Vacuum insulated food storage container and lid

Abstract

Disclosed is a double-wall vacuum-insulated food container with complementary lid. The body of the container has a base and an upwardly-extending side wall terminating in an upper free edge. The container also has an inner portion and a complementary outer portion with a gap between. The lid sealingly fits onto the upper free edge of the container. The lid includes a central member and a surrounding frame with a sealing ring. The sealing ring serves as an interface between a lower peripheral edge of the frame and the upper free edge of the container. The frame has fastening members which complementary features disposed about the upper free edge of the container. Within the container is a separator having an outer profile substantially complementary with an inner contour of the container, whereby the interior of the container may be selectively divided by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum-insulated container comprising:
 a body portion, wherein the body portion has a floor and at least one upwardly extending side wall terminating in an upper free edge, and wherein the at least one upwardly extending side wall comprises an inner portion and a complementary outer portion defining a thermally-insulating, side wall gap between; and   a lid portion configured to sealingly fit onto the upper free edge, wherein the lid portion comprises a substantially planar member and a frame having sealing ring, wherein the substantially planar member comprises an upper portion and a complementary lower portion defining a thermally-insulating, planar member gap between, wherein the frame is configured to mechanically receive and surround the substantially planar member there within, and wherein the sealing ring is configured to serve as an interface between a lower peripheral edge of the frame and the upper free edge.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum-insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising a separator selectively disposed within the vacuum-insulated container, wherein the separator has an outer profile substantially complementary with an inner contour of the vacuum-insulated container, and whereby the interior of the vacuum-insulated container may be selectively divided with the separator. 
     
     
         3 . A container comprising:
 a base having at least one upwardly extending side wall terminating in an upper free edge, wherein the at least one upwardly extending side wall comprises an inner portion and a complementary outer portion defining a thermally-insulating, side wall gap between;   a lid configured to fit onto the upper free edge, wherein the lid comprises a substantially planar member and a frame defining a channel, wherein the substantially planar member comprises an upper portion and a complementary lower portion defining a thermally-insulating, planar member gap between, wherein the frame is configured to receive the substantially planar member therewithin; and   a sealing member disposed in the channel, wherein the sealing member is configured to create an air-tight seal between a lower peripheral edge of the frame and the upper free edge.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the base comprises stainless steel, and the substantially planar member comprises of stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the base has one of: a rectangular shape and a square shape. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , further comprising a separator selectively disposed within the container, wherein the separator has an outer profile substantially complementary with an inner contour of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the separator is configured to span between two parallel sections of the at least one upwardly extending side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the separator is configured to span between two opposing corners of the at least one upwardly extending side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the frame further comprises at least one clasp configured to engage a fastening feature on the base. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one clasp comprises at least one of: a living hinge, a flag hinge and a piano hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening feature comprises a shoulder and the at least one clasp comprises a prong configured to engage the shoulder. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one clasp is configured to engage a fastening feature while the lid is maintained relatively stationary with regards to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid portion includes a pressure release valve button configured to, when pressed, equalize an atmosphere within the container and an atmosphere outside the container.