초록 ▼

A disposable food delivery device is disclosed. The device includes a food utensil coupled to a food container. The food container can be pre-charged with food, such as a dehydrated food, such that a liquid can be added to the dehydrated food to result in a ready-to-eat food at any selected time. Th

A disposable food delivery device is disclosed. The device includes a food utensil coupled to a food container. The food container can be pre-charged with food, such as a dehydrated food, such that a liquid can be added to the dehydrated food to result in a ready-to-eat food at any selected time. The food container illustratively can include a port for receiving the liquid. The food container also illustratively can include a security seal for assuring that the food has not been contaminated prior to consumption. Another illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a valve for retaining liquid in the food container prior to consumption of the food.

대표청구항 ▼

The subject matter claimed is: 1. A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising: (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food conta

The subject matter claimed is: 1. A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising: (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and a bowl disposed on the hollow neck; wherein the food utensil is non-removably fixed with respect to the food container; wherein the food delivery apparatus further comprises a ring disposed around the neck and a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl and the neck, wherein the cap side wall defines a radially outward projecting step forming an abutment to contact the ring to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil. 2. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bowl comprises an opening in communication with the conduit such that pushing food through the conduit causes food to pass through the opening and be received in the bowl. 3. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the food container and the food utensil are molded as an integral unit. 4. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl and the neck. 5. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall. 6. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom. 7. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats. 8. A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising: (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and a bowl disposed on the hollow neck; wherein the food utensil is non-removably fixed with respect to the food container; wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall; wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom; wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats; wherein the bowl comprises an opening in communication with the conduit such that pushing food through the conduit causes food to pass through the opening and to be received in the bowl; wherein the apparatus further comprises a ring disposed around the neck; wherein the ring is disposed on an end of the food utensil closest to and in contact with the food container, and the ring comprises a substantially planar wall that projects in a radial direction from the neck and terminates in a free end in the radial direction; wherein the food container and the food utensil are molded as an integral unit; wherein at least one of the pleats on the side walls contacts the ring; wherein the apparatus further comprises a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl member and the neck; wherein the cap side wall defines a radial projecting step extending toward an exterior of the cap forming an abutment to contact the ring to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil; wherein the cap at the radial projecting step has a radial dimension that is greater than a radial dimension of a remainder of the cap. 9. A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising: (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and a bowl or a tubular straw-like member disposed on the hollow neck; wherein the food utensil further comprises a ring disposed around the neck; wherein the ring is disposed on an end of the food utensil closest to and in contact with the food container, and the ring comprises a wall that projects in a radial direction from the neck and terminates in a free end in the radial direction; wherein the disposable food delivery apparatus further comprises a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl and the neck, wherein the cap side wall defines a radially outward projecting step forming an abutment to contact the ring to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil. 10. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 9 wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall. 11. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 9 wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom. 12. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 9 wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats. 13. A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising: (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and a bowl or a tubular straw-like member disposed on the hollow neck; and (c) a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl or tubular straw-like member and the neck; wherein the cap side wall defines a radial projecting step extending toward an exterior of the cap forming an abutment to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil and wherein the food utensil further comprises a ring disposed around the neck, and wherein the radial projecting step of the cap contacts the ring to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil. 14. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 13 wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall. 15. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 13 wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom. 16. The disposable food delivery apparatus of claim 13 wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats. 17. A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising: (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and a bowl or a tubular straw-like member disposed on the hollow neck; and (c) a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl or tubular straw-like member and the neck; wherein the cap side wall defines a radial projecting step extending toward an exterior of the cap forming an abutment to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil; wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall; wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom; wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats; wherein the bowl comprises an opening in communication with the conduit such that pushing food through the conduit causes food to pass through the opening and to be received in the bowl; wherein the apparatus further comprises a ring disposed around the neck; wherein the ring is disposed on an end of the food utensil closest to and in contact with the food container, and the ring comprises a wall that projects in a radial direction from the neck and terminates in a free end in the radial direction; wherein the food container and the food utensil are molded as an integral unit; wherein at least one of the pleats on the side walls contacts the ring; wherein the cap at the radial projecting step has a radial dimension that is greater than a radial dimension of a remainder of the cap.