Portable food container having separate compartments

Abstract

A portable food container ( 2 ) for separately retaining first and second food items. The preferred portable food container ( 2 ) includes an outer container ( 10 ) including a first receptacle ( 12 ) at least partially defining a first compartment ( 13 ), an inner container ( 20 ) including a second receptacle ( 22 ) at least partially defining a second compartment ( 28 ), and an upper cover ( 50 ). The first receptacle has an outer rim ( 16 ) and a first receptacle opening ( 18 ) defined by the outer rim. The second receptacle has a peripheral collar ( 30 ) having an outer edge ( 32 ) and an inner edge ( 34 ), the outer edge designed and constructed to engage the outer rim of the first receptacle such that the inner container resides at least partially within the outer container. The inner edge defines a second receptacle opening ( 36 ) and the peripheral collar has an upper surface ( 38 ) interconnecting the outer edge with the inner edge. The upper surface has an upper surface opening ( 40 ), which communicates with the first compartment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable food container for separately retaining first and second food items, the portable food container comprising: 
 an outer container including a first receptacle at least partially defining a first compartment for retaining a food item selected from the group consisting of the first and second food items, the first receptacle having an outer rim and a first receptacle opening defined by the outer rim;    an inner container including a second receptacle at least partially defining a second compartment for retaining a food item selected from the group consisting of the first and second food items such that the food item retained within the second receptacle is isolated from the food item retained within the first receptacle, the second receptacle having a peripheral collar having an outer edge and an inner edge, the outer edge designed and constructed to engage the outer rim of the first receptacle such that the inner container resides at least partially within the outer container; the inner edge defining a second receptacle opening; the peripheral collar having an upper surface interconnecting the outer edge with the inner edge; the upper surface having an upper surface opening which communicates with the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container; and    an upper cover designed and constructed to engage the peripheral collar in such a manner so as to retain a first or second food item placed within the second compartment when the upper cover is engaged with the peripheral collar and the second receptacle is turned from a first position, where the second receptacle opening is positioned generally above the second compartment, to a second position, where the second receptacle opening is positioned generally below the second compartment and the force of gravity would otherwise cause any first or second food item within the second compartment to fall out of such second compartment.    
     
     
         2 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper cover covers both the second-receptacle opening and the upper surface opening.  
     
     
         3 . The portable food container of  claim 2 , wherein the upper cover is force fit to engage both the second receptacle opening and the upper surface opening.  
     
     
         4 . The portable food container of  claim 2 , wherein the upper cover includes an adhesive, which engages the upper cover to the peripheral collar.  
     
     
         5 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper cover covers only the second receptacle opening and the upper surface opening is covered by a second cover smaller than the upper cover.  
     
     
         6 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer rim has an annular perimeter.  
     
     
         7 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a continuous adhesive seal joining the peripheral collar to the outer rim of the outer container.  
     
     
         8 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container; the portable food container having a flavor tablet including flavoring agents; wherein the flavor tablet is positioned within the first compartment such that the tablet dissolves, thereby releasing the flavoring agents, when the tablet comes into contact with a fluid food item within the first compartment having an aqueous phase.  
     
     
         9 . The portable food container of  claim 8 , wherein the flavor tablet is engaged with the outer wall of the second receptacle.  
     
     
         10 . The portable food container of  claim 9 , wherein the outer wall of the second receptacle has a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a recess, the flavor tablet being engaged with the outer wall within the recess.  
     
     
         11 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container and the second receptacle has an inner wall which at least partially defines the second compartment; the first compartment having a first volume and the second compartment having a second volume, the second volume being equal to or greater than the first volume.  
     
     
         12 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container and the second receptacle has an inner wall which at least partially defines the second compartment; the first compartment having a first volume and the second compartment having a second volume, wherein the second volume is from about 50% to about 99% of the total volume of the first volume and the second volume combined.  
     
     
         13 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle opening is separated from the upper surface opening by a distance of less than about 1 inch.  
     
     
         14 . The portable food container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral collar further includes an air vent opening.  
     
     
         15 . A portable food container for separately retaining first and second food items, the portable food container comprising: 
 an outer container including a first receptacle at least partially defining a first compartment for retaining a food item selected from the group consisting of the first and second food items, the first receptacle having an outer rim and a first receptacle opening defined by the outer rim;    an inner container including a second receptacle at least partially defining a second compartment for retaining a food item selected from the group consisting of the first and second food items, the second receptacle having a peripheral collar having an outer edge and an inner edge, the outer edge designed and constructed to engage the outer rim of the first receptacle such that the inner container resides at least partially within the outer container; the inner edge defining a second receptacle opening; the peripheral collar having an upper surface interconnecting the outer edge with the inner edge; the upper surface having an upper surface opening which communicates with the first compartment when the outer edge of the inner container is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container; and    an upper cover designed and constructed to engage the peripheral collar in such a manner so as to retain a first or second food item placed within the second compartment when the upper cover is engaged with the peripheral collar and the second receptacle is turned from -a first position, where the second receptacle opening is positioned generally above the second compartment, to a second position, where the second receptacle opening is positioned generally below the second compartment and the force of gravity would otherwise cause any first or second food item within the second compartment to fall out of such second compartment; wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container and the second receptacle has an inner wall which at least partially defines the second compartment; the first compartment having a first volume and the second compartment having a second volume, wherein the second volume is from about 50% to about 99% of the total volume of the first volume and the second volume combined.    
     
