Abstract:
A meal kit is provided to facilitate providing utensils, mats, and other items. In one embodiment, the items are particularly suited for use by children. Meal kit items may include one or more of a mat, a straw, utensils and a wipe. In one embodiment, the mat is has an adhesive backing for sticking to an eating surface. In another embodiment, the straw is flexible and/or has a point for piercing a fluid container, such as a juice container. In other embodiments the meal kit includes crayons, activity books, stickers, and/or toys. Indicia may be provided to individualize the meal kit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/807,818, filed Jul. 19, 2006, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made part of this specification. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to meal kits, and more specifically to kits and methods of assembling and distributing meal kits for children. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Parents of young children often carry, or wish that they were carrying, many of the eating-related paraphernalia that they feel are necessary to facilitate their child&#39;s mealtime. Thus, for example, small children can require small and easily graspable utensils, bibs, wipes, straws, and placemats. It would be much easier on parents if these items were packaged in an easily transportable, inexpensive package. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention overcomes the limitations and problems of the prior art by assembling or providing a meal kit containing items which are of use for children. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a meal kit is provided including a straw, a sheet having an adhesive on one side of the sheet, and a bag containing the straw and mat. The bag may also contain one or more of the following items: eating utensils, a napkin, a wipe, or a bib. In one embodiment, the straw is a flexible straw. In another embodiment the straw is of the type used with a container having a foil or other membrane, where the straw has a pointed end that is used to puncture the foil to permit the straw to be used for drinking the contents of the previously sealed fluid container. In yet another embodiment, the mat includes an adhesive layer on one side. In another embodiment, the meal kit is in a sealed bag. The bag may be either sealed about its edges or may be sealed using one or more adhesive labels. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a meal kit is manufactured by placing, in a bag, a straw and a sheet having an adhesive on one side of said sheet and then sealing said bag. In one embodiment, the bag is sealed about the bag&#39;s edges. In an alternative embodiment, the bag is sealed with one or more adhesive labels. In yet another embodiment, the meal kit is manufactured by further placing eating utensils in said bag. In another embodiment, the meal kit is manufactured by further placing a napkin or a wipe in said bag. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, a method is provided for providing a meal kit including a bag, a straw and a sheet having an adhesive on one side. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, a meal kit is provided that includes a flexible straw and an adhesive mat contained in a sealed package. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a meal kit is provided having personalized indicia. 
         [0012]    These features together with the various ancillary provisions and features which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, are attained by the exercise device of the present invention, preferred embodiments thereof being shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one side of a meal kit embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the meal kit embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an open meal kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  show several items that may be within a meal kit embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of a mat that may be within a meal kit embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows several of the items in one embodiment meal kit arranged for use; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows several optional meal kit items. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Reference symbols are used in the Figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects or features shown therein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention are referred to herein as a “meal kit,” which generally refers to, without limitation, a collection of one or more items, some of which are useful in eating or in keeping one clean either during or after eating. The items of the meal kit that are useful for eating or keeping clean may include, but are not limited to, eating utensils, a straw, a mat for placing food, a napkin, or a wipe. Additional meal kit items may include, but are not limited to, toys, crayons, activity pages or books, or printed matter containing personalized information, such as a name or personalized message, or informational or sales material. While several embodiments described herein describe meal kits for use by infants, toddlers, or children by including, for example, a bib or child-friendly items, the present invention is not limited to any particular combination of items. The meal kits may either be sold individually, or may be sold in bulk and used, for example and without limitation, in restaurants, on airliners, or amusement parks. 
         [0022]    In general, meal kit embodiments enclose, partially enclose, or constrain several meal kit items, and may be opened or otherwise manipulated to remove the meal kit items. Thus, for example and without limitation, the meal kit items may wholly or partially contained or sealed in a bag, or may be collectively be bound by a rubber band, string, or adhesive tape. Examples of meal kit bags include, but are not limited to, a wrapping or pouch that is fully or partially formed from a flexible material or combination of materials, including but not limited to paper or plastic. Further, the package may be either open, closed or sealed closed, or may either fully or partially surround the items. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  show one embodiment of meal kit  100 , where  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one side of the meal kit,  FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the meal kit of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an open meal kit of  FIG. 1 . Meal kit  100  includes meal kit items  110 , and a bag  101  having an end  102  which is sealed with an adhesive label  105  ( FIG. 2 ), and that may be opened ( FIG. 3 ). In one embodiment, bag  101  is a plastic bag, such as a bag formed from polypropylene films manufactured by Innovative Packaging, Spring Valley, N.Y. In alternative embodiments, bag  101  may be opaque, partially transparent, or may have printing. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, meal kit  100  is assembled by placing items  110  in the bag, and then sealing the bag. Meal kit  100  is used by opening the bag, as in  FIG. 3 , and removing items  110  for use. Meal kit  100  may be produced in bulk, or may be individualized with indicia or inserts, as described subsequently, for distribution to a restaurant, hotel, amusement park, or other establishment. Meal kit  100  may also be individualized for smaller groups, such as for a birthday party or other gatherings. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , bag  101  is transparent, permitting viewing of items  110 , and contains an optional insert  103 . In one embodiment, one or more of bag  101 , adhesive label  102 , and insert  103  contain indicia including, but not limited to, a corporate or restaurant logo or information, a listing of meal kit items, or a greeting or message which may be personalized (such as “Happy Birthday, Laurel!”) label  105  includes a brand name, and insert  103  contains a brand name an a listing of meal kit items.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show indicia I- 1  on insert  103  and indicia I- 2  on label  105 . 
