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US4966296A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated food tray with individual separable food containers for heating and cooling food

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-03-22
•
Granted: 1990-10-30
•
Expires: 2009-03-22
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Abstract

Abstract A food serving system in the form of a receptacle housing is provided which is initially integrated, but which includes at least two meal course portion containers which are separable. In such a system at least one separable portion is designed to carry a meal course which is to be heated in that portion, and at least one separable portion is designed to carry a meal course which is not intended to be heated but rather is designed to carry a meal course which is to be served at room temperature or at a temperature cooler than room temperature. In one embodiment the integrated food serving system is in the form of a receptacle housing in which at least one of the separable portions which is designed to carry a meal course has scorelines there-in-between such portion and the receptacle and from other portions carried by the receptacle which are designed to carry meal courses. In another embodiment, the integrated food serving system is in the form of a receptacle housing which includes one or more separable portion which is designed to carry meal course portions in a container which is removably carried by the receptacle housing. In yet another embodiment the integrated food serving system is in the form of a receptacle housing which includes meal course portions which are mechanically connected to the receptacle housing or to one another.

Inventors

  • 👤 Leslie A. Farrell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:15
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G23/00; A47G23/06; B; B65; B65D; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/0201; B65D21/0206; B65D77/00; B65D77/04; B65D77/0446; B65D77/0453; B65D77/046; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/343; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3453; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/82

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
An integrated food receptacle for heating and cooling, or for maintaining at ambient condition, separate meal course portions, said food receptacle comprising: a receptacle housing; at least two meal course portion containers integrally connected to said receptacle housing, wherein at least one of said meal course portion containers is composed of heat resistant material selected from the group consisting of microwave-safe material and conventional oven safe and compatible material, and wherein further t least one of said meal course portion containers is composed of material selected from the group consisting of freezer, refrigerator, and ambient temperature safe and compatible material; and means for releasing at least one of said integrally connected meal course portion containers from said receptacle housing, and as necessary from each other meal course portion container; whereby each said separate released meal course portion container may be heated, or cooled, or maintained at ambient conditions, as desired.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
An integrated food receptacle for heating and cooling, or for maintaining at ambient condition, separate meal course portions, said food receptacle comprising: a receptacle housing; at least two meal course portion containers integrally connected to said receptacle housing, wherein at least one of said meal course portion containers is composed of heat resistant material selected from the group consisting of microwave-safe material and conventional oven safe and compatible material, and wherein further t least one of said meal course portion containers is composed of material selected from the group consisting of freezer, refrigerator, and ambient temperature safe and compatible material; and means for releasing at least one of said integrally connected meal course portion containers from said receptacle housing, and as necessary from each other meal course portion container; whereby each said separate released meal course portion container may be heated, or cooled, or maintained at ambient conditions, as desired.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The food receptacle of claim 1 wherein said releasing means is a score-line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
The food receptacle of claim 1 wherein said at least two meal course portion containers are substantially adjacent to one another, and wherein further there are means for connecting and allowing separation of said substantially adjacent meal course portion containers from one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The food receptacle of claim 3 wherein said means for allowing separation of said meal course portion containers from one another is a score-line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The food receptacle of claim 1 further including sealed covers attached to the top of each of said meal course portion containers for providing a seal for any meal course carried therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The food receptacle of claim 1 wherein said releasing means is incorporated in said receptacle housing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3240610A Cited
US3270909A Cited
US3520439A Cited
US3608770A Cited
US3651976A Cited
US3715856A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-10-29 1994-04-30 1994-10-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-10-29 1998-04-30 1998-10-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-10-29 2002-04-30 2002-10-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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