Vacuum insulated storage containers having a peanut-shaped cross-section

Abstract

Vacuum insulated storage containers storage containers are provided. In some embodiments, an insulating container is provided comprising: a receptacle that comprises (i) an inner receptacle, (ii) a rounded outer receptacle, and (iii) a first gasket, wherein the rounded outer receptacle has a peanut-shaped cross-sectional area, wherein the first gasket is configured to form a first seal between the inner receptacle and the rounded outer receptacle, wherein a first independent compartment, a second independent compartment, and a third independent compartment are formed in the inner receptacle, wherein the first independent compartment, the second independent compartment, and the third independent compartment are configured to each store food items having varying temperatures, wherein an area of the first compartment is approximately equivalent to a combined area of the second independent compartment and the third independent compartment, and wherein a vacuum cavity is formed between an outer wall of the inner receptacle and an inner wall of the rounded outer receptacle; a lid structure that comprises an inner lid portion, a rounded outer lid portion, and a second gasket configured to form a second seal between the inner lid portion and the rounded outer lid portion, wherein a cavity is formed between an outer wall of the inner lid portion and an inner wall of the rounded outer lid portion, wherein a bottom surface of the inner lid portion includes a plurality of protrusions that correspond with each of the first independent compartment, the second independent compartment, and the third independent compartment, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the rounded outer lid portion is peanut-shaped; and a plurality of latches that are each connected to a protrusion on the lid structure, wherein each of the plurality of latches connected the lid structure to the receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulating food storage container comprising:
 a receptacle that comprises (i) an inner receptacle, (ii) a rounded outer receptacle, and (iii) a first gasket, wherein the rounded outer receptacle has a peanut-shaped cross-sectional area, wherein the first gasket is configured to form a first seal between the inner receptacle and the rounded outer receptacle, wherein a first independent compartment, a second independent compartment, and a third independent compartment are formed in the inner receptacle, wherein the first independent compartment, the second independent compartment, and the third independent compartment are configured to each store food items having varying temperatures, wherein an area of the first compartment is approximately equivalent to a combined area of the second independent compartment and the third independent compartment, and wherein a vacuum cavity is formed between an outer wall of the inner receptacle and an inner wall of the rounded outer receptacle;   a lid structure that comprises an inner lid portion, a rounded outer lid portion, and a second gasket configured to form a second seal between the inner lid portion and the rounded outer lid portion, wherein a cavity is formed between an outer wall of the inner lid portion and an inner wall of the rounded outer lid portion, wherein a bottom surface of the inner lid portion includes a plurality of protrusions that correspond with each of the first independent compartment, the second independent compartment, and the third independent compartment, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the rounded outer lid portion is peanut-shaped; and   a plurality of latches that are each connected to a protrusion on the lid structure, wherein each of the plurality of latches connected the lid structure to the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner receptacle and the rounded outer receptacle of the receptacle are composed of a co-polyester material. 
     
     
         3 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner lid portion and the rounded outer lid portion of the lid structure are composed of a co-polyester material. 
     
     
         4 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein an opening of the receptacle is a rectangular-shaped opening and wherein the lid structure is a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein an opening of the receptacle is an oval-shaped opening and wherein the lid structure is an oval shape. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein an opening of the receptacle is a rounded rectangular-shaped opening and wherein the lid structure is a rounded rectangular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner receptacle includes a lip portion that provides a surface for receiving the lid structure. 
     
     
         8 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid structure includes a third gasket that conforms with each of the first independent compartment, the second independent compartment, and the third independent compartment, wherein the third gasket seals each of the first independent compartment, the second independent compartment, and the third independent compartment when the lid structure is securably attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of latches is formed on a side of the outer lid portion of the lid structure. 
     
     
         10 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of latches includes a protrusion that, when a latch is in a closed position, protrudes beneath and contacts a lip portion of the inner receptacle of the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of latches includes an upper latch portion positioned above the protrusion that is aligned with an exterior surface of the lip portion of the inner receptacle of the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of latches includes a lower latch portion positioned below the protrusion that is aligned with an exterior surface of the outer receptacle of the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of latches includes a protrusion that is connected using a pin to a latch post formed on an exterior surface of the outer lid portion of the lid structure. 
     
     
         14 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of latches and the latch post are composed of a co-polyester material and wherein the pin is composed of a stainless steel material. 
     
     
         15 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of latches is a lever that separates the lid structure from the receptacle when a latch is moved from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         16 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the rounded outer receptacle has a longitudinal axis and wherein the rounded outer receptacle has a tubular indentation along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the rounded outer lid has a longitudinal axis and wherein the rounded outer lid has a tubular indentation along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the rounded outer lid has a peanut-shaped periphery and wherein an edge portion of the rounded outer lid is formed along the peanut-shaped periphery. 
     
     
         19 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes a vacuum environment formed between the outer wall of the inner lid portion and the inner wall of the rounded outer lid portion. 
     
     
         20 . The insulating food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes an air environment formed between the outer wall of the inner lid portion and the inner wall of the rounded outer lid portion.