FOLDABLE CONTAINERS IN A CATERING TROLLEY

Abstract

A set of foldable containers fitting into compartments of a catering trolley. Each foldable container comprises a casing; a foldable closure; and a bottom insert. The foldable closure is arranged to have a closed state and an open state, and may be funnel shaped. The bottom insert may serve to collect and hold fluids. In operation, food rests and tableware are deposited into the foldable container via the foldable closure in its open state. The containers may be sealed by wrapping with a covering sheet. Several containers may be packed together in a spread configuration such as to be applicable to all trolleys in an aircraft, train, bus, or ship.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61117190 filed on Nov. 23^rd 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of handling garbage, and more particularly, to depositing rests in aircrafts, trains, buses, ships and the like.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Food served in aircrafts, trains, buses, ships and the like poises special problems to crew handling it. Especially, quick, clean and safe removal of food is required to make flights, cruises and drives more comfortable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a set of at least one foldable container in at least one compartment of a catering trolley, each of the at least one foldable container comprises: a casing; a foldable closure; and a bottom insert, wherein the at least one foldable container is designed to fit into the at least one compartment of the catering trolley, wherein the foldable closure is arranged to have a closed state and an open state, wherein the foldable closure is arranged to fit closely the at least one foldable container in its closed state, and wherein operationally food rests and tableware are deposited into one of the at least one foldable container via the foldable closure in its open state.

Accordingly, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set, wherein at least one foldable closure is funnel shaped.

Accordingly, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set, further comprising a covering sheet arranged to operably wrap at least one of the foldable containers such as to seal it and prevent spillage of fluids therefrom.

Accordingly, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set, wherein the casing, the foldable closure and the bottom insert of a plurality of foldable containers are packed together in a quantity used on an aircraft, train, bus, or ship.

These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the present invention are: set forth in the detailed description which follows; possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or learnable by practice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of embodiments thereof made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a foldable container according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of a system comprising a catering trolley with two foldable containers in different sizes, according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of the foldable container in a spread state, according to some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an insert to the foldable container, in an unfolded state, according to some embodiments of the invention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of the foldable container illustrating possible content of the container, according to some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a foldable container 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. Foldable container 100 comprises a casing 104, a foldable closure 105 and a bottom insert (not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, see FIG. 4). Foldable closure 105 is arranged to have a closed state (105) and an open state (105A). Foldable closure 105A is arranged to fit closely foldable container 100 in its closed state, such that closed foldable closure 105A does not extrude from the catering trolley. In operation, food rests and tableware are deposited into foldable container 100 via foldable closure 105 in its open state.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable closure 105 may comprise a handle to ease its opening and closing. Foldable closure 105A may be funnel shaped such that rests are easily poured into foldable container 100.

Foldable container 100 may have handles 106 to allow its transportation.

Foldable container 100 may have different forms, fitting into compartments of a catering trolley, e.g., as used in aircrafts, trains, buses or ships.

Applied to a catering trolley with at least one compartment, foldable containers 100 may be designed to fit into the compartments. Foldable containers 100 may be used in any type of service trolley, and may be used to store any kind of products, as well as any kind of rests.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of a system comprising a catering trolley 110 with two foldable container 101, 102 in different sizes, according to some embodiments of the invention. The system is used for collecting items, e.g., rests from food trays from passengers, wherein the trays themselves may be stored separately, e.g., on top of catering trolley 110 and later be accommodates in catering trolley 110. The system may be utilized to collect any kind of wastes or articles from any part of the aircraft, train, bus, or ship, or generally from any source of waste in the catering area. The system may comprise a set of foldable containers 100 fitting in number and form to the number and form of the compartments in catering trolley 110. Two or more foldable containers 100 may be planned to fit a compartment in catering trolley 110, according to the required storing capacity, waste separation requirements, number of crew operating the system, sorts of rests, etc.

According to some embodiments, either foldable container 100 and/or catering trolley 110 together with foldable containers 100 may be wrapped by a covering sheet 130 that may be selected to seal foldable containers 100 and protect from spillage of rests.

Foldable containers 100 may be stored in an unfolded state and folded after food is served in the aircraft, train, bus, or ship. Foldable containers 100 may then be folded and inserted into the catering trolley. A set of foldable containers 101, 102 may be stored as a kit, wherein the foldable containers in each kit fit all compartments in catering trolley 110.

According to some embodiments of the invention. Foldable containers 100 may be integrated within catering trolley 110 in different ways. For example, foldable containers 100 may be connected to the inner sides of catering trolley 110 in a folded or unfolded states. Foldable containers 100 may line the inner sides of catering trolley 110 from within. Foldable containers 100 may be positioned in a contracted state within catering trolley 110 e.g., with their side interfolded, or separated into two parts, which may be integrated in operation. A mechanism may be used to activate foldable containers 100 placed within catering trolley 110—e.g., a sliding mechanism or an inflating mechanism.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of foldable container 100 in a spread state, according to some embodiments of the invention. Foldable container 100 is produced in the spread state. After production, foldable container 100 is folded and assembled according to the marked lines and tabs. Afterwards, foldable container 100 is brought to a flattened state which is operatively the standby state of foldable container 100. In the flattened state foldable container 100 may be packed, eventually with accessories such as a funnel (such as foldable closure 105B in a funnel design, FIG. 3B) or the bottom insert (120, see FIG. 4), and easily stored, e.g., attached to a catering trolley, or in a pack in an aircraft, train, bus, or ship. Foldable container 100 is then easily transformed into operating state by erecting its sides, e.g., by an aircraft, ship, bus or train crew.

