NZ616738B2 - Food carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

food carrier (100) configured for use in decorating, storing, serving and transporting food in a single device is disclosed. The food carrier includes a turntable base having a body (4) and a rotating member (3) that rotates about a central axis relative to the body. A serving platter (2) is configured to be removably secure to the turntable base. A lid (1) is configured to engage the turntable base. The turntable base has a plurality of locking mechanisms (17) to secure the rotating member relative to the body. The lid may be lockable to the turntable base by the at least one locking mechanism so that when the lid is locked in place the turntable is also prevented from rotation. gured to be removably secure to the turntable base. A lid (1) is configured to engage the turntable base. The turntable base has a plurality of locking mechanisms (17) to secure the rotating member relative to the body. The lid may be lockable to the turntable base by the at least one locking mechanism so that when the lid is locked in place the turntable is also prevented from rotation.

Description

FOOD CARRIER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from US. Provisional ation 61/476,637 filed April 18, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND The present ation relates to s and methods for mting food products.

Specifically, the present application s to a cake caddy.

Cake decorators often decorate and serve a cake in different locations. Typically, the cake is decorated on a turntable. After the cake is decorated, the cake decorator must pick up the cake and place the cake on a serving platter or in a caddy to be stored and/or transported to the location where the cake will be served. The use of multiple ts in this process often results in damage to the cake.

A need exists for improved technology, including technology that may address the above described disadvantage.

SUMMARY A first aspect ofthe invention relates to a food carrier configured for use in ting, storing, serving and transporting food in a single device. The food carrier es a turntable base having a body and a rotating member that rotates about a central axis relative to the body, a serving platter configured to removably secure to the turntable base; and a lid red to engage the turntable base. The food carrier further includes a rotation locking mechanism connected to the body and engageable with the lid in a first position, and with the rotating member in a second on. When the rotation locking mechanism is engaged in the first position or the second position, the rotating member is prevented from rotating about the central axis relative to the body. [0005a] According to a second disclosed embodiment, the invention provides a food carrier comprising a turntable base having a body and a rotating member. The rotating member is rotatable about a central axis relative to the body. The carrier also includes a serving platter configured to removably secure to the rotating member, and a rotation locking mechanism connected to the body and engageable with the rotating member to prevent on of the rotating member about the l axis relative to the body. onal features, advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure may be set forth from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the present disclosure and the PCT/USZOIZ/033958 following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without further limiting the scope ofthe present disclosure claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE GS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the ion, are orated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles ot‘thc present disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details oftlic present disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding ofthe present disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced.

FIG . 1 is a front ional view of an exemplary embodiment of a food carrier. [00091 a cross sectional view ofthe food carrier of FIG. I through section A-A. is a perspective View ot‘the food r of FIG. I. [001” is a left side elevational view ofthe food carrier ofFIG. l. [00121 is atop plan view ofthc Food carrier of FIG. I. [00131 is a bottom plan View ofthc food carrier of FIG. I. [0014) is an exploded View ofthe food carrier of FIG. I. is a top View ofa ng mechanism ofa turntable ofthe food r of is a side View ofa latch ofthe food carrier of [0017i is a back View ofthe latch of . is an isometric bottom view of a serving platter of the food carrier of FIG. I.

FIG. l l is a cross sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a food carrier.

W0 2012/]45329 PCT/USZOIZ/0339SS DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, r symbols lly identify r components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings. and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without ing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present sure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, ed, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, a food carrier 100 comprises a lid I with a handle 5, a serving platter 2, a body 4 with a rotating member 3, and latches 9. The term “turntable base 17” will be used to describe a combination ofthe body 4 and the rotating member 3. The food carrier 100 is multi—fiinctional. For example, the food carrier 100 may be used transport any suitable food, preferably, cake. In another e, the food carrier 100 may also serve as a cake decorating stand. In yet another example, the food carrier 100 may also serve as a cake decorating turntable. 10022] The lid I ofthe food carrier 100 may be any color. In on, the lid I may be opaque or transparent. The lid 1 is made of any suitable non-skid material, for example, plastic. The non~skid material allows an outside surface oflid I to be used as a cake decorating stand. In one ment, the lid 1 has a dome shape. In ative ments, the lid 1 may have a cubic or cylindrical shape. The lid 1 can be any height, preferably, 4 inches to accommodate a 4~inch decorated cake.

A top oflid l is connected to a handle 5, The handle 5 is configured to allow a user to easily carry the food carrier 100 from one location to another. The handle 5 may be any color.

In addition, the handle 5 may be opaque or transparent. The handle 5 may be made of any suitable material, for example, plastic.

PCT/U52012/0339S8 in one ment, at a bottom of lid 1 is a ring 6. A top of the ring 6 is configured to fit within a grooved portion at the bottom of lid 1. A bottom of the ring 6 is configured to secure to a groove in a top portion of the rotating member 3. An inner er of ring 6 may be slightly larger than an outer diameter ofa base ofthe serving platter 2.

The food carrier 100 includes the serving platter 2. The serving platter 2 is engageable with the turntable base 17. A bottom ofthe serving platter 2 ns a plurality of protrusions (see ) configured to ace with a ity of grooved portions 16 (see on a top ofthe rotating member 3. The serving platter 2 is configured to support the cake during decorating the cake upon the turntable base 17. The serving platter 2 may be removable such that the cake may be taken out of the food carrier 100 and displayed or served without having to transfer the cake to a separate platter. The serving platter 2 has a raised edge to allow a user to easily remove the serving platter 2 from the turntable base 17.

