Storage Container with Collapsible Lid and Utensil

Abstract

A storage container with collapsible lid and utensil. The present invention consists of a base having a flexible and collapsible silicone lid or hood. This hood or lid allows for easy opening and closing without popping off or unscrewing. This hood or lid also ensures that when closed the food inside is fully covered from spills and splashes. Additionally as the flexible hood or lid remains permanently attached to the base of the container, it cannot be misplaced.

1 . A storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states, said container comprising:
 (a) a container body comprising a continuous side wall, a bottom panel enclosing one end of said container body, said side wall and said bottom panel together forming a container structure having one closed end and one open end;   (b) a lid for selectively converting said container to a closed container; and   (c) said lid comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, and a planar opening;   (d) closure means where said top wall of the lid is inwardly foldable toward said bottom wall, such that said container is collapsible in a direction normal to said container body and said bottom panel closing the planar opening while being substantially self-supporting while said top wall is in its unfolded orientation; and   (e) attachment means for securing said lid to said open end of the container body.   
   
   
       2 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of  claim 1  wherein the lid is attached to the container body. 
   
   
       3 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of  claim 2  wherein the lid is removably attached to the container body. 
   
   
       4 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of  claim 1  wherein said closure means is activatable by an externally applied compressive force exerted in a direction substantially parallel to said opening plane. 
   
   
       5 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 1  wherein said container structure has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape 
   
   
       6 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 1  wherein said container structure has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape 
   
   
       7 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (f) attachment means for securing a ladle to the container body.   
   
   
       8 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 7  wherein the ladle:
 is shaped with a concave top that forms a scooping area;   the bottom of the scoop forms a convex surface offset from the inner surface;   along the apex of the convex surface a recessed groove is molded into the scoop;   said recess thins the scoop material along the scoop's center;   inside the flexible scoop a piece of strong inflexible material  30  shaped to support the rear half of the flexible scoop;   said support also flows into the handle and acts to connect the handle and scoop forming a functioning tool   said support is molded so that inside the scoop its support extends to just short of the recess in the flexible material; and   closure means where when force is applied to the front edge of the flexible scoop, said scoop is pushed back toward the handle, the front half of the scoop will deform and fold into the supported back half of the scoop while being substantially self-supporting while said front half of the scoop is in its unfolded orientation.   
   
   
       9 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 8  wherein said scooping area of the ladle is shaped such that there is a small pouring spout at either side. 
   
   
       10 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (g) sealing means where an air tight seal between the edges of the top wall and bottom wall of the collapsing lid edges of the top wall and bottom wall are provided with means to ensure a sealed intersection.   
   
   
       11 . A storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states, said container comprising:
 (a) a container body comprising a continuous side wall, a bottom panel enclosing one end of said container body, said side wall and said bottom panel together forming a container structure having one closed end and one open end;   (b) a lid for selectively converting said container to a closed container; and   (c) said lid comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, and a planar opening;   (d) said lid formed as one piece with the container body; and   (e) closure means where said top wall of the lid is inwardly foldable toward said bottom wall, such that said container is collapsible in a direction normal to said container body and said bottom panel closing the planar opening while being substantially self-supporting while said top wall is in its unfolded orientation.   
   
   
       12 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of  claim 11  wherein the lid is attached to the container body. 
   
   
       13 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of  claim 12  wherein the lid is removably attached to the container body. 
   
   
       14 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible states of  claim 11  wherein said closure means is activatable by an externally applied compressive force exerted in a direction substantially parallel to said opening plane. 
   
   
       15 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 11  wherein said container structure has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape 
   
   
       16 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 11  wherein said container structure has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape 
   
   
       17 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 11  further comprising:
 (f) attachment means for securing a ladle to the container body.   
   
   
       18 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 17  wherein the ladle:
 is shaped with a concave top that forms a scooping area;   the bottom of the scoop forms a convex surface offset from the inner surface;   along the apex of the convex surface a recessed groove is molded into the scoop;   said recess thins the scoop material along the scoop's center;   inside the flexible scoop a piece of strong inflexible material  30  shaped to support the rear half of the flexible scoop;   said support also flows into the handle and acts to connect the handle and scoop forming a functioning tool   said support is molded so that inside the scoop its support extends to just short of the recess in the flexible material; and   closure means where when force is applied to the front edge of the flexible scoop, said scoop is pushed back toward the handle, the front half of the scoop will deform and fold into the supported back half of the scoop while being substantially self-supporting while said front half of the scoop is in its unfolded orientation.   
   
   
       19 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 18  wherein said scooping area of the ladle is shaped such that there is a small pouring spout at either side. 
   
   
       20 . The storage container with collapsible lid having collapsible and non-collapsible state of  claim 11  further comprising:
 (g) sealing means where an air tight seal between the edges of the top wall and bottom wall of the collapsing lid edges of the top wall and bottom wall are provided with means to ensure a sealed intersection.