PAPER FOOD CONTAINER

Abstract

A food container has an integrated lid and an arcuate recess. The arcuate recess provides a sightline to determine when the container is full and cooperates with the lid when the lid is closed. The lid of the food container is integrally formed with a wall section of the food container. A score line separates the lid section from the wall section, and the lid section can be moved from an open position to a closed position by folding along the score line. The score line preferably extends partially about the container between first and second points on an upper edge of the container, and the arcuate recess extends about the remainder of the container between the first and second points on the upper edge of the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/683,195, filed May 20, 2005 and entitled Paper Food Container, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field of the Inventions

The inventions relates generally to containers for food products and, more particularly, to a container that is configured to enclose food placed therein with an integrated lid.

2. Description of the Related Art

Food containers are often used in the restaurant industry for holding various types of food, such as french fries, hash browns, onion rings, and other finger foods. Restaurants commonly use containers with open tops to hold such food when providing it to the consumer. For example, some restaurants provide finger foods to the consumer in a cup that includes a plastic lid.

Existing products that are used by restaurants have several shortcomings. First, the open food containers that are used increase the likelihood that the food contained therein will be spilled by either an employee or the consumer. Additionally, the open food containers expose heated foods to ambient air and, consequently, the food quickly cools. This may be undesirable for a consumer who intends to purchase the food at the establishment and eat the food at his or her home. When the consumer arrives at home, the food may have cooled.

Another shortcoming of the food containers that are often used by restaurants is that the food containers may be configured with a separate lid. These food containers may be configured as a beverage cup with a plastic lid. This configuration may make it difficult for the consumer to access the food with one hand. The consumer is required to hold the cup with one hand and with the other hand grasp the lid and remove it from the food container. When the consumer decides to cover the food container, the consumer is required to hold the food container with one hand and grasp the lid with a second hand to place the lid on the food container. Additionally, the consumer runs the risk of losing or damaging the lid, which would render the food container lidless or the lid inoperable.

Some restaurants use folded food containers that are folded in order to place the food therein. Several of these folded designs have openings on the base through which grease, sauce, dressing, or other liquids may leak. Additionally, several of the folded designs are not configured to fit in a cup holder.

The existing products also have several shortcomings with respect to usage by employees in preparation of the food. For example, with several current designs, employees are required to use a separate two-way scoop whereby they scoop the food after it is prepared and slide it into the food container. When the food is provided in an overhead bin, the employees also may have difficulty determining when the food is filled in the food container to an appropriate level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

Aspects of the present inventions provide a food container that comprises an integrated lid that may be folded over the top of the container. The lid is preferably manufactured as part of the food container, and prevents or reduces the likelihood of food contained therein from easily being spilled or from losing heat. Additionally, the integrated lid described herein is configured to permit operation thereof with one hand, and as the lid is part of the food container itself the lid is less likely to be lost or damaged. Further, the food container described herein is configured to fit in a standard cup holder and to reduce or prevent spillage from the food container Additionally, the food container comprises a recessed portion that may permit an employee, when filling the container with food, to easily determine when the level of food has reached a certain fill point.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention involves a container comprising a base and a body having a wall section and a lid section. The wall section extends from the base to a top edge to define an inner space within the container. The top edge has an arcuate section such that the top edge dips from a first height above the base to a second lower height above the base. The lid section is integrally formed with the wall section, with an arcuate score line being disposed between the lid section and the wall section. The score line extends from a first point along the top edge to a second point along the tope edge and is sufficiently deep to hingedly link the lid section to the wall section. The lid section is movable from an open position to a closed position by hingedly folding along the score line.

Another aspect of the present invention involves a container that includes a base and a body. The body has a score line that defines at least a wall and an integral lid. The wall extends upward from the base and includes an arcuate section along a top edge of the wall. The arcuate section is disposed above the base such that a point on the arcuate section, which is closest to the base, corresponds with a desired fill level of the container. The arcuate section and the score line are disposed on opposite sides of the base.

