U.S. patent application number 10/330858 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-31 for food and condiment holder.
Invention is credited to McLean, Clarence R. III.
Application Number | 20030141355 10/330858 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27616641 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030141355 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLean, Clarence R. III |
July 31, 2003 |
Food and condiment holder
Abstract
A french fry and condiment holder having a wall with a pair of
parallel slits. A condiment sleeve containing ketchup or another
condiment may be inserted into a loop formed in the wall by
deforming the wall at the slits. The condiment sleeve has a flat
bottom and can stand upright.
Inventors: |
McLean, Clarence R. III;
(Noblesville, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
C. David Emahrdt
Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton,
Moriarty and McNett LLP
111 Monument Circle, Suite 3700
Indianapolis
IN
46204-5137
US
|
Family ID: |
27616641 |
Appl. No.: |
10/330858 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60353038 |
Jan 30, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3216 20130101;
B65D 5/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/120.15 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/489 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A french fry and condiment holder comprising a french fry
container having a wall with a pair of slits therein, a condiment
sleeve containing condiment and having a closed top, said wall
being deformable to form a loop within the container, said sleeve
being insertable into said container into said loop.
2. The french fry and condiment holder of claim 1 wherein said pair
of slits includes a first slit and a second slit which is parallel
to said first slit.
3. The french fry container of claim 2 wherein said top is peelable
off of said condiment sleeve to provide access to said condiment,
said condiment sleeve having a flat bottom whereby said sleeve can
stand upright independently of said holder.
4. A process for serving french fries comprising: placing the
french fries in a container having a wall that is deformable to
form a loop within the container, providing condiment in a sleeve
that may be inserted into the container into said loop.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein said sleeve has a flat bottom and
is capable of standing upright on said flat bottom.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein said loop is at least partially
defined by a pair of slits in said container.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a food and condiment holder and
particularly to a french fry and ketchup holder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Existing french fry containers used at fast food outlets are
not entirely stable and easy to use. The ketchup available is
usually supplied in a flat container that is difficult to open and
relatively difficult to use when opened. Alternatively the customer
may be provided with a cup which is then filled with ketchup from a
dispenser. Again the procedure is subject to the ketchup being
dropped and soiling the clothing, fingers and other surroundings.
Improvement is needed in the stability and usability of the french
fry and condiment holder.
SUMMARY TO THE INVENTION
[0003] One embodiment of a french fry and condiment holder
comprising the present invention might include a french fry
container. The french fry container has a wall with a pair of slits
therein. There is also provided a condiment sleeve that has a
closed top. The wall is deformable at the slits to form a loop
within the container. The sleeve is then inserted or is insertable
into the container into the loop.
[0004] Another embodiment of the invention includes a french fry
container having a recess therein for selective mounting of a
condiment sleeve within the french fry container.
[0005] Still another aspect of the invention is a condiment sleeve
that has a flat bottom and is capable of standing upright apart
from a french fry container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the french fry holder of the
present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a front elevation.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side elevation.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a condiment sleeve forming
part of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a view showing the top being peeled away from the
condiment sleeve.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the
french fry holder deformed internally to receive the condiment
sleeve.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 showing the
container with french fries therein and showing the condiment
sleeve mounted in the french fry container with a french fry
inserted into the condiment sleeve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated
device and method and further applications of the principles of the
invention as illustrated therein, are herein contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a french fry
container 10 which may be made of paperboard and has a front wall
11, a rear wall 12 and side walls 15 and 16. The container 10 may
be identical to or similar to existing french fry containers.
However, it includes the following modifications. In the side wall
16 are formed two parallel slits 17 and 20. The side wall 16 may be
deformed by pressing the portion 21 thereof inwardly to the
position shown in FIG. 7 forming a loop 22 which receives the
condiment sleeve 25 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. An alternative
embodiment of the invention includes providing an additional pair
of parallel slits (not shown) below the slits 17 and 20. Such
additional pair of slits would be provided if needed to improve the
stability of the sleeve. It should be noted the slits 17 and 20
provide the advantage that they do not alter the container when
they are not being used.
[0016] Still another alternative embodiment of the invention is to
enlarge the existing container so as to provide additional room for
french fries.
[0017] The sleeve may receive ketchup and has a peelable top 24.
Preferably the sleeve 25 has a flat bottom so it can stand upright
if the user desires to not employ the loop 22 to retain the sleeve
in the position shown in FIG. 8. The sleeve 25 has a flat bottom 26
and has side walls 27 that extend vertically upwardly from the flat
bottom so that the sleeve can sit upright in a stable fashion on a
horizontal surface in the event the user of the french fry
container desires to use the sleeve in that fashion. In order to
preserve the strength and appropriate shape of the sleeve 25 it may
be formed of plastic; however, it may also be formed of other
materials.
[0018] The sleeve 25 is capable of being packaged so that it can be
distributed and manufactured separately from the french fry
container 10. The volume of one of the sleeves 25 provides enough
ketchup for an entire container of fries even for those who like to
use a lot of ketchup. The shape of the sleeve is relatively tall or
long and narrow so as to substantially cover a french fry with
ketchup when it is inserted in the sleeve 25.
[0019] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown
and described and that all changes and modifications that come
within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
* * * * *