EP2749506B1

EP2749506B1 - Food container

Info

Publication number: EP2749506B1
Application number: EP13188643.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Carl Beckman
Original assignee: Pacific Market International LLC
Current assignee: Pacific Market International LLC
Priority date: 2012-12-26
Filing date: 2013-10-15
Publication date: 2016-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-15
Also published as: EP2749506A2; HK1199233A1; EP2749506A3

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to food containers.

Description of the Related Art

Many people store food in sealable food containers. For example, food containers may be used to store and transport meals, such as lunch. Food containers sized and shaped to store sandwiches may be particularly useful. Further, containers configured to help maintain food at a desired temperature and prevent the contents of the container from leaking are particularly desirable. The present application provides these and other advantages as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying figures.
EP 1 908 571 A2 discloses coupling means for containers. The coupling means enable a cap or stopper of a container to be locked in position. The lid comprises two bendable diametrically opposing peripheral tabs, to the free end of which a relative peg is fixed. The latter can be forcibly inserted into corresponding coupling means provided in corresponding positions on the lateral surface of the container, to lock the lid onto the container. The lid can be released by the reverse operation.
US 2009/0218360 A1 , EP 1 466 834 A1 , US 2010/0084396 , EP 2 508 442 , US 2008/0110911 A1 , US 2012/0024856 A1 , and WO 2007/098031 A2 each disclose a container comprising a lower portion and a lid, wherein the lid is closable by means of four flaps each comprising a tab to the lower portion. KR 20-0404820 discloses a container comprising a lower portion and a lid, wherein the lid is attachable to the lower portion by means of a ledge and hinge mechanism. US 5,702,013 discloses a dynamic virtual hinge closer used for a controlled, reliable and measured dispensing of a variety of substances with extensive monitoring, charge resistance and senior friendly features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of a food container.
Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of a food container.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the food container with its lid removed and positioned alongside a lower portion of the food container.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of a flap having a key member of the lid of both the first and second embodiments of the food container.
Figure 5 is a side view of the flap and the key member of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lower portion of both the first and second embodiments of the food container.
Figure 7 is a side view of the lower portion of Figure 6 illustrating a recess with a keyway formed therein.
Figure 8A is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the food container with the lid removed and the key member inserted into the recess with the keyway formed therein.
Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view of the structures of Figure 8A taken along a line 8B-8B of the Figure 8A.
Figure 9A is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the food container with the lid removed and the key member inserted in the keyway.
Figure 9B is a cross-sectional view of the structures of Figure 9A taken along a line 9B-9B of the Figure 9A.
Figure 10A is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the food container with the lid positioned on the lower portion.
Figure 10B is a cross-sectional view of the structures of Figure 10A taken along a line 10B-10B of the Figure 10A.
Figure 11A is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the food container with the lid fully coupled to the lower portion.
Figure 11B is a cross-sectional view of the structures of Figure 11A taken along a line 11B-11B of the Figure 11A.
Figure 12 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 8B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Like reference numerals have been used in Figures 1-12 to identify like components. Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of a food container 10A. Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of a food container 10B. The containers 10A and 10B each includes a removable lid 20, a lower portion 30, a seal 40, an optional removable liner or tray (e.g., a tray 50A illustrated in Figure 1, a tray 50B illustrated in Figure 2, and the like), and an optional removable freezer pack 60. The lid 20, the lower portion 30, the seal 40, the tray 50A, and the tray 50B may each be configured to withstand washing in a conventional household dishwasher (not shown). In other words, the lid 20, the lower portion 30, the seal 40, the tray 50A, and the tray 50B may each be dishwasher safe.
The containers 10A and 10B may each be used to transport one or more food items (e.g., a sandwich 70 illustrated in Figure 2). The containers 10A and 10B may each be configured for use as a lunch container. The containers 10A and 10B differ from one another with respect to the structure of the optional tray. Specifically, the container 10A includes the tray 50A, and the container 10B includes the tray 50B. Aside from the optional tray, the containers 10A and 10B are substantially identical to one another.

