Spill-free container

Abstract

A disposable food container forms a pouch or pocket having a closed ends and sides, as well as a mouth or opening. A substantially rigid member forms the opening of the mouth to provide support to the container, and to permit only a desired amount of food to extend out of the mouth of the container. A user can easily control the amount of food that protrudes out of the container by applying pressure to the outside of the container and pushing only a desired amount of food out of the mouth of the container. The remainder of the food remains enclosed within the container, thereby preventing unwanted touching of such food and spillage.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]THIS application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 377,113, filed Aug. 26, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: NONEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention comprises a container for wrapping and handling of products including, without limitation, food products. More particularly, the present invention comprises a container for protecting items from contamination while permitting a user to easily handle said items. More particularly still, the present invention comprises a disposable wrapper for protecting food, such as sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs and “fast food”, from contamination while permitting easy handling and consumption of such food.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Existing prior art methods for packaging food ite...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention comprises a disposable container that can be used to hold food items. In the preferred embodiment, the disposable container of the present invention substantially covers and shields food items placed within said container from outside contaminants during periods when said food items are not being consumed. Further, the container of the present invention permits food items to be conveniently handled and eaten, even with a single hand, while preventing inadvertent or unwanted spillage of such food items and related condiments and / or sauces.

[0010]In a preferred embodiment, the disposable food container of the present invention forms a pouch or pocket having a closed end and sides, as well as a mouth or opening leading into said pouch or pocket. Said mouth or opening includes a substantially rigid member that provides support to the container, and permits only a desired amount of food to extend out of the mouth of the container. A user can easily control the amount of food that protrudes out of said mouth by applying pressure to the container and pushing a desired amount of food out of the mouth. The remainder of the food stays fully enclosed within said container, preventing unwanted contact between hands and food. Inadvertent or unwanted food spillage is also prevented.

[0012]A tab can be provided which can be easily pulled to spread said rigid member in order to open said mouth of the container for purposes of inserting the food. The container can also include an optional cover member that can be closed and secured in place to substantially close the opening of said mouth.

[0013]A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and easy-to-use disposable container / holder for various food items that prevents spillage of sauce and food pieces while the food items are being consumed.

[0014]An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a holder that prevents hands and fingers from directly touching food items to avoid getting hands / fingers dirty and from contaminating the food.

Problems solved by technology

Although such existing packaging methods offer some protection to the food items, such existing methods do not address the problem of spillage while an item is being handled and, especially, when the food item is being eaten.

Problems commonly arise when a sandwich or other fast food item that is wrapped using conventional methods is being consumed.

Specifically, from the time that a food item is picked up and brought to a user's mouth, until it is placed down again, contents of conventional food packaging are prone to falling.

Such contents may include solid pieces of the food itself, as well as various sauces and condiments, all of which can be potentially soiling to clothes and the surrounding environment.

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