GB2524400A

GB2524400A - Container apparatus and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2524400A
Application number: GB1503786.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Smith; Gillian Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-17
Filing date: 2015-03-06
Publication date: 2015-09-23
Also published as: GB201503786D0; GB201404743D0

Abstract

A container 2 for containing items, wherein one or more gloves 36 are attached to or associated with the container, so that the user can wear the gloves whilst handling the contained items. The container may be a tray 4 containing food. The gloves may be provided on a sleeve 6. The sleeve may contain other items, such as a pot of sauce 44. The container may have a perforated film to allow steam to escape from the container during a heating or cooking process. The gloves may be substantially water or fluid resistant. The gloves may be attached to the sleeve via a friction fit with perforations 38. The glove may have five digit portions or be of mitten form. The gloves may be disposable.

Description

Container Apparatus and Method of Use Thereof This invention relates to container apparatus and to a method of use of container apparatus. This invention also relates to a method of manufacture of container apparatus.

Although the following description refers almost exclusively to container apparatus for containing one or more items of foodstuff and to a method of use thereof, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the container apparatus of the prcsent invention cou'd be used to contain any or any combination of one or more items, whether edible or non-edible.

Take out food or "food on the go" accounts for a large sector of the food market. Retailers in this sector typically provide food in packaging that is easy to open and remove the food contents therefrom and/or easy for an individual to eat the food directly from the packaging without requiring any special tools, equipment, crockery, cutlery and/or the like. The food provided in such packaging may be eaten cold or at room temperature and/or it may require heating in a microwave oven, conventional oven and/or the like prior to consumption. Many of these types of take out foods require a user to handle the foods within the packaging directly during consumption. This inevitably transfers food residue, grease, sauce and/or the like from the food to the consumer's hands. This is typically inconvenient for a consumer, particularly if they are out and about away from home and do not have wash facilities available to clean their hands after eating. As such, a user may be required to carry additional cleaning implements with them, such as wipes or tissues, to allow them to clean their hands after eating. This is not always possible to do and is also inconvenient for the consumer. There is also the problem that the consumer may not have clean hands when they consume the food and may not have wash facilities available to them to wash their hands before they eat. As such, dirt, germs and/or the like may be transferred from the consumer's hands onto the food during consumption. This is obviously undesirable and can lead to infection and/or illness of the consumer.

In an attempt to overcome the abovernentioned problems, it is known to provide plastic cutlery and/or disposable cuficry with take out food packaging so that the consumer does not have to touch the food directly.

However, the provision of disposable and/or plastic cutlery increases the cost of the overall packaging, disposable cutlery is often fiddly to use due to the small size of the same and/or when on the go, it often breaks during use due to the flimsy nature of the same arid/or it may not be suitable to use with certain food types, particularly larger food types where a disposable fork for example would not be sufficient to allow lifting of the food item.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide container apparatus that overcomes the abovemendoned prcblems.

It is a frirther aim of the present invention to provide a method of using container apparatus that overcomes the abovementioned problems.

It is a yet further aim of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing container apparatus that overcomes the abovementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided container apparatus, said container apparatus including a container portion for containing one or more items therein in use, and wherein one or more gloves are provided with, attached to and/or associated with the container portion to allow a user to wear the one or more glovcs during handling of the one or more items in use.

Thus, thc present invention provides container apparatus comprising a combination of a container portion and at least one glove so that a user can handle directly or indirectly one or more items contained in the container portion in use without transfer of, for example, food residue from the item to the user's hand and/or transfer of dirt, foreign matter, chemicals and/or the like from the user's hand to the food item. For example, a user can typically hold the container portion with one hand (which may be gloved or ungloved) and handle the one or more items contained in the container portion using their other hand (which is preferably a gloved hand). The ability of the user to handle the one or more items directly typically allows the user to hold the items more firmly and/or securely compared to disposable cutlery.

Preferably the at least one glove is a disposable glove.

Preferably the at least one glove is made from plastic, rubber and/or the like. Such types of gloves are veil known in the art and are less expensive compared to the provision of disposable cutlery items. Once the user has finished with the glove, they can simply remove the glove and optionally dispose of the same in an appropriate manner.

Preferably the at least one glove is formed from a sheet like material.

Preferably the at least one glove is formed from or includes any or any combination of a water proof material, substantially waterproof material, water resistant material and/or a material where liquid that may be associated with the one or mote items cannot pass through or is substantially prevented from passing through the material during use.

