Food Storage and Serving Device

Abstract

A reusable kit for managing multiple different foodstuffs (although adaptable to common foodstuffs or other categories of items) for storing, or presenting separately when serving. The kit is comprised of a plurality of bins and bins lids, a base holding container and a plurality of indicators. The indicators having indicia associated with the names of the days of the week and/or the number of servings. The bins are convertible from a serving function to a storing function. The bins can also be used separately apart from the kit. The serving arrangement and method of the invention comprises placing foodstuffs in bins, setting the indicator(s) for each bin to the day that the foodstuff had been prepared, placing the bin in a base holding container and setting it out at a serving table. For the storing function, method involves placing the bins containing food in a base holding container, (re)setting the indicators as appropriate, then closing the bins with individual bin lids or, alternatively, a single overall base container cover, to make an airtight enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising a bin having a generally flat bottom, side walls and an open top portion and an indicator having indicia; said bin has a bin collar that surrounds the periphery of the exterior side wall surfaces. 
     
     
         2 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said indicia are associated with the names of the days of the week. 
     
     
         3 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said indicia are sequential numbers from 1 to 5. 
     
     
         4 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said indicia are symbols. 
     
     
         5 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said indicator is located on one side of the bin and it is centered on the face of the said bin collar. 
     
     
         6 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said bin collar is generally a rounded flange shaped in a downward sloping angle away from the bin. 
     
     
         7 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said bin collar is generally a square shaped flange with the initial section jutting out perpendicularly from the bin and then bending downward at a right angle. 
     
     
         8 . The said device of  claim 1  further comprising an outwardly protruding ridge tab on the said bin collar located on a section beside one end of said indicator and a second outwardly protruding ridge tab located on a section beside the other end of said indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the said indicator is located on one side of the bin and it is off-centre on the face of the said bin collar and there is an outwardly protruding ridge tab on the section of the said bin collar beside the said indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The said device of  claim 1  wherein the junctures of the said bottom and the said side walls of the said bin are rounded. 
     
     
         11 . The said device of  claim 1  further comprising a lid shaped to create a water resistant seal with the said open top portion of the said bin. 
     
     
         12 . The said device in  claim 11  wherein the device is a component of a kit; said kit further comprising:
 a. a plurality of the said bin and said bin lid; 
 b. a base having a generally flat bottom, side walls and an open top portion; said base being capable of enclosing all said bins associated with the kit with or without their lids; said bins are removable from said base; and a base cover shaped to create a water resistant seal with said open top portion of said base. 
 
     
     
         13 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indicia are associated with the names of the days of the week. 
     
     
         14 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indicia are sequential numbers from 1 to 5. 
     
     
         15 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indicia are symbols. 
     
     
         16 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indicator is located on one side of the said bin and it is centered on the face of the said bin collar. 
     
     
         17 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising an outwardly protruding ridge tab on a section of the said bin collar located beside one end of said indicator and a second outwardly protruding ridge tab located on a section beside the other end of said indicator. 
     
     
         18 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indicator is located on one side of the said bin and it is off-centre on the face of the said bin collar and there is an outwardly protruding ridge tab on a section of the said bin collar beside the said indicator. 
     
     
         19 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the junctures of the said bottom and the said side walls of the said bin are rounded. 
     
     
         20 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein said base further comprises a plurality of base indicators having indicia associated with dates on a calendar. 
     
     
         21 . The said kit of  claim 20  wherein the said base indicators are placed in a horizontal row along the upper outside perimeter of the said base holding container and spaced so that when said bins are assembled in the said base holding container, the said indicators correspond to the bins in a ratio of 1 indicator corresponding to 1 bin. 
     
     
         22 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said bins have uniform sizes. 
     
     
         23 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said bins have variable widths. 
     
     
         24 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said bins have variable depths. 
     
     
         25 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising one or more colander type baskets that fit into said bins; said baskets having pedestals that raise them up in the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm from the bottom of the said bins. 
     
     
         26 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein one or more of the said bins have bottoms that are perforated. 
     
     
         27 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein one or more of the said bins have bottoms and sidewalls that are perforated. 
     
     
         28 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein said bins snap onto said base and there is a distance space between the bottoms of the said bins and the said bottom of the said base in the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein said bins snap onto said base and there is a distance space between the bottoms of the said bins and the said bottom of the said base in the range of 10 mm to 25 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said base has a collar that surrounds the periphery of the exterior of said side walls of the said base near the said open top portion of the said base and said base cover can close the said base by attaching around the said collar, the respective seal creating a substantially liquid impermeable arrangement. 
     
