CA2567884A1

CA2567884A1 - Food container

Info

Publication number: CA2567884A1
Application number: CA 2567884
Authority: CA
Inventors: Martine Cliche
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-14
Filing date: 2006-11-14
Publication date: 2008-05-14

Abstract

The present invention is used to keep food warm or cold or to get food warm or cold. The food receptacle comprises an outer receptacle adapted to receive warming or cooling means, a food receptacle, adapted to be inserted and removably placed in said outer receptacle and which can be used independently as a receptacle to store food and a cover to hermetically close said food container. In the preferred version, both receptacles are screwed together.

Description

File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 Title of the Invention mqustry Inlustne a'YVJ . viMiD
[0001] Food container c~~dda ceneaa . ~II~~~{al~~lllal~lll I
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Cross-Reference to Related Applicahons 318- 06 ;iPO oPic 07438379 [0002] There is no cross-reference to related applications.

Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus to maintain the temperature of food.

Background of the Invention [0004] Presently, the apparatuses used to maintain the temperature of food are not designed to be used as a simple serving dishes. These devices need electricity, fire and most are not designed to be manipulated when they are used.

[0005] For example, in US patent no. 5,477,777, the appliance presented is used to heat up and/or to keep food warm. This appliance has a heating element forming a single unit with the food container.

[0006] In US patent application published under no. 2003/0052217, the food recipient may be used to keep food warm or cold with heat or cold being supplied by a liquid. The food recipient is made with an inner wall and an external wall which are permanently joined. The liquid has to be inserted through a cavity and expulsed though another cavity.

[0007] All these heating-up, warming and/or cooling appliances, which usually find usage as fondue-rechauds, plate warmers or table cookers have in common that they exhibit a one-piece assembly, which means that the heating element and the dish File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 container form a single unit. Further, the one-piece appliances cannot be optimally cleaned because the heating elements have to be protected from moisture. In addition, for devices using a liquid to maintain the temperature without a heating element, it is not simple to change the water or to reheat the liquid during a meal if food is still inside the device. Furthermore, these devices are not designed to be usable to store any remaining food.

[0008] Thus, there is a need for a food container which can keep food warm or cold and which is simple to use and place on a table. Also, the device should be easy to handle; its external surface should be at a convenient temperature for manipulation and service and it should be easily movable on the table to pour liquids or sauces.

Objects of the Invention [0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a container to keep food warm or cold, which is simple in construction and which can be used directly for service.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a container to warm-up or to cool down food, which is simple in construction and which can be used directly for service.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container to keep food warm without an electrical device.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a container to keep food warm or cold which can be used to store or preserve food in the refrigerator.

[0013] Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 Summary of the Invention [0014] The container of present invention is used to keep food warm or cold or to get food warm or cool. The food container comprises an outer receptacle adapted to receive a thermal transfer substance, a food receptacle, adapted to be inserted and removably attached in said outer receptacle and which can be used independently to store food and a cover to hermetically close said food container. In the preferred version, the receptacles are screwed together. A hot or frozen liquid is disposed in the outer receptacle and is in contact with the food receptacle to maintain the temperature. The liquid is typically water because it is the most accessible liquid and the easier choice.

[0015] The food receptacle has two principal functions, the first one is to act as a heat exchanger between the liquid and the food. The second function is to be used independantly to store the food in the refrigerator or elsewhere after a service.

[0016] In a warming application, the heat exchange is accomplished by disposing a hot liquid in the outer receptacle. The hot water is directly in contact with the food receptacle, which is preferably made of a conductive material to maximize the heat exchange between the hot water and the food inside the food receptacle. A marker may be dispose inside the outer receptacle to show the level of water. The level of water is preferably adjusted to be in contact with the entire outer surface of the food receptacle. If the food container is used for a long period the water will cool down, but it is quite simple to change the water inside the outer receptacle. To do so, the food receptacle is removed from the outer receptacle and the water inside is renewed with hot water.
Thus, there is no need to reheat the food during a meal or a service. The food container is particularly useful for foods having different states at different temperatures, for example chocolate or butter.

[0017] The food container may also be used to keep food cold or to cool down food. To do this, a liquid or a gel is disposed inside the outer receptacle and is frozen in a standard freezer with the food receptacle in place. As for the hot water use, a marker may also be File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 disposed inside the outer receptacle to indicate the level of liquid or gel.
Because the water expands when freezing, the marker is placed to let enough space for the water expansion. The ice formed will then keep food cold during the service. It may be used for dips, perishables food or any other kind of food.

[0018] The food container may have different shapes and sizes depending of the food to be served. For example, the food container may be smaller for use in a restaurant where the portions are often individual. Furthermore, the food container is adaptable for different types of food. For example, a spout may be added to improve the service of sauces or liquids.

