U.S. patent application number 11/922722 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for food container and method of storing food.
Invention is credited to Andrew Michael Wells.
Application Number | 20090110786 11/922722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34856179 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090110786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wells; Andrew Michael |
April 30, 2009 |
Food Container and Method of Storing Food
Abstract
A container for foods. The container includes a hollow body (1)
having an opening (3) and a piston (7) located within the body (1),
wherein the container is constructed and arranged such that, in
use, the piston (7) moves within the body (1) in response to a
consumer sucking the food from the container via the opening (3).
The container can be used to store solid and semi-solid foods such
as ice-cream and yoghurt type products. The container is arranged
such that the food can be consumed directly from the container,
without the need for a spoon or a dispensing device.
Inventors: |
Wells; Andrew Michael;
(Buckinghamshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAHN & VOIGHT PLLC
1012 14TH STREET, NW, SUITE 620
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
34856179 |
Appl. No.: |
11/922722 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
June 23, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2006/002326 |
371 Date: |
December 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/115 ;
222/335; 222/386; 222/387; 426/394 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/78 20130101;
B65D 83/0005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/115 ;
426/394; 222/335; 222/386; 222/387 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/72 20060101
B65D085/72; B65D 83/00 20060101 B65D083/00; B65D 85/78 20060101
B65D085/78 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2005 |
GB |
0513030.7 |
Claims
1. A container for foods comprising a hollow body having an opening
and a piston located within the body, wherein the container is
constructed and arranged such that, in use, the piston moves within
the body in response to a consumer sucking the food from the
container via the opening.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is
elongate.
3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is tubular
and has an internal width in the range 15 mm to 40 mm.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the internal
cross-sectional area of the tube is in the range 150 mm.sup.2 to
1250 mm.sup.2.
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is
substantially rigid.
6. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container includes
a mouthpiece including an outlet through which food in the
compartment may be consumed by sucking on the mouthpiece, wherein
the mouthpiece is arranged such that the consumer can make a seal
around the mouthpiece with his mouth.
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the mouthpiece
includes a tapered portion.
8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the piston and the
interior of the body are arranged to provide a seal sufficient to
prevent the food from leaking from the container.
9. A container according to claim 1, further comprising means for
scraping the ulterior of the container as the piston moves along
the body of the container.
10. A container according to claim 1, wherein the piston has a
profiled upper surface.
11. A container according to claim 1, wherein the piston is
substantially spherical.
12. A container according to claim 1, further comprising an air
inlet to allow air to enter the container as the piston moves
within the body.
13. A container according to claim 12, further comprising a vent
arranged to allow air to enter the container and to prevent liquid
from escaping the container.
14. A container according to claim 13, wherein the vent includes a
membrane or gauze.
15. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a closure
member arranged to prevent liquid from escaping from the end of the
hollow body opposite to that from which the food is dispensed.
16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the closure member
includes a recess arranged to collect liquid.
17. A container according to claim 1 further comprising an
individual portion of ice-cream, a yoghurt based food, or
confectionery.
18. A method of storing foods, comprising storing a portion of the
food in a container that includes a hollow body having at least one
opening and a piston located within the body that is arranged to
move within the body in response to a consumer sucking the food
from the container via the opening.
19. A container according to claim 3, wherein the internal width is
in the range 15 mm to 35 mm.
20. A container according to claim 3, wherein the internal width is
in the range 20 mm to 30 mm.
21. A container according to claim 4, wherein the internal
cross-sectional range is 150 mm.sup.2 to 1000 mm.sup.2.
22. A container according to claim 4, wherein the internal
cross-sectional range is 200 mm.sup.2 and 800 mm.sup.2.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to containers for foods. In
particular, the invention relates to containers for frozen and
semi-frozen food products such as ice-cream and yoghurt based
products.
[0002] Packaging for individual portions of frozen and semi-frozen
food products such as ice-cream and yoghurt based products are
generally split into two types. The first type is packaging that is
designed such that the consumer can easily open and consume the
food product directly from the container. The second type is
packaging arranged for use with dispensing machines that dispense
the food into a serving container, for example a dish or a wafer
cone. With this second type of container, a consumer cannot easily
remove the food without the use of a dispensing machine.
[0003] The current invention relates to the first type of
container, in which the food product is consumed directly from the
container.
[0004] It is well known that an individual portion of
frozen/semi-frozen food product may be wrapped in a film of
plastics material or a paper based wrapper that can be torn open by
a consumer at the point of sale or when removed from a home freezer
unit. For products in this type of wrapper, either the wrapper is
partially opened and used to hold the food when being consumed, for
example choc-ices, or the product is mounted on a stick and the
wrapper is discarded before eating. In either case, as the
ice-cream begins to melt during eating it often flows downwards
onto the consumers hands making them very sticky.
[0005] One known ice-lolly confectionery comprises a tapered
tubular container comprising a cardboard substrate that is coated
with a plastics material on its inner face. The container is closed
at one end and has an opening at its opposite end. The open end is
sealed with a removable cover. When the consumer wants to eat the
food, the seal is removed and the user squeezes the tubing to push
the confectionery out of the container so that it can be consumed.
A problem with this type of container is that the user needs to
apply manual pressure to the container during eating to prevent the
ice-lolly from slipping back into the tube. If a user squeezes too
hard the ice-lolly may slide out of the container and fall onto the
floor.
[0006] Another form of known container is the `ice-cream tub`. An
ice-cream tub holds an individual portion of ice-cream and is
relatively convenient to handle however it is necessary to supply a
plastics or wooden spoon with each portion so that the consumer can
remove the ice-cream from the tub. The consumer has to have two
hands free to remove ice-cream from this type of container.
[0007] Yet another type of known container is the so called
"push-up" container. This type of container comprises a squat
tubular body having a large diameter and short length that includes
a plunger arranged to move within the body. The consumer holds the
tubular body in one hand and pushes the food product out of the
container from below with the plunger. Again, two hands are
required to operate this type of device. Another drawback is that
prior to consumption, the plunger is located at one end of the
tubular body and its handle protrudes a significant distance out of
the tube. This makes it an inefficient design for packing and
transportation.
[0008] The current invention seeks to provide an alternative type
of container that is designed such that the consumer can open and
remove the food product contained therein without the use of a
dispensing device.
[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a container for foods that includes a hollow body having
an opening and a piston located within the body, wherein the
container is constructed and arranged such that, in use, the piston
moves within the body in response to a consumer sucking the food
from the container via the opening.
[0010] The container can be used to store frozen and semi-frozen
foods such as ice-cream and yoghurt based products. It allows the
food to be consumed directly from the container, without the need
for a spoon or a dispensing device. Because the food is removed
from the container by sucking the eating action can be performed
whilst the consumer is holding the container with only one hand
without the possibility of ice-cream dripping onto the consumer's
hand since the ice-cream is delivered from the body of the
container directly to the consumer's mouth. Furthermore, this
prevents the possibility of ice-cream falling onto the floor. If
the consumer drops the device on to the floor the food product is
largely protected from the ingress of dirt by the container body.
Since the container does not include a handle that protrudes from
the body it can be packed efficiently.
[0011] Containers for solid and semi-solid foods that include a
piston are known in the art. For example, the container disclosed
in EP 0995685 is arranged for use in a dispensing device and
requires a magnitude of force that can be delivered by such a
device in order for the piston to be driven within the body of the
container and for the food product to be dispensed. The dimensions
are such that a user would not be able to comfortably fit his/her
mouth around the opening of the container. Furthermore, the outlet
through which the ice-cream is dispensed comprises a star shape cut
into a tapered wall. The outlet is surrounded by a shroud. The
arrangement is such that it would be very difficult for a consumer
to make an effective seal with his/her mouth to suck ice-cream from
the container. Also, the pressure differential that a consumer can
create when sucking is not sufficiently large to move the piston
within the body of the container.
[0012] Preferably the body is elongate. Advantageously the hollow
body includes a portion of substantially uniform cross-section. The
piston is arranged to move along that part of the container in
response to the sucking action of the consumer.
[0013] Preferably the body is tubular and has an internal width in
the range 15 mm to 40 mm, and 20 more preferably in the range 15 mm
to 35 mm and more preferably in the range 20 mm to 30 mm. In a
preferred embodiments the body is substantially cylindrical and the
width ranges provided above relate to diameter sizes. A preferred
embodiment has an internal diameter of approximately 25 mm.
[0014] Advantageously the internal cross-sectional area of the tube
is in the range 150 mm.sup.2 to 25 1250 mm.sup.2, more preferably
in the range 150 mm.sup.2 to 1000 mm.sup.2, and more preferably
still between 200 mm.sup.2 and 800 mm.sup.2. This helps to ensure
that the consumer is able to suck the food from the container. It
also helps to ensure that the container has a large surface area to
allow heat to enter it to warm the food and to enable it to flow
within the body.
[0015] In some preferred embodiments the body is elongate and
tubular. Preferably the length of the body is in the range 70 mm to
300 mm. When the container is used with ice-cream or frozen yoghurt
type products, it is necessary for at least part of the food to
melt to enable the food to be sucked from the container. To speed
up the melting process the consumer can hold the container in
his/her hands to allow his/her body heat to melt the food. The
elongate form presents a large surface area to the consumer to warm
with his/her hands. Preferably the body is arranged to enable heat
transfer to the food such that the food will be ready for eating in
a time range of 5 seconds to 3 minutes in an ambient temperature of
20.degree. C., and more preferably in a range of 30 seconds to 2
minutes, and more preferably still in a range of 45 seconds to 90
seconds.
[0016] The container body can be made from a food quality plastics
material such as Borealis or polypropylene. Alternatively, the
container body can be made from cardboard, or plastic coated paper
based material. The choice of material for the body of the
container and the thickness of the material will affect the rate at
which heat is transferred to the frozen food product and thus
influence how quickly the product will be ready for consumption.
Preferably the container body has a wall thickness in the range
0.05 mm to 1 mm, and is preferably around 0.8 mm.
[0017] Advantageously the container can be substantially rigid. The
container is sufficiently rigid to enable the piston to move along
the tub in normal use without it collapsing. Preferably the
container has a substantially circular cross-section but may
comprise other shapes such as substantially elliptical, triangular,
square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal.
[0018] Preferably the container includes a mouthpiece including an
outlet through which food in the compartment may be consumed by
sucking on the mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece is arranged such
that the consumer can make a seal around the mouthpiece with his
mouth. The mouthpiece can be any suitable shape for being received
into the mouth of a person, for example the mouth piece may be a
nozzle having a substantially circular, elliptical, triangular,
square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal
cross-section. The mouthpiece is positioned at the end of the body
from which food is sucked and wherein the enclosed volume between
the piston and the mouthpiece defines a compartment for receiving
the food.
[0019] Preferably the mouthpiece includes a tapered portion. For
example, the mouthpiece can be arranged such that its
cross-sectional area decreases towards the outlet. Preferably the
cross-sectional area at the outlet is smaller than the
cross-sectional area of the container body. Alternatively, the
mouthpiece can be non-tapered and, for example may have the same
cross-section as the body (as in FIG. 6). Preferably the
cross-sectional area of the outlet is in the range 75 mm.sup.2 to
700 mm.sup.2, more preferably in the range 175 mm.sup.2 to 500
mm.sup.2 and more preferably still in the range 200 mm.sup.2 to 300
mm.sup.2. Advantageously the walls of the mouthpiece that define
the outlet of the mouthpiece are arranged such that the outlet is
substantially planar. This assists the user to make an effective
seal around the outlet and also enables a seal, such as a tear off
foil seal, to be placed across the outlet. The mouthpiece may be
reasealable, for example the mouthpiece can be flexible or include
a flexible portion such that mouthpiece is arranged to fold between
open and closed positions. Alternatively the mouthpiece may include
a hinged seal member.
