U.S. patent application number 10/467099 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-22 for container.
Invention is credited to Haggard, Tim Michael Debonnaire.
Application Number | 20040074905 10/467099 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9908183 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040074905 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haggard, Tim Michael
Debonnaire |
April 22, 2004 |
Container
Abstract
A container for gelatinous food stuffs materials has a pair of
inwardly directed blades (30, 32) formed on the inner surface of
the lid (10). As the lid (10) is rotated to remove it from the
receptacle (12), the blades (30, 32) cut through the food stuff and
release it from the interior walls of the receptacle (12).
Inventors: |
Haggard, Tim Michael
Debonnaire; (London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Anthony A Laurentano
Lahive & Cockfield
60 State Street
Boston
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
9908183 |
Appl. No.: |
10/467099 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
January 28, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB02/00349 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/278 ;
220/212 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2231/005 20130101;
B65D 85/72 20130101; B65D 51/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/278 ;
220/212 |
International
Class: |
B65D 051/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 1, 2001 |
GB |
0102898.4 |
Claims
1. A container for foodstuffs, comprising a receptacle and a lid,
the lid comprising at least one cutter extending therefrom, so as
to project into the container when closed, in which the lid is
rotateable with respect to the receptacle thereby drawing the
cutter through an arc within the container.
2. A container according to claim 1 in which, when the lid is
fitted, the cutters contact the inner faces of the receptacle.
3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which there are
at least two cutters.
4. A container according to claim 3 in which the cutters are
distributed circumferentially around the lid.
5. A container according to any preceding claim in which the or
each cutters are in the shape of a blade.
6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the
cutters are shaped with the silhouette of a character or
object.
7. A container substantially as described herein with reference to
and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container, in particular
one that is suitable for gelatinous food stuffs.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Gelatinous food stuffs such as jelly in various flavours are
commonly available. Typically, they are sold in a concentrated form
which must be made up as required. This is mainly due to the short
shelf life of the made up food stuff, but also since the made up
jelly adheres tightly to the container in which it is formed. As a
result, it is difficult to extract the jelly from the container and
some form of cutlery is usually required. Whilst this is not a
problem in a domestic environment, this does hinder
commercialisation of jelly-based food products in a retail
environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention seeks to provide a container for
gelatinous food stuffs such as jelly which can enable retail sale
in an easy and convenient package, preferably one that does not
require bundling of disposable cutlery.
[0004] The present invention therefore provides a container
comprising a receptacle and a lid, the lid comprising at least one
cutter extending therefrom, so as to project into the container
when closed.
[0005] Thus, upon removing the lid, typically employing a rotary
action relative to the receptacle, the cutters will be drawn
through the gelatinous food stuff within the receptacle, releasing
it from the side walls thereof. This will enable the food stuff to
be removed easily for consumption.
[0006] It is preferred that, when the lid is fitted, the cutters
contact the inner faces of the receptacle.
[0007] It is preferred that there are at least two cutters, ideally
spread circumferentially around the lid. The cutters can be in the
shape of a blade, such as including a bevel edge. Alternatively,
for retail sales aimed at children the cutters could employ a
novelty shape such as the profiles of popular characters. In
general, the hardness and toughness of gelatinous food stuffs does
not require a sharp edge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
figures, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a view from one side of the lid;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a section on II-I of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a view of the lid from beneath;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a view of the receptacle from above; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a section on V-V of the receptacle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES
[0014] Referring to the figures, the lid 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3
co-operates with the pot-shaped receptacle 12 of FIGS. 4 and 5. The
lid 10 is generally circular in shape to match a generally circular
opening 14 on the receptacle 12.
[0015] The outer perimeter of the lid 10 has a rim 16 which is
adapted to fit snuggly around the outside circular profile of the
receptacle 12. Concentric with the rim 16 is a circular trench 18,
spaced inwardly therefrom, which provides additional rigidity to
the lid 10 and sandwiches the opening 14 of the receptacle 12
between the rim 16.
[0016] The outside face of the receptacle 12 has a pair of
diametrically opposed outwardly extending ridges 20, 22. A
corresponding pair of inwardly directed ridges 24,26 are provided
in a diametrically opposed relationship on the inner face of the
lip 16 of the lid 10. These extend through an angle of about
110.degree.. To close the container, therefore, the lid 10 is
placed over the receptacle 12 such that the ridges 22,24 pass
through gaps between the ridges 24, 26 of the lid, and the lid is
then rotated such that the ridges 20,22 are retained behind the
ridges 24, 26. The ridges, 20,22 have an upwardly directed portion
28 to assist in pulling the lid 10 home on the receptacle 12. To
open the container, the reverse procedure is followed involving
rotating the lid 10 until the ridges 20,22 of the receptacle 12 are
no longer retained by the ridges 24,26 of the lid, and the lid 10
is then removed by pulling it from the receptacle 12.
[0017] A pair of blades 30,32 project inwardly of the receptacle 12
from the inner surface of the lid 10, between the trench 18 and the
lip 16. The two blades 30,32 are diametrically opposed and project
from the inner surface of the lid 10 by a distance between 90% and
95% of the internal depth of the receptacle 12. Typically, a depth
of at least 60%-80% is advisable. The depth should be sufficient to
release a significant amount of material, yet not so large as to
prompt difficulties in the event of excessive manufacturing
tolerances.
[0018] The blades are located such that as the lid 10 is rotated
relative to the receptacle 12 to remove it therefrom, the blades
30, 32 each describe an arc close to or preferably at the inner
surface of the receptacle 12, releasing gelatinous food stuff
material contained within the receptacle 12 from the walls thereof.
This results from the blades being located on the lid in a position
which is offset from the centre thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, two
blades are provided which, when rotated during release of the lid,
will make a sufficient cut in foodstuffs to allow easy release. A
single blade could be provided, but this would require a
correspondingly greater rotation of the lid. Equally, more blades
could be provided, but at a cost of additional manufacturing
complexity.
[0019] The blades, 30,32 are tilted slightly inwardly such that
their tips are closer to each other than their roots. This matches
the sectional profile of the receptacle 12 as is apparent in FIG.
5. The angle should not be too large else the blades may lose
contact with the inner faces of the receptacle.
[0020] The profiles of the blades are similar to those of a knife,
but with a bevelled edge 34 and a gentle curve of the forward
cutting edge 36 to a point 38 at the tip of the blade 30,32.
However, other shapes can be adopted as gelatinous food stuffs are
not typically of a hard or necessarily tough nature. For example,
the shape of the blade could be a novelty shape such as the
silhouette of popular figures or personalities.
[0021] The container described herein can be used for a variety of
human and non-human foodstuffs. Human foodstuffs such as jellies
and the like are particularly suitable, but others are also
suitable including gelatinous foodstuffs incorporating a second
phase, such as food for pet or other animals. Dog and cat food
commonly consists of a gelatinous binder with a suspended meaty
phase. Gelatinous foodstuffs include both those manufactured using
gelatine or gelatine substitutes such as certain seaweed extracts,
and also foodstuffs of a similar nature.
[0022] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many
variations may be made to the above-described embodiments, without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
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