Patent Publication Number: US-2022227565-A1

Title: Apparatus for holding a food product, and allowing a user to consume the food product without contact

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/138,565, filed on Jan. 18, 2021, which is incorporated herein by its entirety and referenced thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for holding a food product. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for holding a food product such as a sandwich, the apparatus that allows a user to consume the food product without contacting the food product. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that children and adults alike use containers for storing food products for later consumption. An example of a container includes a lunch box. Examples of food products include, but not limited to, sandwiches, eggs, bakery products, etc. When the time approaches, a user (child or adult) opens the container and picks up the food product with his/her hand for consuming the food product. 
     Use of the hands for consuming the food product may result in contents of the food product coming in contact with the hands. This requires the user to wash hands during or after consuming the food product. Alternatively, the user may have to use tissue papers or wipes to clean his/her hands. The user may have to use multiple containers for storing the food product, water, and/or tissue paper. The above process may present an unpleasant experience for the user. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for holding a food product such as a sandwich, the apparatus capable of allowing a user to consume the food product without contacting the food product. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding a food product such as a sandwich that avoids the drawback of known containers. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows a user to consume food product(s) without contacting the food product and maintain a clean environment. 
     In order to overcome the limitations here stated, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a food product and allowing a user to consume the food product without contact. The apparatus includes a container. The container presents a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and sidewalls. In other words, the container indicates a box having a base, front wall, rear wall, and sidewalls with an open top. The container encompasses a partition wall for separating the container into two parts. The apparatus further includes a sleeve. The sleeve includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and sidewalls. The top portion, bottom portion, and sidewalls form an interior. 
     The container stores a food product such as a sandwich and an article such as tissue paper. The sleeve slidably receives the container. A user slides open the container from the sleeve and removes the food product. In other words, the user slides the container partially away from the sleeve and removes the food product. Subsequently, the user places the food product through the interior with support from the front wall. Here, the food product rests over the front wall of container and is surrounded by the top portion, the bottom portion, and the second sidewalls of the sleeve. The user slides the container in the interior from one end to another end of the sleeve while consuming the food product. The apparatus allows for the user to consume the food product without contacting the food product. 
     In one example, the front wall of the container and the front end of the sleeve include a concave or curved configuration. Further, the rear wall of the container and the rear end of the sleeve include a flat configuration. In another example, the front wall of the container includes a flat configuration and the front end of the sleeve includes a concave or curved configuration. In such an example, the front wall and the front end present a gap allowing the user to hold and slide the container from the sleeve. 
     In another example, the front wall of the container and the front end of the sleeve include a flat configuration. In one example, the rear wall of the container includes a cut-section allowing the user to hold and slide the container from the sleeve. 
     In one advantageous feature of presently disclosed invention, the apparatus allows for storing food product(s) and article(s). When needed, the user removes the food product from the container and places the food product in the sleeve with support from the front wall of the container. The user pushes or slides the container through the sleeve as he/she consumes the food product. This helps the user to hold the food product without directly contacting the food product. Further, this ensures that the contents of the food product (including excess food particles and/or residual items) fall outside of the apparatus thereby ensuring the hands of the user remain clean while consuming the food product. 
     Features and advantages of the invention hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying FIGUREs. As will be realized, the invention disclosed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples of the invention as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. Notably, the FIGUREs and examples are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, but other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements and, further, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an environment of an apparatus for holding a food product, and allowing a user to consume the food product without contact, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  show an exploded view and a perspective view of the apparatus, respectively; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  show the features of storing a food product in a container and holding a food product while being consumed, respectively; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  show an exploded view and a perspective view of an apparatus, respectively, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows the feature holding a food product with the apparatus; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  show an exploded view and a perspective view of an apparatus, respectively, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  show an exploded view and a perspective view of an apparatus, respectively, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  show exploded views of an apparatus, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  shows a side perspective view of the apparatus in a closed configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  shows operational view of the apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments in which the presently disclosed invention may be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed apparatus. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in functional or conceptual diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the presently disclosed apparatus. 
     In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting. Rather, the invention preferably encompasses other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, the applicant does not intend for any term in the specification to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
     Although the present disclosure provides a description of an apparatus for holding a food product and allowing a user to consume the food product without contact, it is to be further understood that numerous changes may arise in the details of the embodiments of the apparatus. It is contemplated that all such changes and additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of this disclosure. 
