Single handed container for mixing foods

The present invention is a container for dispensing two foods simultaneously, such as for example a beverage, such as milk, and a particulate food, such as cereal. The container has an outer cup, an inner cup that fits in the outer cup forming a space between the two and a lid to close the outer cup and hold the inner cup in the outer cup. The outer cup is adapted to hold a beverage in the space between the outer cup and the inner cup. The inner cup is adapted to hold a food product. The outer cup is ergonomically shaped to fit well in a user's hands. The inner cup has a plurality of walls to facilitate the flow of food from the inner cup. The walls define a cavity that is generally v-shaped having a discharge side which is narrower than the opposite side of the cavity. The lid of the preferred embodiment has a raised rim with a small discharge opening in fluid communication with the space between the inner and outer cups. The raised rim has a slope with the highest point being at the discharge opening. The raised rim also defines a generally v-shaped opening in communication with the cavity of the inner cup. The slope of the raised rim and the v-shaped opening allow the container to be tilted without the user's head being tilted.

BACKGROUND

Convenience foods are very popular with consumers. Typically convenience foods are defined as foods that can be eaten with one hand while on the run, are easily disposable, and have little or no clean-up and mess. On the run is generally considered to be while driving a car, walking, camping, etc. With this definition, a beverage and particulate food, such as for example cereal and milk, is typically not considered to be a convenience food since it normally cannot be eaten while driving, walking etc., normally requires a bowl and spoon and can be messy to eat on the run.

In a move to make breakfast consumption more convenient, to make it a convenience type food, many manufacturers have offered breakfast bars, breakfast sandwiches and other breakfast foods which can be consumed with a single hand. There have also been several attempts to construct a container which stores cereal and milk separately, allows the two to be mixed when consumed and allows the consumer to eat the mixture with a single hand.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,588,561 and 5,753,289, issued to Ness, describe a container for holding cereal and milk in separate compartments. Cereal is placed in the inner, inflexible container, while milk is placed in the outer flexible container. Cereal is shaken from the inner, inflexible container into the consumer's mouth and the consumer then squeezes the outer flexible container to squirt milk into the consumer's mouth. In this manner, the cereal and the milk are mixed inside the consumer's mouth. The Ness patents require rotation of the portable food container to a dispensing position before the consumer can use the product. A need exists for a simplified single-handed container, which will allow an individual to consume cereal and milk or other beverage and food combinations with a single hand while walking, hiking, camping, driving, etc.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,068, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describes various embodiments of a one-handed container for dispensing a particulate solid food and a liquid. The containers described in the '068 patent have two compartments separated by a partition. One compartment contains particulate solid food and the other contains a liquid. Dispensing of the solid food and liquid is regulated by use of one hand.

In most embodiments, the liquid is dispensed by sucking on a straw and the particulate solid food is dispensed by tilting the container to allow the food to flow from the container. In many of these embodiments, the liquid is dispensed from one side of the container, the container is then turned and the particulate solid food dispensed from the opposite side. In all these embodiments, the liquid and particulate solid food are dispensed separately.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, the container has a shell composed of flexible material. The partition is sloped to promote pouring of the particulate solid food and to help the liquid in the other compartment from spilling. When the shell is squeezed, the edge of the partition is displaced to allow liquid to flow out of the compartment when the container is tilted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved container for dispensing a liquid beverage and a consumable food, preferably a particulate food which is dry and flowable, simultaneously. One combination of liquid beverage and food that can be dispensed simultaneously is milk and cereal. Other combinations could be cheese snacks and soda, pretzels and beer, etc.

The container of the present invention includes an outer cup, an inner cup nested in the outer cup and a lid that closes the outer cup and retains the inner cup with respect to the outer cup. In the preferred embodiment, the lid interlocks with the outer cup. In use, the liquid beverage can be added to the outer container and then the inner container with the consumable food can be inserted into the outer cup. In one embodiment, the lid is integral with the inner cup and in another the lid is separate from the inner cup. The lid has a dispensing opening that is in fluid communication with the outer cup and a vent hole to facilitate even fluid flow. When the cup is tilted, the liquid and food can be simultaneously poured from the container.

The container can be marketed with the beverage and the food pre-filled in the container. In this way, the container is simply opened by peeling off or back a label on the lid, and used by the consumer. Another method of marketing the container is to have the inner cup pre-filled and sealed in the inner cup. The consumer then would add the liquid to the outer container and insert the inner container. Again the lid would interconnect the inner and outer cups and provide the dispensing opening. A third alternative would be to pre-fill the outer cup and allow the consumer to fill the inner cup. A still further alternative would be to allow the consumer to fill both cups.