In accordance with a preferred method of indicating a desired fill level for contents of a container having an integrated lid section, a body of the container is scored to define an arcuate score line, which defines a wall section and a lid section. The wall section is formed with an arcuate section having a substantially similar shape to the arcuate score line. The body of the container is positioned relative to a base such that a minimum distance between the arcuate section and the base corresponds to a desired fill level for the container. The body is attached to the base with the arcuate score line and the arcuate section being disposed on opposite sides of the base. The steps of this method of course need not be performed in the order described above.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain embodiments, advantages, and features of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such embodiments, advantages, or features are required in any particular embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-identified features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention now will be described with reference to the drawings of several preferred embodiments, which embodiments are intended to illustrate and are not intended to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a food container in accordance with principles of the invention described herein.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the food container illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the food container illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the food container of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the closed food container of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6a is a bottom view of an embodiment of the food container in accordance with principles described herein.

FIG. 6b is a bottom view of another embodiment of a food container.

FIG. 6c is a bottom view of another embodiment of a food container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONS

With reference to the figures, certain embodiments will be described, which embodiments provide a food container that is configured to enclose food placed therein with an integrated lid.

The present invention provides aspects, features, embodiments, and advantages of a food container that comprises an integrated lid. In one embodiment, the lid may be folded to cover the top opening of the container. The body of the container and the lid portion are preferably integrally manufactured. As described herein, the lid is preferably part of the food container, thus the lid is less likely to be lost or damaged. The container is also configured to permit a worker using one hand to manipulate the lid between an open configuration and a closed configuration. When the lid is closed, the lid can prevent or reduce spillage and heat loss from the container. The lid of the container can also provide an integrated scoop that permits employees to scoop up foods when the lid is in the open configuration. A recessed portion is preferably provided that permits an employee to easily reference when the food level has reached a certain point while filling the food container from a holding bin (for example, from an overhead bin).

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the food container 20 comprises a food containing portion 22 and a lid portion 24. The lid portion 24 is preferably manufactured as part of the food containing portion 22, and the two portions 22, 24 may be made of the same material. The food container 20 also comprises a front side 26, a rear side 28, a top 30, and a base 32. The food containing portion 22 preferably defines a volume in which food may be placed for containment. The food containing portion 22 extends from the base 32 toward the top 30 to a point where the rear of the food containing portion 22 is adjacent to the lid portion 24. The food containing portion may be manufactured in accordance with standard manufacturing processes for producing common restaurant industry beverage cups. For example, the food container 20 may generally comprise paper with a coating, having a base 32 that can be press fit or glued to the food containing portion 22. The food container 20 may also be manufactured with other materials. For example, the container 20 may comprise plastic that is formed by thermal forming, injection molding, etc.

In one embodiment, the food containing portion 22 preferably includes, on the top front portion, an arcuate edge 34 that extends towards the front 26 from two diametrically opposed folding corners 36. In other embodiments, the two folding corners 36 may be located in positions that are not diametrical. The arcuate edge 34 preferably has an arcuate edge base 38 toward the front 26 of the food container 20. As shown in the illustrated FIG. 1, the arcuate edge base 38 is the closest portion of the arcuate edge 34 to the base 32.

Preferably adjacent the lid portion 24 and the food containing portion 22 is an arcuate crease or score line 40 that extends toward the rear 28 and base 38 of the food container 20 from the folding corners 36. In some modes, the arcuate score line 40 can be perforated. Toward the top of the lid portion 24 is preferably a forward lip 42 that is situated at a farthest distance from the base 38 along an arcuate lip 44, which arcuate lip 44 preferably extends toward the rear 28 and top 30 of the food container 20 between the folding corners 36. The forward lip 42 is located at a farthest point along the arcuate lip 44 from the base 32.

In one embodiment, the base 32 may have a cross-sectional measurement, or diameter, of about 2 inches. In other embodiments, the base 32 may have a cross-sectional measurement of between about 1.5 inches and about 3 inches. In yet other embodiments, the base 32 may have a cross-sectional measurement less than about 1.5 inches and greater than about 3 inches.

In one embodiment, the arcuate edge base 38 may be about 4 inches from the base 32. In some embodiments, the base 38 may be between about 2.5 inches and about 6 inches from the base 32, and in other embodiments, the base 38 may be less than about 2.5 inches and greater than about 6 inches.

