Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02530975 2005-12-20
CONTAINER WITH INVERTIBLE MIXING TRAY
Field of Invention:
This invention is directed to containers in general and particularly to a
multi-
compartmented, multiple seal container with invertible mixing tray.
Background of the Invention:
Containers for separately transporting-storing and thereafter mixing contents,
for example foodstuff with associated ingredients, are known in the art.
Usually, pre-measured portions of food are stored in separate compartments
and conveniently mixed, reheated if necessary, and served. These containers
are generally multi-compartmented, each compartment for storing one
ingredient. The containers may be made of plastic, paperboard stock, or any
light material that can hold the foodstuff. Environmentally friendly materials
including re-usable containers, are now a priority in the industry.
US published application 2001/0030227, to Fear et al., discloses a composite
container having a condiment container mounted on the external wall of the
food container. Such combination formed by two containers appears to be
bulky and provides insufficient protection to the condiment container. The
same is true for the food containers disclosed in US published application
2003/0006274, to Lackner et al. Similarly, the multi-compartmented food
containers made of paperboard or thin plastic as disclosed in US patent No.
5,423,449, to Gordon et al., and 5,335,845, to Liu, are not resistant enough
to
be used and re-used for school lunches or picnics.
In the food industry, it is often desirable to delay mixing of foodstuff with
certain ingredients together until just prior to consumption, or to keep
fruits
from being immersed in own juice to slow deterioration of the quality. Food
containers with barriers for dividing the interior of the container and
separating
the components are known and have constantly failed to provide
environmental friendly, re-usable containers with improved separation of
liquids from solids, while eliminating mixing implements, and avoiding
spillage.
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For example, the polymer-made disposable dinners are not environmental
friendly and are gradually substituted by paper dinner sets. However, the
paper dinner sets lack proper partitioning and are not leakproof or airtight
due
to cuts, or folds, and these factors prevent conventional food containers from
having a large market share.
Fresh green salad is a very popular dish. Consumption of pre-prepared
salads is increasingly popular not only for health reasons; it also saves the
consumer time otherwise spend on washing the salad ingredients and
preparing the dressing. In addition, it provides the consumers with a cost-
saving solution. Thus, if the salad includes a plurality of vegetables (leafs
of
lettuce, radicchio, endives, cabbage, slices of carrots, etc) often times not
the
entire plant is used for one serving, and the reminder of ingredients is
typically
discarded after being kept for too a long time. A proper way for storing
greens
would be advantageously.
The salad dressings selection also evolved lately; it is possible now to buy
low
calories dressing varieties, spicy or sweet sauces using ethnic or proprietary
recipes. As the recipes used by the food supply industry evolve for a more
stylish taste, consumers are tempted to buy ready-to-use salad containers
rather than preparing their own from greens sold in bowl-like containers with
the dressing sold separately in small packets. Moreover, dressing packets
are costly and inconvenient as they require significant dexterous manipulation
to use.
It is therefore a need for a re-usable food container for storage and
transport
of a variety of food items in separate compartments preventing the taste of
the
food items from mixing with one another, and allowing mixing into a food dish
when desired.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art
associated with containers. The invention will be described with reference to
a
food container but it is understood that the container of the invention having
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an invertible mixing tray may be used for storing, transporting and mixing any
other related components forming the end-product.
According to one aspect of the invention, a multi-layer, multiple seal
container,
comprising a primary container, at least one invertible tray, and a lid is
provided. The primary container has a bottom, upright lateral walls having an
interior surface defining a cavity with an open top and a circumferential edge
having an inverted-U shape defined around the open end. The
circumferential edge includes a lip projecting outwardly from and in a plane
perpendicular to the lateral wall exposing a lip open face. A skirt projects
downwardly from and in a plane perpendicular to the lip.
The mixing tray has a channelled bottom, at least one un-tapered tray outer
wall sized to be nested within the primary container, a plurality of
compartments, and a central chamber defined around a separating wall
centrally arranged in a middle region of the tray. The separating wall has an
elevate rib, the plurality of compartments being arranged between spokes
extending between the separating wall and the tray outer wall. The spokes
have flat upper surfaces arranged in the tray levelling plane.
A rim integrally formed with the tray outer wall extends above the tray
levelling
plane. A peripheral flange defined in the tray levelling plane projects
outwardly from the tray outer wall substantially perpendicular to the rim.