The outer cup has a mouth, bottom and body. The body is generally defined by a cross-section having first and second sides. A flat portion generally defines the first side of the body and an arcuate or curved portion generally defines the second side of the body. A small flat area is generally opposite the flat portion of the body. This shape provides an ergonomic design that is very comfortable for the user. It also provides a quick method of orientation of the cup by the user.

The inner cup has a body portion defining a cavity, top portion and a bottom portion. The inner cup is defined by a plurality of walls with the walls sloping from the bottom portion to the top portion to create a unique cone shape to provide controlled discharge of food or channeling from the inner cup. One difficulty with dispensing dry materials is that the material can bridge or plug which inhibits or prevents flow. As the user tries to get the food to flow, the flow can release in an uncontrolled fashion once the bridge is lost resulting in food spilling out. An example is when a potato chip bag is tilted to get the last of the chips. At first the chips can be blocked, and then when the block is removed they spill over the person. The shape of the inner cup reduces and can even prevent the bridging or plugging problem. In the disclosed embodiment, the inner cup includes eight walls. It should be understood that less or more walls could be used to provide the desired controlled discharge of food from the inner cup.

The eight walls include a first arcuate wall or back region, said first arcuate wall is concave with respect to the cavity. Second and third walls extend from the first wall. By way of definition, the second and third walls have been included in the definition of the back region in describing the invention. The second and third walls curve in a convex direction with respect to the cavity. Fourth and fifth walls extend from the second and third walls respectively and sixth and seventh walls extend from the fourth and fifth walls respectively. These walls have for definitional positions been defined as the side region of the inner cup. The fourth and fifth walls of the disclosed invention are slightly curved in the convex direction with respect to the cavity. The sixth and seventh walls curve in the concave direction with respect to the cavity. An eighth wall joins the sixth and seventh walls and by way of definition defines the discharge region of the inner cup. All the walls of the preferred embodiment are angled inwardly along the longitudinal axis of the inner cup between the bottom portion and top portion to define the cone shape. Overall, the shape of the cavity of the inner cup is generally v-shaped, with the narrow end of the “v” being at the discharge region.

The unique design of the inner cup provides numerous benefits to the consumer. The shape of the inner cup directs the contents of the cup to the discharge region. The discharge region is small in width when compared to the remainder of the inner cup. By narrowing the discharge region, the food discharge is controlled, but available as long as food remains in the cavity. The wider remaining portion of the inner cup continually provides food to the discharge area to control its further movement. Additionally, the walls are shaped to continually direct the food to the discharge region. The shape of the walls facilitates continual flow of material to the discharge region. Still further, the design reduces and even eliminates bridging or plug flow.

The inner cup exterior is generally shaped to mate with the inside of the outer cup. This ensures proper orientation.

A lid is provided to close the outer cup and to hold the inner cup in the outer cup and precisely channel both liquid and food for easy simultaneous consumption. In one embodiment, the lid is formed integral with the inner cup and locks to the outer cup. In another embodiment, the lid is separate from the inner cup. With the separate lid, the lid locks to the outer cup and engages the inner cup to hold the inner cup in position within the outer cup. In both embodiments, the lid precisely channels the liquid and food for simultaneous consumption

The lid has a locking flange and a raised rim. The locking flange has the general shape of the outer cup cross section so that it can be quickly and easily positioned on the outer cup. This facilitates overall orientation of the container's components. The locking flange engages the outer cup to lock the lid to the outer cup with the inner cup positioned in the outer cup. The lid closes off the open portion of the outer cup and provides a partially closed seal for the space created between the inner and outer cup. It is only partially closed because of the dispensing hole and vent hole. For use, these could initially be closed with an adhesive seal until the container is to be used

The raised rim is generally an inverted u-shaped and is defined by a generally flat upper surface, an inner surface and an outer surface. The raised rim includes an opening in communication with the space between the inner and outer cups for the discharge of liquid from within the space. In the disclosed embodiment, the inner surface of the raised rim is shaped to compliment the inner walls of the inner cup, i.e. eight walls defining the back, side and discharge regions. As should be understood, the number of inner surface walls could change. There could be more or less walls depending upon the desired discharge control and the food being used.

The raised rim includes a discharge opening to discharge liquid from the space between the inner and outer cups. This raised rim slopes from the discharge opening with the outer and inner surfaces of the rim being longest adjacent the discharge opening. The slope is designed to allow a consumer to tilt the container without having to tilt the user's head. This allows the user to use the container without changing the user's line of sight.

In all previous attempts to create a single handed container that allows simultaneous consumption of liquids and particulates, liquid spills and drips were a significant issue for the user. Spilled milk is a problem on clothing or in the car. To overcome this problem, the raised rim also includes a unique indent formed in the outer surface of the rim closely adjacent the dispensing hole. The indent defines an edge along the side wall of the rim even with the flat upper surface of the raised rim. The edge in the desired embodiment extends outwardly from the flat surface and forms an acute angle with respect to the outer wall of the raised rim. The acute angle together with the indent of the preferred embodiment is generally arc shaped to form a comfortable and effective resting surface for the user's lower lip and reduces liquid spills.

