US20240228123A1 - Food or Beverage Container - Google Patents
Food or Beverage Container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20240228123A1 US20240228123A1 US18/094,592 US202318094592A US2024228123A1 US 20240228123 A1 US20240228123 A1 US 20240228123A1 US 202318094592 A US202318094592 A US 202318094592A US 2024228123 A1 US2024228123 A1 US 2024228123A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- reservoir
- food
- beverage
- container
- open top
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 38
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 36
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000015067 sauces Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000013570 smoothie Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000013618 yogurt Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- XUCHXOAWJMEFLF-UHFFFAOYSA-N bisphenol F diglycidyl ether Chemical compound C1OC1COC(C=C1)=CC=C1CC(C=C1)=CC=C1OCC1CO1 XUCHXOAWJMEFLF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008821 health effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010902 straw Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
- B65D35/02—Body construction
- B65D35/04—Body construction made in one piece
- B65D35/08—Body construction made in one piece from plastics material
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
- A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
- A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2547/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D2547/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D2547/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts ot tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
- B65D2547/063—Details of spouts
- B65D2547/066—Details of spouts inserted in or attached to the base element
Definitions
- This disclosure relates to containers for use with foods and beverages. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a container for infants and toddlers having aesthetics along with improved structure that provides enhanced stability and functionality.
- Improvement is desired in containers for food and beverages and in particular, containers used by infants and toddlers.
- the present disclosure advantageously improves over previous attempts to provide such containers.
- a container according to the disclosure includes a body having an open top, a thickened neck connecting the open top to a flexible reservoir having an interior configured to receive food or beverage.
- the reservoir has a vertical shape with thin and flexible front and rear sidewalls squeezable toward one another to expel food or beverage from the reservoir via the open top, thickened side flanges and a base.
- the thickened side flanges extend continuously from the base of the reservoir to the neck of the body to support and maintain the vertical shape of the reservoir to enable the reservoir to stand while static and full of food or beverage, and to avoid vertical collapse of the reservoir when the reservoir is squeezed to dispense food or beverage from the container.
- FIG. 1 is a dynamic perspective view of a food or beverage container according to the disclosure, depicting how an infant or toddler squeezes the container to dispense fluidic food or beverage from the container.
- FIG. 2 is a static perspective view of the container.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing the container having fluidic food or beverage contents therein.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing the container having fluidic food or beverage contents therein and being squeezed in the manner shown in FIG. 1 to dispense the food or beverage.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view of the container empty showing the flanged structure of the sides of the container.
- the container 10 is particularly configured for use by a baby or toddler to consume fluidic foods, such as apple sauce, purées, yogurts, smoothie, and the like, and beverages, shown generally by reference letter F.
- fluidic foods such as apple sauce, purées, yogurts, smoothie, and the like
- beverages shown generally by reference letter F.
- the container 10 is configured to be flexible to enable contents to be expelled by squeezing of the container yet maintain vertical integrity of the container 10 to be able to remain standing when filled with food and beverage and not fall over.
- the container 10 also retains its vertical shape and does not vertically collapse when squeezed to dispense the food or beverage. This provides a container that
- the appearance of the container 10 is also configured to be aesthetically pleasing and includes various ornamental aspects and features.
- the container 10 is contoured in shape for aesthetics and for ergonomics to facilitate use by an infant or toddler to grasp and tilt the container during use.
- the body 12 is of one-piece molded construction and has a wide open top 12 a to facilitate filling of the container 10 .
- a thickened neck 12 b having exterior threads 12 bb connects the open top 12 a to a flexible reservoir 12 c , the interior of which is configured to receive the food or beverage.
- the wide and thickened arched base 16 c cooperates with the thickened side flanges 16 b to aid in enabling the reservoir 12 c to stand while static and to avoid vertical collapse of the reservoir 12 c when the reservoir 12 c is being squeezed to dispense food or beverage as depicted.
- the thickness of the base 16 c is multiple times the thickness of the sidewalls 16 a , and the base 16 c is arched upwardly, having a central apex.
- the dispensing spout 14 includes a bulbous body 14 a having a straw-shaped upper port 14 b extending upwardly from the body 14 a .
- the area below the bulbous body 14 a is open and a lower edge of the bulbous body 26 is configured as an annular ring 14 c .
