Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
Title of the Invention
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[0001] Food container c~~dda ceneaa
2006/11 /14
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Cross-Reference to Related Applicahons 318- 06
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[0002] There is no cross-reference to related applications.
Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus to maintain the
temperature of food.
Background of the Invention
[0004] Presently, the apparatuses used to maintain the temperature of food are
not
designed to be used as a simple serving dishes. These devices need
electricity, fire and
most are not designed to be manipulated when they are used.
[0005] For example, in US patent no. 5,477,777, the appliance presented is
used to heat
up and/or to keep food warm. This appliance has a heating element forming a
single unit
with the food container.
[0006] In US patent application published under no. 2003/0052217, the food
recipient
may be used to keep food warm or cold with heat or cold being supplied by a
liquid. The
food recipient is made with an inner wall and an external wall which are
permanently
joined. The liquid has to be inserted through a cavity and expulsed though
another cavity.
[0007] All these heating-up, warming and/or cooling appliances, which usually
find
usage as fondue-rechauds, plate warmers or table cookers have in common that
they
exhibit a one-piece assembly, which means that the heating element and the
dish
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CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
container form a single unit. Further, the one-piece appliances cannot be
optimally
cleaned because the heating elements have to be protected from moisture. In
addition, for
devices using a liquid to maintain the temperature without a heating element,
it is not
simple to change the water or to reheat the liquid during a meal if food is
still inside the
device. Furthermore, these devices are not designed to be usable to store any
remaining
food.
[0008] Thus, there is a need for a food container which can keep food warm or
cold and
which is simple to use and place on a table. Also, the device should be easy
to handle; its
external surface should be at a convenient temperature for manipulation and
service and it
should be easily movable on the table to pour liquids or sauces.
Objects of the Invention
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a container to keep
food warm or
cold, which is simple in construction and which can be used directly for
service.
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a container to warm-up
or to cool
down food, which is simple in construction and which can be used directly for
service.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container to
keep food
warm without an electrical device.
[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a container to
keep food
warm or cold which can be used to store or preserve food in the refrigerator.
[0013] Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will
be obvious
upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or
will be
indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to
herein will occur
to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
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CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
Summary of the Invention
[0014] The container of present invention is used to keep food warm or cold or
to get
food warm or cool. The food container comprises an outer receptacle adapted to
receive a
thermal transfer substance, a food receptacle, adapted to be inserted and
removably
attached in said outer receptacle and which can be used independently to store
food and a
cover to hermetically close said food container. In the preferred version, the
receptacles
are screwed together. A hot or frozen liquid is disposed in the outer
receptacle and is in
contact with the food receptacle to maintain the temperature. The liquid is
typically water
because it is the most accessible liquid and the easier choice.
[0015] The food receptacle has two principal functions, the first one is to
act as a heat
exchanger between the liquid and the food. The second function is to be used
independantly to store the food in the refrigerator or elsewhere after a
service.
[0016] In a warming application, the heat exchange is accomplished by
disposing a hot
liquid in the outer receptacle. The hot water is directly in contact with the
food receptacle,
which is preferably made of a conductive material to maximize the heat
exchange
between the hot water and the food inside the food receptacle. A marker may be
dispose
inside the outer receptacle to show the level of water. The level of water is
preferably
adjusted to be in contact with the entire outer surface of the food
receptacle. If the food
container is used for a long period the water will cool down, but it is quite
simple to
change the water inside the outer receptacle. To do so, the food receptacle is
removed
from the outer receptacle and the water inside is renewed with hot water.
Thus, there is
no need to reheat the food during a meal or a service. The food container is
particularly
useful for foods having different states at different temperatures, for
example chocolate or
butter.
[0017] The food container may also be used to keep food cold or to cool down
food. To
do this, a liquid or a gel is disposed inside the outer receptacle and is
frozen in a standard
freezer with the food receptacle in place. As for the hot water use, a marker
may also be
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CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
disposed inside the outer receptacle to indicate the level of liquid or gel.
