U.S. patent application number 12/166677 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-07 for bowl with liquid drain.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey Ferraro.
Application Number | 20100001007 12/166677 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41463560 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100001007 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferraro; Jeffrey |
January 7, 2010 |
BOWL WITH LIQUID DRAIN
Abstract
An assembly for separating liquid and solid components of a food
product. The assembly includes a lower bowl, and an upper bowl
nested in the lower bowl and defining a cavity within the bottom
portion of the lower bowl. The upper bowl includes a plurality of
apertures in communication with the cavity whereby the liquid
component can be separated from the solid components by straining
the liquid component into the cavity. In an alternate embodiment,
the assembly further includes an intermediate bowl nested between
the lower bowl and the upper bowl.
Inventors: |
Ferraro; Jeffrey; (Stamford,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ABELMAN, FRAYNE & SCHWAB
666 THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
41463560 |
Appl. No.: |
12/166677 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/574 ;
220/23.88; 220/676 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/22 20130101;
A47J 43/284 20130101; A47G 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/574 ;
220/23.88; 220/676 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/02 20060101
A47G019/02; B65D 21/02 20060101 B65D021/02; B65D 8/00 20060101
B65D008/00 |
Claims
1. A soup or cereal bowl assembly for separating liquid and solid
components of a food product comprising: a. a lower bowl; and b. an
upper bowl nested in the lower bowl and defining a cavity within
the bottom portion of the lower bowl, the upper bowl including a
plurality of apertures in communication with the cavity whereby the
liquid component can be separated from the solid components by
straining the liquid component into the cavity.
2. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 further comprising
an intermediate bowl nested between the lower bowl and the upper
bowl, in which the wall of the intermediate bowl has an opening
that aligns with at least a portion of the plurality of apertures
in the upper bowl.
3. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 2 in which the opening
is disposed adjacent the rim of the intermediate bowl.
4. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 2 in which the upper
bowl is nested in close-fitting relation to the intermediate
bowl.
5. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 in which the
plurality of apertures are disposed adjacent the rim of the upper
bowl.
6. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 4 in which the
plurality of apertures are disposed in the bottom of the upper
bowl.
7. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 4 in which the
plurality of apertures are disposed proximate the rim of the upper
bowl and also in the bottom of the upper bowl.
8. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 further comprising
at least one support member in supporting relation to the upper
bowl.
9. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 in which the rim of
the lower bowl and the rim of the upper bowl include mating
engagement members for securing the nested bowls together for
use.
10. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 9 in which the bowls
are joined by rotational engagement.
11. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 9 in which the mating
engagement members secure the nested bowls in fluid-tight
relation.
12. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 9 in which the mating
engagement members include at least one 0-ring sealing member.
13. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 in which the
exterior of the lower bowl has an hourglass or footed bowl
configuration.
14. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 in which the lower
bowl has a fluid-tight removable bottom portion.
15. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 in which is
fabricated from molded plastic.
16. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 1 in which the bowls
are joined in a snap-fitting relation.
17. A food serving assembly for separating liquid and solid
components of a food product comprising: a. a lower bowl; and b. an
upper bowl nested in the lower bowl and defining a cavity within
the bottom portion of the lower bowl, the upper bowl including a
plurality of apertures in communication with the cavity whereby the
liquid component can be separated from the solid components by
straining the liquid component into the cavity.
18. The food serving assembly of claim 17 in which the plurality of
apertures defining a straining portion adjacent the rim of the
upper bowl for transferring the liquid component into the lower
bowl.
19. A soup or cereal bowl assembly for separating liquid and solid
components of a food product comprising: a. a lower bowl providing
a supporting base; b. an intermediate bowl nested in the lower
bowl; and c. an upper bowl nested in the intermediate bowl, the
upper bowl including a plurality of apertures whereby the liquid
component can be separated from the solid components by straining
the liquid component into the intermediate bowl.
20. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 19 in which the upper
bowl is nested in close-fitting relation to the intermediate
bowl.
21. The soup or cereal bowl assembly of claim 19 further comprising
a pair of handle grips attached to the upper bowl.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a food serving bowl
assembly for separating liquid and solid components of a food
product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Certain types of food products contain both a liquid
component and solid components. Examples of such food products
include milk and cereal, soup (e.g. broth and the solids), and the
like. Such food products are typically served in a bowl and eaten
with a spoon. Many people enjoy eating such food products. However,
there are several problems that can arise when one chooses to eat
such food products.
[0003] One problem occurs when the person eating the food product
begins to become full at a point when there still remains a sizable
portion of the food product in the bowl. When faced with such a
situation, the person may often desire to "skip to" or finish the
remainder of the solid component and leave the remainder of the
liquid component. However, it is difficult for a person to do so
because a soup spoon will tend to scoop both solid and liquid
components together by its design. Furthermore, certain solid
components of the food product may be suspended in the liquid
component and will therefore be very difficult to scoop out using a
soup spoon.
