Portable food dispenser

• US 20040226989A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sabert Corporation
• Original Assignee: LBP Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Cook, Matthew R., Wolf, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/114
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/12 having removable closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/008 the container body having a pyramidal shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/103 one of the self-locking flaps having a tongue engaging into an opening of an opposite flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3607 formed by folding or erecting a single blank
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46096 two opposite closure flaps being provided with handle elements which are in contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46112 either the handle elements being formed with lugs which engage with the other side walls or closure flaps, or the other closure flaps folding over a part of the handle to maintain the handle in position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6605 the lid being formed by two mating halves joined to opposite edges of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6614 with means for retaining the lid in open position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/0433 the inner container being a tray or like shallow container, not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks B65D81/3862 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/902 Box for prepared or processed food

Abstract

A portable food dispenser includes one or more containers. A first container is capable of being only partially opened to provide access to food or a second container. The second container includes a cover that can be opened to provide access to food.

Claims

1. A portable food dispenser comprising:

a. a first container, the first container having a top opening;

b. a lid for the top opening of the first container, wherein the lid is operational between a first position, a second position, and a third position, such that when the lid is in the first position it covers substantially all of the top opening of the first container, when the lid is in the second position it covers only a portion of the top opening of the first container, and when the lid is in the third position substantially all of the top opening of the container is uncovered; and

c. a second container, wherein the second container is capable of fitting inside the first container.

2. The portable food dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a cover for the second container.

3. The portable food dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cover contains an opening.

4. The portable food dispenser of claim 2, wherein a portion of the cover can be removed to create an opening in the cover.

5. The portable food dispenser of claim 3, wherein the cover includes a removable cap that covers the opening in the cover.

6. The portable food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first container is formed from a unitary blank of corrugated cardboard.

7. The portable food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second container is formed from thermoformed polyethylene.

8. The portable food dispenser of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle for carrying the portable food dispenser.

9. The portable food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a slot, and the first container contains a tab, and the slot and tab cooperate to secure the lid when the lid is in the second position.

10. The portable food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lid is integral with the first container.

11. A method of transporting and dispensing bulk food comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first container and a second container, wherein the second container is capable of fitting inside the first container and the first container has a lid and a top opening;

b. filling the second container with food;

c. placing the second container in the first container;

d. closing the lid on the first container so that the top opening of the first container is substantially covered; and

,

e. opening a portion of the lid on the top opening of the first container so that the lid only partially covers the top opening of the first container.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of providing a cover for use with the second container and placing the cover on the second container after filling the second container with food.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of removing a portion of the cover on the second container to provide access to the food inside the second container.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of providing a cap on the cover and removing the cap to provide access to the food inside the second container.

15. A method of transporting and dispensing bulk food comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first container and a second container, wherein the second container is capable of fitting inside the first container and the first container has a top opening and a lid integral with the first container;

b. filling the second container with food;

c. placing the second container in the first container;

d. placing the lid on the first container so as to substantially cover the top opening of the first container; and

,

e. folding back a portion of the lid to expose a portion of the top opening of the first container.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of securing the portion of the lid that has been folded back to the first container.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of providing a cover for use with the second container and placing the cover on the second container after filling the second container with food.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of removing a portion of the cover on the second container to provide access to the food inside the second container.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of providing a cap on the cover and removing the cap to provide access to the food inside the second container.

20. A portable food dispenser comprising:

a. a container, the first container having a top opening; and

,

b. a lid for the top opening of the first container, wherein the lid is operational between a first position, a second position, and a third position, such that when the lid is in the first position it covers substantially all of the top opening of the first container, when the lid is in the second position it covers only a portion of the top opening of the first container, and when the lid is in the third position substantially all of the top opening of the container is uncovered.

21. The portable food dispenser of claim 20, wherein the lid is integral with the first container.