US20120037623A1

US20120037623A1 - Method and Apparatus for Containing Leftover Foods

Info

Publication number: US20120037623A1
Application number: US12/857,002
Authority: US
Inventors: Nancy Joy LUCAS; James Michael Lucas
Original assignee: THOUGHTS TO PAPER
Current assignee: THOUGHTS TO PAPER
Priority date: 2010-08-16
Filing date: 2010-08-16
Publication date: 2012-02-16

Abstract

A method and apparatus for containing leftover foods to bring home from a restaurant. The present invention comprises of a carrying device and a containing device for holding left over foods. The method of using the present invention will reduce the usage of Styrofoam containers used by restaurants and replace it with a environmentally friendly container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a food container and bag. More particularly, its objective is to provide an environmentally beneficial and easy way to pack and store leftover foods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Styrofoam is one of the most used packaging vessels used in restaurants today when leftovers are asked to be packed. Because it is so commonly used, it has become one of the most dangerous materials to those keeping these packed containers. Typically, people bring out the leftovers stored in Styrofoam boxes and microwave the food with the Styrofoam. Styrofoam, when heated in a microwave, releases toxic chemicals into the contained food products. These hazardous chemicals released are known to threaten reproductive systems along with other health functions.
Styrofoam, also known as Polystyrene, is a petroleum-based plastic that is also harmful to the environment as well as to us humans. To process such a material, human workers exposed regularly to Styrofoam's foundational basis, Styrene, are prone to numerous adverse health effects. In addition, it is noted that 57 chemical by-products are released while being processed. These hazardous by-products pollute the air as well as land and water by its disposed liquid and solid waste. Furthermore, Styrofoam is becoming less and less practical to recycle due its diminishing recycling market.
To finally rid the popular use of Styrofoam as containers in restaurants, the present invention intends to provide an environmentally and family friendly container to package and store these leftover foods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front side view of the present invention showing a plane upon which a section view is taken and shown in FIG. 3. The diagram shows the stacking of the plastic containers.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plastic container with the lid detached.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention showing a plane upon which a section view is taken and shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the lid.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The showings of FIG. 1-4 illustrate the basic arrangement of components in accordance with the practice of the present invention. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention's final arrangement of a plastic container 1 and a bag 2 is viewed in casual perspective. In the showing of FIG. 4, the final arrangement of components implicate how a number of the plastic containers 1 of the invention maybe be employed within the bag 2, given that the components of the bag 2 exist to support the structure of its apparatus. FIG. 3 provides another perspective of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. Schematically illustrated in FIG. 5 is the plastic container 1, showing a lid 11 and a container body 12, wherein the leftover foods are to be placed and covered. In reference to the showings of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the lid 11 is schematically diagramed.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the bag 2 comprises of bag handles 21, a hemmed opening 22, walls 23, side gussets 24, bottom gussets 25, and a cardboard bottom 26. The apparatus for containing leftover foods involves the bag handles 21 being connected to the hemmed opening 22. The hemmed opening 22 outlines the opening of the bag 2, which is enclosed by walls 23, the side gussets 24, the bottom gussets 25, and the cardboard bottom 26. The side gussets 24 and the bottom gussets 25 serve to provide structural stability, strength, and the ability to expand the bag 2 by connecting the walls 23 to one another. As seen in FIG. 2, the side gussets 24, being connected to the bottom gussets 25, are connected in normal relation to the cardboard bottom 26. The cardboard bottom 26 outlines the walls 23 in conjunction with the width of the side gussets 24 to fully enclose the bag 2 excluding the hemmed opening 22. The user holding the plastic container 1 will pass the plastic container 1 through the hemmed opening 22 and will place the plastic container 1 onto the cardboard bottom 26. The user will then grab onto the bag handles 21 to lift and carry for transport. When the bag 2 is not being used and stored, the side gussets 24 and the bottom gussets 25 are arranged to allow easy folding. The bag 2 can be folded and compressed into a flat configuration for easy storage.
In reference to the showing of FIG. 5, the container body 12 comprises an opening 121, a recessed space 122 and separators 123 which create a plurality of compartments 123 a, body handles 124, and an inner-ridged rim 125. The container body 12 being cylindrical in form contains the recessed space 122, which is concentrically cylindrical in relation with the container body 12, and is divided by inserting the separators 123 therein. The combined recessed space 122 and separators 123 forms the plurality of compartments 123 a in which the leftover food is to be distributed. The opening 121 leads into the recessed space 122, while the inner-ridged rim 125 is circumferentially positioned on the container body 12 adjacent to the opening 121. The body handles 124 connect peripherally in perpendicular relation to the container body 12 adjacent to the inner-ridged rim 125. This arrangement of components allows the user to carry the container body 12 by the body handles 21 with the leftover food being distributed among the plurality of compartments 122 a to be lifted and placed into the bag 2.
In reference to the showings of FIG. 5-7, the lid 11 comprises vent holes 111, an opening tab 112, an outer-ridged rim 113, a lid opening 114, a lid recessed space 115, and a surface indent 116. The lid 11 being cylindrical in form encloses the lid recessed space 114 into which the surface indent 115 extrudes, as seen in FIG. 6. The lid recessed space 115 is in concentric cylindrical relation with the lid 11. While the lid opening 114 leads into the lid recessed space 115, the outer-ridged rim 113 circumferentially positions onto the lid 11, adjacent to the lid opening 114. The opening tab 112 connects peripherally in perpendicular relation to the lid 11, adjacent to the outer-ridged rim 113, illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. This combination of components allows the user to open the plastic container 1 by pulling the opening tab 112 in the direction normal to the opening tab 112 and away from the container body 12. To close the plastic container 1, the user aligns the outer-ridged rim 113 concentrically around the inner-ridged rim 125, and then applies downward force onto and along the outer-ridged rim 113 until fitted clasp. As seen in FIG. 7, the vent holes 111 are positioned on the surface indent 115 of the present invention to relieve the stored pressure within the plastic container 1 that comes from heating leftover foods.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. The apparatus for containing leftover foods comprises,