- a collar 14 d having interior threads 14 dd overlies the ring 14 c , with the collar 14 d being threadably engaged upon the corresponding threads 12 bb of the neck 12 b of the body 12 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
- Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
Abstract
A collapsible food and beverage container, including a body having an open top, a thickened neck connecting the open top to a flexible reservoir having an interior configured to receive food or beverage, the reservoir having a vertical shape with thin and flexible front and rear sidewalls squeezable toward one another to expel food or beverage from the reservoir via the open top, thickened side flanges and a base, the thickened side flanges extending continuously from the base of the reservoir to the neck of the body to support and maintain the vertical shape of the reservoir to enable the reservoir to stand while static and full of food or beverage, and to avoid vertical collapse of the reservoir when the reservoir is squeezed to dispense food or beverage from the container.
Description
- This disclosure relates to containers for use with foods and beverages. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a container for infants and toddlers having aesthetics along with improved structure that provides enhanced stability and functionality.
- Improvement is desired in containers for food and beverages and in particular, containers used by infants and toddlers.
- In training infants and toddlers to be able to drink independently, it is desirable to have a food/beverage container that is easily manipulated to expel the food or beverage from the container. The food in this circumstance is a puree or other fluid-like food such as apple sauce, yogurts, smoothie, and the like that can be expelled through a straw or spout.
- The present disclosure advantageously improves over previous attempts to provide such containers.
- The above and other needs are met by collapsible food and beverage containers according to the disclosure.
- In one aspect, a container according to the disclosure includes a body having an open top, a thickened neck connecting the open top to a flexible reservoir having an interior configured to receive food or beverage.
- The reservoir has a vertical shape with thin and flexible front and rear sidewalls squeezable toward one another to expel food or beverage from the reservoir via the open top, thickened side flanges and a base.
- The thickened side flanges extend continuously from the base of the reservoir to the neck of the body to support and maintain the vertical shape of the reservoir to enable the reservoir to stand while static and full of food or beverage, and to avoid vertical collapse of the reservoir when the reservoir is squeezed to dispense food or beverage from the container.
- Further advantages of the disclosure are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a dynamic perspective view of a food or beverage container according to the disclosure, depicting how an infant or toddler squeezes the container to dispense fluidic food or beverage from the container. -
FIG. 2 is a static perspective view of the container. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing the container having fluidic food or beverage contents therein. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing the container having fluidic food or beverage contents therein and being squeezed in the manner shown inFIG. 1 to dispense the food or beverage. -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view of the container empty showing the flanged structure of the sides of the container. - With reference to the drawings, a
container 10 according to the disclosure is shown. Thecontainer 10 is particularly configured for use by a baby or toddler to consume fluidic foods, such as apple sauce, purées, yogurts, smoothie, and the like, and beverages, shown generally by reference letter F. - The
container 10 is configured to be flexible to enable contents to be expelled by squeezing of the container yet maintain vertical integrity of thecontainer 10 to be able to remain standing when filled with food and beverage and not fall over. Thecontainer 10 also retains its vertical shape and does not vertically collapse when squeezed to dispense the food or beverage. This provides a container that - The appearance of the
container 10 is also configured to be aesthetically pleasing and includes various ornamental aspects and features. - As shown, the
container 10 is has a collapsible opentop body 12 with a dispensingspout 14 seated on the open top of thebody 12. Thebody 12 andspout 14 are each desirably made of non-petroleum plant-plastic silicones, such as a LFGB, platinum cured silicone made without PVC, BPA, BPS, BPF, BFDGE, NOGE or BADGE. LFGB is a European certification process. All the components utilized in thedrinking container 10 are desirably dishwasher safe and made of materials that do not have potential harmful health effects or are irritating to infants and toddlers. - The
container 10 is contoured in shape for aesthetics and for ergonomics to facilitate use by an infant or toddler to grasp and tilt the container during use. Thebody 12 is of one-piece molded construction and has a wideopen top 12 a to facilitate filling of thecontainer 10. A thickenedneck 12 b havingexterior threads 12 bb connects theopen top 12 a to aflexible reservoir 12 c, the interior of which is configured to receive the food or beverage. - The
