Attachable food container

Abstract

A food container ( 14 ) that is mountable on a cup ( 12 ), includes a container bottom recess ( 30 ) that receives the top ( 22 ) of the cup. Walls of the recess form a groove ( 44 ) that extends around the container axis ( 26 ) and snaps onto a bead ( 24 ) at the top of the cup to hold the container securely to the cup. The groove ( 44 ) lies at the top of a lead-in wall ( 42 ) that extends at an inward and upward incline, so the lead-in wall is deflected by the cup bead until the bead snaps into the groove.

1 . A container for use with a cup and a straw, the container comprising:
 a side wall and a bottom wall defining a cavity;   a perimetrical groove formed between the side wall and the bottom wall and being configured to be perimetrically engageable with the cup such that the cup is sealable continuously without interruption around the container; and   a straw projection extending upwardly into the cavity from the bottom wall and having an opening configured such that when the straw is received through the opening, the straw is extendible from the cup, upward through the projection, and out of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the projection has a top that is disposed below the top of the side wall such that when the straw is received through the opening, the straw is extendible from the cup, upward through the projection, through an upper portion of the cavity, and out of a top of the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the projection has a height that is between 10% to 60% of the width of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the groove is annular and extends continuously 360 degrees such that when the groove is engaged with the cup, the cup is circumferentially sealed by the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a bottom recess configured such that when the groove is engaged with the cup, the top of the cup is disposed in the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  further comprising a bottom disposed between the side wall and the recess and configured such that the container can rest stably on a surface. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5  further comprising a lead-in wall disposed such that when the container is being disposed on to the cup, a top of the cup deflects the lead-in wall radially outward. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the top of the cup has a bead disposed on the top thereof and the groove is further configured such that the bead engages the lead-in wall as the container is urged on to the cup and the bead snaps into the groove. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the groove is configured to be engageable with an outwardly radially annular portion of the bead. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lid for engaging with a top of the side wall to close the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the lid has a straw opening configured such that when the lid is engaged with the container, the straw is extendible from the cup, upward through the projection, through the cavity, and out of the opening in the lid. 
     
     
         12 . A food container system comprising a cup and the container of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The food container system of  claim 12  further comprising a straw. 
     
     
         14 . A method for utilizing the food container system of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing the container of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A container for use with a cup and a straw, the container comprising:
 a side wall and a bottom wall defining a cavity;   a perimetrical groove formed between the side wall and the bottom wall and being configured to be engageable with the cup such that the cup is sealable by the container; and   a straw projection having a top with an opening and extending upwardly into the cavity from the bottom wall to a point at which the top of the project is disposed below a top of the side wall;   the projection having a height that is 10% to 60% of a width of the bottom wall such that when the straw is received through the opening, the straw is extendible from the cup, upward through the projection, through an upper portion of the cavity, and out of a top of the cavity.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the groove is annular and extends continuously 360 degrees without interruption around the container such that when the groove is engaged with the cup, the cup is circumferentially sealed by the container. 
     
     
         18 . A container for use with a cup and a straw, the container comprising:
 a side wall and a bottom wall defining a cavity;   a perimetrical annular groove:
 formed between the side wall and the bottom wall; 
 extending continuously 360 degrees without interruption around the container; and 
 configured to be engageable with the cup such that when the groove is engaged with the cup, the cup is circumferentially sealed by the container; and 
   a straw projection extending upwardly into the cavity from the bottom wall and having an opening configured such that when the straw is received through the opening, the straw is extendible from the cup, upward through the projection, and out of the cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the cup has a bead with which the groove is engageable, and the groove includes an inner end;
 the groove being configured to extend more than 180° such that:
 the inner end extends downward to lie radially inside the bead; and 
 groove extends about the bead by more than 180° of the extent of the bead; 
 
 whereby the groove inhibits the bead from accidentally popping out from the groove. 
 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the projection has a height that is configured such that a top of the projection is disposed below the top of the side wall such that when the straw is received through the opening, the straw is extendible from the cup, upward through the projection, through an upper portion of the cavity, and out of a top of the cavity.