Color coded identification system for a pack of containers
A color coded identification system for a pack of a plurality of food containers is disclosed. Each container has a receptacle member and a lid member. The receptacle member defines a first rim that includes a sealing member adapted to hermetically seal contents of the container. The receptacle member and the lid member respectively include a first identifier portion and a second identifier portion that respectively include a first and second color indicia. The lid member defines a second rim that represents a third color indicia that has a color identical with the first and second color indicia. The color of first, second, and third indicia are identical, distinct and unique for each container of the pack. The second rim includes an indentation and a plurality of protrusions to respectively facilitate a primary locking and a secondary locking between the lid member and the receptacle member.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to food containers, and more particularly, to an identification system for the food containers.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is normal practice to use a pack of identical transparent containers to store food products that have a similar look but varying tastes. These prior art containers generally include identification means such as, tags, bands and indices that allow the user to distinguish the contents of these containers.
While selecting a particular container from the pack, the user normally has to put substantial efforts in exploration and interpretation of the identification means that as a result unnecessarily wastes a user's time while selecting the container from the pack. The user may appreciate an identification system that allows them to put less effort while identifying the container from the pack.
The identification means have a tendency to get ruined or lost under such circumstances such as, a transportation of the packs in bad weather or improper handling of the containers. The inability of the prior art containers to be identified in absence of their identification means limits their convenience to many users.
A color coded identification system for the containers is needed that has an inbuilt color coded identification system that allows the user to identify the container in minimum time and without much effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA color coded identification system is described for a pack of a plurality of identical food containers. Each container of the pack includes a receptacle member and a lid member. The receptacle member of each container is adapted to accommodate or store content that has an identical appearance but varying taste. Each receptacle member has an open top end and a closed bottom end. The closed bottom end of the receptacle member defines a first identifier portion that includes a first color indicia. The lid member defines a second identifier portion that includes a second color indicia. The lid member defines a rim that includes a third color indicia. The first color indicia, second color indicia, and third color indicia have an identical color. The color code for each container of the pack is distinct and predetermined per the respective characteristics of the contents. The color codes allow the user to identify and distinguish the contents of varying characteristics such as by way of non limiting examples tastes, look, e.g. glazed, or level of preparedness e.g. raw. The identical color codes on the lid member and receptacle member ensures appropriateness between the receptacle member, receptacle contents, and the lid member.
The receptacle member includes a first rim that is provided with a food grade sealing member that hermetically seals the receptacle member to preserve freshness and crispiness of the contents. The lid member defines an indentation on the undersurface that can be engaged with the first rim of the receptacle member to facilitate a primary locking between the receptacle member and lid member. The lid includes a second rim that has an undersurface with a plurality of protrusions that are adapted to be engaged under the first rim of the receptacle member to facilitate a secondary locking between the lid and receptacle member.
The above mentioned and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views where:
Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.
Referring initially to
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First rim 24 preferably laterally extends from sidewall 18 along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis-X. First rim 24 has a top surface 40 and a bottom surface 42 that are substantially flat and define a thickness 44 that is approximately equal to the thickness 36 of sidewall 18. First rim 24 has an inner diameter 46 and an outer diameter 48 adapted to define a width 50 that allows first rim 24 to comfortably get engaged with an indentation defined by lid member 16. It is understood, however, that the dimensions of rim 24 may vary in other alternative embodiments.
Proximal end portion 20 includes a marking 52 adapted to define a highest level up to which the ingredient can be filled within receptacle member 14. Marking 52 preferably laterally protrudes inward from sidewall 18 to define a step 54 within a receptacle member 14 to be easily get identified by a user. Step 54 advantageously adds an aesthetic look to receptacle portion 14.
Proximal end portion 20 also includes a sealing member 56 that is preferably adapted to be positioned over top surface 36 of rim 22 to hermetically store the contents in container 12. Sealing member 56 has a top surface 58 and a bottom surface 60 that define a thickness 62 that advantageously allows sealing member 56 to enclose open top end 26 of receptacle member 14.
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Top surface 76 of lid member 16 includes a second identifier portion 92 that is preferably of circular shape and has a diameter 94 that is approximately three fourths the inner diameter 82 of second rim 80. Second identifier portion 92 includes information such as name and type of the content, name of manufacturer, address and trademark, net weight of the content and barcode.
