Portable food container device

Abstract

A portable food container device for packing and transporting a meal includes a bottle having an interior space for storing the meal. The bottle has a base wall and a peripheral wall that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall. The peripheral wall has an upper edge that defines an opening into the interior space. A lid is couplable to the bottle to cover the opening. A sheet is removably coupled to the lid to define a compartment within the lid for storing a topping within the compartment. A utensil is releasably couplable to the bottle. The utensil has a height that is equal to a distance between the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bottle and the base wall of the bottle. A slot extends into an exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle to releasably secure the utensil to the bottle.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not Applicable(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not Applicable(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not Applicable(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to food storage containers and more particularly pertains to a new food storage container for conveniently packing and transporting a meal.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0007] The prior art relates to food storage containers. Food storage containers are often used to keep leftovers. For example, common food storage containers typically include a lid to maintain freshness of the food stored within, and to keep the food securely contained. Some people take these food storage containers with them on the go, for example packing leftovers or other food into the containers for lunch at work or school. Some food storage containers are disposable, or designed for a single use, and can be found at airports and other places where people want to purchase a single meal that can be eaten quickly or taken with them as they travel. However, food storage containers often do not include easy storage for utensils that are required to eat the food, which can be inconvenient and even frustrating. Thus, there is a need in the art for a food storage container that can be used to pack both the food and the utensils needed to consume the food.

[0008] Some foods are best enjoyed with sauces, dressings, and other toppings. For example, people typically prefer using dressing, croutons, and other toppings for a salad. Some pre-packaged foods mix those toppings into the food storage container with the food. However, that can result in the food becoming less fresh and appealing. In the salad example, putting dressing onto the lettuce before the salad is ready for consumption can wilt the lettuce and makes croutons and other parts of the salad soggy and less appealing. Existing solutions to this problem include taping or otherwise securing packages of the toppings to the exterior of the container, which can make them easy to loose and more difficult to transport. Thus, there is a need in the art for a food storage container that can contain both the food and the toppings in separate compartments.(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bottle having an interior space being configured to store food. The bottle has a base wall and a peripheral wall that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall to define the interior space. The peripheral wall has an upper edge that defines an opening into the interior space of the bottle. A lid is couplable to the bottle wherein the lid covers the opening when the lid is coupled to the bottle. A sheet is removably coupled to the lid to define a compartment within the lid wherein the lid is configured for storing a topping within the compartment. A utensil is releasably couplable to the bottle. A slot extends into an exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle to releasably secure the utensil to the bottle.

[0010] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0011] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0012] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portable food container device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a detail isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new food storage container embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the portable food container device 10 generally comprises a bottle 12 has an interior space 14 that is configured to store food 16, such as the salad shown in the Figures. The bottle 12 has a base wall 18 and a peripheral wall 20 that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 18 to define the interior space 14. The peripheral wall 20 has an upper edge 22 that defines an opening 24 into the interior space 14 of the bottle 12. The base wall 18 may be planar wherein the base wall 18 is configured for positioning the bottle 12 on a planar surface such as a table.

[0021] The base wall 18 may be circular wherein the bottle 12 is cylindrical. For example, the bottle 12 may have a size and shape that is similar to a size and shape of a beverage can, such as a can for an energy drink or a tallboy beer. In such embodiments, the bottle 12 may be configured to be dispensed by a vending machine or stored in a refrigerated container for sale.

[0022] The bottle 12 may be elongated wherein a height of the peripheral wall 20 exceeds a diameter of the base wall 18. More specifically, the bottle 12 may have dimensions which are configured to maximize a volume of the interior space 14. Accordingly, the dimensions of the bottle 12 may be configured to maximize an amount of the food 16 which can be stored within the bottle 12.

[0023] The bottle 12 may be transparent wherein the bottle 12 is configured to facilitate visibility of the food 16 while the food 16 is stored within the bottle 12. The bottle 12 may be made of glass or plastic, although other materials are also contemplated. For example, the bottle 12 may be configured for disposal after a single use, and glass or plastic may be preferred in such embodiments.

[0024] The bottle 12 may include a neck 26 that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the upper edge 22. The neck 26 may have a diameter that is less than a diameter of the upper edge 22 wherein the neck 26 reduces a diameter of the opening 24. A bottle threading 28 may be positioned on the bottle. For example, the bottle threading 28 may extend downwardly from the neck 26 toward the upper edge 22 of the peripheral wall 20. The bottle threading 28 may be positioned on an exterior surface 58 of the bottle 12.

