U.S. patent application number 10/856032 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for food storage and serving device.
Invention is credited to Croft, William F., Huthmaker, Todd J., Luna, Christian.
Application Number | 20050264145 10/856032 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35424418 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050264145 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Croft, William F. ; et
al. |
December 1, 2005 |
Food storage and serving device
Abstract
A sealed portable container for storing a food item such as
cheese in a refrigerator, transporting the item to another
location, and serving the item to individuals. The container having
a housing with an interior adapted to store the food item, and a
drawer insertable into the storage container for inserting and
removing the food item within the housing. The container forms a
seal between the drawer and the housing for retaining the freshness
of the item when the drawer is fully inserted into the housing. The
drawer may be used as a serving tray, and additionally, the drawer
may be used as an integrated cutting surface.
Inventors: |
Croft, William F.; (Wooster,
OH) ; Huthmaker, Todd J.; (Beaverton, OH) ;
Luna, Christian; (North Royalton, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
35424418 |
Appl. No.: |
10/856032 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/330.1 ;
312/296 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/26 20130101;
A47B 71/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/330.1 ;
312/296 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable food storage and serving container comprising: a
housing having an exterior wall and an opening, the exterior wall
bounding a storage interior; and a drawer having a tray with a top
surface, the tray slidably and removeably insertable into the
storage interior through the opening, the drawer forming a seal and
closing off the opening when the drawer is fully inserted into the
housing interior.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the drawer further comprises a
drawer face coupled to the tray, the drawer face arranged to close
off the opening.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the drawer face and tray are
integrally formed as a single unit.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein the drawer face is removeably
mounted to the tray.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the tray comprises a connector
carried near a front edge of the tray, and wherein the drawer face
is removeably mountable to the connector.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the drawer face comprises a
receptacle, and wherein the connector of the tray is removeably
insertable into the receptacle of the drawer face.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the receptacle of the drawer
face comprises at least one aperture and wherein the connector of
the tray comprises at least one flexible tab, the tab adapted to
releasably engage the aperture of the drawer face upon insertion of
the connector into the receptacle.
8. The device of claim 2, wherein the drawer face comprises an
inner surface having a perimeter, the inner surface having a skirt
extending inwardly from at least a portion of the perimeter of the
inner surface of the drawer face.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the skirt comprises at least one
radially outwardly extending sealing lip that bears against at
least a portion of the housing to form a seal between the drawer
and the housing when the drawer is inserted in the storage
interior.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the opening into the housing
interior comprises an opening perimeter and an inner surface, and
wherein the at least one sealing lip comprises a first sealing lip
to form a first seal between the drawer and the opening perimeter,
and a second sealing lip to form a second seal between the drawer
and the inner surface of the housing interior near the opening
perimeter.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the tray
comprises a cutting surface.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the cutting surface is
integrally formed as the top surface of the tray.
13. A cheese storage and serving device comprising: a housing
having an exterior wall bounding a housing interior, the exterior
wall terminating at a front end that defines an opening into the
housing interior; a drawer having a drawer face coupled to a drawer
tray adapted to support at least a portion of a block of cheese,
the drawer removeably slideably mountable within the housing; and a
seal formed when at least a portion of the drawer face bears
against the housing when the drawer is in a closed position.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the drawer tray comprises a top
surface having a perimeter and having a lip extending upwardly
relative to the top surface near at least a portion of the
perimeter of the top surface.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the lip is positioned on an end
of the drawer tray opposite the drawer face.
16. The device of claim 13, wherein the drawer tray has a bottom
surface with at least one beam extending downwardly from at least a
portion of the bottom surface.
17. The device of claim 13, wherein the drawer face is removeably
mounted to the drawer tray.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the drawer tray comprises a
connector carried near a front edge of the drawer tray, and wherein
the drawer face is removeably mounted to the connector.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the drawer face comprises a
channel, and wherein the connector of the drawer tray is adapted to
be removeably inserted into the channel of the drawer face.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the drawer face comprises at
least one aperture, and wherein the connector of the drawer tray
comprises at least one tab, the tab adapted to releasably engage
the aperture of the drawer face.