The edge provides two important advantages. First, the edge creates surface tension on any liquid left on the dispensing region so that it does not drip on the user. Liquid will tend to flow back into the dispensing hole instead of dripping on a user. Second, the edge provides a wipe feature so that the user can wipe his or her lip during use. For example, in the event a small amount of liquid is on the user's lip, the user can wipe the edge over the lip to remove the liquid.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIG. 1, the single handed container for mixing foods of the present invention is shown generally at10. As illustrated, the container10has an outer cup12and an inner cup14, seeFIG. 3. The inner cup14fits into the outer cup12and includes a lid16that seals the inner cup14to the outer cup12. In this embodiment, the lid16is integral with the inner cup14. As will be described in more detail below, the inner cup14fits within the outer cup12to form a space18between the inner14and outer12cup; seeFIGS. 3 and 5. In the preferred embodiment, the inner cup14, outer cup12and lid16are made of polypropylene, but numerous other materials could be used, such as paper, Styrofoam, glass, etc.

In the disclosed invention, a removable seal20is fixed to the inner cup14. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the removable seal20seals the cavity22of the inner cup14and in particular its contents and the dispensing opening88and vent hole90. In the disclosed embodiment, the seal20has an adhesive to adhere the seal20to the surface24of lid16. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art of packaging that numerous different seals could be used to seal the cavity22. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular type or method of sealing. In addition to the seal20, tapes, overwraps, shrink bands to name just a few, which can be tamper evident, can be placed around the lid16and the perimeter of the inner cup14to seal the lid16to the outercup14, if desired. For example, if pretzels are prefilled into the inner cup with seal20to preserve freshness and the filled inner cup is placed into an empty outer cup, it would be preferable to place a tamper evident seal on the inner cup and outer cup connection so users would be assured that the outer cup is sanitary. Further, it may be desirable to overwrap empty single handed containers to provide consumers a tamper evident seal ensuring cleanliness and overall sanitation.

With reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As can be seen, a liquid26, such as for example milk as shown, or soda, beer, etc. is poured into the space18. In the preferred embodiment, the space18is designed to hold ½ pint of liquid or roughly 10 ounces, but could be designed to hold any desired quantity of liquid26, for example the amount could be about 4 ounces to 40 ounces, etc. Then inner cup14fits into the outer cup12. The inner cup14in the disclosed embodiment contains a food28, such as for example cereal as shown, or peanuts, pretzels, potato chips, etc. As indicated above, cavity22, dispensing opening88and vent hole90are preferably sealed by seal20. In the disclosed embodiment, the inner cup holds about 30 to 60 grams of low bulk density particulate food, but any amount could be used.

In use, the container10can be sold with the liquid26and food28pre-filled so that the user merely removes the seal20and if used, a tamper evident seal and then consumes the food and liquid as illustrated inFIGS. 7,8and9. Or the container can be sold with the outer cup12empty and the inner cup14filled and sealed. The consumer would then fill the outer cup12with liquid26and assemble the inner cup14to the outer cup12. The seal20can be removed and the two products consumed as illustrated inFIGS. 7,8and9. In another method of use, the consumer could fill both the inner cup14and the outer cup12.

With reference toFIGS. 7,8, and9, and particularly with reference toFIG. 9, the consumption of food and liquid is illustrated. As can be seen, when the cup10is tilted, the liquid26and the food28, flow out of space18and the cavity22and generally simultaneously enter the consumers mouth. In this way, the consumer receives the crisp dry food and liquid joined at the time of consumption, much the same as eating for example cereal and poured milk from a bowl with a spoon. Obviously, the consumer can easily control the amount of liquid and food received by manipulating his or her mouth and tongue on the lid16. Depending upon how much the consumer opens his or her mouth and/or tongue will determine the relative amount of food28and liquid26received at a given time. Another important advantage of the present invention is that it solves the traditional serving time problem encountered with ready to eat cereals that are eaten with a spoon from a bowl with poured milk. Normally, ready to eat cereal can lose some of its crispness when it stays in milk for a long period of time. Since cereal of the present invention is not in the milk, there is no serving time problem.

The inner cup14and outer cup12of the present invention are uniquely designed to facilitate use of the container10. The outer cup12is uniquely configured to facilitate handling by the consumer and the inner cup14is uniquely configured to facilitate the discharge of food28upon tilting of the container10. Additionally, the lid16is configured to prevent dripping of liquid onto the user or the surroundings. The lid combines the use of an acute angle and a cut away or indented area for the user's lower lip which is effectively self cleaning of errant liquids during normal use of the container and to facilitate use without the obstruction of the consumer's vision. This last feature is shown best inFIGS. 7 and 8. These unique designs will discussed in greater detail below.

