Convenience foods are very popular with consumers. Typically convenience foods are defined as foods that can be eaten with one hand while on the run, are easily disposable, and have little or no clean-up and mess. On the run is generally considered to be while driving a car, walking, camping, etc. With this definition, a beverage and particulate food, such as for example cereal and milk, is typically not considered to be a convenience food since it normally cannot be eaten while driving, walking etc., normally requires a bowl and spoon and can be messy to eat on the run.
In a move to make breakfast consumption more convenient, to make it a convenience type food, many manufacturers have offered breakfast bars, breakfast sandwiches and other breakfast foods which can be consumed with a single hand. There have also been several attempts to construct a container which stores cereal and milk separately, allows the two to be mixed when consumed and allows the consumer to eat the mixture with a single hand.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,588,561 and 5,753,289, issued to Ness, describe a container for holding cereal and milk in separate compartments. Cereal is placed in the inner, inflexible container, while milk is placed in the outer flexible container. Cereal is shaken from the inner, inflexible container into the consumer's mouth and the consumer then squeezes the outer flexible container to squirt milk into the consumer's mouth. In this manner, the cereal and the milk are mixed inside the consumer's mouth. The Ness patents require rotation of the portable food container to a dispensing position before the consumer can use the product. A need exists for a simplified single-handed container, which will allow an individual to consume cereal and milk or other beverage and food combinations with a single hand while walking, hiking, camping, driving, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,068, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describes various embodiments of a one-handed container for dispensing a particulate solid food and a liquid. The containers described in the '068 patent have two compartments separated by a partition. One compartment contains particulate solid food and the other contains a liquid. Dispensing of the solid food and liquid is regulated by use of one hand.
In most embodiments, the liquid is dispensed by sucking on a straw and the particulate solid food is dispensed by tilting the container to allow the food to flow from the container. In many of these embodiments, the liquid is dispensed from one side of the container, the container is then turned and the particulate solid food dispensed from the opposite side. In all these embodiments, the liquid and particulate solid food are dispensed separately.
In the embodiment shown in
The present invention provides an improved container for dispensing a liquid beverage and a consumable food, preferably a particulate food which is dry and flowable, simultaneously. One combination of liquid beverage and food that can be dispensed simultaneously is milk and cereal. Other combinations could be cheese snacks and soda, pretzels and beer, etc.
The container of the present invention includes an outer cup, an inner cup nested in the outer cup and a lid that closes the outer cup and retains the inner cup with respect to the outer cup. In the preferred embodiment, the lid interlocks with the outer cup. In use, the liquid beverage can be added to the outer container and then the inner container with the consumable food can be inserted into the outer cup. In one embodiment, the lid is integral with the inner cup and in another the lid is separate from the inner cup. The lid has a dispensing opening that is in fluid communication with the outer cup and a vent hole to facilitate even fluid flow. When the cup is tilted, the liquid and food can be simultaneously poured from the container.
The container can be marketed with the beverage and the food pre-filled in the container. In this way, the container is simply opened by peeling off or back a label on the lid, and used by the consumer. Another method of marketing the container is to have the inner cup pre-filled and sealed in the inner cup. The consumer then would add the liquid to the outer container and insert the inner container. Again the lid would interconnect the inner and outer cups and provide the dispensing opening. A third alternative would be to pre-fill the outer cup and allow the consumer to fill the inner cup. A still further alternative would be to allow the consumer to fill both cups.
The outer cup has a mouth, bottom and body. The body is generally defined by a cross-section having first and second sides. A flat portion generally defines the first side of the body and an arcuate or curved portion generally defines the second side of the body. A small flat area is generally opposite the flat portion of the body. This shape provides an ergonomic design that is very comfortable for the user. It also provides a quick method of orientation of the cup by the user.
The inner cup has a body portion defining a cavity, top portion and a bottom portion. The inner cup is defined by a plurality of walls with the walls sloping from the bottom portion to the top portion to create a unique cone shape to provide controlled discharge of food or channeling from the inner cup. One difficulty with dispensing dry materials is that the material can bridge or plug which inhibits or prevents flow. As the user tries to get the food to flow, the flow can release in an uncontrolled fashion once the bridge is lost resulting in food spilling out. An example is when a potato chip bag is tilted to get the last of the chips. At first the chips can be blocked, and then when the block is removed they spill over the person. The shape of the inner cup reduces and can even prevent the bridging or plugging problem. In the disclosed embodiment, the inner cup includes eight walls. It should be understood that less or more walls could be used to provide the desired controlled discharge of food from the inner cup.
The eight walls include a first arcuate wall or back region, said first arcuate wall is concave with respect to the cavity. Second and third walls extend from the first wall. By way of definition, the second and third walls have been included in the definition of the back region in describing the invention. The second and third walls curve in a convex direction with respect to the cavity. Fourth and fifth walls extend from the second and third walls respectively and sixth and seventh walls extend from the fourth and fifth walls respectively. These walls have for definitional positions been defined as the side region of the inner cup. The fourth and fifth walls of the disclosed invention are slightly curved in the convex direction with respect to the cavity. The sixth and seventh walls curve in the concave direction with respect to the cavity. An eighth wall joins the sixth and seventh walls and by way of definition defines the discharge region of the inner cup. All the walls of the preferred embodiment are angled inwardly along the longitudinal axis of the inner cup between the bottom portion and top portion to define the cone shape. Overall, the shape of the cavity of the inner cup is generally v-shaped, with the narrow end of the “v” being at the discharge region.