[0020] Advantageously the piston and the interior of the body can
be arranged to provide a seal sufficient to prevent the food from
leaking from the container. For example, the fit between the piston
and the internal face of the body may be sufficient to achieve this
whilst enabling the piston to move substantially freely within the
tube under the sucking action of the consumer. Alternatively the
piston may include at least one seal member for providing the seal.
For example, the or each seal member is located in a groove formed
on the outer surface of the piston. Preferably the piston includes
a plurality of seal members. Advantageously the seal members may
comprise o-rings located in grooves formed in the outer surface of
the piston. In preferred embodiments, the arrangement is such that
when the user stops sucking the piston remains stationary. This
means that when the user stops sucking food does not flow out of
the container. This prevents the possibility of the food falling
onto the floor. It also prevents the food from falling back down to
the bottom of the container, which means the food is always
adjacent the opening and does not have to be sucked from the base
of the container.
[0021] Preferably the container includes means for scraping the
interior of the container as the piston moves along the body of the
container. For example, the piston may include at least one scraper
member. The scraper member may include a helical profile on an
external surface of the piston that is arranged to scrape the
internal face of the body as the piston moves within the body.
Alternatively the or each scraper member can be in the form of an
annular member extending from the exterior of the piston.
Preferably the or each scraper member is located in a groove formed
in the outer surface of the piston. Advantageously the or each
scraper member can be flexible. The means for scraping the internal
face of the body may provide a seal between the piston and the body
that is arranged to prevent the food from leaking from the
container. Preferably the piston includes a portion that is
complementary to the interior of the container body. Preferably the
piston includes a disc portion. Preferably the piston includes a
skirt portion. For example, the piston can be substantially
cylindrical, wherein the disc and skirt portions define a hollow
cylindrical body, closed at one end and open at the other.
Advantageously the or each scraper member and/or the or each seal
member can be arranged to protrude outwards from the skirt portion.
Preferably the skirt portion is flexible.
[0022] In some embodiments the piston has a profiled upper surface.
For example, the upper surface of the piston may be domed, curved
or convex. Alternatively the tipper surface can be substantially
planar.
[0023] Advantageously the piston can be substantially
spherical.
[0024] Advantageously the container includes an air inlet to allow
air to enter the container as the piston moves within the body.
This enables the volume behind the piston to fill with air as
ice-cream is sucked from the container. This prevents an airlock
occurring. For example, the body is open at the opposite end to
that from which the food is dispensed from. It is envisaged that in
at least some embodiments the quality of the seal between the
piston and the internal wall of the container will be sufficient to
prevent liquid from escaping from the container, thus the opposite
end from which the food is dispensed may remain open.
[0025] Advantageously the container can include a vent arranged to
allow air to enter the container and to prevent liquid from
escaping the container from the end of the body opposite to that
from which the food is dispensed. Preferably the vent includes a
membrane or gauze. The membrane or gauze can be liquid impermeable
and air permeable. For example, the membrane or gauze may extend
across the opening of the hollow body. Alternatively, the membrane
or gauze may be mounted in or on a closure member.
[0026] Advantageously the container can include a closure member
arranged to prevent liquid from escaping from the end of the hollow
body opposite to that from which the food is dispensed. For
embodiments where the seal between the piston and the internal wall
is not of sufficient quality to prevent liquid from escaping from
the container, or where there is a risk of the piston falling out
of the hollow body, or of being interfered with, then a closure
member can be included. For example, the closure member may be
formed integrally with the body, or may be a separate component
that is permanently or releasably fixed to the body. Advantageously
the closure member may include the air inlet or the vent.
