Meal kit delivery container

Abstract

A container for delivering ingredients of a meal kit to a consumer. The container comprises a main container and one or more cups removably locatable within the main container. The one or more cups may vary in size and shape. Various combinations of cups of different sizes and shapes can be located in the main container. In spite of the various sizes and shapes of cups that may be located in the main container, a lid may be provided that seals the main container and each of the one or more cups that are located within the main container for different selections and arrangements of the cups. In some embodiments, each of the one or more cups is supported above a base surface of the main container to create a space between the one or more cups and the base surface of the main container.

1 . A container comprising:
 a main container comprising:
 a base; 
 first and second opposing sidewalls extending from the base; and 
 first and second opposing endwalls extending from the base, each of the first and second opposing endwalls extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall to define a cavity; 
   one or more cups, each cup removably supportable inside the cavity by at least one of a plurality of support features of the main container at a location wherein when supported inside the cavity, a base of each cup is spaced apart from the base of the main container and a topmost opening-defining edge of each of the one or more cups is coplanar with each of the others of the one or more cups supported inside the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of support features comprise one or more first support features protruding from the first sidewall and one or more second support features protruding from the second sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein the one or more first support features protrude from a first shoulder of the first sidewall and the one or more second support features protrude from a second shoulder of the second sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 3  comprising an upper portion of the first sidewall extending from the first shoulder and an upper portion of the second sidewall extending from the second shoulder; wherein
 a height of the upper portion of the first sidewall as measured from the first shoulder is greater than a height of each of the one or more first support features as measured from the first shoulder; and 
 a height of the upper portion of the second sidewall as measured from the second shoulder is greater than a height of each of the one or more second support features as measured from the second shoulder. 
 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein an inner surface of each of the one or more first support features is substantially co-planar with an inner surface of the first sidewall and an inner surface of each of the one or more second support features is substantially co-planar with an inner surface of the second sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein a first cup of the one or more cups comprises a first lip and a first hook together defining a first recess for receiving the at least one of the plurality of support features. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 6  wherein the first cup is supported by one of the first support features and is spaced apart from each other first support feature. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 6  wherein the first cup is supported by two of the first support features and is spaced apart from each other first support feature. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 6  wherein the first cup is also supported by a portion of an inner surface of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 6  wherein the first cup is supported by one or more of the first support features and the first cup is spaced apart from the second sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 6  wherein the first cup comprises a second lip and a second hook together defining a second recess for receiving one or more of the second support features. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 11  wherein the first cup is also supported by a portion of an inner surface of the second sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1  comprising a lid and the lid comprises a gasket for sealing each of the one or more cups. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein attaching the lid to the main container causes deformation of the gasket and wherein the deformation of the gasket is caused by interaction of the main container with the gasket and the gasket applies restorative deformation forces against the main container. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein attaching the lid to the main container causes deformation of the gasket and wherein the deformation of the gasket is caused by interaction of the one or more cups with the gasket and the gasket applies restorative deformation forces of the gasket against the one or more cups. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein at least two cups of the one or more cups have different heights and bases of the at least two cups are spaced apart from the base of the main container by different distances. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein the gasket is deformed by between 2 mm and 4 mm by contact with the one or more cups when the lid is installed on the main container. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein a contact surface of the gasket is smooth. 
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein an interior surface of the gasket defines one or more channels. 
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 19  wherein the one or more channels isolate deformation of the gasket due to interaction of the gasket with one of the one or more cups from deformation of the gasket due to interaction of the gasket with another one of the one or more cups.