US2750064A

US2750064A - Sealed separable food container

Info

Publication number: US2750064A
Authority: US
Inventors: Houghton W Clarke
Original assignee: Mealpack Corp
Current assignee: Mealpack Corp
Priority date: 1952-04-25
Filing date: 1952-04-25
Publication date: 1956-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-12

Description

June 12, 1956 w L KE 2,750,064

SEALED SEPARABLE FOOD CONTAINER Filed April 25, 1952 ATTORNEYS.

SEALED SEPARABLE FOGD CONTAINER Houghton W. Clarke, Evanston, 111., assignor to Mealpack Corporation, Evanston, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application April 25, 1952, Serial No. 284,368

Claims. (Cl. 220-4) This invention relates to a sealed, separable food container, and more particularly to a container device for packing, storing, or transporting and serving, hot meals and also cold meals.

In the preparation and serving of hot meals, particularly in hospitals, plants, factories, trains, airplanes, and in a large number of other establishments, it is extremely important that the insulating container sections in which the hot food is stored be readily sealable after the packing operation and then readily separable when the meal is to be served, the closure mechanism occupying a minimum of space or obstruction while at the same time providing evidence that the container has not been heretofore opened.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure accomplishing the above desired results and providing a structure in which the hollow sections are locked securely in airtight relation while effecting, with the sealing means, a complete air seal about the entire container. A further object is to provide unique sealing means which brings the sealing strap ends together in sealing relation while locking the container sections together and providing means to indicate unauthorized opening of the container. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a broken side elevational view of a sealed container structure embodying my invention, a portion of the container being broken away to show the container in vertical section; Fig. 2, a broken top plan view, with a portion of the clamping structure shown in section; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the clamping device in released position; and Fig. 4, an enlarged perspective view of the clamping and strap structure.

In the illustration given, 10 designates a lower hollow body section, and 11 designates an upper hollow body section, the two sections, when placed together, as indicated in Fig. 1, providing an inner food-receiving chamber 12. In the chamber 12 may be placed dishes or other receptacles for hot or cold foods, etc.

Each of the sections 10 and 11 may, if desired, be identical in construction. Each section is provided with an annular rib 13 having an outer vertical face 14 and having an inwardly-inclined face 15, as shown best in the sectioned portion of Fig. 1.

About the container I provide a strap 16, which is preferably formed of resilient, elastic material. The strap or band 16 may be formed of rubber. or other resilient ma terial and may, if desired, be reinforced or otherwise strengthened by the use of plastic, fabric, or other suitable means.

In the specific illustration given, the band 16 is proinner surface abutting the shoulder 14 of the lower rib nited States Patent 0 ice tightly sealed relation. If desired, the ends of the band or strap may have fiat, vertical meeting surfaces or various types of interlocking surfaces. I prefer, however, to have the inclined surfaces 20 illustrated so that in the clamping of the ends of the resilient strap together, a slightly sliding movement can be had while still effecting an airtight seal between the meeting ends of the band.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the ends of the strap 16 are provided with clamping members. The clamping means may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, to one end of the strap 16 is secured a plate 21 having an upwardly and rearwardly-extending hook 22. To the other end of the strap 16 is secured a plate 23 by means of a vulcanizing operation or adhesive or other suitable method. Plate 23 is provided with a bracket 24 having upwardly-extending ears 25, to which is pivotally secured by a pin 26 a handle member 27. To the handle member 27 is pivotally secured a draw clamp 28 having an end 29 adapted to engage the hook 22 of plate 21.

