U.S. patent number RE35,437 [Application Number 08/390,512] was granted by the patent office on 1997-02-04 for milk and cereal container.
Invention is credited to David Ascone.
United States Patent |
RE35,437 |
Ascone |
February 4, 1997 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Milk and cereal container
Abstract
A milk and cereal container comprises built-in milk and cereal
compartments and an optional detachable spoon. At least one freeze
pack adjacent the milk compartment keeps the milk cold until ready
for consumption. A valve interposed between the milk and cereal
compartments controls the flow of milk into the cereal compartment,
and keeps the cereal and milk separate until the user is ready to
eat. The container is washable and reusable.
Inventors: |
Ascone; David (Chicago,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
25545363 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/390,512 |
Filed: |
February 17, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
998547 |
Dec 30, 1992 |
05241835 |
Sep 7, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/372; 220/501;
426/109; 426/120; 62/457.6; 99/516 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
19/02 (20130101); A47G 21/145 (20130101); F25D
3/08 (20130101); F25D 2303/0821 (20130101); F25D
2303/0832 (20130101); F25D 2331/804 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
19/00 (20060101); A47G 19/02 (20060101); A47G
21/14 (20060101); A47G 21/00 (20060101); F25D
3/08 (20060101); F25D 3/00 (20060101); F25D
003/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/457.6,457.2,371,372
;220/501,502,503,574,574.1,575,556 ;99/516,517 ;137/576
;426/109,120 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sollecito; John M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bullwinkel Partners, Ltd.
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. A container for milk and cereal comprising:
a milk reservoir having an opening and a resealable fluid-tight cap
means removably secured over said opening .[.and fastened to said
container.].;
at least one freeze pack adjacent to the milk reservoir and filled
with a freezable substance;
a cereal compartment adjacent the milk reservoir and having an
opening and a cover removably secured over the cereal compartment
opening; and
at least one valve interposed between the milk reservoir and the
cereal compartment, said at least one valve having a closed
position for keeping the milk and cereal separate and an open
position for allowing the milk to enter the cereal compartment.
2. The milk and cereal container of claim 1 further comprising a
spoon compartment adjacent the milk reservoir adapted to contain a
detachable spoon.
3. The milk and cereal container of claim 2 wherein the container,
cap means, cover and spoon are formed of plastic.
4. A plastic container for milk and cereal comprising:
a milk reservoir located at one end of the container and having an
opening and a resealable fluid-tight cap means removably secured
over said opening .[.and fastened to said container by a flexible
plastic line.].;
a plurality of freeze packs adjacent to the milk reservoir and
filled with a freezable substance;
a cereal compartment located at the end of the container opposite
the milk reservoir and having an opening and a cover removably
secured over the cereal compartment opening;
at least one valve interposed between the milk reservoir and the
cereal compartment, said at least one valve having a closed
position for keeping the milk and cereal separate and an open
position for allowing the milk to enter the cereal compartment;
and
a spoon compartment adjacent the milk reservoir and containing
therein a detachable spoon.
5. A plastic container for milk and cereal comprising:
a milk reservoir located around the perimeter of the container and
having an opening and a cap removably secured over said opening
.[.and fastened to said container by a flexible plastic
line.].;
a plurality of freeze packs adjacent to the milk reservoir and
filled with a freezable substance;
a cereal compartment located substantially in the center of the
container and having an opening and a cover removably secured over
the cereal compartment opening;
at least one valve interposed between the milk reservoir and the
cereal compartment, said at least one valve having a closed
position for keeping the milk and cereal separate and an open
position for allowing the milk to enter the cereal compartment;
and
a spoon compartment adjacent the milk reservoir adapted to contain
a detachable spoon. .Iadd.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the resealable fluid-tight is
fastened to said container..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This patent relates to food containers. More particularly, this
patent relates to a container for holding milk and cereal in
separate compartments until ready for consumption.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is an axiom that breakfast is the most important meal of the
day. However, many persons no longer have the time to sit down and
eat a balanced healthy breakfast. The present invention is a milk
and cereal container having a removable freeze pack and designed to
be filled with milk and cereal, placed in one's briefcase,
backpack, purse, lunchbox, etc., and carried until the user is
ready to eat. The present invention enables the user to eat a
healthy meal of cold milk and crunchy cereal at his or her
convenience.
Containers for holding milk and cereal can be found in the prior
art. For example, Keck U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,804 describes a carousel
type appliance in which milk is held in a lower chamber and cereal
is held in an upper carousel. The user rotates the carousel which
releases a measured amount of cereal and sips the milk from the
lower chamber.
Sullivan U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,882 describes a toy-like device in
which the milk and cereal are mixed together by dumping the milk
from a pivotally supported bucket into a boatlike cereal holder.
Davis U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,433 describes a serving piece in which
cereal is shovelled down a spout into a bowl in which milk is
held.