The lid has a peripheral ledge which includes a peripheral collar with a flat
interior side, a sleeve extending downwardly from and in a plane
perpendicular to the collar, and a channel defined adjacent to the collar on
the
lid internal face. A central well is defined on the lid external face in a
middle
region of the lid. The central well has a shape identical to the central
chamber
of the tray and is surrounded by a shoulder designed to match the contour of
the tray elevate rib and forming the central cooperating sealing surfaces.
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The tray flange, the flat interior side of the lid collar, and the lip open
face
have substantially same shapes and areas forming peripheral cooperating
sealing surfaces disposed in a plane parallel to the tray levelling plane.
For assuming a store-transport state, the primary container tightly receives
the mixing tray for closing the open end, such that the tray becomes nested
inside the cavity of the primary container in a concave position. At the same
time, the tray flange rests on the open face of the lip providing a second
seal.
Thereafter, the lid is arranged on top of the tray, while the channel of the
lid
engages the rim on the tray for correctly positioning the lid on top of the
tray.
When compressed, the lid brings into registry the peripheral and central
cooperating sealing surfaces forming a compact, airtight container. Contact
between items in different layers and compartments is prevented; contact is
also avoided between liquid or semi-liquid items in the central chamber and
items arranged in other compartments during transportation.
The tray includes two diametrally arranged spokes provided with indentations
defining holding means on both sides of the mixing tray for, holding and
inserting the mixing tray in the primary container in concave position in the
store-transport position. For assuming a mixing position, the tray is lifted,
inverted to a convex position, and the rim snapped fit in the open end of the
primary container.
Related items are initially stored in the tray and in the primary container.
As
mentioned above, the tray has a first set of holding means for positioning the
tray in a concave position at a gravitational rest on top of the primary
container, and for lifting the tray before inverting same. A second set of
holding means may be provided on the bottom of the tray to arrange the tray
in a convex position on top of the cavity, apply pressure to engage the rim at
the open end of the primary container, and also disengage the mixing tray
from the primary container after mixing.
A plastic food container according to the invention allows storage and
transportation of a variety of liquids and granulated food items as well as
the
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associated ingredients in separate layers and compartments, for either cold or
hot-fill food packaging/serving. The food container is re-usable and suitable
for lunch boxes, or storing half-prepared meals. The container allows
separation of the related items as the compartments are airtight sealed such
the components can not be accidentally mixed and prevents the taste of the
food items from mixing with one another. The multi-component, multiple-seal
container of the invention is airtight and microwavable . No conical sealing
surfaces, no tapered walls are used and this allows to keep the manufacturing
costs low while providing a container with an attractive design.
The "Summary of the Invention" section does not necessarily disclose all the
inventive features. The invention may reside in a sub-combination of the
disclosed features.
Brief description of the drawings
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred
embodiments, as illustrated in the appended drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container with invertible mixing tray in
store-transport state according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a lateral exploded view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is sectional view of the container along line 4-4' of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a top view of the invertible mixing tray;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 with the
invertible
mixing tray nested in a concave position within the primary container in the
store-transport position;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the invertible mixing tray arranged in a
convex position on top of the primary container in a mixing state; and
Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of using the food container
with
invertible mixing tray according to the invention.
Similar references are used in different figures to denote similar components.
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Description of the preferred embodiments
The following description is of a preferred embodiment by way of example
only and without limitation to combination of features necessary for carrying
the invention into effect.
The container is now described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The
cylindrical food container 15 of this example is made of semi-rigid
transparent
plastic material and includes three major parts, namely, a lid 20, a mixing
tray
30, and a primary container, in this example a bowl 40. The multi-
compartment arrangement of the mixing tray 40 as well as a plurality of layers
defined inside container 15 allows the food container 15 to carry different
kinds of food in a tiered manner while combinations of food items into a food
dish are possible whenever desired.
It is to be understood that a multi-layer container having a plurality of
trays
super-imposable on and engageable with the upper end of the tray below may
be provided according to a tray-in-tray concept.
Bowl 40 has upright interior surfaces 45 defining a cavity with an open top
and
a bottom 43. As illustrated in the figures, the circumferential edge of the
bowl
40 has an inverted-U shape with a perpendicularly outwardly projecting
annular lip 38, extending from the bowl lateral wall 45 exposing a lip open
face 38', and a circumferential skirt 29 extending downwards in a plane
perpendicular to the plane of the annular lip 38.
