Collapsible food keeper
View Patent ↗A collapsible food keeper is selectively positionable between an expanded position and a collapsed position, in which the food keeper may be used to contain food items such as eggs in both positions. In one version, an upper container portion is telescopically connected to a lower container portion, with a lid removably attached to the upper container and a base removably attached to the lower container.
1. A collapsible food keeper, comprising:
a lower container having a base surrounded by upwardly extending lower container sidewalls terminating in an open rim to define an interior space, the open rim extending outwardly from the upwardly extending lower container sidewalls
an upper container having upwardly extending upper container sidewalls, an open top, and an open bottom, the open bottom having an inwardly-directed flange;
the upper container further including at least one container latch hingedly attached to the upper container and configured to releasably engage a locking feature positioned on an outer surface of the lower container, wherein the upper container is moveable between a collapsed position in which the upper container surrounds the lower container and the at least one container latch is engaged with the locking feature, and an expanded position in which the at least one container latch is disengaged and the upper container is raised with respect to the lower container and the at least one container latch is engaged with the open rim of the lower container;
a lid removably attachable to the open top of the upper container to enclose an upper portion of the upper container, wherein when the collapsible food keeper is in the collapsed position a first height is defined between the lid and the open rim of the lower container;
a lower tray configured to hold a food item; and
an upper tray configured to hold a food item, the upper tray being supportable by the collapsible food keeper in a position above the lower tray.
2. The collapsible food keeper of claim 1 , wherein the at least one container latch comprises a first container latch joined to the upper container via a first living hinge, and a second container latch joined to the upper container via a second living hinge.
3. The collapsible food keeper of claim 2 , wherein the locking feature comprises a first bar on the outer surface of the lower container and a second bar on the outer surface of the lower container.
4. The collapsible food keeper of claim 3 , wherein:
the upper tray further includes a tray flange having a tray flange length;
the lower container includes a lower tray interior sidewall length; and
the upper container includes an upper tray interior sidewall length;
the tray flange length being greater than the lower tray interior sidewall length and less than the upper tray interior sidewall length, whereby the tray flange is supportable by the open rim of the lower tray.
5. The collapsible food keeper of claim 4 , wherein the upper tray includes a tray portion, the tray flange extending peripherally beyond the tray portion, the tray portion further having a tray portion height, the tray portion height being greater than the first height.
6. The collapsible food keeper of claim 5 , wherein the upper tray comprises a plurality of concavities configured for holding eggs.
7. The collapsible food keeper of claim 6 , wherein the upper tray portion extends above the tray flange when the upper tray is supported by the lower container and the collapsible food keeper is in the expanded position, and further wherein when the collapsible food keeper is in the collapsed position the upper tray is inverted whereby the upper tray portion extends below the tray flange.
8. The collapsible food keeper of claim 7 , wherein the lower tray is sized to rest on the base of the lower container.
9. The collapsible food keeper of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of concavities are facing downward when the upper tray is inverted.
10. The collapsible food keeper of claim 5 , wherein the lid further comprises a pair of handles pivotally attached to the lid.
11. The collapsible food keeper of claim 10 , wherein the lid further comprises a peripheral ledge arranged to support the pair of handles.
12. A collapsible food keeper, comprising:
a lower container having a base surrounded by upwardly extending lower container sidewalls terminating in an open rim to define an interior space, the lower container having a support surface extending outwardly from the upwardly extending lower container sidewalls;
an upper container having upwardly extending upper container sidewalls, an open top, and an open bottom, the open bottom having an inwardly-directed flange configured to engage the support surface;
the upper container further including at least a pair of container latches attached to the upper container and configured to releasably engage a corresponding abutment positioned on an outer surface of the lower container, wherein the upper container is moveable between a collapsed position in which the upper container surrounds the lower container and each of the pair of the pair of container latches is engaged with the corresponding abutment, and an expanded position in which the upper container is raised with respect to the lower container and each of the container latches is engaged with the support surface of the lower container;
a lid removably attachable to the upper container to enclose an upper portion of the upper container, wherein when the collapsible food keeper is in the collapsed position a first height is defined between the lid and the open rim of the lower container; and
an upper tray configured to hold a food item, the upper tray being supportable by an upper portion of the lower container when the lid is attached to the upper container, whereby the upper tray is suspended above the base of the lower container.
13. The collapsible food keeper of claim 12 , wherein the pair of container latches are attached to the upper container by a pair of living hinges.
14. The collapsible food keeper of claim 12 , wherein the support surface comprises a pair of bars on the outer surface of the lower container.
15. The collapsible food keeper of claim 12 , further comprising a lower tray configured to hold a food item;
the upper tray further having a tray flange having a tray flange length;
the lower container having a lower tray interior sidewall length; and
the upper container having an upper tray interior sidewall length;
the tray flange length being greater than the lower tray interior sidewall length and less than the upper tray interior sidewall length, whereby the tray flange is supportable by the open rim of the lower tray.
16. The collapsible food keeper of claim 12 , wherein the upper tray includes a tray portion, the tray flange extending peripherally beyond the tray portion, the tray portion further having a tray portion height, the tray portion height being greater than the first height.
17. The collapsible food keeper of claim 16 , wherein the upper tray portion comprises a plurality of concavities configured for holding eggs.
18. The collapsible food keeper of claim 17 , wherein the lid further comprises a pair of handles pivotally attached to the lid.
19. The collapsible food keeper of claim 18 , wherein the lid further comprises a peripheral ledge arranged to support the pair of handles.