Patent Description:
The present disclosure is directed to a set of reusable food covers. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a set of reusable food covers that can be applied to preserve foods, such as fruits and vegetables, which have been cut or partially consumed.

Food covers for storing partially used fruits and vegetables are widely available in an assortment of configurations. Some of these food covers are rigid containers for storing fruits and vegetables, such as onions, tomatoes, and bananas. These food covers typically include two separate, rigid pieces. These pieces can both be dish-like or one piece can be dish-like and the otherflat. These pieces are joined by a threaded connection that requires mating the threads and screwing the pieces together to enclose the food therein. Mating the threads can require care and patience.

Alternatively, these rigid containers can be formed of a single piece of material that includes two rigid dish-like halves joined by a hinge.

These types of rigid cases leave food exposed to significant open air circulation and fail to offer an adequate seal over the exposed sections of fruit or vegetables. These rigid containers may also typically designed and shaped to resemble the particular foods they contain, and thus may fail to offer the flexibility of being able to adequately preserve a wide variety of foods of various shapes.

Some of these containers are opaque so that the food is difficult to identify. Some of these containers have a transparent half and an opaque half. Although the food is visible through the transparent half, and opaque half may obscure the food from view. In both cases, a user may need to open or flip the container to see the contents. In the first case, this exposes the food to more air. In both cases, a user may overlook such enclosed food until it is unusable.

Additionally, these containers are bulky, since they are larger than the food enclosed within and thus may take up the limited space in a user's fruit and vegetable drawers in a refrigerator. The two-piece versions of these containers require a user to locate both pieces in order to use the containers, which can be an added hurdle to use.

Another way to preserve food is using plastic wraps, which are available in a variety of configurations. Plastic wraps are typically sold in rolls or sheets and can be applied to partially consumed fruits and vegetables to preserve their freshness. Since plastic wraps are not sufficiently durable to be used on multiple occasions, washed, nor reapplied suitably over and over again, they are typically used one time and thrown away. This is wasteful. Plastic wraps also fail to provide a strong connection with the food being preserved. In order to hold and/or seal the plastic wrap on the food, an additional member, such as a rubber band must be used.

Thus, a need exists for a food cover that allows for an adequate seal on partially consumed foods. A need also exists for food covers that are durable enough to be reusable and capable of being used across a wide variety of food items.

Patent Publication Number <CIT>) discloses an end cover for detachable connection on the end of a cylindrical shaped food roll. <CIT>) discloses a preservation device for preserving a portion of a fruit or vegetable. The preservation device comprises a sidewall portion having an open end and a closed end, wherein the open end defines an opening adapted to receive the portion of a fruit or vegetable.

<CIT> discloses an invention of a single piece-sealing lid, made of flexible material, containing a pulling-tab on top of the lid to assist in sealing the container or removing the lid from it. In addition to that, the opening diameter in D1 is <NUM> to <NUM>% smaller than its top/bottom portion. So the object inserted can never have a diameter that is greater than its top/bottom portion.

<CIT> discloses a lid for a large container where the interior wall presents a lip that creates a seal between the container and the lid and a skirt surrounding the opening of the container. The internal lip has a concave curvature that is used as a receptacle for the material, which can infiltrate between the glass and the skirt.

<CIT> presents an invention of a sealing cap for an opened can of food or other food containers such as glasses and cups. This lid has a dome-shaped top portion from where an inside rim flange joins to create a seal between the lid and the can. Thus, this invention is not suitable for natural food products that do not present a rim.

<CIT> discloses a closure with different structural variations. In none of those variations is disclosed a cover comprising a flat base, a flexible wall having a first curved section and a second section of different thickness to create a seal between the food and the lid. The surface area of friction in this invention is invariable in any of the structural closure variations.

<CIT> presents a nesting container system based on the containers' different diameters and a male - female securing attachment feature. Containers of are to be attached to the corresponding covers by at least one attaching element by being inserted into another element.

The present disclosure relates to a set of reusable food covers. Moreover, the disclosed covers are one-piece dish-shaped covers capable of self-securing to food to decrease air flow and preserve partially consumed food longer. The covers are of a size and scale that is suitable to cover most foods, such as fruits and vegetables. These covers are a convenient tool to help users reduce the waste of partially consumed foods, which become no longer edible nor desirable, due to their exposure to air, loss of moisture, or the loss of the natural preservation properties of their skins. Without the application of the reusable food covers, the food would be exposed to bacteria, dehydrate and rapidly cease to be appealing for consumption.

