GB2625154A

GB2625154A - Food container

Info

Publication number: GB2625154A
Application number: GB2218560.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Knight Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-12-09
Filing date: 2022-12-09
Publication date: 2024-06-12
Also published as: GB202218560D0

Abstract

A food container 40 comprises a base 1 and a side wall 42 defining an interior volume, wherein the interior volume comprises a compartment 43, a projection 44 extending from the base into the compartment and is spaced apart from the side wall. The projection maybe central to increase the surface area of the food that is directly exposed to heat for more effective heating. The interior volume may be divided into at least two compartments by an inner wall (35, Fig 3a). The container may comprise at least two projections (34a, 34B, fig 3a) which extend separately from the base into a corresponding compartment. The or each projection maybe integral with the base and each compartment may have more than one projection. The projection maybe closed at its end proximal to the base and open at its distal end to the base (Fig 5a) defining a cavity. The side wall and/or the base may comprise an inner layer 42b and an outer layer 42a defining a cavity 42c therebetween, which may contain water, when the container is used in a microwave or oven, the increase in temperature of the water facilitates heating of the food.

Description

FOOD CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a food container. In particular, the invention relates to a food container suitable for use during heating or cooking of food, and which facilitates heating or cooking of food.

BACKGROUND

When heating or cooking food, it is known to place the food in a container which is suitable for use in an oven. Such containers may be made from any suitable material, such as glass or plastics material. It is also known to provide so-called 'ready meals' which comprise food pre-packed in containers which may be placed in an oven. Such containers are normally made from plastics material.

Microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, and the radiation within such ovens in known to develop so-called "standing waves" having regions where there is minimal or no heating. These regions correspond to nodes in the waveform which correspond to cold spots in the microwave in use. To provide more uniform heating and thus overcome the problem of these cold stops, most microwave ovens utilise a turntable so that food placed on the turntable is rotated and moved through the nodes to provide more even heating of the food. However, when a node is located at or close to the centre of the microwave oven, namely along a rotational axis of the turntable, this can lead to a corresponding cold or cool spot in the food being heated, even when the food is rotated by the turntable. Furthermore, microwaves can only penetrate food to a certain depth, meaning that if a large portion of food is being heated, the microwaves will not be able to heat the centre of the food effectively.

Ovens that rely on the temperature inside the oven to heat or cook food cause the outside of the food to heat up first, with heat being conducted from the outside to the inside of the food. This means that the inside of the food takes longer to cook, and the user must be careful to ensure that the food is cooked thoroughly.

The food to be heated or cooked may initially be frozen, chilled or at room temperature.

In is an object of the present invention to ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a food container comprising a base and a side wall defining an interior volume, wherein the interior volume comprises a compartment, the food container further comprising a projection extending from the base and into the compartment, wherein the projection is spaced apart from the side wall.

The interior volume may be divided into at least two compartments, which may be separated by an inner wall.

The container may comprise at least two projections extending separately from the 10 base and into a corresponding compartment, each projection being spaced apart from the side wall.

The or each projection may be spaced apart from the inner wall.

The height of the or each projection may be 20-100%, 30-90%, 40-80% or 50-70% of a height of the container.

The or each projection may be integral with the base.

The or each projection may be hollow.

The or each projection may be open at its end distal to the base. The or each projection may be closed at its end distal to the base. The or each projection may be open at its end proximal to the base. 20 The or each projection may be closed at its end proximal to the base.

The side wall may comprise an inner layer and an outer layer defining a side wall cavity therebetween.

The side wall cavity may contain a liquid.

The base may comprise an inner layer and an outer layer defining a base cavity 25 therebetween The base cavity may contain a liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure lb is a cross-section of the first embodiment.

Figure lc a top view of the first embodiment.

Figure 2a is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2b is a first cross-section of the second embodiment taken along line A-A as shown in Figure 2d.

Figure 2c is a second cross-section of the second embodiment taken along line B-B as shown in Figure 2d.

Figure 2d is a top view of the second embodiment.

Figure 3a is perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention Figure 3b is a first cross-section of the third embodiment taken along line A-A as shown in Figure 3d.

Figure 3c is a second cross-section of the third embodiment taken along line B-B of the embodiment shown in Figure 3d.

Figure 3d is a top view of the third embodiment.

Figure 4a is perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4b is a cross-section of the fourth embodiment.

Figure 4c is a top view of the fourth embodiment.

Figure 5a is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5b is a cross-section of the fifth embodiment.

Figure Sc is a top view of the fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figures la, lb and lc there is illustrated a food container 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The food container is circular and comprises a substantially circular base 1 and a side wall 2, the base and side wall defining an interior volume. The interior volume comprises a single compartment 3 comprising a central projection 4 which extends upwardly from the base 1 and into the compartment 3. The projection 4 has a circular cross-section and is spaced apart from the side wall 2 such that the projection 4 does not contact the side wall 2. In the illustrated embodiment the projection 4 is substantially hollow and defines a cavity 4a, but it will be appreciated that in some embodiments the projection 4 will not be hollow.

Referring to Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, there is illustrated a food container 20 according to a second embodiment to the invention. The food container 20 comprises a rectangular base 21 and a side wall 22. The interior volume comprises a single compartment 23 comprising a protection 24, which is elongate when viewed is from above.

Referring to Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, there is illustrated a food container 30 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The food container 30 comprises a rectangular base 31 and a side wall 32. The interior volume defined by the base 31 and the side wall 32 is divided into two substantially rectangular compartments 33a and 33b which are separated by an inner wall 35. Each of the compartments comprises a 33a, 336 comprises a corresponding protection 34a, 34b. In the third embodiment the projections are shown as being elongate when viewed from above and substantially solid, but the skilled person will appreciate that the projections may be of any shape and may be hollow. The inner wall 35 extends across the width of the interior volume such that food in the first compartment 33a is completely separated from food in the second compartment 33b.

