Insulated container for carrying or storing heated food and the like

Claim 1

AN INSULATED CONTAINER COMPRISING: (A) A CYLINDRICAL JACKET HAVING A TOP COVER AND A BOTTOM COVER, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE JACKET; (B) A PLURALITY OF OPEN RECEPTACLES STACKED ONE ON TOP OF ANOTHER WITHIN SAID JACKET AND SUPPORTED ON SAID BOTTOM COVER AND ADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY REMOVED FROM SAID JACKET AS A UNIT; (C) EACH OF SAID RECEPTACLES HAVING A CLOSED BOTTOM AND AN ANNULAR WALL PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM; AND (D) MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID RECEPTACLES TOGETHER, WHEREBY THE BOTTOM OF ONE RECEPTACLE FORMS A COVER FOR THE RECEPTACLE DIRECTLY BENEATH IT; (E) SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ANNULAR LEDGE FORMED IN THE WALL OF EACH RECEPTACLE TO SUPPORT THE BOTTOM OF THE RECEPTACLE WHICH IS DIRECTLY ABOVE IT; (F) AN ANNULAR PROTRUSION FORMED IN THE WALL OF EACH RECEPTACLE ABOVE SAID LEDGE, THE PROTRUSION BEING DIRECTED RADIALLY INWARDLY OF ITS RESPECTIVE RECEPTACLE; AND (G) SAID BOTTOM OF EACH RECEPTACLE HAVING AN EXTERNAL ANNULAR GROOVE FORMED THEREIN TO COOPERATE WITH THE ANNULAR PROTRUSION OF THE RECEPTACLE WHICH IS DIRECTLY BENEATH IT.