Single-step open and mix food storage container

Abstract

An internal container for storage of a first substance and in use with an external container for storage of a second disparate substance is provided. The internal container may be stored within the external container while keeping the first substance and the second substance separated until a predetermined time. At the predetermined time the first substance and the second substance may be mixed by continuously accelerating or shaking the external container without any direct user contact with the internal container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An internal container adapted to be positioned within an external vessel, said internal container comprising:
 a bowl comprising:
 an internal surface; 
 an external surface; and 
 a rim disposed at an interface of said internal and said external surface and defining an opening of said bowl; and 
   a lid configured to mate with said bowl so as to collectively define an interior volume of said internal container adapted to be at least partially filled with a first substance, wherein said lid comprises:
 a lip positioned along an outer perimeter of said lid, 
   wherein in a state of non-sustained agitation, said internal container is positioned within said external vessel, said lid is fixed to said bowl, and said internal container interior volume is completely separated from an interior volume of said external vessel, and   wherein in a state of sustained agitation, said internal container is positioned within said external vessel and said lid is separated from said bowl and said internal container interior volume is exposed to said interior volume of said external vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The internal container of  claim 1 , wherein said internal container further comprises:
 a bridge member joining said bowl to said lid.   
     
     
         3 . The internal container of  claim 1 , wherein said internal container comprises:
 a gasket positioned at an interface of said rim and said lip.   
     
     
         4 . The internal container of  claim 3 , wherein said gasket is monolithically formed with one of said bowl and said lid. 
     
     
         5 . The internal container of  claim 3 , wherein said gasket is discrete from said bowl and said lid. 
     
     
         6 . The internal container of  claim 1 , wherein in said state of sustained agitation, said lid is configured to separate from said bowl via a force applied by said external vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The internal container of  claim 1 , wherein one or more whisks are defined on at least one of said bowl and said lid. 
     
     
         8 . The internal container of  claim 1 , wherein in said state of sustained agitation, said external vessel is subjected to an intermittent acceleration of the external vessel of between about 4 g's and about 30 g's for at least a portion of greater than about 2 seconds. 
     
     
         9 . A multi-vessel drink containment system, comprising:
 an internal container, comprising:
 a bowl comprising:
 an internal surface; 
 an external surface; and 
 a rim disposed at an interface of said internal surface and said external surface and defining an opening of said bowl, wherein said rim comprises a gasket; and 
 
   a lid configured to mate with said bowl so as to collectively define an interior volume of said internal container adapted to be at least partially filled with a first substance, wherein said lid comprises a groove for receiving said gasket; and   an external vessel comprising:
 a body comprising:
 an internal surface; and 
 an external surface;
 wherein an interface said internal surface and said external surface defines an opening of said body, wherein said opening of said body is configured to receive said internal container therethrough; 
 
 
 a cover configured to mate with said body so as to collectively define an interior volume of said external vessel adapted to be at least partially filed with a second substance, wherein said second substance is different from said first substance, 
   wherein in a state of non-sustained agitation, said internal container is positioned within said interior volume of said external vessel and said gasket is fitted within said groove such that said lid is fixed to said bowl and said internal container interior volume is completely separated from said external vessel interior volume, and   wherein in a state of sustained agitation, said internal container is positioned within said interior volume of said external vessel and said gasket is displaced from said groove such that said lid is separated from said bowl and said interior volume of said internal container is exposed to said interior volume of said external vessel.   
     
     
         10 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein said internal container further comprises:
 a bridge member joining said bowl to said lid.   
     
     
         11 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein said gasket is positioned at least partially on said external surface of said bowl. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein said gasket is positioned at least partially on said internal surface of said bowl. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein said gasket is monolithically formed with said bowl. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein said gasket is discrete from said bowl. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein in said state of sustained acceleration, said lid is configured to separate from said bowl via a force applied by said external vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 11 , wherein one or more whisks are defined on at least one of said bowl and said lid. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-vessel drink containment system of  claim 9 , wherein in said state of sustained agitation, said external vessel is subjected to an intermittent acceleration of the external vessel of between about 4 g's and about 30 g's for at least a portion of greater than about 2 seconds. 
     
     
         18 . An internal container adapted to be positioned within an external vessel, said internal container comprising:
 a bowl having an area moment of inertia; and   a lid having an area moment of inertia and configured to mate with said bowl so as to collectively define an interior volume of said internal container adapted to be at least partially filled with a first substance,   wherein said area moment of inertia of said lid is between about 1.1 and about 9.0 times greater than said area moment of inertia of said bowl.   
     
     
         19 . The internal container of  claim 18 , wherein said area moment of inertia of said lid is between about 1.5 and about 5.0 times greater than said area moment of inertia of said bowl. 
     
     
         20 . The internal container of  claim 18 , wherein said area moment of inertia of said lid is between about 2.0 and about 4.0 times greater than said area moment of inertia of said bowl.