The disclosed covers may be shaped to resemble circular foods, such as tomatoes, or shaped to resemble foods such as avocados. The disclosed covers are configured and dimensioned to create a set that allows the food covers to nest within one another. The set of food covers according to the invention is defined by features of claim <NUM>.

In the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, illustrate by way of example and not limitation, with like reference numerals referring to like elements, wherein:.

Referring to <FIG>, a set of four nested reusable food covers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM> of an embodiments not covered by the claimed invention are shown. Small food cover <NUM> fits within medium food cover <NUM>, which fits within large food cover <NUM>. which fits within extra-large food cover <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, small food cover <NUM> includes flat flexible base <NUM> and flexible wall <NUM> extending upwardly from and surrounding base i8 to define chamber <NUM> and opening <NUM>. Base <NUM> and flexible wall <NUM> may be generally circular in shape. In <FIG>, covers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are shown in an unstretched or initial state where cover <NUM> has not been installed on food <NUM>, which may be a lime (shown in <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, cover <NUM> has maximum diameter dmax that may be greater than opening diameter d<NUM>. The maximum diameter dmax, may be at the bottom of cover <NUM>. As a result, the diameter of cover <NUM> may taper inwardly from base <NUM> to free end <NUM> of wall <NUM>. Furthermore in use, (see <FIG>) food <NUM> (such as lime) with food diameter df upon installation that may be adjacent free end <NUM> of wall <NUM>. Food diameter df may be greater than opening diameter d<NUM>. As a result, when food <NUM> is inserted within chamber <NUM>, wall <NUM> moves outwardly and compresses food <NUM>. This compression may reduce air flow into chamber <NUM>; however it may not eliminate air flow.

Once a user partially consumes food, such as fruits or vegetables by cutting, peeling or eating the food, the natural skin is removed. With reference to <FIG>. to use cover <NUM>, a user stretches the flexible wall <NUM> into an intermediate state where opening <NUM> may be enlarged greater than diameter d<NUM> and df Then, user puts cover <NUM> on exposed surface <NUM> of food <NUM> so that exposed surface <NUM> contacts base <NUM> and forms first seal S<NUM> therewith. First seal S<NUM> prevents air circulation to exposed surface <NUM> of food <NUM> and acts as an artificial skin to help extend the period of freshness by limiting exposure to air, loss of moisture or loss of the natural preservation properties of the skin. Once the user releases the wall <NUM> of cover <NUM>, cover <NUM> is in a stretched or final state where opening d<NUM> may be greater than df.

Cover <NUM> can be easily removed when additional consumption of the food may be desired and can be replaced again if there remains a further need to preserve the freshness of the remaining food. The ease of use of cover <NUM> enables users to consume food <NUM> in a fresh state multiple times without experiencing the quick and significant loss of freshness, which would happen if left unsealed and exposed to open air.

The resilient nature of the material forming cover <NUM> as well as opening diameter d<NUM> (see <FIG>) in the unstretched state being smaller than food diameter df (see <FIG>) allows cover <NUM> to exert a compressive force on food <NUM> and securely connects cover <NUM> with food and allows cover <NUM> to remain thereon until it is removed.

Covers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be integrally formed of a single, unitary material using process such as for example molding. Covers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material such as silicone or high grade food safe silicone. Referring to <FIG>, covers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed of a material of a single color or each size cover may be formed of a different color material so that the sizes are color coded. This will allow users to quickly identify the different sizes of covers <NUM>-<NUM>.

In <FIG>, covers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are shown on lime <NUM>, lemon <NUM> and tomato <NUM>. respectively. Covers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, however, can be used on a variety of foods such as fruits and vegetables exemplified by apples, onions and peppers. Since covers <NUM> - <NUM> are in a variety of sizes and depths, they can be used with a variety of foods. Furthermore, the sizes and depths of covers <NUM>-<NUM> are exemplary and they may be modified to accommodate other foods.

Referring to FIGS. an extra-large cover <NUM> according to the invention is shown. Cover <NUM> is similar to cover <NUM> of <FIG> except flexible wall <NUM> includes first section 120a extending upwardly from and surrounding base <NUM> and second section 120b extending radially inwardly from first section 120a. Referring to <FIG>, second section 120b has thickness t that allows second section 120b to move as described below. Cover <NUM> also defines chamber <NUM> and opening <NUM> similar to cover <NUM>.

