U.S. patent application number 10/153266 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-23 for infant/toddler prepared meal kit.
Invention is credited to Ganey, Maureen A., Kates, Donald C..
Application Number | 20030015453 10/153266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26850361 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030015453 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ganey, Maureen A. ; et
al. |
January 23, 2003 |
Infant/toddler prepared meal kit
Abstract
A prepared meal kit having foodstuffs suitable for feeding an
infant or a toddler is disclosed. The foodstuffs include packaged
and ready-to-eat baked items, fruit, vegetable and cereal servings,
as well as a liquid serving of formula or juice in a container
which also functions as a serving tray. The kit also includes
ancillary items such as utensils, napkins, bibs and a toy. The
container provides a means for advertisement and brand recognition
and may be decorated with thematically-based graphics linked to a
particular activity, character or event.
Inventors: |
Ganey, Maureen A.;
(Philadelphia, PA) ; Kates, Donald C.;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John A. Chionchio, Esquire
Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP
Suite 2600
1101 Market Street
Philadelphia
PA
19107-2950
US
|
Family ID: |
26850361 |
Appl. No.: |
10/153266 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60292555 |
May 22, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/541 ;
206/542; 426/115; 426/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 47/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/541 ;
206/542; 426/115; 426/120 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A kit of prepared foodstuffs suitable for an infant's and a
toddler's meal, said kit comprising: a fruit serving; a vegetable
serving; a cereal serving; a liquid serving; and packaging adapted
for grouping said fruit, vegetable, cereal and liquid servings
together.
2. A kit according to claim 1, wherein said packaging comprises a
tray having a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted
for holding one of said servings.
3. A kit according to claim 1, further comprising: a first
container for holding said fruit serving; a second container for
holding said vegetable serving; a third container for holding said
cereal serving; and a fourth container for holding said liquid
serving, said packaging holding said containers.
4. A kit according to claim 1, wherein said liquid serving is
infant formula.
5. A kit according to claim 1, further comprising a baked food
item.
6. A kit according to claim 5, wherein said baked food item is a
biscuit.
7. A kit according to claim 1, further comprising a pasta food
item.
8. A kit according to claim 1, further including a napkin and a
bib.
9. A kit according to claim 1, further including a toy.
10. A kit according to claim 9, wherein said toy has
characteristics associated with a particular activity and provides
a promotional link to said activity for promoting said activity via
said kit.
11. A method of providing a kit of prepared foodstuffs suitable for
an infant's and a toddler's meal, said method comprising the steps
of: packaging a fruit serving; packaging a vegetable serving;
packaging a cereal serving; packaging a liquid serving; and
packaging said servings together thereby forming a kit.
12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of
first packaging said servings individually thereby forming
individual servings, and then packaging said individual servings
together to form said kit.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/292,555, filed May 22, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention concerns a kit of prepared foodstuffs
suitable for consumption by infants and toddlers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Infants, as well as toddlers, have special dietary needs
which are not easily or conveniently met when traveling. While
adults and older children are readily accommodated in restaurants,
parents must often bring considerable supplies of suitable "baby"
food with them for their infant or toddler. Bringing such extra
supplies can be burdensome, especially when significant baggage is
already being carried by the parents. Furthermore, there are no
convenient facilities readily available while traveling where
infant and toddler food may be prepared, refrigerated or heated if
necessary. This can lead to significant wastage, requiring extra
food be carried to compensate for the wasted portions.
[0004] Preparation of infant and toddler meals is also a task in
daycare centers where meals are often served to groups of children.
If the burden and time required for preparing such meals could be
reduced, it would have beneficial consequences in that a more
complete and balanced meal could be served faster to more children
by a smaller staff.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention concerns a kit of prepared foodstuffs suitable
for an infant's or toddler's meal. The kit contains a fruit
serving, a vegetable serving, a cereal serving and a liquid
serving. The servings are conveniently contained in packaging
adapted for grouping the fruit, vegetable, cereal and liquid
servings together.
[0006] The invention also concerns a method of providing a kit of
prepared foodstuffs suitable for an infant's or toddler's meal. The
method includes the steps of packaging a fruit serving, packaging a
vegetable serving, packaging a cereal serving and packaging a
liquid serving and including the servings together in packaging to
form a kit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prepared meal kit
according to the invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of another embodiment
of a prepared meal kit according to the invention; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a flow chart describing a method for providing a
meal kit according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a prepared meal kit 10 according to the
invention. Meal kit 10 is designed to provide a complete infant's
meal and is packaged using a tray 12 having a plurality of wells 14
holding various foodstuffs. The tray may be comprised of a variety
of materials, including paper, metal foil or plastic and is
preferably made of molded plastic of sufficient rigidity and
robustness to allow the kit to endure rough handling and be
conveniently used to serve the meal, yet also be inexpensive enough
to be disposable. The foodstuffs preferably include a fruit serving
16, a vegetable serving 18 and a cereal serving 20. For infants,
the fruit and vegetable servings are preferably pureed, sized
between 2-4 ounces and may be such baby food staples as apple
sauce, pears, peas, carrots or sweet potatoes to cite a few
examples. The cereal serving, also preferably 2-4 ounces, is
preferably a rice-based cereal but could also be oatmeal or some
other grain-based foodstuff.