The glove can be any suitable size, shape and/or dimensions. For example, the glove can have one or more finger compartments for the location of one or more of the user's fingers therein, it can be in the form of a mitten and/or any type of covering that covers a whole or part of a user's hand in use. Preferably the glove has a front wall to cover a front portion of a user's and a rear svall to cover a rear portion of a user's hand. The front and rear portions are typically joined together. A single opening is typically defined at one end of the glove for the location of a user's hand therethrough in use.

The remainder of the glove is typically sealed or closed.

A single glove can be providcd with the container apparatus, two gloves can be provided with the container apparatus, or more than two gloves can be provided with the container apparatus as required.

The at least one glove can be a universal size or different sized gloves can be provided with different container portions. For example, if the container apparatus is targeted for use by a child, the glove may be of a relatively small size so as to be suitable to be worn by a child. If the container apparatus is targeted for use by an adult, the glove may be of a relatively large size so as to be suitable to be worn by an adult and/or a range of different sized adults.

In one embodiment the at least one glove is provided in packaging and/or a cover to keep the same clean and/or separate to the one or more items contained within the container portion in use. This packaging and/or covet may be part of or separate to packaging and/or cover that may be provided on or associated with the container portion.

Tn one example, the at least one glove is provided in a cellophane and/or film type of packaging. For example, the cellophane and/or film type of packaging can be sealed or substantially scaled.

Tn one embodiment attachment means are provided on or associated with the container portion and the at least one glove is attached to or associated with said attachment means.

Preferably the glove is detachably attached, either directly or indirectly, to the attachment means.

In one embodiment the attachment means are provided on thc container portion itself (i.e. the attachment means are integral with the container portion).

In one embodiment the attachment means are provided on or associated with a panel member, insert member, sleeve member and/or the like. The panel member, insert member, sleeve member and/or the like can be provided on or associated with the container portion.

In one embodiment a sleeve member is provided for location around at least part of the container portion. Attachment means are provided on or associated with the sleeve member to allow the glove to be retained relative thereto prior to use.

The in one embodiment an insert member is provided for location within the container portion. Attachment means are provided on or associated with thc inscrt member to allow thc glovc to bc rctaincd relative thereon prior to use.

The sleeve member can be slidably moved on and/or off an extcmal surface or part of the container portion as required.

I'he attachment means can be any suitable form of attachment sufficient to maintain the at least one glove in place or in a required position prior to detachment by a user, For example, the attachment means could include any or any combination of adhesive, welding, friction fit, one or more perforated sections, slots, apertures, clips, ties, straps and/or the like.

The container portion can take any suitable form, such as for example, the container portion can be in the form of any or any combination of a tray, pot, carton, bag, box and/or the like, The container portion can be any suitable shape, size and/or dimensions. For example, the container portion can be, in cross section or plan view, substantially rectangular, substantially triangular, substantially circular, substantially square and/or the like.

In one example the container is in the form of a bag, such as for containing crisps, chips and/or the like therein. The bag is typically flexible or substantially flexible. The at least one glove can be contained within the bag or be associated with the bag to allow the glove to act as a grease barrier for a user's hand to pick up the crisps or chips from the bag.

The container portion can be rigid, substantially rigid, flexible or substantially flexible as required.

The container portion can have a single compartment only defmed therein or can have two or more compartments defined therein.

In one embodiment the container apparatus includes more than one container portion.

The container portion and/or sleeve member, panel member, insert member and/or the like can be formed from or includes any or any combination of suitable material, such as for example, board, paper, plastic, cardboard and/or the like, one or more coatings and/or layers can be provided on the container portion material and/or the sleeve member, panel member, insert member and/or the like, such as for cxamplc, an ovcnablc coating, metallic coating, rnicrowaveable coating, waterproof coating, substantially waterproof coating, heat sealable coating, plastic coating and/or the like, the material and/or coating can be biodegradable material, compo stable material, recyclable material and/or the like.

In one embodiment the attachment means which arc provided on or associated with the container portion can remain in place with the container portion during use of the container portion or during a cooking and/or heating process of the container portion and/or the contents of the container portion. Alternatively, the attachment means can be removed from the container portion prior to use of the container portion and/or prior to a cooking and/or heating process of the container portion.