In one embodiment, a cross-sectional measurement, or diameter, of the food container portion 22 at the arcuate edge base 38 may be about 3 inches. In some embodiments, the measurements may be between about 2 inches and about 5 inches. In yet other embodiments, the measurement may be less than about 2 inches and greater than about 5 inches.

In one embodiment, the folding corners 36 may be located about one-half of the cross-sectional measurement (e.g., half of the diameter) of the food container portion 22 rearwardly of the arcuate edge base 38. In some embodiments, the folding corners 36 are located the length of a radius R from the arcuate edge base 38. In some embodiments, the folding corners 36 may be located between about one-third and about two-thirds of the cross-sectional measurement of the food container portion 22 rearwardly of the arcuate edge base 38. In other embodiments, the folding corners 36 may be located less than about one-third and more than about two-thirds of the cross-sectional measurement of the food container portion 22 rearwardly of the arcuate edge base 38.

The folding corners 36 may be a length L1 above the arcuate edge base 38. In one embodiment, the folding corners 36 are about 1.5 inches above the arcuate edge base 38. In some embodiments the folding corners 36 may be between about 1 inch and about 2.5 inches above the base 38. In yet other embodiments, the folding corners 36 may be less than about 1 inch and more than about 2.5 inches above the base 38.

The arcuate edge 34 and the arcuate lip 44 preferably define a top opening 46 of the food container 20. The top opening 46 may be configured to extend from the front 26 of the food container 20 to the rear 28 of the food container 20 at about a 45° angle with respect to a plane defined by the base 32. In some embodiments, the angle of the top opening 42 may range from about 30° to about 60° with respect to the plane defined by the base 32. In other embodiments, the top opening 46 may extend at an angle less than about 30° or more than about 60° with respect to the base 32.

In some embodiments, the angle may be uniform while in other embodiments the top opening 46 may assume multiple shapes or angles. For example, the top opening 46 may assume a sinusoidal shape, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, the top opening 46 assume irregular shapes.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the arcuate crease 40, which delineates the transition of the food container 20 between the lid portion 24 and the food containing portion 22, preferably extends between the folding corners 36 rearwardly toward the base 32 to form an arcuate crease base 48. The arcuate crease base 48 is preferably the closest point along the arcuate crease 40 to the base 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In some embodiments, the arcuate crease base 48 is the same distance from the base 32 as the arcuate edge base 38.

In one embodiment, the arcuate crease base 48 is about 4 inches above the base 32. In some embodiments, the arcuate crease base 48 may be between about 2.5 inches and about 6 inches from the base 32, and in other embodiments, the base 48 may be less than about 2.5 inches and greater than about 6 inches from the base 32.

In one embodiment, the forward lip 42 is a length L2 above the arcuate crease base 48. For example, the forward lip 42 may be about 3 inches above the arcuate crease base 48. In some embodiments, the forward lip 42 is between about 2 inches and about 5 inches above the arcuate crease base 48. In yet other embodiments, the forward lip 42 is less than about 2 inches and more than about 5 inches above the arcuate crease base 48.

In some embodiments, the semi-cylindrical shape of the food portion 22 or base 32 has an axis. In a preferred embodiment, the arcuate edge base 38 is about 1.5 inches from the axis. In other embodiments, the arcuate edge base 38 is between about 1 inch and 2.5 inches from the axis. In further embodiments, the arcuate edge base 38 is less than about 1 inch and more than about 2.5 inches from the axis. The folding corners 36 may be diametrically aligned about the axis, or the folding corners 36 may be offset from the axis such that a chord between the two folding corners 36 does not intersect the axis.

The arcuate crease 40 is preferably configured such that when the forward lip 42 is pressed toward the front side 26 of the food container 20, the lid portion 24 folds along the arcuate crease 40 between the folding corners 36, and the forward lip 42 is brought or pressed forward toward the arcuate edge base 38. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, when the food container 20 is in an open position, the lid portion is convexly shaped toward the rear 28. When the lid portion 24 is closed, such as shown in FIG. 4, the lid portion 24 may assume a concave shape extending between the folding corners 36.

