Food container assembly

Abstract

A container assembly provides for a receptacle having and opened end and a collar that is releasably secured to the opened end and that permits access to contents in the receptacle. The container assemble further provides for a lid that is securable to the receptacle and to the collar. The container assembly provides for a receptacle having an opened end and a collar that is releasably connected to the opened end and lid. The container assembly also provides for a hinged connection between the collar and the lid that permits the lid to rotate and pivot relative to the collar and to attach to the receptacle or the collar.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container assembly comprising
 a receptacle having and opened end;   a collar that is releasably secured to said opened end and that permits access to contents in the receptacle; and   a lid that is securable to said receptacle and to said collar.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said collar comprises a handle having an aperture, and wherein said lid comprises a pin that is rotatably and pivotally received in said aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein rotational and pivotable movement of said pin in said aperture permits said lid to be secured to said collar when the said collar when the container assembly is in a closed configuration or secured to said receptacle when the container assembly is in an opened configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said pin is releasably received in said aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said handle further comprises a compressible overmolded material that extends through said aperture that said pin compresses for insertion through said aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said pin is permanently received in said aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said collar comprises an internal threaded surface and an indicator and said receptacle comprises an outer threaded and an indicator, and wherein after relative rotational movement between said internal threads and said external threads, intersection of a center line of said indictor of said collar and said indicator of said receptacle provides the indication that receptacle and the collar are in a sealed relationship. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said collar further comprises a cover having a plurality of flexible petals that can be deflected to provide access to contents of the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle further comprises a closed end having annular rim, wherein said collar comprises an annular rim, and wherein said lid comprises an annular indentation that mates with said annular rim of said receptacle when the container is in an opened configuration and with said annular rim of said collar when said container is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A container assembly comprising
 a receptacle having an opened end;   a collar that is releasably connected to said opened end;   a lid; and   a hinged connection between said collar and said lid that permits the lid to rotate and pivot relative to said collar and to attach to said receptacle or said collar.   
     
     
         11 . The container assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said collar further comprises a handle, an aperture, and a compressive material that covers said handle and extends through said aperture and thereby forms an annular outer cam surface in said aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said lid comprises a pin having a stem and a distal end connected to said stem, and wherein said distal end is pressed against outer cam surface and inserted through said aperture to established said hinged connection. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said hinged connection comprises a pin on said lid and an aperture in said collar, and wherein said pin is received through said aperture in a press-fit fashion. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said receptacle further comprises a closed end having annular rim wherein said collar comprises an annular rim, and wherein said lid comprises an annular indentation that mates with said annular rim of said receptacle when the container is in an opened configuration and with said annular rim of said collar when said container is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said collar comprises an internal threaded surface and an indicator and said receptacle comprises an outer threaded and an indicator, and wherein after relative rotational movement between said internal threaded surface and said external threaded surface, intersection of a center line of said indictor of said collar and said indicator of said receptacle provides the indication that receptacle and the collar are in a sealed relationship. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said collar further comprises a cover having a plurality of flexible petals that can be deflected to provide access to contents of the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . A container assembly comprising
 a receptacle having an opened end and a closed end;   a collar that is releasable secured to said opened end, wherein said collar comprises a handle having an aperture; and   a lid having a pin that is pivotably and rotatable received in said aperture to permit said lid to be secured to said collar when the said collar when the container assembly is in a closed configuration or to be secured to said closed end when said container assembly is in an opened configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The container assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said handle further comprises a compressible material that extends through said aperture and forms an outer cam surface and a locking surface. 
     
     
         19 . The container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said pin comprises a stem and a distal end connected to said stem. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein insertion of said distal end into said aperture deflects said outer cam surface and said locking surface to permit passage of said distal end. 
     
     
         21 . The container assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said pin is permanently received in said aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The container assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said pin is releasable received in said aperture. 
     
     
         23 . The container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said compressible material has a Shore-A durometer of between about 50 to about 70. 
     
     
         24 . The container assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said collar comprises an internal threaded surface and an indicator and said receptacle comprises an outer threaded and an indicator, and wherein after relative rotational movement between said internal threaded surface and said external threaded surface, intersection of a center line of said indictor of said collar and said indicator of said receptacle provides the indication that receptacle and the collar are in a sealed relationship.