REFRIGERATOR CADDY

This invention relates to sealable food containers.

BACKGROUND

There are many types of containers and those that are used for the storage of food are generally of the type that has a lid that can be opened and closed to allow for food to be placed into or removed from the container.

Sealing is a functional requirement in that the degree of sealing is such as to minimize the entry of air into the container of food as well as minimize the exit of odour that is given off by the food therein from the container.

The use of multiple containers for each different item of food is therefore common so as to provide separation of different foods from one another.

However, when preparing a food item that includes multiple ingredients it is preferable to have each container within easy reach of the food preparation area and that will necessitate that each container is individually removed from its storage location, generally the refrigerator, and arrayed at a convenient location within arms reach of the person preparing the food.

It is known to have a container for carrying multiple food containers and this goes some way to making the food preparation task easier, but each container still needs to be removed and opened during use and then closed and replaced after use.

However, it would be advantageous to have a food storage container that allowed flexibility and convenience for the user with one container. All such containers are preferably portable, light, rugged and sealable for the purpose of storing foodstuff. Furthermore, it would also be convenient to be able to stack such a container on another like container or have multiple of them useable side by side in a refrigerator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect of the invention a container assembly for storing food includes a body having an open top; at least two internal containers that are within the body and are individually removable from the body, each internal container having an open top; and a lid to seal the open top of the body and at least one of the open tops of the internal containers.

In another aspect of the invention, the above mentioned lid contains elastomeric members located so as to interact with the open top of the body and at least one open top of an internal container.

In an aspect of the invention a plurality of the internal containers are of different sizes and shapes.

In a further aspect of the invention the body has at least one internal partition formed by a substantially vertical wall the upper surface of which is in sealable contact with the lid, in use.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the body has at least one internal surface including at least one location assistance element that cooperates with a corresponding location assistance element included on the outer surface of at least one of the internal containers so as to locate the internal container within the body so that the lid, in use, seals the respective open top of the internal container having the external location assistance element.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the location assistance element in the body is a depression in the internal surface of the body and the corresponding location assistance element on the external surface of the internal container is a projection from the outer surface of the internal container, wherein the shape of the depression and projection are complementary so as to align said internal container for sealing by the lid in use.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the container assembly further includes an internal container lid, in use, to seal the internal container while the internal container is also coverable by the Hd of the body.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the container assembly of the previous paragraph the internal surface of the internal container has an upwardly facing surface adjoining an inwardly facing surface on a substantially vertical surface that forms a seat for the sealing surface of the top of the internal container, and in use, wherein the lid of the internal container conforms to the seat for sealing said container and an upper portion thereof extends no greater than flush with the open top of the internal container to allow the lid of the body, in use, to further seal the internal container.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the container assembly according to any preceding paragraph wherein a plurality of the internal containers are shaped to form a volume within the body that permits multiple of the internal containers to substantially occupy the internal volume of the body.

In a further aspect of the invention the plurality of containers are of two or more different volumes.

In a further aspect of the invention multiple bodies of the container assembly are stackable one upon the other.

In another aspect of the invention a further container assembly different to the container body described above, includes an outer body shape adapted to accommodate at least one container assembly for storing food that includes a body having an open top; at least two internal containers that are within the body and are individually removable from the body, each internal container having an open top; and a lid to seal the open top of the body and at least one of the open tops of the internal containers, wherein the adaptation is in addition to the accommodation of at least two containers and sealing thereof with the Hd, in use.

In an aspect of the invention in accordance with the previous paragraph an accommodated container assembly is slidable into and out of the adapted body of the container assembly.

In another aspect of the invention the container assembly further includes a retainer clip attached to the lid and removeably retained to the body of the container assembly.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge of the respective art.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in some further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. These embodiments are illustrative, and not meant to be restrictive of the scope of the invention. Suggestions and descriptions of other embodiments may be included within the scope of the invention but they may not be illustrated in the accompanying figures or alternatively features of the invention may be shown in the figures but not described in the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 depicts a top perspective view of a food storage container with two compartments;

Fig. 2 depicts a top perspective view of two stacked food storage containers each having multiple containers that are internal to the container and are individually removable from the container;

Fig. 3 depicts a top perspective view of a food storage container with two compartments and multiple small containers located therein;

Fig. 4 depicts a top perspective view of a food storage container with an upper storage arrangement and lower volume adapted to slidably house a further food storage container of the type depicted in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 depicts a top perspective view of multiple food storage containers separate from the food storage containers of the Fig's 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 depicts an exploded perspective view of multiple food storage containers;

Fig. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of a food storage container having two compartments that are sealed by the one lid;

Fig. 8 depicts the food storage container of Fig. 7 having two internally located food containers one in each of the two compartments in addition to the two food storage container compartment that are sealed by the one lid;

Fig. 9 depicts the food storage container of Fig. 7 having three internally located food containers, one in one compartment and two in the other, with one of the two separable containers having a lid in addition to the two food storage container compartment that are sealed by the one lid; and

Fig. 10 depicts a top view of various configurations of internally located food containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION An empty food storage container 10 is depicted in top perspective view in Fig. 1. The food storage container is shaped by a internal partition formed by a substantially vertical compartment wall 11 to provide the two compartments 12 and 14 within a body 16. The body also has feet portions 18 (at least three are required but four are preferred), shown in some greater detail in Fig. 2. There may in other embodiments be more than two compartments formed by respective compartment walls.