     
         16 . The portable food container of  claim 15 , further comprising a continuous adhesive seal joining the peripheral collar to the outer rim of the outer container, wherein the outer rim has an annular perimeter.  
     
     
         17 . The portable food container of  claim 15 , wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container; the portable food container having a flavor tablet including flavoring agents; wherein the flavor tablet dissolves, thereby releasing the flavoring agents, when the tablet comes into contact with fluids within the first compartment having an aqueous phase; the flavoring agent being engaged with the outer wall such that it will come into contact with fluid if a fluid food item is filled into the first compartment.  
     
     
         18 . The portable food container of  claim 17 , wherein the outer wall of the second receptacle has a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a recess, the flavor tablet being engaged with the outer wall within the recess.  
     
     
         19 . The portable food container of  claim 15 , wherein the second receptacle opening is separated from the upper surface opening by a distance of less than about 1 inch.  
     
     
         20 . The portable food container of  claim 15 , wherein the peripheral collar further includes an air vent opening.  
     
     
         21 . A portable food container for separately retaining first and second food items, the portable food container comprising: 
 an outer container including a first receptacle at least partially defining a first compartment for retaining a food item selected from the group consisting of the first and second food items, the first receptacle having an outer rim and a first receptacle opening defined by the outer rim;    an inner container including a second receptacle at least partially defining a second compartment for retaining a food item selected from the group consisting of the first and second food items such that the food item retained within the second receptacle is isolated from the food item retained within the first receptacle, the second receptacle having a peripheral collar having an outer edge and an inner edge, the outer edge designed and constructed to engage the outer rim of the first receptacle such that the inner container resides at least partially within the outer container; the inner edge defining a second receptacle opening; the peripheral collar having an upper surface interconnecting the outer edge with the inner edge; the upper surface having an upper surface opening which communicates with the first compartment when the outer edge of the inner container is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container; and    an upper cover designed and constructed to engage the peripheral collar in such a manner so as to retain a first or second food item placed within the second compartment when the upper cover is engaged with the peripheral collar and the second receptacle is turned from a first position, where the second receptacle opening is positioned generally above the second compartment, to a second position, where the second receptacle opening is positioned generally below the second compartment and the force of gravity would otherwise cause any first or second food item within the second compartment to fall out of such second compartment; wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container and the second receptacle has an inner wall which at least partially defines the second compartment; wherein the second receptacle opening is separated from the upper surface opening by a distance of less than about 1 inch.    
     
     
         22 . The portable food container of  claim 21 , further comprising a continuous adhesive seal joining the peripheral collar to the outer rim of the outer container, wherein the outer rim has an annular perimeter.  
     
     
         23 . The portable food container of  claim 21 , wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container and the second receptacle has an inner wall which at least partially defines the second compartment; the first compartment having a first volume and the second compartment having a second volume, wherein the second volume is from about 50% to about 99% of the total volume of the first volume and the second volume combined.  
     
     
         24 . The portable food container of  claim 21 , wherein the second receptacle has an outer wall which at least partially defines the first compartment when the outer edge of the peripheral collar is engaged with the outer rim of the outer container; the portable food container having a flavor tablet including flavoring agents; wherein the flavor tablet is positioned within the first compartment such that the tablet dissolves, thereby releasing the flavoring agents, when the tablet comes into contact with a fluid food item within the first compartment having an aqueous phase.  
     
     
         25 . The portable food container of  claim 24 , wherein the flavor tablet is engaged with the outer wall of the second receptacle.  
     
     
         26 . The portable food container of  claim 25 , wherein the outer wall of the second receptacle has a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a recess, the flavor tablet being engaged with the outer wall within the recess.  
     
     
         27 . The portable food container of  claim 21 , wherein the peripheral collar further includes an air vent opening.  
     
     
         28 . An article of commerce, comprising: 
 an outer container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a first open-top chamber having a longitudinal depth and an upper peripheral rim;    an inner container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a second open-top chamber having a longitudinal depth which is at least one-third the depth of the first chamber and an upper peripheral rim;    and a collar including at least: an inner peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the inner container, an outer peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, an upper surface interconnecting the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and    an opening through the upper surface of the collar which is radially spaced from the rim of the outer container, wherein (i) the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer container and the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner container cooperate to at least partially define a first compartment having a first volume, (ii) the inner surface of the sidewall of the inner container at least partially defines a second compartment having a second volume, (iii) the opening through the collar is in fluid communication with the first compartment and is not in fluid communication with the second compartment, and (iv) the first compartment is not in fluid communication with the second compartment when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container and the upper peripheral rim of the inner container.    
     