The handle member 27 is provided at its inner side with a bottom plate 30, and at the rear of the bottom plate 30 the handle member 27 is provided with a slot 31. To the bracket 24 is secured a finger 32 which extends upwardly and rearwardly, as indicated best in Fig. 2. When the handle is moved to closed position, a disc 33 formed of cardboard or other suitable material and preferably bearing indicia, such as a trade-mark or notice, etc., is inserted below the finger 32 with a portion of the disc extending through the slot 31, as shown best in Fig. 2. With this structure, when the handle member 2'7 is swung outwardly to released position, the frangible disc 33 is gripped between the finger 32 and the inner plate 30, and the disc is cut or marred by the relative movement between the handle member and the finger so as to indicate that the container has been opened.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the food is placed within the container formed by the sections 10 and 11, employing dishes or other receptacles which are placed within the chamber 12. The strap 16 is then drawn about the ribs 13 of the two container sections. The clamp 19 is drawn forwardly over the hook 22 and the handle 27 swung to the position shown in Fig. 2, the indicator disc 33 being placed in position, as illustrated. In the clamping operation, the band 16 is drawn tightly about the container ribs 13 so as to lock them firmly in place, and finally the ends 20 of the resilient band member 16 are urged tightly against each other to form a tight seal at the ends of the band. Thus air may not leak through the band into the container, while at the same time the container is tightly held together by the stretching of the band to the closed position illustrated.

When the container reaches the intended recipient, the recipient can determine that the container has not been opened or tampered with by the condition of the sealing disc 33. Should the handle 27 be swung to open position, the action of the finger 32 against the disc 33 brings about a tearing or marring of the disc to indicate such opening of the container.

When hot foods are placed within the container and the seal effected as described by drawing the clamping members together and causing the ends of the band to be brought into sealing relation, it is found that upon the cooling of the hot foods, a vacuum is produced within the container, which vacuum makes it difiicult to open the container sections. A quick breaking of the vacuum and ready opening of the container sections is efiected by the use of the clamping structure shown, in that upon the raising of the handle 27, the ends of the strap 16 automatically pull apart, causing a breaking of the vacuum within the container, and the container sections can then be readily separated.

v'hile in the foregoing specification l have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character set forth, comprising pair of hollow body sections adapted to be secured together in sealed relation to form a heat-insulated foodreceiving compartment, said sections having outer annular ribs near their meeting surfaces, each of said ribs having an inwardly-inclined inner edge providing bc tween the sections, when the same are together, a V-shaped recess, a resilient band having socket portions receiving said ribs and providing beads resiliently enclosing the same and having an inner annular V-shaped bead received within the V -recess between said ribs, and clamping means secured to the ends of said band and drawing said band ends into tightly abutting relation.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the ends of the band have parallel inclined surfaces,

3. In a device of the character set forth, a pair of hollow body sections adapted to be secured together in sealed relation to form a heat-insulated food-receiving compartment, said sections having outer annular ribs near their meeting surfaces, a resilient band enclosing said ribs, clamp members secured upon the ends of said band and cngageable with each other to draw said band together with the ends thereof forming an airtight seal, at least one of said clamping members being provided with a bottom wall adapted to receive a disc thereon, a finger spaced slightly above and terminating adjacent the bottom wall for extending over and engaging said disc when said clamp members are in closed position and being carried by said band in substantially immovable relation with respect to said bottom wall, and a disc received within said clamping member and engaged by said finger for disfigurement thereof when said clamping member is moved to released position.

4. The structure of claim 3, in which the disc bears indicia and is formed of frangible material and is extended through a slot of said clamping member and below the finger thereof.

5. In a device for transporting and serving prepared foods and having a pair of hollow body sections providing a compartment therein and being adapted to be removably secured together by a band enclosing the meeting edges thereof, clamp members secured upon the ends of said band and engageable with each other to draw said band together with the ends thereof forming an air tight seal, comprising a plate secured to one end of said band and equipped with a hook, a plate secured to the opposite end of said band and equipped with a draw clamp engageable with said hook and providing also a handle for operating said draw clamp, said handle memher being provided with a bottom wall adapted to receive a disc thereon, and a finger spaced slightly from and terminating adjacent. said bottom wall and being adapted to extend over and engage an end portion of said disc when said draw clamp is in locking engagement with said hook, said finger being carried by said second mentioned plate and being adapted to mar the end portion when said handle member is moved to release the clamp.

