Insulated food container
Apparatus for storing food and for keeping it warm and moist comprising a substantially water impermeable pouch that bounds an insulated food warming chamber, the pouch having opposing substantially coextensive lips capable of being moved apart for providing passage to the warming chamber and for providing a partial vapor lock for inhibiting moisture from building up in the warming chamber.
This invention relates to food storage devices and, more particularly, to containers for keeping food warm and moist.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMost people enjoy eating warm tortillas, bread, rolls, cookies and other savory and sweet breads and bread-like foods. However, if freshly baked or warmed food such as these are left out, they quickly dry out and become cold. In an attempt to keep warm and moist freshly baked and warmed breads and bread-like foods, most people store them in sealed containers such as plastic bags and plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. However, freshly baked or heated bread and bread-like food gives off moisture in the form of water vapor, which invariable builds up in sealed containers and makes them soggy and unpalatable. Given the lack of containers that are constructed to keep food warm and moist, there is a need for such a container that is easy to use and construct and that keeps food warm and moist without allowing it to become soggy over an extended period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others realized in new and improved apparatus for storing food and for keeping it warm and moist. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention comprises a substantial pouch that bounds an insulated and substantially water impermeable food-warming chamber. The pouch includes opposing substantially coextensive lips capable of being moved apart for providing food passage to the warming chamber and for providing a partial vapor lock for the warming chamber. When warm food is placed into the warming chamber, it is kept warm. Warm food, such as warm tortillas and sweet and savory bread and bread-like food give off water vapor. The partial vapor lock allows water vapor to pass between the lips, which inhibits moisture from building up in the warming chamber and the food stored therein from becoming soggy. Because the vapor lock is only partial, it also ensures that the food stored in the warming chamber remains moist.
The warming chamber is insulated with insulating structure. In one embodiment, the insulating structure comprises a substantial pouch formed of joined superimposed layers of cloth and insulating material. In another embodiment, the insulating structure comprises opposing and partially joined insulators each comprising joined superimposed layers of cloth and insulating material. A closure is provided for actively and partially coupling together the lips. The closure comprises an engagement element supported by one of the lips and an opposing and detachably engagable complemental engagement element supported by the other of the lips.
Consistent with the foregoing, the invention also contemplates associated methods.
Referring to the drawings:
Referring to the drawings,
Referring back to
Pouch 11 may be prefabricated, and elements 20 and 21 may be prefabricated and then joined together and to pouch 11. In another embodiment, element 20 may be prefabricated with layer 13A and element 21 may be prefabricated with layer 13B. These prefabricated structures may then be joined together for forming apparatus 10 including pouch 11. Elements 20 and 21 are joined together with a suitable adhesive and/or sewn features, which may comprise sewn features 24 discussed in connection with
In a further and more specific aspect in regards to
The open end of pouch 11 is formed by opposing and substantially coextensive lips of sidewall 13, which are each preferably engaged to one of elements 20 and 21 by adhesive or sewing or the like. The lips of sidewall 13 are preferably substantially coextensive with and positioned substantially along lips 30 and 31. As a result, the open end of pouch 11 is directed toward and otherwise generally common with lips 30 and 31 and opening 35 defined thereby. In this regard, the open end of pouch 11 and opening 35 defined by lips 30 and 31 generally define the open end of apparatus 10, which is denoted generally in
In operation, a user may take warm food such as warm tortillas, bread, rolls or other savory or sweet bread or bread-like food, pull lips 30 and 31 apart and pass the food into chamber 14 through opening 35 and through the open end of pouch 11. By releasing lips 30 and 31, they naturally come together and rest against one another as generally shown in
As a matter of convenience, lips may be partially and mechanically or actively closed at a discrete point with a closure 50 shown generally in
The invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. For instance the outer surface of element 20 may be equipped with indicia 55 as shown in
Claims
1. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist comprising:
- a bag-like water impermeable pouch defining an internal food-receiving chamber and further defining a food passage opening in communication with the food-receiving chamber, the pouch being closed around a peripheral edge extending from one side of the food passage opening to an opposed side of the food passage opening;
- an upper insulating structure including first upper and lower cloth-like layers with a first layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the first upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a first outer edge, and the first upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a first continuous bead extending completely around the first outer edge;
- a lower insulating structure including second upper and lower cloth-like layers with a second layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the second upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a second outer edge, and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a second continuous bead extending completely around the second outer edge;
- the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure being positioned in overlying relationship with the pouch sandwiched therebetween, the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure, respectively, being joined together adjacent the edge of the pouch and coextensive with the closed peripheral edge of the pouch from one side of the food passage opening to the opposed side of the food passage opening without obstructing the food passage opening; and
- the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead forming upper and lower lips positioned in passive, non-sealing engagement with each other for the extent of the food passage opening to inhibit a build-up of moisture vapor produced from warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber for preventing warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber from becoming soggy and to allow enough moisture vapor to remain in the food-receiving chamber for keeping warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber moist.
2. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the edge of the bag-like water impermeable pouch overlies the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead over the food passage opening and forms a portion of the lips.
3. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag-like water impermeable pouch is formed of one of thin plastic and polyester film.
4. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first upper and lower cloth-like layers and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers each are formed of one of natural and synthetic cloth-like material.
5. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first layer of insulating material and the second layer of insulating material each include one of natural and synthetic insulating material.
6. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the food container is constructed microwave safe for placing food in the food-receiving chamber and heating the food in a microwave oven.
7. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag-like water impermeable pouch is a one-piece structure.
8. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist comprising:
- a circular, flat one-piece water impermeable pouch formed of one of thin plastic and polyester film, the water impermeable pouch defining a food-receiving chamber and further defining a food passage opening in an edge of the pouch in communication with the food-receiving chamber;
- a round upper insulating structure including first upper and lower cloth-like layers with a first layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the first upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a first circular outer edge, and the first upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a first continuous bead extending completely around the first circular outer edge;
- a round lower insulating structure including second upper and lower cloth-like layers with a second layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the second upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a second circular outer edge, and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a second continuous bead extending completely around the second circular outer edge;
- the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure being positioned in coextensive coaxial overlying relationship with the pouch sandwiched therebetween, the first circular outer edge and the second circular outer edge of the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure, respectively, being joined together around the periphery from one side of the food passage opening to an opposed side of the food passage opening without obstructing the food passage opening; and
- the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead forming upper and lower arcuate lips positioned in passive, non-sealing engagement with each other for the extent of the food passage opening to allow passage of food into the food-receiving chamber and to inhibit a build-up of moisture vapor produced from warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber for preventing warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber from becoming soggy and to allow enough moisture vapor to remain in the food-receiving chamber for keeping warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber moist.
9. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 8 wherein the edge of the water impermeable pouch overlies the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead over the food passage opening and forms a portion of the lips.
10. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first upper and lower cloth-like layers and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers each are formed of one of natural and synthetic cloth-like material.
11. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first layer of insulating material and the second layer of insulating material each include one of natural and synthetic insulating material.
12. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food and moist as claimed in claim 8 wherein the food container is constructed microwave safe for placing food in the food-receiving chamber and heating the food in a microwave oven.
13. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 8 wherein the water impermeable pouch is a one-piece structure.
14. An insulated tortilla container for warming tortillas and keeping tortillas warm and moist comprising:
- a circular, flat one-piece water impermeable pouch formed of one of thin plastic and polyester film, the water impermeable pouch defining a tortilla-receiving chamber and further defining a tortilla passage opening in an edge of the pouch in communication with the tortilla-receiving chamber;
- a circular upper insulating structure including first upper and lower cloth-like layers with a first layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the first upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a first circular outer edge, and the first upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a first continuous bead extending completely around the first circular outer edge;
- a circular lower insulating structure including second upper and lower cloth-like layers with a second layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the second upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a second circular outer edge, and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a second continuous bead extending completely around the second circular outer edge;
- the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure being positioned in coextensive coaxial overlying relationship with the pouch sandwiched therebetween, the first circular outer edge and the second circular outer edge of the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure, respectively, being joined together around the periphery from one side of the tortilla passage opening to an opposed side of the tortilla passage opening without obstructing the tortilla passage opening; and
- the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead forming upper and lower arcuate lips and the edge of the bag-like water impermeable pouch overlying the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead over the food passage opening and forming a portion of the arcuate lips, the arcuate lips being positioned in passive, non-sealing engagement with each other for the extent of the tortilla passage opening to allow passage of tortillas into the tortilla-receiving chamber and to inhibit a build-up of moisture vapor produced from warm tortillas disposed in the tortilla-receiving chamber.
