ZA200704395B - Utensil shaped container - Google Patents

Description

Utensil Shaped Container

The invention relates to food containers, which do not always contain utensils due to the extra packaging costs being prohibitive and the container design not being suitable.

Note: ‘utensil’ is intended to describe any implement which is used for the purpose of consuming a food and or liquid or medicine etc, for example a fork, spoon, knife or chopstick are all utensils, and may equally be suitable for the storage of liquid or foodstuff within the handle or main body of the utensil.

Background

The present invention relates to a development for a container and is particularly suitable for a foodstuff and or liquid, the container having a mouth sealed by means of a foil adhered to the upper rim of the container.

Such containers are commonly used for foodstuffs that are consumed in their entirety as soon as the containers are opened so that there is no need for the containers to be resealed.

Examples of such foodstuffs are yoghurt, salads, pasta, desserts etc, and quick snacks such as soups and noodles.

Disposable utensils are well known, as indeed are food containers, however the object of this invention is to provide a utensil through making one of the food or liquid chambers within the container utensil shaped. This chamber is specifically designed so that consumable products can be stored within it, and because the chamber is utensil shaped it may be detached from the other chamber and used as a utensil to consume the food within the container or utensil. The utensil shaped food and or liquid chamber may also hinge on the main food container, or detach from the main food container and therefore empty the contents of the utensil shaped chamber into the main food container, prior to the utensil being removed.

Making the food or liquid chamber into a spoon, fork, knife, chopstick or utensil etc facilitates customer convenience in that a consumer has no need for a separate utensil, and can use the utensil instantly to eat the contents within the main food container.

Moreover, the invention allows for extra marketing possibilities and saves on materials, which would be required in the manufacture of a utensil.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for food stuffs comprising at least two compartments for receiving food stuffs and one or more membranes extending across both compartments to seal food stuffs separately in each compartment, wherein at least one of the compartments containing foods stuffs forms part of a utensil for eating said food stuffs and wherein the utensil is arranged to be separated from the at least one other compartment.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a container for food stuffs comprising at least two compartments sealed by at least one membrane and separated by a linear flat area dividing the container into a first section and a second section such that the container can be folded along the flat area so that one compartment is inverted upon one other compartment. :

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a utensil shaped container being attached to one or multiple utensil shaped containers allowing each utensil shaped chamber to be broken off or removed individually from the connected utensil shaped containers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a food container to which the concept of the invention is applied;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a food or liquid container in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 and 1 showing a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the underside of the food or liquid container;

Figure 5 shows a top elevation of the food or liquid container;

Figure 6 shows a cross section of three stacked food and or liquid containers;

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the food and or liquid containers and how they may be aligned together within the moulding process or upon. the shelf;

Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a food and or liquid container, and the lid or foil which may be peeled back from the underside of the food or liquid container;

Figure 9 show a side elevation of a food and or liquid container, and the lid or foil that may fold around the underside of the food or liquid container to protect the spoon shaped food or liquid chamber;

Figure 10 also shows a side elevation of a food or liquid container with the spoon shaped food or liquid chamber being covered by the lid or foil;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a food or liquid container in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 shows a top plan view of the food or liquid container with accompanying side front and back elevations;

Figure 13 shows a top plan view of the spoon shaped food or liquid chamber and accompanying side elevation;

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 15 shows an underside perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 16 shows an perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 17 shows an underside perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 18 shows an underside plan view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 19 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 21 shows a perspective view of various food and or liquid containers;

Figure 22 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 23 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 24 shows a plan elevation of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of various food and or liquid containers;

Figure 26 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 27 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 28 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 29 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 30 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 31 shows a perspective view of three adjoined food and or liquid containers;

Figure 32 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 33 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 34 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 35 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 36 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Figure 37 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container;

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a food and or liquid container which may comprise of a main food and or liquid chamber 1 and a secondary food and or liquid chamber 3 which may be shaped as a utensil or may be specifically shaped as a spoon. The food and or liquid container may be sealed with a lid 11 or suitable material which may be sealed or adhere or clip to the food and or liquid container rim 7. The spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 may be hinged 6 or attached to the main chamber 1 which allows the consumer to empty the spoon shaped food and or liquid chambers 3 contents into the main food and or liquid chamber 1 after the lid or foil 11 has been removed. The spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 may be removed 75 from the main food and or liquid chamber 1 and used to consume the combined foodstuffs and or liquid now held within food chamber 1.

Figure 2 shows a similar food and or liquid container with the lid or foil removed exposing the foodstuff and or liquid 18 and 4 contained within food and or liquid chambers 1, 3 and a rim 7 surrounding the food and or liquid containers mouth, The mouth may be covered .

by means of a plastics or metal foil 11 which is sealed or bonded to the rim 7.

Figure 3 shows a similar food and or liquid container as described within Fig 1 and 2.

The spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 is mounted on the top of the main and or liquid food chamber 1 and may pivot or hinge on the joining edge or points 14 which may be between the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber and main food and or liquid chamber 1 . The handle of the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 may comprise of ridges or another chamber 2, which gives the handle strength and rigidity, but may also be used for storing further foodstuffs and or liquid. The lid or foil may comprise of one or more flaps 25 which allows the consumer to peel back the lid from the food and or liquid container 1, 3. The spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber may incorporate a thin film 15 covering which seals the exposed back of the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 for hygiene purposes the consumer may peel this film off prior to using the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3.

Figure 4 shows an underside of a similar container as described within the previously and incorporates a spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 and shaped recesses 9 within the underside of the main food and or liquid chamber 1. This recess 9 is designed to allow the food and or liquid containers to stack upon each other where the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 may be mounted upon the lid of the main food and or liquid chamber 1 and require that the spoon chamber 3 will fit snugly into the main food and or liquid chamber 1 when the food and or liquid containers are stacked.

Figure 5 shows a top elevation of the food and or liquid container with the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 mounted upon the main chamber 1 and the foodstuff and orliquid 18 contained within the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3.

Figure 6 shows a side cross section of three food and or liquid containers stacked upon each other with the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 slotting into the recess 9 within the underside of the main food and or liquid chamber 1.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the food and or liquid containers and how they may be aligned together or upon the shelf.

Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a food and or liquid container and the lid or foil 11 which may be peeled back from the underside of the food and or liquid container 3, 1.

Figure 9 shows a side elevation of a food and or liquid container, and the lid or foil 11 which may fold around the underside of the food and or liquid container 3, 1 to protect the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3.

Figure 10 also shows a side elevation of a food and or liquid container with the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 being covered by the lid or foil 11.

Figure 11 shows perspective view of a food and or liquid container which may comprise of two main food and or liquid chambers 1 and a spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 which may be shaped as a utensil or may be specifically shaped as a spoon. The spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 may incorporate a removable protective film 15 which allows the underside of the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 to be protected from the environment and atmosphere. The top of the container 1 and chamber 3 may be sealed with a film 11 or foil or suitable material which may be adhere or clip to the food and or liquid container rim 7. The spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 may be separated by a gap 17 allowing the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 to be hinged 6 or attached to the main chambers 1 and subsequently allows the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 to be detached or removed through snapping the hinges 6. When the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 is separated from the main chambers 1 its contents 18 may be emptied into either one or both of the main food and or liquid chambers 1.

Figure 12 shows a top plan view of the food and or liquid container with accompanying side, front and back elevations. Ridges or indentations 36 are provided at specific sections being located to reduce flexibility of the utensil shaped chamber.

Figure 13 shows a top plan view of the spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 and accompanying side elevation. Foodstuffs and or liquid 18 are shown to be contained within the spoon shaped container 3.

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container with the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 being removed from the main container body.

Figure 15 shows an underside perspective view of a food and or liquid container with the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 being covered by a removable protective film 15.

Figure 16 shows an elevated perspective view of a food and or liquid container 1 containing a foodstuff and or liquid 18, 4,

Figure 17 shows an underside perspective view of a food and or liquid container 1 and a removable protective film or paper 26 which covers the underside of the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 for hygiene purposes.

Figure 18 shows an underside plan view of a food and or liquid container 1 and a removable protective film or paper 26 which covers the underside of the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 for hygiene purposes.

Figure 19 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container which incorporates further storage chambers 2 within the handle of the spoon or utensil shaped container. The sealed foil 11 which covers the chambers may be removed in separate sections and may incorporate tear strips or perforations 22 in the foil or lid 1 1 which allow the lid sections to be removed individually without damaging or opening the other chambers.

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container that has had the protective lid or foil 11 removed as described in Figure 19. The utensil shaped container shows

-§- the various foodstuff and or liquid 18 which may be stored within the chambers.

Figure 21 shows a perspective view of various food and or liquid containers and demonstrates a further possible application with the utensil shaped chamber containing milk, coffee and sugar isolated within separate chambers 2,3. Some of the food and or liquid containers have had the protective lid or foil 11 removed as described in Figure 19 and Figure 20. The utensil shaped container shows the various foodstuff and or liquid 18 which may be stored within the chambers.

