Apparatus and method for food storage

An apparatus for the storage of food includes a body portion having a hollow interior configured to receive food, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The apparatus further includes a lid configured for selective engagement with the second end of the body portion and a lid assembly configured for selective engagement with the first end of the body portion. The lid assembly includes a crumb filter having a plurality of apertures configured to permit the passage of food crumbs, and a cap, which may be selectively removed from the crumb filter so that food crumbs may be discarded from the body portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to food storage, and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for storing food that allows easy access to older food and the removal of food crumbs.

DISCUSSION OF ART

Foods such as cereal, potato/corn chips, dry pet food/treats, and the like are often stored in containers having a lid on one end and a fixed bottom surface on the opposite end. With known containers, however, older foods and food crumbs collect at the bottom of the container when the container is replenished with fresh food. After several months, the older food becomes stale and is often disposed of. As such, a need exists for a food storage container that allows access to the oldest food first as the container is filled over time. There is also a need for a food storage container that allows for easy removal of food crumbs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosed subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the various embodiments described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the various embodiments. It is not intended to exclusively identify key features or essential features. Its sole purpose is to present concepts of the disclosure in a streamlined form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

With this is mind, as a solution to the above technical problem, embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus and method for storing food that allows easy access to older food and the removal of food crumbs, as newer food is added.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for storing food includes a body portion having a hollow interior configured to receive food, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The apparatus further includes a lid configured to be selectively secured to the second end of the body portion and a lid assembly configured to be selectively secured to the first end of the body portion. The lid assembly includes a crumb filter having a plurality of apertures configured to permit the passage of food crumbs, and a cap, which may be selectively removed from the crumb filter so that food crumbs may be discarded from the body portion.

In another embodiment, a method of storing food includes placing food into a hollow interior of a body portion of a food storage apparatus via a first end of the body portion and securing a lid assembly to the first end of the body portion into which the food was placed. The method further includes inverting the body portion, so that a second end opposite the now covered first end is above the first end, and removing a cap from the lid assembly so that food crumbs may pass through apertures of a crumb filter so that they may be discarded from the body portion of the food storage apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All of the embodiments described below are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

It is also to be understood that the specific apparatus and methods illustrated in the drawings, and described herein, are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended clauses. Specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments are not to be considered as limiting unless stated otherwise.

Referring now toFIGS.1-7, embodiments of the invention provide a food storage apparatus/container10that includes a body portion20having a first end30, a second end40, and a hollow interior120. The first and second ends30,40are open to the hollow interior120. The hollow interior120is configured to receive and store a variety of foods including both human and animal foods. Such foods include, but are not limited to, cereal, potato/tortilla chips, cookies, popcorn, pet treats, and dry pet food.

The container10further includes a lid50which may be removably secured to the second end40of the body portion20. Additionally, the container10includes a lid assembly60which may be removably secured to the first end30of the body portion20. As shown inFIGS.1and2, in embodiments, the lid50and lid assembly60include inset or recessed handle portions56,66, respectively, which may be used for removal purposes. As will be appreciated, the handle portions56,66are inset or recessed so that the container10may be securely placed on a flat surface via the lid50and/or lid assembly60.

Turning now toFIG.3, the lid assembly60includes a removable crumb filter70and a cap80. The crumb filter70includes a series of perforations or apertures90that are sized and shaped to allow for the passage of food crumbs out of the body portion20, while larger pieces of food are retained in the body portion20. As shown, in an embodiment, the apertures90are located about a perimeter of the crumb filter70with a center portion of the filter70being aperture-less. As will be appreciated, the size and shape of the apertures90may vary depending on the type/size of food that is intended to be stored in the container10. In specific embodiments, the apertures may be sized and shaped to allow passage of crumbs associated with dry pet food and/or dry pet treats. In a particular embodiment, the apertures90have a diameter of approximately 4 mm.

As shown, the crumb filter70further includes a stepped attachment portion100that includes threads74(FIG.6) which are configured to selectively engage threads22located in the hollow interior120at the first end30of the body portion20. In embodiments, the crumb filter70is configured such that an outer diameter D of the filter70is substantially the same as an outer diameter D′ of the body portion20when the stepped attachment portion100is threaded into the hollow interior120. As will be appreciated, the thread containing stepped attachment portion100has an outer diameter that is less than D/D′.

As mentioned, the lid assembly60further includes a cap80. The cap80also includes a plurality of threads82which are configured to engage corresponding threads72that are located on an interior portion170(FIG.6) of the crumb filter70that is configured to receive the cap80. The cap80has an interior cavity84(FIG.5) that can receive food crumbs from the body portion20. The cap80is sized and configured to fit within the interior portion170of the crumb filter70.

