Food container with a utensil receiving structure

Abstract

A food container with a utensil receiving structure includes a container body, a partitioning member, and at least one engaging member. Each of the engaging members may be provided on the partitioning member or the container body for engaging utensils, such as knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, etc., thereby forming a food container with utensils attached thereto so as to eliminate the trouble to bring along utensils during picnic or the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a food container with a utensil receiving structure, more particularly to a food container for containing instant noodles, soups, or the like, which requires adding of hot water into the food container before serving, the food container having utensils attached thereto.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Instant noodles or soups packaged in cups are quite popular today since they are ready to serve after adding hot water. However, the consumers have to prepare utensils if they forget to ask for a spoon or chopsticks at the stores. It would be much inconvenient if the consumers are going on a picnic and forget to bring the utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore, the primary object of the invention is to provide a food container with a utensil receiving structure to enhance the added value of food products.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a food container with a utensil receiving structure which ensures that consumers are provided with utensils.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a food container with a utensil receiving structure which can be stacked so as to save space and reduce transportation costs.

[0008] Still another object of the invention is to provide a food container with a utensil receiving structure in which the utensils are hygienic.

[0009] In order to achieve the above objects, a food container with a utensil receiving structure of this invention includes a container body, a partitioning member, and at least one engaging member. Each of the engaging members may be provided on the partitioning member or the container body for engaging utensils, such as knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, etc. By virtue of the covering member which seals the utensils in the container body, a hygienic set of food container and utensils is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which,

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a food container with a utensil receiving structure 1 is shown to include a container body 12, a partitioning member 14, at least one engaging member 16, a covering member 18 and a connecting member 20.

[0017] The container body 12 is a tubular member having a predetermined length, shape and two open ends.

[0018] The partitioning member 14 is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match the inner periphery of the container body 12, and is disposed in a predetermined part of the container body 12 along a horizontal axis so as to divide the container body 12 into two receiving chambers with two predetermined volumes.

[0019] Each of the engaging members 16 is provided on the partitioning member 14, and includes two projecting pieces 60 which are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and which are adapted for engaging utensils, such as chopsticks, spoons, knives, forks, thereon.

[0020] The connecting member 20 has a projecting edge with a predetermined width and is annularly provided at the inner periphery of the container body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16 such that it is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the outer end edge of the container body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16.

[0021] The covering member 18 is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match the connecting member 20, and is adhered to the connecting member 20 opposite to the engaging members 16. The outer periphery of the covering member 18 is provided with a projecting lug 80 to facilitate pulling off of the covering member 18 so as to permit access to the utensils.

[0022] The food container with a receiving structure according to the invention has the following features:

[0023] 1. Utensils can be attached to the food container to eliminate the user's trouble of bringing utensils therewith.

[0024] 2. The invention can enhance the added value of food products.

[0025] 3. The utensils are sealingly enclosed in the food container and thus meet hygiene requirements.

[0026] 4. The covering member 18 in generally is formed from a relatively smooth aluminum foil or polypropylene film material. In the invention, when the container body 12 with the covering member 18 is placed on the shelf, the covering member 18 will not contact the shelf, thereby preventing slippage from the shelf. Furthermore, since the covering member 18 will not come into contact with the outside, it is not vulnerable to damage, thereby ensuring hygiene.

[0027] 5. If the container body 12 is configured to be a tubular member having two ends with different diameters, and the utensils are disposed inside the container body 12, it can be stacked on another container body 12 so as to save space and transportation costs.

[0028] In the invention, the connecting member 20 can be dispensed with, and the outer periphery of the covering member 18 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the outer periphery at one end of the container body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16 and is adhered to one end of the container body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the connecting member 20 is not provided, and each of the engaging members 16 is configured to be two boss-shaped engaging members 16 disposed oppositely on the inner periphery of the container body 12 along the horizontal axis. The invention further includes a cover member 22 having an outer periphery shaped to match the shape of the inner periphery of the container body 12 provided with the two boss-shaped engaging members 16 such that the cover member 22 can be press into the container body 12 to be engaged by the boss-shaped engaging members 16 to form an enclosed end. The outer periphery of the covering member 18 is shaped to match the shape of the outer periphery of the cover member 22, and is adhered to the outer end of the cover member 22. In addition, the cover member 22 may be formed to have point-connecting but removable utensils during molding.

[0030] In the invention, the two boss-shaped engaging members 16 may be a single one. In this case, the cover member 22 is slantingly fit into the container body 12 until the bottom edge thereof is retained by the engaging member 16. Then, with the engaging member 16 as a fulcrum, the cover member 22 can be press into the container body 12.

[0031] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A food container with a utensil receiving structure, comprising:

a container body which is a tubular member having a predetermined length, shape and two open ends; and

a partitioning member which is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match an inner periphery of said container body, and which is disposed in a predetermined part of said container body along a horizontal axis so as to divide said container body into two receiving chambers with two predetermined volumes;

wherein:

a covering member is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match and secured at one end of said container body.

2. A food container with a utensil receiving structure, comprising:

a container body which is a tubular member having a predetermined length, shape and two open ends; and

a partitioning member which is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match an inner periphery of said container body, and which is disposed in a predetermined part of said container body along a horizontal axis so as to divide said container body into two receiving chambers with two predetermined volumes;

wherein:

at least one engaging member is provided at a predetermined part of said partitioning member.

3. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 2, further comprising a covering member which is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match one end of said container body on the same side as said engaging members and secured at one end of said container body on the same side as said engaging members.

4. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 1, further comprising a connecting member which has a projecting edge with a predetermined width and is annularly provided at the inner periphery of said container body on the same side as said engaging members such that said connecting member is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the outer end edge of said container body, said covering member being secured onto said connecting member.

5. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 3, further comprising said connecting member has a projecting edge with a predetermined width and is annularly provided at the inner periphery of said container body on the same side as said engaging members such that it is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the outer end edge of said container body on the same side as said engaging members, said covering member being secured onto said connecting member oppositely of said engaging members.

6. A food container with a utensil receiving structure, comprising:

a container body which is a tubular member having a predetermined length, shape and two open ends; and

a partitioning member which is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match an inner periphery of said container body, and which is disposed in a predetermined part of said container body along a horizontal axis so as to divide said container body into two receiving chambers with two predetermined volumes;

wherein:

two engaging members which are separately provided at predetermined parts of an inner periphery of said container body; and

a cover member which is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match such that said covering member can be pressed into said container body and engaged by said engaging members.

7. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 6, wherein only one engaging member is provided.

8. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 6, further comprising a covering member which is a plate member having an inner periphery shaped to match the shape of the outer periphery of said cover member and secured on said cover member.

9. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 7, further comprising a covering member which is a plate member having an inner periphery shaped to match the shape of the outer periphery of said cover member and secured on said cover member.

10. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 1, wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.

11. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 3, wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.

12. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 4, wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.

13. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 5, wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.

14. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 8, wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.

15. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 9, wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.

16. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided with a projecting lug.

17. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 3, wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided with a projecting lug.

18. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 4, wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided with a projecting lug.

19. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 5, wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided with a projecting lug.

20. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 8, wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided with a projecting lug.

21. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 9, wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided with a projecting lug.

22. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of

claim 6, wherein said cover member may be formed with point-connecting but removal utensils during molding thereof.