Storage device having an articulated cover fitting inner and outer containers

Abstract

A container system includes an inner container adapted to nest inside of an outer container. A single cover sealingly engages both the inner and outer containers. The cover includes a first closure portion, a third closure portion, and an engagement portion. The third closure portion may be formed from an inside surface of at least a portion of the engagement portion. The outer container includes a second closure portion. The first closure portion of the cover is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion of the outer container to define a sealed storage area. The inner container includes a forth closure portion. The third closure portion of the cover is sealingly engageable with the forth closure portion of the inner container. The engagement portion of the cover is engageable with the engagement portion of a second cover to form a locked cover stack.

1 . A container comprising an outer container, an inner container, and a cover, the outer container including:
 a bottom;   a peripheral sidewall extending from said bottom;   an open top; and   a second closure portion,   the inner container fitting inside the outer container, said inner container including:
 an inner container bottom; 
 an inner container peripheral sidewall extending from said inner container bottom; 
 an inner container open top; and 
 a fourth closure portion, 
   the cover including:
 a first closure portion, said first closure portion being sealingly engageable with said second closure portion of said outer container such that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said outer container define a first substantially sealed storage area; and 
 a third closure portion, said third closure portion being sealingly engageable with said fourth closure portion of said inner container such that when said third closure portion and said fourth closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said inner container define a second substantially sealed storage area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an engagement portion of said cover, said engagement portion being engageable with a similar engagement portion of another cover; and 
 at least one articulation element on said cover. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein an inside surface of said engagement portion forms at least a portion of the third closure portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said at least one articulation element circumscribes said engagement portion of said cover. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the bottom of said outer container includes a raised lower section. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said first closure portion includes an inner wall, a retention bead, and an outer wall. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said inner wall includes one or more locking ridges. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said outer wall extends between said retention bead and a flange. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the outer wall includes a ridge. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the third closure portion is formed in a central region of said cover. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said inner container is formed of a gas permeable material. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first closure portion is sealingly engageable with a second closure portion of said outer container such that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said outer container define a first substantially sealed storage area, regardless of a presence or an absence of the inner container from the container. 
     
     
         13 . A container comprising:
 an inner container;   an outer container; and   a cover, wherein   said inner container and said outer container are adapted to sealingly engage with said cover; and   the inner container nests within said outer container when said inner container and said outer container are both sealingly engaged with said cover.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said cover comprises:
 a first closure portion, said first closure portion being sealingly engageable with a second closure portion of said outer container such that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said outer container define a first substantially sealed storage area; and 
 a third closure portion, said third closure portion being sealingly engageable with a fourth closure portion of said inner container such that when said third closure portion and said fourth closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said inner container define a second substantially sealed storage area. 
 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  further comprising:
 an engagement portion on said cover, said engagement portion being engageable with an engagement portion of a second cover; and 
 at least one articulation element on said cover, wherein 
 an inside surface of said engagement portion forms at least a portion of said third closure portion. 
 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein said at least one articulation element circumscribes said engagement portion of said cover. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein said third closure portion is formed in a central region of said cover. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein said first closure portion is sealingly engageable with said second closure portion of said outer container independently of said third closure portion being sealingly engaged with said fourth closure portion of said inner container. 
     
     
         19 . A container including an outer container, an inner container, and a cover, the outer container comprising:
 a bottom;   a peripheral sidewall extending from said bottom;   an open top; and   a second closure portion,   the inner container, said inner container fitting inside the outer container, said inner container comprising:
 an inner container bottom; 
 an inner container peripheral sidewall extending from said inner container bottom; 
 an inner container open top; and 
 a fourth closure portion, 
   the cover comprising:
 a first closure portion, said first closure portion being sealingly engageable with said second closure portion of said outer container such that when said first closure portion and said second closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said outer container define a first substantially sealed storage area; 
 a third closure portion, said third closure portion being sealingly engageable with said fourth closure portion of said inner container such that when said third closure portion and said fourth closure portion are engaged with each other, said cover and said inner container define a second substantially sealed storage area; 
 an engagement portion, said engagement portion being engageable with an engagement portion of a second cover; and 
 at least one articulation element on said cover, wherein 
   an inside surface of said engagement portion forms at least a portion of the third closure portion.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , the first closure portion is sealingly engageable with said second closure portion of said outer container independently of said third closure portion being sealingly engaged with said fourth closure portion of said inner container.