When in the open configuration, the arcuate lip 44 is in a convex configuration and the arcuate edge 34 is in a concave configuration. In one embodiment, when the lip portion 24 is brought forward to close the top of the container, the arcuate lip 44 inverts to assume a concave configuration similar to that of the arcuate edge 34. In some embodiments, when closed, the arcuate lip 44 is configured to be substantially aligned with the concave configuration of the arcuate edge 34. Accordingly, the forward lip 42 is situated adjacent to the arcuate edge base 38.

When the lip portion 24 is in the closed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid portion 24 preferably covers the food containing portion 22. When closed, the food container 20 may permit a small amount of space between the lid portion 24 and the arcuate edge 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, or the lid portion 24 may be configured to press against the arcuate edge 34 when closed. Various configurations of the food container 20 may be achieved by altering the location of the folding corners 36 and the arcuate crease 40.

Preferably, the food container 20 has a lid portion 24 that is capable of bi-stable positioning. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the lid portion is in the open position, the lid portion is in a stable position. However, when the lid portion is brought forward, the lid portion will preferably either open, or if extended towards the front 26 of the food container 20, the concave shape of the lid portion 24 biases the lid portion 24 to close, such as illustrated in FIG. 4. The bi-stable positioning can increase the likelihood that food will be kept within the food container 20 when closed. Additionally, the consumer is only required to open or close the lid portion 24 partially and the lid portion will move into the desired position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the food container 20 is a closed position, the bi-stable feature of the lid portion reduces the likelihood that food will fall out of the top opening 46 if the food container 20 is tipped or dropped is reduced. Additionally, when the lid portion 24 is in a closed position, the lid portion 24 reduces the amount of heat that escapes from the food through the top opening 46. Further, because the lid portion 24 is part of the food container 20 and manufactured integrally with the food containing portion 22, the lid portion 24 is less likely to detach from the food containing portion 22 than are other commonly used lids by restaurants. Accordingly, the lid of the food container 20 is less likely to be lost or damaged.

The bi-stable feature of the lid portion 24 also permits the consumer to operate the food container 20 with a single hand. To close the lid, the consumer may press on the rear of the lid portion 24 until the lid portion 24 is brought forward toward the front side 26 of the food container 20 until the lid portion 24 extends beyond a bi-stable point, at which point the lid portion 24 will assume the closed position. When this is accomplished, the lid portion 24, which had a convex configuration in the open position, assumes a concave configuration and is biased in the closed position.

To open the food container 20, the consumer presses rearwardly and upwardly on the front side of the lid portion 24 until the lid portion 24 extends rearwardly of the bi-stable point, at which point the lid portion 24 will assume a convex configuration and be biased in the open position. As used herein, “bi-stable point” is used in its ordinary sense and is meant to include, without limitation, a point at which the lid portion 24 may assume any one of a plurality of positions. For example, in one embodiment, this point may be defined as the location at which the lid portion 24 switches between the convex and concave configurations. In some embodiments, this point may be different when switching from convex to concave than when switching from concave to convex.

Further advantages that are realized by the food container 20 may be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the top opening 46 is configured to permit the food container 20 to scoop food from a bin. The forward lip 42 and the arcuate lip 44 form a scoop that permits an employee or a consumer to scoop food with the food container 20.

The arcuate edge 34 also permits an employee to easily reference the level of food that is placed in the food container 20 until the food rises to the level of the arcuate edge 34. For example, when an employee fills the container 20 with food from an overhead bin, or hopper, the arcuate edge 34 permits the employee see inside the food containing portion 22. When the level of food raises to a predetermined or desired level, which may be adjacent the arcuate edge base 38, the employee may know that the food container 20 is adequately filled. In one embodiment, the arcuate edge base 38 is closer to the base 32 than any other point along the top opening 46, thereby permitting the employee to look therein to determine whether the level of food has reached an adequate level.

In one embodiment, the food container 20 is intended to hold food to the level of the arcuate edge base 38. In this embodiment, the employee may see into the food containing portion through the arcuate edge 34 until the food rises in the food containing portion 22 to the arcuate edge base 38. This is particularly advantageous with respect to overhead bins, in which food is dropped into a food container, making it particularly difficult for an employee to determine the level of food that is within the food container.

