Vacuum insulated metal food storage container and lid

Abstract

A double-wall vacuum-insulated food container with complementary lid is disclosed. 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 interior of the container defines a plurality of independently sealed compartments. 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.

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, wherein the body portion defines a plurality of independently sealed compartments; 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, 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.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum-insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of independently sealed compartments comprises two independently sealed compartments. 
     
     
         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, wherein the base defines a plurality of independently sealed compartments;   a lid configured to fit onto the upper free edge, wherein the lid comprises a substantially planar member and a frame, 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; and   a sealing member 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 an exterior shape of the base is one of: a rectangular shape and a square shape. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of independently sealed compartments comprises two independently sealed compartments. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the base further comprises at least one compartment sealing ring configures to seal the plurality of independently sealed compartments. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the frame further comprises at least one clasp configured to engage a fastening feature on the base. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one clasp comprises at least one of: a living hinge, a flag hinge and a piano hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the fastening feature comprises a shoulder and the at least one clasp comprises a prong configured to engage the shoulder. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the lid portion includes a pressure release valve button configured to, when pressed, equalize an atmosphere within at least one of the plurality of independently sealed compartments within the container and an atmosphere outside the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of independently sealed compartments comprises a first independently sealed compartment and a second independently sealed compartment, and
 wherein the pressure release valve button is configured to, when pressed, equalize the atmosphere within the first independently sealed compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the first independently sealed compartment is larger than the second independently sealed compartment.