Cover <NUM> has maximum diameter dmax,, that is greater than opening diameter d<NUM>. This allows cover <NUM> to accommodate foods having a range of differing sizes from dmax to d<NUM>. Furthermore in use, food <NUM> (such as tomato shown) had food diameter df upon installation that may be adj acent wall second section 120b. Food diameter df may be greater than opening diameter d<NUM>.

Once a user partially consumes food such as fruits or vegetables by cutting, peeling or eating the food, the natural skin is removed. With respect to <FIG>, to use cover <NUM>, a user pushes food <NUM> in downward direction D<NUM> toward and into chamber <NUM>. Food <NUM> causes second section 120b of flexible wall <NUM> to compress or move or curl downward. As a result, second seal S<NUM> is formed between food <NUM> and cover <NUM>. In this final state, wall section 120b is compressed by food <NUM> to provide a tight fit on food so that cover self-adheres/self-secures to food and reduces air flow by creating seal S<NUM>. Second seal S<NUM> extends around the perimeter of food <NUM> to help prevent air A<NUM> from entering chamber <NUM>.

When exposed surface <NUM> of food <NUM> contacts base <NUM>, first seal S<NUM> may be formed there between. First seal S<NUM> may prevent air A<NUM> from contacting exposed surface <NUM>. Thus, cover <NUM> acts as an artificial skin to help extend the period of freshness as discussed above. Cover <NUM> can be easily removed by pulling food <NUM> out of cover <NUM> in the direction opposite direction D<NUM>. Thus, food <NUM> may be easily removed from cover <NUM> and replaced multiple times like cover <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, additional covers <NUM>-<NUM> according to the invention are shown. Small cover <NUM>, medium cover <NUM> and large cover <NUM> may form a set with extra-large cover <NUM> (See <FIG>). As shown in <FIG>, covers <NUM>-<NUM> are configured and dimensioned so that covers <NUM>- <NUM> can be nested. Wall second section 120b of cover <NUM> and cover <NUM> are configured and dimensioned to so that wall second section 120b retains cover <NUM> therein. Wall second section <NUM> of cover <NUM> and cover <NUM> are configured and dimensioned to so that wall second section <NUM> retains cover <NUM> therein. Wall second section <NUM> of cover <NUM> and cover <NUM> are configured and dimensioned to so that wall second section <NUM> retains cover <NUM> therein.

Referring to <FIG>, according to the invention covers <NUM> and <NUM> are shown. Covers <NUM> and <NUM> may be configures like covers <NUM> of <FIG>, previously discussed except covers <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured and dimensioned to accommodate foods such as bread <NUM> and meat <NUM>, respectively.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other products as long as they fall within the scope of the claims.

Covers <NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM>, 1lO, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, may be formed of the same materials and by the same methods as discussed with respect to cover <NUM>.

For example, decoration and/or text can be used on any examples. This decoration such as images and/or text can be formed on the covers during molding. Moreover, providing the covers in different colors in a set or the same color may be used in any of the examples.

Covers of each exemplary configuration may be formed in a variety of sizes and depths, so that they can be used with a variety of foods or to act as a reusable cover on dishes and food storage vessels.

Alternate versions of this invention might support food preservation applications that are described above. Alternate versions of the covers may be scale<l to cover other food items. Thus, the details of these components as set forth in the above- described examples, should not limit the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A set of two to four covers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM>) for covering food, where
each cover is a cover (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for covering food, comprising:
a flexible base (<NUM>) a flexible wall (<NUM>) extending upwardly from and surrounding said base to define a chamber (<NUM>) with an opening, said flexible wall having an initial uncompressed state where the opening is a first size and having a final state when compressed by food where the opening is a second size greater than said first size;
wherein the flexible wall includes a first section (120a) that extends upwardly from the base, the first section having a bottom portion attached to the base, and a top edge spaced from the bottom portion;
the flexible wall also comprising a second section (120b) that extends radially inwardly from the top edge of the first section;
wherein the cover has a maximum diameter that is greater than the opening diameter whereby upon inserting food within said chamber (<NUM>), an exposed surface of the food contacts at least a portion of the base (<NUM>) to form afirst seal between the food and the cover whereby the second section (120b) of said flexible wall has a thickness that allows the second section (120b) to compress, move or curl downward to create a second seal and;
whereby the covers are configured and dimensioned so that the covers can be nested with the wall second section (120b, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of one cover size (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) retaining the cover of the next size (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) therein.