21. The device of claim 13, wherein the drawer face comprises an
inner surface having a perimeter, the inner surface having a skirt
extending inwardly from at least a portion of the perimeter of the
inner surface.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein the skirt comprises at least
one radially outwardly extending sealing lip arranged to bear
against the housing when the drawer is in the closed position.
23. The device of claim 22, wherein the opening into the housing
interior comprises an opening perimeter and an inner surface, and
wherein the at least one sealing lip comprises a first sealing lip
to form a seal between the drawer and the opening perimeter, and a
second sealing lip to form a seal between the drawer and the inner
surface of the housing interior.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to food containers,
and more particularly to device for storing and serving cheese.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Cheese is typically sold in either a pre-sliced packaging or
in a large uncut block size. In either case, cheese may require
refrigeration to prolong consumer shelf life. Therefore, some
refrigerators contain integrated cheese storage containers for
storing and keeping cheese. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,725,294,
5,729,997, and 5,909,937 each contain an integrated cheese keeper
within the refrigeration compartment. In other instances, a
consumer may simply place the cheese in storage bags, tub and lid
type container, or other similar devices. In any event, an
individual typically stores the cheese in one container while
removing and transferring the cheese to another device for cutting
and/or serving purposes.
[0003] In some examples, a non-sealed cheese storage device may be
integrated with a cutting device to allow an individual to quickly
slice the cheese block. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,579, and
4,697,488, each describe a cheese storage device having an
integrated cutting system. These storage containers, however, do
not provide an integrated sealed storage container and/or serving
tray, and still may require the removal and transfer of the cheese
to other devices.
[0004] In still other examples, a cheese storage device may include
a storage and cutting system, including a removable top and base.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,591 describes a cheese storage
device having a base and a cover for placement over the base. The
described container, however, is a simple lid placed over a base
supporting a block of cheese and does not provide an integrated
sealed storage container and serving tray drawer.
[0005] In view of the foregoing, there remains a continuing need
for an improved cheese storage and serving device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one example of a
cheese storage and serving device constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cheese storage
and serving device of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of one example of a
housing of the cheese storage and serving device of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the housing of FIG. 3.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-section front elevational view of the
housing of FIG. 4, taken along the line 5-5.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-section left elevational view of the
housing of FIG. 4, taken along the line 6-6.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of one example of a
drawer tray of a drawer of the cheese storage and serving device of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective of the drawer tray of FIG.
7.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a cross-section left elevational view of the
drawer tray of FIG. 7, taken along the line 9-9.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of one example of a
drawer face of the drawer of the cheese storage and serving device
of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the drawer face of
FIG. 10.
[0017] FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-section left elevational view
of the assembled cheese storage and serving device of FIG. 1
showing the housing, and drawer in the closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0018] The embodiment described herein is not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the precise
form or forms disclosed. Instead, the following embodiment has been
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention
and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to follow its
teachings.
[0019] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-12, together illustrate
one example of a cheese storage and serving device 10 constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. With
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cheese storage device 10 generally
has a storage container or housing 12 and a drawer 14 movably
mounted within the housing 12 for movement between a removed or
open position (not shown) and a closed position (FIG. 1). By way of
example rather than limitation, a block of cheese 16 (shown in
phantom in FIG. 2) can be stored in the cheese storage device 10.
The position, arrangement, size, variety, and quantity of cheese
blocks 16 can vary at any given time. Additionally, the cheese
storage device 10 may store and serve any number of different items
similar to cheese.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the housing 12 includes an exterior
wall, which in this example includes a bottom panel 20, a rear
panel 22 extending from and connected to the bottom panel 20, a
pair of upstanding side panels 24, 26 extending from and connected
to the rear panel 22, as well as the bottom panel 20, and a top
panel 28 extending between and connected to the upstanding side
panels 24, 26, and extending from and connected to the rear panel
22. The bottom panel 20, the rear panel 22, the side frames 24, 26,
and the top panel 28 may each be constructed using any suitable
manufacturing technique. For example, each of the panels 20, 22,
24, 26, and 28 may be constructed as an integrated one-piece unit
from a variety of materials including, for example, plastic (such
as polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, or the
like), or other non-plastic material can also be used to
manufacture the housing 12 within the scope of the present
invention, such as glass, metal, wood, and/or other material. In
one embodiment, for example, the housing 12 is formed of molded
polycarbonate. It will be appreciated that the exterior wall of the
housing 12 may be manufactured in any number of shapes and/or
sizes, as desired.