Lid 20 has a bowed upper surface 19 with exterior and interior rounded edges
18',18", respectively, a peripheral ledge 47 adjacent to the lid exterior
rounded edge 18', and a central well 14 adjacent to the lid interior rounded
edge 18".
As best shown in Figure 4, lid 20 has a central well 14 defined in a middle
region surrounded by the lid interior rounded wall 18" connected to a smaller
radius circular wall 16 through an annular shoulder 17. Annular shoulder 17 is
formed on the inner face of the lid 20 in a plane substantially perpendicular
to
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the plane of the circular wall 16. A channel 36 is also provided on the inner
face of the lid 20 adjacent to the exterior rounded edge 18', substantially
perpendicular to the inner face of the lid 20.
The peripheral ledge 47 includes an annular collar 39 which projects outside
in a plane perpendicular to the channel 36 and connects channel 36 with a
peripheral sleeve 28 projecting downwardly in a plane perpendicular to the
plane of the collar 39.
Mixing tray 30 has an intermittent un-tapered outer wall 44, tray
compartments 33 and a cup-shaped partition wall 26" surrounding a central
chamber 32. Partition wall 26" and outer wall 44 are connected through an
elevate rib 26. As best shown in Figures 5 and 6, tray 30 includes spokes
21,22,25, defining compartments, or bins 33 on the tray upper side. As best
shown in Figure 7, tray 30 has a channeled bottom 34.
Tray compartments 33 are defined between spokes 21, 22, 25, radialy
extending between the partition wall 26" and the tray outer wall 44. The
upper surfaces of spokes 21, 22, 25, are aligned in a tray leveling plane (P).
The elevate rib 26 extends slightly above the leveling plane (P) in a central
region of the mixing tray 30. Rib 26 has a flat upper annular side 26'
bridging
the intermittent outer wall 44 and the partition wall 26". The central chamber
32, may be filled with liquids, or semi-liquids e.g. salad dressing. As
mentioned before, mixing tray 30 includes a plurality of compartments 33 for
receiving various ingredients at a gravity rest.
An annular flange 37 having an upper side 37' and an under side 37" projects
outwardly in a plane perpendicular to the outer wall 44 slightly above the
leveling plane (P). A rim 35 integrally formed with the outer wall 44 projects
vertically from outer wall 44 above the tray leveling plane (P).
The invention partly resides in the unique design of container 15 having in
this
example, three parts cooperating for implementing seals Si to Ss. Groups of
substantially vertical and horizontal sealing surfaces cooperate with
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corresponding surfaces defined either on lid 20, or on tray 30, and/or on bowl
40 for providing continuous perimetal sealing closures S1-S3, S2-S6, S4, and
S5-S7, in a store-transport state, as well as sealing closure S8-S9 in a
mixing
state, as it will be later described. Sealing closures like for example S1-S3,
S2-S6, S5-S7, or Ss-Ss are the result of a close association of two pairs of
sealing surfaces positioned in two separate planes perpendicular along a
common line. Each pair of sealing surfaces involves cooperating peripheral
or central surfaces defined on the lid, tray, and bowl, respectively.
The store-transport state
Bowl 40 and mixing tray 30 have sealing surfaces cooperating to provide
airtight sealing closure S2-S6 formed whenever mixing tray 30 is nested in a
concave position on top of bowl 40, best shown in Figure 6. Seal S2 is formed
between the flange under side 37" rested on the lip open face 38'. The
annular flange 37 and the annular lip 38 have substantially the same shape
and identical areas. An additional seal S6 is formed between the interior
upright surface of the bowl 45 and the exterior side of the un-tapered tray
outer wall 44 whenever mixing tray 30 is concavely inserted in the bowl 40 in
the store-transport state. As such, related items arranged in different layers
in
bowl 40 and tray 30 respectively, are separated during transportation.
The inventive design of the peripheral ledge 47 cooperates with the
corresponding circumferential edge 48 of the bowl 40 to provide sealing
closure S1-S3 as a result of a close association of two pairs of sealing
surfaces
defined on bowl 40 and on lid 20, respectively.
