Modular food storage system

Abstract

Various modular food storage systems and methods are disclosed. The system can include one or more compartments configured to be connected together, such as by a food processor (e.g., a company that processes, handles, and/or packages food). Food items can be placed in individual compartments separately and the compartments can be put into storage, such as in a refrigerator. In response to a request (e.g., an order from a grocery store or otherwise) for a certain mix of the food items, the prefilled individual compartments can be mixed and matched and assembled together for shipping. The assembled compartments form a system that can be provided to a consumer, seller (e.g., grocery store), or otherwise.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A modular food storage system comprising:
 a first triangular compartment comprising a first flange, the first compartment configured to receive a first food item;   a second triangular compartment comprising a second flange, the second compartment configured to receive a second food item;   a third triangular compartment comprising a third flange, the third compartment configured to receive a third food item; and   a fourth triangular compartment comprising a fourth flange, the fourth compartment configured to receive a fourth food item;   wherein the first flange of the first compartment is configured to connect with the second flange of the second compartment to securely connect the first and second compartments together;   wherein the second flange of the second compartment is configured to connect with the third flange of the third compartment to securely connect the second and third compartments together;   wherein the third flange of the third compartment is configured to connect with the fourth flange of the fourth compartment to securely connect the third and fourth compartments together;   wherein the fourth flange of the fourth compartment is configured to connect with the first flange of the first compartment to securely connect the fourth and first compartments together.   
     
     
         2 . The modular food storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange is at a first height and a lip of the first compartment is at a second height, the second height being offset from the first height and the lip configured to couple with a lid. 
     
     
         3 . The modular food storage system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first flange is configured to overlap with a portion of the second flange. 
     
     
         4 . The modular food storage system of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more connectors configured to connect the portion of the first flange with the portion of the second flange. 
     
     
         5 . The modular food storage system of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second flanges each comprise a hollow protrusion and the hollow protrusion of one of the first and second flanges is configured to frictionally fit within the hollow protrusion of the other of the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         6 . A modular food storage system comprising:
 a first compartment comprising a first flange extending around at least two sides of the first compartment, the first compartment configured to receive a first food item;   a first lid configured to seal the first food item within the first compartment, the first lid coupled with a first lip of the first compartment;   a second compartment comprising a second flange, the second compartment configured to receive a second food item, the second flange extending around at least two sides of the second compartment;   a second lid configured to seal the second food item within the second compartment, the second lid coupled with a second lip of the second compartment;   a first connector on a first end of the first flange; and   a second connector on a first end of the second flange;   wherein the first ends of the first and second flanges overlap and the first connector and the second connector are coupled together to securely connect the first and second compartments together.   
     
     
         7 . The modular food storage system of  claim 6 , wherein the first flange extends around a third side of the first compartment, the third side overhanging less than a lateral width of the first flange on the at least two sides. 
     
     
         8 . The modular food storage system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second connectors are hollow protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . The modular food storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the first flange is located at a first height and the first lip portion is offset from the first flange at a second height. 
     
     
         10 . The modular food storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the first compartment is generally triangular in peripheral shape and the second compartment is generally triangular in peripheral shape. 
     
     
         11 . The modular food storage system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a third compartment comprising a third flange extending around at least two sides of the third compartment, the third compartment configured to receive a third food item;   a third lid configured to seal the third food item within the third compartment, the third lid coupled with a third lip;   a third connector on a second end of the first flange; and   a fourth connector on a first end of the third flange;   wherein the first and second ends of the third and first flanges, respectively, overlap and the third connector and the fourth connector are coupled together by friction-fit to securely connect the first and third compartments together.   
     
     
         12 . The modular food storage system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a fourth compartment comprising a fourth flange extending around at least two sides of the fourth compartment, the fourth compartment configured to receive a fourth food item;   a fourth lid configured to seal the fourth food item within the fourth compartment, the fourth lid coupled with a fourth lip;   a fifth connector on a second end of the third flange;   a sixth connector on a first end of the fourth flange;   a seventh connector on a second end of the fourth flange; and   an eighth connector on a second end of the second flange;   wherein the second and first ends of the third and fourth flanges, respectively, overlap, and the second ends of the second and fourth flanges overlap and the fifth connector and the sixth connector are coupled together by friction-fit to securely connect the third and fourth compartments together and the seventh connector and the eighth connector are coupled together by friction-fit to securely connect the second and fourth compartments together.   
     
     
         13 . A modular storage system comprising:
 a first compartment comprising a first flange, the first compartment configured to receive a first type of item; and   a second compartment comprising a second flange, the second compartment configured to receive a second type of item;   wherein the first flange of the first compartment is configured to connect with the second flange of the second compartment to securely connect the first and second compartments together.   
     
     
         14 . The modular food storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the first flange comprises a first portion at a first height and a second portion offset from the first portion at a second height to enable the first and second flanges to overlap. 
     
     
         15 . The modular food storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the first flange is at a first height and a lip of the first compartment is at a second height, the second height being offset from the first height and the lip configured to couple with a lid. 
     
     
         16 . The modular food storage system of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first flange is configured to overlap with a portion of the second flange. 
     
     
         17 . The modular food storage system of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more connectors configured to connect the portion of the first flange with the portion of the second flange. 
     
     
         18 . The modular food storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second flanges each comprise a hollow protrusion and the hollow protrusion of one of the first and second flanges is configured to frictionally fit within the hollow protrusion of the other of the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         19 . The modular food storage system of  claim 17 , wherein one of the first and second flanges includes a hole, and the other of the first and second flanges includes a mating protrusion configured to pass through the hole to couple the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         20 . The modular food storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second compartments each comprise a bottom flange and an inner flange to facilitate stacking two or more compartments together. 
     
     
         21 . The modular food storage system of  claim 13 , further comprising a third compartment that is configured to connect with the modular food storage system. 
     
     
         22 . The modular food storage system of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second compartments are peripheral compartments that positioned are on an outer periphery of the system, and the third compartment is an interior compartment that is position in an interior portion of the system.