Interleaved containers with a single lid

Abstract

A container has a first vessel and a second vessel permanently secured to and inside the first vessel. The interior compartment of the second vessel is separated from the interior compartment of the first vessel. A lid is detachably securable to the container, and includes a first portion corresponding to the opening of the first vessel, closing off the container from its environment. A second portion of the lid is integrally formed with the first portion, corresponding to the opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. The second portion of the lid seals the second opening of the second vessel's interior compartment. The interior compartments of both vessels are preferably simultaneously accessible from a top side of the container. The base of the container is optionally sized and shaped to fit within the opening of the first vessel for nestable staking of plural like containers. Optionally or additionally, the base includes a recess, sized and shaped to receive the upstanding sidewall of the second vessel of another like container, for nestable stacking of plural like containers. In one particular embodiment, the container is formed of a material that is approved by the U.S.F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human food and/or is microwave-safe.

1 . A container comprising: 
 a first vessel having a first interior compartment enclosed along the bottom thereof by a first base and along a periphery thereof by a first upstanding sidewall extending upward from the first base to a first rim of the first vessel, the first rim defining a first opening into the first interior compartment;    a second vessel permanently secured to the first vessel and within the first interior compartment thereof, the second vessel having a second interior compartment separated from the first interior compartment, the second interior compartment enclosed along a bottom thereof by a second base and along a periphery thereof by a second upstanding sidewall extending upward from the second base to a second rim of the second vessel, the second rim defining a second opening into the second interior compartment; and    a lid detachably securable to the container having a first portion corresponding to the first opening and closing off the container from the environment of the container, and a second portion corresponding to the second opening integrally formed with the first portion, wherein the second portion seals the second opening of the second interior compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The container according to  claim 1 , the lid further comprising a first stepped protrusion extending from the second portion, the first stepped protrusion sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the second opening of the second interior compartment.  
   
   
       3 . The container according to  claim 1 , the lid further comprising a second stepped protrusion extending from the first portion, the second stepped protrusion sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the first opening of the first interior compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outwardly projecting flare extending from the first upstanding sidewall and received within a lip extending downward from the outer periphery of the lid.  
   
   
       5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first base is sized and shaped to fit within the first opening for nestable stacking of plural like containers.  
   
   
       6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first base comprises a recess formed therein, the recess sized and shaped to receive the second upstanding sidewall of another like container for nestable stacking of plural like containers.  
   
   
       7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein the recess is closed off on one side thereof by the second base.  
   
   
       8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first interior compartment and second interior compartment are simultaneously accessible from a top side of the container.  
   
   
       9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rims are substantially coplanar.  
   
   
       10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed of a material which is microwave-safe.  
   
   
       11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed of a material which is approved by the U.S. F.D.A. as suitable for contact with human food.  
   
   
       12 . A lid for detachably sealing plural compartments of a container having the same, the lid comprising: 
 a first portion corresponding to a first opening of a first compartment of the container, and sealing the first compartment of the container from the environment of the container; and    a second portion corresponding to a second opening of a second interior compartment of the container, integrally formed with the first portion, sized and shaped to sealingly engage the second opening of the second interior compartment.    
   
   
       13 . The lid according to  claim 12 , further comprising a lip extending downward from the outer periphery of the lid sized and shaped to receive a first rim of the container.  
   
   
       14 . The lid according to  claim 12 , further comprising a first stepped projection extending from the second portion, the first stepped projection sized and positioned to fit snugly within and thereby close off the second opening of the second interior compartment.