Lid

The lid 20 may be constructed from a flexible plastic material suitable for food storage. If desired, the lid 20 may be transparent or translucent. Figure 3 is perspective view of the container 10A with the lid 20 removed and positioned alongside the lower portion 30. The lid 20 has a body portion 200 with a peripheral edge portion 210, and a plurality of bendable or flexible flaps 212A-212D positioned along the peripheral edge portion 210. The peripheral edge portion 210 has a downward opening channel 211 formed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the seal 40 when the lid 20 is coupled to the lower portion 30.
In the embodiment illustrated, the lid 20 is generally square or rectangular in shape. Thus, the peripheral edge portion 210 has four substantially linear edges 214A-214D. In the embodiment illustrated, the flaps 212A-212D are positioned along the edges 214A-214D, respectively. However, this is not a requirement. In alternate embodiments, more than one flap may be positioned along one or more of the edges 214A-214D. Further, one or more of the edges 214A-214D may not have a flap positioned therealong. Additionally, the lid 20 may have shapes other than square or rectangular. For example, the lid 20 may have a shape this generally triangular, circular, trapezoidal, arbitrary, fanciful, and the like as may the portions of the lower portion 30 to which the lid is attached.
Each of the flaps 212A-212D is selectively rotatable (at or near where the flap connects to the peripheral edge portion 210) relative to the body portion 200 between an unlatched position (see Figures 1, 3, 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B) and a latched position (see Figures 2, 11A, and 11B). In the unlatched position, the flaps 212A-212D may be characterized as being straight (or substantially coplanar) relative to the body portion 200 or at least extending laterally outward from the body portion 200. In the latched position, the flaps 212A-212D may be characterized as being bent relative to the body portion 200.
In the embodiment illustrated, each of the flaps 212A-212D is selectively bendable (at or near where the flap connects to the peripheral edge portion 210) relative to the body portion 200 between the unlatched and latched positions. In the embodiment illustrated, the flaps 212A-212D each have a thinner hinge portion 226 positioned adjacent the peripheral edge portion 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge portion 226 is shown as a living hinge. However, other types of hinges may be used. The hinge portion 226 defines a bending location for each of the flaps 212A-212D. Each of the flaps 212A-212D has an inwardly facing surface 220 that faces the lower portion 30 when the flap is in the latched position (see Figures 2, 11A, and 11B) and the lid 20 is coupled to the lower portion 30 as illustrated in Figures 11A and 11B.
The flap 212A has a key member 230 positioned along the inwardly facing surface 220. The flaps 212B-212D without the key member 230, each have an inwardly projecting tab 240 positioned along the inwardly facing surface 220. Each of the flaps 212B-212D also has a gripable distal end portion 222 that curves outwardly away from the lower portion 30 when the lid 20 is coupled to the lower portion 30. In the embodiment illustrated, the inwardly projecting tab 240 is adjacent the gripable distal end portion 222.
Turning to Figures 4 and 5, the key member 230 projects from the inwardly facing surface 220 of the flap 212A. The key member 230 illustrated includes a support portion 250 having an end portion 252 spaced apart from the inwardly facing surface 220. An overhang portion 254 is positioned on the end portion 252 of the support portion 250. Thus, the key member 230 may be characterized as having a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.
Returning to Figure 3, the inwardly projecting tab 240 of each of the flaps 212B-212D extends at an angle away from the inwardly facing surface 220 toward the peripheral edge portion 210 of the lid 20. The inwardly projecting tab 240 has a distal end portion 260 with a lip 262 projecting therefrom toward the peripheral edge portion 210 of the lid 20. The inwardly projecting tab 240 is configured to be bent (or flexed) toward and away from the peripheral edge portion 210 of the lid 20. When the flaps 212B-212D are in the latched position (see Figures 2, 11A, and 11B) and the lid 20 is coupled to the lower portion 30 as illustrated in Figures 11A and 11B, the gripable distal end portion 222 of each of the flaps 212B-212D is positioned to be gripped and pulled.

