COOKERY CARDS

Abstract: A cookery card is printed with information (at 16, 18) and comprises one or more containers (20) holding quantities of herbs or spices. In one embodiment, the printed information comprises a recipe which requires use of the herbs or spices held in the containers (20).

Description: COOKERY CARDS This invention relates to cookery cards and, more particularly, cookery cards having the required quantity of herbs and spices for a particular recipe contained therein. Many types of cookery, particularly Asian cookery, require many different types of herbs and spices, often in small quantities, to achieve a single authentic dish. It is usually not possible to purchase such herbs and spices in small quantities and, since many herbs and spices deteriorate fairly quickly once their packaging has been opened, such dishes will usually either be prepared without all of the desired ingredients, or quantities of often quite costly herbs and splices will be wasted. I have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the problems outlined above. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cookery card having information printed on at least one side thereof and comprising at least one container for holding quantities of herbs or spices. The information may be regarding a particular herb or spice or may alternatively be a recipe. The or each container preferably comprises a receptacle in the form of an open-top box, the opening of which is preferably heat-sealed. The receptacle is preferably vacuum formed and its opening is preferably sealed with an aluminium or plastics foil. Preferably the cookery card is formed of a single sheet of material which is folded in the centre. Preferably the cookery card is formed with an aperture at its upper end in order that it may be hung. Preferably the containers extend outwardly from the front surface of the cookery card. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a front view of a cookery card in accordance with e first embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the cookery card of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of containers suitable for use in cookery cards according to the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a container when assembled within a cookery card according to the present invention; and FIGURE 5 is a front view of a cookery card in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a cookery card in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a rectangular member 10 formed of a rigid or semi¬ rigid material, for example plastic or cardboard. An aperture 12 is formed in the centre of the member 10 adjacent its top edge, to enable the cookery card to be hung from, for example, a hook or a rack dispenser (not shown) . An upper portion of the front of member 10 has a recipe 14 printed thereon; in the present example, the recipe 14 comprises a list of ingredients 16 and instructions 18 for making Chicken Korma. The herbs and spices which are necessary for achieving this particular dish, in this case Korma, coconut and cardamom, are provided in their respective required quantities in containers 20 which are situated in a lower portion of the member 10. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, the member 10 comprises an elongate sheet of the rigid or semi-rigid material which is folded along its centre 21 and sealed such that two layers 22, 24 are formed. The sheet has apertures 12 formed adjacent each end thereof, such that when the sheet is folded at its centre 21, the two apertures 12 coincide. The containers 20 comprise receptacles 28 which are of generally open-box shape and extend outwardly of the front layer 24 when the cookery card has been assembled. The receptacles 28 may, for example, be vacuum formed of a PVC material. They may be formed with rims (not shown) around their openings, which may then be sealed by, for example, aluminium or plastics foil (not shown) which is heat-sealed around the rims. The containers 20 may be formed individually or alternatively a plurality of receptacles 28 may be vacuum formed in a single sheet of material, as shown in Figure 3. The openings of the receptacles may then be sealed using a single sheet 30 of aluminium or plastics foil, heat-sealed around the edges 31 of the openings of each individual receptacle 28, when all of the receptacles 28 have been filled with the required amount of herbs and spices 32. Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the method of assembling a cookery card in accordance with the present invention will now be described. The elongate sheet, from which the card is to be formed, is provided with apertures 26 in one portion 24, to one side of the intended fold 21. The apertures 26 are of substantially the same size and shape as the opening 34 of each receptacle 28. When the receptacles 28 have been filled with the required type and amount of herbs and spices 32, their openings are sealed by means of, for example, aluminium foil 30. The receptacles 28 of the containers 20 are inserted through the apertures 26 formed in the portion 24 of the elongate sheet, but are prevented from being pushed all of the way through the apertures 26 by the rims 31 formed around each of the container openings 34. The sheet is then folded at its centre such that two layers 24, 22 are formed. The receptacles 28 extend outwardly from the surface of the layer 24, the layer 22 remaining unbroken. Layers 22, 24 are sealed together, thereby securing the container 20 in place. The recipe (not shown) may be printed on the layer 24 or may alternatively be printed on the layer 22 such that the container 20 extends outwardly of the rear surface of the cookery card. Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, a cookery card in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is of similar nature to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. However, in this case, information 36 about a single particular herb or spice, for example cardamom, is printed on an upper portion of the member 10 and small quantities of that particular herb or spice are provided in containers 20 which are situated in a lower portion of the member 10. Such a cookery card can be used as a refill card for one of the recipe cookery cards described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Alternatively, the card of Figure 5 provides a useful package of small quantities of herbs and spices.

Claims: Claims 1) A cookery card having information printed on at least one side thereof and comprising at least one container for holding quantities of herbs or spices. 2) A cookery card as claimed in claim 1, in which said information comprises a recipe which requires use of the herbs or spices held in said container or containers. 3) A cookery card as claimed in claim 1, in which said information relates to the herbs or spices held in said container or containers. 4) A cookery card as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each said container comprises a receptacle in the form of an open-top box, the opening in which is sealed. 5) A cookery card as claimed in claim 4, in which the opening of the or each said receptacle is sealed by a foil. 6) A cookery card as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which said card is formed of a single sheet of material folded across a centre line. 7) A cookery card as claimed in claim 6, in which each said receptacle projects through a respective aperture in one portion of said sheet of material. 8) A cookery card as claimed in any preceding claim, formed with an aperture to enable the card to be hung.

Inventors: ASHBY ROWLAND CLIVE, ASHBY, ROWLAND, CLIVE
Applicants: ASHBY ROWLAND CLIVE, ASHBY, ROWLAND, CLIVE
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B42D15
IPC codes: B42D15, B65D73