     The following detailed description is merely 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 implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations 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. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention discloses an apparatus for holding a food product and allowing a user to consume the food product without contact.  FIG. 1  shows environment  10  of apparatus  12  holding food product  14 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A user  16  holds apparatus  12  for consuming food product  14 .  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of apparatus  12 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  12  includes container  20 . Container  20  indicates a box-like structure made of a material such as paper, flute (cardboard), plastic, wooden, metal, or any other suitable material. Container  20  presents base  22 , front wall  24 , rear wall  26 , and sidewalls  28 . In the current embodiment, front wall  24  mounts at a front end of container  20  and rear wall  26  mounts at a rear end of container  20 . In one example, base  22  comes in a rectangular, square, cylindrical, or any other shape. Front wall  24 , rear wall  26 , and sidewalls  28  have suitable height and provide depth with base  22 . In the current embodiment, front wall  24  has a concave or curved configuration. Rear wall  26  has a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  28 . In the current embodiment, sidewalls  28  have a length greater than front wall  24  and rear wall  26  thereby providing container  20  in a rectangular configuration. 
     Container  20  encompasses partition wall  28 . Partition wall  30  mounts parallelly to rear wall  26 . Partition wall  28  forms first opening  32  together with base  22 , front wall  24 , and sidewalls  28 . Further, partition wall  30  forms second opening  34  together with base  22 , rear wall  26 , and sidewalls  28 . In the current embodiment, first opening  32  includes an area smaller than the second opening  34 . However, a person skilled in the art understands that the area of first opening  32  and/or second opening  34  can be adjusted by changing the position or placement of partition wall  30  to form compartments in container  20 . 
     Further, apparatus  12  includes sleeve  40 . Sleeve  40  provides a material made of paper, flute (cardboard), plastic, wooden, metal, or any other suitable material. Sleeve  40  presents top portion  42 , bottom portion  44 , and sidewalls  46 . Top portion  42 , bottom portion  44 , and sidewalls  46  form interior or hollow portion  48 . Sleeve  40  provides front end  50  and rear end  52 . In the current embodiment, front end  50  has a concave or curved configuration. Rear-end  52  has a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  46 . 
     In the current embodiment, sleeve  40  has a diameter slightly larger than container  20 . As such, container  20  draws/slides through and fits within sleeve  40 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Specifically, front wall  24  of container  20  draws through interior  48  via rear end  52 . Container  20  slides through until front wall  24  reaches front end  50 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment, container  20  stores food product  14  and an article (not shown). Food product  14  includes, but not limited to, a bakery product, bread, sandwich, bagel, cake, biscuit, etc. The article may include, but not limited to, a napkin, wiping cloth, hand towel, tissue paper, wipes, or any other product. In one example, container  20  receives the article in first opening  32  and food product  14  in second opening  34 .  FIG. 4  shows the feature of second opening  34  containing food product  14 , for example. 
     In order to consume food product  14 , user  16  slides or pulls container  20  from sleeve  30  to access food product  14  ( FIG. 4 ). Subsequently, user  16  removes food product  14  from second opening  34  and places in interior  48  with support from front wall  24 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . User  16  pushes or slides container  20  through sleeve  40  from second end  52  to first end  50  as he/she consumes food product  14 . This helps user  16  to hold food product  14  using apparatus  12  without directly contacting food product  14 . Further, contents of food product  14  (including excess food particles and/or residual items) fall outside of apparatus  12  or on front wall  24  through interior  48 . As user  16  slides container  20  through sleeve  40  from second end  52  to first end  50  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ), excess food particles and/or residual items come out of interior  48  and fall out of apparatus  12 . This ensures the hands of user  16  remain clean while consuming food product  14 . Further, user  16  uses the article (tissue paper) placed in first opening  32  to wipe clean his/her hands of any food particles and/or residual items that he/she might have contacted while consuming food product  14 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of apparatus  100  for storing, and holding a food product while being consumed, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  100  includes container  102  having base  104 , front wall  106 , rear wall  108 , and sidewalls  110 . Front wall  106 , rear wall  108 , and sidewalls  110  have suitable height and provide depth with base  104 . In the current embodiment, front wall  106  has a concave or curved configuration. Rear wall  108  has a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  110 . In the current embodiment, each of front wall  106  and rear wall  108  has more length than sidewalls  110 . 
     Container  102  encompasses partition wall  112 . Partition wall  112  mounts parallelly to rear wall  108 . Partition wall  112  forms first opening  114  together with base  104 , front wall  106 , and sidewalls  110 . Further, partition wall  112  forms a second opening  116  together with base  104 , rear wall  108 , and sidewalls  110 . In the current embodiment, first opening  114  has an area smaller than the second opening  116 . However, a person skilled in the art understands that the area of first opening  114  and/or second opening  116  can be adjusted by changing the position or placement of partition wall  112  in container  102 . 
