Abstract:
A food container includes a food-receiving element configured for receiving a food product and a napkin attached to the food-receiving element, wherein the napkin contains paper. The napkin is attached to the food-receiving element so as to be useable by a diner eating food contained within the food-receiving element without becoming unintentionally detached therefrom. A cover sheet configured for covering at least a portion of the food product is optionally interposed between the food-receiving element and the napkin.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 11/228,417, filed Sep. 17, 2005. The entire contents of the parent application are hereby incorporated herein by reference, except that in the event of any inconsistent disclosure or definition from the present specification, the disclosure or definition herein shall be deemed to prevail. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present teachings relate generally to containers for food. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The consumption of fast food products (e.g., hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, pizza slices, French fries, and the like) frequently results in the soiling of a diner&#39;s fingers, lips and/or clothes—especially though not necessarily when the food products were obtained from stands and kiosks that do not also provide customer seating and/or tables for the diner&#39;s convenience (e.g., at sporting events, concerts, street corners, and the like). As a result, it is generally desirable for a diner to have ready access to a sufficient supply of paper napkins when consuming a fast food product. 
         [0004]    Although paper napkins may be desirable and, indeed, necessary from a fast food diner&#39;s point of view, a great deal of waste is generated by their use—particularly in view of an all-too common tendency for diners to take more paper napkins than are actually necessary, which oftentimes results in the unused napkins simply being discarded at the end of the meal. To discourage the use of disposable products such as paper napkins and food containers, the city of Oakland, Calif. passed a so-called “litter tax” (ordinance 12727) in February 2006, which levies a fee against fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations in an effort to reduce waste of the type described above. 
         [0005]    In addition to the problem of waste, paper napkins used in outdoor settings are frequently caught up by the wind and blown away from the diner due to their lightweight construction. As a result, in certain venues, paper napkins are simply not available to diners since serious problems could arise from an improperly discarded napkin. By way of example, no napkins are typically provided with fast foods sold at motorsports venues since a paper napkin could blow across the track while a race is in progress with potentially disastrous consequences including considerable damage to the racecars resulting from blocked radiators and/or brake air inlets, and injuries to the drivers from crashes resulting from diminished windshield visibility. Nevertheless, eating fast food products (which typically are dressed with one or more messy condiments such as mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, pickle relish, sauerkraut, onions, and the like) without having ready access to a paper napkin can present a significant hardship for a diner. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
         [0007]    By way of introduction, a first food container includes (a) a food-receiving element configured for receiving a food product; and (b) a napkin attached to the food-receiving element. The napkin contains paper. 
         [0008]    A second food container includes (a) a food-receiving element configured for receiving a food product; (b) a cover sheet attached to the food-receiving element along a first edge of the cover sheet and configured for covering at least a portion of the food product received in the food-receiving element; and (c) a napkin attached to the cover sheet along at least a portion of a second opposing edge of the cover sheet, wherein the napkin contains paper. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first food container in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the food container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the food container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a second food container in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the food container of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a third food container in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the food container of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a fourth food container in accordance with the present teachings in which napkin  6  is shown stored within envelope  12 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the food container of  FIG. 8  in which napkin  6  is shown withdrawn from envelope  12 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the food container of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of a fifth food container in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the food container of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    By way of introduction, food containers having a user-accessible napkin that remains attached to the food container during use have been discovered by the present inventor and are described herein. The attached napkins are less susceptible to wind forces and undesirable blowing due to the increased weight that results from their attachment to the food containers. Moreover, since each food container contains its own attached napkin, a diner is thereby discouraged from taking an excess of paper napkins, thus controlling the amount of waste generated. After consumption of the food product contained in the food container, the diner can easily discard the paper napkin together with the food container to which it remains attached, thus minimizing the potential for improper disposal that exists when a food container is separated from a paper napkin. 
         [0022]    By way of general introduction, a food container in accordance with the present teachings includes a food-receiving element configured for receiving a food product, and a napkin attached to the food-receiving element. In some embodiments, the napkin comprises paper. 