     
         31 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising a gradation mark on one of the said side walls of the said base for indicating the maximum quantity of fluid that can be poured into the said base holding container relative to the volume of said bins snapped onto said base holding container; said fluid has function of retarding the temperature change of the foodstuff contents of the said bins. 
     
     
         32 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising a label holder on one of the said side walls of the said base that is capable of holding a removable label of paper or plastic for marking information associated with the kit or the foodstuff contained therein. 
     
     
         33 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indicators are placed onto the said bins in a ratio of 1 indicator to 1 bin. 
     
     
         34 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said indictors are placed onto the said bins in a ratio of 2 indicators to 1 bin. 
     
     
         35 . The said kit of  claim 12 , wherein said components of the said kit consist of a plastic material. 
     
     
         36 . The said kit of  claim 35 , wherein said plastic material is made from at least one material from the list consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polypropylene/polyethylene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and elastomers. 
     
     
         37 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said base holding container is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         38 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein the said base holding container is generally square in shape. 
     
     
         39 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the said bin lids has a spout and a spout cap. 
     
     
         40 . The said kit of  claim 39  further comprising one or more connector pieces capable of connecting one or more bin lids having spouts to a said spout cap in a ratio of one connector piece to one bin lid. 
     
     
         41 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising at least one bin lid having a flat lid surface shaped as a cheese grater. 
     
     
         42 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising at least one bin lid having a flat lid surface shaped to slice vegetables. 
     
     
         43 . The said kit of  claim 12  wherein said base has a foot attached to the exterior bottom; said foot is on the exterior of the said bottom of the said base and is inset in the range of 0.5 mm to 20 mm from juncture where the bottom meets the side walls. 
     
     
         44 . The said kit of  claim 43  wherein the said bottom of the base has a drain spout and a drain spout plug that seals the said drain spout; the seal creating a water impermeable barrier; and said bottom of the base has angular planes sloping towards the said drain spout. 
     
     
         45 . The said kit of  claim 44  further comprising a connector piece capable of connecting the said bottom of the base to the said drain spout plug. 
     
     
         46 . The said kit of  claim 43  wherein the said bottom of the base has a drain spout and a drain spout cap that seals the said drain spout; the seal creating a water impermeable barrier; and said bottom of the base angles slightly towards the said drain spout. 
     
     
         47 . The said kit of  claim 46  further comprising a connector piece capable of connecting the said bottom of the base to the said drain spout cap. 
     
     
         48 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising at least one serving utensil. 
     
     
         49 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising an insulated tote bag with handles that is capable of enclosing the said base with its said cover attached. 
     
     
         50 . The said kit of  claim 12  further comprising a table caddy having an open top portion into which the said base inserts. 
     
     
         51 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein said table caddy further comprises a rotating lazy susan mechanism. 
     
     
         52 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy is shaped to model a simple identifiable object such as a train or an animal. 
     
     
         53 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy is comprised of wood. 
     
     
         54 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy is made of plastic. 
     
     
         55 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy has indentations capable of holding one or more plastic containers; said indentations being capable of holding said containers with or without lids. 
     
     
         56 . The said kit of  claim 55  further comprising of plurality of containers with respective lids that create water impermeable seals and that can be inset into said indentations of the said table caddy. 
     
     
         57 . The said kit of  claim 56  wherein the said plurality of containers and said respective lids are made of plastic. 
     
     
         58 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy has indentations capable of holding one or more serving utensils. 
     
     
         59 . The said kit of  claim 58  wherein one or more of said serving utensils are made from plastic. 
     
     
         60 . The said kit of  claim 58  wherein one or more of said serving utensils are made from wood. 
     
     
         61 . The said kit of  claim 58  wherein one or more of said serving utensils are made from a combination of plastic and metal. 
     
     
         62 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy has indentations of varying capacities capable of holding either one or more plastic containers or one or more serving utensils. 
     
     
         63 . The said kit of  claim 50  wherein the said table caddy has a compartment capable of enclosing a pump action liquid dispensing pump. 
     
     
         64 . The said kit of  claim 50  further comprising a compartment top that fits over the compartment containing the said pump action liquid dispenser. 
     