The outer cup12has a mouth30, bottom32and body34. With reference toFIG. 11, the body34is ergonomically designed and is generally defined by a cross-section having first36and second sides38. A flat area40generally defines the first side36of the body34and an arcuate area42generally defines the second side38of the body34. The second side38also includes a small flat area44generally opposite the flat area40. In the preferred embodiment, the flat area40is joined to the arcuate area42by a curved area46. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the arcuate area42is defined by three curved sections, two opposed sections48and50and a less curved section52. As illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 11, the body34widens at54to merge the body34into the mouth30.

The mouth30of the outer cup12includes a locking flange56for locking the lid16to the outer cup12. The lid16has a mating flange58that mates with the locking flange56to make a fluid tight seal with respect to space18. In the disclosed embodiment, the flanges56and58are a double interference seal and provide a compression type seal. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the locking flange56and mating flange58could be made from various other configurations other than the one example shown.

As should be appreciated, the outer cup12is ergonomically designed to comfortably fit a consumer's hand and to permit easy orientation of the inner cup14with the outer cup12and easy orientation of the opening88to the user's mouth.

The inner cup14has a body portion60defining cavity22, top portion65and a bottom portion62. In the preferred embodiment, the body60of inner cup14is defined by eight side walls, seeFIGS. 4 and 6. A first curved wall66that is generally concave with respect to the cavity22. Second and third walls68and70extend from the first wall66. The walls66,68and70combine to define the back region of the inner cup14. The second and third walls68and70are curved in a convex direction with respect to cavity22. Fourth and fifth walls72and74extend from the second and third walls68and70respectively. The fourth and fifth walls72and74are curved in a convex direction with respect to cavity22. Sixth and seventh walls76and78extend from the fourth and fifth walls72and74respectively and are cured in a concave direction with respect to the cavity22. The walls72,74,76, and78combine to define the side regions of the inner cup14. The eighth wall80joins the sixth and seventh walls76and78. The eighth wall defines the discharge region of the inner cup14. All of the walls66–80slope inwardly along the longitudinal axis64from the bottom62to the top portion65. The top portion65is larger in diameter than the bottom62. This unique configuration provides superior non-bridge flow of the food particulates and controlled channel flow.

The lid16includes the mating flange58and a raised rim82. In the disclosed embodiment, the raised rim82has the same general shape as body portion60of the inner cup14. The raised rim82is generally an inverted u-shape, seeFIG. 5. Rim82is defined by a generally flat upper surface24, inner walls84and an outer wall86. The flat upper surface24has an opening88in communication with the space18of the outer cup12and a vent opening90also in communication with the space18of the outer cup12. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 7, the rim82slopes from the opening88in the direction of the vent opening90. The preferred angle of slope is 12°, but could be about 5° to 30°.

With reference toFIGS. 2,3,9and13, the edge96is illustrated. The edge96is defined by indent98which forms an acute angle between the flat upper surface24and the outer wall86. With the natural surface tension of liquids the acute edge causes the liquid to bead in a more pronounced manner on the top portion of the rim and not flow onto the outer surface of the lid. If the liquid flows onto the outer surface of the lid or even further onto the exterior surface of the outer cup, the liquid could make a mess on the user's clothing or surrounding surfaces. The indented area immediately adjacent to the acute angle provides for a better seal between the user's lower lip and the container which further prevents spills. Due to the undercut nature of the indent, as the consumer begins to remove the container from the mouth the lip naturally wipes the lid at the acute angle further removing droplets of liquid. This motion provides for a self clean action on the lid significantly reducing liquid spills. The indent96is preferably arc shaped and provides a comfortable place for the user's lower lip.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the sloped rim82and the shape of the cavity24which is defined by the walls66–80allows a user to fully tilt the container10for discharging the entire contents of the container10without the user's head having to significantly tilt. This allows the user to empty the contents of the container10without interfering with the user's line of sight92. Additionally, the inner walls84of rim82define a generally v-shaped opening which permits the user's nose to enter the cavity22. This also facilitates the user being able to tilt the container10without tilting the user's head.

With reference toFIGS. 12 and 13, a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the same numbers will be used for the same elements. The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that the inner cup14is not integrally formed to the lid16in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the inner cup14has a lip94that is captured between the locking flange56and the mating flange58. In this embodiment, the inner cup14is inserted into the outer cup12and then the lid16is snapped on.

With reference toFIG. 14, a flow restrictor98is illustrated. The flow restrictor98further facilitates the channeling of food particulate to the user. With the flow restrictor98the flow path is further channeled to the dispensing region of the inner cup. As should be appreciated, the flow restrictor is optional and could be used on either embodiment. Additionally, the flow restrictor could be integrally formed or removable.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.