         [0023]    The geometries and dimensions of the food-receiving element and napkin are in no way restricted and include all manner of regular and irregular geometric shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is selected from the group consisting of wrappers, trays, baskets, bowls, pouches, envelopes, boxes, plates, dishes, bags, pails, cups, glasses, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is rigid and configured to hold its shape upon receipt of the food product (e.g., a clamshell-type box, a soup bowl, etc.). In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is deformable and configured to conform to a shape of the food product received therein (e.g., a wrapper). 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is configured to at least partially enclose a food product on at least two sides. In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is configured to at least partially enclose a food product on at least three sides (e.g., a tray). In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is configured to reversibly enclose a food product substantially completely on all of its sides (e.g., a Chinese food “to go” container, a pizza-shaped box, etc.). 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper; plastic; metal leaf (also known as composition leaf or schlagmetal), which includes but is not limited to aluminum foil, tin foil, and the like, and a combination thereof; extruded polystyrene foam such as that sold under the tradename STYROFOAM by the Dow Chemical Company; wax; and the like; and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises a recycled, recyclable, and/or biodegradable material. In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises paper. In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises wax paper. In some embodiments, at least one surface of the food-receiving element comprises a foil lamination (e.g., aluminum foil, tin foil or the like). 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises a biodegradable material which, in some embodiments, comprises a hydro-biodegradable plastic (HBP). In some embodiments, the HBP is derived from an agricultural resource including but not limited to corn, wheat, sugar cane, fossils, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the HBP is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate (PHBV), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene terephthalate (PTA), and the like, and combinations thereof. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises a biodegradable material which, in some embodiments, comprises an oxo-biodegradable plastic (OBP). In some embodiments, the OBP comprises a polyolefin containing a catalytic amount of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and the like, and combinations thereof. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the napkin comprises an absorbent material which, in some embodiments, is derived from cellulose pulp. In some embodiments, the napkin comprises paper. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the napkin is attached to the food-receiving element along at least a portion of an edge of the food-receiving element. In some embodiments, the napkin is attached to the food-receiving element by welding (e.g., ultrasonic welding, RF welding, etc.) and/or by a fastener selected from the group consisting of adhesives, tapes, staples, stitches, and the like, and combinations thereof. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the napkin is optionally detachable from the food-receiving element. In some embodiments, detachment of the napkin from the food-receiving element is facilitated through the provision of perforation marks along an edge of the napkin (e.g., adjacent the food-receiving element). 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, an area of the napkin is larger than an area of the food-receiving element. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is about one. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is between about one and about two. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is between about one and about three. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is between about one and about four. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is less than about ten. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is less than about eight. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is less than about six. In some embodiments, a ratio of an area of the napkin to an area of the food-receiving element is less than about five. 
         [0032]    Of course, it is to be understood that the geometric configurations, dimensions, thicknesses, and absorbabilities of the food container and/or napkin of a food container in accordance with the present teachings can each be varied in accordance with the type of food product to be consumed and its particular characteristics. By way of example, traditionally messier sandwiches—such as Italian beef sandwiches, Italian sausage sandwiches, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and the like—can be paired with larger, thicker, and/or more absorbent napkins and/or with more robust and less deformable food-receiving elements (e.g., a structurally rigid paper tray). 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element comprises an envelope having an envelope cavity configured for communicating with an exterior of the envelope through an envelope mouth. In some embodiments, the napkin is dimensioned to fit through the envelope mouth and into the envelope cavity. In some embodiments, the napkin is attached to the envelope adjacent to the envelope mouth. