US20170073117A1

US20170073117A1 - Food Package

Info

Publication number: US20170073117A1
Application number: US15/266,920
Authority: US
Inventors: Pamela Schrecongost; Kathy Killian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-15
Filing date: 2016-09-15
Publication date: 2017-03-16

Abstract

A food package. The food package includes one or more pockets for holding food in separate pockets. The pockets are positioned on the interior of the bag, and the pockets are each sealable by a fastener, such as a zipper. The food package has a perforated tab at an upper end that encompasses a zipper fastener for opening and closing the food package. The perforated tab provides a more permanent seal because it requires the tearing or cutting of the tab above the zipper seal to expose the zipper seal and open the food package. In this way, the contents of the pockets are kept fresh within the food package.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/218,627 filed on Sept. 15, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a food package. More specifically, the present invention provides a food package including one or more pockets for holding food in the separate pockets. The food package includes a bag with individual sealed interior pockets disposed along an interior side of a sidewall.
In recent years, it has become commonplace to make and consume smoothies and juices as a snack, or for breakfast or lunch. Smoothies are typically made by combining and pureeing ingredients such as fruit, milk, juice, nuts, and the like. The smoothie ingredients can be modified by user preference and can also include protein powder, chocolate, and the like. It is preferred to keep the ingredients separate from each other prior to combining and pureeing.
Many individuals use bags and other containers to store and transport food. These containers are typically recloseable and help with the preservation of the food. However, these containers do not include pockets therein that further isolate the contents of the pockets from the atmosphere and the contents of the other pockets. For example, a conventional bag has a zipper type of seal that serves to secure the bag until it is opened, but it lacks the ability to further isolate the contents of the bag. There exists a need for a food package comprising a bag with a perforated encompassing a zipper-type of seal that serves to secure the bag until it is opened, with pockets disposed on an interior side of the sidewall to further separate the contents thereof.
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to food packages. However, these devices in the known art have several known drawbacks. For example, these food packages do not provide pockets or other separate regions that keep ingredients separate from each other, and do not assist with the portioning of the stored food.
In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing food package devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of food packages now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new food package wherein the same can be utilized tor providing convenience for the user when storing and portioning ingredients for a smoothie or other food items.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved food package that comprises a bag having a base, one or more upstanding sidewalls, and an upper end, defining an interior volume. The one or more sidewalls including an interior side and an exterior side, wherein one or more pockets are disposed on the interior side of the bag, wherein the one or more interior pockets are configured to store food stuff therein. Each of the one or more pockets includes a fastener for opening and closing thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a food package that has a perforated tab encompassing a zipper fastener for opening and closing the upper end of the bag. The perforated tab provides a more permanent seal because it requires the tearing or cutting of the tab above the zipper seal to expose the zipper seal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a food package wherein each pocket is sized to hold ingredients to make an individual portion smoothie.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the food package with a portion broken away.

