Freezer to conventional oven container with matching lid

Abstract

A food storage container manufactured from silicone rubber is disclosed. The container can take the shape of a bowl and lid mounted thereto and is able to withstand a wide temperature range extending from below the freezing point of water to above the boiling point of water. In certain embodiments, the silicone rubber can be stiffened in desirable locations such as the side walls and bottom wall of the base of the container. The base can be so reinforced by fully encapsulating reinforcement members therein. The reinforcement members may be made of thermoset resins such as phenolic and melamine the reinforcement members may also be made of such materials as ceramics, glass, metal, and wood. The base may be alternatively reinforced by forming an external cage made of one of the aforementioned materials and fused to an external skin of the silicone rubber.

1 . A food storage container, comprising:
 a base having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the base and side wall being manufactured from silicone rubber; and   reinforcement members being fully encapsulated in at least one of the bottom wall and side wall.   
   
   
       2 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement members are manufactured from a thermoset resin, or ceramic or tapered glass. 
   
   
       3 . The food storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic. 
   
   
       4 . The food storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoset resin is melamine. 
   
   
       5 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement members are manufactured from one of ceramics, glass, metal, and wood. 
   
   
       6 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , further including a lid adapted to sit atop the base side wall, the lid being manufactured from silicone rubber. 
   
   
       7 . The food storage container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid further includes reinforcement members fully encapsulated in the silicone rubber. 
   
   
       8 . The food storage container of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement members are manufactured from a thermoset or resin. 
   
   
       9 . The food storage container of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic. 
   
   
       10 . The food storage container of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoset resin is melamine. 
   
   
       11 . The food storage container of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement members are made of one of ceramics, glass, metal, and wood. 
   
   
       12 . A food storage container, comprising:
 a base having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the base and side wall being manufactured from silicone rubber; and   reinforcement members provided external to the base, the reinforcement members including a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the reinforcement members being manufactured from a thermoset resin.   
   
   
       13 . The food storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic. 
   
   
       14 . The food storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoset resin is melamine. 
   
   
       15 . The food storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the side wall of the reinforcement members are formed from a plurality of vertical slats. 
   
   
       16 . The food storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom wall of the reinforcement members are formed from a plurality of intersecting slats. 
   
   
       17 . The food storage container of  claim 12 , further including a lid adapted to sit atop the base side wall, the lid being manufactured from silicone rubber. 
   
   
       18 . The food storage container of  claim 17 , wherein the lid further includes reinforcement members fully encapsulated in the silicone rubber. 
   
   
       19 . The food storage container of  claim 18 , wherein the reinforcement members in the lid are manufactured from a thermoset resin. 
   
   
       20 . The food storage container of  claim 19 , wherein the thermoset resin is phenolic. 
   
   
       21 . The food storage container of  claim 19 , wherein the thermoset resin is melamine. 
   
   
       22 . A food storage container, comprising:
 a base having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends, the base and side wall being manufactured from silicone rubber;   reinforcement members being operatively associated with the base, the reinforcement members being manufactured from a thermoset resin, the thermoset resin being one of phenolic and melamine; and   a lid removably set upon the base side wall, the lid being manufactured from silicone rubber.