None of the prior art patents discloses a milk and cereal container
which can be easily transported. Furthermore, none discloses a
container which keeps milk cold until use. Therefore, there exists
a need for a milk and cereal container which holds milk and cereal
in separate compartments until ready to be consumed, can be easily
transported, and keeps the milk cold until ready to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a container for milk and cereal comprising
a milk reservoir and a cereal compartment. The milk reservoir is
preferably located at one end of the container. At least one freeze
pack adjacent to the milk reservoir keeps the milk cold until ready
for consumption. The cereal compartment is located at the end of
the container opposite the milk reservoir and has an opening and a
cover removably secured over the opening. The container comprises
at least one valve interposed between the milk reservoir and the
cereal compartment which may be opened when the consumer is ready
to introduce milk into the cereal compartment. In the preferred
embodiment, a spoon compartment adjacent the milk reservoir
contains a detachable spoon.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a container
which holds milk and cereal in separate compartments until ready to
be consumed.
A further object is to provide a container for milk and cereal
which can be easily transported.
A still further object is to provide a container for milk and
cereal which keeps the milk cold until use.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of the milk and cereal container of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the milk and cereal container
of FIG. 1 taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and shown containing milk
and cereal.
FIG. 3 is a right side view of the milk and cereal container of
FIG. 1 shown with the spoon compartment lid in place and the
detachable spoon shown in phantom line.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the milk and cereal container of FIG.
1.
FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the milk and
cereal container of the present invention, shown without the
removable cereal compartment lid and in partial cutaway view to
show the integrated freeze packs.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the milk and cereal container
of FIG. 5 taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a right side view of the milk and cereal container of
FIG. 5 shown without the spoon compartment lid to reveal the spoon
compartment and detachable spoon.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the milk and cereal container of FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 a milk and
cereal container 10 according to the present invention. The
container 10 comprises a milk reservoir 12 and a cereal compartment
14. In the preferred embodiment, the milk reservoir 12 is located
at one end of the container 10 and the cereal compartment 14 is
located at the other end of the container 10. A freeze pack 16 is
located adjacent to the milk reservoir 12 is filled with a
freezable material to keep the milk cold until ready for
consumption. The freeze pack 16 may be removable or may be
integrated into the container 10. If a removable freeze pack 16 is
used, the freeze pack is held in a freeze pack compartment 17. A
freeze pack compartment cap 19 is used to cover the freeze pack
compartment opening.
A valve 18 interposed between the milk reservoir 12 and the cereal
compartment 14 may be turned to either a closed position for
keeping the milk and cereal separate or an open position for
introducing the milk into the cereal compartment 14. The valve 18
may be opened and closed by hand.
The milk reservoir 12 has a fill opening 20 located at one end of
the container 10. A cap 22 is used to cover the opening 20 after
the reservoir 12 is filled with milk. The cap 22 may be a snap-on
type cap, screw cap, or other suitable cap. Preferably, the cap 22
is attached to the container 10 by a short, flexible plastic line
24.
The cereal compartment 14 has a lid 26 which may be removed to
expose the cereal prior to eating. The lid 26 may be hinged or may
snap on or slide on. A snap on lid 26 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and
4.
The preferred embodiment comprises a spoon compartment 28 and a
spoon 30. The spoon 30 is held in the spoon compartment 28 by a
pair of plastic snap-type fasteners 32 for easy removal. A lid 34
may be used to cover the spoon compartment 28.
Preferably, the container 10, freeze pack compartment cap 17, fill
cap 22, cereal compartment lid 26 and spoon 30 are formed of
plastic to provide durable lightweight use and easy cleaning,
although other suitable materials, such as stainless steel, are
contemplated.
In the preferred embodiment, all parts of the milk and cereal
container 10 except the spoon 30 are permanently attached to the
container 10 to minimize the possibility of a lost part.
The present invention is used in the following manner. Prior to
use, the freeze pack 16 is stored in a freezer until it reaches a
suitable cold temperature. When ready to use, the user simply
removes the freeze pack 16 from the freezer, inserts it into the
freeze pack compartment 17, pours milk into the milk reservoir 12
and adds cereal to the cereal compartment 14. The user can then
carry the container 10 with him or her until ready to eat. To eat,
the user removes the cereal compartment lid 26, opens the valve 18
to mix the milk and cereal in the cereal compartment 14, and eats
the milk and cereal with the detachable spoon 30. The spoon 30 and
container 10 are washable and may be used repeatedly.
FIGS. 5 to 8 disclose an alternative embodiment of the milk and
cereal container 110 according to the present invention. In the
alternative embodiment, the milk reservoir 112 is located around
the perimeter of the container 110 and the cereal compartment 114
is located in the center of the container 110. Freeze packs 116
located adjacent to the milk reservoir 112. The freeze packs 116
are integrated into the container 110.
Valves 118 interposed between the milk reservoir 112 and the cereal
compartment 114 may be turned to either a closed position for
keeping the milk and cereal separate or an open position for
introducing the milk into the cereal compartment 114.
The milk reservoir 112 has a fill opening 120 located at one end of
the container 110. A cap 122 is used to cover the opening 120 after
the reservoir 112 is filled with milk. The cap 122 is attached to
the container 110 by a short, flexible plastic line 124.
The cereal compartment 114 has a lid 126 which may be removed to
expose the cereal prior to eating. The lid 126 may be hinged or may
snap on or slide on. A snap on lid 126 is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and
8.
The alternative embodiment also comprises a spoon compartment 128
and a spoon 130. The spoon 130 is held in the spoon compartment 128
by a pair of plastic snap-type fasteners 132 for easy removal.
Other modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention
are contemplated which do not depart from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended
claims. For example, instead of being located on the front side of
the container, the freeze pack cap may be located on top of the
container.
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