US20070259083A1

US20070259083A1 - Method, device and vessel to store and consume food

Info

Publication number: US20070259083A1
Application number: US11/744,956
Authority: US
Inventors: Liron Komitau; Uzi Ezru Havosha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-07
Filing date: 2007-05-07
Publication date: 2007-11-08
Also published as: IL175456A0

Abstract

A method and a device for extracting puddings from their containers. The device may comprise a mouthpiece that may be inserted to the wall of the container.

A person eating the pudding may be enabled by the device to apply pressure therefore allowing the pudding to flow out of the mouthpiece because of the pressure applied by the pudding.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of food and more particularly a method of extracting certain kinds of foods from their containers.

BACKGROUND of the INVENTION

Certain foods are a consistency that makes them conducive to passing through a small aperture, with a certain amount of applied pressure. Examples of such consistency are yogurts, puddings and sour creams. These are close to the thickest consistency suitable for this invention. Obviously, anything more liquid than these examples will also pass through a small aperture. A wider aperture would increase the range of suitable products.
There are many times that a person desires or needs to eat such foods with the aid of one hand only. This could be where spoons or other suitable cutlery is not available, or where the second hand is otherwise occupied or just as style of eating, especially for children. Presently, people use a spoon or the like to eat such yogurts and puddings using one hand to hold the container and the other hand to hold the spoon. When people wish to eat using only one hand, generally, they pull away the lid or foil-coveting either wholly or partially and with their head tilted backward, they suck out or shake out the contents, into their mouths. This can cause difficulty when for example, too much comes out at any one time. It is hard to control the flow of the food from the container. Alternatively, where the container is made of suitable material, there are those who bite a hole in the bottom corner of the container and suck out the contents.
This invention comes to ease the way a person can eat these kinds of foods and make it a more enjoyable experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview, or framework, for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention.
An object of this invention is to assist in the consumption of yogurts, puddings, sour creams and the like including less viscose foods and drinks (hereinafter called “pudding”).
Another object of this invention is to enable the said consumption using only one hand.
Another object of this invention is to manufacture the pudding container with a mouthpiece installed therein either close to its base or to its top.
Another object of this invention is to manufacture the pudding container so that it can hold mouth-blown pressure inside without air escaping from the container. Another object of this invention is to enable the consumer to consume the pudding by blowing air pressure with his mouth into the said container via the said mouthpiece and then allowing the pudding to return through the mouthpiece into his mouth under pressure in a jet-like stream.
Another object of this invention is to create the said pressure by pressing the side walls of the pudding container.
Another object of this invention is for the pudding container to be able to have more than one base surface.
Another object of this invention is for the pudding container to be able to have more than one compartment holding optionally different flavored puddings.
Another object of this invention is for the container also to be openable at the top by pulling back or breaking the material of the lid.
Another object of this invention is for the mouthpiece to be covered and sealed with a removable cover.
Another object of this invention is for the cover of the mouthpiece to be re-attachable after having been removed.
Another object of this invention is for there to be a pressure controlled valve in the said mouthpiece that would cut off the flow of food or liquid when the pressure inside the food container reduced below a certain amount.
Another object of this invention is for at least one wall of the pudding container to be made of or have attached to it a reflective material having a mirror effect, to enable the consumer to see himself as he consumes the pudding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain, by way of example only, the principles of the invention:

Fig A is a schematic depiction of a pudding container with the present invention installed, and a person blowing into the mouthpiece.

Fig B is a schematic depiction of an enlargement of the area around the mouthpiece of the pudding container.

Fig C is a schematic depiction of a person consuming a stream of pudding entering his mouth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments than those discussed above and described in more detail below, and its several details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forth below are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
Fig A shows a pudding container 104 being held in one hand 102. The person 100 desiring to eat the pudding, first blows into the mouthpiece 108 situate in the bottom corner of the container 104. This creates air pressure in the air space between the pudding and the walls and lid 106 inside the container 104. The lid 106 is attached well onto the container 104 so that it will not allow air to escape even when Linder such pressure. The mouthpiece 108 does not have to be in the corner of the container 104. It could be placed anywhere in the container.
Inside the container there could be a pipe leading from the inside opening of the mouthpiece to the airspace between the top of the pudding and the inside face of the lid 106. This would cause the air blown in, to go directly to the air space without having to pass through the substance of the pudding.
Fig B shows an enlarged section of the pudding container 120. In this embodiment the mouthpiece has been placed in the bottom corner. The corner has been made at an angle 122 so that the mouthpiece 124 is comfortable for the user to place his lips on it to blow. During storage the mouthpiece 124 could be covered with a sealed detachable strip or cover. This strip would prevent the contents from leaking out prior to use and prevent contact between the pudding and the air, which would cause the pudding to decay. When the person desires to eat the pudding he would pull off the sealed strip to expose the mouthpiece. This strip or cover could be made to be replaceable onto the mouthpiece to keep fresh an unfinished pudding.
If the pudding is not finished in one or two mouthfuls, the container 120 could be lain on its side with the mouthpiece facing upwards. Alternatively, the container could be manufactured with one wall thereof at an angle to act as an additional base.
Fig C shows the person 100 holding the container 104 after air has been blown into the container causing a build up of pressure inside the container. The container would be made in such a way that air would not escape under such pressure, from any other place except the mouthpiece 108. The person 100 would hold the container 104 with one hand and at the appropriate height and distance from his mouth. The pudding will flow out 130 as a continuous flow until the said pressure drops. At this stage, if he desires to continue to eat then he can blow on the mouthpiece 108 to create air pressure again and follow the same procedure as described above. If he does not so desire, he could re-cover the mouthpiece 108 to preserve the freshness of the contents.
A valve could be inserted in the mouthpiece to prevent the pudding dripping out when the pressure drops below a given level. This valve would open when there is pressure in the container as described above and as the pudding finishes flowing out, the pressure drops causing the valve to close thereby preventing drips.

Claims

1. A method and device for extracting puddings from their containers comprising a mouthpiece inserted in the wall of the said container whereby the person eating the pudding could apply pressure and thereafter allowing the pudding to flow out of the said mouthpiece as a result of the pressure so created.

2. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said pressure is created by blowing on the said mouthpiece.

3. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said pressure is created by pressing the walls of the said container.

4. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tube inside the said container attached at one end to the said mouthpiece and the other opening into the air space between the top of the said pudding and the sealed lid.

5. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said mouthpiece is inserted in the wall of the said container.

6. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said container is airtight and can withstand pressure at least as great as that created by blowing into the said container.

7. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said pudding container has more than one surface that can act as the base of the said container.

8. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said pudding container is divided into more than one compartment, with at least one of those said compartments containing a mouthpiece.

9. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said pudding container has a removable covering.

10. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said container has a lower corner shaped as if the corner has been cut off, the flat surface thereby created, housing the said mouthpiece.

11. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said mouthpiece is flush with the said wall of the said container.

12. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said mouthpiece protrudes from the said wall of the said container.

13. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said mouthpiece is covered with a removable sealed cover.

14. A method and device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the said cover is re-sealable.

15. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a tap in the said mouthpiece that enables the user to adjustably block the hole of the said mouthpiece, enabling him to control when the said flow starts and the strength of the said flow thereafter.

16. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture of the said mouthpiece is such that the said flow of pudding is in a jet-like stream.

17. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said mouthpiece contains a valve that opens with pressure and closes when pressure falls.

18. A method and device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one wall of the said pudding container is made of a reflective material.