As will be appreciated, the cap80may be removed from the crumb filter70while the crumb filter70remains attached to the body portion20. By removing the cap80, while retaining the crumb filter70on the body portion20, food crumbs may exit the container10, while food remains in the hollow interior120.

The lid50is configured for attachment to the second end40of the body portion20. The lid50includes a stepped attachment portion130that, in embodiments, includes threads132(FIG.7), that are configured to selectively engage corresponding threads24located in the hollow interior120at the second end40of the body portion20. In embodiments, the lid50is configured such that an outer diameter D of the lid50is substantially the same as the outer diameter D′ of the body portion20when the stepped attachment portion130is threaded into the hollow interior120. As will be appreciated, the thread containing stepped attachment portion130has an outer diameter that is less than D/D′.

Referring now toFIGS.6and7, in embodiments, the crumb filter70and the lid50include compressible annular gaskets76,134. The gaskets76,134are retained via shoulders78,136which secure the gaskets76,134in place between the stepped engagement portions100,130and the portions of the lid50and lid assembly60having the larger outer diameter D. In embodiments, the gaskets76,134include a groove133that extends circumferentially around the gaskets76,134. As will be appreciated, the grooves facilitate a relatively tight pressure fit of the gaskets76,134when the lid50and crumb filter70are fully secured to the body portion20. The gaskets76,134are configured to preserve food freshness and inhibit food in the container10from becoming stale. In embodiments, the gaskets76,134are silicone, but other suitable materials may be employed.

While embodiments of the inventive food storage container10are depicted utilizing threaded engagement between the various components, in other embodiments, different attachment mechanisms may be employed. For example, in certain embodiments one or more of the components, e.g., lid50, cap80, and/or removable crumb filter70, may be secured to the body portion20via an interference or friction fit.

In certain embodiments, the crumb filter70and/or the lid50may have a textured exterior to facilitate gripping and removing the filter70or lid50from the body portion20. For example, one or more notches, recesses, or grooves may be circumferentially arranged about the filter70or lid50.

In an embodiment, the body portion20, lid50, and lid assembly60have outer diameters (D, D′) that are substantially the same. In an exemplary embodiment configured to receive dry pet treats, the outer diameters D, D′ are approximately 127 mm. In this same embodiment, the overall height of the food storage container10is approximately 190.5 mm.

As will be appreciated, the body portion20, lid50, and lid assembly60may be manufactured from a variety of materials including plastics, stainless steel, aluminum, bamboo, post-consumer plastic and other suitably durable materials. The body portion20is shown in a cylindrical conformation, but may be formed in a variety of shapes, e.g., hexagonal, square, or other forms. In certain embodiments, the body portion20may be one material, e.g., stainless steel, and the lid50and lid assembly60may be another, e.g., plastic.

In use, the lid assembly60is removed from the body portion20and food, e.g., cereal, pet treats, etc., is placed into the hollow interior120of the container10. The lid assembly60is then secured to the body portion20and the body portion20is inverted so that the lid50is now situated at the top of the container10and lid assembly60is at the bottom. The lid50may now be removed to access food stored inside the container10, with the older food being on top of newer food. Moreover, the cap80may be removed from the lid assembly60so that food crumbs can pass through the apertures of a crumb filter so that they may exit the bottom of the container10and be discarded.

When the container10is low on food and replenishment is desired, the container10is inverted again so that the lid assembly60end is on top. The lid assembly60is then removed, new food added, and the container10is inverted again so that lid50is on now top of the container10.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the subject disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of such embodiments and examples, as those skilled in the relevant art can recognize. For example, parts, components, steps and aspects from different embodiments may be combined or suitable for use in other embodiments even though not described in the disclosure or depicted in the figures. Therefore, since certain changes may be made in the above-described invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.

In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been described in connection with various embodiments and corresponding figures, where applicable, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosed subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended clauses below. For example, references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

In the appended clauses, the terms “including” and “in which” may be used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following clauses, terms such as “first,” “second,” “bottom,” “top,” etc. are merely labels, and are not intended to impose numerical or positional requirements on their objects. The terms “substantially,” “generally,” “approximately,” and “about” indicate conditions within reasonably achievable manufacturing and assembly tolerances, relative to ideal desired conditions suitable for achieving the functional purpose of a component or assembly.

What has been described above includes examples of apparatus and methods illustrative of the disclosed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every combination of components or methodologies here. One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the recited subject matter are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, clauses, and drawings, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in clause. That is, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.