[0019] The food container may be adapted to be heated directly on a heating element, in the oven or in the microwave oven or placed in a freezer. The material of the outer receptacle is chosen to resist to the direct contact with a heating element of an oven and/or to resist to the microwaves of a microwave oven. A pressure device is preferably added on the outer receptacle to equalize the pressure between the interior of the outer receptacle and the atmospheric pressure. For example, it may be a pressure valve or as simple as an aperture. The pressure device should not be installed near the handle to scalding the user.

[0020] Even if the present invention has been described for food, it is to be understood that it can be used for other usage or products. For example, it may be used in biological or chemistry laboratories.

[0021] The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 Brief Description of the Drawings [0022] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] Figure 1 a is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure lb is a side view of the outer container.

[0025] Figure lc is a side view of the food container.

[0026] Figure ld is a side view of the container cover.

[0027] Figure 2a is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2b is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view showing the seal used between the food receptacle and the outer receptacle.

[0030] Figure 3b is a side view showing the seal used between the receptacle cover and the food receptacle.

[0031] Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the markers for the water.

[0032] Figure 5 is a side view showing the aperture on the outer receptacle.

File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment [0033] A novel food container will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

[0034] Figure I shows a first preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably used for sauces and liquids. In Figure 1 a, all the components of the food container 10 are assembled. The food receptacle 20 is inserted in the outer receptacle 30 as shown by the dashed line 15 in Figure 1 a and the container cover 40 is fixed on the food receptacle 20.
To improve the watertightness, the contact interfaces of the food receptacle, the outer receptacle and of the container cover may be threaded as shown in Figure 1.
Thus, the rim 22 of the food receptacle 20 is threaded at two places; under the rim 22 and inside the food receptacle 20. Thus, the food receptacle 20 is screwed on the outer receptacle 30 trough the thread 35 and the container cover 40 is screwed on the food receptacle 20 trough the thread 45. The food receptacle may have a handle 50 as shown in Figure 1 a. A
spout 25 may be added on the food receptacle 25 to serve liquids or sauces.

[0035] In Figure 2a and Figure 2b, two different embodiments are shown. They have a larger food receptacle and may be used for service of chocolate fondue or other similar self-service plates. Instead of having a handle to lift the food container, they have gripping areas 55 made of an insulating material. The gripping areas 55 may be made from a nonslip material to improve the grip for the users.

[0036] The food container may have a seal to improve the watertightness as shown in Figure 3a (the threads inside the food receptacle are not shown) and Figure 3b. In the latter, the seal 80 is disposed between the food receptacle 20 and the outer receptacle 30.
In Figure 3b, the seal 85 on the cover container 40 is used to insulate the food contained in the food receptacle 20 from the environment.

File number: 11089 - 002 Revision: as filed Date: 13/11/2006 [0037] Figure 4 shows the markers 70 and 75 used to determine the quantity of water to put inside the outer receptacle 30. The marker 70 is used for hot water and the marker 75 for water to be frozen, allowing enough space for the expansion of water when freezing.

[0038] In Figure 5, the outer receptacle 10 has an aperture 90 to equalize the pressure between the interior of the outer receptacle and the atmospheric pressure when the food container is heated.

[0039] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiment(s) of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims

1. A food container to keep food warm or cold or to warm-up or cool down food, comprising:
a. an outer receptacle adapted to receive a thermal transfer substance;
b. a food receptacle, adapted to be inserted and removably attached in said outer receptacle and which can be used independently to store food;
c. a cover to hermetically close said food container.

2. The food container of claim 1, wherein said thermal substance is a liquid.

3. The food container of claim 2, wherein said liquid is water.

4. The food container of claim 2, wherein said liquid is a thermal gel.

5. The food container of claim 1, wherein said outer receptacle has a marker inside to show the level of hot liquid to be fill-in.

6. The food container of claim 1, wherein said food receptacle is screwed on said outer receptacle.

7. The food container of claim 1, wherein said cover is screwed on said food receptacle.

8. The food container of claim 1, wherein said food receptacle further comprises a rim adapted to fit on said outer receptacle.

9. The food container of claim 8, wherein said rim is screwed to be removably attached to said outer receptacle.

10. The food container of claim 8, wherein said cover is screwed.

11. The food container of claim 10, wherein said rim is screwed to received said cover.

12. The food container of claim 1, wherein said food receptacle further comprises a device to equalize the pressure between the interior of the food container and the atmospheric pressure.

13. The food container of claim 12, wherein said pressure equalizing device is a pressure valve.

14. The food container of claim 12, wherein said pressure equalizing device is an aperture.

15. The food container of claim 1, wherein said outer receptacle has at least one handle to lift said food receptacle.

16. The food container of claim 1, wherein said food receptacle has a spout.

17. The food container of claim 1, wherein said cover has a seal to hermetically close said food container.

18. The food container of claim 1, wherein said food receptacle has a seal to hermetically close said outer receptacle.