Figure 22 shows a further example of a food and or liquid container which may be designed as to incorporate a spoon shaped chamber 3 at both ends of the utensil for the storage of food stuff or liquid 18 or indeed any other substance or gadget. The sealed foil 11 which covers the utensil chambers may be removed in separate sections and may incorporate tear strips or perforations 22 in the foil or lid which allow the lid sections to be removed individually without damaging or opening the other chambers 2,3.

Figure 23 shows a further example of a food and or liquid container that has had the protective lid or foil removed. The utensil shaped container may be designed as to incorporate a spoon shaped chamber at both ends of the utensil for the storage of foodstuff or liquid 18 or indeed any other substance or gadget.

Figure 24 shows a plan elevation of a food and or liquid container as described in

Figure 22 and Figure 23. The pull tabs 25 may be used to pull and remove the protective lid or foil 11.

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of various food and or liquid containers and demonstrates a further possible use that the utensil shaped container has. Some of the food and or liquid containers have had the protective 1id or foil 11 removed. The utensil shaped container shows the various foodstuff 18 and or liquid 18 which may be stored within the chambers. The spoon shaped containers may be designed as to intermesh for the purpose of saving space and ease of packaging.

Figure 26 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container with the spoon shaped food and or liquid chamber 3 having been removed from the main container body 1 and the contents 18 being emptied from the utensil shaped chamber 3 into the main chamber 1 prior to the combined contents 4, 18 being consumed with the utensil shaped chamber 3.

Figure 27 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container. The food and or liquid container may be formed as a fork which may contain liquid and or foodstuff 18 within the handle 2 as described in previous utensil drawings. The utensil shaped container may include a foil 30 being designed to allow the consumer to peel back the foil 30 and pour the liquid or foodstuff out of the utensil handle. This fork shaped container be adjoined or attached to a main chamber 1 or formed as part of the lid of a main chamber 1.

Figure 28 shows a perspective view of a utensil shaped food and or liquid container 3.

The drawing shows the foil 30 being peeled back allowing the liquid and or foodstuff 18 within the utensil to be poured out of the utensil. Ridges or indentations 36 are provided at specific sections being located to reduce flexibility of the fork shaped container.

Figure 29 shows a perspective view of a utensil shaped food and or liquid container 3.

The drawing shows the utensil with the foil 30 removed thus revealing the liquid and or foodstuff 18 within the utensil handle 2.

Figure 30 shows a perspective view of a utensil shaped food and or liquid container 3.

The drawing shows the foil 30 being peeled back allowing the liquid and or foodstuff 18 within the utensil to be poured out of the utensil. :

Figure 31 shows a perspective view of three utensil shaped food and or liquid containers 3 and demonstrates how they may be connected together in multiple units. The food hinges 6 may connect the utensil shaped food and or liquid containers 3. The containers 3 may

AMENDED SHEET also be connected through utilising the foil 11.

Figure 32 shows a further example perspective view of a food and or liquid container.

The spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 may be moulded or formed from the central section of the container 1 lid 37. The spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 may be removed from the lid 37 after removing the adhesive film or paper 38 and snapping the connection point or hinges 6. The hinges or connection points 6 may not always be necessary as the spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 may also be bonded into the lid or contained through utilising the adhesive film or paper 38 allowing the spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 to be removed from the lid with the removal of the adhesive film or paper 38.

Figure 33 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container. The fork shaped food and or liquid container may be moulded or formed from the central section of the container 1 lid 37 and removed from the lid 37 in the same manner as descried for the spoon shaped food or liquid chamber as described in FIG 32.

Figure 34 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container with the lid 37 and the spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 removed. The spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 is shown having the contents 18 emptied into the main food and or liquid container 1 prior to consuming the combined contents 4, 18 with the spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3.

Figure 35 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container with the lid 37 and : the fork shaped food and or liquid container removed. The fork shaped food and or liquid container is shown having the contents 18 emptied into the main food and or liquid container 1 prior to consuming the combined contents 4, 18 with the fork shaped food and or liquid container.