[0027] Preferably the closure member includes a recess arranged to
collect liquid. The vent is preferably located in the recess away
from the base of the recess. The gauze or membrane can be mounted
in a support in the closure member. The arrangement is such that as
liquid collects in the recess the gauze or membrane is held above
the level of the liquid. It is envisaged that the seal between the
piston and the interior of the hollow body will be sufficiently
good in at least some embodiments such that only a small amount of
liquid will collect in the recess. In this instance, it is not
necessary for the membrane or gauze to be liquid impermeable since
the amount of liquid that will fall onto of the gauze or membrane
will be very small which produces acceptably small leakages. The
support is preferably located substantially co-axially with the
piston to reduce the amount of liquid that falls onto the gauze. If
a gauze or membrane is used that is liquid impermeable this
consideration is not necessary.
[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided an ice-cream, yoghurt based food or confectionery
product that is stored in a container as described above.
[0029] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of storing foods, said method including storing a
portion of the food in a container that includes a hollow body
having at least one opening and a piston located within the body
that is arranged to move within the body in response to a consumer
sucking the food from the container via the opening.
[0030] Preferably the ice-cream product is stored at a temperature
in the range -10.degree. C. to -30.degree. C. The container body
should be made from a material that does not become brittle at the
storage temperature.
[0031] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example only with reference to the Figures, in which:
[0032] FIG. 1a shows a partially exploded perspective view a first
embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 1b is an exploded perspective view of a piston from the
first embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 1c is a side view of the piston of FIG. 1b;
[0035] FIG. 1d is a side view of the piston of FIG. 1b with
flexible washers located in situ;
[0036] FIG. 1e is a detail of part of the piston of FIG. 1d;
[0037] FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view a second embodiment
of the invention;
[0038] FIG. 2b is a side view of a piston from the second
embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 2c is a detail of part of the piston of FIG. 2b;
[0040] FIG. 3a is a partially exploded perspective view a third
embodiment of the invention;
[0041] FIG. 3 b is an exploded perspective view of a piston from
the third embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 3c is a side view of the piston of FIG. 3b;
[0043] FIG. 3d is a side view of the piston of FIG. 3b with o-rings
located in situ;
[0044] FIG. 3e is a detail of part of the piston of FIG. 3d;
[0045] FIG. 4a is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
embodiment of the invention;
[0046] FIG. 4b is a sectional view of FIG. 4a;
[0047] FIG. 5a is an exploded perspective view of a fifth
embodiment of the invention;
[0048] FIG. 5b is a perspective view of a piston used in the fifth
embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 5c is a side view of the piston of FIG. 5b;
[0050] FIG. 5d is a sectional view along arrows B-B of the piston
shown in FIG. 5c;
[0051] FIG. 5e is a top view of the piston of FIG. 5b
[0052] FIG. 5f is a perspective view of a closure member used in
the fifth embodiment;
[0053] FIG. 5g is a side view of the closure member of FIG. 5f;
[0054] FIG. 5h is a sectional view along arrows A-A of the closure
member shown in FIG. 5g;
[0055] FIG. 5i is a plan view from above fo the closure member of
FIG. 5f;
[0056] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the
invention.
[0057] FIG. 1 shows a container for frozen foods such as ice-cream.
The container comprises a cylindrical body 1. The body 1 is tubular
and has a first opening 3, hereinafter called the mouthpiece, where
ice-cream can be sucked from the container, and a second opening 5
that is closed, in use, by a piston 7. A large part of the body 1
has a substantially uniform cross-section.
[0058] The piston 7 comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow
body defined by a leading member 7a and a skirt 7b depending
therefrom. Thus the piston 7 is closed at one end and open at the
other end. Preferably the leading member 7a has a domed upper
surface. This helps to ensure that substantially all the ice-cream
is pushed out of the body 1 when the piston 7 approaches the
mouthpiece 3. Alternatively the leading member 7a may be
substantially planar. The piston 7 helps to ensure that
substantially all of the food is dispensed from the body. Without a
piston 7 the food in the central portion of the container would be
sucked out leaving quantities of food adjacent the wall(s) of the
body 1.