The bases of each feet portion 18 is shaped and sized to slide partially over the four corners 20a, 20b, 20c and 2Od of a like food storage container 10' as depicted in Fig. 2 so as to allow the food storage containers to be stackable. Although two storage containers are shown in Fig.2 in a stacked configuration, there needs to be room to do so, and if available the containers could be stacked higher than two using additional suitable containers.

The two food storage containers as depicted in Fig. 2 are be stacked one upon the other or they could be placed adjacent one another within a refrigerator (not shown), as they are sized so as to be able to be so configured in most refrigerators. If possible, two pair of stacked food containers could be also accommodated on the same shelf of a refrigerator.

Fig. 2 also depicts the internal portion of the upper food storage container having a number of smaller individually removable food containers 22 located therein. Although not clearly depicted in Fig. 2, each of the individual food containers are open at their top but as is also depicted a single clear lid 24 covers not only the opening of the larger food container but each of the individual containers as well.

Fig. 3 depicts a yet further food storage container that is arranged differently to those disclosed previously, in that it is shaped so as to not have feet that provide stackablitliy and furthermore is and sized so as to be slideable between shelves in a refrigerator or below the upper portion of a food storage container arrangement of

the type that is depicted in Fig. 4. Otherwise the internal features are the same or similar to those described previously.

The food storage container arrangement of Fig. 4 has an upper portion for food storage having internal features the same or similar to those described previously and at least two sidewalls (40a and 40b depicted in Fig. 4) that extend to bases (42a, 42b and 42c also depicted in Fig. 4) leaving an open volume 44 below which can be stored the food storage container of Fig. 3. The sidewalls may be formed by a unitary wall construction as depicted or formed individually.

The food storage container of Fig.4 and a slideable food container of Fig. 3 can together be placed in a refrigerator for individual access when needed, when installing the containers the upper food storage container is first followed by the lower food storage container.

Fig. 5 depicts a top perspective view of multiple food storage containers 46 separate from the food storage containers of the Fig's 1 to 4. One of the individual food storage containers 46 is shown with a lid 48 positioned above its opening, more details of which will be disclosed later in the specification.

Fig. 6 depicts an exploded perspective view of multiple food storage containers with a food storage container of the type depicted in Fig.4 marked as (1) and a food storage container of the type depicted in Fig. 3 marked as (2). Into each of those food storage containers both having two compartments, can be placed a variety of individual food containers marked (4), (5) and (6), which as shown, are clear containers to allow their contents to be identified without removing an opaque lid, if fitted. The individual containers (4), (5) and (6) are all sized differently and by way of example only have internal volumes of 550ml, 1100ml and 2200ml respectively and outside dimensions that allow them to be stacked along side each other in different configurations within the internal volume of the food storage containers depicted in either of Fig's 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Each individual container (4), (5) and (6) has a respective lid (7), (9) and (8) that as will be described in greater detail later in the specification can be used to seal the respective container and still be located internally of the food storage containers for Fig's 1, 2, 3 and 4 and they also can be sealed with their own lids (3) that are also arranged to seal the whole container and the individual containers whether they have their own lid or not.

The lid (3) has a retainer clip for retaining the lid to the container while the top is opened and closed thus making it harder for the lid (3) to be separated from the container. The retainer clip is located and attached on one of the short sides of the lid (3) and in the embodiment of a retainer clip depicted in Fig. 6 the free end of the clip is arranged to depend into a recess located on the top surface of the food storage container. The clip is formed of a bent resilient material that is shaped in a 'V form that is biased to open at the top of the arms that form the 'V shape. As the lower end of the 'V is inserted in to the recess, the tops of the 'V shaped arms becomes closer and barbs located each side of one of the arms of the 'V shape (not shown clearly in Fig. 6) slide under the top surface of the container to retain that side of the clip in the recess. To release the clip a tag shown on the free end of one of the arms of the 'V shape is used to side the arm having the barbs towards the other side of the 'V shaped clip and from below the surface of the recess. Thus the lid (3) can be separated from the food storage container (for cleaning for example) by removing the retainer clip from the recess otherwise the lid (3) is conveniently retained to the food storage container.

Fig's 7, 8 and 9 depict in some detail the sealing discussed in the previous paragraphs. Fig. 7 in particular depicts a cross-sectional view of a food storage container of the types depicted in Fig's 1, 2, 3 and 4 each having two compartments 12 and 14. The single Hd (3) (identified with the nomenclature used in Fig. 6) is shown located within a recessed top portion of the container body 16 (using the nomenclature of Fig. 1) and shaped and adapted to seal the whole top of the container body. However, not only does the lid when in use form a seal with the whole open top of the body, but also across the top of the compartment wall 11.

