLFD services becomes a permanent fixture in the dining industry, it is natural that there will be an increase in the use of single-use takeout food containers. These food containers are primarily single-use, and while some can be recyclable or compostable, they are not reliable.

[0011] Single-use plastic grocery bags and food containers are two of the top four plastic pollutants found in the ocean today. In a large and well-organized study from 2021, up to 44% of marine plastic litter was associated with takeout and delivery food services. The U.S. government is taking notice and enacting legislative mandates at the local and state levels. Countries around the world are also recognizing the problem and enacting more and more bans on single-use plastics. In 2019, the Global Plastics Treaty, also known as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Plastics Pact, was launched. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the harmful effects of plastics on human health and the environment. In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) adopted a resolution calling for an internationally legally binding agreement by 2024. The resolution established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) that is scheduled to hold five meetings, the first of which is in November 2022, with the goal of completing a draft global legally binding instrument.

[0012] It is clear that there is an urgent need to develop a robust, reusable food storage, transport and delivery system. Such a container system should eliminate the need for single-use plastic food containers and their transport bags. Reusable food containers and delivery systems would be an implementation of a "circular economy" in which it is recognized that the earth's natural resources and its ability to process human waste are both finite. In a normal food delivery scenario using a reusable container system, once the food is consumed by the recipient, the container system would be returned to the receiving source through a reverse logistics mechanism for sanitary treatment and redeployment.

[0013] While there are significant environmental and health benefits to this system, there are many other benefits as well. For food delivery customers, consumers appreciate delivery in sanitary, sturdy and tamper-resistant containers that allow for isolation and temperature retention, as well as immediate food consumption. Consistent portions in containers allow for the collection of nutritional information so that meaningful relative comparisons between foods will be made.

[0014] Restaurants participating in offering menu items in containers gain the benefit of no longer having to purchase single-use food takeout containers. Additionally, food operators can accurately and reliably portion takeout orders, improving inventory control. Restaurants will have the opportunity to reach customers participating in the initiative and reduce waste by prioritizing patronage at establishments that use reusable food containers. Restaurants can also develop new menu options and preparations to take advantage of the size and configuration of the containers, essentially designing their menu options “from the container on.” Chefs can showcase their presentation of individual food items while demonstrating impressive flavor, texture and temperature combinations by separating their food creations. Crispy foods stay crispy, separating the taste experience from the moist.

[0015] Outside of food delivery services, container systems can be embraced in many other business settings and industries, including hotels and resorts, resort theme parks, convention centers, cruise ships, fast food establishments, cafeterias, food courts, schools, the airline industry, senior living facilities, hospitals and other institutional settings. Summary of the invention

[0016] The portable container system includes a central locking hub for assembling a collection of containers into a transport unit. The hub is cylindrical in shape and includes a hub upper portion and a hub base. The container has horizontally inwardly protruding proximal angled corners to allow interaction with the hub. Each container includes a vessel with a defined internal volume and a lid.

[0017] The upper portion of the hub and the hub base may include circular registration features consisting of protruding ribs or recessed grooves, and the lid and vessel of each container may include corresponding interfitting grooves or ribs. This combination of ribs and grooves includes registration means. These registration features can be continuous or discontinuous circular patterns. In other words, the extruded ribs, or the protruding ribs can be complete circles or arcs. If the portion of the circle is a semicircle, it is called a semicircle. The registration means sets the position where the lid or vessel interacts with the hub.

[0018] The registration means may also comprise paired protrusions and slots, or pegs and holes.Through the regular and repeated placement of these registration features, the angular position of the food container is specified relative to the central hub.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the hub base and container vessel include matching registration features for specifying the angular position of the associated container.

[0020] The function of the registration features is to assist in the alignment of the container relative to the hub base and to prevent radial rotation or horizontal outward displacement of the container when the container is secured to the hub.

[0021] Prior to transport, the containers are filled and placed circumferentially around the hub base. The hub top is then reversibly secured to the base. This presses each lid onto its respective vessel and brings multiple containers together to form a single shipping unit. When the hub upper portion is secured to the hub base, registration means integrated within and between the mating surfaces of the central hub component align the container with the hub and lock it to the hub.

[0022] When the device reaches its destination, the hub upper portion is separated from the base. This removes the hold-down force holding the container in place. The user can then remove the container to access the contents as they see fit.

