GB2412654A

GB2412654A - Lid with spoon

Info

Publication number: GB2412654A
Application number: GB0506569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Clemens Robert Kratzer; Grant Edward Stevens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-31
Filing date: 2005-03-31
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: US20050218141A1; GB0506569D0

Abstract

A lid 1 to seal opened food tins and an integrated spoon to serve the contents of food tins. A resilent annular seal on the inside perimeter of the lid provides a seal against the outside surface of a tin. A resilient, elastically deformable annular seal 2 in a hole within the lid sealably accommodates the spoon shaft 4 and provides an airtight seal around the spoon shaft 4. The lid 1 and spoon 5 together provide an air tight seal over an opened tin.

Description

24 1 2654

UK PATENT APPLICATION

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: LID WITH SPOON

BACKGROUND

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to serving, sealing and storing the food contents within open food tins.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Tinned-food is often only partially used and needs to be stored for later use.

Tinned food is available in a variety of different tin sizes. Common sizes are listed below: Extra Small Approximately 10Og Small Approximately 19Og Medium Approximately 40Og Large Approximately 70Og Extra Large Approximately 120Og Small tins (1909) are generally disposed of after one serve. Further to this, disposable single serve plastic pouches (1009) are available, designed specifically for one serve only.

A popular tinned-food is that for containing pet-food. In general, depending on the feeding habits of the cat or dog, small tins (1909) generally have the capacity for one or two serves per tin, and medium to extra large tins have the capacity for several serves of pet-food per tin. This makes it necessary to store less than full tins between feeds.

Larger tin sizes (40Og +) have cost benefits over small sizes. Larger sizes are disadvantaged however in that they generally need to be stored amongst other refrigerated products. When open tins contain pet food, the odours are generally quite offensive and the tins can become messy with displaced pet-food when alternative sealing techniques are used.

Tins for storage of food can be opened using the following methods: 1. Pull-top lid (depending on brand of the tinned-food); 2. Can opener that cuts from the top of the tin on the inside diameter; 3. Can opener that cuts from the outside of the tin perimeter and removes the entire top of the tin.

Open tins of tinned-food are usually sealed using plastic wrap, eg. Gladwrap or SaranWrap, aluminium foil (eg. Alfoil), or the entire tin is placed inside a plastic bag.

Plastic lids are also available that are designed to fit common tin sizes.

Plastic wrap can leak easily when used to cover the top of an open tin. Consequently, food odours can leak into the fridge. Plastic wrap is also used in conjunction with rubber bands, which help seal the tins. This however becomes quite messy when attempting to re-apply the plastic wrap and the rubber band after use. In addition, when applying plastic wrap on a tin which has had the entire top removed (tin opening method 3), the wrap is easily cut on the sharp top-edge of the tin.

Similar problems are experienced with aluminium foil to that of plastic wrap.

Plastic lids often do not fit the range of tin tolerances of popular tinned-food brands.

Most plastic lids are designed only to fit tins whereby the top of the tin has been removed from the inside (tin opening methods 1 & 2). They are loose when the entire top of the tin has been removed. In addition, due to variation in manufacturer tolerances, tin diameters may vary considerably hence causing the plastic lids to produce a loose or less than airtight seal.

Common methods for serving tinned-food from a tin are with a variety of different spoons, forks and knives. The size of which is usually dependent on what is available in the consumers' kitchens. In addition, spoons specifically designed for serving tinned pet-food are available.

With existing techniques of serving tinned-food, the utensil is usually washed each time after use. This is unhygienic as it is generally washed with general tableware. If the utensil is left in the tinned-food tin, it is difficult to seal the tin with conventional sealing techniques. Another problem with existing techniques is that it is common for users to get food on their hands whilst serving.

It is also common whilst serving tinned-food, when tin opening method 3 is used, for the user to cut their hands on the top of the tin.

It is an objective of this invention to provide an apparatus for sealing tinned-food tins and serving the contents, which overcomes or at least minimises the prior art problems or limitations outlined above.

STATEMENt OF INVENTION

the present invention provides a device for serving tinned tinned-food contents and sealing the remaining contents comprising a lid with a continuous annular resilient internal seal to releasably fasten and seal against the outer surface of the cylindrical tin body, supporting a spoon shaft extending through a hole with a resilient annular seal in the top face of the lid, to serve the tin contents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one fomm of the invention, the lid comprises one or a plurality of internal annular resilient seal(s) to releasably fasten and provide an airtight seal against the outer cylindrical surface of the tin sealed therewithin.

In another fomm of the invention, the lid comprises one or a plurality of seals within a hole through the top face of the lid to releasably accommodate a spoon shaft and to provide an airtight seal around the spoon shaft therewithin.

The lid, excluding the annular resilient seals, may be manufactured from any suitable resilient or rigid material.

The annular resilient seal(s) on the lid may be manufactured from any suitable resilient material(s).

The spoon may be manufactured from any suitable rigid material.

An alternative embodiment to the embodiment illustrated consists of overmolded or co- molded annular resilient seals in conjunction with a rigid material for the remainder of the lid.

Yet another alternative embodiment to the embodiment illustrated consists of one or a plurality of annular resilient seal(s) to releasably fasten and provide an airtight seal against the internal cylindrical surface of a tin.

