Pre-Measured Baking System

Abstract

Systems are provided for facilitating food preparation. One such system includes one or more flexible packaging containers, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers include a removable portion configured to enable a user to access the one or more premeasured materials, and one or more premeasured materials housed within the one or more flexible packaging containers.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating food preparation, comprising: one or more flexible packaging containers, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers include a removable portion configured to enable a user to access the one or more premeasured materials; and one or more premeasured materials housed within the one or more flexible packaging containers.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more flexible packaging containers include a narrow end and a wide end.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers being configured to rest in an upright position.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers are resting in the upright position when the wide end is on a surface and the narrow end is above the wide end.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the removable portion is removable via a perforated edge in the one or more flexible packaging containers.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers include plastic.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers are transparent.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more flexible packaging containers are cone-shaped.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more flexible packaging containers are approximately the same dimensions.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more premeasured materials are food ingredients.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an outer packaging container configured to house the one or more flexible packaging containers.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the outer packaging container includes heavyweight paperboard.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the outer packaging container is resealable.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more flexible packaging containers are rectangular in shape.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the flexible packaging containers includes a label indicated a volume of any contents of each of the flexible packaging containers.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging containers a material selected from the group consisting of: cellophane; and paper.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging containers include an internal moisture barrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows two cone-shaped bags of the present system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows two cone-shaped bags of the present system in an upright position, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows three cone-shaped bags of the present system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows three cone-shaped bags of the present system in an upright position, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIGS. 5A-5B show perspective views of outer packaging for holding pre-measured packaging containers, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIGS. 6A-6D show pre-measured packaging containers of various quantities, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the present system includes one or more pre-measured packaging cups. According to an embodiment, the one or more pre-measured packaging cups include one or more cellophane, cone-shaped bags. It is noted, however, that the one or more pre-measured packaging cups may include one or more rigid structures. According to an embodiment, the bags may, instead of, or in addition to, cellophane, include any other suitable material, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. For example, the bags may include paper packaging, may include a moisture barrier, may include plastic, and/or may include any other suitable material. According to an embodiment, the bags have dimensions of approximately 10 inches by 5 inches. It is noted, however, that any other suitable dimensions may also be used, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

[0042] According to an embodiment, one or more materials may be filled in the wide end of the bags. The one or more materials may include, e.g., flour, sugars, and/or any other suitable materials. According to an embodiment, once the bags are filled with the one or more materials, the bags are then sealed.

[0043] According to an embodiment, each of the bags may include a removable upper portion. According to an embodiment, the removable upper portion may be a lid, an upper portion connected with a perforation, and/or any other suitable removable upper portion.

[0044] According to an embodiment, each bag is labeled. According to an embodiment, the label includes the contents of the bag, including what materials are in the bag and/or the amount of each material in the bag. For example, the label may indicate 1 cup, cup, cup, cup.

[0045] According to an embodiment, upon use, a consumer places each of the one or more bags on a surface, with the wide side down and the narrow (or tip) side up. This creates a flat bottom as the material inside the bags falls to the bottom, creating a free standing package. According to an embodiment, the bags may include one or more perforation lines.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the one or more perforation lines are marked on package at a location where the consumer would cut to pour the material out of the bags, easily and mess free, into a mixing bowl.

[0047] According to an embodiment, the system may be manufactured in multiple ways.

[0048] According to an embodiment, only pre-measured 1 cup packages in a box and a variety pack consisting of all different size cups.

[0049] The present system may, according to some embodiments, be marked for certain occasions. For example, the packaged food may be designated for a particular holiday. Manufacturers may stamp holiday markings on one or more of the bags. These markings may be, e.g., snowflakes, snowmen, poinsettias, gingerbread men, and/or any other relevant markings.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the bags may include prepackaged materials. These materials may be for certain recipes, occasions, etc. For example, pre-measured packaging of different types of flours, sugars, etc., may be used. This pre-packaging of materials cuts down on both the time and mess associated with preparing foods.

[0051] According to an embodiment, before purchase, every product has its own unique appeal and performance. This new packaging concept is an improvement upon the existing technologies and methods and creates competitive advantages over other products as it differentiates itself from competing companies.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 1, two cone-shaped bags 100 of the present system are illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, bag A is filled with 1 cup of a material 110 and bag B is filled with cup of a material 110. According to an embodiment, the material 110 is flour. It is noted, however, that other materials 110, such as, e.g., brown sugar, white sugar, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and/or any other suitable material, may also be used, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. It is further noted other suitable measurements of material 110, such as cup (such as in bag C, bag D, and bag E in FIGS. 3-4), cup, 1/16 cup, 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, and/or any other suitable measurement may be used, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. According to an embodiment, each bag 100 is labeled. According to an embodiment, the label 130 includes the contents of the bag 100, including what materials 110 are in the bag 100 and/or the amount of each material 110 in the bag 100.

[0054] According to an embodiment, bag A and bag B are filled with the same material 110. According to an embodiment, the material 110 in bag A is different from the material in bag B. According to an embodiment, bag A and bag B are the same size. According to an embodiment, bag A and bag B are different in size.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the bags 100 may include one or more perforation lines 120. According to an embodiment, the one or more perforation lines 120 are marked on the packages 100 at a location where the consumer would cut to pour the material 110 out of the packages 100, easily and mess free, into a mixing bowl.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 2, the two cone-shaped bags 100 of the present system standing upright are illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] According to an embodiment, one end of each of the bags 100 is wider than the other end of each of the bags 100. According to an embodiment, bag A and bag B are designed such that each bag 100 is capable of standing upright, with the wider portion against a surface. According to an embodiment, the bags 100 are cone-shaped. It is noted, however, that any suitable shape configured to stand upright may be used, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

[0058] According to an embodiment, pre-measured packaging containers may be housed within an outer packaging 200 (shown open in FIG. 5A and closed in FIG. 5B). According to an embodiment, the outer packaging 200 may include durable and/or strong material such as, e.g., heavyweight paperboard and/or any other suitable material. According to an embodiment, the outer packaging 200 may be constructed to include properties such as, e.g., withstanding crushing, stackability, economically viable, eco-friendly, resealable, and/or any other suitable beneficial properties.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the present invention may incorporate rectangular pre-measured containers 300 for housing ingredients. The containers 300 may be packaged in varying quantities such as, e.g., 1 cup (FIG. 6A), cup (FIG. 6B), cup (FIG. 6C), cup (FIG. 6D)), and/or any other suitable quantities. According to an embodiment, the containers 300 include a perforated section 305 configured to aid the user in opening the containers 300.

[0060] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, and the are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective another, when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms including and having are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0061] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.