In one embodiment the container portion is provided with outer packaging, an outer cover and/or an outer film to retain the contents of said container portion therein prior to usc. The packaging and/or outer film can enclose the at least one glove or can be separate to the at least one glove.

In one embodiment the outer packaging, an outer cover and/or an outer film provided on or associated with the container portion has one or more perforations and/or apertures defined therein to allow heat and/or steam to escape from the same during a heating and/or cooking process.

Tn one embodiment the panel member, insert member, sleeve member and/or the like with which the attachment means are provided on or associated with also includes further attachment means or location means for the attachment or location of one or more further items, such as for example, a sauce pot, an item of cutlery, condiment and/or the like.

Preferably the container portion, panel member, insert member, sleeve member and/or the like is provided with instructions for use of the apparatus, printing, advertisement, wording, images, photographs and/or the like.

Preferably the container apparatus is for use in containing one or more food items, and particularly for containing onc or more food items where there may be a transfer of food residue from the food to a user's hand during use.

Thus, in one embodiment, the container apparatus is a food container apparatus.

[he food items could include any food or combination of food items, such as for example, confectionary and a confeciionary sauce (i.e. marshmallows and a chocolate sauce), chips and tomato ketchup, fish goujons and tartar sauce, tortilla chips and a cheese sauce, samosas and/or the like.

Preferably any or any combination of the container apparatus, the container portion, the sleeve member, the panel member, the insert member and/or the like are formed from a blank or blanks. The blank or blanks typically include two or more walls separated by one or more fold lines. The blank is movable from a substantially flat and/or disassembled condition to a substantially erect and/or assembled condition.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using container apparatus, said method induding the steps of applying one or more gloves that are providcd with, attached to and/or associated with a container portion of the apparatus to one or more user hands, and using the gloved hand to pick up and/or handle one or more items contained in the container portion of the apparatus.

Preferably in use, a user places the at least one glove provided with the container apparatus on one of their hands and then uses the gloved hand to remove one or more items from the container portion of the apparatus.

Once the user has finished using the glove and/or container portion, the user simply removes the glove from their hand, The glove can be reused and/or disposed of as required.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of container apparatus. The method includcs the step of forming the apparatus to include at least one container portion and providing with, attaching to and/or associated one or more gloves with the container portion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of eating with a glove.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of container apparatus according to embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2a and 2b show two examples of sleeve members that could be provided with container apparatus of the present invention; and Figure 3 is an example of a glove for USC with the container apparatus of the present inventLon.

Referring to figure 1, there is illustrated container apparatus 2 for containing one or more food items (not shown) in use. In accordance with the present invention, apparatus 2 includes a glove 36 which can be worn by a user when handling one or more of the food iLems contained in the apparatus.

The container apparatus 2 includes a container portion in the form of a tray 4 for containing the one or more food items and a sleeve member 6 for detachably attaching the glove 36 relative to the tray 4 prior to use.

More particularly, the tray 4 has a base 8, opposing side walls 10, 12 and opposing end walls 14, 16. A top edge 18 of the side walls 10, 12 and end walls 14, 16 define an opening of the tray. An outwardly protruding flange is provided adjacent the top edge 18.

The tray 4 can be formed from a single blank of material or can be formed from two or more blanks of material joined together. In this example, the tray 4 is typically formed from a coated board material.

The sleeve member 6 has a top wall 22, a base wall 24 and side walls 26, 28.

Openings 30, 32 are defined at opposing ends of the sleeve member 6. An end of tray 4 is slid through an opening 30, 32 on the sleeve member (3 to secure the sleeve member 6 around tray 4.

The sleeve member 6 can be formed from a single blank of material or can be formed from two or more blanks of material joined together. In this example, the sleeve member 6 is typically formed from a board material. A singlc blank of material is folded and a flap 34 joined to side wall 28 is adhered to base wall 24. Printing can be provided on the outer surfaces of one or more of the wails of the sleeve member if required to illustrate the contents of thc tray 4 and/or to provide instructions on how to use the apparatus 2 and/or the like, First attachment means in the form of a series of perforations 38 arranged in a substantially H-shape are defined in top wall 22 of the sleeve member 6.

These attachment means allow detachable attachment of the glove 36 thereto in use. The glove 36 is typically folded a plurality of times to form a compact size and inserted through perforations 38. The glove is held in placc by the perforations 38 via friction fit, When a user wishes to remove the glove 36 from the sleeve member 6, the user grips a part of the folded glove 36 and applies a relatively small amount of pulling force to release engagement of the glove 36 from the perforations.

