U.S. patent application number 11/879237 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-15 for container for foodstuffs.
Invention is credited to Pedro Ojeda.
Application Number | 20070261981 11/879237 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46328119 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070261981 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ojeda; Pedro |
November 15, 2007 |
Container for foodstuffs
Abstract
A foodstuff container to be held in a cup receptacle of the
armrest of a theater seat. The container has a large generally
cylindrical popcorn-holding portion affixed to a base which is
shaped on the outside the same as a conventional beverage cup.
Inventors: |
Ojeda; Pedro; (Montebello,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AVERILL & VARN
8244 PAINTER AVE.
WHITTIER
CA
90602
US
|
Family ID: |
46328119 |
Appl. No.: |
11/879237 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10452325 |
Jun 2, 2003 |
7243991 |
|
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11879237 |
Jul 16, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/487 ;
297/188.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/107 20130101;
B60N 2/793 20180201; B60N 3/103 20130101; B60N 3/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/487 ;
297/188.14 |
International
Class: |
B65D 67/00 20060101
B65D067/00 |
Claims
1. A popcorn holder for use in conjunction with a cup holder recess
comprising: a frusto-conical or cylindrical container having an
open top and a diameter of at least 6 inches and a closed bottom; a
concentric base portion attached to the closed portion of the
container, said base portion having a diameter adapted to be held
in the cup holder recess.
2. A solid foodstuff holder for use in conjunction with a cup
holder recess in the arm of a chair comprising: a frusto-conical or
cylindrical container of at lease 6 inches in diameter having an
open top, closed side walls and a bottom which is closed except for
a central opening surrounding a concentric base portion extending
downwardly from said bottom, said concentric base portion having an
open top and a closed bottom and having dimensions adapted to be
held in said cup holder.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's
Ser. No. 10/452,325 filed Jun. 2, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
apparatus for receiving foodstuffs for ready consumption, and more
specifically, to an improved apparatus having a compound
construction for enhanced capacity configured to be received in
standard sized and shaped receptacles for receiving and supporting
solid and liquid foodstuffs.
[0003] Popular culture virtually demands the convenience of food
and drink holders in home, entertainment and mobile venues, to
receive and support beverages within easy reach of the consumer.
With respect to many entertainment venues such as movie theaters,
theater owners and operators have sought both to please patrons and
to increase revenue by selling various refreshments and snacks in
addition to tickets. This includes drinks of various types and
snacks such as popcorn. Commonly, such snacks are provided in a
variety of containers, mostly large cups or boxes which are
inconvenient to hold in the patron's lap. Most theater and many
sports arenas have a receptacle holder, often referred to as a cup
holder, in an armrest or other structure. Popcorn containers are
far too large to be held in such cup holders. One method which
allows larger containers to fit in standard vehicle container
receptacles involves the use of an adapter. The adapter modifies
the standard vehicle container receptacle to a size such that
larger containers can be accommodated by the standard vehicle
container receptacle. Dahlquist II et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,468,
shows a holder for a cup which holder has a lower portion which
fits within a cup holder and a larger upper portion which holds a
beverage cup having a diameter larger than the cup holder lower
portion. Chandler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,673, discloses a container
adapter device designed so that a standard vehicle container
receptacle can accommodate containers that are too large to fit in
the standard vehicle container receptacle.
[0004] Some cups are designed with a base proportioned to fit the
standard vehicle container receptacle having a main body portion of
a size larger than the base have attempted to overcome the problems
of the limited container volume and top heaviness. However, these
designs do not accommodate solid food stuffs in the manner
described above.
[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved food
stuffs container that overcomes these prior art shortcomings. It
should be noted and understood that with respect to the embodiments
of the present invention disclosed herein, the materials, methods,
apparatus and processes disclosed and suggested may be modified or
substituted to achieve the desired protected structures without
departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed and claimed
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an assembly of the
novel integrated apparatus of the present invention, configured to
receive an optional beverage cup, further configured to be secured
to a cup holder provided in an arm rest such as an arm rest
commonly found in many movie theaters, showing the walled tray
structure supported by contiguously formed support base.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment
of the present invention, showing the assembly of the cup and
walled tray components to be secured together for use, further
showing a clip for securing the so-attached apparatus to the
armrest or other structure to which the invention is to be
received.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the
present invention, shown further configured to receive a shaped
container within the base recess, having a closed bottom.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the present invention, showing a shaped container being fully
inserted within the base recess, having an open bottom.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the present invention, showing the walled tray structure with a
thicker supporting wall portions, further defining a shoulder for
supporting a corresponding rim of a standard beverage container to
be used therewith.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the present invention, showing a locking engagement between a rim
portion of the base receptacle to be secured to with a
corresponding rib-receiving structure provided in the floor of the
walled tray structure to achieve the contiguous foodstuffs
container of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
integrated foodstuffs container of the present invention, showing
partitioned compartments for separating foodstuffs or other
substances, and an optional container for being received within the
contiguous base receptacle.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of
the integrated foodstuffs container of the present invention,
showing a circular-shaped foodstuffs receiving volume of the walled
tray portion contiguous with an integrally formed, coaxially
aligned base receptacle.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the popcorn holder of the
present invention showing the front and top thereof.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the popcorn holder of the
present invention showing the front and bottom thereof.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the popcorn holder of the
present invention showing the top and interior thereof.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view thereof filled with
popcorn.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pair of theater seats
showing cup receptacles in the armrests thereof and one of which is
holding the popcorn holder of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment
thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The detailed description as set forth below in connection
with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the
presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, and is
not intended to represent the only form(s) in which the present
invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets
forth functions and sequence of steps for constructing, using,
displaying, packaging, or using the invention in connection with
the illustrated embodiments. It is understood, however, the same or
equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by
different embodiments and that they are also intended to be
encompassed within the spirit and scope of this invention.