Lower Portion

The lower portion 30 may be constructed from a flexible or rigid plastic material suitable for food storage. Turning to Figure 6, the lower portion 30 has a base portion 310 and an upwardly extending sidewall 312 that extends upwardly from the base portion 310. The base portion 310 and the sidewall 312 define an upwardly opening interior compartment 320 into which the optional freezer pack 60 (see Figures 1, 2, 8A, 9A, 10A, 11A, and 12) and the optional tray (e.g., the tray 50A illustrated in Figure 1 or the tray 50B illustrated in Figure 2) may be received. In the embodiment illustrated, the sidewall 312 is curved or tapered so that the interior compartment 320 narrows near the base portion 310. However, this is not a requirement.
The sidewall 312 has a distal portion 330 that has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the lid 20. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3 and 8A-11 B, the lid 20 is generally rectangular or square in shape. Thus, the distal portion 330 is also generally rectangular or square in shape. A continuous projection 332 extends upwardly from the distal portion 330. The projection 332 is offset toward the interior compartment 320 to define an outer ledge 334 along the distal portion 330. As may be viewed in Figure 12, the seal 40 is positionable upon the distal portion 330 of the sidewall 312. The projection 332 is configured to be received by the seal 40 and when so received, to position the seal 40 to be received inside the downward opening channel 211 of the lid 20 when the lid is coupled to the lower portion 30. Thus, when the lid 20 is coupled to the lower portion 30, the peripheral edge portion 210 of the lid 20 rests upon the seal 40, which is positioned upon the distal portion 330 of the sidewall 312.
Returning to Figure 3, a different recess is formed in the exterior side of the sidewall 312 for each of the flaps 212A-212D. In the embodiment illustrated, recesses 340A, 340B, 340C (see Figures 1 and 2), and 340D (see Figure 6) correspond to the flaps 212A, 212B, 212C, and 212D, respectively. Each recess that corresponds to a flap having the key member 230 has a keyway formed therein. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the recess 340A (which corresponds to the flap 212A) has a keyway 342 formed therein. Turning to Figure 8B, each recess (e.g., the recess 340C) that corresponds to a flap (e.g., the flap 212C) having the inwardly projecting tab 240 has a lip 344 formed therein. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated, the recesses 340B, 340C (see Figures 1 and 2), and 340D (see Figure 6) (which correspond to the flaps 212B, 212C, and 212D, respectively) each has the lip 344 formed therein.
Turning to Figure 3, the recess 340A has a lower portion 350 adjacent an upper portion 352. The lower portion 350 is configured to receive the key member 230 laterally but not to retain the key member 230 inside the recess 340A. The keyway 342 is formed in the upper portion 352 of the recess 340A. Turning to Figure 7, the keyway 342 has an overhang portion 354 that partially encloses a portion 356 of the recess 340A. The partially enclosed portion 356 is configured to receive the overhang portion 254 (see Figures 4 and 5) of the key member 230 (see Figures 4 and 5). The partially enclosed portion 356 has an opening 358 adjacent the lower portion 350 of the recess 340A. The opening 358 is configured to permit the overhang portion 254 to pass therethrough into the partially enclosed portion 356 of the recess 340A.
A passage 360 is formed in the overhang portion 354. The passage 360 is configured to receive the support portion 250 (see Figures 4 and 5) of the key member 230 (see Figures 4 and 5) and permit the support portion 250 to slide relative to the overhang portion 354. The passage 360 is further configured not to allow the overhang portion 254 (see Figures 4 and 5) of the key member 230 (see Figures 4 and 5) to pass through the passage 360. Thus, the overhang portion 354 of the keyway 342 prevents lateral disengagement of the overhang portion 254 of the key member 230 from the partially enclosed portion 356 of the keyway 342. However, the key member 230 may be disengaged from the partially enclosed portion 356 of the keyway 342 by sliding the key member 230 through the opening 358 in the partially enclosed portion 356 of the keyway 342 and into the lower portion 350 of the recess 340A. Once inside the lower portion 350, the key member 230 may be removed laterally from the recess 340A.