While both compartments 33a and 33b comprise respective projections 34a and 34b, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments comprising more than one compartment, it may not be necessary for every compartment to comprise a projection. While the illustrated embodiments comprise a single projection per compartment, it will be appreciated that each compartment can comprise more than one projection.

In use, food is held in the compartment (or compartments) of the container, and the container is placed into an oven for heating or cooking of the food. The projection (or projections) prevent food from being located in the area of the projection, which may be at the centre of the compartment, and this has several benefits.

Firstly, when using a microwave oven to heat or cook the food in the container and the projection is located in the centre of the compartment, the projection ensures that a node at the centre of the microwave can be avoided since the food is kept away from the centre of the compartment by the projection. Secondly, the projection creates a space in the food which allows the microwaves to penetrate food closest to the projection, allowing more effective heating. Thirdly, when the container is used in conventional over, the projection allows faster heating because the space in the food created by the projection or projections increases the surface area of the food that is directly exposed to the heat of the oven. In particular, the food closest to the projection is exposed substantially directly to the heat of the oven; this is in contrast to conventional food containers, in which heat from the oven must be transferred from the outside to the inside of the food in the container. By increasing the surface area of the food, the projections also allow frozen food in the container to defrost more quickly.

Referring to Figures 4a, 4b and 4c there is illustrated a food container 40 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The food container 40 has a substantially circular base 41 and a side wall 42 extending therefrom. The container 40 has a single compartment 43, and a single projection 44 extending into the compartment. The projection is hollow and defines a cavity 44a which is open at the base of the container. The outer wall comprises an outer layer 42a and an inner layer 42b, the outer and inner layers defining a cavity 42c therebetween. Ribs (not illustrated) may be present inside the cavity to maintain a distance between the inner and outer layers. A liquid such as water can be introduced into the cavity such that when the container is used in the microwave, the increase in temperature of the water facilitates heating of the food. This is particularly useful when the compartment contains frozen food to be defrosted, as the heated water will facilitate defrosting and/or heating of the food. This effect may also be utilised when the container is not inside the oven, for example when the container is removed from the oven or when the water is heated before the food is introduced into the container.

Referring to Figures 5a, 5b and Sc there is illustrated a food container 50 according to a firth embodiment of the invention. The food container 50 has a substantially circular base 51 and a side wall extending therefrom. The container comprises a first compartment 53, with a substantially tubular projection 54 defining cavity 54a which is closed at its end proximal to the base and open at its end distal to the base. This cavity can be left empty so that the projection functions as described above, or it can be filled with a liquid such as water to facilitate defrosting/heating as outlined in relation to the fourth embodiment.

In preferred embodiments, the food container comprises a plastics material suitable 10 for storing and heating or cooking food, for example high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP). In other embodiments, the food container comprises a glass, ceramic or porcelain material, or a mixture of materials.

The container can be of any size suitable for use in a microwave or conventional oven. In some embodiments, the diameter or length of the container (measured horizontally in use) is 10-50 cm, 20-40 cm or 25-35 cm.

While in the described embodiments each of the projections is substantially the same height as its corresponding side wall, it will be appreciated that the height of the projection can be varied provided that it provides the benefits outlined above by providing a separation or space in the food in the corresponding compartment. For example, the projection could have a height of between 20-100%, 30-90%, 40-80% or 50-70% of the height to the container.

The space between each projection and the side wall, inner wall and/or adjacent projection (where there is more than one projection per compartment) is such that the food within the container can be stirred using a conventional utensil such as a spoon. The distance between the projection and the side wall, inner wall and or adjacent projection is therefore generally greater than 2cm. The distance may be 2-15 cm, preferably 3-12 cm, or more preferably 4-8 cm.

Claims

Claims 1 A food container comprising a base and a side wall defining an interior volume, wherein the interior volume comprises a compartment, the food container further comprising a projection extending from the base and into the compartment, wherein the projection is spaced apart from the side wall.
2. A food container according to claim 1, wherein the interior volume is divided into at least two compartments.
3. A food container according to claim 2, wherein the at least two compartments are separated by an inner wall.
4 A food container according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising at least two projections which extend separately from the base and into a corresponding compartment, wherein each projection is spaced apart from the side wall.
A food container according to claim 3 or 4, when claim 4 is dependent on claim 3, wherein the or each projection is spaced apart from the inner wall.
6 A food container according to any preceding claim wherein the height of the or each projection 20-100%, 30-90%, 40-80% or 50-70% of a height of the container.
7. A food container according to any preceding claim wherein the or each projection is integral with the base.
8. A food container according to any preceding claim wherein the or each projection is hollow.
9. A food container according to claim 8 wherein the or each projection is open at its end distal to the base.
10.A food container according to claim 8 wherein the or each projection is closed at its end distal to the base.
11.A food container according to any of claims 8-10 wherein the or each projection is open at its end proximal to the base.
12.A food container according to any of claims 8-10 wherein the or each projection is closed at its end proximal to the base.
13.A food container according to any preceding claim, wherein the side wall comprises an inner layer and an outer layer defining a side wall cavity therebetween.
14.A food container according to claim 13 wherein the side wall cavity contains a liquid.
15.A food container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base comprises an inner layer and an outer layer defining a base cavity therebetween.
16.A food container according to claim 15 wherein the base cavity contains a liquid.