The unique design of the inner cup provides numerous benefits to the consumer. The shape of the inner cup directs the contents of the cup to the discharge region. The discharge region is small in width when compared to the remainder of the inner cup. By narrowing the discharge region, the food discharge is controlled, but available as long as food remains in the cavity. The wider remaining portion of the inner cup continually provides food to the discharge area to control its further movement. Additionally, the walls are shaped to continually direct the food to the discharge region. The shape of the walls facilitates continual flow of material to the discharge region. Still further, the design reduces and even eliminates bridging or plug flow.
The inner cup exterior is generally shaped to mate with the inside of the outer cup. This ensures proper orientation.
A lid is provided to close the outer cup and to hold the inner cup in the outer cup and precisely channel both liquid and food for easy simultaneous consumption. In one embodiment, the lid is formed integral with the inner cup and locks to the outer cup. In another embodiment, the lid is separate from the inner cup. With the separate lid, the lid locks to the outer cup and engages the inner cup to hold the inner cup in position within the outer cup. In both embodiments, the lid precisely channels the liquid and food for simultaneous consumption
The lid has a locking flange and a raised rim. The locking flange has the general shape of the outer cup cross section so that it can be quickly and easily positioned on the outer cup. This facilitates overall orientation of the container's components. The locking flange engages the outer cup to lock the lid to the outer cup with the inner cup positioned in the outer cup. The lid closes off the open portion of the outer cup and provides a partially closed seal for the space created between the inner and outer cup. It is only partially closed because of the dispensing hole and vent hole. For use, these could initially be closed with an adhesive seal until the container is to be used
The raised rim is generally an inverted u-shaped and is defined by a generally flat upper surface, an inner surface and an outer surface. The raised rim includes an opening in communication with the space between the inner and outer cups for the discharge of liquid from within the space. In the disclosed embodiment, the inner surface of the raised rim is shaped to compliment the inner walls of the inner cup, i.e. eight walls defining the back, side and discharge regions. As should be understood, the number of inner surface walls could change. There could be more or less walls depending upon the desired discharge control and the food being used.
The raised rim includes a discharge opening to discharge liquid from the space between the inner and outer cups. This raised rim slopes from the discharge opening with the outer and inner surfaces of the rim being longest adjacent the discharge opening. The slope is designed to allow a consumer to tilt the container without having to tilt the user's head. This allows the user to use the container without changing the user's line of sight.
In all previous attempts to create a single handed container that allows simultaneous consumption of liquids and particulates, liquid spills and drips were a significant issue for the user. Spilled milk is a problem on clothing or in the car. To overcome this problem, the raised rim also includes a unique indent formed in the outer surface of the rim closely adjacent the dispensing hole. The indent defines an edge along the side wall of the rim even with the flat upper surface of the raised rim. The edge in the desired embodiment extends outwardly from the flat surface and forms an acute angle with respect to the outer wall of the raised rim. The acute angle together with the indent of the preferred embodiment is generally arc shaped to form a comfortable and effective resting surface for the user's lower lip and reduces liquid spills.
The edge provides two important advantages. First, the edge creates surface tension on any liquid left on the dispensing region so that it does not drip on the user. Liquid will tend to flow back into the dispensing hole instead of dripping on a user. Second, the edge provides a wipe feature so that the user can wipe his or her lip during use. For example, in the event a small amount of liquid is on the user's lip, the user can wipe the edge over the lip to remove the liquid.
These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.
With reference to
In the disclosed invention, a removable seal 20 is fixed to the inner cup 14. As illustrated in
With reference to
In use, the container 10 can be sold with the liquid 26 and food 28 pre-filled so that the user merely removes the seal 20 and if used, a tamper evident seal and then consumes the food and liquid as illustrated in
With reference to
The inner cup 14 and outer cup 12 of the present invention are uniquely designed to facilitate use of the container 10. The outer cup 12 is uniquely configured to facilitate handling by the consumer and the inner cup 14 is uniquely configured to facilitate the discharge of food 28 upon tilting of the container 10. Additionally, the lid 16 is configured to prevent dripping of liquid onto the user or the surroundings. The lid combines the use of an acute angle and a cut away or indented area for the user's lower lip which is effectively self cleaning of errant liquids during normal use of the container and to facilitate use without the obstruction of the consumer's vision. This last feature is shown best in
The outer cup 12 has a mouth 30, bottom 32 and body 34. With reference to
The mouth 30 of the outer cup 12 includes a locking flange 56 for locking the lid 16 to the outer cup 12. The lid 16 has a mating flange 58 that mates with the locking flange 56 to make a fluid tight seal with respect to space 18. In the disclosed embodiment, the flanges 56 and 58 are a double interference seal and provide a compression type seal. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the locking flange 56 and mating flange 58 could be made from various other configurations other than the one example shown.
As should be appreciated, the outer cup 12 is ergonomically designed to comfortably fit a consumer's hand and to permit easy orientation of the inner cup 14 with the outer cup 12 and easy orientation of the opening 88 to the user's mouth.
The inner cup 14 has a body portion 60 defining cavity 22, top portion 65 and a bottom portion 62. In the preferred embodiment, the body 60 of inner cup 14 is defined by eight side walls, see
The lid 16 includes the mating flange 58 and a raised rim 82. In the disclosed embodiment, the raised rim 82 has the same general shape as body portion 60 of the inner cup 14. The raised rim 82 is generally an inverted u-shape, see
With reference to
As illustrated in
With reference to
With reference to
The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/617,676 filed Jul. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,105.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030157224 A1 | Aug 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09617676 | Jul 2000 | US |
Child | 10348315 | US |