U.S. patent application number 09/924471 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-13 for lid having integral one-piece eating utensil.
This patent application is currently assigned to CODA International, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Davidov, Kenneth A., Davidov, Theodore.
Application Number | 20030029868 09/924471 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25450242 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030029868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davidov, Theodore ; et
al. |
February 13, 2003 |
Lid having integral one-piece eating utensil
Abstract
A lid is disclosed that is configured to be mounted on a food
container having a rim bounding an opening of the food container.
The lid has a top cover wall with a through opening and an outer
periphery, a one-piece eating utensil being located in the opening
of the top cover wall and connected to the top cover wall by a
plurality of discrete, spaced apart, frangible connecting elements.
The one-piece utensil has a food engaging portion and an integral
handle portion, the handle portion being configured to be gripped
by a hand of a user. The length of the one-piece eating utensil,
measured from an end of the food engaging portion to an opposite
end of the handle portion, is less than a distance between opposite
sides of the periphery of the top cover wall such that the
one-piece eating utensil fits entirely within the periphery of the
top cover wall. A side wall extends downwardly from the periphery
of the top cover wall and is configured to engage the rim portion
of the food container.
Inventors: |
Davidov, Theodore;
(Washington, DC) ; Davidov, Kenneth A.; (Ossining,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOUGHERTY & TROXELL
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
CODA International, Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
25450242 |
Appl. No.: |
09/924471 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
206/541; 220/266 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/246 20130101;
B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2251/0081
20130101; B65D 51/185 20130101; B65D 2543/00027 20130101; B65D
2251/0031 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
220/266; 206/541 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/20; B65D
051/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lid configured to be mounted on a food container having a rim
bounding an opening of the food container, the lid comprising: a) a
top cover wall having a generally planar configuration, the top
cover wall having an opening therethrough and an outer periphery;
b) a one-piece eating utensil located in the opening of the top
cover wall, the one-piece utensil having a food engaging portion
and an integral handle portion extending therefrom, the handle
portion being configured to be gripped by a hand of a user, the
one-piece eating utensil being removably connected to the top cover
wall solely by a plurality of discrete, spaced apart, frangible
connecting elements, a length of the one-piece eating utensil from
an end of the food engaging portion to an end of the handle portion
being less than a distance between opposite sides of the periphery
of the top cover wall; and, c) a side wall extending downwardly
from the periphery of the top cover wall and configured to engage
the rim portion of the food container.
2. The lid of claim 1 wherein the side wall comprises: a) a first
wall portion extending from the periphery of the top cover wall; b)
a second wall portion having a lateral dimension measured between
opposite sides thereof greater than a corresponding dimension of
the first wall portion; and, c) a step portion connecting the first
and second wall portions together.
3. The lid of claim 2 wherein the second wall portion of one lid is
configured to accept therein the first wall portion of another lid
so as to enable a plurality of lids to be stacked in nested
fashion.
4. The lid of claim 1 wherein the food engaging portion comprises a
spoon.
5. The lid of claim 1 wherein the food engaging portion comprises a
fork.
6. The lid of claim 1 wherein the food engaging portion comprises a
knife.
7. The lid of claim 1 further comprising a protective sheet
attached to the top cover wall and covering at least the one-piece
eating utensil.
8. The lid of claim 7 wherein the protective sheet is removably
attached to the top cover wall.
9. A lid configured to be mounted on a food container having a rim
bounding an opening of the food container, the lid comprising: a) a
top cover wall having a generally planar configuration, the top
cover wall having an opening therethrough and an outer periphery;
b) a side wall extending downwardly from the periphery of the top
cover wall and configured to engage the rim portion of the food
container, the side wall having: a first wall portion extending
from the periphery of the top cover wall with a first lateral
dimension measured between opposite sides thereof; a second wall
portion having a second lateral dimension measured between opposite
sides thereof, the second lateral dimension being greater than the
first lateral dimension; and step portion connecting the first and
second wall portions together; and, c) a one-piece eating utensil
located in the opening of the top cover wall, the one-piece eating
utensil having an integral handle configured to be gripped by a
hand of a user, the one-piece eating utensil being removably
connected to the top cover wall solely by a plurality of discrete,
spaced apart, frangible connecting elements.
10. The lid of claim 9 wherein the second wall portion is
configured to accept therein the first wall portion of another lid
so as to enable a plurality of lids to be stacked in nested
fashion.
11. The lid of claim 9 wherein the food engaging portion comprises
a spoon.
12. The lid of claim 9 wherein the food engaging portion comprises
a fork.
13. The lid of claim 9 wherein the food engaging portion comprises
a knife.
14. The lid of claim 9 further comprising a protective sheet
attached to the top cover wall and covering at least the one-piece
eating utensil.
15. The lid of claim 14 wherein the protective sheet is removably
attached to the top cover wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a lid for mounting on a
food container, more particularly such a lid having a one-piece
eating utensil integrally formed with, and easily removable from
the lid.
