Food storage container

Abstract

A food or beverage storage container which is configured to secure one or more dividers to allow for reconfigurable interior compartments for the container. The dividers may include a resilient gasket which, when compressed, forms an airtight seal between the compartments. The dividers may also include an integrated material such as a gel that can be heated or cooled in order to maintain a desired temperature within the container. The container includes a lid that engages the top surfaces of the dividers to establish a plurality of substantially sealed compartments within the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a substantially smooth base wall;   a perimeter wall extending from the base wall to form a cavity, the perimeter wall comprising a top edge opposite the base wall, an interior surface, and an exterior surface,   wherein the interior surface comprises at least one first engagement mechanism; and   a divider comprising at least one second engagement mechanism and a surface, the second engagement mechanism configured to detachably connect to the first engagement mechanism so as to secure the divider within the container; and   a gasket disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the divider such that with the first engagement mechanism attached to the second engagement mechanism, the gasket contacts the base wall.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket has a first width along a top edge thereof and a second width along a bottom edge thereof and the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured to removably attach to the top edge of the peripheral wall so as to enclose the cavity, the lid comprising at least one locking mechanism, such that with the lid attached to the top edge of the peripheral wall, the lid forms a seal with the divider and the top edge of the base. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the lid comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an exterior wall, and a locking mechanism
 the exterior wall forming a peripheral edge configured to engage with the upper ridge of the perimeter wall of the base, 
 wherein a gasket runs along the upper ridge of the perimeter wall of the base, 
 wherein the locking mechanism is located on the exterior wall of the lid and is configured to interlock with corresponding receiving portions located on the exterior surface of the perimeter wall of the base 
 wherein the engagement of the locking mechanism presses the lid firmly against the base and causes the gasket to depress and form an airtight seal. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein when the lid and base are sealed, the gasket of the divider is compressed,
 the portion of the gasket that runs along a top edge of the rim being compressed by the lid,   the portion of the gasket that runs along a bottom edge of the rim being compressed by the base.   the compressed gasket forming a seal between compartments of the cavity of the container.   
     
     
         6 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of indentations spaced apart along the perimeter wall, the at least one second engagement mechanism comprises a pair of tabs located at opposite ends of the divider, wherein the tabs are configured to detachably connect to respective pairs of indentations so as to secure the divider within the container. 
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein the gasket comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein the divider further comprises a pair of rims and the gasket is disposed between the pair of rims. 
     
     
         9 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the divider includes an integrated material which can be heated or cooled in order to maintain a desired temperature within the container. 
     
     
         10 . A divider to separate compartments of a food storage container, the divider comprising:
 a first face;   a second face opposite the first face and a rim therebetween;   the rim comprising a top, bottom, and opposing sides to form a rectangular shape,
 wherein the rim is thinner along the top of the divider and has an increased thickness along the bottom of the divider, the thickness of the rim increasing as it moves from the top edge to the bottom edge, forming a triangular profile; 
   a pair of tabs protruding from opposite sides of the rim and configured to engage with a plurality of indentations in a food storage container to secure the divider;   
     
     
         11 . The divider of  claim 9 , wherein the divider comprises a gasket placed along the entirety of the rim, the gasket comprised of a resilient material which permits the divider to form an airtight and watertight seal between compartments of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The divider of  claim 9 , wherein the rim of the divider is comprised of a resilient material which permits the divider to form an airtight and watertight seal between the compartments of the container. 
     
     
         13 . A method for using a container system comprising a container comprising a base wall, a peripheral wall extending from the base wall to a top edge and forming a cavity, a plurality of first engagement mechanisms located on the peripheral wall, and a lid configured to attach to the top edge to seal the cavity and a plurality of dividers each comprising a plurality of second engagement mechanisms, the method comprising the steps of:
 aligning a first divider of the plurality of dividers with a first pair of the first engagement mechanisms, the engagement mechanisms being a plurality of indentations and the first divider having a first pair of second engagement mechanisms located on opposite ends of the first divider, the second engagement mechanisms being two pairs of tabs;   inserting the first divider into the cavity;   connecting the first series of indentations to the first divider via two pair of tabs, thereby forming a first compartment within the cavity between the peripheral wall and the first divider;   aligning a second divider of the plurality of dividers with a second pair of the indentations, the second divider having a two pairs of tabs each located on opposite ends of the second divider;   inserting the second divider into the cavity;   connecting the second series of indentations to the second divider via the two pairs of tabs, thereby forming a second compartment within the cavity between the first divider, the peripheral wall, and the second divider and forming a third compartment within the cavity between the peripheral wall and the second divider; and   placing the lid on the container, such that the lid contacts the top edge, the first divider, and the second divider.   
     
     
         14 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 13 , wherein the lid configured to removably attach to the top edge of the peripheral wall so as to enclose the cavity, the lid comprising at least one locking mechanism, such that with the lid attached to the top edge of the peripheral wall, the lid forms a seal with the divider and the top edge of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 14 , wherein the lid comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an exterior wall, and a locking mechanism
 the exterior wall forming a peripheral edge configured to engage with the upper ridge of the perimeter wall of the base,   wherein a gasket runs along the upper ridge of the perimeter wall of the base,   wherein the locking mechanism is located on the exterior wall of the lid and is configured to interlock with corresponding receiving portions located on the exterior surface of the perimeter wall of the base   wherein the engagement of the locking mechanism presses the lid firmly against the base and causes the gasket to depress and form an airtight seal   
     
     
         16 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 14 , wherein when the lid and base are sealed, the gasket of the divider is compressed,
 the portion of the gasket that runs along a top edge of the rim being compressed by the lid,   the portion of the gasket that runs along a bottom edge of the rim being compressed by the base.   the compressed gasket forming a seal between compartments of the cavity of the container   
     
     
         17 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of indentations spaced apart along the perimeter wall, the at least one second engagement mechanism comprises a pair of tabs located at opposite ends of the divider, wherein the tabs are configured to detachably connect to respective pairs of indentations so as to secure the divider within the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 16 , wherein the gasket comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 18 , wherein the gasket further comprises an adherent material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of using a container system described in  claim 13 , wherein the divider includes an integrated material which can be heated or cooled in order to maintain a desired temperature within the container.