     Further, apparatus  100  includes sleeve  120 . Sleeve  120  presents top portion  122 , bottom portion  124  and sidewalls  126 . Top portion  122 , bottom portion  124  and sidewalls  126  form an interior or hollow portion  128 . Sleeve  120  provides front end  130  and rear end  132 . In the current embodiment, front end  130  has a concave or curved configuration. Rear end  132  has a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  126 . 
     In the current embodiment, sleeve  120  has a diameter slightly larger than container  102 . As such, container  102  draws/slides through and fits within sleeve  120 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In accordance with one embodiment, container  102  stores a food product  140  and an article (not shown). Food product  140  includes, but not limited to, a bakery product, bread, bagel, cake, biscuit, etc. The article may include, but not limited to, a napkin, wiping cloth, hand towel, or any other product. In one example, container  102  receives the article in first opening  114  and food product  140  in second opening  116 . 
     In order to consume food product  140 , a user slides or pulls container  102  from sleeve  120  to access food product  140 . Subsequently, the user removes food product  140  from second opening  116  and places food product  140  in interior  128  with support from front wall  106 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The user then pushes or slides container  102  through sleeve  120  from second end  132  to first end  130  as he/she consumes food product  140 , as explained above. 
       FIG. 9  shows an exploded view of an apparatus  200  for storing a food product, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  200  includes container  202  having base  204 , front wall  206 , rear wall  208 , and sidewalls  210 . Front wall  206 , rear wall  208 , and sidewalls  210  have suitable height and provide depth with base  204 . In the current embodiment, each of front wall  206  and rear wall  208  have a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  210 . In the current embodiment, sidewalls  210  have length greater than front wall  206  and rear wall  208  thereby providing container  202  in a rectangular configuration. However, a person skilled in the art appreciates that sidewalls  210  may have length equal to or less than front wall  206  and rear wall  208 . 
     Container  202  encompasses partition wall  212 . Partition wall  212  mounts parallelly to front wall  206  and rear wall  208 . Partition wall  212  forms first opening  214  together with base  204 , front wall  206 , and sidewalls  210 . Further, partition wall  212  forms a second opening  216  together with base  204 , rear wall  208 , and sidewalls  210 . In the current embodiment, first opening  214  includes an area larger than second opening  216 . However, a person skilled in the art understands that the area of first opening  214  and/or second opening  216  can be adjusted by changing the position or placement of partition wall  212  in container  202 . 
     Further, apparatus  200  includes sleeve  220 . Sleeve  220  presents top portion  222 , bottom portion  224 , and sidewalls  226 . Top portion  222 , bottom portion  224 , and sidewalls  226  form an interior or hollow portion  228 . Sleeve  220  provides front end  230  and rear end  232 . In the current embodiment, front end  230  has a concave or curved configuration. Rear-end  232  has a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  226 . In the current embodiment, sleeve  220  has a diameter slightly larger than container  202 . As such, container  202  draws/slides through and fits within sleeve  220 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The difference in shapes of front wall  206  (flat configuration) and front end  208  (concave or curved configuration) create gap  234 . Gap  234  allows a user to pull out container  202  from sleeve  220 . Apparatus  200  operates similar to apparatus  12  or apparatus  100  as explained above. 
       FIG. 11  shows an exploded view of an apparatus  300  for storing a food product, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  300  includes container  302  having base  304 , front wall  306 , rear wall  308 , and sidewalls  310 . Front wall  306 , rear wall  308 , and sidewalls  310  have suitable height and provide depth with base  304 . In the current embodiment, each of front wall  306  and rear wall  308  have a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  310 . In the current embodiment, sidewalls  310  have a length greater than front wall  306  and rear wall  308  thereby providing container  302  in a rectangular configuration. However, a person skilled in the art appreciates that sidewalls  310  may have a length equal to or less than front wall  306  and rear wall  308 . 
     Container  202  encompasses partition wall  312 . Partition wall  312  mounts parallelly to front wall  306  and rear wall  308 . Partition wall  312  forms first opening  314  together with base  304 , front wall  306 , and sidewalls  310 . Further, partition wall  312  forms second opening  316  together with base  304 , rear wall  308 , and sidewalls  310 . In the current embodiment, first opening  314  includes an area larger than second opening  316 . However, a person skilled in the art understands that the area of first opening  314  and/or second opening  316  can be adjusted by changing the position or placement of partition wall  312  in container  302 . 
