Food container

Abstract

A food container includes a base including one or more compartments. A lid is configured to engage to the base. A lower surface of the lid includes closing members. The closing members include a central portion formed from a first material and a distal portion formed from a second material. The central portion extends from or is integral with the lower surface of the lid. The closing members close the one or more compartments. The distal portion compresses or seals against an upper surface of the base or an insert positioned in one of the one or more compartments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food container, comprising:
 a base comprising one or more compartments;   a lid configured to engage to the base; and,   a lower surface of the lid comprises closing members, wherein the closing members include a central portion formed from a first material and a distal portion formed from a second material, and the central portion extends from or is integral with the lower surface of the lid; and
 wherein the closing members close the one or more compartments. 
   
     
     
         2 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the closing members is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion compresses or seals against an upper surface of the base or an insert positioned in one of the one or more compartments, and wherein the second material forming the distal portion is more compressible than the first material forming the central portion. 
     
     
         4 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the food container comprises an open configuration in which an interior of the food container is accessible and a closed configuration in which the lid is closed over the base, wherein in the closed configuration, the distal portion compresses or seals against an upper surface of the base to reduce leakage or intermingling of food items in the compartments. 
     
     
         5 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion is integral with the central portion. 
     
     
         6 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion is molded over the central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the food container comprises an open configuration in which an interior of the food container is accessible and a closed configuration in which the lid is closed over the base, wherein in the closed configuration, a fastener extends from the base and secures to the lid. 
     
     
         8 . A food container, comprising:
 a lid comprising a lid inner member and a lid outer member;   a base comprising a base inner member and a base outer member;   the lid configured to engage to the base;   a lower surface of the lid inner member comprises closing members, wherein the closing members include a central portion formed from a first material and a distal portion formed from a second material;   the base inner member forms one or more compartments to receive one or more inserts or one or more food items; and,   wherein the closing members close the one or more compartments when the lid is in a closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid inner member and the lid outer member click or snap-fit together, and wherein the lid inner member and the lid outer member are separable. 
     
     
         10 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the base inner member and the base outer member slide together, and wherein the base inner member and the base outer member are separable. 
     
     
         11 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the food container comprises an open configuration in which an interior of the food container is accessible and a closed configuration in which the lid is closed over the base, wherein in the closed configuration, the distal portion compresses or seals against an upper surface of the base inner member to reduce leakage or intermingling of food items in the compartments, and wherein the distal portion is molded over the central portion. 
     
     
         12 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the food container comprises an open configuration in which an interior of the food container is accessible and a closed configuration in which the lid is closed over the base, wherein in the closed configuration, the distal portion is urged against an upper surface of the base inner member to reduce leakage or intermingling of food items in the compartments, and wherein the second material forming the distal portion is more compressible than the first material forming the central portion. 
     
     
         13 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid inner member, the base inner member, or both the lid inner member and the base inner member are removable from the food container. 
     
     
         14 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid and the base are joined together via a hinging or pivoting connection, and a fastener extends from the base outer member to engage the lid outer member to hold the lid and the base in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid inner member is secured to the lid outer member via welding, clinching, adhering, magnets, laser connection, or other method, or the base inner member is secured to the base outer member via welding, clinching, adhering, magnets, laser connection, or other method. 
     
     
         16 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein multiple inserts fit into a single compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The food container according to  claim 8 , wherein two semi-circular shaped inserts fit into a single, circular-shaped compartment or two smaller rectangular or square-shaped inserts fit into a single, larger rectangular or square-shaped compartment. 
     
     
         18 . A food container, comprising:
 a tray lid;   a tray base;   the tray lid and the tray base configured to join together in a closed configuration;   a flexible strap removably fastens to the tray lid and to the tray base to hold the tray lid and the tray base in the closed configuration; and,   the flexible strap removably fastens to a front portion of the tray lid, spans from the front portion of the tray lid, around a front wall of the tray base, around a lower surface of the tray base, around a rear wall of the tray base, and to a rear portion of the tray lid; and wherein the flexible strap removably fastens to the rear portion of the tray lid.   
     
     
         19 . The food container according to  claim 18 , wherein the strap includes a first end that is generally opposite of a second end, the first end includes an opening that removably engages to a protruding member formed on an exterior surface of an upper wall of the tray lid, and the second end includes a fastener that removably engages to an opening in a rear surface of the tray lid. 
     
     
         20 . The food container according to  claim 18 , wherein the tray lid includes a front channel and a rear channel that generally receives a width of the strap, and the tray base include a tray base channel extending from a front wall of the tray base, around a lower surface of the tray base, and to a rear wall of the tray base, and the tray base channel generally receives the width of the strap.