[0002] The market for prepared, containerized food products has
grown dramatically in recent years. The containerized, ready
prepared foods have been found to provide great convenience for
those with active lifestyles and enable such prepared foods to be
readily marketed in a variety of container sizes to suit the needs
of virtually all consumers. The consumption of such prepared food
products, quite obviously, requires eating utensils, such as
spoons, knives, and forks. A drawback of the known ready prepared
food containers is a requirement of the user to provide such eating
utensils, which oftentimes generates great inconvenience to the
user.
[0003] This problem has been recognized and many food containers
incorporate covers or lids having an eating utensil contained in,
or attached to the cover or lid. Such eating utensils have
typically comprised multiple portions, such as separate utensils
and handles, which must be removed from the cover or lid and which
then must be subsequently assembled to enable the user to properly
use the utensil. While such multi-piece utensils have been an
improvement over the containers having no utensils, they have not
proven to be entirely satisfactory. The multiple-piece eating
utensils have increased the manufacturing costs and complexity of
the container lids or covers and, generally, the mechanisms by
which the multiple pieces are attached together have proven to be
insufficiently strong to enable the user to readily consume the
food product, or have proven to be too complex for a user to
readily comprehend.
[0004] Another known type of cover has a compartment in which a
separate eating utensil is stored prior to use, or which is
attached to the cover by a hinge which must be subsequently broken
by the user prior to use. Again, these known types of covers have
not proven to be entirely satisfactory, since the use of a separate
storage compartment increases the size and bulk of the cover and,
again, increases its manufacturing costs and complexity.
[0005] Thus, there is believed to be a need for a cover or lid
having a one-piece eating utensil integrally formed with, and
readily removable from the cover which does not require assembly
after removal from the lid or cover, and which provides sufficient
rigidity to enable the user to readily consume the food product. It
is also believed that there is a need for such a lid or cover
having a one-piece eating utensil which does not significantly
increase the manufacturing or shipping costs of the lid or
cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A lid is disclosed that is configured to be mounted on a
food container having a rim bounding an opening of the food
container. The lid has a top cover wall with a through opening and
an outer periphery, a one-piece eating utensil being located in the
opening of the top cover wall and connected to the top cover wall
by a plurality of discrete, spaced apart, frangible connecting
elements. The one-piece utensil has a food engaging portion and an
integral handle portion, the handle portion being configured to be
gripped by a hand of a user. The length of the one-piece eating
utensil, measured from an end of the food engaging portion to an
end of the handle portion, is less than a distance between opposite
sides of the periphery of the top cover wall such that the
one-piece eating utensil fits entirely within the periphery of the
top cover wall. A side wall extends downwardly from the periphery
of the top cover wall and is configured to engage the rim portion
of the food container.
[0007] The present invention also encompasses such a lid having the
side wall with a first wall portion extending from the periphery of
the top cover wall, a second wall portion having a lateral
dimension measured between opposite sides thereof greater than a
corresponding dimension of the first wall portion, and a step
portion connecting the first and second wall portions together. The
second wall portion of one lid is configured to accept therein the
first wall portion of another lid so as to permit a plurality of
the lids to be stacked in nested fashion. This enables the lids to
be stacked so as to minimize the volume occupied by a plurality of
the containers, thereby minimizing costs of shipping the lids prior
to the attachment to the food container.
[0008] The eating utensil integrally formed with the lid may
comprise a spoon, a fork, or a knife. In each case, the handle
portion may have reinforcing ribs to facilitate the gripping of the
handle by the user, and to increase the rigidity of the handle
portion to enable the user to consume the food product without
encountering breakage or deformation of the eating utensil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid according to the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lid taken along
lines II-II in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines III-III
in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a plurality of
lids stacked in nested fashion.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid according to the
present invention having a removable protective sheet.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lid according to the
present invention without a protective sheet.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lid according to the
present invention illustrating a fork as the eating utensil.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lid according to the
present invention illustrating a knife as the eating utensil.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention relates to a lid having an integral,
one-piece eating utensil that is easily removable from the lid and
which possesses the requisite rigidity to enable the utensil to be
used without deformation or breakage. Although the invention will
be described with a spoon as the eating utensil, it is to be
understood that eating utensils, such as, but not limited to, forks
and knives, are also encompassed by this invention.
[0018] The lid 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is configured to be
mounted on a food container 12 having a rim (not shown) bounding an
opening of the food container. The lid comprises a top cover wall
14 having an opening 16 therethrough and an outer periphery
14a.
[0019] A one-piece eating utensil 18 is integrally formed with the
lid 10 and is located within the opening 16 through the top cover
wall 14. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the one-piece eating utensil
18 comprises a spoon having a concave food engaging portion 18a and
an integral, handle portion 18b extending from one side of the food
engaging portion 18a. Handle portion 18b is configured to
facilitate the gripping thereof by the user when the one-piece
eating utensil 18 has been removed from the lid 10. A lower surface
of the handle portion 18b may have one or more reinforcing ribs 18c
extending therefrom so as to increase the rigidity of the handle
portion 18b and to further facilitate gripping of the handle
portion by the user.
