Food transport and storage container having removable inner container and insulating outer sleeve

Abstract

A food container has an inner container for holding the food items and an outer sleeve into which the inner container fits. The inner container may be held in the outer sleeve by a friction fit or a bayonet latch or other fastening means. The inner container includes two handles by with the inner container is lifted from the outer sleeve or by which the entire container is carried. A threaded lid with a gasket fastens onto the inner container. The lid and the outer sleeve may be insulated.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A food container, comprising:
 an outer sleeve having an outer wall and an inner wall so as to define an insulating space therebetween, the outer sleeve defining an interior space and an opening to access the interior space;   a lip of the outer sleeve at the opening to the interior space of the outer sleeve;   an inner container having an inner body that fits within the interior space of the outer sleeve, the inner body defining a food containing cavity;   a collar on the inner container, the collar fitting over the lip of the outer sleeve when the inner body is disposed within the interior space of the outer sleeve, the collar defining a portion of an exterior surface of the food container;   at least one handle extending from the collar; and   a lid selectively fastenable to the collar in sealing engagement.   
     
     
         2 . A food container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bayonet latching structure securing the inner container to the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . A food container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one handle includes two handles extending from opposing sides of the inner container. 
     
     
         4 . A food container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the handles each include oppositely projecting rims at a perimeter and a web extending between the perimeter of the handle and a body of the inner container. 
     
     
         5 . A food container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the handles each include a handle surface defining a finger space opening toward a closed end of the inner container. 
     
     
         6 . A food container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes an inner lid and an outer lid affixed to one another to define an insulating space within the inner and outer lids. 
     
     
         7 . A food container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve includes an outer cylindrical wall,
 wherein the lip of the outer sleeve has a cylindrical outer surface of a lesser diameter than the outer cylindrical wall of the outer sleeve, and   wherein the collar has a cylindrical outer surface that forms a continuation of the cylindrical wall of the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         8 . A food container for holding food items, comprising:
 an outer sleeve having a cylindrical outer wall and defining an interior space, the outer sleeve having a rim of a smaller outer diameter than the cylindrical outer wall;   an inner container having a food containing portion of a size and shape to fit into the interior space of the outer sleeve, the food containing portion defining an interior food containing space;   a collar extending from the food containing portion and defining a rim accepting space between the collar and the food containing portion, the rim of the outer sleeve fitting into the rim accepting space when the food containing portion of the inner container is within the interior space of the outer sleeve;   first and second handles extending from the collar in opposite directions from opposite sides of the collar;   a threaded cylindrical portion extending from the collar, the threaded cylindrical portion including an exterior threaded cylindrical surface of a smaller diameter than a diameter of the collar; and   a lid having an interior threaded portion for threadably engaging the exterior threaded cylindrical surface of the threaded cylindrical portion, the lid closing the interior food containing space when the lid is in a sealed condition on the threaded cylindrical portion, the lid maintaining the sealed condition regardless of whether the inner container is in the outer sleeve or the outer sleeve is removed from the inner container.   
     
     
         9 . A food container as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a bayonet lock between the inner container and the outer sleeve to releasably lock the inner container to the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . A food container as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the bayonet lock includes two bayonet locks, each bayonet lock being aligned with a corresponding one of the first and second handles. 
     
     
         11 . A food container as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the outer sleeve and the lid are insulated. 
     
     
         12 . A food container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the outer sleeve is vacuum insulated. 
     
     
         13 . A food container as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the inner container and the collar and the handles are formed in one piece of a microwave-safe material. 
     
     
         14 . A food container as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the inner container and the outer sleeve are held together by a friction fit when the food containing portion is within the inferior space of the outer sleeve.