Container

Abstract

The present invention comprises a container for presenting foodstuff and other items in a reliable yet appealing fashion. The container includes a sidewall having an inner surface, wherein the sidewall is configured to substantially define a container volume, the volume being partially defined by an upper edge formed in a top section of the sidewall. Additionally, the container includes a center section that is substantially centrally positioned within the volume defined by the sidewall. The center section is configured to hold foodstuff or other items in the area defined by the center section. The container also includes at least one channel contacting the inner surface, the channel being configured to hold an item placed about the upper edge of the container. The channel can be either integrally formed as part of the inner surface or the channel can be otherwise attached to inner surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to containers employed to ornamentally display items placed therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Serving certain foods or displaying other items in a fashion that is both appealing to the eye and functional is often difficult. For example, fashionably presenting shrimp for consumption has long been a problem. The geometry of shrimp, a general c-shape, entices servers to place shrimp around an upper edge of bowls or other containers. However, the shrimp's natural unbalanced center of mass makes serving or displaying shrimp around the upper edge of a bowl a difficult proposition; the shrimp tend to fall or otherwise dislodge themselves when subjected to even mild disturbances, for example, the removal of one shrimp relative to another. Alternatively, serving shrimp on a platter or other flat surface is another practice that is commonly employed. Although serving shrimp or other items on a flat plate is inherently more stable, an arrangement of shrimp lying flat is not visually appealing.

[0003] The present invention is directed to a device for maintaining shrimp or other items around the upper edge of bowls or the like that overcomes the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention comprises a container for presenting foodstuff and other items in a reliable yet appealing fashion. The container includes a sidewall having an inner surface, wherein the sidewall is configured to substantially define a container volume, the volume being partially defined by an upper edge formed in a top section of the sidewall. Additionally, the container includes a center section that is substantially centrally positioned within the volume defined by the sidewall. The center section is configured to hold foodstuff or other items in the area defined by the center section. The container also includes at least one channel contacting the inner surface, the channel being configured to hold an item placed about the upper edge of the container. The channel can be either integrally formed as part of the inner surface or the channel can be otherwise attached to inner surface.

[0005] As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a reliable structure for a visually pleasing presentation of foodstuff or other items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevated view of a container made in accordance with the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is an elevated view of one possible employment of the container made in accordance with the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 is an elevated view of an alternative embodiment for the container of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 4 is an elevated view of a multiple container assembly made in accordance with the present invention; and,

[0011] FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment for the container of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] The present invention provides a device for holding items about an upper edge of a bowl, glass or other similar container. By way of overview and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one presently preferred embodiment of the instant invention includes a container 20 including a sidewall 22 having an upper edge 24, a lower edge 26, an inner surface 28, and an outer surface 30; a plurality of channels 32 disposed about inner surface 28 of sidewall 22 having a depth 34 used to hold items, such as shrimp 36; and a center section 38a substantially centrally disposed within container 20 used to connect vertically arranged containers 20 (see FIG. 4) or to support items placed therein. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, container 20 may further include one or more handles 40, preferably attached to outer surface 30 of sidewall 22. Specific details of container 20 are described with more particularity below.

[0013] As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, in a presently preferred embodiment, channels 32 are located at an upper section of inner surface 28 of the container's sidewall 22. The upper surface of channels 32 are disclosed as being flush, or otherwise even with upper edge 24 of container 20. However, the upper surface of channels 32 may extend above the upper edge of the container or may be located below the upper edge of the container (not shown). Likewise, depth 34 of channels 32 is variable. More specifically, the channel depth can be merely a fraction of the overall depth of the container, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, or the depth may extend substantially the entire depth of the container, or a distance therebetween (not shown).

[0014] In a presently preferred embodiment as depicted in the FIGURES, channels 32 are substantially cylindrical shaped members. However, any other channel geometry, for example, c-shaped, t-shaped, or elliptical, is considered within the scope of this invention. Likewise, the spacing of one channel relative to another is not a limiting factor. FIGS. 1-4 depict an embodiment having channels abutting one another. Conversely, as depicted in FIG. 5, the container can also be configured with non-abutting channels 32, or arrangements of both abutting and non-abutting channels (not shown).

