US20110303674A1 - Self supporting flexible food and drink container - Google Patents

Abstract

The new device uses a flexible container and a frame. The new device makes it possible to manipulate flexible food container and retain the structural properties needed to store food products.

Description

CROSS-REFERANCE 20080302788 Megleo; Jared Dec. 11, 2008 BACKGROUND
• This invention relates to shot glasses being used to hold single servings of gelatin food products, the gelatin gets stuck to sides of the container and is difficult to remove. The standard is a hard plastic shot glass which usually requires tools to remove gelatin. Another attempt to solve the problem essentially uses a hard plastic cup and a built in scraper inside of cup. The problems foreseen by the above mentioned design are a high cost.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
• This invention utilizes a flexible container attached to or resting on a frame. The container is flexible enough to maneuver and loosen gelatin for convenient access. The frame is hard enough to support itself and a full container while allowing container to flex.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1. Is an elevated side view of embodiment A.
• FIG. 2. Is a tilted top view of embodiment A.
• FIG. 3. Is an elevated side view of embodiment B.
• FIG. 4. Is a tilted top view of embodiment B.
• FIG. 5. Is a top view of embodiment C.
• FIG. 6. Is an elevated side view of embodiment C.
• FIG. 7. Is a top view of frame from embodiment C with flexible containers removed.
• FIG. 8. Is a tilted bottom view of frame from embodiment C with flexible containers removed.
• FIG. 9. Is an elevated side view of flexible container from embodiment C.
• FIG. 10. Is a tilted top view of flexible containers from embodiment C.
• *The shading in the drawings are for illustration purposes only and not part of the design.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• To overcome the problems stated in the background section the present invention is offered. This invention comprises an open rimmed flexible container and a frame capable of supporting itself and a container full of food or drink. The frame comprises an open circular top rim, an open circular base and four supports going between them. Container holds between one half and five ounces of liquid or food product.
• Between the frame supports and the rim and base the frame is open to allow access to the flexible container. The flexible container fits just inside the top rim and is attached to the frame along the top rim and extends downward inside of frame not passing the bottom rim. The shapes of frame, container and number of supports described above can be changed and still serve the same purpose as the same invention. This invention works with the frame supporting the container while the food product solidifies. When you want to access food product you can push up from the underneath frame base and turn flexible container inside out, or reach through open areas between frame and squeeze or maneuver food product. The frame will preferably be made of a rigid polymer such as those commonly referred to as P.E.T.E., H.D.P.E., P.V.C. PP or P.S., but could be made of any other rigid or semi rigid material. The Flexible container will preferably be made of flexible polymer such as those commonly referred to as P.V.C. or L.D.P.E., but could be made of any flexible material. The frame and container can be molded separately and then preferably be attached by heat sealing. Alternate ways of attaching flexible container to frame include adhesives, fasteners, crimping or gravity of the container resting on the frame.
• One alternate embodiment of this invention which we will call embodiment B connects the flexible container to the entire inside edge of frame. Embodiment B is molded of one piece and simply uses thicker areas of the flexible material to create the frame so that the frame is just rigid enough for support but still flexes.
• The bottom of the flexible container from embodiment B is concave or curved upwards towards top frame and may have a push/pull tab or loop on bottom. In embodiment B you squeeze the sides and push or pull on bottom to maneuver food product out.
• Another alternate embodiment of this invention which we will call embodiment C utilizes flexible containers that are circular with a wider ring around the top rim. The frame from embodiment C comprises one flat solid piece top rim with one or more holes in it, the frame has two rails extending down from opposite corners of bottom side of frame then across the distance of solid piece, and the back up to other corner. The rails have tongues that correspond to grooves in the top of another frame to make them stackable. The containers fit just inside the holes in top of frame the wider ring around top prevents the container from falling through bottom of frame. This design essentially combines several frames and makes it possible to completely remove container from frame. Once container is removed you can squeeze container or turn it inside out to remove contents. The described embodiments are examples and are not to be considered the only possible embodiments of this invention.

Claims (5)

1. Device comprising an open rimmed flexible container for holding food product, and a frame to hold said container full of food product.

2. The frame described in claim 1 comprising a top rim with a base and at least one support between them.

3. The flexible container described in claim 1 comprises an open top rim and a flexible container which extends downward to a closed bottom, said flexible container is capable of holding between on half and five ounces of liquid.

4. The flexible container described in claim 1 and the frame described in claim 1 are attached by the gravity of container resting on frame, adhesives, heat sealing, fasteners, crimping or any means.

5. Method for delivery of food product from a device by making the device flexible and capable of supporting itself and food product.

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