[0023] Optionally included on the top of the hub is a knob with a thumb recess. The knob helps the user actuate the top portion of the hub relative to the base portion of the hub to lock and unlock the upper and lower halves of the hub. An optional flush mounted carry handle is also provided that can be deployed by rotating it upward to an upright position. An optional flush carrying handle is also provided that is deployed by rotating it to an upright position.

[0024] The lids and vessels include other registration features. In preferred embodiments, these registration features take the form of grooves and ribs, including arcs of circles at a fixed distance from the center of the assembled carrying unit. Each lid contains a series of radial grooves or ribs, and its corresponding vessel correspondingly contains complementary ribs or grooves of the same radius. In the assembled container system, each series of ribs or grooves forms a complete circular raised or recessed registration feature. These circular features facilitate stacking by facilitating the alignment and interlocking of one complete container system on another. When multiple units are carried simultaneously, this arrangement prevents unwelcome movement of one container system on another container system.

[0025] Each lid also includes a downwardly projecting tab centered on the outer peripheral side of the lid. Each vessel has a corresponding receiving horizontal perforated slot centered thereon and projecting outwardly from the top of its rear vertical wall. When the lid is placed on the vessel, the lid tab engages with the vessel slot, thereby forming a hinge structure that prevents accidental displacement of the lid. In addition, when the container is secured to the central hub, this structure can prevent the lid from being pried off the vessel, thereby providing additional security and resistance to damage.

[0026] The locking mechanism can take many forms. In one embodiment, the upper portion of the wheel hub is connected to penetrate the wheel hub base using external threads and internal threads.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the hub upper portion and the hub base are secured to each other by a latch. In this embodiment, a pin interacts with a protrusion or latch, preferably supported by a resilient member. The latch prevents rearward rotation, thereby maintaining the hub in a locked position. When the user is ready to unlock the device, the hub upper portion and the base are rotated relative to each other again, causing the pin to cross the latch, allowing the hub upper portion to be removed from the hub base.

[0028] Other mechanisms of reversible connection that do not require radial rotation of the hub top portion on the hub base may also be used, such as snaps or snap rings.

[0029] The preferred shape factor of the assembled food transport device is circular, however other shapes are also contemplated, such as square, pentagonal, etc. In these cases, the proximal corners of the individual containers remain unchanged, but there is a morphological change on the distal side of the container.

[0030] In the preferred circular embodiment, the individual containers are shaped as wedges. Various sizes can be used, expressed in terms of the angular space occupied by each container. For example, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, and 180 degrees can be expected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention may be best understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 A first isometric view of a portable container system is shown.

[0033] Figure 2 A first isometric view of the hub of the portable container system is shown.

[0034] Figure 3 A second isometric view of the hub of the portable container system is shown.

[0035] Figure 4 Shown is a side and partially exploded view of the hub of the portable container system.

[0036] Figure 5 Shown are side and partially exploded views of the hub and individual containers of the portable container system.

[0037] Figure 6 Isometric and partially exploded views of the hub and individual containers of the portable container system are shown.

[0038] Figure 7 An isometric view of a container of a portable container system is shown.

[0039] Figure 8 A second isometric view of the portable container system is shown.

[0040] Fig. 9 A third isometric view of the portable container system is shown.

[0041] Fig.10 A cross section of a portable container system is shown.

[0042] Fig.11 An isometric view of a 90 degree container of a portable container system is shown.

[0043] Fig.12 An isometric view of a first embodiment of a container of a portable container system is shown.

[0044] Fig.13 An isometric view of a second embodiment of a container of a portable container system is shown.

[0045] Fig.14 A first isometric view of a second embodiment of a hub for a portable container system is shown.

[0046] Fig.15 A cross section of a second embodiment of a portable container system hub and container is shown.

[0047] Fig.16 A side and partially exploded view of a hub and container of a third embodiment of a portable container system is shown.

[0048] Fig.17 A view of the hub of the portable container system is shown in a closed position.

[0049] Fig.18 A view of the hub of the portable container system is shown in an open position.

[0050] Fig.19 A second side and partially exploded view of the hub and container of the third embodiment of the portable container system is shown.

[0051] Fig. 20 A side and partially exploded view of a hub and container of a fourth embodiment of a portable container system is shown.

[0052] Fig.21 A fourth embodiment of a portable container system is shown in cross-section.

[0053] Fig. 22 A second side and partially exploded view of the hub and container of the fourth embodiment of the portable container system is shown.

