GB2224716A

GB2224716A - Disposal vessel for cooking fats or oils

Info

Publication number: GB2224716A
Application number: GB8922676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gareth Ian Mollison
Original assignee: MOLLISON DEBORAH HAZEL BERNADE
Current assignee: MOLLISON DEBORAH HAZEL BERNADE
Priority date: 1988-10-07
Filing date: 1989-10-09
Publication date: 1990-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-09
Also published as: GB8823643D0; GB2224716B; GB8922676D0

Abstract

A deep vessel 2 is pressed from aluminium foil or plastics and aluminium laminate, having a shape enabling one vessel to be stacked in another and having a top which can be closed by folding or rolling the foil on itself. In use, fat or oil is poured into the vessel which, being aluminium is able to withstand the oil or fat hot. When the container is full, ie up to level 22, the top is drawn together and folded over so sealing the vessel which can then be disposed of. Alternatively, in the case of, say, beef dripping, the fat may be stored for later use. The top edge preferably include two opposed flaps 6 which can be folded together at the commencement of the top being folded or rolled. The vessel is in the shape of a cone or pyramid and may be supported in a stand 8 having a lid sloping downwardly from a peripheral rim 16 towards a central aperture or filter 18. <IMAGE>

Description

WASTE DISPOSAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to disposal of waste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposal of cooking fats or oils after use is a problem.

After frying fat or oil remaining in the pan needs removal either for disposal or in some cases storage for later use.

In the case ol laLs, some people leL lL solidity then scrape it out and wrap it for disposal. Some people pour hot fat or oil down the sink followed by hot water and detergent.

Others may look for an old container to put it in. In general, present ad liuc methods of disposal are unsatisfactory and unpleasant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a deep vessel for disposal of liquid or solidified waste, said vessel being formed from a flexible self supporting heat resistant material, and having a top which can be closed by folding or rolling the material on itself.

In use, fat or oil is poured into the vessel until the container is full, when the top is drawn together and folded over so sealing the vessel which can then be disposed of.

Alternatively, in the case of, say, beef dripping, the fat eloy be soled for laLer use.

In distinction from aluminium containers used for food, e.g. for freezing or for "take-away" restaurants, a vessel according to the invention is deep and the top may be closed by folding the foil on itaelf. In contrast, the food containers are shallow and have a firm lip round the top edge which prevents closure by folding the foil on itself.

The vessel preferably has a shape enabling one vessel to be stacked in another.

The depth of the vessel is preferably at least two thirds of its maximum width, even more preferably at least equal to its maximum width. If the vessel were too shallow, the act of folding the material on itself to close the vessel would leave little room inside.

Preferred materials are aluminium foil or plastics/aluminium laminate.

In order to facilitate closing the vessel, the top edge preferably includes two opposed flaps, which can be folded together to assist or begin closing the top.

The vessel preferably has the general shape of a cone or pyramid or, more preferably, of a truncated cone or pyramid.

The act of closing the vessel by folding the material over on itself reduces the volume of the vessel. To assist the user not to fill the vessel too full a mark is provided to indicate when it is full to a level which will allow it to be closed by rolling the material on itself.

The invention extends to plurality of vessels as claimed stacked one inside another.

The vessels may be folded flat. The invention also extends to a stand for supporting a the vessel with its open top uppermost.

The stand preferably has a lid covering said vessel in use and including an upper surface which slopes downwardly from a peripheral rim towards an aperture inside the periphery. The lid preferably includes a filter or strainer in the aperture.

The invention also extends to the combination of a container and one or more vessels stacked therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vessel embodying the invention inside a container which is shown broken away to expose the vessel; Figure 2 is a sketch showing the container beginning to be closed; and Figure 3 shows a sectional view of another container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The vessel 2 shown in Figure 1 has a deep generally truncated cone shape to allow one vessel to be stacked inside another. The vessel is formed of a flexible heat resistant self supporting material, preferably by pressing from aluminium foil. An alternative material is plastics/aluminium laminate.

The top of the vessel is provided with two opposed flaps 6. The rim of the vessel is turned over at 4 to provide a small degree of rigidity, but not so great as to preclude the vessel being sealed by folding the material of the vessel on Itself as will be described. When the vessel Is lull, the two opposed flaps 6 are drawn together and folded or rolled over and over on each other to start the sealing process as shown in Figure 2. The folding or rolling is continued until the top of the vessel has been folded on itself several times along its complete length, so sealing the vessel. Closing the vessel in this fashion reduces the volume thereof related to the volume when fully open.In order to ensure that there is an adequate volume remaining to contain the oil or fat that has been poured into the vessel, the depth or the vessel is preferably at least two thirds of its maximum width across the rim 4. More preferably, the depth is at least equal to the maximum width.

A plurality of vessels may be stored one inside the other, as a stack. For use the vessel or stack of vessels may be placed in a stand 8.

The stand 8 has a generally cylindrical body 10 in which a support member 10 has a similar shape to the vessel 2 (or A stack of vessels) to provide support thereto. In an alternative arrangement the support member 10 is integral with the body 8 as illustrated in Figure 3.

The stand may have a lid 12. The lid is has an upper surface 14 which slopes downwardly from a peripheral rim towards an aperture 18 inside the periphery so producing a generally funnel shape. A strainer or filter 16 is removably fitted in the aperture 14. Hot oil or fat may be poured into te funnel through the aperture (and strainer or filter) into the vessel 2.

It would be rather messy to try to seal a vessel which is over full. So that the user knows when to stop pouring oil or fat into the vessel, it preferably has a maximum level mark 22 pressed in the foil.

In other embodiments, the shape of the vessel may be different, for example in the general shape of a pyramid or truncated pyramid. The base of the vessel illustrated is circular. In other alternatives the base may be a fold which enables the vessel to be stored flat before use. In this case it is advantageous if the vessel is sealed by rolling or folding along a line at right angles to that of the fold in the base so as to ensure that the sealed vessel has maxium volume.

Claims

1. A deep vessel for disposal of liquid or solidified waste, said vessel being formed from a flexible self supporting heat resistant material, and having a top which can be closed by folding or rolling the material on itself.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1, having a shape enabling one vessel to be stacked in another.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, having a depth at least two thirds of its maximum width.

4. A vessel as claimed in claim 3, having a depth at least equal to its maximum width.

5. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the material is aluminium foil or plastics/aluminium laminate.

6. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, having a top edge which includes two opposed flaps, which can be folded together to assist or begin closing the top.

7. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, having the general shape of a cone or pyramid.

8. A vessel as claimed in claim 4, having the general shape of a truncated cone or pyramid.

9. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, including a mark indicating when it is full to a level which will allow it to be closed by rolling the material on itself.

10. A plurality of vessels as claimed in any preceding claim, stacked one inside another.

11. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim when folded flat.

12. A stand for supporting a vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, with its open top uppermost.

13. A stand as claimed in claim 9, having a lid covering said vessel in use and including an upper surface which slopes downwardly from a peripheral rim towards an aperture inside the periphery.

14. A stand as claimed in claim 10, including a filter or strainer in the aperture in the lid.

15. A stand as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, having therein a vessel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, or a stack of vessels as claimed in claim 7.

16. A process for disposing of waste liquids or solidified liquids, including: pouring a liquid to be disposed of into a deep vessel formed from a flexible self supporting heat resistant material, and closing the vessel by folding or rolling the material on itself.