[0059] The piston includes two grooves 9 formed in the outer
surface of the skirt that extend around the circumference of the
skirt: one towards the leading end and the other towards the
trailing end. The grooves 9 are arranged to each receive a flexible
scraper member 11. Each scraper member 11 comprises an annular
washer-like element preferably made from a plastics material that
is arranged to scrape the inner face of the body as the piston 7
moves within the body 1. The scraper members 11 are arranged
substantially co-axially with the piston body and protrude
substantially perpendicularly from the skirt 7b.
[0060] Since the scraper members 11 are flexible they will deform
elastically when they are pushed into the body 1 of the container,
and the resiliency of the scraper members 11 ensures that they
remain in contact with the internal face of the body.
[0061] It will be apparent to the skilled person that the
effectiveness of the scraper members 11 will be determined by the
manufacturing tolerances and the extent to which the container body
1 is able to deform. For example, when the container is used to
store and dispense individual portions of ice-cream, if the
tolerances are relatively high and the body 1 does not deform
easily then the scraper members 11 will prevent liquid ice-cream
from escaping from the body 1. If the tolerances are less good,
then the sealing arrangement may be quite poor with a greater
quantity of liquid and/or semi-solid ice-cream passing between the
body 1 and the piston 7. Even in the latter case, the scraper
members 11 will scrape some liquid ice-cream and the vast majority
of the solid and semi-solid ice-cream from the internal face of the
body.
[0062] Typically the length of the tube will be between 70 mm and
300 mm and it will have a diameter of between 15 mm and 40 mm, and
preferably around 20 to 30 mm. The size of the diameter is
important since it defines the cross-sectional area of the
container. If the cross-sectional area is too large then the
consumer will be unable to suck ice-cream from the container. The
internal cross-sectional area of the body 1 is typically less than
1250 mm.sup.2 to ensure that the ice-cream can be comfortably
sucked from the container, and preferably in the range 150 mm.sup.2
to 1250 mm.sup.2, more preferably in the range 150 m.sup.2 to 1000
mm.sup.2, and more preferably still between 200 mm.sup.2 and 800
mm.sup.2. The cross-sectional area of the container also has
implications for the warming process. The smaller the
cross-sectional 5 area of the body 1 for a volume of food the
greater the exposed surface area for heat to enter the container
(see below). Furthermore, the arrangement of the piston 7 and the
container body 1 must be such that the pressure differential
required to suck ice-cream from the container, and to move the
piston 7 within the body 1, is easily achievable by an average
person. This is achieved by selecting an appropriate
cross-sectional area for the container 10 and by arranging the
piston 7 and the body 1 such that the friction between them is low.
Of course, there is a trade off between having a low friction
arrangement for ease of sucking and preventing liquid food from
passing between the piston 7 and the internal face of the body.
[0063] The second opening 5 may be open directly to atmosphere if
the sealing arrangement 15 between the piston and the body is
sufficiently good. If the sealing arrangement is poor, or there is
a concern that the product may be tampered with, an air porous
gauze or membrane may extend across the second opening 5.
Preferably the gauze or membrane is impermeable to the food product
when in liquid and/or semi-solid form.
[0064] The mouthpiece 3 comprises a tapered nozzle having a
substantially circular outlet. The 20 mouthpiece 3 is arranged such
that the consumer can make a seal with his/her mouth around the
outlet so that ice-cream can be sucked from the container.
Preferably the taper is such that the cross-sectional area of the
outlet is less than the cross-sectional area of the body to enable
the mouthpiece to fit into the consumer's mouth more comfortably.
The cross-sectional area of the outlet is typically less than 750
mm.sup.2, and preferably in the range 25 75 mm.sup.2 to 700
mm.sup.2, more preferably in the range 175 mm.sup.2 to 500 mm.sup.2
and more preferably still in the range 200 mm.sup.2 to 300
mm.sup.2. The outlet may have other shapes, for example the
cross-section may be substantially elliptical or rectangular.
Alternatively, the mouthpiece 3 can be omitted and the consumer can
suck ice-cream directly from the body 1 of the container provided
that the dimensions of the container permit the consumer to form a
seal 30 around it.