[0054] Fig.23A view of the hub of a fourth embodiment of a portable container system is shown in an open position.

[0055] Fig.24 A partial bottom view of a fifth embodiment of a portable container system is shown.

[0056] Fig.25 A side and partially exploded view of a hub and container of a fifth embodiment of a portable container system is shown.

[0057] Fig.26 A cross section of a fifth embodiment of a portable container system hub and container is shown.

[0058] Fig. 27 An isometric view of the hub and container of a sixth embodiment of a portable container system is shown.

[0059] Fig.28 A side and partially exploded view of a hub and container of a sixth embodiment of a portable container system is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0061] In the following detailed description, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.

[0062] refer to Figure 1 , showing a first isometric view of a portable container system.

[0063] The portable container system 100 is shown to be formed from a hub 110 and a plurality of containers 180 .

[0064] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , showing a first isometric view and a second isometric view of a hub of a portable container system.

[0065] The hub 110 is shown to be comprised of an upper hub portion 112 having an upper plate 114 , an upper cylinder 116 , and upper ribs 118 .

[0066] Also shown is hub base 122 including lower plate 124 .

[0067] To align the container 180 (see Figure 1 ), the lower rib 128 is also shown.

[0068] The hub base 122 includes a lower cylinder 126 protruding upward.

[0069] The hub 110 optionally includes a handle 150. The optional alignment opening 152 is access to a hole that passes completely through the hub 110. This allows multiple hubs to be stacked, using a center rod to maintain alignment.

[0070] A central knob 154 having a thumb recess 156 facilitates rotation of the hub upper portion 112 relative to the hub base 122, thereby allowing a user to engage and disengage the two portions from one another.

[0071] refer to Figure 4 , showing a side and partially exploded view of the hub of the portable container system.

[0072] In this embodiment, the hub upper portion 112 and the hub base 122 engage and disengage from one another using a twist-lock mechanism or releasable locking mechanism 130 .

[0073] The releasable locking mechanism 130 is formed by the upper cylinder 116 and the lower cylinder 126 sliding together. The slot 132 guides and locks the pin 134, and the final rotation causes the pin 134 to lock in the slot 132.

[0074] The releasable locking mechanism 130 has a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0075] In the locked position, the hub upper portion 112 and the hub base 122 are joined together to compress the container 180 (see Figure 5 ).

[0076] In the unlocked position, the hub upper portion 112 and the hub base 122 are separated from each other, thereby allowing the user to remove the hub upper portion 112 and, correspondingly, the container 180 (see Figure 5 ).

[0077] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , showing partially exploded side and isometric views of the hub and individual containers of the portable container system.

[0078] In order to align the container 180 with the hub 110 , the upper rib 118 and the lower rib 128 are connected to the cover recess 204 and the vessel recess 206 respectively.

[0079] The combination of the upper rib 118 in the lid groove 204, and / or the combination of the lower rib 128 and the vessel groove 206 is called an alignment ring. This is a registration device. The alignment ring is considered to be the confluence of the groove and the rib, with a circular shape that aligns the hub 110 with one or more containers 180.

[0080] When the hub 110 is pressed against the container 180, the container 180 cannot move outward relative to the hub 110. This prevents the container from separating from the hub 110. The vertical pressing keeps the container 180 closed and prevents rotation and displacement of the container 180 relative to the hub 110.

[0081] Each container 180 is formed by a lid 182 and a vessel 184 that meet at a joint 186. The lid 182 and vessel 184 optionally include a hinge structure 188.

[0082] refer to Figure 7 , showing an isometric view of a container of a portable container system.

[0083] Each container 180 is divided into a main portion 192 and a mating portion 194 .

[0084] The main portion 192 is where most of the food is stored. The mating portion 194 is the portion that connects to the hub 110 (see Figure 1 ).

[0085] The hub 110 passes through the central hole 198, leaving a space in the center between any installed containers 180.

[0086] Each container 180 occupies a container angle 190. Shown are a 60 degree container 220, a 120 degree container 224, and a 180 degree container 226.

[0087] The alignment ring, shown here as a cover groove 204, is formed by combining a plurality of containers 180 positioned so that they form a complete circular registration feature.

[0088] refer to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , showing a second isometric view and a third isometric view of the portable container system.

[0089] The portable container system 100 is shown with a container that is less than the maximum capacity. The compression of the hub 110 against the container 180 keeps the container 180 in place even if a portion of the hub 110 is empty.

