Food and Beverage Container with Integrated Disposable Liner Dispenser

Abstract

A food and beverage container is disclosed that includes a compartment attached to its base that is filled with disposable liners. In various embodiments the container is a storage bin, glass, mug, baby bottle, or bowl. Liners can be configured in a continuous roll with perforations, or folded in an interleaved stack. Liners are pulled into the container through an opening in the container base, and can be held in place by a retaining ring pressed over the container rim. Removing a used liner causes a fresh liner to be pulled into the container from the compartment. A lid can be included, possibly with a drinking or pouring spout through which the end of a disposable liner can be extended, and to which a retaining ring and / or a spout cover can be fitted for transportation, shaking, etc, thereby preventing added ingredients such as powders from adhering to the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention generally relates to food and beverage containers, and more specifically to apparatus for lining food and beverage containers with disposable liners.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Foods and beverages are often stored in and consumed from reusable containers. For example, storage bins with air tight lids are often to store bulk ingredients such as flour and sugar, as well as leftovers from partially consumed meals, and serving containers such as bowls, mugs, glasses, and such like are often used for consuming foods and beverages. After each use, such reusable containers must typically be washed and dried, which is time consuming and inconvenient. For example, a consumer may be traveling in a car or be otherwise not at home or not close to a washing location when a food or beverage is consumed, thereby requiring that the serving container be brought to a washing location before it can be washed and dried. If more than one use of a container ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes an apparatus for storing and consuming food and beverages. The apparatus includes a container with a bottom and a rim, and a removable compartment attached to the bottom of the container. The compartment can hold disposable liners that can be pulled into the container through an opening in the bottom. The liners can be folded or stacked and are designed to be opened and folded over the rim of the container for easy disposal. The apparatus also includes a lid that can be attached to the rim of the container and make a leak-resistant seal. The invention provides a convenient and efficient way to store and consume food and beverages."

Problems solved by technology

After each use, such reusable containers must typically be washed and dried, which is time consuming and inconvenient.

If more than one use of a container is desired, and washing facilities are not readily available, it may become necessary to re-use the container without washing it first.

Nevertheless, such ingredients sometimes fail to dissolve completely, and can leave solid deposits on the walls of a container that can be difficult to remove during cleaning.

However, using disposable containers can be costly and wasteful of storage space, and can also place a burden on the capacity of available trash receptacles.

Disposable containers are also typically limited in their features.

For example, once opened, disposable containers often cannot be resealed as tightly as non-disposable containers.

Also, while lids are sometimes available for disposable containers, the lids for disposable containers typically do not seal as tightly as lids that attach to reusable containers.

Such disposable lids can become detached if the container is squeezed, shaken, or dropped, causing a food or beverage contained therein to be spilled.

And if a drinking spout is desired, for example to facilitate drinking of coffee, water, or a soda while driving, spouts included in disposable container lids are typically of a primitive nature and do not provide the full convenience, comfort, and other benefits of drinking spouts that are typically included in reusable container lids.

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