Returning to Figure 3, the key member 230 may be aligned with the lower portion 350, and inserted into the lower portion 350 by moving the lid 20 laterally in a direction indicated by an arrow "A." Once received inside the lower portion 350 of the recess 340A, the key member 230 is slidable within the recess 340A between the lower portion 350 and the upper portion 352. Thus, the key member 230 may be positioned in the lower portion 350 and slid upwardly therefrom into the opening 358 (see Figure 7) of the keyway 342. Further, the key member 230 may be slid downwardly from the keyway 342 into the lower portion 350 of the recess 340A.
To couple the lid 20 to the lower portion 30, the key member 230 is first positioned inside the lower portion 350 (see Figure 3) of the recess 340A as illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B. Then, the lid 20 is lifted upward (in a direction indicted by an arrow "B") until the key member 230 (see Figure 3) slides into the opening 358 (see Figure 7) of the keyway 342 (see Figure 3) as illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B. Next, the lid 20 is rotated (in a direction indicted by an arrow "C") toward the lower portion 30, which bends the flap 212A toward the latched position as illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B. When the flap 212A is in the latched position, the flaps 212B, 212C, and 212D are bent (in directions indicted by arrows "D1" to "D3," respectively) toward the recesses 340B, 340C (see Figure 10B), and 340D (see Figure 6), respectively, of the lower portion 30 with sufficient force to push the inwardly projecting tabs 240 of the flaps 212B-212D inside the recesses 340B-340D, respectively, and into latching engagement with the lips 344. Inside each of the recesses 340B-340D, the inwardly projecting tab 240 grips the lip 344 to couple the lid 20 firmly to the lower portion 30. The lip 262 (see Figure 10B) on the distal end portion 260 (see Figure 10B) of the tab 240 may help grip or otherwise maintain engagement between the tab 240 and the lip 344.
Figures 11A and 11B illustrate the lid 20 fully coupled to the lower portion 30. Returning to Figures 10A and 10B, to uncouple the lid 20 from the lower portion 30, the flaps 212B-212D are bent away from the sidewall 312 of the lower portion 30 (in directions opposite those indicted by arrows "D1" to "D3," respectively) toward the unlatched position with sufficient force to disengage the inwardly projecting tabs 240 from the lips 344 and the recesses 340B-340D. Next, referring to Figures 9A and 9B, the lid 20 is rotated (in a direction opposite that indicted by the arrow "C") away from the lower portion 30, which bends the flap 212A toward the unlatched position (in which the flap 212A extends laterally from the body portion 200 of the lid but the key member 230 (see Figure 3) positioned inside the keyway 342 (see Figure 3)). Then, referring to Figures 8A and 8B, the lid 20 is pushed downwardly or lowered (in a direction opposite that indicted by the arrow "B") until the key member 230 (see Figure 3) slides out of the keyway 342 (see Figure 3) and into the lower portion 350 (see Figure 3) of the recess 340A. Then, referring to Figures 3, the lid 20 is separated from the lower portion 30 by removing the key member 230 from inside the lower portion 350 of the recess 340A (in a direction opposite that indicted by the arrow "A"). With the lid 20 removed, the lid and the lower portion 30 may be separately washed. Separation may also be convenient for placement of one or more food items, one of the optional trays 50A or 50B, and/or the optional freezer pack 60 inside the interior compartment 320 or for their removal therefrom.
Turning to Figure 6, one or more inwardly projecting tray supports 370 may be positioned on the sidewall 312 along the interior compartment 320. In the embodiment illustrated, the lower portion 30 has a different tray support 370 for each of the recesses 340A-340D that is positioned on the opposite side of the sidewall 312 from the recesses 340A-340D. However, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that the lower portion 30 may include a different number of tray supports. For example, a single continuous tray support may extend along the sidewall 312 and into the interior compartment 320.