The food carrier 100 further includes the ble base 17 comprised ofthe body 4 and the ng member 3. A protmsion ll ofthe rotating member 3 engages with a recessed portion 12 ofthe body 4 (see to secure the rotating member 3 to the body 4. The rotating member 3 of the turntable base 17 is rotatable with respect to the body 4. In one embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 7—8, a rotating member ring 7 has a plurality of concave grooves 22 configured to engage with a plurality of balls 8 to form a ball g. The rotating member 3 lays upon the ball bearing formed by rotating member ring 7 and balls 8 to allow the rotating member 3 to rotate. In one embodiment, when placed on a surface, the body 4 does not rotate relative to the surface, but the rotating member 3 is rotatable relative to the surface, and thus to a user.

The body 4 includes a locking mechanism comprised of latches 9. The latches 9 may prevent the rotating member 3 From rotating by engaging with the lid l. Alternatively, the latches 9 may prevent the rotating member 3 from rotating, even when the lid 1 is not present, by ng with the rotating member 3. As seen in FIGS. 9A-9B, the s 9 are attached to the body 4 by mounting pin locations 14 that are mountable to the body 3 of the turntable base 17.

The latches 9 have a grooved n 18 configured to engage with a portion of the lid 1 that is in contact with ring 6. The grooved portion 18 is also configured to engage with a grooved portion PCT/USZOl2/033958 19 of the rotating member 3. Thus, the latches 9 may be used with the lid or without the lid to secure the serving platter 2. Rotation is prevented due to on between the latches 9 and the rotating member 3. The s 9 are omnidirectional in that the latches 9 may engage with any portion of the lid 1 or the rotating member 3. In other words, the latches 9 do not have to engage with the lid l or the rotating member 3 at a certain location in order to prevent rotation. Any number of latches 9 may be used, for example, three latches 9 (see . A user may wish to prevent the turntable base 17 from rotating, for example, during transportation or while decorating a portion ofthc cake. The s 9 may also retain the lid 1, such that a user is able to carry the container by the handle 5.

Referring now to a bottom ofthe body 4 includes a plurality of bosses 13. Any number of bosses 13 may be utilized, for example, four bosses. The bosses 13 are configured to ace with the handle 5 on a top of the lid 1 such that a plurality of food cam‘ers 100 may be securely stacked. Alternatively, the ble base 17 (eg. ng member 3 and body 4) may be placed on top ofthe lid 1 such that the lid 1 can be used to elevate the turntable base 17 to facilitate cake decorating or presentation. The bottom ofthe body 4 also includes non-skid portions 10. The non-skid portions 10 may be made ofany suitable material, for e rubber. The non—skid portions 10 are configured to t the food carrier from sliding, for example, while a user is decorating a cake The configuration of the Food carrier 100 allows a user to decorate, store, serve and transport food, preferably cake, in a single device, rather than having to transfer the food between multiple devices. In one embodiment best illustrated in FIG. ll, the food carrier 100 includes a storage base 20 that is engagable with a serving platter 2 and with a lid l. The serving platter 2 may be secured to the storage base 20 via locking ism such as latches 9 that extend from the storage base 20. The latch 9 may secure the serving r 2 to the storage base directly. Alternatively, the latch 9 may secure the lid 1 against the serving platter 2 which is in turn secured against the storage base 20. A storage cavity 21 is defined within the storage base 20 and bounded by the g platter 2.

PCT/USZOIZ/0339S8 [00301 With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can ate from the plural to the ar and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for the sake of clarity.

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and ofdeseription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or ng with t to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the scope ofthe invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 1001299924 THE

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. DEFINING THE ION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A food carrier sing: a turntable base having a body and a ng , the rotating member rotatable about a central axis relative to the body; a serving platter configured to removably secure to the turntable base; a lid configured to engage the turntable base; and a rotation locking mechanism connected to the body and able with the lid in a first position, and with the rotating member in a second position, wherein, when the rotation locking mechanism is engaged in the first position or the second position, the rotating member is prevented from rotating about the central axis relative to the body.

7. The food r according to claim 1, wherein a bottom of the turntable base is configured to stack upon and engage with a top of the lid to create an elevated stand.

3. The food carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bottom of the turntable base of one food carrier is configured to stack upon and engage with a top of the lid of another food carrier.

4. The food carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation locking mechanism ses a plurality of latches.

5. The food carrier ing to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation locking mechanism is configured to engage with a base of the lid at any location along a ference of the base of the lid.

6. The food carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation locking mechanism is configured to engage with a top portion of the rotating member at any location along a circumference of the top portion of the rotating member.

7. The food carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, n a rotation of the rotating member is achieved with a ball bearing. 1001299924

8. The food carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom of the serving platter has a plurality of protrusions configured to secure to a plurality of grooved portions on the turntable base.

9. The food carrier according to any one of the ing claims, wherein a height of the lid is at least four inches.

10. The food r according to any one of the ing claims, wherein the lid has a dome shape. 1 l. The food carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a handle configured for carrying the food carrier, the handle attached to a top of the lid. WO 45329