[0021] Still referring to FIGS. 3-6, the bottom panel 20 includes a
forward portion 30, a rearward portion 32, and a pair of
interconnecting side portions 34, 36. Similarly, the side panel 24
of the housing 12 includes a forward portion 38, a rearward portion
40 and top and bottom portions 42, 44, respectively, and the side
panel 26 of the housing 12 includes a forward portion 46, a
rearward portion 48 and top and bottom portions 50, 52,
respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom portion 44 of the side
panel 24 meets the side portion 34 of the bottom panel 20 along a
seam 54. Similarly, the bottom portion 52 of the side frame 26
meets the side portion 36 of the bottom panel 20 along a seam 56.
Preferably, seams 54 and 56 are commonly formed molded
manufacturing seams, such as, for example, molded plastic seams, or
other suitable seams.
[0022] The rear panel 22 of the housing 12 includes a pair of side
portions 58, 60 and top and bottom portions 62, 64, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 4, the side portion 58 of the rear panel 22 meets
the rearward portion 40 of the side panel 24 along a seam 66, while
the side portion 60 of the rear panel 22 meets the rearward portion
48 of the side panel 26 along a seam 68. As shown in FIG. 6, the
bottom portion 64 of the rear panel 22 meets the rearward portion
32 of the bottom panel 20 along a seam 70. Again, the seams 66, 68,
70 are preferably commonly formed seams as described above.
[0023] The top panel 28 of the housing 12 includes a forward
portion 72, a rearward portion 74, and a pair of interconnecting
side portions 76, 78, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the side
portion 76 of the top panel 28 meets the top portion 42 of the side
panel 24 along a seam 80. Similarly, the side portion 78 of the top
panel 28 meets the top portion 50 of the side panel 26 along a seam
82. As shown in FIG. 6, the rearward portion 74 of the top panel 28
meets the top portion 62 of the rear panel 22 along a seam 84.
Again, the seams 80, 82, 84 are preferably commonly formed seams as
described above.
[0024] As best shown in FIG. 3, the forward portion 30 of the
bottom panel 20, the forward portion 38 of the side panel 24, the
forward portion 46 of the side panel 26, and the forward portion 72
of the top panel 28 together cooperate to form an opening 86 into a
housing interior having a perimeter 88. As is illustrated, the
housing interior is defined within the bottom panel 20, the rear
panel 22, the side panels 24, 26, and the top panel 28.
[0025] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that while the housing 12 can include a plurality of separate
panels subsequently attached along the plurality of seams, the
housing 12 of the disclosed example is manufactured as a single
molded part wherein the panels and the seams are all integrally
formed in a molding process.
[0026] Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 7-11, the drawer 14 generally
includes a drawer tray 100 and a drawer face 102 (FIG. 2).
Particularly referring to FIGS. 7-9, the drawer tray 100 includes a
forward edge 110, a rearward edge 112, a pair of interconnecting
side edges 114, 116, a top surface 118, a bottom surface 120, and a
perimeter 122 defined by the edges. Optionally extending upward
from the top surface 118 along at least a portion of the perimeter
122 is a retaining lip 124. In the disclosed embodiment, the lip
124 extends at least partway between the side edges 114 and 116
along or near the perimeter 122 adjacent the rearward edge 112. The
lip 124 can be utilized to provide retain the block of cheese 16 on
the drawer tray 100. Of course, it will be appreciated that the lip
124 may extended along a greater or lesser portion of the perimeter
122 of the drawer tray 100 as desired.