Second identifier portion 92 includes a second color coded indicia 96 that is substantially identical to the first color coded indicia 74 (Refer
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Second rim 80 has an inner surface 102 that includes a plurality of protrusions 104 positioned along a perimeter of outer diameter 84. Protrusions 104 preferably inwardly extend towards the central longitudinal axis-X. Protrusions 104 have a configuration that is preferably adapted to be engaged under rim 24 of receptacle member 14 to facilitate a secondary locking between receptacle member 14 and lid member 16.
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Containers 12 of pack 10, in this one preferred embodiment, have five distinct colors 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114 on their colored indicia 74, 96 and 98. The colors 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114, in this one embodiment, are respectively red, blue, purple, green and gold, however, it is understood that they may vary as per intended application of pack 10. The colors 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114 are preferably formed by combination of appropriate proportions of predefined four base colors such as Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black, but it is understood that the base colors and their proportions may vary in other alternative embodiments with respective change in colors 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114.
Red color 106 of indicia 74, 96 and 98, in this one embodiment, represents salted item 17. Blue color 108 of indicia 74, 96 and 98, in this one embodiment, represents unsalted item 17. Purple color 110 of indicia 74, 96 and 98, in this one embodiment, represents raw item 17. Green color 112 of indicia 74, 96 and 98, in this one embodiment, represents fruit granola mix item 17. Gold color 114 of indicia 74, 96 and 98, in this one embodiment, represents glazed or confectionary item 17. It is understood, however, that colors 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114 of indicia 74, 76, and 98 may substantially vary in other alternative embodiments of pack 10 depending upon characteristics of item 17 being contained in containers 12. For example, Green color 112 of indicia 74, 96 and 98, in other alternative embodiments of pack 10, can have other shade of green color such as pantone color 112 to represent organic item 17 or Gold color 114 of indicia 74, 96, and 98, in other alternative embodiments of pack 10, can be replaced with Saffron color 114 to represent honey item 17.
Referring to
The embodiments of the invention shown and discussed herein are merely illustrative of modes of application of the present invention. Reference to details in this discussion is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to these details, or to the figures used to illustrate the invention.
Claims
1. A color coded identification system for a pack of a plurality of food containers comprising:
- a receptacle member that has a sidewall and a bottom wall adapted to respectively define an open top end and a closed bottom end, the sidewall defines a cavity adapted to accommodate contents to be packed, the open top end defines a first rim that includes a sealing member adapted to hermetically seal the receptacle member, the bottom wall of the receptacle member includes a first identifier portion adapted to define a first color indicia;
- a lid member that has a second identifier portion that includes a second color indicia, the lid member defines a second rim that includes a third color indicia, the first color indicia, the second color indicia and the third color indicia have an unique identical color that identifies and distinguishes characteristics of contents of the containers.
2. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the second rim of the lid member defines an indentation that engages with the first rim to facilitate primary locking between the receptacle member and the lid member.
3. The pack of the containers of claim 2, wherein the indentation has a width that is exactly equal to a width defined by the first rim to improve the primary locking between the receptacle member and the lid member.
4. The pack of the containers of claim 2, wherein the second rim includes a plurality of protrusions adapted to be engaged under the first rim to facilitate a secondary locking between the receptacle member and the lid member.
5. The pack of the containers of claim 2, wherein the indentation has a diameter that is approximately equal to a diameter of the first rim.
6. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the unique color codes of the containers advantageously save time and efforts of the user in identifying the particular container from the pack.
7. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the distinct color codes of the containers eliminate need of separating the containers after removing them from the pack.
8. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the color codes can be viewed from bottom, top and side views that advantageously allow the user to identify the containers from any location and by the user of any height.
9. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the first color indicia, the second color indicia and the third color indicia together ensure that each container contains respective contents per the information provided on the first and second identifier portions of the respective receptacle member and lid member.
10. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the sealing member has a diameter equal to the diameter of the first rim thereby providing a leak proof hermetic seal for the containers.
11. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the first identifier portion has a diameter that is two-thirds the diameter of a bottom end defined by the receptacle member.
12. The pack of the containers of claim 1, wherein the second identifier portion has a diameter that is three-fourths of the diameter of the second rim.
13. The pack of the containers according to claim 1, wherein said characteristics of said contents of the containers include taste.
14. The pack of the containers according to claim 1, wherein said characteristics of said contents of the containers include look.
15. The pack of the containers according to claim 1, wherein said characteristics of said contents of the containers include preparedness.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 25, 2010
Inventor: Judy Klein (New York, NY)
Application Number: 12/284,544
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);