Seal

The seal 40 may be constructed from a flexible or compressible material suitable for food storage. Turning to Figure 11B, the lid 20 is configured to be coupled to the lower portion 30 with the seal 40 positioned between the lid and the lower portion. Together the lid 20 and the lower portion 30 define a hollow interior 400 in which food items may be stored. The seal 40 may be configured to form a leak proof seal between the lid 20 and the lower portion 30 that maintains liquids inside the hollow interior 400. The seal 40 may be configured to form an airtight seal to help keep food items fresh inside the hollow interior 400.

Optional Trays

Returning to Figures 1 and 2, each of the optional trays 50A and 50B may be constructed from a flexible or rigid plastic material suitable for food storage. Each of the optional trays 50A and 50B has a bottom 510 and a sidewall 512 that extends upwardly from the bottom 510. The sidewall 512 has an upper edge portion 514 opposite the bottom 510.
An outwardly projecting portion 516 is positioned along the upper edge portion 514. In the embodiment illustrated, the outwardly projecting portion 516 extends continuously along the entire upper edge portion 514. However, this is not a requirement and embodiments in which the outwardly projecting portion 516 extends along less than the entire upper edge portion 514 and/or is discontinuous along the upper edge portion 514 are within the scope of the present teachings. The outwardly projecting portion 516 has a lower support surface 518 (see Figure 12). The outwardly projecting portion 516 is configured to rest upon and be supported by the tray supports 370. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, the lower support surface 518 of the outwardly projecting portion 516 rests upon the tray supports 370. The tray supports 370 position the tray (e.g., the tray 50A, the tray 50B, and the like) relative to the base portion 310 of the lower portion 30.
In the embodiment illustrated, a gap 520 is defined between the tray (e.g., the tray 50A or the tray 50B) and the lower portion 30. Together the tray (e.g., the tray 50A or the tray 50B) and the lower portion 30 (with air in the gap 520) provide double-walled insulation for any food items stored in the tray. This double-walled insulation may be used to help maintain the temperature of warm (or heated) food items stored inside the container 10A or the container 10B. Alternatively, the double-walled insulation may be used to help maintain the temperature of cool (or frozen) food items inside the container 10A or the container 10B. Further, the optional freezer pack 60 may be positioned inside the gap 520.
Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the bottom 510 and the sidewall 512 define an upwardly opening interior 530 configured to hold one or more food items (e.g., the sandwich 70 illustrated in Figure 2). Unlike the tray 50B illustrated in Figure 2, the tray 50A illustrated in Figure 1 includes dividers 540A-540D. The dividers 540A-540D divide the upwardly opening interior 530 into sub-compartments 542A-542D. If desired, one or more food items may be stored in each of the sub-compartments 542A-542D.

Optional Freezer Pack

Returning to Figure 11B, the optional freezer pack 60 is configured to be positioned inside the interior compartment 320 of the lower portion 30. In the embodiment illustrated, the freezer pack 60 is positioned on the base portion 310 of the lower portion 30. The optional tray 50A (or the optional tray 50B illustrated in Figure 2) may be positioned inside the interior compartment 320 directly above the optional freezer pack 60. In such embodiments, the freezer pack 60 may be positioned in the gap 520. In the embodiment illustrated, the tray 50A (or the tray 50B) rests upon the optional freezer pack 60. However, this is not a requirement. The optional freezer pack 60 may help cool the interior compartment 320 to help prevent food items stored in the interior compartment 320 from spoiling. While a single freezer pack has been illustrated, the container 10A and/or the container 10B may include two or more freezer packs. Further, the contents of the freezer pack 60 need not be frozen. In alternate embodiments, one or more warming elements or packs may be substituted for the freezer pack 60.
The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably connected," or "operably coupled," to each other to achieve the desired functionality.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention, which is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