[0090] refer to Fig.10 , showing a cross-section of a portable container system.

[0091] The hub 110 is shown holding a container 180. The upper rib 118 is connected to the lid groove 204. The lower rib 128 is connected to the vessel groove 206.

[0092] The spring 135 is nested in the upper cylinder 116 and the lower cylinder 126. When the upper hub portion 112 is pushed toward the hub base 122, the spring is compressed. Figure 4), the spring 135 produces a pop-up action, thereby pushing the hub upper part 112 away from the hub base 122.

[0093] In this cross-sectional view, it is apparent that the bottom of the container 180 shares the same plane as the bottom of the hub 110 .

[0094] As a result, the portable container system is stable and sturdy because the weight of the entire device is supported by the bottom of the container and the hub.

[0095] The stacking grooves 208 and stacking ribs 209 interact with other portable container systems 100 placed above or below each other. The result of the interaction between the stacking grooves 208 and stacking ribs 209 is to align multiple portable container systems 100 to form a common central axis.

[0096] By allowing the stacking grooves 208 and stacking ribs 209 to interact, multiple systems 100 are aligned.

[0097] refer to Fig.11 , showing an isometric view of a 90 degree container of a portable container system.

[0098] The container 180 is shown as a 90 degree container 222 .

[0099] refer to Fig.12 and Fig.13 , showing isometric views of a first embodiment and a second embodiment of a container of a portable container system.

[0100] Each container 180 includes a lid 182 and a vessel 184 that meet at a junction 186. The main portion 192 is substantially the same in the first and second embodiments.

[0101] The differences between the two embodiments can be seen by comparing the mating portion 194.

[0102] like Fig.12 As shown, the first embodiment can store food in the mating portion 194. In contrast, Fig.13 As shown, the second embodiment does not store food in the mating portion 194. Instead, the mating portion 194 of the vessel 184 is moved upward. An optional retaining tab 196 is created to allow the user to grasp the container 180 for efficient dispensing.

[0103] refer to Fig.14 , showing a first isometric view of a second embodiment of a hub for a portable container system.

[0104] The hub 110 also includes an upper hub portion 112, an upper plate 114, a hub base 122, an upper groove 119, and a lower groove 129. In the second embodiment of the hub, the upper hub portion and the hub base include grooves opposite the ribs.

[0105] With regard to the use of grooves or ribs, the hub and container can each be formed with grooves or ribs, as long as the opposing surfaces use opposing ribs or grooves. For example, a food container may include ribs facing upward and grooves facing downward, with the mating hub serving to have opposing grooves or ribs. Alternative arrangements of mixed and matched grooves and ribs are contemplated. The goal is to align by mating grooves and ribs without requiring the hub or food container to specifically have grooves and ribs.

[0106] In this second embodiment, the hub upper portion 112 is attached to the hub base 122 via externally threaded protrusions 136 and internally threaded recesses 138 .

[0107] The releasable locking mechanism 130 of the second embodiment is a combination of an externally threaded protrusion 136 and an internally threaded recess 138 .

[0108] refer to Fig.15 , showing a cross section of a hub and container of a second embodiment of a portable container system.

[0109] The hub 110 is shown holding a container 180. The upper groove 119 is connected to the lid rib 205. The lower groove 129 is connected to the vessel rib 207.

[0110] The retaining tab 196 is located within the tab gap 140 .

[0111] The releasable locking mechanism 130 of the second embodiment is a combination of an externally threaded protrusion 136 and an internally threaded recess 138 .

[0112] In this cross-sectional view, it is apparent that the bottom of the food container 180 shares the same plane as the bottom of the hub 110 .

[0113] Hinge structure 188 is again shown.

[0114] refer to Fig.16 , showing a side and partially exploded view of the hub and container of a third embodiment of a portable container system.

[0115] The portable container system 100 is shown with a hub upper portion 112 and a hub base 122. The container 180 consisting of a lid 182 and a base 184 is again shown.

[0116] refer to Fig.17 and Fig.18 , showing views of the hub in a closed position and an open position.

[0117] In this embodiment the releasable locking mechanism 130 is shown to consist of a slot 132, a latch 133 and a pin 134. To lock, the pin 134 passes through the slot 132, across the latch 133, which elastically deforms to hold the pin 134 in place.

[0118] Also shown are the hub upper portion 112 and the hub base 122 .

[0119] refer to Fig.19 , showing a second side and partially exploded view of the hub and container of the third embodiment of the portable container system.