reservoir 12 c is configured to have thin and flexible front andrear sidewalls 16 a, thickenedside flanges 16 b and a wide and thickenedarched base 16 b. - The
thin sidewalls 16 a enable thereservoir 12 c to be collapsed laterally toward one another by squeezing using hand pressure applied by an infant or toddler to reduce the interior volume of thereservoir 12 c and expel the food or beverage F as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 4 . - The thickened
side flanges 16 b extend continuously from thebase 16 c of thereservoir 12 c to theneck 12 b of thebody 12 and serve as supporting spines to support and maintain the vertical shape of thereservoir 12 c to enable thereservoir 12 c to stand while static and full of the food or beverage F, and to avoid vertical collapse of thereservoir 12 c when thereservoir 12 c is being squeezed to dispense the food or beverage F as depicted. As shown, the thickness of thebase 16 b is multiple times the thickness of thesidewalls 16 a. - The wide and thickened
arched base 16 c cooperates with the thickenedside flanges 16 b to aid in enabling thereservoir 12 c to stand while static and to avoid vertical collapse of thereservoir 12 c when thereservoir 12 c is being squeezed to dispense food or beverage as depicted. As shown, the thickness of thebase 16 c is multiple times the thickness of thesidewalls 16 a, and thebase 16 c is arched upwardly, having a central apex. - The dispensing
spout 14 includes abulbous body 14 a having a straw-shapedupper port 14 b extending upwardly from thebody 14 a. The area below thebulbous body 14 a is open and a lower edge of the bulbous body 26 is configured as an annular ring 14 c. Acollar 14 d havinginterior threads 14 dd overlies the ring 14 c, with thecollar 14 d being threadably engaged upon thecorresponding threads 12 bb of theneck 12 b of thebody 12. - Accordingly, it will be appreciated that present disclosure provides an improved container having improved aesthetics and that is constructed to be flexible to enable contents to be expelled by squeezing of the container, yet maintain vertical integrity of the container so as to be able to stand when filled with food and beverage and not vertically collapse when squeezed to dispense the food or beverage
- The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
Claims (5)
1. A collapsible food and beverage container, comprising:
a body having an open top, a neck connecting the open top to a flexible reservoir having an interior configured to receive food or beverage, the reservoir having a vertical shape with thin and flexible front and rear sidewalls squeezable toward one another to expel food or beverage from the reservoir via the open top, thickened side flanges and a base, the thickened side flanges extending continuously from the base of the reservoir to the neck of the body to support and maintain the vertical shape of the reservoir to enable the reservoir to stand while static and full of food or beverage, and to avoid vertical collapse of the reservoir when the reservoir is squeezed to dispense food or beverage from the container.
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the base is thickened and arched and cooperates with the thickened side flanges to aid in enabling the reservoir to stand while static and to avoid vertical collapse of the reservoir when the reservoir is being squeezed to dispense food or beverage.
3. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing spout seated on the open top of the body
4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is of one-piece molded construction and made of silicone.
5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the neck is thickened.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18/094,592 US20240228123A1 (en) | 2023-01-09 | 2023-01-09 | Food or Beverage Container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18/094,592 US20240228123A1 (en) | 2023-01-09 | 2023-01-09 | Food or Beverage Container |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20240228123A1 true US20240228123A1 (en) | 2024-07-11 |
Family
ID=91762062
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US18/094,592 Pending US20240228123A1 (en) | 2023-01-09 | 2023-01-09 | Food or Beverage Container |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US20240228123A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120255972A1 (en) * | 2012-06-20 | 2012-10-11 | Jan Schneider | Dispensing pouch assemblies |
US20180009587A1 (en) * | 2016-07-06 | 2018-01-11 | Nestec S.A. | Recyclable flexible pouch and methods of producing and using same |
-
2023
- 2023-01-09 US US18/094,592 patent/US20240228123A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120255972A1 (en) * | 2012-06-20 | 2012-10-11 | Jan Schneider | Dispensing pouch assemblies |
US20180009587A1 (en) * | 2016-07-06 | 2018-01-11 | Nestec S.A. | Recyclable flexible pouch and methods of producing and using same |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GREEN SPROUTS, INC., NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CANNON, BECKY;SWORDS, KATLIN;MORAN, KEEGAN;REEL/FRAME:062327/0126 Effective date: 20221208 |
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STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |