Abstract:
An edible food container is provided including a first edible side, a second edible side, and a first quantity of an edible adhesive. The edible adhesive is disposed between and sealingly attaches the first and second edible sides.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to food containers and, more particularly, to edible food containers having low carbohydrate content.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The latest dieting craze includes a low carbohydrate diet. Dieters following this diet often refrain from eating such things as bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice. This means that a hamburger or hot dog must each be eaten without a bun, which can make for a messy experience. The simple solution is to eat these meals with a knife and fork. However, a knife and fork or plate may not always be available to the consumer, particularly when the consumer is driving or walking. Driving or walking consumers must be able to eat with their hands. One solution has been to wrap the hamburger or hot dog in a paper wrapping or a vegetable leaf. This approach provides something for the consumer to grasp and some amount of protection from the juices and/or condiments ubiquitous to a cheeseburger or a hot dog, but fails to provide absolute protection. A piece of wrapping paper or a vegetable leaf must be folded around the meal. This creates seams in the wrapper, which makes the wrapper vulnerable to leaking juices and/or condiments. These juices and/or condiments ultimately escape onto the consumer&#39;s hands, clothing, and/or vehicle upholstery.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     An edible food container is provided including a first edible member, a second edible member, and a first quantity of an edible adhesive. The edible adhesive is disposed between and sealingly attaches the first and second edible members.  
         [0004]     Another aspect of the present invention provides an edible food container including a first edible member, a second edible member, and a first quantity of edible adhesive. The first edible member includes a storage face and a handling face. The second edible member includes a storage face and a handling face. A portion of the handling face of the second member is disposed adjacent a portion of the storage face of the first member. The first quantity of an edible adhesive is disposed between and sealingly attaching the first and second members.  
         [0005]     A yet further aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an edible food container. Initially, a first edible member is selected. The first edible member includes a storage face and a handling face. Next, a second edible member is selected. The second edible member includes a storage face and a handling face. Then, a first quantity of an edible adhesive is applied to a portion of at least one of the handling face of the second member and the storage face of the first member. Finally, the first and second members are attached via the first quantity of the adhesive.  
         [0006]     A yet further aspect of the present invention provides an edible food container including an edible member and an edible substance. The edible substance substantially coats the edible member to retain the edible member in a predetermined shape.  
         [0007]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an edible food container in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the edible food container of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the edible food container of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the edible food container of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the edible food container of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or its uses.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an edible food container  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention generally includes a plurality of edible members  12  and an edible adhesive  14 . The members  12  are sealingly adhered together via the adhesive  14  to create a cup-shaped envelope. The container  10  is adapted to contain a meal such as a hamburger, as well as any desired condiments and/or toppings. It should be appreciated that the geometry of the container  10 , as shown  FIG. 1 , is merely exemplary and that alternative geometries are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is envisioned that the container  10  would be constructed as an elongated tub, resembling a canoe, to contain a hot dog.  
         [0016]     The plurality of members  12  includes four members  12   a - 12   d . It should be appreciated, however, that any number of members  12  could be utilized to construct a container  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the members  12  have a low carbohydrate content such as lettuce leaves. It is envisioned that in an alternative embodiment, the members  12  could include cabbage leaves, spinach leaves, or any other edible member, natural or synthetic, capable of serving the principles of the present invention. It should also be appreciated that a combination of different members could be used to form a single container  10 . For example, members  12   a  and  12   c  could be red cabbage leaves and members  12   b  and  12   d  could be spinach leaves. Each of the members  12  include a storage face  16 , a handling face  18 , a first edge  20 , a second edge  22 , and a third edge  24 .  
         [0017]     The edible adhesive  14  includes a first quantity of edible adhesive  14   a  and a second quantity of edible adhesive  14   b . It is envisioned that the edible adhesive  14  may include a sugar-based or gelatin-based adhesive. It should be appreciated that a sugar-based adhesive includes carbohydrates. Nevertheless, if the sugar-based adhesive is made with a sugar having a low glycemic index and used sparingly, carbohydrate intake and storage within the body will be minimal. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that while only sugar-based and gelatin-based edible adhesives have been disclosed herein, any edible adhesive is intended to be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0018]     The first quantity of edible adhesive  14   a  is disposed between and sealingly engages the storage face  16  of member  12   b  and the handling faces  18  of members  12   a  and  12   c . The first quantity of edible adhesive  14   a  is disposed generally adjacent the second edge  22  and third edge  24  of member  12   b , the third edge  24  of member  12   a , and the second edge  22  of member  12   c . The second quantity of edible adhesive  14   b  is disposed between and sealingly engages the storage face  16  of member  12   d  and the handling faces  18  of members  12   a  and  12   c . The second quantity of edible adhesive  14   b  is disposed generally adjacent the second edge  22  and third edge  24  of member  12   d , the second edge  22  of member  12   a , and the third edge  24  of member  12   c . It should be understood that the above-described configuration is merely exemplary and that alternative configurations providing similar results are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the arrangement of the members  12 , as well as the location of the adhesive  14 , may be varied. Furthermore, while it has been disclosed herein that the adhesive  14  is disposed adjacent to the edges of the members  12 , thereby requiring overlapping members  12 , the adhesive  14  may alternatively be applied directly to the edges of the members  12 . In such an embodiment, the handling faces  18  of members  12   a  and  12   c  would not overlap the storage faces  16  of members  12   b  and  12   d . Rather, the third edge  24  of member  12   a  would abut and adhere to the second edge  22  of member  12   b . The second edge  22  of member  12   a  would abut and adhere to the third edge  24  of member  12   d . The second  22  edge of member  12   c  would abut and adhere to the third edge  24  of member  12   b . The third edge of leaf  12   c  would abut and adhere to the second edge  22  of member  12   d.    
         [0019]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternative embodiment of an edible food container  26 . The edible food container  26  includes a plurality of members  28 , a first edible adhesive  30 , a second edible adhesive  32 , and a plurality of insulators  34 . The plurality of members  28  and the first edible adhesive  30  are identical to that described above in accordance with the first embodiment. The plurality of insulators  34  include an onion slice  34   a , a tomato slice  34   b , a plurality of pickle slices  34   c , and a slice of cheese  34   d . The second edible adhesive  32  includes a first quantity  32   a , a second quantity  32   b , a third quantity  32   c , and a fourth quantity  32   d . The first quantity of edible adhesive  32   a  is disposed between and adheres the onion slice  34   a  to member  28   a . The second quantity of edible adhesive  32   b  is disposed between and adheres the tomato slice  34   b  to member  28   b . The third quantity of edible adhesive  32   c  is disposed between and adheres the pickle slices  34   c  to member  28   c . The fourth quantity of edible adhesive  32   d  is disposed between and adheres the cheese slice  34   d  to member  28   d . The insulators  34  provide a thermal barrier between a meal (not shown) contained in the container  26  and the consumer.  
         [0020]     The meal, which may include a freshly cooked hamburger, hot dog, or similar substance, may be hot when served to a consumer. Thus, the plurality of insulators  34  decrease the thermal conductivity of the container  26 . In an alternative embodiment, each of the plurality of insulators  34  include one or more members identical to the members  28  described above. Furthermore, while the container  26  is disclosed as having an insulator  34  adhered to all of its four members  28 , it should be appreciated that a container  26  having an insulator  34  adhered to less than all of its members  28  is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Lastly, it should be appreciated that any edible matter capable of decreasing the thermal conductivity of the container  26  may be used as an insulator  34 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts another alternative embodiment of an edible food container  36 . The edible food container  36  includes an edible member  38 , a first quantity of edible adhesive  40 , and a second quantity of edible adhesive  42 . In an exemplary embodiment, the edible member  38  includes a single vegetable leaf, similar to the edible members  12 ,  28  described above with the exception of having a slightly different geometry. The edible member  38  includes a first edge  38   a , a second edge  38   b , a third edge  38   d , a fourth edge  38   d , a handling face  44 , and a storage face  46 . While the edible member  38  is disclosed herein as having four edges, an edible member  38  having more or less than four edges is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The first quantity of edible adhesive  40  is disposed on the storage face  46  generally adjacent to the first edge  38   a  of the edible member  38 . The second quantity of edible adhesive  42  is disposed on the storage face  46  generally adjacent to the third edge  38   c  of the edible member  38 . The edible member  38  is folded generally perpendicular to a mid-section of the first and third edges  38   a ,  38   c  to form a pocket that defines the container  36 . It should be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the container  36  also includes insulators  34  similar to those described above with reference to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0022]     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a method of manufacturing an edible food container  10  in accordance with the first embodiment is described. It should be appreciated that a similar method can be utilized to manufacture an edible food container  26  in accordance with the second embodiment. Initially, the edible members  12  are selected. This may include peeling the members  12  from a head of lettuce, cabbage, or other vegetable, or simply retrieving the members from a storage container. Next, the first quantity of adhesive  14   a  is applied to the storage face  16  of member  12   b . The first quantity of edible adhesive  14   a  is applied generally adjacent to the second  22  and third  24  edges of member  12   b . Next, the second quantity of edible adhesive  14   b  is applied to the storage face  16  of member  12   d . The second quantity of edible adhesive  14   b  is applied generally adjacent to the second  22  and third  24  edges of member  12   d . It is envisioned that the edible adhesive  14  may be applied to the members  12   b ,  12   d  with a brush, a roller, a spray can, or any other device. It should also be appreciated that the adhesive  14  is applied generally uniformly across the respective portions of the members  12   b ,  12   d . This provides for a generally constant seal between the members  12  when adhered together. The uniform seal decreases the potential for juice or condiments to leak through the container  10 .  
         [0023]     Once the adhesive  14  is applied, edible members  12   a  and  12   c  are attached to members  12   b  and  12   d  to form the container  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Then, a meal such as a hamburger, as well as any condiments and/or toppings, are inserted into the container  10  and served to a consumer.  
         [0024]     The second embodiment described above and illustrated in  FIG. 3 , however, requires additional steps. The additional steps include applying the second edible adhesive  32  to the storage face  16  of each of the members  28 . Next, the plurality of insulators  34  are attached to the members  28  via the second edible adhesive  32 . It is envisioned that these additional steps may be taken prior to or immediately subsequent to attaching the members  28  to form the container  26 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  depicts yet another alternative embodiment of an edible food container  48 . The edible food container  48  includes an edible member  50  substantially coated in a shape retaining substance (not shown). In an exemplary embodiment, the edible member  50  includes a single vegetable leaf, similar to edible members  12 ,  28  and  38  described above. It is envisioned that the edible member  50  may also include, however, a plurality of vegetable leaves. The plurality of vegetable leaves would be held together via the shape retaining substance. The shape retaining substance is an edible adhesive such as the sugar-based or gelatin-based adhesives discussed above. In an alternative embodiment, the shape retaining substance is a thermo-set substance such as liquid gelatin. The liquid gelatin must then be cooled and stored at a temperature below a critical temperature to retain the shape of the food container  48 . It is envisioned that the shape retaining substance may also include an added flavoring agent, one or more nutrients, and/or one or more pharmacological compositions. For example, the shape retaining substance may include hot pepper flavoring in combination with an acid-reflux or indigestion medication to preemptively combat heartburn. In an alternative embodiment, the food container  48  further includes insulators  34  similar to those described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . The insulators  34  may be attached to the edible member  50  via the coating of shape retaining substance or via supplemental quantities of edible adhesive.  
         [0026]     During preparation of the food container  48 , the edible member  50  is deposited into a mold (not shown). The mold typically includes a female portion and a male portion mating together to define a mold cavity. The mold cavity defines the shape of the food container  48 . In an exemplary embodiment, the food container takes the shape of a cup, a bowl, or similar geometry. For example,  FIG. 5  depicts the container  48  being shaped similar to half of a pita bread.  
         [0027]     The edible member  50  is deposited into the female portion of the mold. The male portion is then placed into the female portion to define the shape of the edible member  50 . With the edible member  50  disposed within the mold cavity, the shape retaining substance is injected or poured into the mold cavity. The shape retaining substance substantially coats the edible member  50 . In the embodiment wherein the shape retaining substance includes an edible adhesive, the edible adhesive is allowed to cure. In the embodiment wherein the shape retaining substance is a thermo-set liquid gelatin, the mold and substance must be refrigerated to form the container  48 . Nevertheless, once the coating solidifies, the container  48  is prepared to contain a meal such as a burger or a hot dog.  
         [0028]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.