6. The structure of claim in which a disc is received within said handle and engaged by said finger for disfigurement thereof when said draw clamp is moved to released position.

7. In a device for transporting and serving prepared foods, a pair of hollow body sections adapted to be secured together in sealed relation to form a food-receiving compartment, each of said sections having an outwardlyextending annular rib adjacent the meeting surface thereof, each of said ribs having an inwardly-inclined inner edge providing between the sections, when the same are together, a V-shaped recess, a resilient band having socket portions receiving said ribs and provided with beads onclosing said ribs and resiliently urging the same together and having also an inwardly-extending annular complementary V-shaped bead receivable within the ./shaped recess between said ribs, and clamp means for securing said band about said sections, said clamp means comprising hook portion carried by one end of said band, a iandle member pivotally carried by the other end of said band, a draw clamp pivotally carried by said handle and being adapted to engage said hook, and a finger extending laterally and into a recess provided by said handle, said handle being movable with respect to said finger and providing a bottom wall terminating adjacent an end of said finger and lying in a plane slightly below said finger when said handle is in locked position, said bottom all being adapted to support a disc thereon having a free end portion extending below said finger.

8. in a structure of the character described having a pair of hollow body sections adapted to be brought together in sealing relation and each of suit. sections having an outwardly-extending annular rib adjacent the meeting surfaces thereof with inwardly-inclined surfaces providing therebetween a generally V-shaped recess, a resilient band equipped at the ends thereof with interlocking clamp members adapted to draw said band tightly about said ribs, said band having a central annular bead of generally V-shapc adapted to be received within said V-shaped recess, and said band having also upper and lower beads spaced from said central bead for engaging said ribs and for resiliently urging the same together, whereby when said band is drawn tightly about said ribs, said central bead is urged into said ti-shaped recess tending to urge the body sections apart while said upper and lower beads tend to urge said body sections together with the result that said band provides a tight seal about said body sections and is operative to secure the same together.

9. in a structure of the character described having a band equipped at the ends thereof with clamping means adapted to secure the ends of the band together, said clamping means comprising a hook portion carried by one end of said band, a handle member pivotally carried by the other end of said band, a draw clamp pivotally carried by said handle and adapted to engage said hook, and a finger extending laterally and into a recess provided by said handle, said handle being movable with respect to said finger and providing a bottom wall terminating adjacent an end of said finger and lying in a plane slightly below said finger when said handle is in locking position, said bottom wall being adapted to support a disc thereon having a free end portion extending below said finger, whereby upon movement of said handle from locking to release position, said finger is operative to mar said disc.

10. In combination with a draw band adapted for use in sealing closed a pair of hollow body sections along the contiguous meeting edges thereof, said draw band having free end portions, indicia clamping means adapted to draw said free end portions into tight abutting relation comprising a hook carried by one of said end potrions, a handle pivotally carried by the other of said end portions, a draw clamp pivotally mounted upon said handle for releaseable engagement with said hook and, when said handle is moved to closed position, to lockingly engage said hook to draw said free end portions into tight abutting relation, said handle being provided with a wall portion adapted to receive and support an indicia disc thereon, and a finger fixedly carried by said second mentioned free end portion and terminating, when said handle is in closed position, adjacent an end of said wall portion but spaced slightly therefrom to afford free pivotal movement of said handle and being spaced slightly from the plane of said wall portion in the direction of movement of said handle toward open position, whereby an indicia disc placed on said wall portion, when said handle is in closed position, with an end thereof projecting between said wall portion and finger will be disfigured by engagement with said finger when said handle is swung from closed to open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Blacker Mar. 20, Dunlap June 4, Johnson Apr. 30, Fairbanks Dec. 9, Shofner Dec. 12, Hothersall July 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 3,