For closing the container 15, rim 35 is brought into registry with channel 36
on lid 20 for correctly positioning the lid 20 on top of tray 30. The mating
areas defined on the peripheral sleeve 28 and circumferential skirt 29 have
substantially the same dimensions, and are sized such that the peripheral
sleeve 28 snaps fit on the circumferential skirt 29 when lid 20 is compressed
against bowl 40 to provide seal Si. As lid 20 is further pressed against the
tray 30, flat mating areas, namely, the upper side 37' of the annular flange
37
and the inside face 39' of the annular collar 39 are brought into registry
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forming seal S3; seal S4 is formed at the same time between the vertically
projecting rim 35 which is tightly received in channel 36 such that an
airtight
container arrangement is provided.
Concomitantly, when lid 20 is fully compressed against the mixing tray 30, the
central well 14 on lid 20 acts as a cork on top of the central chamber 32
forming sealing closure S5-S7 as best shown in Figure 4. Seal S5 is formed by
the flat upper annular side 26' of the rib 26 which contacts the annular
shoulder 17 formed on the inner face of lid 20. At the same time, the
partition
wall 26" sealingly cooperates with the interior face of the wall 16 to provide
seal S7.
As mentioned before, annular flange 37, annular collar 39, and annular lip 38
have substantially the same shape and identical areas. Annular flange 37 is
tightly compressed between annular collar 39 and annular lip 38 to
concomitantly provide sealing surfaces S2 and S3 when in the store-transport
state. Even if mixing tray 30 is not present, seals Si and S3 are provided
between collar 39 and lip 38 due to the particular design of the lid 20 and
the
flexibility of the semi-rigid plastic material.
When container 15 is completely closed and owing to rim 35 and channel 36
cooperation, the continuous perimetal sealing closures SI-S3, S2-S6 and S5-
S7, are simultaneously provided. It is to be noted, that a continuous sealing
edge is formed by each sealing closure that acts similar to an 0-ring for
forming an airtight, unitary container 15 suitable for storage and
transportation
of related food items.
The description of the store-transport state was made using qualifiers like
horizontal and vertical describing the container 15 when on a table in a
"generally normal" position at a gravitational rest. This was done for easy
understanding of the steps performed "by gravity" as for example, arranging
the foodstuff in bowl 40, displaying ingredients in the compartments of the
mixing tray 30, and for explaining the step of transferring the ingredients
from
tray 30 to bowl 40 also performed by gravity.
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In any event, there are no constraints for the positioning of the container 15
during transportation due to the arrangement of the continuous perimetal
sealing closures preventing spillage and mixing of food items arranged in
different layers and compartments.
The mixing state
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the invertible mixing tray 30 inserted in a
concave position within the bowl 40 in the store-transport state. The mixing
state is achieved by lifting, then inverting the mixing tray 30 and securing
it to
the bowl in a convex position as illustrated in Figure 7. In the mixing state,
sealing closure S8-S9 is formed. Seal S8 is formed between the flange upper
side 37' rested on the lip open face 38' of the annular lip 38; seal S9 is
formed
between the exterior side of the rim 35 snapped fit along the interior surface
of
the wall 45 of bowl 40. Again, the continuous perimetal sealing closure S8-S9
provides a sealed ridge that acts as an 0-ring between the inverted tray 30
and the bowl 40.
A first set of holding means may be provided on the top surface of the mixing
tray 30 for example, two trapezoidal indentations 23,24, may be provided in
diametrally opposite spokes 21,22, for disposing the tray 30 within the
container in a concave position in the store-transport state, and lift, tilt,
and
transfer ingredients by gravity into the bowl 40 without spilling. A second
set
of holding means may be provided on the channeled bottom 34 to secure the
inverted mixing tray 30 in a convex position on top of bowl 40 and for
disengaging the mixing tray 30 from the bowl 40. The inverted mixing tray 30
is secured in a convex position on top of bowl 40 providing a leakproof
enlarged container 15'.
Finally, tray 30 may be disengaged from bowl 40 by lifting, tilting, and
repositioning the mixing tray 30 on the bowl 40 in a concave position as
illustrated in Figure 6, using any means for manipulation provided on the
mixing tray 30. It is to be noted that for example, the second set of holding
CA 02530975 2005-12-20
means may be provided on the tray channeled bottom 34 as a complementary
figure of the first set of holding means defined on the tray top side.
