Food storage cup and lid with enhanced food storage

Abstract

A food container adapted to store at least two different food products and a method of filling a food container are provided. The food container generally includes a container cup and a lid configured for food storage. In one embodiment, the lid includes two or more compartments. The container cup is adapted to hold a first product and the lid compartments are adapted to hold a second product and a third product. The container cup and the lid may be separately sealed. The lid and container cup can be selectively interconnected. Optionally, a first lid can be clipped or attached to a second lid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food storage system configured to store at least two different food products, comprising:
 a first lid including a first body with an upper end, a lower opening, and a first compartment within the first body;   a second lid including a second body with an upper end, a lower opening, and a second compartment within the second body, the second lid being configured to selectively attach to the first lid; and   a container cup with a closed end, a sidewall, a cup compartment defined by the sidewall and the closed end, and an upper opening, wherein the first and second lids are configured to be selectively interconnected to the container cup.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first food product is provided within the first compartment, a second food product is provided within the second compartment, and a third food product is provided within the cup compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second food products are treated with two different food preservation processes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first body is oriented at an angle of between approximately 93° and 99° relative to a plane defined by the upper end. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first body includes indentations forming scallops, the indentations extending from a lower portion of the first body to the upper end of the first lid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first lid includes an attachment means configured to selectively interconnect to an engagement means of the container cup. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment means of the first lid comprises a first flange with an outer curl, the first flange extending from the first body, and wherein the engagement means of the container cup comprises a second flange extending from the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first lid includes a partition wall dividing the first compartment into a first storage area and a second storage area for storing two different food products. 
     
     
         9 . A food container configured to store at least two different food products, comprising:
 a lid having:
 an upper end; 
 a body; 
 at least one lid compartment within the body; 
 a lower opening; 
 a first flange extending outwardly from the body; 
 a curl extending downwardly from an outer portion of the first flange; and 
 an engagement feature extending inwardly relative to an inwardly facing surface of the curl; and 
   a container cup including:
 a closed end; 
 a sidewall 
 a cup compartment defined by the sidewall and the closed end; 
 an upper opening; 
 a second flange extending outwardly from the sidewall; and 
 a free end that extends downwardly from an outer portion of the second flange, wherein the engagement feature of the lid is configured to selectively engage the container cup to interconnect the lid to the container cup. 
   
     
     
         10 . The food container of  claim 9 , wherein the lid includes a partition wall dividing the at least one lid compartment into a first compartment and a second compartment for storing different food products. 
     
     
         11 . The food container of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a first food product is sealed in the first compartment of the lid;   a second food product is sealed in the second compartment of the lid; and   a third food product is sealed in the cup compartment.   
     
     
         12 . The food container of  claim 11 , wherein the first, second, and third food products have been treated with at least two different food preservation processes. 
     
     
         13 . The food container of  claim 9 , wherein, when the lid and the container cup are interconnected, the lower opening of the lid is oriented toward the upper opening of the container cup. 
     
     
         14 . The food container of  claim 9 , wherein, when the lid and the container cup are interconnected, a lower surface of the first flange is generally parallel to an upper surface of the second flange and the annular bead contacts a lower surface of the free end of the second flange. 
     
     
         15 . A lid for a food storage system, comprising:
 a body with an upper end, a lower opening, and a compartment within the body that is configured to store a food product;   a flange extending outwardly from the body;   a curl extending downwardly from an outer portion of the flange; and   an engagement feature extending inwardly relative to an interior surface of the curl, wherein the flange is configured to engage a portion of a container cup to selectively interconnect the lid to the container cup.   
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 15 , further comprising a partition wall to divide the compartment into a first compartment and a second compartment for storing two different food products. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the partition wall is fluted such that a horizontal cross-section of the partition wall includes a crest and a trough. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the body slopes outwardly from the upper end to the lower opening. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 18 , wherein the body slopes outwardly at an angle of between approximately 3° and 9° relative to a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the upper end. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 15 , wherein the flange is approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the upper end, and wherein the curl slopes outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis.