Baked goods container

Abstract

A baked goods container is disclosed having an upright position adapted to contain a large baked goods item, the baked goods container including a plastic base and a removable lid. The base includes a first base portion adapted to accept the lid over the base, and a second base portion or divider which removably inserts into or onto the first base portion. When the baked goods container is in the “upright” position, the first and second base portions cooperate to form the base of the container to hold one type of baked goods, such as a typical sized cake or pie. When the baked goods container is in the flipped, inverted or “upside-down” position, the first and second base portions cooperate to hold different baked goods, such as cupcakes. The second base portion or divider is adapted to separate from the first base portion and rest upon a ridge or extensions in the lid to form a two level baked goods container which holds a plurality of baked goods on multiple support surfaces.

1 . A baked goods container comprising: 
 a base panel;    a container lid having a lid panel with a perimeter and a continuous side wall extending from the perimeter of the lid panel, the lid panel and the continuous side wall bounding a container interior having an opening, the container lid adapted to form a seal and close off the opening when the container lid is removably seated on the base panel;    an insert configured to be optionally inserted into the container lid; and    a support ridge formed in at least a portion of the side wall of the container lid and adapted to support the insert when the baked goods container is inverted and resting on the container lid, the lid panel and a first portion of the side wall bounding a first interior portion, and the insert and a second portion of the side wall bounding a second interior portion.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base panel comprises a recess formed in the base panel and adapted to removably store the insert.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container lid includes a sealing lip extending radially outward from at least a portion of the continuous side wall, the sealing lip sized to bear against the base panel to provide an air resistant seal between the container lid and the base panel.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base panel includes a plurality of spaced apart handle supports extending radially outward from the base panel.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the container lid includes a plurality of spaced apart sealing extensions extending radially outward from the continuous side wall, each of the sealing extensions spaced apart and aligned so as to bear against a corresponding one of the plurality of handle supports.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of handle supports includes at least one alignment pin extending generally perpendicular from the handle support.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sealing extensions includes at least one aperture, the aperture being configured such that the at least one alignment pin extends into the aperture when the sealing extension bears against the handle support.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the container further comprises a locking handle adapted to releasably secure the container lid to the base panel.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the locking handle is adapted to releasably secure at least one of the handle supports to at least one of the sealing extensions.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the handle supports includes a pivot point, and wherein the locking handle is pivotable about the pivot point between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the handle supports includes at least one aperture, and wherein the locking handle is shiftable along the aperture between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base panel.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one aperture is a plurality of spaced apart elongated retaining slots, and wherein the locking handle includes a plurality of retaining clips insertable in the plurality of elongated slots such that the locking handle is shiftable between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the handle supports includes a guide slot, and wherein the locking handle includes a guide extension insertable in the guide slot, the guide slot and guide extension cooperating to direct the movement between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the handle supports includes a flexible tab, and wherein the locking handle includes a notch, the tab adapted to releasably engage the notch of the locking handle upon movement of the locking handle toward the second position.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container lid further comprises a carrying handle integrally formed in the top panel.  
   
   
       16 . A portable food storage and serving container comprising: 
 a container lid having panel with a perimeter, an exterior wall extending from the perimeter of the panel, and an opening, the panel and the exterior wall bounding a container interior, and the exterior wall including a support ridge extending inward along at least portion of the exterior wall, the support ridge spaced away from the panel; and    a base having a first base portion and a second base portion, the first base portion releasably attachable to the container lid, the first base portion forming a seal and closing off the opening when the first base portion is attached to the container lid, and the second base portion being storable in the container interior when the container is resting on the base, and the second base portion being supportable by the support ridge when the container is inverted and resting on the lid.    
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the container lid includes a sealing lip extending radially outward from the exterior wall, the sealing lip sized to bear against the first base portion to provide an air resistant seal between the container lid and the base.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the first base portion includes a plurality of spaced apart handle supports extending radially outward from the first base portion.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the container lid includes a plurality of spaced apart sealing extensions extending radially outward from the exterior wall, each of the sealing extensions adapted and spaced apart so as to bear against a corresponding one of the plurality of handle supports.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of handle supports includes at least one alignment pin extending generally perpendicular from the handle support, and wherein at least one of the plurality of sealing extensions includes at least one aperture, the at least one aperture being configured such that the at least one alignment pin extends into the aperture when the at least one of the plurality of sealing extension bears against the at least one of the plurality of handle supports.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the container further comprises a locking handle adapted to releasably secure the container lid to the base.  
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the handle supports includes a pivot axis, and wherein the locking handle is pivotable about the pivot axis between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base.  
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the handle supports includes at least one aperture, and wherein the locking handle is shiftable in the aperture between a first position, wherein the locking handle permits the relative movement of the container lid off of the base, and a second position wherein the locking handle restricts the relative movement of the container lid off of the base.  
   
   
       24 . A food storage container comprising: 
 a container base having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and    a first and a second container lid, each of the first and second container lids having a lid panel with a perimeter and a continuous side wall extending from the perimeter of the lid panel, the lid panel and the continuous side wall bounding a container interior having an opening, the first container lid adapted to form a first seal and close off the opening of the first container lid when the first container lid is removably seated on the first surface of the container base, and the second container lid adapted to form a second seal and close off the opening of the second container lid when the second container lid is removably seated on the second surface of the container base, wherein the container is configurable in a first configuration with one of the first and second container lids seated on one of the first and second surfaces of the container base, and a second configuration with both of the first and second container lids seated on the corresponding first and second surfaces of the container base.    
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein each of the first and second container lids includes a sealing lip extending radially outward from the first and second continuous side walls, the sealing lips sized to bear against the container base to provide an air resistant seal between each of the first and second container lids and the container base.  
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the container base includes a plurality of spaced apart handle supports extending radially outward from the container base.  
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second container lids includes a plurality of spaced apart sealing extensions extending radially outward from the exterior side walls of each container, each of the sealing extensions adapted and spaced apart so as to bear against a corresponding one of the plurality of handle supports on the container base.  
   
   
       28 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the container further comprises a locking handle adapted to releasably secure each of the first and second container lids to the container base.