HK1139110B - Food packaging system, lifting basket and method for filing food packaging system - Google Patents

Description

Food packaging system, lifting basket and method for filling a food packaging system

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to food packaging devices and more particularly to a device for accessing food in a can or similar container.

Background

Many types of food products are packaged in liquids for shipment to consumers. One such example is asparagus spears placed in cans with a screw-threaded lid or a lid with a clipped tamper evident film. While this packaging method provides a convenient reclosable container that allows a user to selectively remove individual items from the container, the user must frequently use their fingers or additional implements, such as forks, to access the container to grasp the food item. Such a procedure is prone to spillage or, in the case of a person's finger, unsanitary. Furthermore, there is a problem with the removal of elongated food products, such as green and white asparagus, which are transported in liquid-filled containers. The consumer selects these items depending on their shape. In order to remove the product, the user must frequently tilt the can to access the product. Thereby, the filling liquid may spill and the product may slip out. In the case of asparagus, the tender stems are typically broken when they are ejected from the container. If the product is damaged during transport or removal from the container, the need will be reduced. Therefore, the integrity of the product must be protected.

The prior art devices handle the access of food products in liquid filled containers. United states patent No.6036038 to lovevace et al discloses a food packaging system including a content lifting insert, wherein the insert is a rod attached to a cup-like structure located at the bottom of the can. However, this design has several disadvantages. The user must insert one hand into the interior of the container to access the rod, which causes hygiene problems. When the rod is raised, there are no parts to prevent objects from falling out of the container. If the user wants to empty the container, they must proceed on an inch-by-inch basis, remove the product by hand to clear the top of the container, raise the wand an additional inch, and repeat the process, otherwise there is a risk of spilling the product.

Accordingly, there is a need for a packaging system that includes a device that extends into the container for removing the food product without the unsanitary process of fishing out the item by hand. The device ideally will allow the liquid to drain from the product when in use. Furthermore, the device should allow all the products to be taken out at once in a hygienic manner and maintain the desired shape and condition of the products.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a food packaging system comprising a lifting basket located inside a food holding portion of the container. The lifting basket forms a protective shelf about the periphery of the food product, the shelf extending from the bottom of the container to proximate the liquid surface. A foldable handle is attached to the top of the shelf. The foldable handle is disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shelf portion when the cover is closed. When the lid is removed, the handle may extend over the upper rim of the container for removal by the user.

Preferably, the shelf is made of a unitary resilient material. Suitable plastics for forming the frame may include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleic anhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and mixtures of these materials. The material is injected in a clam shell configuration to form two basket halves or racks. The base of the shelf comprises a seam where the two shelf parts are connected. When compressed together after placement in the container, the two halves may be locked together at the mating surfaces, or bonded (align). The ribs of the side frame structure are spaced according to food product characteristics. For example, asparagus shoots can be easily held inside the rack by a plurality of ribs located at the midpoint. Olives or pickles, or any food product with smaller dimensions, may require a shelf with more ribs. The side frame structure may be a mirror image on each half, or alternatively, may take the form of a unique design for each surface. The base of the rack will also include at least one aperture so that the food product effectively drains from the bottom of the rack when lifted from the container.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in a sealable container.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in the closed position.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention in the open position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment in the open position.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the base of the alternative embodiment depicted in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment depicted in fig. 7 in an open position.

Detailed Description

The present invention is a component of a food packaging system that cooperates with a product container. The present invention comprises a product filter or lifting basket extending from the bottom of the container to proximate the top of the container. The product containers may include cylindrical cans, square or rectangular cartons, cartridges, spherical containers, or flexible bag containers, in which the present invention may provide an internal support structure. Generally, the present invention forms a basket inside another container. Removing the basket will allow the user to easily and unobtrusively remove a desired product, such as a liquid packaged product.

The lifting basket 10 is described in the first embodiment shown in figures 1 to 5. The lifting basket 10 is comprised of a base 12, vertical support structure 13, handle 14 and a rack 15. The lifting basket 10 is arranged inside a container 11, as shown in fig. 1, for transport to a user. In this embodiment, the handle 14 extends to the top of the container 11 when the container lid 50 is removed, but the handle 14 may be disposed below the top of the container 11 if desired.

