Expandable food package with lid

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-04-09
THE QUAKER OATS CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a food package that can be expanded before being heated or consumed. It consists of a bottom, inner sidewall, and a series of living hinges that connect the inner sidewall with the outer sidewall. The inner rim is defined by an intersection between the inner sidewall and the first living hinge, and the outer sidewall defines an outer rim on the side opposite the second living hinge. The lid is affixed to either the inner rim or the outer rim using seals. The food package is simple and cheap to manufacture, but solves the problem of being unable to expand before consumption.

Problems solved by technology

However, heating food inside a food package described above with a water-containing food or food product inside can cause problems.
The disadvantage to providing enough headspace to guard against spillover is that it increases shipping costs for the food container by reducing the density of both the food package itself and larger groupings or cartons of food packages.
This approach is problematic for several reasons.
First, the consumer may not transfer the food as instructed because he or she did not read, forgot to follow, or chose not to follow the instructions provided.
Second, the consumer is inconvenienced by this prior art solution.

Method used

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  • Expandable food package with lid
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  • Expandable food package with lid

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Embodiment Construction

[0020]The present invention is directed towards a food package that is expandable prior to heating in a in a microwave oven and method of making the same. The term “food package” as used herein is defined as a package designed to contain food inside of it. The type of food package that usually stores food products intended to be heated in a microwave or consumed from a package having a cup or bowl shape comprises a sturdy, bowl-shaped base with a lid sealed to the rim of the base. However, the principles of the present invention in its broadest sense are applicable to any food package containing a food product.

[0021]Referring to FIG. 1, therein is depicted a prior art food package 100 comprising a bowl-shaped base 102, a lid 104 and a seal holding the lid 104 onto the base 102 along its rim 106. The seal can be created using any heat activated sealant known in the industry, including polypropylene based sealants.

[0022]If the food package of FIG. 1 contains a food product intended to...

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Abstract

An expandable food package with a removable lid, is provided. The food package has a bottom, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The inner sidewall and outer sidewall are connected by a series of living hinges that allow the package to be converted between an expanded configuration and collapsed configuration. A lid may be sealed to one or both of an inner rim and an outer rim when the package is in collapsed configuration.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates to a food package that is expandable, which may have a lid, and method of making the food package.[0003]2. Description Of Related Art[0004]The food industry markets some food products in packages that comprise a base and a lid sealed onto the base. The base generally comprises a bowl or other liquid retaining shape with a rim, and a lid is typically sealed along the rim of the base. An example of such a known bowl is depicted in FIG. 1. The bowl depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a base 102 and a lid 104 affixed to the base along the rim 106 of the base. Foods that are sold in such packaging include chili, soup, cheese sauce, salsa, dips, oats, oatmeal and other mixtures of solid and / or liquid food products. Foods that are packaged in this way are often consumed directly from the base after the lid is removed.[0005]Additionally, many such packaged foods are intended to be consumed or cooked at elevated ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D6/16B65B3/00B65D8/00
CPCB65D11/18B65B3/00B65D11/02B65D21/086B65D77/2024B65D81/3453B65D2577/205
InventorHENDERSON, ERIC THOMASMAKI, JAMES J.
OwnerTHE QUAKER OATS CO