[0004] Another type of problem can occur when the person eating the
food product has "finished" eating the food product, but has left a
significant residual amount of both the liquid component and the
solid components in the bowl. This type of situation is typically
encountered when the person who is eating the food product is a
child. In order to then dispose of the residual content of the
bowl, the liquid component is typically poured down the drain of
the kitchen sink and the solid component is then discarded in a
trash receptacle. However, when pouring the liquid component down
the drain of the kitchen sink, certain pieces of the solid
components will also be flushed out of the bowl and into the sink.
This can clog the sink or the sink drain strainer. The person
cleaning up would then have to empty the solid components from the
strainer and/or sink. This multi-step chore is laborious and time
consuming, especially for a large family with young children that
eat these types of food products on a regular basis.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,275 to Khattar discloses a bowl for
retaining milk and cereal in a separated condition. The device
includes a lower bowl for containing milk, with an upper bowl
removably coupled to the lower bowl for containing cereal. A well
portion of the upper bowl extends into the lower bowl and includes
a plurality of apertures permitting milk to enter the well from the
lower bowl. A spoonful of the cereal can be moved into the well for
contact with the milk immediately prior to consumption. The Khattar
device is complicated to manage and requires the user to repeatedly
move the cereal into the well portion each time a spoonful is
taken. Further, the Khattar device does not allow the milk and
cereal to be completely mixed together within the upper bowl and,
because of this, the Khattar device is not particularly suitable
for serving soup.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,980 to Dickerson discloses a comestibles
consumption device for the simultaneous dispensing of a liquid,
such as milk, and a dry comestible, such as cereal, by the force of
gravity when tilted for use, directly into the mouth of a consumer
without the use of other tools or utensils. The Dickerson device
never brings the solid and liquid portions of the food product
together in the upper bowl. The user must tilt the entire device at
a steep enough angle to cause gravity to bring the solid and liquid
portions out of the device. The Dickerson device is complicated to
operate and, because of this, is especially not suited for use by
children. The Dickerson device is also not suitable for serving
soup.
[0007] By reason of the inconveniences above, it is an object of
the present invention to provide an assembly that allows the user
to separate liquid and solid components of a food product in a fast
and easy manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The above object and other advantages are achieved by the
present invention which includes a food serving bowl assembly for
separating liquid and solid components of a food product. The
assembly includes a lower bowl, and an upper bowl nested in the
lower bowl and defining a cavity within the bottom portion of the
lower bowl. The upper bowl includes a plurality of apertures in
communication with the cavity whereby the liquid component can be
separated from the solid components by straining the liquid
component into the cavity. In an alternative embodiment, the
assembly further includes an intermediate bowl nested between the
lower bowl and the upper bowl.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the food serving assembly of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the food serving
assembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the food serving
assembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the
food serving assembly.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the food serving
assembly of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the food serving
assembly of FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of
the food serving assembly.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the food serving
assembly of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8.
[0017] To facilitate understanding of the invention, identical
reference numerals have been used, when appropriate, to designate
the same or similar elements that are common to the figures.
Further, unless stated otherwise, the figures are not drawn to
scale, but shown for illustrative purposes only.
[0018] The novel features of the present invention, which are
considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in
the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as to both its
construction and its mode of operation, together with additional
advantages and objects, will be best understood from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in
conjunction with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the assembly of the present invention
according to a first preferred embodiment. The food serving
assembly 10 includes a lower bowl 60, an intermediate bowl 40
nested in the lower bowl 60, and an upper bowl 20 nested in the
intermediate bowl 40. The lower bowl 60 has a bottom 63 and a wall
62 terminating at a rim 61. The intermediate bowl 40 has a bottom
43 and a wall 42 terminating at a rim 41. The upper bowl 20 has a
bottom 23 and a wall 22 terminating at a rim 21. The preferred
material for construction of the assembly 10 is plastic, but one or
more of the components of the assembly can be made of metal or
glass.
[0020] Each of the upper bowl 20 and intermediate bowl 40 can be
any shape and can be deep-dished or shallow-dished, and can have
walls which are angled or substantially upright. The shape and size
of the upper bowl 20 is preferably similar to the shape and size of
the intermediate bowl 40 so that the upper bowl 20 nests in
close-fitting relation to the intermediate bowl 40. The upper bowl
20 can include a pair of opposing handles 26 for transport. The
handles 26 support also the upper bowl 20 and prevent it from
dropping inside the intermediate bowl 40.
[0021] The lower bowl 60 can be any shape (e.g., hourglass, footed
bowl, etc.) and any size. However, the rim 61 of the lower bowl 60
should be close-fitting to the rim 41 of the intermediate bowl 40.