The lifting basket 10 is shown in the closed position in fig. 2-4, as compared to the lifting basket 10 in the open position in fig. 5. In the first embodiment, the lifting basket 10 is comprised of two identically configured first basket halves 16 and 17 joined at the base 12 in a clam shell fashion. In the first embodiment, the base 12 is a cylindrical disk separated by a base seam 18. The base 12 may have alternative shapes depending on the size of the container. Base 12 may include drain holes. The base seam 18 may be formed in a conventional manner, such as a pre-stressed folded region, or partially separating the base 12 by base channels or perforations.

The base 12 also includes a lower shelf 19, the lower shelf 19 further connecting the base 12 with the vertical support structure 13. The lower shelf 19 has a shelf base 20 that mates with an outer edge 21 of the base 12. The shelf base 20 has an arcuate shape and forms a continuous joint with the base 12, but may include one or more apertures to facilitate drainage in alternative embodiments. The lower shelf 19 is radially inclined from the base 12 such that the shelf base 20 is located inwardly of the lower shelf upper rim 22. Lower frame wings 23 extend in an arcuate manner from the frame base 20 to intersect the vertical support structure 13. The lower frame wing 23, the base 12 and the vertical support structure 13 define a drain hole 24.

A vertical support structure 13 extends from the base 12 to a handle 14. When the lifting basket 10 is composed of a first basket half 16 and a second basket half 17, the vertical support structure 13 comprises four ribs 25, such that two ribs 25 provide vertical structure to the respective basket halves 16, 17. In the first embodiment, each rib 25 has a mating face 26 and an outer face 27. The lower shelf wing 23 is attached to the outer surface 27 of each respective rib 25. For example, mating surfaces 26 of ribs 25 of first basket half 16 mate with mating surfaces 26 of ribs 25 of second basket half 17. In the first embodiment, the ribs 25 are bonded together by compression as the internal dimensions of the container 11 approach the external dimensions of the lifting basket 10. However, in alternative embodiments, the ribs 25 can include a snap fit or snap ring to maintain contact between the corresponding mating surfaces 26.

A shelf 15 is disposed between the handle 14 and the base 12. In the first embodiment the shelf 15 has two identical shelf portions 28 which are connected to the outer surface 27 of each respective rib 25. The shelf portions 28 form an arcuate cross having a shelf center 29 with the shelf arms 30 extending from the shelf center 29. Here, four frame arms 30 extend from the frame center 29. The shelf portion 28 has an arcuate shape forming a hemispherical boundary for the lifting basket 10. The arcuate shape of the shelf portion 28 closely maps the inner periphery of the container 11.

The handle 14 is arranged at an upper end 31 of the vertical support structure 13. The handle 14 is comprised of two curved gripping portions 32. Each finger grip 32 is a thin arcuate tab comprising a lift tab 33 disposed at a midpoint and extending axially toward base 12. The grip portion 32 is connected at opposite ends to the ribs 25 by flex connectors 34. Flex connector 34 forms a neck at upper end 31 of rib 25, flex connector 34 having a smaller cross-sectional area than rib 25 to allow for greater flexibility. Likewise, the curved grip portion 32 has a larger cross-sectional area than the flex connector 34. While the handle 14 of the first embodiment does not include a locking mechanism, it is envisioned that a number of alternative clasps, locks, flanges or other attachment means can be incorporated to maintain the grip portion 32 in locking engagement.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment 100 of the present invention. Here, the lifting basket 100 includes a base 112, the base 112 supporting a vertical support structure 113. The vertical support structure 113 terminates at an upper end 131 with a handle 114. Intermediate the handle 114 and the base 112 are a plurality of shelf structures 115. As with the previous embodiment, the present invention 100 is comprised of a clam shell design wherein two basket halves 116, 117 are joined at a seam 118 in the base 112. Each basket half 116, 117 contains two vertical ribs 125, the vertical ribs 125 supporting opposite sides of the shelf portion 128. Each shelf portion 128 forms an "x" shape. Fig. 6 shows a plurality of shelf sections 128 mounted on the vertical structure 113. The plurality of shelf portions 128 provide added retention means for retaining product within the lifting basket 100.

Fig. 7-9 illustrate an alternative embodiment 200 of the present invention. Here, the lifting basket 200 includes a base 212, the base 212 supporting a vertical support structure 213. The vertical support structure 213 terminates in an upper end 231 with a handle 214. Intermediate the handle 214 and the base 212 is a shelf structure 215. As with the previous embodiment, the present invention 200 is comprised of a clam shell design wherein two basket halves 216, 217 are joined at a base 212. The cage structure 215 is comprised of two cage portions 225 such that cage portion 225 is disposed inside basket half 216 and second cage portion 225 is disposed inside basket half 217. Each shelf portion 225 is mounted on at least one vertical rib 219.

