U.S. patent application number 12/910272 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for chicken dome sling.
Invention is credited to David Pollock.
Application Number | 20110097016 12/910272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43896996 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110097016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pollock; David |
April 28, 2011 |
CHICKEN DOME SLING
Abstract
An apparatus for use with a chicken dome, comprising a handle
and a cradle, the cradle defining a tubular portion having at least
one opening which presents horizontally in use, the handle and the
cradle being defined by film and the cradle being adapted to
support the chicken dome for carriage by the handle in use.
Inventors: |
Pollock; David;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Family ID: |
43896996 |
Appl. No.: |
12/910272 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61253879 |
Oct 22, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/10 ; 383/103;
383/106; 383/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2007/0004 20130101;
A45C 2200/10 20130101; A45C 7/0077 20130101; A45C 11/20 20130101;
A45C 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/10 ; 383/103;
383/106; 383/121 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/08 20060101
B65D033/08; B65D 33/01 20060101 B65D033/01; B65D 33/04 20060101
B65D033/04; B65D 30/10 20060101 B65D030/10 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for use with a chicken dome, comprising: a handle
constructed from film; and a cradle constructed from film and
supported from the handle in use, the cradle defining a tubular
portion having an opening which presents horizontally in use, the
cradle being adapted to support said chicken dome for carriage by
the handle in use.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle and the
cradle are formed integrally from a single sheet of film.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film is
transparent.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cradle is
adapted to allow insertion of said chicken dome through the
opening.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cradle is
adapted to grippingly engage said chicken dome in use.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising one or
more slits in the tubular portion, the slits extending lengthwise
of the tubular portion and flanking opposite sides of said chicken
dome in use.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circumference of
the tubular portion of the cradle is adjustable by means of a
sliding clip through which the film defining the tubular portion
extends.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding
clip to which the film defining the handle extends and from which
the film defining the tubular portion extends, the circumference of
the tubular portion and the length of the handle being adjustable
through movement of said sliding clip.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tubular portion
defines an aperture through which the bottom of said chicken dome
protrudes in use.
10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the film has a pair
of slits defined therein, each slit being in receipt of a
respective opposed corner of said chicken dome in use.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
14. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
15. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
16. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
17. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
18. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
19. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
20. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus in
use has the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack for
groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a barrel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application 61/253,879, filed on Oct. 22, 2009, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the food industry.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is well-known in the prepared food industry to sell
cooked whole chickens. Often, each chicken is packaged in a plastic
tray covered with a transparent plastic cover, collectively
referred to as a "chicken dome". The cover interlocks with the
tray. In a supermarket environment, each chicken dome is typically
bagged in a standard grocery bag at checkout, and subsequent
handling of the bag by a customer can result in tipping of the
dome, causing leakage of juices and oils from the chicken onto
nearby items.
[0004] One solution to this problem has been to enclose chicken
domes in cardboard carriers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An apparatus for use with a chicken dome forms one aspect of
the invention. The apparatus comprises: a handle constructed from
film; and a cradle constructed from film and supported from the
handle in use. The cradle defines a tubular portion having an
opening which presents horizontally in use and is adapted to
support said chicken dome for carriage by the handle in use.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, the handle and
the cradle can be formed integrally from a single sheet of
film.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, the film can
be transparent.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, the cradle can
be adapted to allow insertion of said chicken dome through the
opening.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the cradle can
be adapted to grippingly engage said chicken dome in use.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus
can further comprise one or more slits in the tubular portion, the
slits extending lengthwise of the tubular portion and flanking
opposite sides of said chicken dome in use.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the
circumference of the tubular portion of the cradle can be
adjustable by means of a sliding clip through which the film
defining the tubular portion extends.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus
can further comprise a sliding clip to which the film defining the
handle extends and from which the film defining the tubular portion
extends, the circumference of the tubular portion and the length of
the handle being adjustable through movement of said sliding
clip.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the tubular
portion can define an aperture through which the bottom of said
chicken dome protrudes in use.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the film can
have a pair of slits defined therein, each slit being in receipt of
a respective opposed corner of said chicken dome in use.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus
in use can have the same height as a standard plastic t-shirt sack
for groceries having a volumetric capacity of one sixth of a
barrel.