When the bowls 20, 40, 60 are nested, a cavity 65 is defined the
bottom portion of the lower bowl 60. Compared with the walls 22, 42
of the upper bowl 20 and the intermediate bowl 40, the wall 62 of
the lower bowl 60 is elongated, in order to define the cavity
65.
[0022] The upper bowl 20 includes a plurality of apertures. A first
group of apertures 25 can be disposed adjacent the rim 21 of the
upper bowl 20. A second group of apertures 24 can be disposed in
the bottom 23 of the upper bowl 20. The apertures can be any shape
and size that prevent passage of the solid portions of the food
product. Further, the number of apertures 24, 25 and size of the
surface area they encompass can vary accordingly, e.g., a single
elongated slot or a number of small holes forming an ornamental
aesthetic pattern. The intermediate bowl 40 can include an opening
44 that is capable of being aligned with at least a portion of the
plurality of apertures 25 of the upper bowl 20. Because of the
close-fitting relation of the upper bowl 20 and the intermediate
bowl 40, the liquid portion of the food product is retained
substantially within the upper bowl 20, even though the upper bowl
20 has a plurality of apertures in the bottom of it.
[0023] The rims 21, 41, 61 can include mating engagement members
for securing the nested bowls 20, 40, 60 together during and for
secure storage use. The engagement members can include rotational
engagement or a snap-fitting relation. The engagement members can
further include at least one O-ring sealing member (not shown). In
a preferred embodiment, the engagement members secure the nested
bowls 20, 40, 60 in fluid-tight relation.
[0024] The lower bowl 60 can include a plurality of supports 66
which project from the inner surface of the lower bowl 60. The
supports 66 are sized and shaped in order to support the
intermediate bowl 40 in a vertical direction against the force of
gravity.
[0025] When the bowls 20, 40, 60 are nested together, the upper
bowl 20 is adapted to receive a food product containing a liquid
and solids. A person can eat the food product out of the upper bowl
20 with a spoon (not shown) in a traditional manner. Alternatively,
a third person may serve the food product to another person (e.g.,
a child, a disabled person, and the like). However, if the person
does not wish to finish the food product or if only to eat the
solid portion, the present assembly 10 of the first preferred
embodiment provides several options.
[0026] The first option is for the user to lift the upper bowl 20
up and out of the intermediate bowl 40. In doing so, gravity will
cause the liquid portion of the food product to drain through the
apertures 24 in the bottom 23 of the upper bowl 20. Because the
components of the solid portions of the food product are larger in
size than the apertures 24, the liquid component is separated from
the solid components by straining the liquid component into the
intermediate bowl 40 when the upper bowl 20 is lifted out. The user
can then empty the liquid component from the intermediate bowl 40
by pouring the liquid component out. Next, the user can (i) discard
the solid components which remain in the upper bowl; or (ii)
replace the upper bowl 20 in the intermediate bowl 40 and continue
to eat the solid components which remain in the upper bowl 20.
[0027] The second option is for the user to tilt the entire
assembly 10 while the bowls are still nested together, so that the
liquid component is separated from the solid components by
straining the liquid component into the lower bowl 60. More
specifically, when the entire assembly 10 is tilted, the liquid
component travels through the apertures 25, over the opening 44 in
the intermediate bowl 40, and down through the liquid channel 67
formed between the lower bowl 60 and the intermediate bowl 40 (see
FIG. 3). Next, the user can (i) discard the solid components which
remain in the upper bowl; or (ii) continue to eat the solid
components which remain in the upper bowl 20. The liquid component
can then be discarded from the lower bowl 60.
[0028] The bottom 63 portion of the lower bowl 60 can be removable
in order to allow for easier cleaning of the cavity 65 after use of
the assembly 10. The bottom 63 can be attached by a threaded
connection 64, snap-fit connection, or other known means. The
removable bottom portion 63 has a fluid-tight connection.
[0029] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the assembly of the present invention
according to a second preferred embodiment which does not include
intermediate bowl. The assembly of the second preferred embodiment
includes an upper bowl 20 nested in a lower bowl 60. The lower bowl
60 has a bottom 63 and a wall 62 terminating at a rim 61. The upper
bowl 20 has a bottom 23 and a wall 22 terminating at a rim 21. The
preferred material for construction of the assembly 10 is
plastic.
[0030] The upper bowl 20 can be any shape and can be deep-dished or
shallow-dished, and can have walls which are angled or
substantially upright. The shape and size of the upper bowl 20 is
preferably similar to the shape and size of the upper portion of
the lower bowl 60 such that the upper bowl 20 is nested in
close-fitting relation to the lower bowl 60. The upper bowl 20 can
further include a pair of opposing handles 26 for transport. The
handles 26 also support the upper bowl 20 and prevent it from
dropping inside the lower bowl 60.
