"STORAGE CONTAINER"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage container for storing food items.

Background to the Invention

Containers for storing and sealing food items are available in many different shapes and sizes. It is common for these containers to be used for transporting food to the workplace, or other location, for later consumption of the food. The present invention relates to a storage container that can be used for this purpose and that provides flexibility in terms of the types and sizes of food that can be carried and that provides ease of use when eating from the container.

References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage container comprising: a plate member; a first cover member having an outer portion that engages with the plate member such that a first space is defined between the plate member and the first cover member; and a second cover member that engages with the first cover member such that a second space is defined between the first cover member and the second cover member;

wherein a central portion of the first cover member is moveable relative to the outer portion between a plurality of positions such that the relative volumes of the first and second spaces can be varied.

Preferably, the central portion of the first cover member is integral with the outer portion of the first cover member and is flexible. The central portion preferably comprises a domed portion moveable between a position in which the convex side of the domed portion faces the plate member and a position in which the convex side of the domed portion faces the second cover member.

In a preferred embodiment, a thinned portion of material is provided around the outer edge of the domed portion to assist the domed portion moving between the first and second positions. A groove may be provided inside the thinned portion such that the part of the domed portion within the groove is moveable between two positions relative to the part of the domed portion outside the groove.

In a preferred embodiment, the plate member, the first cover member and the second cover member are circular in shape.

The plate member may include an upturned edge around the periphery thereof and the first cover member may include a down-turned edge around the periphery thereof to receive in a sealing engagement the upturned edge of the plate member.

In one embodiment, the down-turned edge includes a first portion of the same diameter as the upturned edge of the plate member, a second portion which receives the upturned edge of the plate member and an intermediate shoulder portion. The first portion of the down-turned edge of the second cover member is received in a sealing engagement in within the outer edge of the second cover member.

Advantageously, the second cover member is provided with a central recessed handle. The second cover may be provided with air vents. An inside surface of the second cover member may also provided with one or more clips for receiving cutlery.

In one embodiment, one of the cutlery items includes a slot on a handle thereof for receiving handles of other cutlery items such that the cutlery items are engaged with each other before engagement with the clip.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", 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. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a storage container in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the storage container of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a lower perspective view of the second cover member of the storage container of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 is a side cross sectional view of the storage container of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention relates to a storage container 10 that can be used for storage and also heating and consumption of food items.

The storage container 10 comprises a plate member 12, a first cover member 14 and a second cover member 16. The plate member 12 comprises a base portion 18 onto which can be placed food items for heating, storage and/or consumption. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the base portion 12 is circular in shape. The plate member 12 also includes an upturned edge 20 extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the base portion 18 around the periphery thereof. The plate member 12 also includes a first flange 21 extending outwardly from around the periphery of the plate member 12 adjacent the base of the upturned edge 20.

The first cover member 14 includes an outer portion around the periphery thereof which engages with the plate member 12 and seals across the base portion 18 of the plate member 12, thereby defining a first space 22 between the first cover member 14 and the plate member 12. The first cover member 14 in the embodiment shown is generally circular and includes a down-turned edge portion 24 sized to receive, in a sealing engagement, the upturned edge 20 of the plate member 12. The down-turned edge portion 24 includes a first portion 26 of generally the same diameter of the upturned edge 20 of the plate member 12 and a second portion 28 having an internal diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of the upturned edge 20 of the plate member 12. The first and second portions 26 and 28 are joined by a shoulder portion 30. The upturned edge 20 of the plate member 12 therefore is received in the second portion 28 and the shoulder portion 30 engages with the outer end of the upturned edge 20, as shown in Figure 4. The second portion 28 includes also an outwardly extending second flange 32 that engages with the first flange 21 on the plate member 12.

The second cover member 16 includes an upper portion 34 being generally circular in shape and a generally cylindrical portion 36 around the periphery of the upper portion 34. The internal diameter of the cylindrical portion 36 at the outer edge thereof is approximately equal to the external diameter of the first portion 26 of the down-turned edge 24 of the first cover member 14. The first portion 26 is received in the cylindrical portion 36 such that a second space 38 is defined between the first cover member 14 and the second cover member 16. The first cover member 14 includes a central portion that is moveable between a plurality of positions between the plate member 12 and the second cover member 16. The central portion is integral with the outer portion of the first cover member 14 and is flexible such that it is moveable relative to the outer portion. The moveable central portion comprises a central domed portion 40 extending out of the plane of the first cover member 14. A thinned portion 42 of material is provided around the outer edge of the domed portion 40 so that the domed portion 40 can be pressed towards the plate member 12 such that it moves to the position shown at dotted line 40a. The dome portion 40 can therefore be moved between two positions in which the volumes of the first and second spaces 22 and 38 are varied. In the first position, the concave side of the domed portion 40 faces the plate member 12 and in the second position, the concave side of the domed portion 40 faces the second cover member 16.

The domed portion 40 may also be provided with a circular groove (not shown) around the domed portion 40 inside the thinned portion 42. The circular groove would act in the same manner as the thinned portion 42 but allow only part of the domed portion 40 to be moved toward or away from the plate member 12. The domed portion 40 may thereby be moved between more than two configurations allowing further variation to the volumes of the first and second spaces 22 and 38.

The second cover member 16 is provided also with a central recessed handle 44 for lifting the second cover member 16. Also, the second cover member 44 is preferably provided with air vents 46 for air flow when heating food items in the

storage container 10. Further, the inside surface of the second cover member 16 is provided with clips 48 for receiving cutlery 50. Preferably, one of the cutlery items 50 includes a slot 52 on the handle for receiving the handles of the other cutlery items 50. In this way, the cutlery items 50 are engaged with each other before being engaged in the clips 48.

In use, food items can be transported by placement in either the first or second spaces 22 or 38. For example, a meal to be reheated may be placed on the plate member 12 and covered by the first cover member 14. If further items are desired to be carried but are to be kept separate from the food on the plate member 12, they can be placed in the second space 38 between the first and the second cover members 14 and 16. When heating of the meal on the plate member 12 is required, the items in the second space 38 and the first cover member 14 are removed and the second cover member 16 then replaced. The meal can be heated in a microwave and consumed using the cutlery 50 off the conventionally shaped plate member 12.

If the plate member 12 is not being used, the domed portion 40 can be moved towards the plate member 12 to increase the volume of the second space 38, thus providing increased flexibility in storing and transporting food items within the storage container 10.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.