Method of using the container
A method of using the inventive food container 15 according to the invention,
is illustrated in Figure 8. The process starts at step 50. Food items are
arranged by gravity in bowl 40 and in tray 30, step 51. In the compartments
and in the central chamber 32, ingredients and salad dressing respectively,
will be filled up to the leveling plane (P), if necessary. At step 52, mixing
tray
30 is stored by gravity in a concave position in bowl 40. At step 53,
container
is sealed using lid 20 for compressing tray 30 against bowl 40 and
assembling these three parts as a unitary airtight container.
To start eating, the lid 20 is removed on step 54 and the contents evaluated
15 on step 55. If no mixing is required, the process proceeds to step 60 where
separate and compatible food items are served using the bowl 40 and the tray
30, and thereafter the process goes to step 61.
Alternatively, if mixing is required, at step 56, tray 30 is held with two
fingers
using indentations 23, 24, and tilted to transfer by gravity ingredients from
tray
into bowl 40. Further, tray 30 is inverted and secured on top of bowl 40 in
a convex position at step 57, and the contents are mixed to prepare the food
dish at step 58. Tray 30 is then removed and the food dish is served in bowl
at step 59. Thereafter the process proceeds to step 61 where the mixing
25 tray 30 is re-positioned on top of the bowl 40 in a concave position and
lid 20
used to restore the store-transport state. At step 62 the process ends.
A container according to the invention may be used for storing, transporting,
and mixing any related items. In the example of Figure 1, the compact food
30 container 15 includes distinct layers for storing related food items,
allows
access to different compartments, and provides hermetic seals Si to Ss
between layers and compartments.
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It is to be understood that containers having more than two layers will still
be
within the scope of the invention and necessitate minor design alterations. In
the example of Figure 1 a container with a cylindrical shape is illustrated
but
containers having different shapes like for example rectangular, triangular,
semi-circular, hexagonal, are also within the scope of this invention.
The food container 15 may be made of any liquid-impervious molded
thermoplastic material or polyester-coated paperboard or the like, suitable
for
the manufacture of containers adapted to store both cold and hot items and
carry such items in a tiered manner allowing combination of food items into a
food dish as and when desired. Advantageously, the container is transparent
to see the contents, is reusable, and microwavable.
Preferably, container 15 is made of propylene by injection molding. Rough
plastic resulting from an etching process during de-molding is used for
esthetic reasons in pre-established areas on the interior surface 45 around
the open end of the bowl 40, at the bottom 43 of the bowl 40, around the
interior sides of the edges 18' and 39', and around the exterior sides of
collar
39, channel 36, and edge 18'. Etched areas forming part of seals S1,S3, S5,
S7, also increase friction and improve sealing.
A dial indicator 31 with a pointer rotates on a base inside the central well
14 to
visibly indicate a day of the week, or the month, or the exact date of food
entry. An annular ridge 46 is defined at the bottom of the bowl 40 for stable
location of the bowl 40 on a horizontal surface. Two tabs 41, 42, are provided
on bowl 40 for cooperating with tab 27 on lid 20 to facilitate opening of the
container 15.
Numerous modifications, variations, and adaptations may be made to the
particular embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of
the invention as defined in the claims. Reference to a claimed element in the
singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so
stated, but rather "one or more". In other words, the articles "a" and "the"
do
not suggest singularity unless it is evident from the specification that the
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patent intended only one element and includes numerous references to this
single element.
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List of parts
14 central well
15 CONTAINER
15" enlarged container of Figure 7
16 lid inner wall
17 lid inner shoulder
18'18" exterior / interior lid rounded edges
19 bowed lid upper face
20 LID
21,22,25 spokes
23,24 indentations
26 rib
26' flat upper annular side of the rib
26" partition wall
27 lid tab
28 circumferential sleeve
29 circumferential skirt
30 INVERTIBLE MIXING TRAY
31 dial
32 central chamber
33 compartments, bins
34 tray (channeled) bottom
35 rim
36 channel
37 flange
37' flange upper side
37" flange under side
38 lip
38' lip open face
39 collar
39' collar interior side
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40 PRIMARY CONTAINER
41,42 tabs
43 primary container flat bottom
44 tray outer wall
45 primary container interior surface
46 ridge
47 peripheral ledge
48 circumferential edge
S seals
P tray leveling plane