[0025] A lid 30 is removably couplable to the bottle 12 wherein the lid 30 covers the opening 24 when the lid 30 is coupled to the bottle 12. The lid 30 may include an upper panel 32. The upper panel 32 may be planar. A side panel 34 may be coupled to and extend downwardly from the upper panel 32. A lid threading 36 may be positioned on an interior surface 54 of the side panel 34. The lid threading 36 is complementary to the bottle threading 28 to threadably couple the lid 30 to the bottle 12.

[0026] A sheet 38 may be removably coupled to the lid 30. The sheet 38 is generally spaced from the upper panel 32 to define a compartment 40 within the lid 30 wherein the lid 30 is configured for storing a topping 42 within the compartment 40. Examples of the topping 42 may include dressing, croutons, seasonings, and other toppings for the food 16. The topping 42 shown in FIG. 5 is individually wrapped, which may be particularly preferred when the bottle 12 is designed for disposal after a single use. When the sheet 38 is removed from the lid 30 to expose the compartment 40, the topping 42 can be removed from the compartment 40 and dumped into the bottle 12. The compartment 40 may also store napkins and other items which may be desired when eating the food 16.

[0027] The compartment 40 may be exposed when the sheet 38 is removed from the lid 30. The sheet 38 may be parallel to the upper panel 32 when the sheet 38 is coupled to the lid 30. The sheet 38 may have a diameter that is complementary to a diameter of the upper panel 32 wherein the cover covers an entirety of the upper panel 32 when the sheet 38 is fully coupled to the lid 30. In such embodiments, the sheet 38 may be secured within the lid 30 via a friction fit between the sheet 38 and the side wall of the lid 30. In other embodiments, the sheet 38 may adhesively engage the side wall of the lid 30.

[0028] A utensil 44 is releasably couplable to the bottle 12. The utensil 44 may have a height that is equal to a distance between the upper edge 22 of the peripheral wall 20 of the bottle 12 and the base wall 18 of the bottle 12. Accordingly, the utensil 44 is generally configured to facilitate a user 56 in reaching the food 16 when the food 16 is positioned on the base wall 18 of the bottle 12.

[0029] A slot 46 may extend into the exterior surface 58 the bottle 12. The slot 46 is generally positioned on the peripheral wall 20. The slot 46 may have a width that exceeds a width of the utensil 44 wherein the utensil 44 is positionable within the slot 46. The slot 46 may extend a full length between the upper edge 22 of the peripheral wall 20 and the base wall 18 of the bottle 12 wherein an entirety of the utensil 44 is positionable within the slot 46 to releasably couple the utensil 44 to the bottle 12.

[0030] A pair of lips 48 may be coupled to the peripheral wall 20 of the bottle 12. The pair of lips 48 generally extend toward each other over the slot 46 wherein the pair of lips 48 are positioned over the utensil 44 while the utensil 44 is positioned within the slot 46. Accordingly, the pair of lips 48 may secure the utensil 44 within the slot 46. The pair of lips 48 may be parallel to the slot 46 wherein the pair of lips 48 extend upwardly from the base wall 18 toward the upper edge 22 of the peripheral wall 20. The pair of lips 48 are generally spaced from each other across the width of the slot 46. The pair of lips 48 may have a height that is less than a height of the slot 46 wherein the height of the pair of lips 48 are configured to facilitate the user 56 in removing the utensil 44 from the slot 46.

[0031] A sleeve 50 may be removably positioned to cover the utensil 44. The utensil 44 may be fully covered by the sleeve 50 when the utensil 44 is positioned within the sleeve 50 whereby the sleeve 50 is configured to inhibit debris from contacting the utensil 44 while the utensil 44 is positioned within the sleeve 50. The sleeve 50 may comprise a flexible material wherein the sleeve 50 is configured for being positioned within the slot 46 along with the utensil 44.