     
         65 . The said kit of  claim 50  further comprising a caddy top that fits over the caddy open top portion with or without the said base being inserted. 
     
     
         66 . A method of managing food, comprising: placing foodstuff items in a bin having side walls, a bottom and an open top portion; closing the bin in a substantially sealed arrangement; and setting an indicator associated with the bin, the indicator having indicia associated therewith related to one of the following: a date on which the foodstuff items placed into the container had been prepared, the number of servings of the foodstuff, symbols concerning the foodstuff's disposition. 
     
     
         67 . The said method of  claim 66  wherein the said bin has a collar that surrounds the periphery of the exterior side wall surfaces and said indicator is located on one side of the said bin and it is centered on the face of the said bin collar. 
     
     
         68 . The said method of  claim 67  further comprising an outwardly protruding ridge tab on a section of the said bin collar located beside one end of said indicator and a second outwardly protruding ridge tab located on a section beside the other end of said indicator. 
     
     
         69 . The said method of  claim 66  wherein the said bin has a collar that surrounds the periphery of the exterior side wall surfaces indicator and the said indicator is located on one side of the said bin and it is off-centre on the face of the said bin collar and there is an outwardly protruding ridge on the said bin collar beside the said indicator. 
     
     
         70 . The said method of  claim 66  wherein the junctures of the said bottom and the said side walls of the said bin are rounded. 
     
     
         71 . A reusable container system comprising: a base; a plurality of bins each having a collar surrounding the external peripheral side walls; a plurality of bin lids; a base cover; a plurality of indicators having resettable sliders used to indicate a date related to the contents of the bins and indicia associated with each slider indicating a parameter of the slider. 
     
     
         72 . The container system of  claim 71 , wherein the said plurality of indicators having resettable sliders are associated with bins in a ratio of two indicators to each bin. 
     
     
         73 . The container system of  claim 72  wherein the said plurality of indicators having resettable sliders has, for each bin, one resettable indicator located on the collar of one side of each bin and a second indicator located on the collar of the bin on a side oppositely from the first. 
     
     
         74 . The container system of  claim 73  wherein the said plurality of indicators having resettable sliders includes for each bin an indicator with indicia for each month of the year and an indicator for each day of a month. 
     
     
         75 . The container system of  claim 73  wherein the said plurality of indicators having resettable sliders includes for each bin an indicator for each day of the week and an indicator for the number of servings from 1 to 5 and a symbol of a garbage can after the 5. 
     
     
         76 . The container system of  claim 71  wherein the said resettable sliders are U-shaped and further comprise two opposing ridges on the opposite inside walls of the “U” and wherein each of the said indicators on the collar of each bin include slots wherein the said ridges on the each of the said sliders slot into; said collar also has a plurality of notches to facilitate the resetting function of the slider; said slider has a tab on the inside curve of the “U” that audibly clicks into the said notches as it is moved. 
     
     
         77 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein each of the said resettable sliders has a flat surface with a post jutting out in a perpendicular fashion from that surface; said post has a slice from its core to create two half posts that can flex; said half posts have triangular shaped end hooks; and said collar has a slot with an open groove; said half posts of slider flex together as they are pushed through the said groove; said triangular end hooks anchor the slider into the groove and to prevent the said slider from being accidentally bumped from the said groove; said end hooks can be pinched together to facilitate the removal of the slider; said slider has a concave dimple and said indicator has a plurality of convex dimples such that there is one convex dimple associated with each indicia marking to facilitate the resetting function of the slider and to prevent it from being accidentally moved to another setting. 
     
     
         78 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders are made from at least one material from the list consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polypropylene/polyethylene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and elastomers. 
     
     
         79 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders are made from a material that includes stainless steel. 
     
     
         80 . The said container system of  claim 76  wherein the said slots are such that each slot has a groove that is open through to the other edge. 
     
     
         81 . The said container system of  claim 76  wherein the said slots are such that each slot has a groove that is closed. 
     
     
         82 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders are rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         83 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders are oval shaped. 
     
     
         84 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders are of different shapes. 
     
     
         85 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders have a height in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm. 
     
     
         86 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders have a height in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm. 
     
     
         87 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders are made from polypropylene and colourant. 
     
     
         88 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders each have a textured surface. 
     
     
         89 . The said container system of  claim 71  wherein the said sliders each have a planar surface that is ribbed.