[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the opening 16 through the top
cover wall 14 is generally the same shape as the outline of the
one-piece eating utensil 18. The one-piece eating utensil 18 is
integrally formed with the lid 10, such as by injection molding, or
other known forming processes. A plurality of discrete, spaced
apart frangible connecting elements 20 are also integrally formed
during the molding process and serve to releasably attach the
one-piece eating utensil to the top cover wall 14. Since connecting
elements 20 are frangible in nature, the one-piece eating utensil
18 may be readily removed from the lid 10 once the lid 10 has been
removed from the container 12.
[0021] A distance d.sub.1 measured between opposite sides of the
periphery 14a of the top cover wall 14 is illustrated in FIG. 3. As
can be seen in FIG. 2, a length I of the one-piece eating utensil
18, measured between an end of the food engaging portion 18a and an
end of the handle portion 18b, the total length of the one-piece
eating utensil 18, is less than the distance d.sub.1 between
opposite sides of the periphery of the top cover wall. Thus, the
one-piece eating utensil fits entirely within the periphery 14a of
top cover wall 14.
[0022] A side wall 22 extends downwardly from the periphery 14a of
the top cover wall 14 and is configured to engage the rim portion
of the food container 12. The side wall 22 comprises a first wall
portion 22a extending from the periphery 14a of the top cover wall
14, a second wall portion 22b having a lateral dimension d.sub.2,
measured between opposite sides thereof greater than a
corresponding dimension of the first wall portion 22a, and a step
portion 22c connecting the first and second wall portions 22a, 22b,
together. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the lateral dimension measured
between opposite sides of the first wall portion 22a corresponds to
the distance d.sub.1. Forming the side wall 22 such that d.sub.1 is
less than d.sub.2, enables a plurality of lids 10 to be stacked in
nested fashion, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Usually, within the
industry, the lids and the containers are not made by the food
suppliers, but are made by separate manufacturers specializing in
those particular areas. The containers and lids are separately
shipped to the food preparer, who then fills the container with the
prepared food and applies the lids to the container. The stacking
of the lids in nested fashion minimizes the volume occupied by a
plurality of lids, thereby minimizing the shipping costs to
transport the manufactured lids to the food processor. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the concave food engaging portion 18a does
not interfere with the nested stacking of the plurality of lids
10.
[0023] A protective sheet 24 may be attached to an upper surface of
the top cover wall 14 such that the protective sheet covers at
least an upper surface of the one-piece eating utensil 18. This
prevents contamination of the one-piece eating utensil 18 during
shipping, sale and handling of the food container 12. The
protective sheet 24 may be permanently attached to the top cover
wall 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this instance, once the lid
10 has been removed from the container 12, the eating utensil 18
may be removed from the underside of the lid 10. Protective sheet
24 may be attached to the top cover wall 14 by any known methods.
The permanent attachment of the protective sheet 24 to the top
cover wall 14 enables the food container 12 to be re-covered by the
lid 10 if the contents of the container are not completely
consumed.
[0024] Alternatively, the protective sheet 24 may be releasably
attached to the top cover wall 14, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Known
types of releasable adhesives may be utilized to affix the
protective sheet 24 to the top cover wall 14. A tab 24a may also be
added to the periphery of the protective sheet 24 to enable the
user to readily remove the protective sheet from the lid 10. Quite
obviously, the protective sheet 24 may be a transparent,
translucent or opaque material and may have advertising indicia
thereon.
[0025] The lid 10 may also be formed with no protective sheet, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. The construction of the lid 10 in the
embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is identical to the
construction of the lid 10 previously described and illustrated in
FIGS. 1-4.
[0026] The one-piece eating utensil may comprise a fork 26,
illustrated in FIG. 7, or a knife 28, illustrated in FIG. 8. In
each case, the top cover wall 14 has the through opening 16 and the
one-piece utensil is integrally formed therewith and connected to
the top wall 14 by a plurality of discrete, spaced apart frangible
connecting elements 20. The fork 26 has food engaging portion 26a
having a plurality of tines and an integral handle portion 26b. As
in the previously described embodiment, the total length I of the
eating utensil is less than the distance d.sub.1. The handle
portion 26b may also have the reinforcing ribs 26c to increase the
rigidity of the handle portion 26b.
[0027] The one-piece knife 28 has blade portion 28a and an
integral, handle portion 28b extending therefrom. Reinforcing ribs
28c may also be provided to increase the rigidity of the utensil.
Blade portion 28a may also have a serrated edge 28d to increase the
cutting efficiency of the knife 28. As in the previously described
embodiment, the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 may also be provided
with a permanently attached protective sheet, a releasable
protective sheet, or no protective sheet.
[0028] The foregoing description is provided for illustrative
purposes only and should not be construed as in any way limiting
this invention, the scope of which is defined solely by the
appended claims.
* * * * *