[0120] The hub upper portion 112 is shown having an upper groove 119 that interacts with the cover rib 205 of the cover 182 .

[0121] The hub base 122 is shown having a lower groove 129 that interacts with the rib 207 of the vessel 184 .

[0122] A hinge structure 188 is also shown.

[0123] refer to Fig. 20 , Fig.21 and Fig. 22 , showing side and partially exploded, cross-sectional and second side views of the hub and container of a fourth embodiment of a portable container system.

[0124] In this embodiment, the position of the container 180 is registered relative to the hub base 122. This registration or locking in a particular position is accomplished by the interaction of the spikes 300 with the lower holes 302 in the vessel 184 and the upper holes 304 in the lid 182. The interaction between the protruding spikes 300 and the holes 302 / 304 creates discrete positions for the container 180. The discrete positions prevent the container 180 from moving during transport.

[0125] The spikes 300 are arranged at regularly spaced angles, such as every 30 degrees, relative to the hub base 122. Other angles are contemplated, and the preferred angle will include at least one pin for even the smallest container size. For example, if the smallest or narrowest container is 45 degrees, then spikes 300 are required every 45 degrees, for a total of 8 spikes.

[0126] In this embodiment, the securing tabs 196 align the base 184 with the hub base 122 .

[0127] refer to Fig.23 , showing a view of the hub of a fourth embodiment of a portable container system in an open position.

[0128] The hub 110 is shown to be composed of a hub upper portion 112 and a hub base 122 , which are connected by an externally threaded protrusion 136 and an internally threaded recess 138 .

[0129] To allow the hub upper portion 112 to penetrate the hub base 122 through the external threaded protrusions 136 and internal threaded recesses 138, a receiving groove 306 is present. The use of a continuous groove allows the hub upper portion 112 to secure the container 180 in place relative to the hub base 122 without being restricted relative to angular position.

[0130] Also shown is the staple (300) interacting with the receiving recess (306).

[0131] refer to Fig.24 and Fig.25 , showing a partial bottom view, a side view, and a partially exploded view of a fifth embodiment of a portable container system.

[0132] In this embodiment, the registration means for aligning the container 180 relative to the hub 110 takes the form of a protrusion pattern 310 and a slot pattern 312. The protrusion pattern 310 is formed by a plurality of radially oriented protrusions 311. The slot pattern 312 is formed by a plurality of radially oriented slots 313. As a result, release of the locking mechanism 130 is not the only means of preventing movement of the container 180 relative to the hub 110.

[0133] The protrusions 311 are arranged at regular intervals so that for each container there is at least one protrusion 311. Therefore, as discussed above, if the narrowest container is 45 degrees, at least 8 protrusions 311 will be required.

[0134] refer to Fig.26 , the base 184 is mounted on the hub base 122. The protrusion 311 is located in the slot 313, and the registration rib 314 is located in the groove 316. The stacking groove 308 and the stacking rib 309 are also shown.

[0135] refer to Fig. 27 and Fig.28 , showing views of the hub and container of a sixth embodiment of a portable container system.

[0136] The illustrated embodiment has a square profile using a square profile container 181 rather than the circular profile of other embodiments.

[0137] The square profile container 181 may utilize other embodiments of the hub upper portion 112 and the hub base 122 connected at a releasable locking mechanism 130 .

[0138] Equivalent elements may be substituted for those described above so that they perform in substantially the same way and in substantially the same manner to achieve substantially the same results.

[0139] It is believed that the described system and method and its many attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description. It is also believed that various changes in the form, structure and arrangement of its components can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages. The forms described hereinabove are merely exemplary and illustrative embodiments thereof. It is intended that the following claims encompass and include such changes.

Claims

1. A portable container system, comprising: Center-lock hub; The center lock hub is composed of an upper hub portion and a lower hub portion; The hub upper portion and the hub lower portion are fixed to each other by a releasable locking mechanism; The releasable locking mechanism has an open position and a closed position; a first food container; The first food container is formed by a first lid and a first container; Registration device; The registration device specifies a position at which the first food container can be secured to the center locking hub to a set of angular positions; Thereby, the registration device prevents the first food container from moving relative to the central locking hub.

2. The portable container system according to claim 1, wherein: The registration device specifies the position of the first food container through interaction between the lower portion of the hub and the first vessel; and The registration means does not specify a position of the first cover relative to the upper portion of the hub.