[0016] The present invention provides a relatively inexpensive
alternative to the conventional cardboard chicken dome carrier.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present
invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following
detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the
accompanying drawings and photographs, the latter being briefly
described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
an apparatus for use with a chicken dome according to the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a view of the structure of FIG. 1 in use with a
chicken dome, the dome being shown in phantom outline;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second exemplary
embodiment of an apparatus for use with a chicken dome, showing an
exemplary chicken dome supported in dashed outline;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective of a third exemplary embodiment of
an apparatus for use with a chicken dome, showing an exemplary
chicken dome supported within it in dashed outline;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an
apparatus for use with a chicken dome; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 5 in
use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a chicken dome sling
apparatus 2 according to one aspect of the invention. The sling 2
is formed from a single sheet of thin, transparent, flexible
plastic, such as polyethylene film. It has a handle portion 10
defining one end and a cradle 8 at the other end. The handle
portion 10 terminates in a handle 4. Cradle 8 is formed out a
portion of the film that is folded over and connected to itself
along a weld 14 to form a tubular portion 11 having opposed open
ends 6. Tubular portion 11 of the cradle 8 has a plurality of short
slits 16 extending lengthwise of the tubular portion 11 to increase
the flexibility of the material and to allow the cradle 8 to
stretch while a chicken dome 20 is inserted into the tubular
portion 11 through one of the openings 6 in the cradle 8. As will
be apparent to persons of ordinary skill, the openings 6 present
horizontally, when sling 2 is gripped by the handle 4.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the sling 2 of FIG. 1 as it appears in use,
with an exemplary chicken dome 20 (shown in phantom outline)
supported within the cradle 8. The chicken dome container 20 has a
bottom tray 22 attached to an upper cover 26 at a lip 24 formed by
the top of the tray 22. In use, and in this embodiment, the bottom
surface of the tray 22 rests on the floor of cradle 8. For greater
certainty, the chicken dome 20 forms no part of the present
invention. The cradle 8 grippingly engages the chicken dome 20 in
this embodiment, so as to ensure that the chicken dome 20 does not
readily slide out and to hold the upper cover 26 and tray 22
together.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the chicken dome
sling 2'. In this embodiment, the cradle 8 does not surround the
entire chicken dome 20. Instead, the bottom of the cradle 8 has an
aperture 12 shaped to accommodate the bottom of the tray 22 of the
chicken dome 20, but too small to allow the top of the tray 22 to
pass through due to the lip 24 around the top of the tray 22 where
it connects to the cover 26. A chicken dome 20 may therefore be
inserted into opening 6 and thence downward into the aperture 12
and supported by the sling 2, the sides of the aperture 12
supporting the lip 24.
[0026] In a further alternative embodiment 2'', shown in FIG. 4,
the weld 14 is relocated closer to the handle 4 and an adjustable
clip 30 is attached to the end of the sheet of plastic used to form
the sling 2''. The clip 30 can be slid along the film to adjust the
length of the handle portion 10 and the circumference of the cradle
8. This permits the sling 2'' to be used with domes of varying
sizes (not shown).
[0027] A yet further alternative embodiment 2' is shown in FIG. 5.
In this embodiment, the sling 2''' is defined by a single piece of
plastic having handles 4 and slots 23. In use, as shown in FIG. 6,
each slot 23 is in receipt of a respective opposed corner of said
chicken dome in use. The slots 23 are spaced apart from one
another, so as to require the film to be stretched from corner to
corner of the dome for use. This locks the dome in position, and
also locks the upper cover and tray together.
[0028] In each of the embodiments described above, the length of
the handle and the height of the cradle 8 when it is loaded with a
chicken dome 20, are calculated to give the loaded sling 2 the same
general carriage characteristics (e.g. center of gravity and
length) as a filled grocery bag of a type generally used in North
America. This facilitates carrying the loaded sling 2 in the same
hand as one or more bags containing other groceries. The type of
bag emulated is what is known in the trade as a "t-shirt" sack, so
named because of its shape in flattened profile, sized at one-sixth
of a barrel.
[0029] Whereas specific embodiments are illustrated, variations are
possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0030] For example, other bag types and sizes can be emulated.
[0031] As well, instead of using a sliding clip, adjustment of the
tubular portion may be accomplished by forming at least a bottom
portion of the handle portion from two-ply material sealed together
but unsealable through user action (not shown).
[0032] It is also possible to replace the weld(s) with other
attachments means, such as staples, adhesives, ties, stitching, and
so on.
[0033] While the embodiments described above are formed from a
sheet of transparent polyethylene film, the sling could be formed
otherwise than from a single sheet of plastic, and may be formed
from other materials instead of plastic, such as fabric or paper,
possibly reinforced with synthetic or natural fibers.
[0034] Furthermore, while the embodiments described above specify a
transparent sling, thus ensuring maximum visibility of the chicken
to a customer or prospective customer while it is being carried
[which is an advantage over the conventional cardboard carrier] the
sling may be formed from opaque or semi-opaque materials.
[0035] The slits can be omitted or have different shapes.
[0036] Further, features from one or more of the above-described
embodiments may be selected to create alternative embodiments
comprised of a sub-combination of features which may not be
explicitly described above.
[0037] As well, features from one or more of the above-described
embodiments may be selected and combined to create alternative
embodiments comprised of a combination of features which may not be
explicitly described above.
[0038] Features suitable for such combinations and sub-combinations
would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon review
of the present application as a whole.
[0039] Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited
only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.
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