GB2461124A

GB2461124A - Edible food container

Info

Publication number: GB2461124A
Application number: GB0811621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacky Azair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-25
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-25
Also published as: GB0811621D0; GB2461124B; GB2461124B8

Abstract

An edible food article comprises an edible food shell for containing a food filling. The shell is preferably a cone or pyramidal shape with an opening at its widest end and a flat base at its narrow end. A sleeve may be provided to support the food container vertically. The walls of the shell may be straight, curved or concave and a lid may be included.

Description

Edible container for food fillings

Description

Background of the invention

There exist numerous forms of edible food containers in the form of bread wraps, shells and in particular cones. Where wraps and cones are primarily designed to be eaten in conjunction with the fillings, shells provide a means of eating the ingredients independent of the container. Traditional, non-sandwich type food items such as rice and meat dishes, pasta and sauce, noodles and stir fry ingredients are commonly served on a plate or dish or disposable plastic or paper based container. And while such existing containers serve to contain the food therein, they do not sufficiently allow for the food to be placed in stable vertical layers without shifting, nor do they facilitate a relatively even distribution of liquids from upper layers of ingredients to flow evenly to lower layers. Of the edible form of containers, the cone can be considered an optimum shape for disproportionate distribution of fillings (less volume of filling nearer the narrower base, greater volume of filling nearer the top) and a convenient shape for balanced portability, the round shape at the top and general curvature of the walls does not however facilitate placing it on a surface and eating from it thereof as it would tend to roll when touched. Also the common existing narrow style cone does not easily facilitate the consumption of the fillings without gradual consumption of the cone itself. Hence the invention aims to solve these issues in the form of a food product consisting of an edible container shell filled with layered or composite fillings of traditional or new, hot or cold, savoury or dessert style foods. The edible container could consist of a cone style shape. This shape would allow the fillings to be contained in layers as well as allowing liquids from upper layer fillings to flow relatively evenly to lower levels. The open top of this container would provide for the filling ingredients to be eaten either in conjunction with or independent of the edible container and would provide a means for traditional dishes as mentioned above to be eaten in a new way. To enable the food article to stand on a surface, the edible food container could have a shaped top having one or more straight or inwardly concave walls (for example a flat sided cone shape or a pyramid shape) which would provide greater stability when placed on a surface as well as facilitating a larger volume provided by the additional corners, enabling more fillings.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to provide a means for traditional food dishes (such as curry and rice, pasta and sauce, stir fried meat/vegetables and noodles as well as common deserts such as fruit, cake or pudding) or any other form of food or edible ingredients whether existing or new to have an edible food container that can be held by hand or placed on a surface, whereby the filling thereof can be eaten directly from the container by hand or by means of a utensil. The corners of the container providing additional space to contain fillings as compared to a traditional round top cone container (such as those traditionally used for ice cream), whilst with the inclusion of one or more flat or inwardly concave walls also providing stability when placed directly on a surface for example a table (for consumption) or for example a tray (for portability). The downwardly extending narrowing walls of the container facilitate the disproportional distribution of fillings whereby smaller amounts of fillings (such as accompaniment ingredients) can be placed at the lower narrower end of the container and larger amounts of fillings (such as main ingredients) can be placed towards the top wider end. Horizontally layered fillings could also be applied if proportionate or parallel distribution of fillings is desired. Additionally, liquids such as sauces, gravies and/or juices from the fillings on upper layers would more evenly drain down and mix with fillings on lower levels. The base of the shell may be filled with an absorbent lower filling ingredient, which would absorb the remaining liquid of the fillings and allow a relatively mess free final consumption of the product, while the base of the shell being of a convenient size/shape as a final consumed piece. Where the edible container described is in itself is an invention, the combination of the edible food container and its contained fillings as described is also considered as an invention of a new style, method and/or form of food and/or consumption.

Introduction to the drawings

Figure 1. demonstrates possible example cross section shapes of the top of the edible food container, where one or more sides are relatively flat or inwardly concave, enabling sturdy placement on a surface.

Figure 2. shows an example of the edible food container.

Figure 2A. demonstrates an example shape of the edible food container.

Figure 2B. demonstrates an example of the edible food container containing edible fillings placed in layers.

Figure 3. shows the optional sleeve cover.

Figure 3A. demonstrates an example of the sleeve surrounding the edible food container.

Figure 3B. demonstrates an example of the sleeve rotated vertically by 180 degrees to form a stand in which the edible food container may be stood vertically.

Figure 4. shows the edible food container placed on a surface.

Figure 4A. demonstrates an example of the edible food container on a surface.

Figure 4B. demonstrates an example of the edible food container having an optional taper at its top to facilitate easier access to the fillings.

Detailed description of the invention

An edible food container comprising of an edible shell (made from but not limited to ingredients such as wheat, grain, pulse, corn, vegetable, animal or other ingredient based dough, batter or other processed edible compound either cooked or raw) being sufficiently rigid and watertight and/or internally absorbent to contain and retain its hot or cold, traditional or new style fillings (made from but not limited to ingredients such as savoury or sweet, animal, vegetable or dairy products) (see Figure 2A).