3. The portable container system of claim 1, wherein: The registration means is formed by a spike projecting upwardly from the lower portion of the hub and a hole passing through the first cover and the first vessel; The first food container is aligned with the center locking hub through the interaction of the spike and the hole.

4. The portable container system according to claim 3, further comprising: a groove recessed into the upper portion of the hub; Thus, when the releasable locking mechanism is in the closed position, the nail passes through the hole of the first food container and enters the recess.

5. The portable container system of claim 1, wherein: The registration means is formed by one or more protrusions and one or more slots; The one or more slots are disposed along an upper surface of the lower portion of the hub; The one or more protrusions are disposed along a lower surface of the first vessel; Thereby, the one or more protrusions fit into the one or more slots, thereby preventing movement of the first food container relative to the center locking hub.

6. The portable container system according to claim 1, further comprising: a circular groove recessed into the upper portion of the hub; a rib comprising a circular segment protruding from said first cover; The rib engages the circular groove, preventing movement of the first food container relative to the center locking hub.

7. A portable device for transporting food, the portable device comprising: Center hub; The central hub is composed of an upper hub portion and a lower hub portion; The hub upper portion and the hub lower portion are fixed to each other by a releasable locking mechanism; The releasable locking mechanism has an open position and a closed position; food containers; The food container comprises a main portion and a mating portion; The mating portion interacts with the hub upper portion and the hub lower section to retain the food container to the central hub; wherein when the releasable locking mechanism is in the open position, the mating portion of the food container is removed from the central hub; wherein when the releasable locking mechanism is in the closed position, the mating portion of the food container is not removable from the central hub; Thereby, a user may select the position of the releasable locking mechanism depending on whether the user wants to transport the food container or access the contents of the food container.

8. The portable device for transporting food according to claim 7, further comprising: spring; The spring moves the hub upper portion and the hub lower portion away from each other when the releasable locking mechanism is moved to the open position.

9. The portable device for transporting food according to claim 7, further comprising: Alignment ring; The alignment ring sets the distance of the center of the central hub relative to the food container; The alignment ring allows the food container to be attached to the central hub at any angular position.

10. The portable device for transporting food according to claim 7, further comprising: a circular rib protruding from said hub upper portion of said center hub; a groove recessed into the food container; The circular rib fits into the groove to set the position of the food container relative to the central hub.

11. The portable device for transporting food according to claim 7, further comprising: a circular groove recessed into said hub upper portion of said central hub; a rib that protrudes from the food container; The rib engages the circular groove to set the position of the food container relative to the central hub.

12. The portable device for transporting food according to claim 7, wherein: The food container has a first wall and a second wall; The first wall forms an angle of 60, 90, 120 or 180 degrees relative to the second wall; thereby, the user can select the size of the food container based on the contents to be stored, as well as the size of any other food container to be secured to the central hub.

13. A portable container system comprising: a first container; a second container; Center circular hub; The central circular hub has a locked position and an unlocked position; When in the locked position, the central circular hub compresses the first container and the second container; When in the unlocked position, the central circular hub releases the first container and the second container; Registration device; The registration device specifies a set of angular positions at which the first container can be secured to the central circular hub; Thus, a user places the central circular hub in the locked position for transporting the first container and the second container, and a user places the central circular hub in the unlocked position for accessing contents within the first container and the second container.

14. The portable container system of claim 13, wherein: The registration device specifies the position of the first container through interaction between the central circular hub and the first vessel of the first container; and The registration means does not restrict the position of the first lid of the first container relative to the upper hub portion of the central circular hub.

15. The portable container system of claim 14, wherein: The registration means is formed by a spike projecting upwardly from a lower hub portion of the central circular hub and a hole passing through the first cover and the first vessel; The first container is aligned with the central circular hub through the interaction of the spike and the hole.

16. The portable container system of claim 15, further comprising: a groove recessed into an upper portion of the central circular hub; Thus, when the central circular hub is in the closed position, the nail passes through the hole in the first container and enters the groove.

17. The portable container system of claim 14, wherein: The registration means is formed by one or more protrusions and one or more slots; The one or more slots are arranged along the upper surface of the lower portion of the central circular hub; the one or more protrusions are arranged along the lower surface of the first vessel; Thereby, the one or more protrusions fit into the one or more slots, preventing movement of the first container relative to the central circular hub.

18. The portable container system of claim 13, further comprising: spring; The spring moves the central circular hub from a locked position to an unlocked position.

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