Food Container Lid System

Abstract

A food container lid system is provided and generally includes a food container and a lid for covering the food container. The lid may include a base portion and a cover that attaches to the base portion via a hinge. According to various aspects, a user may release the cover from the base portion with one hand by actuating a release member located on the base portion. According to various additional aspects, the lid may include one or more air tight seal structures that prevent food in the container from being exposed to outside air and from leaking.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food container lid, comprising:
 a lid base adapted to attach to a top portion of the food container, wherein the lid base comprises a release member configured to be actuated by a user and an opening that exposes access to an interior of the food container;   a lid cover that covers the opening of the lid base and prevents access to the interior of the food container when in a closed state, wherein the lid cover comprises a cover connector configured to be removably connected to the release member when the lid cover is in the closed state; and   a hinge connecting the lid base to the lid cover;   wherein the release member releases the cover connector when the release member is actuated by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The food container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a biasing hinge that causes the lid cover to move from the closed state to the open state when the cover connector is released by the release member. 
     
     
         3 . The food container lid of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing hinge is configured to hold the lid cover at an angle of between 10° and 45° with respect to the lid base. 
     
     
         4 . The food container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the release member comprises a release button that is actuated by the user pressing the release button. 
     
     
         5 . The food container lid of  claim 4 , wherein the release button comprises a button hinge, a contact surface, and a button connector configured to be removably connected to the cover connector, and when the user presses inward on the contact surface of the release button, the button connector moves outwardly with respect to the cover connector thereby releasing the cover connector. 
     
     
         6 . The food container lid of  claim 5 , wherein the button connector comprises a hook and the cover connector comprises a corresponding hook. 
     
     
         7 . The food container lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange attached to the lid base or the lid cover, and a channel attached to the other of said lid base or lid cover, wherein the channel includes a seal, and the seal and the flange form an air-tight seal between the lid cover and the lid base. 
     
     
         8 . The food container lid of  claim 7 , wherein the seal comprises silicone rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The food container lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid base further comprises a channel corresponding to an upper edge wall of the food container and a seal included in the channel, and the seal and the upper edge wall form an air-tight seal between the lid base and the food container. 
     
     
         10 . A food container lid, comprising:
 a lid base adapted to attach to a top portion of the food container, wherein the lid base comprises an opening that exposes access to an interior of the food container;   a lid cover that covers the opening of the lid base and prevents access to the interior of the food container when in a closed state;   a flange attached to the lid base or the lid cover, and a channel attached to the other of said lid base or lid cover, wherein said channel includes a seal, and the seal and the flange form an air-tight seal between the lid cover and the lid base; and   a hinge connecting the lid base to the lid cover.   
     
     
         11 . The food container lid of  claim 10 , wherein the flange is attached to the lid base and surrounds the opening, and the channel is attached to the lid cover. 
     
     
         12 . The food container lid of  claim 10 , wherein the channel is attached to the lid base and surrounds the opening, and the flange is attached to the lid cover. 
     
     
         13 . The food container lid of  claim 10 , wherein the lid base further comprises a second channel corresponding to an upper edge wall of the food container and a second seal included in the second channel, and when the lid base is attached to the food container, the second seal and the upper edge wall form an air-tight seal between the lid base and the food container. 
     
     
         14 . The attachable lid of  claim 13 , wherein the seal and the second seal each comprise silicone rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The attachable lid of  claim 10 , wherein the lid base further comprises a release member configured to be actuated by a user, and the lid cover further comprises a cover connector configured to be removably connected to the release member. 
     
     
         16 . The attachable lid of  claim 15 , wherein the hinge comprises a biasing hinge that causes the lid cover to move from the closed state to the open state when the cover connector is released by the release member. 
     
     
         17 . The attachable lid of  claim 16 , wherein the release member comprises a release button including a button hinge, a contact surface, and a button connector configured to connect to the cover connector, and when the user presses inward on the contact surface of the release button, the button connector moves outwardly with respect to the cover connector thereby releasing the cover connector. 
     
     
         18 . A food container lid apparatus comprising:
 a food container comprising a release member configured to be actuated by a user and an opening that exposes access to an interior of the food container;   a lid cover that covers the opening of the food container and prevents access to the interior of the food container when in a closed state, wherein the lid cover comprises a cover connector configured to be removably connected to the release member when the lid cover is in the closed state; and   a hinge connecting the food container to the lid cover;   wherein the release member releases the cover connector when the release member is actuated by the user.   
     
     
         19 . The food container lid apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a flange attached to the lid base or the lid cover, and a channel attached to the other of said lid base or lid cover, wherein the channel includes a seal, and the seal and the flange form an air-tight seal between the lid cover and the food container. 
     
     
         20 . The food container lid system of  claim 18 , wherein the release member comprises a release button that is actuated by the user pressing the release button.