     
         29 . An article of commerce, comprising: 
 an outer container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a first open-top chamber having a longitudinal depth and an upper peripheral rim;    an inner container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a second open-top chamber having a longitudinal depth which is at least one-half the depth of the first chamber and an upper peripheral rim; and    a collar including at least: an inner peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the inner container, an outer peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, and    an upper surface interconnecting the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge and having a detachable section effective for forming an opening of predefined size through the upper surface upon detachment of the detachable section, wherein (i) the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer container and the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner container cooperate to at least partially define a first compartment having a first volume, (ii) the inner surface of the sidewall of the inner container at least partially defines a second compartment having a second volume, (iii) the opening through the collar is in fluid communication with the first compartment and is not in fluid communication with the second compartment when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, and (iv) the first compartment is not in fluid communication with the second compartment when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container and the upper peripheral rim of the inner container.    
     
     
         30 . An article of commerce, comprising: 
 an outer container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a first open-top chamber having an upper peripheral rim;    an inner container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a second open-top chamber having an upper peripheral rim; and    a collar including at least: an inner peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the inner container, an outer peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, an upper surface interconnecting the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and    an opening through the upper surface of the collar which is radially spaced from the rim of the outer container, wherein (i) the opening is in fluid communication with the first chamber and is not in fluid communication with the second chamber when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, (ii) a majority of the second chamber volume is positioned within the volume of the first chamber when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, (iii) the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer container and the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner container cooperate to at least partially define a first compartment having a first volume, (iv) the inner surface of the sidewall of the inner container at least partially defines a second compartment having a second volume, and (v) the second volume is between about 50% to 90% of the total volume of the first volume and the second volume combined.    
     
     
         31 . An article of commerce, comprising: 
 an outer container having a sidewall defining a first open-top chamber and an upper peripheral rim wherein the first chamber has a longitudinal depth; an inner container having a water impermeable sidewall defining a second open-top chamber and an upper peripheral rim wherein the second chamber has a longitudinal depth which is at least one-third the depth of the first chamber; and    a collar including at least: an inner peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the inner container, an outer peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, an upper surface interconnecting the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and    an opening through the upper surface of the collar, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the first chamber and is not in fluid communication with the second chamber when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, and    wherein the entire sidewall of the inner container is radially offset from the sidewall of the outer container.    
     
     
         32 . An article of commerce, comprising: 
 an outer container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a first open-top chamber and an upper peripheral rim;    an inner container having a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, and defining a second open-top chamber and an upper peripheral rim; and    a collar including at least: an inner peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the inner container, an outer peripheral edge configured and arranged to sealingly engage the upper peripheral rim of the outer container, an upper surface interconnecting the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and    an opening through the upper surface of the collar which is radially spaced from the rim of the outer container, wherein (i) the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer container and the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner container cooperate to at least partially define a first compartment having a first volume, (ii) the inner surface of the sidewall of the inner container at least partially defines a second compartment having a second volume, (iii) the opening through the collar is in fluid communication with the first compartment and is not in fluid communication with the second compartment, and (iv) the first compartment is not in fluid communication with the second compartment when the outer peripheral edge of the collar is sealingly engaged with the upper peripheral rim of the outer container and the upper peripheral rim of the inner container, and (v) the opening through the upper surface of the collar and a point on the inner peripheral edge which is radially aligned with the center of the opening are located together within a segment of the collar having a rise of less than one half the radius of the collar.    
     
     
         33 . The article of commerce of claims  28  through  32  wherein the collar is sealingly engaged to the upper peripheral rim of the outer container by a continuous adhesive seal.  
     
     
         34 . The article of commerce of claims  28 ,  29 ,  31  or  32  wherein (i) the outer container has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, (ii) the inner container has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, (iii) the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer container and the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner container cooperate to at least partially define a first compartment having a first volume, (iv) the inner surface of the sidewall of the inner container at least partially defines a second compartment having a second volume, and (v) the second volume is between about 50% to 90% of the total volume of the first volume and the second volume combined.  
     
     
         35 . The article of commerce of claims  28  through  32  wherein the outer and inner containers have separate and independent bottoms at least partially defining the first and second chambers respectively.  
     
     
         36 . The article of commerce of claims  28  through  32  wherein the inner container and collar are integrally formed from a single piece of material.  
     
     
         37 . The article of commerce of claims  28  through  32  wherein (i) the opening through the upper surface of the collar has a center, (ii) the inner peripheral edge has a point which is radially aligned with the center of the opening, and (iii) the radially aligned point on the inner peripheral edge is less than 0.5 inches from the center of the opening through the upper surface of the collar.