[0032] The sleeve 50 may include a pair of sides 52 that are removably coupled together. The utensil 44 is generally positioned between the pair of sides 52 when the pair of sides 52 are coupled together. The pair of sides 52 may be separable from each other to remove the utensil 44 from the sleeve 50

[0033] In use, the bottle 12 may be pre-filled or pre-packaged with the food 16. Alternatively, the bottle 12 may be filled with the food 16 by the user 56. To access the food 16, the lid 30 may be removed from the bottle 12 to expose the opening 24. The sheet 38 may be removed from the lid 30, exposing the compartment 40 to access the topping 42. The topping 42 may then be placed into the bottle 12 with the food 16. The food 16 and the topping 42 may be mixed together, for example by replacing the lid 30 over the opening 24 and shaking the bottle 12. The utensil 44 may be removed from the slot 46 and used to facilitate removing the food 16 from the bottle 12 for consumption. In certain embodiments, the utensil 44 may also be removed from the sleeve 50 by separating the pair of sides 52 of the sleeve 50 from each other. The height of the utensil 44 is generally configured to extend from the opening 24, at the upper edge 22, to the base wall 18 so that all of the food 16 can easily be removed from the bottle 12.

[0034] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0035] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A portable food container comprising:a bottle having an interior space being configured to store food, the bottle having a base wall and a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base wall to define the interior space, the peripheral wall having an upper edge defining an opening into the interior space of the bottle;a lid being couplable to the bottle wherein the lid covers the opening when the lid is coupled to the bottle;a sheet being removably coupled to the lid to define a compartment within the lid wherein the lid is configured for storing a topping within the compartment;a utensil being releasably couplable to the bottle; anda slot extending into an exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle to releasably secure the utensil to the bottle.

2. The portable food container of claim 1, further comprising a pair of lips being coupled to the peripheral wall, the pair of lips extending toward each other over the slot wherein the pair of lips are positioned over the utensil while the utensil is positioned within the slot whereby the pair of lips secure the utensil within the slot.

3. The portable food container of claim 2, wherein the pair of lips are parallel to the slot wherein the pair of lips extend upwardly from the base wall toward the upper edge of the peripheral wall.

4. The portable food container of claim 3, wherein the pair of lips have a height being less than a height of the slot.

5. The portable food container of claim 1, wherein the slot extends a full length between the base wall and the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bottle, the utensil having a height being equal to a distance between the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bottle and the base wall of the bottle whereby the slot releasably retains the utensil when the utensil has a height being configured to reach the base wall of the bottle through the opening.

6. A portable food container comprising:a bottle having an interior space being configured to store food, the bottle having a base wall and a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base wall to define the interior space, the peripheral wall having an upper edge defining an opening into the interior space of the bottle, the base wall being circular wherein the bottle is cylindrical, the bottle being elongated wherein a height of the peripheral wall exceeds a diameter of the base wall, the bottle being transparent wherein the bottle is configured to facilitate visibility of the food while the food is stored within the bottle, the bottle including:a neck being coupled to and extending upwardly from the upper edge, the neck having a diameter being less than a diameter of the upper edge wherein the neck reduces a diameter of the opening; anda bottle threading extending downwardly from the neck toward the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the bottle threading being positioned on an exterior surface of the bottle;a lid being couplable to the bottle wherein the lid covers the opening when the lid is coupled to the bottle, the lid including:an upper panel being planar;a side panel being coupled to and extending downwardly from the upper panel;a lid threading being positioned on an interior surface of the side panel, the lid threading being complementary to the bottle threading to threadably couple the lid to the bottle;a sheet being removably coupled to the lid, the sheet being spaced from the upper panel to define a compartment within the lid wherein the lid is configured for storing a topping within the compartment, the compartment being exposed when the sheet is removed from the lid, the sheet being parallel to the upper panel when the sheet is coupled to the lid, the sheet having a diameter being complementary to a diameter of the upper panel wherein the cover covers an entirety of the upper panel when the sheet is coupled to the lid;a utensil being releasably couplable to the bottle, the utensil having a height being equal to a distance between the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bottle and the base wall of the bottle wherein the utensil is configured to facilitate a user in reaching the food when the food is positioned on the base wall of the bottle;a slot extending into an exterior surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle, the slot having a width exceeding a width of the utensil wherein the utensil is positionable within the slot, the slot extending a full length between the upper edge of the peripheral wall and the base wall of the bottle wherein the utensil is positionable within the slot to releasably couple the utensil to the bottle; anda pair of lips being coupled to the peripheral wall, the pair of lips extending toward each other over the slot wherein the pair of lips are positioned over the utensil while the utensil is positioned within the slot to secure the utensil within the slot, the pair of lips being parallel to the slot wherein the pair of lips extend upwardly from the base wall toward the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the pair of lips being spaced from each other across the slot, the pair of lips having a height being less than a height of the slot.

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