Figure 36 shows a perspective view of a food and or liquid container. The spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 may be moulded or formed from the central section of the container lid 37. The spoon shaped food and or liquid container 3 may be split allowing the handle 29 to be separate to chamber 3. The handle 39 and spoon shaped container 3 may be removed individually from the lid 37 and the handle 39 may then be connected to the spoon shaped container 3. The handle may incorporate a section 40 being designed to snap, connect,

S insert or attach to the section 41 of the spoon shaped container 3. Alternatively, the handle may be hinged to the container of the utensil to shorten the utensil for storage and can have a catch to lock the handle in a rigid state ready for use.

Figure 37 shows the handle 39 connected to the spoon shaped container 3, forming a spoon which is substantially ridged and ready for use. The contents 18 from the container 3 may be added to the container 1 contents and the combined handle 39 and container 3 used to consume the combined contents from the container 1. “Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof.

AMENDED SHEET

Claims (29)

Claims

1. A container for food stuffs comprising at least two compartments for receiving food stuffs and one or more membranes extending across both compartments to seal food stuffs separately in each compartment, wherein at least one of the compartments containing foods stuffs forms part of a utensil for eating said food stuffs and wherein the utensil is arranged to be separated from the at least one other compartment.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the utensil is a spoon.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein a bowl portion of the spoon forms one compartment which is sealed by a membrane.

4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a frangible portion between the utensil and the at least one other compartment arranged to permit the utensil to be separated from the at least one other compartment along said frangible portion.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a single membrane extending over and sealing the compartment of the utensil and at least one other compartment.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the utensil has a number of compartments therein for different food stuffs, each compartment being sealed by a common membrane.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of compartments all sealed by a common single membrane.

8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sides of each compartment all terminate at their upper edges in a common plane in which plane the at AMENDED SHEET least one membrane extends. said at least one membrane being releaseably bonded to the upper edges of the compartments to seal the compartments.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a compartment formed in the utensil has a membrane separate from a membrane of at least one other compartment not formed in the utensil such that the utensil can be separated from the remainder of the container with the compartment on the utensil still sealed by the membrane associated therewith.

10. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein a common membrane extends to seal both a compartment of the utensil and a compartment on the remainder of the container, wherein the membrane extends across a frangible portion joining the utensil portion to the remainder of the container and wherein the container is arranged to permit the utensil to be separated from the remainder of the container with the membrane being simultaneously divided in two so that both said compartments remain sealed as the utensil is separated from the remainder of the container along said frangible portion.

11. A container for food stuffs comprising at least two compartments sealed by at least one membrane and separated by a linear flat area dividing the container into a first section and a second section such that the container can be folded along the flat area so that one compartment is inverted upon one other compartment.

12. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 and Claim 11.

13. A container as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the utensil forms the first section of the container and the remainder of the container forms the second section of the container such that the utensil can be inverted above at least one other compartment of the utensil.

14. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the compartment of the first section when inverted has a profile relative to one or more compartments of the second AMENDED SHEET section such that when two identical containers are stacked one upon the other the first section of one container fits into second section of the other container.

15. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one utensil in the form of a fork having a compartment formed in the handle thereof.

16. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compartment of the utensil contains a food stuff intended to be added to the foodstuff in the at least one other container and wherein the at least one other container is not shaped or intended to be used as a utensil.

17. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the utensil is housed in a recess in the container which recess is sealed by a membrane retaining the utensil in a sterile environment.

18. A utensil shaped container being attached to one or multiple utensil shaped containers allowing each utensil shaped container to be broken off or removed individually from the connected utensil shaped containers.

19. A utensil shaped container as claimed in Claim 18, being attached to one or multiple utensil shaped containers allowing each utensil shaped container to be formed as to intermesh and stack neatly as to minimise the wasted gaps or space between the connected containers.

20. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the utensil is housed in a recess in the container lid which recess is sealed by a membrane retaining the utensil in a sterile environment.

21. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the utensil is formed from a section of the container lid. AMENDED SHEET

22. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. wherein the utensil is formed ir two sections thus allowing a handle portion to be attached or detached te the utensil container portion.

23. A container as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the utensil is formed in two sections.

24. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 21, wherein the utensil is provided with a hinge located between the container and handle of the utensil, wherein said hinge allows the utensil to fold substantially shortening the utensil length for storage and includes a catch formed on the handle section of the utensil to connect or lock with a catch formed upon the container section of the utensil to form a substantially rigid utensil.

25. A food and/or liquid container formed as a fork, wherein the food or liquid is contained within the handle.

26. A container as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the handle has a foil covering over the chamber which can be peeled back to allow the liquid or foodstuff to be poured out of the container.

27. A container including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.

28. A container according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

29. A container as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. AMENDED SHEET