In some embodiments, the food container 20 may have a circular base 32, as illustrated in FIG. 6a. Preferably, the food container 20 is configured to permit placement thereof in a commonly-used cup holder that is used by either the restaurant industry establishment for providing drinks to a consumer or a consumer's cup holder located within an automobile. Other base configurations may also be used in which the food container 20 is configured to fit within a cup holder. Other such embodiments may include an oval shape, such as illustrated in FIG. 6b, or a polygonal shape, as illustrated in FIG. 6c. Other shapes of bases may also be used, for example, the base may also be irregularly-shaped.

Although the lid portion is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as assuming a convex shape in the open position and a concave shape in the closed position, the lid portion 24 may assume multiple shapes, such as polygonal shapes, irregular shapes, etc. Further, although the folding corners 36 are described as being diametrically opposed along the top opening 46, the folding corners 36 may have configurations in which they are not diametrically opposed. Although the arcuate edge 34 and the arcuate lip 44 are described as assuming arcuate shapes, it is contemplated that the arcuate edge 34 and the arcuate lip 44 may assume other shapes, such as polygonal shapes, irregular shapes, etc.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the present invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of present invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a base; and

a body having a wall section and a lid section; the wall section extending from the base to a top edge to define an inner space within the container, the top edge having an arcuate section such that the top edge dips from a first height above the base to a second lower height above the base; and the lid section being integrally formed with the wall section with an arcuate score line disposed between the lid section and the wall section, the score line extending from a first point along said top edge to a second point along the top edge and being sufficiently deep to hingedly link the lid section to the wall section, the lid section being movable from an open position to a closed position by hingedly folding along the score line.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of the base comprises a circle.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the arcuate section on the top edge of the wall section has a substantially similar shape to that of the arcuate score line between the lid section and the wall section.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the arcuate section of the top edge of the wall section is diametrically opposed to the arcuate score line between the lid section and the wall section.

5. The container of claim 3 wherein the arcuate section of the top edge is substantially symmetrical with the arcuate score line.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the arcuate section on the top edge of the wall section and the arcuate score line are substantially symmetrical and are disposed on opposites sides of the wall section.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the height of the top edge at its lowest point corresponds with a desired fill level of the container.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid section is configured to have bi-stable positioning.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid section adjacent the score line has a convex outer side when the lid section lies in the open position and has a concave outer side when the lid lies in the closed position.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid section includes an outer edge that extends between the first and second points on the upper edge and at least a section of the outer edge having a curved shape.

11. A container comprising:

a base; and

a body having a score line that defines at least a wall and an integral lid, the wall extending upward from the base and including an arcuate section along a top edge of the wall, the arcuate section being disposed above the base such that a point on the arcuate section, which is closest to the base, corresponds with a desired fill level of the container, and the arcuate section and the score line are disposed on opposite sides of the base.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein the lid is configured to be used as a scoop when in the open position.

13. The container of claim 11 wherein the lid is configured to have bi-stable positioning.

14. The container of claim 11 wherein when the lid is in a closed position a first side of the top edge substantially meets a second side of the top edge.

15. The container of claim 11 wherein a point of intersection of the arcuate section and the score line is an axial distance of 1 inch to 2.5 inches from the point on the arcuate section which is closest to the base.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein a point of intersection of the arcuate section and the score line is an axial distance of 1.25 inches to 1.75 inches from the point on the arcuate section which is closest to the base.

17. The container of claim 11 wherein the arcuate section comprises ⅓ to ⅔ of the top edge of the wall.

18. The container of claim 11 wherein a cross-section of the container has a radius R, and wherein a point of intersection of the arcuate section and the score line is a radial distance of 0.8 R to 1.2 R from the point on the arcuate section, which is closest to the base.

19. The container of claim 11 wherein a cross-section of the container has a radius R, and wherein a point of intersection of the arcuate section and the score line is a radial distance of ⅔ R to 4/3 R from the point on the arcuate section, which is closest to the base.

20. A method of indicating a desired fill level for contents of a container having an integrated lid section, the method comprising:

scoring a body of a container to define an arcuate score line, the score line defining a wall section and a lid section,

forming a wall section of a container with an arcuate section having a substantially similar shape to the arcuate score line;

positioning the body relative to a base such that a minimum distance between the arcuate section and the base corresponds to a desired fill level for the container; and

attaching the body to the base with the arcuate score line and the arcuate section being disposed on opposite sides of the base.