Because the
water expands when freezing, the marker is placed to let enough space for the
water
expansion. The ice formed will then keep food cold during the service. It may
be used for
dips, perishables food or any other kind of food.
[0018] The food container may have different shapes and sizes depending of the
food to
be served. For example, the food container may be smaller for use in a
restaurant where
the portions are often individual. Furthermore, the food container is
adaptable for
different types of food. For example, a spout may be added to improve the
service of
sauces or liquids.
[0019] The food container may be adapted to be heated directly on a heating
element, in
the oven or in the microwave oven or placed in a freezer. The material of the
outer
receptacle is chosen to resist to the direct contact with a heating element of
an oven
and/or to resist to the microwaves of a microwave oven. A pressure device is
preferably
added on the outer receptacle to equalize the pressure between the interior of
the outer
receptacle and the atmospheric pressure. For example, it may be a pressure
valve or as
simple as an aperture. The pressure device should not be installed near the
handle to
scalding the user.
[0020] Even if the present invention has been described for food, it is to be
understood
that it can be used for other usage or products. For example, it may be used
in biological
or chemistry laboratories.
[0021] The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel
are set forth
with particularity in the appended claims.
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CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0022] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will
become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being
made to
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0023] Figure 1 a is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] Figure lb is a side view of the outer container.
[0025] Figure lc is a side view of the food container.
[0026] Figure ld is a side view of the container cover.
[0027] Figure 2a is a side view of a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] Figure 2b is a side view of a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0029] Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view showing the seal used between the
food
receptacle and the outer receptacle.
[0030] Figure 3b is a side view showing the seal used between the receptacle
cover and
the food receptacle.
[0031] Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the markers for the
water.
[0032] Figure 5 is a side view showing the aperture on the outer receptacle.
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CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0033] A novel food container will be described hereinafter. Although the
invention is
described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be
understood that the
embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of
the
invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
[0034] Figure I shows a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
preferably
used for sauces and liquids. In Figure 1 a, all the components of the food
container 10 are
assembled. The food receptacle 20 is inserted in the outer receptacle 30 as
shown by the
dashed line 15 in Figure 1 a and the container cover 40 is fixed on the food
receptacle 20.
To improve the watertightness, the contact interfaces of the food receptacle,
the outer
receptacle and of the container cover may be threaded as shown in Figure 1.
Thus, the
rim 22 of the food receptacle 20 is threaded at two places; under the rim 22
and inside the
food receptacle 20. Thus, the food receptacle 20 is screwed on the outer
receptacle 30
trough the thread 35 and the container cover 40 is screwed on the food
receptacle 20
trough the thread 45. The food receptacle may have a handle 50 as shown in
Figure 1 a. A
spout 25 may be added on the food receptacle 25 to serve liquids or sauces.
[0035] In Figure 2a and Figure 2b, two different embodiments are shown. They
have a
larger food receptacle and may be used for service of chocolate fondue or
other similar
self-service plates. Instead of having a handle to lift the food container,
they have
gripping areas 55 made of an insulating material. The gripping areas 55 may be
made
from a nonslip material to improve the grip for the users.
[0036] The food container may have a seal to improve the watertightness as
shown in
Figure 3a (the threads inside the food receptacle are not shown) and Figure
3b. In the
latter, the seal 80 is disposed between the food receptacle 20 and the outer
receptacle 30.
In Figure 3b, the seal 85 on the cover container 40 is used to insulate the
food contained
in the food receptacle 20 from the environment.
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CA 02567884 2006-11-14
File number: 11089 - 002
Revision: as filed
Date: 13/11/2006
[0037] Figure 4 shows the markers 70 and 75 used to determine the quantity of
water to
put inside the outer receptacle 30. The marker 70 is used for hot water and
the marker 75
for water to be frozen, allowing enough space for the expansion of water when
freezing.
[0038] In Figure 5, the outer receptacle 10 has an aperture 90 to equalize the
pressure
between the interior of the outer receptacle and the atmospheric pressure when
the food
container is heated.
[0039] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiment(s) of the
invention have
been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the
inventive concepts
may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims
are
intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited
by the prior
art.
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