[0031] The lower bowl 60 can be any shape (e.g., hourglass, footed
bowl, etc.) and any size. However, the rim 61 of the lower bowl 60
should be close-fitting to the rim 21 of the upper bowl 20. When
the bowls 20, 60 are nested, a cavity 65 is defined in the bottom
portion of the lower bowl 60. Compared with the wall 22 of the
upper bowl 20, the wall 62 of the lower bowl 60 is elongated, in
order to define the cavity 65.
[0032] The upper bowl 20 includes a plurality of apertures. A first
group of apertures 25 can be disposed adjacent the rim 21 of the
upper bowl 20. The apertures can be any shape and size that prevent
passage of the solid portions of the food product. Further, the
number of apertures 25 and size of the surface area they encompass
can vary accordingly, e.g., a single elongated slot or a number of
small holes forming an ornamental aesthetic pattern. Because
apertures 25 are disposed adjacent the rim 21 of the upper bowl 20,
the liquid portion of the food product is retained substantially
within the upper bowl 20, even though the upper bowl 20 has a
plurality of apertures in it.
[0033] The rims 21, 61 can include mating engagement members for
securing the nested bowls 20, 60 together during use and for secure
storage. The engagement members can include rotational engagement
or a snap-fitting relation. The engagement members can further
include at least one O-ring sealing member (not shown). In a
preferred embodiment, the engagement members secure the nested
bowls 20, 60 in fluid-tight relation.
[0034] The lower bowl 60 can include a plurality of supports 66
which project from the inner surface of the lower bowl 60. The
supports 66 are of a size and shape that will secure the upper bowl
20.
[0035] When the bowls 20 and 60 are nested, the upper bowl 20 is
adapted to receive a food product containing both a liquid
component and a solid component which can be eaten with a spoon
(not shown) in the traditional manner. Alternatively, a third
person may serve the food product to another person (e.g., a child,
a disabled person, or the like). However, if the person becomes
full before finishing the food product or if the person wishes to
only finish the remainder of the solid portion of the food product,
the present assembly 10 of the second preferred embodiment provides
several options.
[0036] One option is for the user to tilt the entire assembly 10 so
that the liquid component is separated from the solid components by
straining the liquid component into the lower bowl 60. More
specifically, when the entire assembly 10 is tilted, the liquid
component travels through the apertures 25 and down through the
liquid channel 67 formed between the lower bowl 60 and the upper
bowl 20 (see FIG. 6). Next, the user can (i) discard the solid
components which remain in the upper bowl by dumping in a trash
receptacle; or (ii) continue to eat the solid components which
remain in the upper bowl 20. The liquid component can then be
discarded from the lower bowl 60 by pouring the liquid component
out.
[0037] The bottom 63 of the lower bowl 60 can be removable in order
to allow for easier cleaning of the cavity 65 after use of the
assembly 10. The bottom 63 can be attached via a threaded
connection 64, snap-fit connection, and the like (not shown). The
removable bottom portion 63 has a fluid-tight connection.
[0038] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate the assembly of the present invention
according to a third preferred embodiment. The assembly includes a
lower bowl 60 that provides a supporting base. An intermediate bowl
40 is nested in the lower bowl 60. The intermediate bowl 40 does
not include any apertures. An upper bowl 20 is nested in the
intermediate bowl 40. The upper bowl 20 includes a plurality of
apertures 24. The lower bowl 60 can include a plurality of supports
66 which project from the inner surface of the lower bowl 60. The
supports 66 are sized and shaped in order to support the
intermediate bowl 40 in a vertical direction against the force of
gravity.
[0039] In accordance with this embodiment, the user can lift the
upper bowl 20 upwards using a pair of handle grips 26 so that the
liquid component is separated from the solid components by
straining the liquid component into the intermediate bowl 40. Next,
the user can (i) discard the solid components which remain in the
upper bowl by dumping in a trash receptacle; or (ii) continue to
eat the solid components which remain in the upper bowl 20. The
liquid component can then be discarded from the intermediate bowl
40 by pouring the liquid component out.
[0040] In addition to the various advantages discussed above, a
further advantage of the nested bowl arrangement of the present
invention is the insulating capability of the assembly. That is, if
hot food, such as soup, is poured into the upper bowl, the
intermediate and/or lower bowls will insulate against heat
transfer. Thus, a user may handle the lower bowl without the risk
of burning his hands. In addition, the food item will retain its
heat for a longer period of time.
[0041] The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not
exhaustive and will suggest modifications, variations, and
alternatives that may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art
without departing from the scope of the invention and those
familiar with the art may recognize equivalents to the specific
embodiments described. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is
to be determined by the claims that follow.
* * * * *