[0021] With reference now to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 shows the
integrated foodstuffs apparatus 10 of the present invention, having
a walled tray portion 12 including a floor 14 bounded by walls 15
to form a relatively wide, open-topped receptacle. According to
this embodiment, an open support base 16 is secured to and extends
from the underside of the floor 14 at an opening 17 thereto to
provide a contiguous volume there between, the recess of the
support base 16 being readily accessed from the walled tray portion
12. The support base 16 is sized and shaped to be readily
accommodated by a cup holder 18 provided in an armrest 19 of a
theater chair (not shown) or other so-configured
receptacle-receiving structure. It will be appreciated that the
bottom of the cup holder 18 may be open or alternatively be
provided with a floor 18(a). Likewise, the underside of the floor
14 of walled tray structure 15 may be planar, and may be provided
with extended tray and floor portions intended to provide
additional stability in the lengthwise direction of the armrest 19,
thereby providing additional foodstuffs receiving space without
encroaching on available seating areas to either lateral side of
the armrest 19. Optionally, a container 11 may be received within
the opening 17 of the apparatus 10, as necessary and desired to
contain and make readily available additional foodstuffs or
articles.
[0022] As will be appreciated, opening 17 is configured to
correspond with cup holders having a relatively standard size
recess such as that commonly provided in armrests of many theater
chairs so as to hold the container while the patron is not eating
or optionally, drinking from the cup. Accordingly, recess 17 may be
either open or closed, but according to either embodiment, is
readily received within cup holder 18 in the manner previously
described. It will be further appreciated that the walled tray
structure 12 is fabricated of a strong, moisture-proof but
lightweight material, preferably such as injection molded plastic
such as ABS, at low cost so as to be disposable after usage.
However, other materials, such as fiberboard, corrugated cardboard
or other paper-based materials of construction may be used to
provide the desired low cost, lightweight, disposable features. As
previously described walls 15 may be configured with a desired
height to meet the needs of a particular food service, lower for
relatively flat foods such as pizza, and higher for low bulk, high
volume foods such as chips and popcorn. Whatever the selected wall
height, the walls are canted at cooperative angles to be nestingly
stacked for maximum efficiency in storage and shipping.
[0023] With reference now to FIGS. 2-6, various views of another
embodiment of the inventive apparatus 20 are shown, all
representing a readily assembled embodiments of the walled tray
portion 22 and cooperating support base 24. Walled tray portion 22
including floor 26 is bounded by walls 28 to form a relatively
wide, open-topped receptacle in the manner described with apparatus
10. According to this embodiment, the container base 30 is
separately provided, to aid in manufacturing, shipping, and
storage. The container base 30 may utilize commonly available
beverage containers having a standard sized rim for being readily
engaged with a snap fit with a corresponding opening 32 formed in
the floor of the walled tray, either with a snap lock fit (FIG. 6),
interference fit (FIG. 4), or nesting engagement fit (FIG. 5).
Accordingly, walled tray portions 22 may be separated provided,
shipped and stored, for use in conjunction with standard beverage
receptacles in the manner described above.
[0024] Again referring to FIG. 2, an additional container 27 may be
utilized in connection with or in addition to the assembly 20 of
the invention. Further more, the assembly 20 may be further secured
to the armrest 19 with additional supports as desired, such as
angle clip 34 extending from angle bracket 36 as will be
appreciated by the skilled artisan, thereby further helping to
assure against unintended spillage and resulting loss and soil.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 6, it will be appreciated that support
base 24 may by provided by a rimmed beverage container 36 having a
shaped or rolled rim 38, and that feature standard to most beverage
containers is advantageously exploited by providing a cooperative
annular groove 32 within the opening 40 (FIG. 2) provided in floor
26. Accordingly, the refreshment vendor need merely align the rim
38 with the opening 40 and assemble the two together with a snap
fit to achieve the functional equivalent of the structure 10 shown
in FIG. 1.
[0026] With reference now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that a further
embodiment 50 of the present invention provides at least one
partition 52 to section off separate food receiving areas 54, 56,
with the base portion 58 (integral or separate) contiguously formed
with one of the areas 54, 56. Although this embodiment shows a
side-by-side arrangement, it will be apparent to the skilled
artisan that alternative arrangements may be achieved, including
arced or concentrically zoned areas. No matter that embodiment, an
optional container 60 may be received in base portion in the manner
previously described.
[0027] With reference now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that a yet
further embodiment 70 may include a generally circular walled tray
portion 72, with a concentric base portion 74 integrally or
affixable thereto in the manner described above.
[0028] The foodstuff container 70 is preferably used for popcorn
which requires a far greater interior volume than a drink
container. As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the container portion 76 is
frusto conical but it may alternatively be cylindrical.
[0029] FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view where the concentric
base portion 74 is open at the top 78 thereof. Preferably the
concentric base portion 74 is closed at the top 80. This prevents
popcorn from entering the interior of base portion 74 which is too
small for the patron's fingers ti grasp the popcorn, While the term
"popcorn" is used herein, it is intended to include other light,
particulate foodstuffs.
[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following
claims.
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