Container cover with integrated compartments

Abstract

The container cover and method of consuming food items allows a plurality of food items to be stored, transported, and consumed in a convenient package. The container cover secures food items in a container by covering an opening of the container while providing one or more compartments to store other food items. The compartments may comprise an opening to allow food items to be placed within the compartments. The compartments can be opened such that the food items stored therein are released into the container with little or no risk of spillage. The compartments may be opened in various ways such as by puncturing, tearing, or pushing open a portion of the compartments. A cap may be used to cover the opening of one or more compartments.

1 . A container cover comprising:
 a body configured to cover a mouth of a container;   one or more compartments for food storage extending downward from the body, the one or more compartments comprising:
 an opening to allow one or more food items to be placed within the one or more compartments; and 
 a penetrable portion below the opening, the penetrable portion configured to release a food item into the container; and 
   one or more caps configured to cover the opening of the one or more compartments.   
   
   
       2 . The container cover of  claim 1  further comprising one or more complementary sets of food items selected from the group consisting of lettuce and salad dressing, noodles and spaghetti sauce, french fries and ketchup, and cereal and milk stored separately in the one or more compartments and the container. 
   
   
       3 . The container cover of the  claim 1 , further comprising an additional cap configured to fit over the entire body. 
   
   
       4 . The container cover of  claim 1  further comprising a rim around the body, the rim configured to have a friction fit to the container. 
   
   
       5 . The container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to be removable from the container and reconnected to the container. 
   
   
       6 . The container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the body is substantially planar. 
   
   
       7 . The container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more compartments comprises a releasable portion and a hinge whereby the releasable portion is attached by the hinge. 
   
   
       8 . The container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrable portion of the one or more compartments comprises flexible plastic or metallic foil. 
   
   
       9 . The container cover of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrable portion of the one or more compartments further comprises at least one score line. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for combining one or more food items comprising:
 a container having a mouth, the container storing a first food item;   a planar body attached to the container, the planar body covering the mouth;   one or more compartments extending from the planar body, the one or more compartments configured to release at least one second food item into the container when opened; and   at least one cap attached to the planar body, the at least one cap configured to cover the one or more compartments.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more compartments comprise at least one puncturable portion. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more compartments comprise at least one score line. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more compartments comprise a releasable portion and a hinge whereby the releasable portion is attached by the hinge. 
   
   
       14 . A method for storing a plurality of food items comprising:
 placing one or more food items in a container;   covering the container with a container cover, the container cover having one or more compartments;   placing one or more other food items in the one or more compartments through an opening of the one or more compartments; and   covering the opening of the one or more compartments with one or more caps.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more other food items are one or more complementary sets of food items selected from the group consisting of lettuce and salad dressing, noodles and spaghetti sauce, french fries and ketchup, and cereal and milk placed separately in the one or more compartments and the container. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 removing the one or more caps to access the one or more compartments;   opening a bottom portion of at least one of the one or more compartments to release at least one of the one or more other food items into the container;   removing the container cover; and   eating the one or more food items and the one or more other food items from the container.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 reconnecting the one or more caps to cover the one or more compartments; and   agitating the one or more food items and the one or more other food items in the container to mix the one or more food items and the one or more other food items together.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the bottom portion of at least one of the one or more compartments comprises puncturing the one or more compartments with an implement. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the bottom portion of at least one of the one or more compartments comprises tearing the one or more compartments along one or more score lines. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the bottom portion of at least one of the one or more compartments comprises pushing open a releasable portion of the one or more compartments.