Patent Application
20230286730
The present invention relates to food storage devices, and more specifically relates to a container configured to store at least one pickle such that it may be easily consumed by a user with minimal mess.
Pickles are a common snack enjoyed by many people all around the world. Dill pickles in particular are sold in a variety of cuts and shapes. The most common “snacking pickle” would be a whole pickle. While they remain a delicious and easy snack, eating a pickle is often quite messy, especially for children.
However, many people wrap the pickle in a paper towel or aluminum foil to try to minimize the sticky mess. While partially effective, this method only works until the paper towel becomes effectively soaked with pickle juices, and the user's hand ends up wet and sticky regardless. Additionally, the user is forced to pull down the paper towel or foil as the pickle is eaten down. Such a method does not leave the user much of an option if he or she wishes to take a break from eating the whole pickle and store it for later. If there were an effective container in which a pickle could both be stored, as well as eaten from in stages, pickle consumption would be easier and less messy.
Thus, there is a need for a new pickle container configured to enable a user to eat a whole pickle in stages via multiple opening points, as well as to store the pickle for later consumption while minimizing the mess common to eating pickles. Such a container is preferably equipped with a series of separations, embodied by nested perpendicular lines, configured to facilitate separation of the container into two or more parts for easy opening of the container at multiple locations along the length of the container.
The present invention is a food storage container configured to contain a whole pickle or a whole pickle in various stages of consumption (i.e. half a pickle, one third of a pickle, three-quarters of a pickle, etc.). The container contains multiple openings, configured to enable the container to separate in multiple locations so that the pickle may be partially eaten while remaining, in part, within the container. Then, the container may be sealed and constrained within the container via the removal of one or more of the sections of the container. The container has a rounded top and a rounded bottom, as well as multiple cylindrical sections disposed between the top and bottom. The junctions between each cylindrical section amount to openings by which the container may be separated, and hence, opened for consumption of the pickle in a mess-free fashion. The top, as well as intervening cylindrical sections, may be affixed to a base of the bottom for storage during consumption as well.
The following brief and detailed descriptions of the drawings are provided to explain possible embodiments of the present invention but are not provided to limit the scope of the present invention as expressed herein this summary section.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheets, wherein:
The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s).
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The present invention is a container configured to house a pickle for storage, as well as for use during consumption by a user. The apparatus of the present invention exhibits a container (10) embodied in a housing having an interior cavity (20) and an exterior (30). The container (10) primarily resembles the general dimensions of a whole dill pickle. The container (10) is equipped with a top section (40) and a bottom section (50). Disposed between the top section (40) and the bottom section (50), cylindrical segments (60) are present. The cylindrical segments (60) are approximately one centimeter in length, and are configured to be added or removed to/from the container (10) in order to modify the overall length of the container (10) to accommodate the entirety of the pickle, as well as to effectively shorten the length of the container (10) as the pickle is eaten while remaining, in part, within the container. There are preferably at least two cylindrical segments (60), however more segments may be present in large embodiments of the present invention. As such, the container (10) is configured to function as a clean handle during the consumption of the pickle by the user.
The cylindrical segments (60) are preferably configured to interlock with one another, with a top of each cylindrical segment (60) mating with a bottom of any other cylindrical segment (60). Similarly, the cylindrical segments (60) are configured to mate with the top section (40) and bottom section (50) of the container in order to form the enclosure of the housing around the pickle. It should be understood that the pickle may be accessed by twisting and pulling at a junction (70) of any two cylindrical segments (60), or at a junction (70) of a cylindrical segment (60) and the top section (40) or bottom section (50) of the apparatus. A bottom (80) of the bottom section (50) is preferably equipped with a means by which the cylindrical segments (60) and/or the top section (40) may be affixed for storage and ease of handling the container (10) when the interior cavity (20) is exposed for consumption of the pickle. This may be accomplished via a friction fitting, threading, peg-based lock, or other similar conventional temporary retaining mechanism. Threading (90) is depicted in
Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, at least one juice hole (95) is preferably present at a rounded point (105) or “tip” of the bottom section (50) and/or top section (40) to facilitate the drainage of pickle juice. Pickle juice may be saved within the container (10) for enjoyment later. As such, the user may opt to suck the pickle juice out of the at least one juice hole (95). Each juice hole (95) is preferably equipped with a removable plug (115) (a juice hole plug) which is preferably composed of a silicone or plastic material to provide a water-tight seal.
The process of use of the apparatus of the present invention, as shown in
It should be noted that the present invention is preferably available for purchase in two different colors: smokey white and dark green. However, it is envisioned alternate colors may be made available in future alternate embodiments of the present invention. Further, the smokey color is preferably smooth, whereas the dark green is preferably textured with bumps, similar to the actual cosmetics of a pickle. Three sizes of the container (10) are preferably available: a small, a medium, and a large. For medium and larger embodiments of the present invention, only dark green may be available. The container (10) is preferably composed of a durable, food-safe plastic which is non-breakable, lightweight, and easy to use. It is envisioned that each size may be sold in bundles, individually, or in mixed packs.
Further, it should be understood that the container (10) of the present invention is inherently shaped like an actual pickle, with the top section (40) being narrow at the top, the bottom section (50) being narrow at the bottom, and the cylindrical segments (60) being wider than the top section (40) and the bottom section (50). There is tapering to the edges at junctions (70) to facilitate their connections where applicable.
Having illustrated the present invention, it should be understood that various adjustments and versions might be implemented without venturing away from the essence of the present invention. Further, it should be understood that the present invention is not solely limited to the invention as described in the embodiments above, but further comprises any and all embodiments within the scope of this application.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
This application is a non-provisional patent application of provisional patent application No. 63/317,817, filed on Mar. 8, 2022, and priority is claimed thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63317817 | Mar 2022 | US |