INTRODUCTION TO DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an assembled tinned-food serving and sealing device; FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the spoon only thereof; FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the lid only thereof; FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the lid only thereof; FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an assembled tinned-food serving and sealing device serving the contents from an open tin thereof; FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of an assembled tinned-food serving and sealing device thereof; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 6; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 6, whilst covering a tin (the spoon is in the lowest position through the lid); FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 6, with the spoon rotated 90 to the original position, whilst covering a tin (the spoon is in the highest position through the lid).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the tinned-food serving and sealing device according to this invention comprises a circular lid 1 comprised of a suitably shaped resilient annular seal 2 providing an airtight seal around spoon-shaft 4 of spoon 5, permitting vertical upward and downward motion of lid 1 along spoon-shaft 4 of spoon 5.

It will be realised that the apparatus for sealing tinned-food tins and serving the contents according to this invention is not restricted to the shape of suitably shaped resilient annular seal 2 or elongated spoonshaft 4.

A spoon 5 for circular lid 1 comprises a spoon-shaft 4, transitioning into suitably shaped spoon-head 7 is shown in FIG. 2.

It will be realised that spoon 5 according to this invention is not restricted to the form of the one-piece spoon, but may be manufactured in any number of components to achieve the overall fomm of a spoon, whilst not compromising the sealing capabilities of the spoon-shaft 4 through resilient annular seal 2.

It should be appreciated that the transition along spoon-head 7 to spoonshaft 4 of spoon 5 is not restricted to the shape or fomm illustrated and may take any shape or form to achieve a means of locating suitably shaped resilient annular seal 2 of lid 1 around shaft 4 of spoon 5, whilst providing an airtight seal.

It will be realised that slots 8 of spoon 5 as shown in FIG. 2 are not restricted to the shape or form illustrated and may take any shape or fomm to achieve a means of hanging the assembly.

It should be appreciated that spoon-head 7 is not restricted to the shape illustrated, but may take on any shape or form to effectively serve tinned-food contents.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, lid 1 from FIG. 3 and spoon 5 from FIG. 2 are assembled to produce one device for serving and sealing tinned-food.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the serving and sealing device described is appropriately proportioned to serve the contents of the range of available tin sizes. It will be realised that such a tinned-food serving and sealing device can be manufactured to any proportion required to suit the size and specifications of any tin.

Referring to FIG. 7, continuous resilient internal annular lid-seal 3 is illustrated without being elastically deformed by tin 6. The internal diameter of lid-seal 3 allows lid 1 to accommodate tins with slightly deferent outside diameters, caused by deferent tin opening methods. The width of lid-seal 3 is typically 5-7mm however this may be wider or narrower. Lid-seal 3 is typically 1mm thick however this may be thicker or thinner.

The internal diameter of lid seal 3 is typically slightly less than the outside diameter of the particular tin size to provide effective sealing. This may vary, but will not, in general, be greater than the actual tin size.

Referring to FIG. 7, contact perimeter 10 of resilient annular seal 2 of lid 1 has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of spoon-shaft 4 so as to provide a tight seal.

The diameter of contact perimeter 10 is typically 19.5mm however it may be more or less. The diameter of spoon-shaft 4 is typically 20mm however it may be more or less on condition that a tight seal is constantly produced between contact perimeter 10 and spoon-shaft 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 it can be seen that tin 6 has the tinned petfood serving and sealing device covering the top perimeter of the tin. When lid 1 is placed over tin 6, lid- seal 3 elastically deforms to accommodate the tin diameter.

Referring to FIG. 8, internal recessed face 11 of lid 1 provides a seat to accommodate tin 6 during storage of such a serving and sealing device. Intemal tapered face 12 of lid 1 provides a lead-in to guide tin 6 into recessed face 11 of lid 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, outside diameter of lid 1 is substantially greater than the outside diameter of tin 6 so as to provide a protective barrier between the open tin and the user's hands.

Referring to Fig. 4, annular ring 14 of lid 1 is of adequate thickness to prevent top- horizontal edge 13 of spoon-head 7 from protruding through resilient annular seal 2 of lid 1.

Referring to FIG. 9, spoon-shaft 4 of spoon 5 overlaps spoon-head 7 allowing spoon- shaft 4 to provide an air-tight seal against resilient annular seal 2 whilst spoon-shaft 4 is in any position, through suitably resilient annular seal 2 of lid 1. The contact between top-horizontal edge 13 of spoon-head 7 and the flat surface of annular ring 14 of lid 1 prevents spoon-shaft 4 from protruding beyond the region where a seal is created between spoon-shaft 4 and contact perimeter 10 of resilient annular seal 2.

It will be realised that the tinned-food serving and sealing device is not restricted solely for use with tins, and may be used in conjunction with any other food-storage container.

It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a substantial advance in tin serving and sealing apparatus, such as tinned- food, providing all of the herein described advantages without incurring any relative disadvantage.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A device containing a spoon for serving tinned-food contents and a lid for sealing the contents comprising: a lid to sealably fit over the top of an opened tin; said lid including a continuous resilient internal annular seal within the inside circumference of the lid; a rigid spoon for serving the tin contents; an annular seal within the top face of said lid to sealably accommodate said spoon.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient internal seal elastically deforms to the diameter of an opened tin when fated to an opened tin;
3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient internal seal provides an airtight seal when fitted to an opened tin;
4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular seal within the top face of said lid elastically deforms to the diameter of the shaft of said spoon when the said lid and spoon are assembled;
5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said annular seal within the top face of said lid provides an airtight seal around the shaft of said spoon;
6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the spoon-shaft of said spoon overlaps the spoon-head sufficiently to prevent the spoon-head from passing up through said hole in lid and opening the seal;
7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein additional material thickness is provided in the flat surface of the said lid close to where said spoon penetrates through the annular seal to ensure the spoon-head does not stretch the said annular seal in the lid and break the seal between the annular seal and the spoon shaft;