The base 212 includes a hinge portion 220, the hinge portion 220 connecting the basket base 226 to the basket base 227. The hinge portion 220 is a rectangular body having flexible hinges 228 on opposite sides thereof. The base 212 defines a plurality of apertures 229 to allow drainage. The base rib 230 extends axially from a midpoint of the perimeter of the basket bases 226 and 227. The base rib 230 terminates approximately at the midpoint of the base cross rib 231. Each basket half 216, 217 includes two vertical ribs 225, the vertical ribs 225 supporting opposite sides of the rack structure 22. The base cross rib 231 extends to the corresponding vertical rib 219.

In operation, the lifting basket 10 is in an open condition as shown in figure 5. Products such as asparagus, okra, kimchi tender stems or palm hearts are placed in the opened lifting basket 10. The half baskets 16, 17 are then coupled in the closed position. The lifting basket 10 is then placed into the container 11. Preferably, container 11 is sized to approximate the outer diameter of the present invention 10 so that basket halves 16, 17 are held in contact by compression. The packaging liquid is added to container 11 before or after lifting basket 11 is placed within said container 11. Alternatively, the product can be placed in a container that does not contain a packaging liquid. The handle 17 of the lifting basket 10 is manipulated transverse to the axial plane of the container 11 and a container seal or lid 50 is attached. The handle 17 may rotate as a unit, or the grips 32 may rotate in opposite directions. To access the product, the user removes the cover and grasps the grip portion 32. The lifting basket 10 then rises to the package level, at which point the user can remove one or more products while maintaining the relative position of the gripping portion 32. Conversely, after draining the packaging liquid through base drain holes 24, the user may remove lifting basket 10, whereupon lifting basket 10 may be placed in an open position, e.g., rotating first basket half 16 away from second basket half 17.

The same process can be applied to smaller sized products as shown in fig. 6. For example, by adding the cage structure 115, the lifting basket 100 may be used to remove olives, jerusalem artichoke hearts, or any other liquid-packaged product that typically requires draining.

Note that the embodiments of the food packaging system described in detail herein as exemplary examples are, of course, subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and process. Because many different embodiments are possible within the scope of the inventive concept and because many variations are possible in light of the embodiments herein, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (13)

1. A food packaging system for improved access to a product, the system comprising:

a container having an open end and a food holding area;

a container lid securable about the container open end; and

a lifting basket sized to fit inside the food holding area, the lifting basket including a base having one or more drain holes configured to allow a fluid path from a first base side to a second base side, the base being connected to the handle assembly by a vertical support structure comprising a frame member disposed intermediate the handle assembly and the base,

wherein the vertical support structure comprises two basket halves connected at the base.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a base support and a product holder extending axially from a perimeter of the base support.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly has a grip portion and a neck portion, the neck portion being disposed between the grip portion and the vertical support structure.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the neck portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the gripper portion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is one of a can, carton, box, cartridge, or bag.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly is rotatable from an upright position parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container to a sealed position in which an upper rim of the handle assembly fits inside the container.

7. A lifting basket for accessing a product in a container includes a base connected to a handle assembly by a vertical support structure comprising two basket halves connected at the base and including a frame member disposed intermediate the handle assembly and the base.

8. A lifting basket as recited in claim 7, wherein the base has at least one drainage hole.

9. A lifting basket according to claim 8, wherein the two basket halves include at least one rib extending axially from the base, the rib supporting the carrier member, the carrier member including at least one wing transverse to the rib.

10. A lifting basket as recited in claim 8, wherein the handle assembly includes a flexible neck disposed at the intersection of the vertical support structure and handle assembly, the flexible neck being rotatable between a first vertical position and a storage position.

11. A method for filling a food packaging system including an outer container and an inner lifting basket, wherein the inner lifting basket is sized to fit inside the outer container, the outer container defining a food holding area, the method comprising:

opening a lifting basket, the lifting basket comprising a first basket half and a second basket half, the first basket half and the second basket half connected at a first end to a lifting basket base, wherein the opening operation comprises rotating the first basket half away from the second basket half;

placing a food product in the first basket half;

rotating the second basket half to align the first basket half; and

placing the lifting basket into the outer container.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inner lifting basket includes a rotatable handle portion, the method further comprising rotating the handle portion to a loading position within the food holding area.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising securing a container seal over the open end of the outer container.