[0065] The container holds an individual portion of food, such as
ice-cream, which can be eaten by the consumer by warming the tube
up with his/her hands when the container has been removed from the
freezer to melt the ice-cream closest to the curved wall of the
container. The time taken to warm each individual portion of
ice-cream to enable it to be eaten by the consumer is preferably
between five seconds and three minutes at an ambient temperature of
2O.degree. C., when handled by the consumer. The container is
arranged to speed up the melting process, for example by having
thin walls, by arranging the container such that a large surface
area is presented to the consumer's hands, for example the
container can be elongate, and have a low cross-sectional area,
and/or choosing a material for the container with an appropriate
coefficient of thermal conductivity. It has been found by the
inventor that embodiments having a body 1 with a cross-sectional
area of less than around 800 mm.sup.2 enables fast melting
times.
[0066] Typically the wall thickness of the container will be in the
range 0.05 mm to 1 mm and is preferably around 0.8 mm. Preferably
the container is made from a plastics material such as
polypropylene or Borealis, cardboard, a plastics coated material
such as a plastics coated paper based substrate, or metal such as
aluminium. The tube can be manufactured via an extrusion process or
an injection moulding process or a suitable process for forming
cardboard or paper substrate tubes.
[0067] The tube is arranged to substantially maintain the internal
shape of that part of the tube along which the piston moves, for
example the tube is substantially rigid. It is to be noted that the
food product will help to prevent the tube from collapsing during
use and therefore the tube only has to be sufficiently rigid to
maintain the shape with the assistance of the food. Typically, the
tube will be sufficiently ridged itself to prevent it from
collapsing.
[0068] The container is preferably stored at -10.degree. C. to
-30.degree. C. The container is preferably made from a plastic that
can be frozen to -30.degree. C. without becoming brittle and that
is food quality, for example Borealis or polypropylene. Preferably
the plastic is opaque but it may be clear or coloured.
[0069] In use, the container is removed from a freezer unit. The
container can be allowed to stand for a period to allow the food,
for example ice-cream, adjacent the side wall(s) of the container
to partially melt. The process can be speeded up by applying heat,
for example by the consumer holding the container in his/her hand.
A seal is removed from the mouthpiece 3. When sufficient ice-cream
has melted, the ice-cream can flow within the body 1 and the
consumer is able to suck the ice-cream out of the container via the
mouthpiece 3. As the ice-cream is sucked from the container the
piston 7 moves into the body 1 of the container and the scraper
members 11 are drawn over the internal face of the body and push
the ice-cream towards the mouthpiece 3. Movement of the piston 7
reduces the volume of that part of the container that stores the
food product. Since the second end 5 of the container is open, air
can enter the body 1 as the ice-cream is removed. This prevents an
airlock from occurring, which would make sucking much harder for
the consumer and may eventually prevent ice-cream from being
removed from the container. Thus the food can be consumed whilst
the user holds the container with only one hand and there is no
opportunity for ice-cream to spill onto the consumer's hand.
[0070] A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c. The
arrangement is similar to the first embodiment, however instead of
including two scraper members arranged co-axially with the piston,
the piston 107 includes an external helical thread 111 that
performs a similar scraping function to the scraper members 11.
[0071] A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 a to 3 e. The
arrangement is similar to the first embodiment, however the scraper
members 11 are replaced with o-ring seals 213, which are located in
grooves 209. It is envisaged that this embodiment will have an
improved sealing arrangement to prevent liquid food from passing
between the piston 207 and the internal face of the body 201.
Preferably the o-ring seals are made from a natural or synthetic
rubber.
[0072] A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The
arrangement is similar to the first embodiment except that the
mouthpiece 303 is in the form of a nozzle that tapers to a
substantially rectangular opening, the piston 307 does not include
grooves, scraper members or separate seals, and the end of the
container includes a closure member 313.
[0073] The piston 307 includes a substantially planar leading
member 307a and a skirt 307b depending therefrom, the arrangement
being such that it defines a substantially hollow cylindrical body
that is closed at one end and open at the other end. The piston 307
is dimensioned to provide some sealing effect between itself and
the internal face of the body. However, it is envisaged that this
arrangement will not be as effective as the arrangements of at
least the first and third embodiments at preventing liquid food
from passing between the piston and the internal face of the body.