[0015] As depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, an embodiment of the invention includes a container 20 having a center section 38 that may vary in structure. Generally speaking, the center section 38 is the area of the container 20 that occupies the space between substantially diametrically opposed channels 32. Center section 38 can take substantially any form. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, center section 38a is a substantially cylindrical shaped section wherein sauces or other items may be placed. Further, center section 38a can also be used as part of a connecting unit when two or more containers 20 are used collectively as depicted by tower 60 of FIG. 4. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5, center section 38b can be an open void. Typically this arrangement is found with soup or salad bowls where a more open center section 38b is desired. Conversely, center section 38c can be the relatively small section located between otherwise abutting channels 32, as depicted in FIG. 4 (container 60). This configuration is typically employed with relatively smaller containers 20.

[0016] The novel features of the instant invention are employable with containers formed from any material. In a presently preferred embodiment, the container is a glass material, either colored or clear. However, any material choice for the container, for example, plastic, Plexiglas, ceramic, wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy, is considered within the scope of this invention. The material choice of channels 32 may or may not be constructed of the same material as container 20. By way of example, the bowl portion of the container may be a ceramic material while channels 32 may be constructed from a glass material. Thus, the overall appearance of the container can be varied to yield a desired visual appearance of the container.

[0017] The manner in which channels 32 are attached to or formed in container 20 is largely a function of the manufacture process and/or material choice for the container, and is not intended to limit the scope of the instant invention. More specifically, where the container is constructed from a material that is easily molded, such as a plastic, channels 32 can be formed as a single piece with the formation of container 20. Conversely, when the material choice or method of manufacture of the container 20 is such that forming channels 32 with the container 20 is not efficient, or otherwise undesirable, the channels can be attached to the container by any manner otherwise commonly know in the art, for example, by an adhesive.

[0018] A novel feature of the instant invention is that the use of channels 32 is not limited to the geometry or overall style of container 20. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, containers 20 (and 60) have a substantially cylindrical shape, while in FIG. 3, container 50 has a substantially wine glass shape. In FIG. 5, container 70 has a rounded bowl shape. Consequently, the scope of the instant invention shall not be limited by the geometry of the container 20. Rather, the scope of the instant invention covers substantially any container having a sidewall 22 defining an upper edge 24.

[0019] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a sidewall having an inner surface configured to substantially define a container volume, the sidewall having an upper edge forming a top of the sidewall;

a center section, the center section being substantially centrally positioned within the sidewall; and,

at least one channel contacting the inner surface, the channel being configured to hold an item placed about the upper edge of the container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is constructed from a material that is at least one of a clear glass, colored glass, plastic, Plexiglas, ceramic, wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel has a geometry that is at least one of a substantially cylindrical, c-shaped or t-shaped element.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the at least one channel is integrally formed as part of the inner surface.

5. The container of claim 3, wherein the at least one channel is separate structure attached to the inner surface.

6. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle attached to the container.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein a plurality of containers are connected to form a multi-container display.

8. A container, comprising:

a sidewall having an inner surface configured to substantially define a container volume, the sidewall having an upper edge forming a top of the sidewall;

a center section, the center section being substantially centrally positioned within the sidewall; and,

a means for holding an item placed about the upper edge of the container.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the container is constructed from a material that is at least one of a clear glass, colored glass, plastic, Plexiglas, ceramic, wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy.

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the means for holding an item is at least one of a substantially cylindrical, c-shaped or t-shaped element.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the means for holding an item is integrally formed as part of the inner surface.

12. The container of claim 10, wherein the means for holding an item is a separate structure attached to the inner surface.

13. The container of claim 8, further comprising at least one handle attached to the container.

14. The container of claim 8, wherein a plurality of containers are connected to form a multi-container display.

15. A container, comprising:

a sidewall having an inner surface configured to substantially define a container volume, the sidewall having an upper edge forming a top of the sidewall; and,

at least one channel, the channel having a top edge, the channel contacting the inner surface, the channel being configured to hold an item placed about the upper edge of the container;

wherein the top edge of the at least one channel is substantially flush with the upper edge.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the container is constructed from a material that is at least one of a clear glass, colored glass, plastic, Plexiglas, ceramic, wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy.

17. The container of claim 15, wherein the at least one channel has a geometry that is at least one of a substantially cylindrical, c-shaped or t-shaped element.

18. The container of claim 15, further comprising at least one handle attached to the container.

19. The container of claim 15, wherein a plurality of containers are connected to form a multi-container display.

20. The container of claim 15, further comprising a center section, the center section being substantially centrally positioned within the sidewall.