Abstract:
A lid to seal opened food tins and an integrated spoon to serve the contents of food tins. A seal on the inside perimeter of the lid provides a seal against the outside surface of a tin. An annular seal in a hole within the lid sealably accommodates the spoon shaft, and provides an airtight seal around the spoon shaft. The lid and spoon together provide an air tight seal over an opened tin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     See forms ‘Information Disclosure Statement By Applicant’ 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING” 
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates to serving, sealing and storing the food contents within open food tins.  
         [0006]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0007]     Tinned-food is often only partially used and needs to be stored for later use.  
         [0008]     Tinned food is available in a variety of different tin sizes. Common sizes are listed below:  
                                                       Extra Small   Approximately 100 g           Small   Approximately 190 g           Medium   Approximately 400 g           Large   Approximately 700 g           Extra Large   Approximately 1200 g                      
 
         [0009]     Small tins (190 g) are generally disposed of after one serve. Further to this, disposable single serve plastic pouches (100 g) are available, designed specifically for one serve only.  
         [0010]     A popular tinned-food is that for containing pet-food. In general, depending on the feeding habits of the cat or dog, small tins (190 g) generally have the capacity for one or two serves per tin, and medium to extra large tins have the capacity for several serves of pet-food per tin. This makes it necessary to store less than full tins between feeds.  
         [0011]     Larger tin sizes (400 g +) have cost benefits over small sizes. Larger sizes are disadvantaged however in that they generally need to be stored amongst other refrigerated products. When open tins contain pet food, the odours are generally quite offensive and the tins can become messy with displaced pet-food when alternative sealing techniques are used.  
         [0012]     Tins for storage of food can be opened using the following methods:  
         [0013]     1. Pull-top lid (depending on brand of the tinned-food);  
         [0014]     2. Can opener that cuts from the top of the tin on the inside diameter;  
         [0015]     3. Can opener that cuts from the outside of the tin perimeter and removes the entire top of the tin.  
         [0016]     Open tins of tinned-food are usually sealed using plastic wrap, eg. Gladwrap® or SaranWrap, aluminium foil (eg. Alfoil®), or the entire tin is placed inside a plastic bag. Plastic lids are also available that are designed to fit common tin sizes.  
         [0017]     Plastic wrap can leak easily when used to cover the top of an open tin. Consequently, food odours can leak into the fridge. Plastic wrap is also used in conjunction with rubber bands, which help seal the tins. This however becomes quite messy when attempting to re-apply the plastic wrap and the rubber band after use. In addition, when applying plastic wrap on a tin which has had the entire top removed (tin opening method  3 ), the wrap is easily cut on the sharp top-edge of the tin.  
         [0018]     Similar problems are experienced with aluminium foil to that of plastic wrap.  
         [0019]     Plastic lids often do not fit the range of tin tolerances of popular tinned-food brands. Most plastic lids are designed only to fit tins whereby the top of the tin has been removed from the inside (tin opening methods  1  &amp;  2 ). They are loose when the entire top of the tin has been removed. In addition, due to variation in manufacturer tolerances, tin diameters may vary considerably hence causing the plastic lids to produce a loose or less than airtight seal.  
         [0020]     Common methods for serving tinned-food from a tin are with a variety of different spoons, forks and knives. The size of which is usually dependent on what is available in the consumers&#39; kitchens. In addition, spoons specifically designed for serving tinned pet-food are available.  
         [0021]     With existing techniques of serving tinned-food, the utensil is usually washed each time after use. This is unhygienic as it is generally washed with general tableware. If the utensil is left in the tinned-food tin, it is difficult to seal the tin with conventional sealing techniques. Another problem with existing techniques is that it is common for users to get food on their hands whilst serving.  
         [0022]     It is also common whilst serving tinned-food, when tin opening method  3  is used, for the user to cut their hands on the top of the tin.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENITON  
       [0023]     It is an objective of this invention to provide an apparatus for sealing tinned-food tins and serving the contents, which overcomes or at least minimises the prior art problems or limitations outlined above.  
         [0024]     These objects of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.  
         [0025]     The present invention provides a device for serving tinned tinned-food contents and sealing the remaining contents comprising a lid with a continuous annular resilient internal seal to releasably grip and seal against the outer surface of the cylindrical tin body, supporting a spoon shaft extending through a hole with a resilient annular seal in the top face of the lid, to serve the tin contents.  
         [0026]     In one form of the invention, the lid comprises an internal annular resilient seal to releasably grip and provide an airtight seal against the outer cylindrical surface of the tin sealed therewithin.  
         [0027]     In another form of the invention, the lid comprises a hole through the top face of the lid to releasably accommodate a spoon shaft and to provide an airtight annular seal around the spoon shaft therewithin.  
         [0028]     The lid, excluding the annular resilient seals, may be manufactured from any suitable resilient or rigid material.  
         [0029]     The annular resilient seals on the lid may be manufactured from any suitable resilient material.  