The top of the container may be formed of a shape with one or more straight/flat or concave sides (see Figure 1) with downwardly extending narrowing walls meeting a closed lower base.

The radius of the corners of the top could vary downwards to meet the radius of the corners of the base, whereby the radius of the wall edges would vary along their length (see Figure 2).

The angle of inclination of the walls (see Figure 2) may be variable based on the size of cavity and depth necessary for the type and amount of fillings to be applied. The top of the edible container could have a tapered shape (see Figure 4B) to allow easier access to the fillings when the container is laid on a surface.

The edible food container could be filled with any traditional or new food ingredients either in layers or as a mixture to be served as a main meal, snack, or dessert (see Figure 2).

The walls of the edible food container could be strengthened by internal or external reinforcement with the use of (but not limited to) ridges and/or varying wall thickness/shape. The edible food container could also be made with additional wall layers (separated, joined or filled) for added strength and/or insulation, whilst also providing an additional eating/tasting experience where different edible ingredients are used for the wall layers and/or the fillings between the layers.

The inner surface of the walls of the edible food container or of its lower base could be constructed from an absorbent edible ingredient in order to absorb liquids from the filling ingredients, whilst being watertight on the outer surface of the walls.

The edible food container could have an optional non edible wrapper (see Figure 3) (made from but not limited to paper, cardboard or polymer material) to provide hygienic and/or heat resistant carrying of the food product. This surrounding cover could have the additional functionality of holding the edible food container and its ingredients vertically on a surface when it is rotated by approximately 180 degrees vertically (see Figure 3B).

The edible food container could have an optional edible or non edible top cover/lid to seal the ingredients or keep them from spilling in transport.

Example of the invention Figure 2. presents an example of the edible food container in the form of an inverted hollow pyramid shape (as an example of a form with one or more straight or inwardly concave sides as described) with layered fillings (may also optionally contain a composite mixture of fillings). Within this example, the edible food container shell would be made from a baked dough mixture which is filled with layers of ingredients such as rice at the base, meat pieces at the centre covered with a sauce and a salad at the top. When held vertically, the sauce is able to drain downwards and mix relatively evenly with the meat and subsequently the rice. The edible container and its fillings may be held by hand or placed on a surface (see Figure 4) with the filled contents eaten directly from the top and the container being eaten either in conjunction with or after its fillings. The base of the edible food container and remaining filling could be eaten as a final single piece.

Although the invention is described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the example embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined within the

description and by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An edible food article comprising of an edible shell for containing food ingredients.
2. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article facilitates the independent consumption of the fillings and the shell.
3. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article facilitates the combined consumption of the fillings and the shell.
4. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article is held by hand.
5. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article can be placed on a surface independent of external support.
6. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article can be placed on a surface with the use of external support.
7. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article has a vertical stand to hold it on a surface.
8. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article has a sleeve cover surrounding its walls and acting as a vertical stand when rotated vertically.
9. The edible food article of claim I wherein said article has a lid to cover or seal its open top.
10. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell having an open top end with downwardly extending walls meeting a closed base.
11. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has an open top at its widest end and a closed base at its narrowest end.
12. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has the form of a hollow cone.
13. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has the form of a hollow pyramid.
14. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has a symmetrical shape.
15. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has a non symmetrical shape.
16. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has an open top end of a shape with one or more flat or inwardly concave sides.
17. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has one or more flat walls.
18. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has one or more concave walls.
19. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has tapering walls at an angle relative to the vertical axis.
20. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has an open end which is at an angle relative to its horizontal axis.
21. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is cooked.
22. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is uncooked.
23. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell composed of animal ingredients.
24. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell composed of vegetable ingredients.
25. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell composed of cooked dough.
26. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell composed of cooked batter.
27. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is formed by hand process.
28. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is formed by machine process.
29. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is formed from a single piece.
30. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is formed from multiple joined pieces.
31. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is baked in an oven.
32. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is baked in a heated mold.
33. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell has walls.
34. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is formed within a mold.
35. The edible food shell of claim I wherein said shell is filled with edible ingredients.
36. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has downwardly extending walls.
37. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls with the radius of their corners varying along their edge.
38. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls of even thickness.
39. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls of uneven thickness.
40. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls of multiple layers.
41. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls separated by a cavity.
42. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls filled with edible ingredients.
43. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls that are watertight.
44. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls that absorbent.
45. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls that internally absorbent and externally watertight.
46. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls that are ridged.
47. The edible food shell of claim 33 wherein said shell has walls that have internal ridges.
48. The edible food shell of claim 34 wherein said shell is formed within a heated mold.
49. The edible food shell of claim 34 wherein said shell is formed within an unheated mold.
50. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with hot ingredients.
51. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with cold ingredients.
52. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with animal ingredients.
53. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with vegetable ingredients.
54. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with ingredients in vertical layers.
55. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with ingredients in horizontal layers.
56. The edible food shell of claim 35 wherein said shell is filled with ingredients in a composite mixture.