Cover assembly for a food container

Abstract

A cover assembly for a food container providing separate compartments for different items. The cover assembly includes a lid and a dome that may be attached to the food container either together or separately. The lid and dome may also be removed from the food container as one unit, providing a unique storage container.

1 . A cover assembly for a food container having a rim defining a container opening, the cover comprising: 
 a lid having a base ring adapted to mate with the container rim for removable attachment therewith; and a dome having a base ring adapted to mate with at least one of the container rim and the base ring of the lid for removable attachment therewith.    
   
   
       2 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least the base ring of the lid and the base ring of the dome are formed of polypropylene.  
   
   
       3 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the dome has at least one vent formed in the base ring thereof such that when the dome is attached with the container, a pathway is formed from an interior of the container to the environment surrounding the container.  
   
   
       4 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid has at least one vent formed in the base ring thereof such that when the lid is attached with the container, a pathway is formed from an interior of the container to the environment surrounding the container.  
   
   
       5 . The cover assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the lid further comprises a body section peripherally bounded by the base ring, and wherein the base ring comprises: 
 a raised channel defined between an inner wall and an outer wall thereof, the inner wall extending from the body section and interconnected with an outer wall having a bight portion extending radially inward such that an interference fit is formed when the rim of the container is inserted into the raised channel to thereby accomplish removable attachment of the lid with the container.    
   
   
       6 . The cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one vent comprises a series of vents formed into the raised channel and alternatingly positioned on the outer wall with the bight portion.  
   
   
       7 . The cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the dome further comprises a body section peripherally bounded by the base flag, and wherein the base ring comprises: 
 a shoulder extending from the body section;    a skirt extending downwardly from the shoulder section, the skirt including an upper circumferential lip extending radially inward to define an upper channel between the upper circumferential lip and the shoulder, and a lower circumferential lip extending radially inward to define a lower channel between the upper and lower circumferential lips, wherein an interference fit is formed when the rim of the container is inserted into the upper channel of the dome to thereby accomplish removable attachment of the dome with the container, and wherein an interference fit is formed when the raised channel of the lid is inserted into the lower channel of the dome to thereby accomplish removable attachment of the dome with the lid.    
   
   
       8 . The cover assembly of  claim 7 , wherein attachment of the dome with the lid forms an upper containment region between the dome and the lid and attachment of the lid with the container forms a lower containment region between the lid and the container, and wherein a series of vents are formed into the dome skirt to form a pathway from the upper containment region to the environment surrounding the container when the dome is attached with the lid, and from the lower containment region to the environment surrounding the container when the dome is attached with the container.  
   
   
       9 . A cover for a disposable paperboard food container wherein said container has a rim defining a container opening, the cover comprising: 
 a plastic dome having a base adapted to mate with said container rim; and at least one vent formed in the base of said dome such that when the dome is attached with the container, a pathway is formed from the interior of the container to the environment surrounding the container.