     In the current embodiment, rear wall  208  encompasses a cut-section  318 . Cut-section  318  indicates a groove or hole provided on rear wall  208  to allow the user to use his/her finger to pull or push container  302  into sleeve  320 . In one example, cut-section  318  comes in a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, a circular, square, rectangular, cylindrical or any other shape. Further, a person skilled in the art appreciates that cut-section  318  can be positioned at centre, corner or off-centre allowing the user to easily pull or push container  302  into sleeve  320 . 
     Apparatus  300  includes sleeve  320 . Sleeve  320  presents top portion  322 , bottom portion  324 , and sidewalls  326 . Top portion  322 , bottom portion  324 , and sidewalls  326  form an interior or hollow portion  328 . Sleeve  320  provides front end  330  and rear end  332 . In the current embodiment, each of front end  330  and rear end  232  has a flat or straight configuration and is perpendicular to sidewalls  326 . In the current embodiment, sleeve  320  has a diameter slightly larger than container  302 . As such, container  302  draws/slides through and fits within sleeve  320 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . Apparatus  300  operates similar to apparatus  12  or apparatus  100  as explained above. 
     Although the above embodiments have been explained considering that the container includes a single partition wall that separates the container into two parts having the same or different sizes, the person skilled in the art understands that use of more than one partition wall allows for separating the container into multiple parts having same or varied sizes for storing multiple food products/items without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
     Based on the above, it is evident that the apparatus allows storing food product(s) and article(s). When needed, the user removes the food product from the container and places the food product in the sleeve with support from the front wall of the container. The user pushes the container through the sleeve as he/she consumes the food product. This helps the user to hold the food product without directly contacting the food product. Further, this ensures that contents of the food product (including excess food particles and/or residual items) fall outside of the apparatus thereby ensuring the hands of the user remains clean while consuming the food product. 
       FIGS. 13A and 133  show exploded views of an apparatus  400 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  400  includes container  402 . Container  402  comes in a cylindrical structure. Container  402  provides a material made of metal, plastic, wood, paper or any other suitable material. Container  402  presents first end  404  and second end  406 . First end  404  indicates a front end and second end  406  indicates a rear end of container  402 . At first end  404 , container  402  encompasses an interior  408  for receiving food product  410  such as ice cream, candy or any other food item. At second end  406 , container  402  encompasses opening  412 . Further, container  402  includes wall  414  at second end  406 . Wall  414  acts as a terminal barrier holding food product  410 . Wall  414  is slidable along the interior walls of container  402 . Wall  414  slides and pushes out food product  410  stored in interior  408 . 
     Container  402  includes cover or lid or cap or sleeve  416 . In one example, cover  416  comes in a cylindrical configuration. Cover  416  has a slightly larger diameter than container  402 . Cover  416  has cover opening  418  that fits over container  402  at first end  404  and prevents food product  410  from getting exposed.  FIG. 15  shows the feature of cover  416  snugly fit over container  402  and protecting food product  410 . Cover  416  helps to wrap food product  410  stored in container  402 . When needed, a user (not shown) removes cover  416  and places his finger through opening  412  at second end  412 . Here, the user pushes wall  414  towards first end  404  such that food product  410  comes out of interior  408  of container  402 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . Once sufficient amount of food product  410  comes out of container  402 , the user consumes food product  410 . 
     The present embodiment is presented to explain sleeve receiving a portion of container as opposed to entire container in the embodiments explained using  FIGS. 1 to 12 . A person skilled in the art understands that both container and the sleeve can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and forms depending on the type of food product that needs to be stored and used for consumption and any obvious modifications to either of the container or sleeve fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     In one implementation, the apparatus may come in a variety of colours to provide visual appeal to the user for using the apparatus as a lunch box in schools, colleges, offices, factories, etc. 
     Applicants or inventors of the present invention intend to market the apparatus as “sandwich gripper”, “sandwich grip” “breadbox”, “sandwich box” or any other suitable names. 
     A person skilled in the art appreciates that the apparatus may come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the need and comfort of the user. Further, many changes in the design and placement of components may take place without deviating from the scope of the presently disclosed apparatus. 
     In the above description, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of some embodiments, specific components, devices, methods, in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that these specific details need not be employed, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     In the development of any actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints. Such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but may nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill. Hence as various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel principles and invention disclosed herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the innovative faculty. It is contemplated that additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of the disclosed invention.