However the friction between them is lower and therefore the piston
moves more freely within the body. Accordingly, the closure member
313 is located in the second opening 305 to prevent or reduce the
amount of food leaking from the container.
[0074] The closure member 313 comprises a substantially hollow
cylindrical body that includes a curved side wall and is open at
one end and closed at the other, wherein the closed end and the
side wall defines a sump for collecting food that has passed
between the internal face of the body and the piston 307. The
closure member 313 is located in the second opening 305 and may be
fixed in place or releasably attached thereto. For example, the
closure member 313 may be welded in place or pressed into place.
Alternatively, the closure member 313 can be formed integrally with
the body 1.
[0075] An air inlet 315 is provided in the closure member 313. The
air inlet 315 allows air to enter the body 301 via the second
opening 305. The air inlet 315 comprises a hole formed through the
closed end of the closure member 313. Preferably the air inlet 315
is raised above the base of the sump such that as liquid food
collects in the sump, it will not exit the container via the air
inlet 315, or the amount that exits via that route is small. The
air inlet 315 is preferably formed in an upper part of a convex
formation.
[0076] A fifth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5a to 5i. The fifth
embodiment is similar to the fourth embodiment except that the
piston 407 includes leading and trailing rims 411 that act in a
similar fashion to scraper members 11 in the first embodiment. The
rims 411 are integrally formed with the piston 407, for example
during a moulding process. The piston 407 has a curved leading
member 407a similar to the first embodiment.
[0077] The closure member 413 is similar to the closure member 313
in the fourth embodiment however the air inlet 415 includes a vent
417 comprising a gauze or membrane 419 extending across the air
inlet 415. Preferably the gauze or membrane 419 is permeable to air
but impermeable to the food product. This enables air to enter the
body 1 to prevent an air lock from forming, whilst preventing
ice-cream, for example, from leaking out of the body. The gauze of
membrane 419 is mounted in a support that raises it above the base
of the sump.
[0078] A sixth embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. The sixth embodiment
is similar to the fourth embodiment except that the piston 507
comprises a substantially spherical ball, preferably made from a
plastics material. Alternatively, the spherical ball can be made
from an edible material such as candy or chocolate. The closure
member 513 is integrally formed with the body 501. The closure
member 513 includes an air inlet 515 in its closed end, which
allows air to enter the body 501 via the second end 505. The sixth
embodiment is shown without a mouthpiece so that the edible ball
can be removed from the container, however a detachable mouthpiece
can be optionally used for this embodiment.
[0079] It has been found by the inventor that embodiments having a
body 1 with a cross-sectional area of less than or equal to around
800 mm.sup.2 enables fast melting times and also enables the
consumer to make a comfortable seal around the body 501, which
helps the consumer to suck the ice-cream from the container.
[0080] In some embodiments it will be necessary to push the piston
manually to enable the ice cream to be initially sucked from the
container. When some ice-cream has been sucked from the container
it should no longer be necessary to push the piston.
[0081] It will be appreciated by the skilled person that features
of some of the embodiments may be used in other embodiments, for
example the closure members used in embodiments four to six can be
used in any of the other embodiments.
[0082] The mouthpiece may be resealable, for example the mouthpiece
may include a flip open-close or hinged lid to enable the container
to be closed and reopened. This enables a consumer to eat only part
of the food product and then to reseal it so that more of the
product can be eaten later.
[0083] The piston can have a substantially solid construction.
[0084] The cross section of the body may be non-circular, for
example it may be substantially polygonal such as substantially
triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or
octagonal.
[0085] Of course the body may have a large cross-sectional area
when used in conjunction with a mouthpiece that provides a seal
with the body and provides an outlet having a smaller
cross-sectional area than the body to enable the consumer to make a
seal around the outlet of the mouthpiece.
* * * * *