Patent Application
20050082286
The present invention generally relates to flexible containers, and in particular, molds constructed of a flexible silicone elastomer material having an integrated support structure.
Molds made of flexible or deformable materials are known and widely used for cooking on professional and domestic levels. One example of such molds is bakeware containing silicone elastomer material, herein referred to as “silicone bakeware.” There are many advantages to using silicone bakeware. The principal advantage is the flexibility of the silicone bakeware. Flexible bakeware allows the user to more easily remove baked items from the bakeware. Furthermore, the chemical composition of silicone bakeware typically provides a slick interior surface, eliminating the need to grease and flour the pans and allowing the baked items to easily slip out of the bakeware. Another advantage of flexible bakeware is that when it is not in use, it can be stored in a folded state, thereby minimizing the storage room necessary.
The main characteristic of silicone bakeware is that it remains thermally stable and non-toxic over a broad temperature range. As a result, the silicone bakeware can go from the refrigerator or freezer to the oven, and thereafter into a dishwasher. For example, the same mold can be used for preparing ice cream cakes at very low temperatures (e.g., −140° F.) and for baking cakes at high temperatures (e.g., 500° F.). Moreover, the molds can be used in the microwave. After use, the molds can be easily cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher.
A disadvantage of the known flexible molds is that when filled with food, particularly food that is heavy in nature, the mold does not always maintain its shape. Because of its flexible nature, the walls of the mold can bulge, slant or otherwise fail to maintain their linear, vertical orientation. As a result, food baked therein may not have the intended shape because the mold was unable to retain its shape in the baking process. Furthermore, the flexible nature of the mold makes the mold unstable during movement. So, for example, when the mold is gripped and lifted, the mold may deform causing overflow of the liquid, semi-liquid or pasty contents or the breakage of the solid or semi-solid contents.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a flexible mold that has sufficient structural support to prevent the buckling or slanting of the mold walls and to prevent deformation of the mold during movement.
A flexible container is disclosed having a base member and walls extending from the base member. The flexible container is reinforced by a support structure integrally attached thereto, the support having a base support for reinforcing the base of the container and a side support for reinforcing the side walls of the container.
As shown in
Furthermore, although the terms bakeware and mold are used herein, the invention is intended to include any flexible cooking container, regardless of the type of food prepared therein or the method of preparation. Bakeware and mold are simply terms used to describe preferred embodiments of the invention. As such, these terms should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in
The flexible container 10 is reinforced by support structure 20. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support structure 20 includes a base support 22 and a side support 24. In the embodiment shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, side support 24 includes a series of support sections 30. The benefit of using support sections 30 is that during the manufacturing process, the versatility of the support sections 30 enables one to use the same pieces to create support structures 20 for containers of various sizes and shapes. Furthermore, by using support sections 30, the side support 24 can tolerate a certain degree of expansion resulting from heat or other environmental conditions.
The support sections 30 are preferably interconnected by coupling members 32. In the embodiment shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the support sections are made of stainless steel, having a diameter of 1.5 to 2 mm. The spherical beads preferably are made of a material containing silicone. Those skilled in the art will know that other materials can be substituted for those described herein.
In
The support structure 20 is preferably not removable from the flexible container 10. In another preferred embodiment, the support structure is integrally molded with the flexible container 10. During the manufacturing process, after the support structure is constructed, the structure can be inserted into the mold and integrally molded with the flexible container 10. Alternately, during the molding process, the flexible container 10 can be manufactured with receiving channels therein, and the support structure 20 can be snap-fitted into the receiving channels. The manufacturing techniques described herein are for exemplary purposes only. Other known manufacturing techniques can be employed by those skilled in the art.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/506,174 filed on Sep. 26, 2003, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60506714 | Sep 2003 | US |