[0011] Preferably, the wells 14 are capped by lids 22 which seal
the contents against moisture, air and other contaminants. The lids
are readily removable by hand and may take many forms but are
preferably heat sealed membranes, such as metal foil or flexible
plastic which are removably adhered to the tray surface 24.
[0012] In addition to the pureed food servings 16 through 20, a
liquid serving 26 is also included in the meal kit. For infants,
the liquid serving 26 is preferably infant formula, which may be
provided in powdered form and mixed with water provided in a
container 28. Alternately, liquid formula may be packaged in
container 28, the formula being poured into a baby bottle supplied
by the parents. The liquid serving may also be prepackaged in a
disposable baby bottle 30 included with the kit. The liquid serving
is preferably 4-6 ounces.
[0013] A baked food item, such as a teething biscuit 32, may also
be included in the kit. Like the pureed servings, the baked food
item is preferably contained in its own sealed well 14 within the
tray 12.
[0014] The meal kit 10 may also include utensils such as spoon 34
for serving the pureed food items. Such utensils are also
preferably made of molded plastic and are disposable with the tray
after the meal has been consumed. For further convenience, clean-up
items 36 are provided with the kit. The clean-up items may include
napkins 38, a bib 40, pre-moistened towels 42, tissues 44 and
various other products useful for handling the inevitable mess
which is part of an infant's feeding. Lastly, a toy, such as a
rattle 46, may also be part of the meal kit according to the
invention. Other examples of a toy might be a book, a puzzle, a
plush toy, an action figure, any of which may serve as a thematic
or promotional advertisement or tie-in to other products, events or
services including television programs, motion pictures, special
occasions such as holidays, birthdays or charitable events or
causes.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a prepared meal kit 50
according to the invention. Kit 50 is an example of a toddler's
meal and illustrates an alternate form of packaging for organizing
the kit contents. It is understood that the embodiments of both the
infant's and toddler's meal kits described are examples only and
are not indicative of any preferred packaging arrangement
associated with either meal kit.
[0016] Kit 50 differs little in its contents from kit 10 and
includes a fruit serving 52 (preferably 4-6 ounces), a vegetable
serving 54 (preferably 4-6 ounces), a cereal 56 (preferably 4-6
ounces) and a liquid serving 58 (preferably 4-8 ounces). The
servings are, however, adapted to an older child in that the fruit
and vegetable servings may comprise chunk or whole fruit and
vegetable items, the cereal serving may be a commercially available
dry grain-based product such as toasted oats and the liquid serving
may be a fruit juice or milk. In certain embodiments, a pasta
serving may be substituted for one of the servings or provided as
an additional serving. The meal kit 50 may also include a baked
item 60 in the form of a cookie or cracker, utensils such as a
spoon 62, clean-up products 64 including napkins, a bib,
pre-moistened towels and the like and a toy 66.
[0017] Meal kit 50 is packaged in a box 68, and the servings of
fruit, vegetables and cereal 52, 54 and 56 respectively, are
preferably provided in individual respective containers 70, 72 and
74. Containers 52 and 54 holding the fruit and vegetable servings
may be jars, cans or membrane sealed containers or pouches.
Container 74, holding the cereal serving 56, is preferably a
disposable paperboard or plastic bowl sealed with a membrane 76 to
keep its contents fresh and uncontaminated. The liquid serving 58,
juice or milk being preferred, is held in a convenient box or
carton container 78.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the steps for providing a
kit of prepared foodstuffs suitable for an infant's or toddler's
meal. The steps include packaging a fruit serving, packaging a
vegetable serving, packaging a cereal serving, packaging a liquid
serving and then packaging the servings together to form the kit.
The packaging need only meet the requirements that it be
inexpensive, disposable and seal the food contents to keep them
fresh and uncontaminated. However, it is preferred that the
packaging also serve an eye-catching, advertising,
brand-identifying function and, thus, be a suitable vehicle for the
display of indicia and other graphic devices such as company
trademarks, logos and images such as cartoon characters, thematic
scenes or symbols, as well as for the display of educational
presentations. Thus, the packaging may also be used to strengthen
any promotional aspects or tie-ins which are associated with the
meal kit. Such promotional or display functions may also be
extended to the clean-up items wherein the napkins, bibs and other
items may be similarly used to display graphics or indicia
consistent with the themes displayed on the packaging.
[0019] The prepared meal kit according to the invention provides
convenience and advantage to parents traveling with children as
well as institutions, such as daycare centers, where significant
numbers of meals need to be prepared for infants and toddlers. The
kit provides a complete, balanced, nutritional meal which requires
no preparation other than opening of the packaging. The portion
sizes are tailored for a single meal, thus, reducing waste. The
packaging is disposable, eliminating significant clean-up chores.
The kit can be packaged to have a relatively long shelf life
without the need for refrigeration and, thus, can be easily stocked
by restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores.
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