         [0030]     The spoon may be manufactured from any suitable rigid material. An alternative embodiment to the embodiment illustrated consists of over- molded or co-molded annular resilient seals in conjunction with a rigid material for the remainder of the lid. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]     The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an assembled tinned-food serving and sealing device;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the spoon only thereof;  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the lid only thereof;  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the lid only thereof;  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an assembled tinned-food serving and sealing device serving the contents from an open tin thereof;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of an assembled tinned-food serving and sealing device thereof;  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 , whilst covering a tin (the spoon is in the lowest position through the lid);  
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 , with the spoon rotated 90° to the original position, whilst covering a tin (the spoon is in the highest position through the lid).  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 1  it can be seen that the tinned-food serving and sealing device according to this invention comprises a circular lid  1  comprised of a suitably shaped hole  2  providing an airtight seal around spoon-shaft  4  of spoon  5 , permitting vertical upward and downward motion of lid  1  along spoon-shaft  4  of spoon  5 . It will be realised that the apparatus for sealing tinned-food tins and serving the contents according to this invention is not restricted to the shape of suitably shaped hole  2  or elongated spoon-shaft  4 .  
         [0042]     A spoon  5  for circular lid  1  comprises a spoon-shaft  4 , transitioning into suitably shaped spoon-head  7  is shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0043]     It will be realised that spoon  5  according to this invention is not restricted to the form of the one-piece spoon, but may be manufactured in any number of components to achieve the overall form of a spoon, whilst not compromising the sealing capabilities of the spoon-shaft  4  through lid-hole  2 .  
         [0044]     It should be appreciated that the transition along spoon-head  7  to spoon-shaft  4  of spoon  5  is not restricted to the shape or form illustrated and may take any shape or form to achieve a means of locating suitably shaped hole  2  of lid  1  around shaft  4  of spoon  5 , whilst providing an airtight seal.  
         [0045]     It will be realised that slots  8  of spoon  5  as shown in  FIG. 2  are not restricted to the shape or form illustrated and may take any shape or form to achieve a means of hanging the assembly.  
         [0046]     It should be appreciated that spoon-head  7  is not restricted to the shape illustrated, but may take on any shape or form to effectively serve tinned-food contents.  
         [0047]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , lid  1  from  FIG. 3  and spoon  5  from  FIG. 2  are assembled to produce one device for serving and sealing tinned-food.  
         [0048]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the serving and sealing device described is appropriately proportioned to serve the contents of the range of available tin sizes. It will be realised that such a tinned-food serving and sealing device can be manufactured to any proportion required to suit the size and specifications of any tin.  
         [0049]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , continuous circular internal annular lid-seal  3  is illustrated without being elastically deformed by tin  6 . The internal diameter of continuous annular internal lid-seal  3  allows lid  1  to accommodate tins with slightly different outside diameters, caused by different tin opening methods. The width of continuous annular internal lid-seal  3  is typically 5-7 mm however this may be wider or narrower. The internal lid seal is typically 1 mm thick however this may be thicker or thinner. The internal diameter of the internal annular lid-seal is typically slightly less than the outside diameter of the particular tin size to provide effective sealing. This may vary, but will not, in general, be greater than the actual tin size.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , contact perimeter  10  of lid hole  2  of lid  1  has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of spoon-shaft  4  so as to provide a tight seal. The diameter of contact perimeter  10  is typically 19.5 mm however it may be more or less. The diameter of spoon-shaft  4  is typically 20 mm however it may be more or less on condition that a tight seal is constantly produced between contact perimeter  10  and spoon-shaft  4 .  
         [0051]     As illustrated in  FIG. 8  it can be seen that tin  6  has the tinned pet-food serving and sealing device covering the top perimeter of the tin. When lid  1  is placed over tin  6 , continuous annular internal lid-seal  3  elastically deforms to accommodate the tin diameter.  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , internal recessed face  11  of lid  1  provides a seat to accommodate tin  6  during storage of such a serving and sealing device. Internal tapered face  12  of lid  1  provides a lead-in to guide tin  6  into recessed face  11  of lid  1 .  
         [0053]     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , outside diameter of lid  1  is substantially greater than the outside diameter of tin  6  so as to provide a protective barrier between the open tin and the user&#39;s hands.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , annular ring  14  of lid  1  is of adequate thickness to prevent top-horizontal edge  13  of spoon-head  7  from protruding through suitably shaped hole  2  of lid  1 .  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , spoon-shaft  4  of spoon  5  overlaps spoon-head  7  allowing spoon-shaft  4  to provide an air-tight seal against suitably shaped hole  2  whilst spoon-shaft  4  is in any position, through suitably shaped hole  2  of lid  1 . The contact between top-horizontal edge  13  of spoon-head  7  and the flat surface of annular ring  14  of lid  1  prevents spoon-shaft  4  from protruding beyond the region where a seal is created between spoon-shaft  4  and contact perimeter  10  of hole  2 .  
         [0056]     It will be realised that the tinned-food serving and sealing device is not restricted solely for use with tins, and may be used in conjunction with any other food-storage container.  
         [0057]     It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a substantial advance in tin serving and sealing apparatus, such as tinned-food, providing all of the herein described advantages without incurring any relative disadvantage.