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, a food container in accordance with the present teachings further includes a cover sheet interposed between the food-receiving element and the napkin. The cover sheet serves to cover at least a portion of a food product contained on the food-receiving element until such time as a user is ready to consume it, thereby helping to keep the food product sanitary (e.g., by preventing contamination from insects, wind-blown debris, and the like. In some embodiments, the cover sheet is deformable and configured to conform to a shape of the food product received therein. In some embodiments, the cover sheet comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, metal leaf, wax, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the cover sheet comprises paper. In some embodiments, the cover sheet comprises wax paper. In some embodiments, at least one surface of the cover sheet comprises a foil lamination (e.g., aluminum foil, tin foil or the like). 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is attached to the cover sheet along at least a portion of a first edge of the cover sheet, and the napkin is attached to the cover sheet along at least a portion of a second opposing edge of the cover sheet. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the food-receiving element is attached to the cover sheet by welding and/or by a fastener selected from the group consisting of adhesives, tapes, staples, stitches, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the napkin is attached to the cover sheet by welding and/or by a fastener selected from the group consisting of adhesives, tapes, staples, stitches, and the like, and combinations thereof. 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, one or more surfaces of the food-receiving element and/or the napkin and/or the optionally present cover sheet have been treated with an agent that promotes sanitary conditions for the food product to be received in the food container, thus minimizing the risk of contamination by bacteria and/or other microbes responsible for the transmission of foodborne illnesses (e.g.,  Salmonella, Listeria, Pseudomonas, Clostridium difficile , and the like). Such agents include but are not limited to anti-microbial agents, anti-bacterial agents, anti-viral agents, anti-parasitic agents, anti-prion agents, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, all surfaces of the food receiving element and/or the napkin and/or the optionally present cover sheet are treated with an agent that promotes sanitary conditions for the food product to be received in the food container. In some embodiments, only those surfaces of the food receiving element and/or the napkin and/or the optionally present cover sheet that are configured to contact the food product to be received in the food container are treated with an agent that promotes sanitary conditions for the food product. 
         [0038]    Building upon the preceding general introduction to food containers in accordance with the present teachings, representative examples are now described in reference to  FIGS. 1-12  for the purpose of illustration. It is to be understood that elements and features of the various representative embodiments described below and shown in  FIGS. 1-12  may be combined in different ways to produce additional embodiments that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. The drawings and the description below have been provided solely by way of illustration, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 1-3  show a first food container  2  in accordance with the present teachings. As best shown by  FIGS. 2 and 3 , food container  2  comprises a napkin  6  attached to a food-receiving element  4 . As best shown by  FIG. 3 , napkin  6  is attached to food-receiving element  4  along one edge of food-receiving element  4 . 
         [0040]    The food-receiving element  4  may be any type of container including but not limited to a wrapper (e.g., made of a material such as aluminum foil and/or tin foil), a plate, a dish, a soup container, or the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, food-receiving element  4  is a sheet of a deformable material (e.g., an aluminum foil or tin foil wrapper) as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In other embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the food-receiving element is a plate  8  (e.g., a paper plate). In still other embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the food-receiving element is a dish  10  (e.g., a disposable cardboard rectangular dish). 
         [0041]    In use, a food product contained in the food container  2  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  can be served wrapped in food-receiving element  4  with the napkin  6  co-extending from food-receiving element  4 , as best shown in  FIG. 1 . If the diner so desires, napkin  6  can be allowed to hang from food-receiving element  4  during use. When the diner desires to eat the food product, food-receiving element  4  is at least partially removed from the food product. That portion of the food product which is not yet eaten may be held in food-receiving element  4 , and the diner may periodically avail himself of napkin  6  to remove soil from his fingers, hands, mouth, clothes, and the like. Napkin  6  is manufactured from an absorbent material including but not limited to paper napkins, paper towels, and the like. 
         [0042]    For simplicity, napkin  6  is shown in the drawings as a single, unfolded sheet of napkin material. However, it is to be understood that napkin  6  may be folded in any desired manner and unfolded as desired during use. 
         [0043]    Napkin  6  may be attached to food-receiving element  4  by all manner of fasteners including but not limited to adhesives, tapes, heat bonding, staples, welding (e.g., ultrasonic, RF, etc.), and the like, and combinations thereof. 
