Cheese vault

Abstract

A food storage container including a bottom side having bottom surface features with differential heights, sides with at least one pair of opposing vertical channels; at least one divider panel sized for selective placement in the opposing vertical channels, and a lid. The divider panel has an upper edge that sealingly engages the lid and a lower edge that sealingly engages the bottom surface of the bottom side. Food placed on the bottom surface can breathe without passing odors to food in a neighboring compartment.

What is claimed as invention is: 
     
         1 . A food storage container, comprising:
 a food containing portion including a bottom side having bottom surface features with differential heights, and further including sides with at least one pair of opposing vertical channels;   at least one divider panel sized for selective placement in said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels, said at least one divider panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein when slidably disposed in said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels, said bottom edge sealingly engages said bottom surface of said bottom side; and   a lid having a bottom side that engages an upper edge of said at least one divider panel when said at least one divider panel is slidably disposed in said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels.   
     
     
         2 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom edge of said at least one divider panel includes a male feature and said bottom surface of said bottom side includes a female surface feature which cooperates with said male feature to provide a sealing engagement. 
     
     
         3 . The food storage container of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels are configured to bring said lower edge of said at least one divider panel into sealing engagement with said female surface feature of said bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom edge of said at least one divider panel includes a female feature and said bottom surface of said bottom side includes a male surface feature which cooperates with said female feature to provide a sealing engagement. 
     
     
         5 . The food storage container of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels are configured to bring said lower edge of said at least one divider panel into sealing engagement with said male surface feature of said bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said food containing portion is a box. 
     
     
         7 . The food storage container of  claim 6 , wherein said box is square. 
     
     
         8 . The food storage container of  claim 6 , wherein said box is rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes at least one spaced-apart rib that engages said top edge of said at least one divider panel. 
     
     
         10 . The food storage container of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one rib is slidably disposed in said at least one pair of opposing channels. 
     
     
         11 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface includes regularly spaced ridges creating a plain tooth sawtooth profile. 
     
     
         12 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein said spaced ridges provide an elevated surface on which an article of food may be placed while also channels through which air may circulate underneath said food article. 
     
     
         13 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein said food storage container is fabricated from a food grade silicone. 
     
     
         14 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , further including a removable support for placement on said bottom side. 
     
     
         15 . The food storage container of  claim 14 , wherein said removable support is a removable pad. 
     
     
         16 . The food storage container of  claim 14 , wherein said removable support is a removable tray. 
     
     
         17 . The food storage container of  claim 16 , wherein said removable tray includes a plurality of air holes in a bottom side. 
     
     
         18 . The food storage container of  claim 17 , wherein said removable tray includes a perimeter side, and at least one divider panel includes side cut outs that enable insertion into said removable tray so as to bring said lower edge into engagement with the tray bottom. 
     
     
         19 . A cheese vault, comprising:
 a box having a bottom and sides, said sides including interior surfaces with at least one pair of opposing panel slots, said box defining a cheese storage compartment;   at least one divider panel sized for slidable insertion in said at least one pair of opposing panel slots and having a bottom edge and a top edge; and   a lid;   wherein when said at least one divider panel is slidably inserted into said at least pair of opposing panel slots, and said lid is placed atop said box, said storage compartment is divided into a plurality of sealed cheese storage compartments.   
     
     
         20 . The cheese vault of  claim 19 , including a plurality of opposing panel slots, wherein said cheese storage compartment can be divided into compartments having different volumes.