This figure is in cross-section so it does not show the whole top of the container body or the whole top portion of the compartment wall, but the seal is created by forming sealing means about and along those features of the container body.

The enlarged portion 72 shows that the lid (3) has a recess 74 into which is located in this embodiment, a sealing means, in particular a resilient material 76, such as for example neoprene. The sealing material is retained in the recess by way of frictional engagement, thus enabling it to be removed and cleaned, or by way of suitable adhesive ensuring the substantially permanent location of the resilient material within the recess. The resilient material thereby, while the lid (3) is in place and in use, is resiliency shaped about the top portion or surface 78 of the compartment wall 11 and forms a suitable seal for the purpose. In most cases moisture and vapours would be stopped from transferring between compartments by the sealing means while the lid (3) is in use.

Preferably, the same or similar resilient material would be used in a suitably shaped recess about the periphery of the lid (3) to similarly seal the opening of the food storage container. The detail of which is shown on the top portion of the sidewall of the food storage container.

It will also be noted that the lid (3) is shaped so that the top surface of its periphery lies below the top surface of the periphery of the food storage container which allows for unhindered movement of the food storage container with lid in place from between shelving and the like.

Fig. 8 depicts the food storage container of Fig. 7 having two internally located food containers (say for example (5) and (6) side-by-side, or (4) and (5) side-by-side since the depiction is a cross-sectional one), one in each of the two compartments. As depicted the two containers have upper sidewall portions, 85 for container (5) and 86 for container (6), which are in contact with the sealing means. In this embodiment, resilient material seals along those upper sidewall portions of the

individual food storage containers in addition to the two compartments that are also sealed by the one lid (3).

Enlarged portion 82 shows that the lid (3) has a recess 74 into which is located in this embodiment, a sealing means, in particular a resilient material 76, such as for example neoprene. The resilient material thereby, while the lid (3) is in place and in use, is resiliently shaped about the top portion or surface 78 of the compartment wall 11 and the upper sidewall portions, 85 for container (5) and 86 for container (6), of the individual containers to form a suitable seal for the purpose. In most cases moisture and vapours would be stopped from transferring between compartments and containers by the sealing means while the lid (3) is in use.

The body 16 has at least one internal surface 87, which in this embodiment is the internal floor surface of each compartment, that includes at least one location assistance element 88 that cooperates with a corresponding location assistance element 89 included on the outer surface of at least one of the internal containers so as to locate an internal container within the body 16 so that the lid, in use, seals the respective open top of the internal container having the external location assistance element.

In this embodiment the location assistance element in the body 16 is a depression 88 in the internal surface of the body 16 and the corresponding location assistance element on the external surface of the internal container is a projection 89 from the outer surface of the internal container, wherein the shape of the depression and projection are complementary. Being complementary the dimple and projection will provide for the internal container to be positioned so as to align said internal container for sealing by the lid in use.

Fig. 9 depicts the food storage container of Fig. 7 having three internally located food containers. One individual container is in one compartment and two individual containers in the other. One individual container, say a type (4) container as depicted in Fig. 6) of the two side-by-side separable containers has a

lid (7) that is located in the opening of the container (4) and thus sealing that individual container. Fig. 9 depicts that even though the container (4) has its own lid, the other two food storage containers and the two compartments are all sealed by the one lid (3).

Enlarged portion 92 shows the sealing by the sealing means of lid (3) being provided to the upper sidewall portion 85 for container (5) and sealing of the opening of the food storage container. The detail of which is shown on the top portion of the sidewall of the food storage container. In most cases moisture and vapours would be stopped from transferring between compartments and containers by the sealing means while the lid (3) is in use.

Fig. 10 depicts a top view of various configurations of internally located food containers. The large variety of configurations helps to allow the user to choose which foods occupy which container as regards size, quantity, convenience of being adjacent or separated in the food storage container, etc.

Furthermore, it is possible not to use any internally located food storage containers if the size and/ or quantity of food require the compartment/ s alone.

The food storage containers can be filled with foodstuffs and then placed in a refrigerator for future use and then when required taken straight out of the refrigerator and used as required for food preparation or food presentation.

Material for the food storage container is preferably suitable for use in the cold of a refrigerator whereas the material of the internal food storage containers is preferably suitable for use in the cold of a refrigerator as well as the heating effects of hot food, food during preparation including heating and cooking in a microwave oven, and then for the rigours of cleaning in a sink or dishwasher. The material may also advantageously be smooth internally so as to be easily cleanable but may be rough to the touch on the outside to assist with holding and carrying the containers.

The material of at least the lids but also the containers may also advantageously be transparent to allow the foodstuffs to be seen.

Yet further there may advantageously be provided means to allow for the marking of the body and each container and/ or its respective lid to indicate one or more of the following but not limited to: the best use by date for the contents of the body/ container; the name of the person/ s that are likely to use the contents; and the type of contents.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/ or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.