Figure 2b shows a sleeve member 6 with glove attachment means only provided thereon.

Figures 1 and 2a show a sleeve member 6 with glove attachment means and further attachment means provided thereon. The frirther attachment means are in the form of a circle 40 with radial perforations 42 provided between the circumference of the circle and the centre of the circle. A pot of sauce 44 can be located through the radial perforations to be held by friction fit therewith in use if required. The pot of sauce 44 can be used, for example, as a dipping sauce for the one or more food items contained in tray 4 in use.

The glove 36 shown in figure 3 is a type including five digit portions 46 for the location of a user's hand digits therein in use. However, it will be appreciated that the glove 36 could be in the form of a mitten arrangement with a thumb portion and a portion for the remaining user's fingers. The glove 36 is typically a disposable glove made from plastic and/or the like.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a unique combination of a glove element and a container element to allow a user to handle one or more items contained in the container element directly but without direct skin contact of the user's hand with the one or more items.

Claims

Claims 1. Container apparatus, said container apparatus including a container portion for containing one or more items therein in use, and wherein one or more gloves are provided with, attached to and/or associated with the container portion to allow a user to wear the one or more gloves during handling of the one or more items in use.
2. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the glove is a disposable glove.
3. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the glove is formed from plastic and/or rubber,
4. Container apparatus according to claim I wherein the glove is formed from a sheet like material.
5. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the glove is formed from or includes a material that is waterproof, substantially waterproof water resistant and/or a material where fluid that may be associated with the one or more items is prevented or substantially prevented from passing through the material in use.
6. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the glove has one or more fingcr compartments for the location of one or more of a user's fingers, is in the form of a mitten and/or is of such a shape so as to cover at least a part or whole of a user's hand in use.
7. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a single glove is provided with the apparatus.
8. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein two or more gloves are providcd with the apparatus.
9. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one glove is provided in packaging and/or in a cover to keep the same clean and/or separate to the one or more items contained within the container portion in use.
10. Container apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the packaging and/or cover is part of or separate to the packaging and/or covet provided on or associated with the container portion.
11. Container apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the packaging and/or cover is a cellophane and/or film type of packaging.
12. Container apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the cellophane and/or film type of packaging is sealed or substantially sealed.
13. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein attachment means are provided on or associated with the container portion and the at least onc glove is attached to or associated with the attachment means.
14, Container apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the at least one glove is detachably attached to the attachment means.
15. Container apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the attachment means are integrally formed with the container portion.
16. Container apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the attachment means are provided on or associated with a panel member, insert member and/or sleeve member.
17. Container apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the attachment means includes any or any combination of adhesive, welding, friction fit, one or more perforated sections, slots, apertures, clips, ties or straps.
18. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container portion is the form of a tray, port, carton, bag and/or box,
19. Container apparatus according to claim I wherein the container portion has a single compartment only defined therein.
20. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container portion has two or morc compartments defined therein.
21. Container apparatus according to cTaim I wherein two or more container portions are provided.
22. Container apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 16 wherein the container portion is formed from or includes any or any combination of board, paper, plastic, cardboard, one or more coatings and/or layers, ovenable coating, metallic coating, microwaveable coating, waterproof or substantially waterproof coating, heat sealable coating, plastic coating, biodegradable material, compostable matenal or recyclable material.
23. Container apparatus according to claim 13 whcrcin the attachment means remain in place on the container portion during use of the container portion and/or during a healing process and/ox daring a cooking process of the container portion and/or the contents of the container portion.
24. Container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container portion is provided with outer packaging, an outer cover and/or an outer film to retain the contents of thc container portion therein prior to use.
25. Container apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the outer packaging, the outer cover and/or outcr film have one or more perforations and/or apertures defined therein to allow heat and/or steam to escape from the same during a heating and/or cooking process.
26. Container apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the panel member, insert member and/or sleeve member with which the attachment means are provided on or associated therewith also include further attachment means or location means for the attachment or location of one or more further items.
27. Container apparatus according to claim 1 in the form of food container apparatus.
28. A method of using container apparatus, said method including the steps of applying one or more gloves that are provided with, attached to and/or associated with a container portion of the apparatus to one or more user hands, and using the gloved hand ro pick up and/or handle one or more items contained in the container portion of the apparatus.