Container for dispensing comestibles

Abstract

A container for dispensing comestibles, such as a dry cereal dispenser, is provided that is generally designed to be capable of being fully cleaned and sanitized in order to avoid exposing the comestibles to contamination. In this regard, the various components of the container, such as the handle, the lid and the bottom closure, are advantageously mounted to the vessel such that the inner surface of the vessel with which the comestible is in contact is smooth and uninterrupted and, therefore, capable of being thoroughly cleaned. By including a removable bottom closure, the container may capable of being refilled through the bottom, opposite the open top through which the comestible is dispensed, to prevent stagnation of the comestible in lower portions of the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 335,678, filed Jan. 2, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to containers for dispensing comestibles, such as dry cereal and other foodstuffs, and, more particularly, to containers for dispensing comestibles, such as single-serve or patron-serve containers, that include few, if any, sites at which contaminants can accumulate and which can be readily cleaned to thereby provide more sanitary and sterile conditions for the storage and dispensation of the comestibles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Containers for dispensing comestibles, such as dry cereal and other foodstuffs, are widely utilized. These containers are provided in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and designs and generally serve to store bulk quantities of a particular foodstuff. Individual portions...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The container can be thoroughly sanitized and refilled without stagnation, reducing exposure to contaminants and maintaining food quality.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, this type of dry cereal dispenser is difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize; therefore undesirably subjecting the dry cereal to contaminants.

This conventional type of cereal dispenser generally has several features that are difficult, if not impossible, to clean that serve as sites at which contaminants accumulate.

As such, the heads of the fasteners are exposed within the vessel and are difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize.

The heads of these fasteners are also difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize.

In these instances, the corner between the sidewalls and the bottom of the vessel is also difficult, if not impossible, to sanitize and serves as yet an additional site for contamination.

As will be apparent, the exposure of virtually any comestible, including dry cereal, to contaminants is undesirable.

The manner in which this type of dry cereal dispenser is refilled may also pose a problem.

If this practice of refilling is repeated, the upper portions of the dry cereal dispenser may include fresh cereal, but older and, in some instances, undesirable cereal may stagnate in the lower portions of the vessel.

As will be apparent from its relatively complex design, this dispenser may also be somewhat difficult, if not impossible, to completely sanitize and therefore may expose the cereal or other comestibles to contamination.

Additionally, this more complex dispenser is generally more expensive than the dispensers comprised of an upstanding vessel from which the dry cereal or other comestibles may be poured.

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