FIG. 2 shows an overhead view of the interior of the food package in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the method of preparing the food package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the food package. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for storing and portioning food within the pockets of the bag for preparing a smoothie. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the food package with a portion broken away. The food package 11 provides a bag 12 comprising a base 25 and one or more upstanding sidewalls 13 affixed thereto. The sidewalls 13 terminate in an upper end 14 and define an interior volume. The sidewalls 13 including an interior side 15 and an exterior side 17, wherein one or more pockets 18 are disposed on the interior side 15 of the bag 12. The pockets 18 are configured to store foodstuff therein. In the shown embodiment, each pocket 18 includes fastener 19 for opening and closing thereof. The fastener 19 may be a zipper fastener, however in alternative embodiments, the fastener 19 may be a re-sealable adhesive tab.
In the shown embodiment, the base 25 and sidewalls 13 are affixed to each other and configured to form an airtight seal. The upper end 14 of the bag 12 comprising a perforated tab 20 above or encompassing a zipper fastener 21 for opening and closing thereof. In the shown embodiment, the perforated tab 20 runs the width of the bag 12 and is configured to be removed by cutting or tearing away the perforated tab 20 from the upper end 14 of the bag 12.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an overhead view of the interior of the food package in an open configuration. In the shown embodiment, each pocket 18 is filled with a portioned quantity of foodstuff 24. Each of the one or more pockets 18 comprises foodstuff 24 unique to each of the one or more interior pockets. For example, one pocket contains exclusively berries while another pocket contains exclusively nuts In this way, the foodstuff 24 is isolated from the atmosphere and the contents of the other pockets 18. This allows a user to selectively open and remove foodstuff 24 from desirable pockets 18 without contaminating the contents of the other pockets 18.
In one embodiment, the one or more pockets 18 are dimensioned to store a cumulative volume of foodstuff 24 of no more than thirty ounces. In one embodiment, the one or more pockets 18 includes three pockets aligned in a row 22 and three pockets aligned in a column 23. The arrangement of pockets 18 along the interior side 15 of the sidewall 13 provides for efficient use of space with the bag 12. In the shown embodiment, the one or more pockets 18 comprises seven pockets 18 arranged in a grid of three rows 22 and two columns 23, wherein one of the rows includes three pockets 18 and two of the rows includes two pockets 18 each.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a diagram of the method of preparing the food package. The method of preparing the food package with foodstuff comprises the following steps: providing a bag 111 including a base, one or more sidewalls, and openable upper end, with one or more pockets are disposed on an interior side of the one or more sidewalls, wherein each of the one or more interior pockets comprise a fastener for opening and closing thereof; filling the one or more interior pockets with foodstuff 112; sealing the fastener of each of the one or more interior pockets 113; removing air from the interior volume of the bag 114; sealing perforated tab and a zipper fastener of the open upper end of the bag to form an isolated interior volume 115. In one embodiment, the one or more interior pockets are dimensioned to store a cumulative volume of foodstuff of no more than thirty ounces.
In one use, the pockets are filled with foodstuff, such as fruit, vegetables, and nuts. The pockets are dimensions to portion the foodstuff such that the total amount of foodstuff is sufficient to produce a smoothie when pureed in a blender. In one embodiment, the pockets are labeled to indicate the capacity and the desired foodstuff to make a single smoothie. Once a user desires to make a smoothie, the user tears the perforated tab, opens the bag and pockets, and empties the food into the blender.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A food package for storing foodstuff, comprising:

a bag comprising a base, one or more upstanding sidewalls, and an upper end, defining an interior volume;

the one or more sidewalls including an interior side and an exterior side;

one or more pockets disposed on the interior side of the bag, wherein the one or more pockets are configured to store food stuff therein;

each of the one or more pockets comprising a fastener for opening and closing thereof;

the upper end of the bag comprising a perforated tab encompassing a zipper fastener for opening and closing thereof.

2. The food package for storing foodstuff of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more pockets comprises seven pockets arranged in three rows, wherein one of the rows includes three pockets and two of the rows include two pockets each.

3. The food package for storing foodstuff of claim 1, wherein:

the base and the one or more upstanding sidewalls are affixed to each other and configured to form an airtight seal.

4. The food package for storing foodstuff of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more pockets are dimensioned to store a cumulative volume of foodstuff of no more than thirty ounces.

5. The food package for storing foodstuff of claim 1, wherein:

the perforated tab is configured to be tearable to expose the zipper fastener.

6. A method of manufacturing a single serve food package comprising the steps of:

providing a bag including a base, one or more sidewalls, an openable upper end, and one or more pockets disposed on an interior side of the one or more sidewalls, wherein each of the one or more interior pockets comprises a fastener for opening and closing thereof;

filling the one or more interior pockets with foodstuff;

sealing the fastener of each of the one or more interior pockets;

sealing a perforated tab and a zipper fastener of the open upper end of the bag to form an isolated interior volume;

removing air from the interior volume of the bag;

7. The method of manufacturing a single serve food package of claim 6, wherein the one or more interior pockets are dimensioned to store a cumulative volume of foodstuff of no more than thirty ounces.