[0027] As mentioned, the top surface 118 may be used to support and
serve the typical block of cheese 16. The top surface 118 can be
formed such that a person utilizing the cheese storage device 10
may use the top surface 118 of the drawer tray 100 as an integrated
cutting surface, or cutting board, upon which the retained cheese
may be stored, sliced and/or served. For example, the top surface
118 may have a; separate cutting board mounted on the top surface,
or may alternatively provide a suitably durable cutting surface
integrally formed as or on the top surface 118.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, extending from the bottom
surface 120 of the drawer tray 100 are a plurality of beams 126A,
126B. As best shown in FIG. 8, one beam 126A extends along the
perimeter 122 of the drawer tray 100. Additionally, two beams 126B
extend the length of the drawer tray 100 between the forward
portion 110 and the rearward portion 112. The depicted beams 126B
are generally parallel to the side portions 114, 116 of the drawer
tray 100. The beams 126A, 126B may be integrally formed with and/or
attached to the bottom surface 120 of the drawer tray 100. The
beams 126A, 126B may provide the drawer tray 100 with additional
strength and rigidity, as well as provide a surface upon which the
drawer tray 100 may slideably engage the housing 12. Any number or
arrangement of beams, ribs, ridges, or other stiffening elements
can be utilized as desired.
[0029] Extending from or near the forward edge 110 of the drawer
tray 100 is a drawer tray connector 130. The drawer tray connector
130 includes a first upstanding wall 132 extending from the
perimeter 122, and a second upstanding wall 134 spaced from and
depending generally parallel to the first upstanding wall 132. The
connector 130, in this example, also has a top wall 136 extending
between top edges of the two upstanding walls 132, 134, a plurality
of support ribs 138 extending from the top wall 136 and between the
two upstanding wall 132, 134, and a pair of connecting tabs 140.
The length, width, and shape of the drawer tray connector 130 are
configured to be received in the drawer face 102 as will be
described in greater detail below.
[0030] In this example, the tabs 140 are flexible fingers formed in
the top wall 136 and are shiftable or bendable between a releasing
position (not shown) wherein the tabs 140 are generally parallel
and co-planar to the top wall 136, and a locking position (FIG. 7)
wherein the tabs 140 are angled upward relative to the top wall
136. In the illustrated embodiment, the tabs 140 are biased upward
toward the locking position and are utilized to removeably secure
the drawer tray 100 to the drawer face 102 as will be described
below. The tabs can be physically bent downward to the releasing
position.
[0031] Turning now to FIGS. 10-12, the drawer face 102 includes a
bottom edge 150, a top edge 152, a pair of interconnecting side
edges 154, 156, an outer surface 158, an inner surface 160, and a
perimeter 162. A skirt 164 extends inward (i.e., away from the
outer surface) around the drawer face 102 near the perimeter 162
and has a plurality of side walls 165, 166, 167, 168. In this
example, the side walls 165, 166, 167, 168 are joined to form one
contiguous skirt surface and generally follows the contour of the
face 102.
[0032] Extending radially outward from the surface of the skirt 164
is a first sealing lip 170 and a second lip 172 spaced rearward
away from the first sealing lip 170. As best shown in FIG. 12, in
the illustrated embodiment, the first sealing lip 170 is sized to
rest or bear against the opening perimeter 88 of the housing 12, to
prevent the drawer face 102 from entering into the opening 86 and
to provide a generally air resistant seal between the drawer face
102 and the housing 12 when the cheese storage device 10 is in the
closed position (FIG. 1). The second sealing lip 172 is sized to be
insertable into the opening 86 of the housing 12 and to bear or
rest against the inner surface of the housing 12. The second lip
172 provides another generally air resistant seal between the
drawer face 102 and the housing 12 when the cheese storage device
10 is. in the closed position (FIG. 1). It will be appreciated that
the lips 170, 172 may extended along the entire skirt 164 as shown,
or a greater or lesser portion of the skirt 164 as desired.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the air resistant
properties of the seals formed by the lips 170, 172 against the
housing 12 may vary based on the selected material, design,
manufacturing tolerances, and/or other factors. A separate seal or
O-ring can also be optionally added to either supplement or replace
one or both of the lips 170, 172.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 1, extending from the inner surface
160 of the drawer face 102 is a drawer face connector 174. The
drawer face connector 174 is spaced upward from the skirt 164 and
the bottom edge 150 of the drawer face 102 and extends rearward
parallel to the lower skirt side wall 167. A receptacle or closed
end channel 176 is thus defined between the lower side wall 167,
the drawer face connector 174, and a portion of the side walls 166,
168. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the length, width, and shape of the
channel 176 are configured to receive the drawer tray connector 130
therein to removeably connect the drawer face 102 to the drawer
tray 100.
