Securable food storage container assembly
View Patent ↗A plastic storage container assembly is disclosed comprising a storage container configured to receive a locking lid is disclosed. The storage container is comprised of a base, a generally curvilinear sidewall, a locking ledge and a resting ledge and handles. The sidewall has an inner surface and an outer surface and extends upwardly from the base. The sidewall terminates in a continuous curvilinear upper rim that has a generally parabolic profile and defines a terminal edge of the sidewall. The locking ledge traverses the outer surface of the sidewall and is defined by an outwardly projecting step in the sidewall. The locking ledge is disposed below the terminal edge of the sidewall. The resting ledge is disposed below the terminal edge of the sidewall. The storage container includes upwardly projecting first and second handles defining opposed sides of an upper extent of the sidewall.
1. A storage container assembly comprising:
a container comprising:
a base;
a generally curvilinear sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a continuous curvilinear upper rim having a generally parabolic profile, wherein at least a portion of the upper rim defines a terminal edge of the sidewall rim;
a locking ledge traversing the outer surface of the sidewall, the locking ledge defined by an outwardly projecting step in the sidewall, wherein the locking ledge is disposed below the terminal edge of the sidewall;
a resting ledge traversing the inner surface of the sidewall, the resting ledge conforming to the step in the sidewall and being disposed below the terminal edge of the sidewall; and
upwardly projecting first and second handles defining opposed sides of an upper extent of the sidewall; and,
a lid comprising:
a cover portion having a lid sidewall extending downward therefrom and terminating at a lid terminal edge, the lid terminal edge being configured to abutingly engage the resting ledge of the container;
a first locking arm connected to the sidewall of the lid and a second locking arm connected to the sidewall of the lid at a position generally opposite the first locking arm, each locking arm having a tab member on an inner surface thereof, the tab members being configured for locking engagement with at least a portion of the locking ledge of the container; and
wherein the first and second locking arms are independently moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the locking arms are in the first position the locking arms extend generally outward from the lid sidewall, and when the locking arms are in a second position the locking arms pivot around the upper rim of the container at a position proximate the lowest extent of the parabolic profile of the upper rim and the tab members cooperatively engage the locking ledge.
2. The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking ledge traverses the entire outer surface of the sidewall.
3. The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking arms are hingeably connected to the sidewall.
4. The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking arms are hingeably connected to the sidewall by a living hinge.
5. The storage container assembly of claim 1 , further including at least one aperture formed in each of the first and second handles.
6. The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the locking arms are in the second position the locking arms are positioned between the handles.
7. The storage container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the container and lid are each formed from a plastic material.
8. The storage container of claim 1 , wherein the first and second handles each include at least one aperture therethrough.
9. A storage container assembly comprising:
a first container formed from a plastic material, the first container having a base, an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface of the first container defining a generally curvilinear outer container sidewall, the first outer container sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a continuous curvilinear upper rim, the upper rim having a generally parabolic profile and defining a terminal edge of the outer container sidewall;
a locking ledge traversing the outer surface of the first container;
a second container disposed within the first container, the second container being formed from a plastic material and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the second container defining a generally curvilinear inner container sidewall, an upper extent of the inner container sidewall terminating in a resting ledge traversing the inner surface of the first container and terminating below the upper rim of the first container;
upwardly projecting first and second handles defining opposed sides of an upper extent of the outer container sidewall and above the resting ledge and the locking ledge; and
a lid comprising:
a cover portion having a lid sidewall extending downward therefrom and terminating at a lid terminal edge, the lid terminal edge being configured to abutingly engage the resting ledge of the second container;
a first locking arm connected to the sidewall of the lid and a second locking arm connected to the sidewall of the lid at a position generally opposite the first locking arm, each locking arm having a tab member on an inner surface thereof, the tab members being configured for locking engagement with at least a portion of the locking ledge on the first container; and
wherein the first and second locking arms are independently moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the locking arms are in the first position the locking arms extend generally outward from the lid sidewall, and when the locking arms are in a second position the locking arms pivot around the upper rim of the first container at a position between the handles and proximate the lowest extent of the parabolic profile of the upper and the tab members cooperatively engage the locking ledge.
10. The storage container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second container further includes a base.
11. The storage container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second container is coupled to the first container.
12. The storage container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first container is molded over the second container.
13. The storage container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the locking ledge traverses the entire outer surface of the sidewall.
14. The storage container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the locking ledge is defined by an outwardly projecting step in the sidewall and the resting ledge conforms to the step in the sidewall.
15. The storage container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second locking arms are hingeably connected to the sidewall.
16. The storage container assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first and second locking arms are hingeably connected to the sidewall by a living hinge.
17. The storage container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lid is formed from a plastic material.
18. A method of securing a locking lid to a storage container, the method comprising:
providing for a storage container comprising, a base, a generally curvilinear sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a continuous curvilinear upper rim defining a terminal edge of the sidewall, the upper rim having a generally parabolic profile; a locking ledge traversing at least a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall, the locking ledge defined by an outwardly projecting step in the sidewall, wherein the locking ledge is disposed below the terminal edge of the sidewall and a resting ledge traversing the inner surface of the sidewall, the resting ledge conforming to the step in the sidewall and being disposed below the terminal edge of the sidewall; and upwardly projecting first and second handles defining opposed sides of an upper extent of the sidewall;
providing for a lid comprising a cover portion having a lid sidewall extending downward therefrom and terminating at a lid terminal edge, the lid terminal edge being configured to abutingly engage the resting ledge of the container; a first locking arm connected to the sidewall of the lid and a second locking arm connected to the sidewall of the lid at a position generally opposite the first locking arm, each locking arm having a tab member on an inner surface thereof, the tab members being configured for locking engagement with at least a portion of the locking ledge of the container, wherein the first and second locking arms are independently moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the locking arms are in the first position the locking arms extend generally outward from the lid sidewall, and when the locking arms are in a second position the locking arms pivot around the upper rim of the container at a position proximate the lowest extent of the parabolic profile of the upper rim and the tab members cooperatively engage the locking ledge;
positioning the first and second locking arms at a position proximate the lowest extent of the parabolic profile of the upper and between the first and second handle; and,
moving the first and second locking arms to the second position and causing the tab members to cooperatively engage the locking ledge.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the storage container is comprised of a first container and a second container, each of the first and second containers being formed from a plastic material, the outer surface of the first container defining the sidewall and an inner surface of the second container defining a generally curvilinear inner container sidewall, an upper extent of the inner container sidewall defining the resting ledge.