a bag;

a plastic container;

the bag comprises of a bag handles, a hemmed opening, a walls, a side gussets, a bottom gussets, and a cardboard bottom; and

the plastic container comprises a lid and a container body.

2. The apparatus for containing leftover foods as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the bag handles being connected to the hemmed opening adjacent to the walls;

the cardboard bottom being connected to the walls and the bottom gussets;

The hemmed opening edging the walls and the side gussets;

The hemmed opening being positioned opposite to the cardboard bottom;

the walls being connected to the side gussets; and

the side gussets being connected to the bottom gussets.

3. The apparatus for containing leftover foods as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the lid comprises a vent holes, a opening tab, a outer-ridged rim, and a surface indent;

the container body comprises a plurality of compartments, a body handles, and a inner-ridged rim; and

the container body being connected to the lid by conjunction of the outer-ridged rim and the inner-ridged rim.

4. The apparatus for containing leftover foods as claimed in claim 3 comprises,

the container body being cylindrical and having a recessed space;

the recessed space being cylindrical and in concentric relation with the container body;

the plurality of compartments is defined by separators within the recessed space;

an opening leading into the recessed space;

the inner-ridged rim being circumferentially positioned on the container body adjacent to the opening;

the body handles connected peripherally in perpendicular relation to the container body adjacent to the inner-ridged rim.

5. The apparatus for containing leftover foods as claimed in claim 3 comprises,

the lid being cylindrical in form having a lid recessed space;

the lid recessed space being in concentric cylindrical relation with the lid;

a lid opening leading into the lid recessed space;

the outer-ridged rim being circumferentially positioned on the lid adjacent to the lid opening;

the opening tab connected peripherally in perpendicular relation to the lid adjacent to the outer-ridged rim;

the surface indent being cylindrical and extruding into the lid recessed space;

the vent holes positioned on the surface indent.

6. A method for containing leftover foods comprises,

placing the plastic containers into a bag;

carrying the bag to a restaurant;

placing leftover foods into the plastic containers;

closing the plastic containers;

storing the plastic containers into a refrigerator;

heating the plastic containers in a microwave;

opening the plastic containers to eat remaining food.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of placing leftover foods into the plastic containers comprises distributing said food into the plurality of compartments.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of closing the plastic containers comprises,

aligning the outer-ridged rim concentrically around the inner-ridged rim;

applying downward force along the outer-ridged rim until fitted clasp.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of opening plastic containers to eat remaining food comprises pulling the opening tab in the direction normal to the opening tab and away from the container body.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of placing the plastic containers into the bag comprises,

grabbing onto the body handles to lift and place into the bag;

passing the plastic containers through the hemmed opening;

placing the plastic containers onto the cardboard bottom;

grabbing onto the bag handles to lift and carry.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of heating the plastic containers in the microwave comprises releasing stored pressure within the plastic container through the vent holes.

12. The apparatus for containing leftover foods comprises,