Food containers with hinged handles

Abstract

A food container comprises a base member having at least one handle hingedly coupled thereto and a lid coupled to the base member for movement between an open position and a closed position. The base member and the lid cooperatively define a first receptacle therebetween when the lid is in a closed position. The lid has a cavity defined in an upper surface thereof to hold contents separate from the first receptacle. A second compartment can be provided that defines a second receptacle, where the cavity is configured to receive the second compartment.

1 . A food container comprising: 
 a base member having at least one handle hingedly coupled thereto; and    a lid coupled to the base member for movement between an open position and a closed position, the base member and the lid cooperatively defining a first receptacle therebetween when the lid is in a closed position, the lid having a cavity defined in an upper surface thereof to hold contents separate from the first receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second compartment defining a second receptacle therein, the cavity being configured to receive the second compartment.    
   
   
       3 . The food container of  claim 2 , wherein the second compartment includes an upper member and lower member coupled together for movement between an open position and a closed position to form a clam-shell configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The food container of  claim 2 , wherein a third receptacle is defined between an upper surface of the lid and a lower surface of the second compartment.  
   
   
       5 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is separable from the base member.  
   
   
       6 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is moveable between a first position to allow the lid to be removable from the base member to an open position and a second position to secure the lid in the closed position.  
   
   
       7 . The food container of  claim 6 , wherein the handle is further configured to hold contents within the cavity when in the second position.  
   
   
       8 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is hingedly coupled to the base member by a first hinge, the handle further including a second hinge between a first portion of the handle and a second portion of the handle.  
   
   
       9 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes at least one surface feature to enhance gripping.  
   
   
       10 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second handle hingedly coupled to the base member, the first and second handles being engageable together.  
   
   
       11 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein the base member and the handle are a single-piece construction.  
   
   
       12 . The food container of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is defined by a line of weakness formed in a portion of the base member.  
   
   
       13 . A food container comprising: 
 a base member having a bottom surface, sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of cavities defined therein, at least one cavity configured to hold a corresponding vessel; and    at least one handle hingedly coupled to the base member.    
   
   
       14 . The food container of  claim 13 , wherein the handle is moveable between a first position to allow the vessel to be removable from the corresponding cavity of base member and a second position to secure the vessel in the corresponding cavity.  
   
   
       15 . The food container of  claim 13 , wherein the handle includes at least one surface feature to enhance gripping.  
   
   
       16 . The food container of  claim 13 , further comprising a second handle hingedly coupled to the base member, the first and second handles being engageable together.  
   
   
       17 . The food container of  claim 13 , wherein the base member and the handle are a single-piece construction.  
   
   
       18 . The food container of  claim 13 , wherein the corresponding cavity has a surface feature to enhance engagement of the vessel therein.  
   
   
       19 . A food container comprising: 
 a base member;    a first lid portion hingedly coupled to one side of the base member;    a second lid portion hingedly coupled to a second side of the base member opposite the first side, the base member and the first and second lid portions cooperatively defining a first receptacle therebetween when the first and second lid portions are in a closed position; and    at least one handle hingedly coupled to at least one of the first and second lid portions, the handle being moveable between a first position to allow the first and second lid portions to be moved to an open position and a second position to secure the first and second lid portions in the closed position.    
   
   
       20 . The food container of  claim 19 , wherein the other of the first and second lid portions has an opening defined therein to receive the handle therethrough when in the second position.