WO2024069224A1

WO2024069224A1 - An iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation and a method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2024069224A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/061016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thangavelu C; Rajkumar P
Original assignee: Thangavelu C; Rajkumar P
Priority date: 2022-09-26
Filing date: 2022-11-16
Publication date: 2024-04-04

Abstract

An iso-thermal container (10) to prevent sogging of food due to condensation is provided. The iso-thermal container includes a container segment (20) adapted to receive the food. The iso-thermal container also includes a lid segment (30) positioned above the container segment. The lid segment is adapted to fit into the container segment to thermally isolate the food from an external environment. The lid segment includes one or more tapered profiles (40) within an inner periphery of the lid segment. The one or more tapered profiles are adapted to guide condensation formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles (50) located at a distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles, thereby preventing sogging of the food due to the condensation.

Description

AN ISO-THERMAL CONTAINER TO PREVENT SOGGING OF FOOD DUE TO CONDENSATION AND A METHOD THEREOF

EARLIEST PRIORITY DATE

This Application claims priority from a Complete patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202241055090, filed on September 26, 2022, and titled “AN ISO-THERMAL CONTAINER TO PREVENT SOGGING OF FOOD DUE TO CONDENSATION AND A METHOD THEREOF”

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of containers for storage and more particularly to an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Human digestive system functions better with warm food rather than cold food. The cold food may take more time to digest, thereby stressing the human digestive system. In order to keep the food warm, an iso-thermal container is used. The food in the isothermal container is thermally isolated from an external environment. Insulation around the walls of the iso-thermal container prevents heat transfer by conduction and convection. Similarly, a reflective coating inside the iso-thermal container prevents the heat transfer by radiation.

Condensation may occur in the iso-thermal container because of the water vapors arising from the food. Water droplets produced due to condensation may eventually get accumulated under the lid of the iso-thermal container. Over time, the water droplets that accumulated under the lid may fall on the food making the food soggy, thereby negatively affecting taste, texture and storage time of the food.

Hence, there is a need for an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation and a method thereof to address the aforementioned issue(s). BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation is provided. The iso-thermal container includes a container segment adapted to receive the food. The iso-thermal container also includes a lid segment positioned above the container segment. The lid segment is adapted to fit into the container segment to thermally isolate the food from an external environment. The lid segment includes one or more tapered profiles within an inner periphery of the lid segment. The one or more tapered profiles are adapted to guide condensation formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles located at a distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles, thereby preventing sogging of the food due to the condensation.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for fabricating an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation is provided. The method includes providing one or more tapered profiles in an inner periphery of a lid segment to guide condensate formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles located at distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles. The lid segment is adapted to fit into a container segment to thermally isolate food stored in the container segment from an external environment. The method also includes providing a collection chamber beneath a center point of the one or more tapered profiles to collect the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more explicit description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional details with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the iso-thermal container of FIG. 1 depicting operational arrangement of one or more interior compartments and an intermediate compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method for constructing an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To promote an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures, or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation and a method thereof. The iso-thermal container includes a container segment adapted to receive the food. The iso-thermal container also includes a lid segment positioned above the container segment. The lid segment is adapted to fit into the container segment to thermally isolate the food from an external environment. The lid segment includes one or more tapered profiles within an inner periphery of the lid segment. The one or more tapered profiles are adapted to guide condensation formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles located at a distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles, thereby preventing sogging of the food due to the condensation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an iso-thermal container (10) to prevent sogging of food due to condensation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The iso-thermal container (10) includes a container segment (20) adapted to receive the food. The iso-thermal container (10) also includes a lid segment (30) positioned above the container segment (20). The lid segment (30) is adapted to fit into the container segment (20) to thermally isolate the food from an external environment. The lid segment (30) includes one or more tapered profiles (40) within an inner periphery of the lid segment (30). Further, in one embodiment, the one or more tapered profiles (40) may include a parabolic shape. The one or more tapered profiles (40) are adapted to guide condensation formed on the one or more tapered profiles (40) towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles (50) located at a distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles (40), thereby preventing sogging of the food due to the condensation. In some embodiments, the one or more tapered profiles (40) may be adapted to guide the condensate towards a collection chamber (60) positioned beneath a center point of the one or more tapered profiles (40). In such an embodiment, the collection chamber (60) may be composed of a material comprising rubber, metal, glass and any other suitable material.

Furthermore, in a specific embodiment, the condensate collected in the collection chamber (60) and the one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles (50) may be drained by tilting the lid segment (30). In one embodiment, the lid segment (30) may be adapted to fit into the container segment (20) by at least one of an action comprising twisting and pushing. In one embodiment, the lid segment (30), and the container segment (20) may be composed of at least one of a material comprising poly styrene, poly propylene, glass, ceramic and metal. In one embodiment, the one or more condensate collecting profiles (50) and the collection chamber (60) may have one or more corresponding edges (70) curved towards the center of the one or more condensate collecting profiles (50) and the collection chamber (60) respectively to prevent spillage of the condensate on the food during opening of the lid segment (30). Operational arrangement of one or more interior compartments (FIG. 2, (80)) and an intermediate compartment (FIG. 2, (90)) to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles are shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the iso-thermal container of FIG. 1 depicting operational arrangement of the one or more interior compartments (80) and the intermediate compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the container segment (20) may include one or more interior compartments (80) adapted to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles (40). In such an embodiment, the one or more interior compartments (80) may be located inside the container segment (20). In some embodiments, the container segment (20) may include an intermediate compartment (90) adapted to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles (40). In such an embodiment, the intermediate compartment (90) may be located between an inner wall (100) and an outer wall (110) of the container segment (40). In one embodiment, the intermediate compartment (90) may include an outlet valve (120) adapted to drain the condensate stored in the intermediate compartment (90) to an external environment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method (200) for fabricating an iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (200) includes providing one or more tapered profiles in an inner periphery of a lid segment to guide condensate formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles located at distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles in step 210. The lid segment is adapted to fit into a container segment to thermally isolate food stored in the container segment from an external environment.