         [0026]    While not meant to be limiting to the present invention,  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  illustrate possible items  110 , which may, in various combinations, be present in a meal kit of the present invention, and  FIG. 8  shows some of the items arranged for use. Specifically,  FIG. 4  shows a mat/utensil bundle  410 , a wipe  420 , and a straw  430 ,  FIG. 5  shows a bib  500 . In one embodiment, bundle  410  includes a mat  601 , a fork  603 , and a spoon  605 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , where the mat is wrapped around the fork and spoon and sealed with an adhesive strip or held together with an elastic band or string. Alternatively, meal kit  100  includes one or more of the items of FIG.  6 —mat  601 , fork  603 , and/or spoon  605  placed separately or bundled together in the meal kit. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, wipe  420  is a sealed package containing a pre-moistened cloth. Examples of such wipes are towelettes, manufactured by Kari-Out (White Plaines, N.Y.). 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, straw  430  is a sealed straw of the type that is flexible and that has a pointed end for puncturing the seal of a fluid container, such as a “juice box” or “juice bag.” In one embodiment, the straws are neon plastic flexible straws, manufactured by Pentry (West Parks, Me.). In alternative embodiments, the straw may be straight straw, may be a straw that does not have a pointed end, or may not be sealed. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, mat  601  is a placement or an item that may be used as a placemat, such as a napkin.  FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of mat  601  as including a sheet of plastic having a front side  701 , a back side  703 , and edges  702  and  704 . Back side  703  has an adhesive  705  with a protective release layer  707  along edge  702  and  704  which may be removed to expose the adhesive. Examples of mat  601  include, but are not limited to an “Activity Mat,” manufactured by MadMat, Toronto, Ontario, and the TABLETOPPER® mat distributed by Neat Solutions, Inc. (Huntersville, N.C.) (See, for example: http://www.tabletopper.com/NStable.htm). Embodiments of mat  601  are not limited to a self-adhesive plastic mat, and alternative embodiments include, but are not limited to, paper mats and mats having no adhesive. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows edge  704  adhered to a surface S and release layer  707  partially removed from adhesive  705  of edge  702 .  FIG. 8  shows mat  601  with edges  702  and  704  adhered to surface S.  FIG. 8  also shows wipe  420 , utensils  603  and  605 , and straw  430  arranged on front side  701  of mat  601 . 
         [0031]    Embodiments of items  110  include, but are not limited to, any and all combinations of the items of  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , as well as other items. As an example of embodiments of items  110  which are not meant to limit the present invention, the following are the contents of various embodiments: 1) mat  601  and straw  430 ; 2) mat/utensil bundle  410 , and straw  430 ; 3) mat  601 , spoon  605 , and straw  430 ; 4) mat  601 , spoon  605 , straw  430 , and bib  500 ; 5) mat/utensil bundle  410 , and bib  500 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  shows several optional meal kit items  110  that might be added to a child&#39;s meal kit. Optional items  100  include, but are not limited to, crayons  910 , sheets or book  920  (where the sheets or book may include, but are not limted to, comics or stories, puzzles, mazes, or figures or space for coloring), a toy  930 , or other items that might be of interest, though not directly related to consuming a meal. Another optional item  100  is a sticker  940 , which may be on a backing  941 , or may be on another item including, but not limtied to, mat  601 . Embodiments of the present invention alos include kit  100  having one or more of the optional items  110  shown or described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0033]    Although certain preferred embodiments and examples are disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus it is intended that the scope of the invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described herein. For purposes of contrasting various embodiments with the prior art, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described where appropriate herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, it should be recognized that the various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. In any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations making up the method/process may be performed in any suitable sequence, and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. 
         [0034]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. 
         [0035]    Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. 
         [0036]    Thus, while there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.