Foldable closure 105 may or may not be an integral part of foldable container 100. Foldable closure 105 may either be connected to casing 104 in spread form, or be mounted upon folding of foldable container 100.

Foldable container 100 may comprise a cover 107 that may be used for further rests deposition or for insertion of products into foldable container 100.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a bottom insert 120 to foldable container 100, in an unfolded state, according to some embodiments of the invention. Folding lines and tabs are indicated. Bottom insert 120 may be folded to the form of a tray, inserted into foldable container 100 and be used for collecting fluids from the food rests. Bottom insert 120 may hold the fluids and enable a clean removal of the fluids. Bottom insert 120 may be curved inwardly such as to hold a specified amount of fluid.

Bottom insert 120 may be packed together with foldable container 100 as a unit for application in an catering or service trolley. The operative depth of bottom insert 120 may be adjusted to the expected amount of fluid in respect to the kinds of rests foldable container 100 is arranged to handle.

Bottom insert 120 may be part of foldable container 100 in the unfolded state, or be a separate part connectable to foldable container 100 before using foldable container 100 either in the folded or the unfolded state. Bottom insert 120 may be supplied in its folded or unfolded state.

Foldable container 100 may be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or any other foldable, disposable or recyclable material.

Foldable container 100 may further comprise a funnel (not shown) arranged to allow easy deposition into foldable container 100. The funnel may be attached to foldable container 100 in the unfolded form. The funnel may be produced separately from foldable container 100 and attached to it by gluing, attaching or assembling.

Foldable container 100 may comprise various openings for various purposes. For example, foldable container 100 may comprise an upper opening for pouring rests into foldable container 100 and a side opening for inserting products.

Foldable container 100 may be impervious and prevent leakage of fluids and spreading of smell. Foldable container 100 may further comprise means for neutralizing smells, for suppressing decomposition, for changing the viscosity of the fluids etc. Alternatively foldable container 100 may be used with dry garbage only.

Foldable closure 105 may be located on either the narrow side of foldable container 100, on its wide side, or both narrow sides of foldable container 100, in order to allow operational flexibility. Foldable closure 105 may be opened by pulling or by rolling aside a shutter. Foldable closure 105 may be opened by removing a cover. Foldable closure 105 may be located on the top of foldable container 100 and be opened by moving a shutter along rails.

Foldable container 100 may comprise several cells with respective openings. Each cell may be constructed to receive different kinds of rests, e.g., such as to support waste separation and ease further treatment.

Foldable container 100 may further comprise a bottom opening of quick removal of its content.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of foldable container 100 illustrating possible content, according to some embodiments of the invention. Foldable container 100 may comprise product reserves 140 (FIG. 5A) in an unused state, or rests 95 upon bottom insert 120.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable containers 100 may be used in sets that fir in number and formation of foldable containers 100 certain configurations of catering trolleys 110. Sets of casings 104, foldable closures 105 and bottom inserts 120 of several foldable containers 100 may be packed together in a quantity used on an aircraft, train, bus, or ship. Many foldable containers 100 may be packed in an unfolded state and tied together by a band.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable container 100 may further comprises a plurality of tabs 108 arranged to allow folding foldable container 100 to an operational state. Tabs 108 may be arranged to allow sealing foldable container 100.

According to some embodiments of the invention, foldable containers 100 may be removed from catering trolley 110 with rests 95 or after removing rests 95. In both cases, foldable container 100 is sealed to prevent leakage of fluids from rests 95.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments.

Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

The descriptions, examples, and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A set of at least one foldable container in at least one compartment of a catering trolley, each of the at least one foldable container comprises:

a casing;

a foldable closure; and

a bottom insert,

wherein the at least one foldable container is designed to fit into the at least one compartment of the catering trolley;

wherein the foldable closure is arranged to have a closed state and an open state;

wherein the foldable closure is arranged to fit closely the at least one foldable container in its closed state;

wherein the bottom insert is arranged to collect and hold fluids; and

wherein operationally rests are deposited into one of the at least one foldable container via the foldable closure in its open state.

2. The set of claim 1, wherein operationally rests are deposited into one of the at least one foldable container via the foldable closure in its open state.

3. The set of claim 1, wherein the at least one container comprise several cells with respective openings.

4. The set of claim 1, wherein at least one foldable closure is funnel shaped.

5. The set of claim 1, wherein each of the foldable containers further comprises handles.

6. The set of claim 1, wherein in the closed state, the foldable container is used to store products.

7. The set of claim 1, further comprising a covering sheet arranged to operably wrap at least one of the foldable containers such as to seal it and prevent spillage of fluids therefrom.

8. The set of claim 1, further comprising a covering sheet arranged to operably wrap the catering trolley with the foldable containers such as to seal the catering trolley and prevent spillage of fluids therefrom.

9. The set of claim 1, wherein the casing, the foldable closure and the bottom insert of a plurality of foldable containers are packed together in a quantity used on at least one of: an aircraft, a train, a bus, a ship.

10. The set of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a cover arranged to allow inserting products into the foldable container.

11. The set of claim 1, wherein the bottom insert is curved inwardly such as to hold a specified amount of fluid.

12. The set of claim 1, wherein the foldable container is made of at least one of: paper; and cardboard.

13. The set of claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable container comprises a plurality of foldable containers in an unfolded state tied together by a band.

14. The set of claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable container further comprises a plurality of tabs arranged to allow folding the foldable container to an operational state.

15. The set of claim 12, wherein the tabs are arranged to allow sealing the foldable container.

16. The set of claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable container comprises multiple openings.

17. The set of claim 14, wherein the at least one foldable container comprises an upper opening for rests and a side opening for products.