The method (200) also includes providing a collection chamber beneath a center point of the one or more tapered profiles to collect the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles in step 220. In one embodiment, the one or more tapered profiles may include a parabolic shape. In some embodiments, the one or more tapered profiles may be adapted to guide the condensate towards a collection chamber positioned beneath a center point of the one or more tapered profiles. In such an embodiment, the collection chamber may be composed of a material comprising rubber, metal, glass and any other suitable material. In a specific embodiment, the condensate collected in the collection chamber and the one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles may be drained by tilting the lid segment.

Also, in one embodiment, the container segment may include one or more interior compartments adapted to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles. In such an embodiment, the one or more interior compartments may be located inside the container segment. In some embodiments, the container segment may include an intermediate compartment adapted to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles. In such an embodiment, the intermediate compartment may be located between an inner wall and an outer wall of the container segment. In one embodiment, the intermediate compartment may include an outlet valve adapted to drain the condensate stored in the intermediate compartment to an external environment. Further, in one embodiment, the lid segment may be adapted to fit into the container segment by at least one of an action comprising twisting and pushing. In one embodiment, the lid segment, and the container segment may be composed of at least one of a material comprising poly styrene, poly propylene, glass, ceramic and metal. In one embodiment, the one or more condensate collecting profiles and the collection chamber may have one or more corresponding edges curved towards the center of the one or more condensate collecting profiles and the collection chamber respectively to prevent spillage of the condensate on the food during opening of the lid segment.

Various embodiments of the iso-thermal container to prevent sogging of food due to condensation and a method thereof described above enable various advantages. Provision of the one or more tapered profiles guides the condensation formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles and the collection chamber, thereby preventing sogging of the food. Fabrication of the iso-thermal container by cheap and readily available components makes the isothermal container affordable. Further, the iso-thermal container is light weight and portable. Apart from that, the iso thermal container disclosed here is capable of thermally isolating the food from the external environment.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended.

The figures and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and is not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. An iso-thermal container (10) to prevent sogging of food due to condensation comprising: a container segment (20) adapted to receive the food; and a lid segment (30) positioned above the container segment (20), wherein the lid segment (30) is adapted to fit into the container segment (20) to thermally isolate the food from an external environment, wherein the lid segment (30) comprises one or more tapered profiles (40) within an inner periphery of the lid segment (30), wherein the one or more tapered profiles (40) are adapted to guide condensation formed on the one or more tapered profiles (40) towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles (50) located at a distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles (40), thereby preventing sogging of the food due to the condensation.

2. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more tapered profiles (40) comprises a parabolic shape.

3. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more tapered profiles (40) are adapted to guide the condensate towards a collection chamber (60) positioned beneath a center point of the one or more tapered profiles (40).

4. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the collection chamber (60) is composed of a material comprising rubber, metal, glass and any other suitable material.

5. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the condensate collected in the collection chamber (60) and the one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles (50) is drained by tilting the lid segment (30).

6. The iso-thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid segment is adapted to fit into the container segment by at least one of an action comprising twisting and pushing.

7. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container segment (20) comprises: one or more interior compartments (80) adapted to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles (40), wherein the one or more interior compartments (80) are located inside the container segment (20); and an intermediate compartment (90) adapted to store the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles (40), wherein the intermediate compartment (90) is located between an inner wall (100) and an outer wall (110) of the container segment (20), wherein the intermediate compartment (90) comprises an outlet valve (120) adapted to drain the condensate stored in the intermediate compartment (90) to an external environment.

8. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid segment (30), and the container segment (20) are composed of at least one of a material comprising poly styrene, poly propylene, glass, ceramic and metal.

9. The iso-thermal container (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more condensate collecting profiles (50) and the collection chamber (60) comprises one or more corresponding edges (70) curved towards the center of the one or more condensate collecting profiles (50) and the collection chamber (60) respectively to prevent spillage of the condensate on the food during opening of the lid segment (30).

10. A method (200) comprising: providing one or more tapered profiles in an inner periphery of a lid segment to guide condensate formed on the one or more tapered profiles towards one or more corresponding condensate collecting profiles located at distal end of the one or more corresponding tapered profiles, wherein the lid segment is adapted to fit into a container segment to thermally isolate food stored in the container segment from an external environment; (210) and providing a collection chamber beneath a center point of the one or more tapered profiles to collect the condensate guided by the one or more tapered profiles . (220)