15. An insulated tortilla container for warming tortillas and keeping tortillas and moist as claimed in claim 14 wherein the tortilla container is constructed microwave safe for placing tortillas in the tortilla-receiving chamber and heating the tortillas in a microwave oven.
16. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist comprising:
- a bag-like substantially water impermeable pouch defining an internal food-receiving chamber and further defining a food passage opening in communication with the food-receiving chamber, the pouch being closed around a peripheral edge extending from one side of the food passage opening to an opposed side of the food passage opening;
- an upper insulating structure including first upper and lower cloth-like layers with a first layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the first upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a first outer edge, and the first upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a first continuous bead extending completely around the first outer edge;
- a lower insulating structure including second upper and lower cloth-like layers with a second layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the second upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a second outer edge, and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a second continuous bead extending completely around the second outer edge;
- a layer of one of thin plastic and polyester film sandwiched in each of the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure and the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure being positioned in overlying relationship to form the pouch therebetween, the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure, respectively, being joined together adjacent the edge of the pouch and coextensive with the closed peripheral edge of the pouch from one side of the food passage opening to the opposed side of the food passage opening without obstructing the food passage opening; and
- the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead forming upper and lower lips positioned in passive, non-sealing engagement with each other for the extent of the food passage opening to inhibit a build-up of moisture vapor produced from warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber for preventing warm food disposed in the food- receiving chamber from becoming soggy and to allow enough moisture vapor to remain in the food-receiving chamber for keeping warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber moist.
17. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 16 wherein an inner surface of each of the layers of one of thin plastic and polyester film facing the food-receiving chamber has associated therewith a cloth-like layer.
18. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist as claimed in claim 16 wherein the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure are joined together by sewing to form the bag-like substantially water impermeable pouch to allow enough moisture vapor to remain in the food-receiving chamber for keeping warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber moist.
19. An insulated food container for warming food and keeping food warm and moist comprising:
- a bag-like pouch defining an internal food-receiving chamber and further defining a food passage opening in communication with the food-receiving chamber, the pouch being closed around a peripheral edge extending from one side of the food passage opening to an opposed side of the food passage opening;
- an upper insulating structure including first upper and lower cloth-like layers with a first layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the upper insulating structure including a first layer of water impermeable material, the first upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a first outer edge, and the first upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a first continuous bead extending completely around the first outer edge;
- a lower insulating structure including second upper and lower cloth-like layers with a second layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween, the lower insulating structure including a second layer of water impermeable material, the second upper and lower cloth-like layers defining a second outer edge, and the second upper and lower cloth-like layers being joined and reinforced in a second continuous bead extending completely around the second outer edge;
- the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure being positioned in overlying relationship to form the pouch therebetween, the first outer edge and the second outer edge of the upper insulating structure and the lower insulating structure, respectively, being joined together adjacent the edge of the pouch and coextensive with the closed peripheral edge of the pouch from one side of the food passage opening to the opposed side of the food passage opening without obstructing the food passage opening; and
- the first continuous bead and the second continuous bead forming upper and lower lips positioned in passive, non-sealing engagement with each other for the extent of the food passage opening to inhibit a build-up of moisture vapor produced from warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber for preventing warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber from becoming soggy and to allow enough moisture vapor to remain in the food-receiving chamber for keeping warm food disposed in the food-receiving chamber moist.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 28, 2008
Date of Patent: Apr 26, 2011
Inventor: Richard Rubin (Rio Rico, AZ)
Primary Examiner: Jes F Pascua
Attorney: Parsons & Goltry
Application Number: 12/072,899
International Classification: B65D 33/08 (20060101); B65D 33/00 (20060101); B65D 33/01 (20060101); B65D 33/02 (20060101);