A container comprising:
a lower portion (30) comprising a base portion (310) and a sidewall (312) extending away from the base portion (310), the sidewall (312) comprising a distal portion (330) opposite the base portion (310), the sidewall further comprising a keyway (342), a first recess (340A), and a second recess (340B, 340C, or 340D), the first recess (340A) having an upper portion (352) adjacent a lower portion (350), the keyway (342) being formed in the upper portion (352) of the first recess (340A), the second recess (340B, 340C, or 340D) having a lip portion (344), the base portion (310) and the sidewall (312) defining a hollow interior (320) having an opening defined by the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312); and

a lid (20) removably couplable to the sidewall (312) of the lower portion (30), the lid (20) comprising a body portion (200) having a peripheral portion (210), first and second flaps (212A and 212B, 212C, or 212D) both positioned on the peripheral portion (210), and a key member (230) positioned on the first flap (212A), the second flap (212B, 212C, or 212D) comprising a tab (240), the second flap (212B, 212C, or 212D) being pivotable relative to the body portion (200) of the lid (20) to position the tab (240) inside the second recess (340B, 340C, or 340D) and into engagement with the lip (344) when the body portion (200) of the lid (20) is positioned adjacent the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312) and closes the opening of the hollow interior (320) defined by the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312),
said container being characterized in that
the lower portion (350) of the first recess (340A) is configured to receive the key member (230), the key member (230) being receivable inside the keyway (342) by sliding the key member (230) within the first recess (340A) from the lower portion (350) into the keyway (342) formed in the upper portion (352) of the first recess (340A), the body portion (200) of the lid (20) being configured to be pivoted relative to the first flap (212A) when the key member (230) is received inside the keyway (342) to position the body portion (200) of the lid (20) adjacent to the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312) to close the opening of the hollow interior (320) defined by the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312).
The container of claim 1, further comprising:
a seal (40) extending along the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312) of the lower portion (30), the seal (40) being positioned between the peripheral portion (210) of the body portion (200) of the lid (20) and the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312) of the lower portion (30) to form a leak proof seal therebetween when the body portion (200) of the lid (20) is adjacent the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312) and closing the opening of the hollow interior (320) defined by the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312).
The container of claim 1, wherein the second recess (340B, 340C, or 340D) is spaced apart from both the opening and the keyway (342),
the tab (240) is positioned on the second flap (212B, 212C, or 212D),
the lid (20) is coupled to the lower portion (30) when the key member (230) is positioned inside the keyway (342) and the tab (240) is received inside the second recess (340B, 340C, or 340D), and
the second flap (212B, 212C, or 212D) is rotatable relative to the lower portion (30) to selectively position the tab (240) inside and outside the second recess (340B, 340C, or 340D).
The container of claim 1, wherein the lid (20) and the lower portion (30) are each dishwasher safe.
The container of claim 1, wherein the first flap (212A) is a key flap,
a plurality of locking flaps (212B-212D) are positioned along the peripheral portion (210) of the lid (20),
each of the plurality of locking flaps (212B-212D) has a tab (240),
each of the plurality of locking flaps (212B-212D) is rotatable relative to the peripheral portion (210),
the sidewall (312) has a plurality of locking recesses (340A-340D) formed therein, the first recess is a keyway recess (340A) of the plurality of recesses (340A-340D) and has the keyway (342) formed therein,
others of the plurality of recesses (340B-340D) are locking recesses each having a lip (344) formed therein, and
the tab (240) of each of the locking flaps (212B-212D) is positioned to be received inside a corresponding different one of the locking recesses (340B-340D) to engage with the lip (344) formed therein to couple the lid (20) to the lower portion (30) when the body portion (200) of the lid (20) is adjacent to the distal portion (330) of the sidewall (312) of the lower portion (30).
The container of claim 5, wherein a plurality of flaps includes the key flap (212A) and the plurality of locking flaps (212B-212D), each of the plurality of flaps (212A-212D) is connected to the peripheral portion (210) of the lid (20) by a hinge portion (226) that defines a bending location for the flap, each of the plurality of flaps (212A-212D) being bendable at the bending location and thereby rotatable relative to the peripheral portion (210) of the lid (20).
The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second flaps (212A and 212B, 212C, or 212D) are each connected to the peripheral portion (210) of the lid (20) by a thinner hinge portion (226) that defines a bending location for the flap, each of the first and second flaps (212A and 212B, 212C, or 212D) being bendable at the bending location and thereby rotatable relative to the peripheral portion (210) of the lid (20).