         [0044]    After food served in food-receiving element  4  has been eaten and napkin  6  is no longer needed, the entire food container  2  in which napkin  6  remains attached to food-receiving element  4  can be discarded in an appropriate trash receptacle. Moreover, even if food container  2  is dropped on the ground rather than in a trash receptacle, the weight of food-receiving element  4  will counteract the tendency for napkin  6  to be carried by a wind, thus avoiding the “blown napkin” problem described above. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a second food container  2  in accordance with the present teachings in which the food-receiving element is provided by a plate  8 . In some embodiments, plate  8  is a disposable paper plate. In other embodiments, plate  8  is a disposable plastic plate. 
         [0046]    In use, a food product can be served on plate  8  with napkin  6  disposed either below plate  8 , above plate  8  (thereby serving as a cover for the food product), or hanging free. When a user desires to eat a food product contained on plate  8 , napkin  6  may be moved below plate  8  or allowed simply to hang free and at the ready for future use. As described above, if napkin  6  was initially provided in a folded state, it may be unfolded by the user prior to use. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show a third food container  2  in accordance with the present teachings in which the food-receiving element is a dish  10 . In some embodiments, dish  10  is a paper dish. In other embodiments, dish  10  is a plastic dish. 
         [0048]    In use, a food product can be served on dish  10 , with napkin  6  disposed either below dish  10 , above dish  10  (thereby serving as a cover for the food product), or hanging free. When a user desires to eat a food product contained on dish  10 , napkin  6  may be moved below dish  10  or allowed simply to hang free and at the ready for future use. As described above, if napkin  6  was initially provided in a folded state, it may be unfolded by the user prior to use. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 8-10  show a fourth food container  2  in accordance with the present teachings in which the food-receiving element is an envelope  12 . Napkin  6  is attached to and configured to be stored within envelope  12 , as best shown by  FIGS. 8 and 10 , or to be withdrawn from envelope  12 , as best shown by  FIG. 9 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , the envelope  12  comprises an envelope cavity  16  that communicates with an exterior of envelope  12  through an envelope mouth  14 . Napkin  6  is attached to envelope  12  at envelope mouth  14 , and is sized to fit (either in a folded or unfolded state) within envelope cavity  16  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, envelope  12  is manufactured from aluminum foil, tin foil, waxed paper or the like. When a user desires to eat a food product contained in envelope  12 , the food product can be at least partially withdrawn from envelope  12  and envelope  12  can be used to support the food product during consumption. When a diner wishes to use napkin  6 , napkin  6  can be withdrawn from envelope cavity  16  through envelope mouth  14 , as indicated by arrow  18  in  FIG. 9 . As described above, if napkin  6  was initially provided in a folded state, it may be unfolded by the user prior to use. 
         [0052]    Further embodiments of a food container  2  in accordance with the present teachings comprise an envelope  12  attached to a napkin  6  (e.g., as described above), which is further attached to another food-receiving element of a type described herein or the like. In such embodiments, napkin  6  can remain stored within envelope cavity  16  until needed, at which point napkin  6  can be withdrawn from envelope cavity  16  through envelope mouth  14 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show a fifth food container  2  in accordance with the present teachings in which the food-receiving element comprises a plate  8 , which is attached to a cover sheet  20 , which in turn is attached to a napkin  6 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , plate  8  is attached to one edge of cover sheet  20  and napkin  6  is attached to an opposite edge of cover sheet  20 . In some embodiments, cover sheet  20  is aluminum foil or tin foil. In other embodiments, cover sheet  20  is wax paper. When a user desires to eat a food product contained on plate  8 , cover sheet  20  is folded away from plate  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , thereby rendering a food product on plate  8  available for consumption. 
         [0055]    Of course, although the food container  2  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  depicts a plate  8  as its food-receiving element, other food-receiving elements including but not limited to those mentioned herein can likewise be used in accordance with the present teachings. 
         [0056]    After use, as with all other embodiments of a food container  2  described herein, the food container  2  can be discarded, and the weight of the food-receiving element  4  in combination with the cover sheet  20  be relied upon for helping prevent food container  2  from being caught up and borne away by the wind. 
         [0057]    The foregoing detailed description and accompanying drawings have been provided by way of explanation and illustration, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Many variations in the presently preferred embodiments illustrated herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and remain within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.