Methods of preparing food and a multi-compartment container and lid assembly for practicing the methods

This application claims the benefit of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/741,285 filed Dec. 18, 2003.

The present invention relates generally to a container for holding at least one item, and more particularly, to a compartmentalized container particularly adapted for storing multiple items separated from each other within a single container for storage and transportation thereof, such as fresh sandwich and salad ingredients.

Restaurants, typically of the take-out variety, such as those involved mostly with sandwich and salad preparations, have developed methods of storing ingredients required to prepare sandwiches and salads to an individual order. Special tray arrangements contain the precut ingredients, typically in large quantities, readily available for use. Similarly, many supermarkets have point-of-sale storage and display arrangements for volume sales of such precut ingredients. A storage system for sandwich and salad ingredients in the home would be highly desirable. The home situation differs from that in a restaurant or supermarket. For example, in a restaurant or supermarket, volume sales may require frequent replenishment of ingredients, and food and health laws may deter storage of ingredients from one day to the next. In the home, such ingredients are need only at certain times, and the consumer may want to retain ingredients for longer periods.

The home environment is one area in which it is desirable to provide suitable sandwich and salad ingredient storage. For instance, collecting individual sandwich and salad ingredients from various parts of the refrigerator requires leaving the refrigerator door open for an extended time while searching for the multiple items. It would thus be desirable to provide a single storage unit for containing the needed ingredients so that such a storage unit containing multiple items can be withdrawn from the refrigerator at a single time. A home storage system for a plurality of items, such as sandwich or salad ingredients, may desirably be compartmentalized to hold smaller quantities, maintain freshness and meet the storage requirements of different ingredients. In particular, it would be desirable to have a flexible system that can accommodate multiple containers of various sizes. A compartmentalized storage system should be easily stored in a home refrigerator, be space-efficient, and have other desirable features as described below.

In accordance with the present invention, a storage and display compartmentalized tray system is provided to allow for effective separation of ingredients included within a single tray, such as would be particularly advantageous for strong flavored ingredients (e.g., onions, peppers, olives, etc.) and for ingredients having different storage requirements (e.g., juicy tomatoes vs. moisture-sensitive lettuce). Such a tray system is desirably designed and manufactured to retain ingredient freshness and eye-appeal for extended time periods. In addition, the tray system of the present invention advantageously provides for convenient and safe transport of the ingredients without refrigeration, such as for meals away from home or for outdoor activities. The storage system includes optional features to aid in maintaining the contents of the container at an acceptable low temperature for an extended period.

The container is especially suitable for individual consumer use, although it is also useful for more commercial applications. The container includes a master tray with a selection of sub-trays designed and adapted to nest adjacent to one another within the master tray. Each sub-tray can retain a separate food item, such as a sandwich or salad ingredient, for example. The sub-trays can have various features to maintain separation and freshness according to the requirements of each food item. Optimally, the sub-trays together completely occupy the master tray. Less than complete occupancy of the master tray is possible, according to the needs of specific ingredients or specific occasions. A lid for the compartmentalized container is preferably constructed and designed so that the lid seals both the individual sub-trays and the master tray.

In one aspect of this invention, a divided container system is provided, comprising a master tray having an interior portion and a peripheral top edge, at least one insertable sub-tray positionable within the interior portion of the master tray, in which each sub-tray includes a peripheral top edge and an interior portion, and a lid for sealing both the master tray and any insertable sub-trays. In this embodiment, the lid comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a plurality of sealing surfaces extending from the lower surface of the lid that are arranged to abut with the peripheral top edge of the at least one insertable sub-tray to thereby seal the interior portion of the insertable sub-trays from the interior portion of the master tray, and a peripheral sealing surface for sealable contact with the peripheral top edge of the master tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further explained with reference to the appended Figures, in which like structure is referred to by like numerals throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a master tray of the present invention, illustrating one possible array of various sized sub-trays that substantially fill the master tray;

FIG. 2 is a front-end view of the exterior of a master tray, showing a latch for retaining the lid and a label;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional exploded view of a master tray of the type shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the interior portion having two sub-trays, an individual lid for the left-hand sub-tray, and an overall lid suspended in position to lower into sealing arrangement with the master tray and sub-trays;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the view of FIG. 3, showing a cut-away of a hollow interior of the overall lid containing a freezable gel;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tray system of FIG. 1 including a lid constructed for sealing engagement with both the master tray and the individual sub-trays;

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