[0034] Returning to FIG. 11, the drawer face connector 174 includes
a plurality of apertures 178, 180, the number of apertures
corresponding, in this example, to the number of tabs 140. The
apertures 178, 180 are sized and positioned on the drawer face
connector 174 such that when the drawer tray connector 130 is fully
inserted into the channel 176, the tabs 140 snap fit into the
apertures 178, 180. Specifically, prior to assembly, the separate
drawer tray 100 and drawer face 102 may be aligned such that the
drawer tray connector 130 is positioned in front of channel 176 of
the drawer face connector 174. As the drawer tray connector 130 is
inserted into the channel 176, the tabs 140 contact a surface of
the drawer face connector 174, shifting the tabs 140 from the
locking position towards the releasing position. Once the drawer
tray connector 130 is sufficiently inserted into the channel 176,
the tabs 140 enter the apertures 178, 180, lose contact with the
surface of the drawer face connector 174 and snap back to the
locking position. The drawer tray connector 130 is then releasably
secured within the channel 176. To separate the drawer tray 100
from the drawer face 102, the tabs 140 must be shifted toward the
releasing position by pressing downward, to allow the drawer tray
connector 130 to be removed from the channel 176.
[0035] The drawer tray 100 and the drawer face 102 are described
herein as a plurality of separate components assembled to form the
drawer 14. However, the drawer tray 100 and the drawer face 102 may
be manufactured utilizing more than two components, or as a single
molded part wherein the drawer tray 100 and the drawer face 102 are
integrally formed in a single molding process. Moreover, if the
drawer tray 100 and drawer face 102 are separate components, the
attachment device may be any suitable attachment device, including
any permanent or removable attachment means.
[0036] In the described example, the drawer tray 100 and the drawer
face 102 are preferably molded of a relatively rigid, durable
plastic material such as polypropylene. It will be appreciated,
however, that the drawer tray 100 and the drawer face 102 can be
formed from virtually any suitable plastic material as well as
other substantially rigid materials as long as the device performs
its intended purpose. For example, the components can alternatively
be fabricated from polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, or
like material as desired. Still further, as described above the
drawer tray 100 may be fabricated from, or integrated with any
suitable material, such as wood, glass, etc, such that the top
surface 118 can be used as a cutting board.
[0037] In operation, the assembled drawer 14 is removeably and
slideably insertable into the housing 12. To utilize the cheese
storage device 10, the drawer 14 may is partially or completely
removed from the housing 12 and a block of cheese 16 is placed upon
the upper surface 118 of the drawer tray 100. The drawer 14 is then
fully inserted within the housing 12. The first and second sealing
lips 170, 172 then form a generally air resistant or air tight seal
between the drawer 14 and the housing 12, which aids in the
retention of the freshness of the cheese 16. The seal also helps to
retain the device in the closed configuration. The entire cheese
storage device 10 may then refrigerated as desired. To access and
serve the cheese 16, the entire cheese storage device 10 is removed
from refrigeration and the drawer 14 is fully removed, or partially
removed from the housing 12. Alternatively, the drawer 14 may be
removed from the housing 12, leaving the housing 12 within the
refrigeration. Additionally, the drawer face 102 of this example
can optionally be removed from the drawer tray 100 if desired. The
cheese 16 may then be sliced and served directly upon the drawer
tray 100. To return the cheese to storage, the drawer 14 may be
reassembled (if needed), reinserted into the housing 12 and
returned to refrigeration.
[0038] Although particular examples of a storage container with
dual access rack has been disclosed and described herein in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the scope
of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary,
this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the
invention that fairly fall within the scope of permissible
equivalents.
* * * * *