CARRIER FOR MAINTAINING FOOD PRODUCTS IN A HEATED OR CHILLED CONDITION

Abstract

A food carrier with two pouches intended to keep food items hot or cold. The food carrier keeps heat from the thermal packs carried in one pouch, and subsequently keeps the food carried in the second pouch hot for at least 20 minutes.

Claims

1. A food carrier, comprising: a pair of pouches joined along a common edge, the pair of pouches having an opening at an end thereof and are dimensioned to receive a food item; a cooperating fastener aligned along an edge of the opening that is operable to selectively retained the opening in a closed condition.

2. The food carrier of claim 1, wherein the cooperating fastener is a hook and pile fastener.

3. The food carrier of claim 1, wherein the cooperating fastener is a slide fastener.

4. The food carrier of claim 1, further comprising: a thermal pack retained within a first pouch.

5. The food carrier of claim 4, wherein the thermal pack is a heating pad.

6. The food carrier of claim 5, wherein the heating pad is one of a microwaveable pad, an exothermic reacting pad, or a powered heating pad operable by an electric source.

7. The food carrier of claim 4, wherein the thermal pack is a cooling pad.

8. The food carrier of claim 7, wherein the cooling pad is one of as a cold pack, a chemically reactive chill pack, or a cooling device operable by an electric source.

9. The food carrier of claim 4, wherein the pouches are formed of a laminate material.

10. The food carrier of claim 9, wherein the laminate material is formed of an outer fabric layer and an insulating layer formed along an interior surface of the outer layer.

11. The food carrier of claim 10, wherein the laminated material further comprises and inner fabric layer, wherein the insulating layer is positioned between the outer and the inner fabric layers.

12. A food carrier, comprising: a first pouch and a second pouch formed of a laminate material and joined along a common edge and having an opening to an interior cavity dimensioned to receive one of a food item or a thermal pack; a cooperating fastener operable to selectively retained the opening in a closed condition.

13. The food carrier of claim 12, wherein the cooperating fastener is a hook and pile fastener.

14. The food carrier of claim 12, wherein the cooperating fastener is a slide fastener.

15. The food carrier of claim 12, further comprising: a thermal pack retained within one of the first pouch or the second pouch.

16. The food carrier of claim 5, wherein the thermal pack is a heating pad.

17. The food carrier of claim 15, wherein the thermal pack is a cooling pack.

18. The food carrier of claim 13, wherein the laminate material comprises an outer fabric layer and an insulating layer.

19. The food carrier of claim 18, wherein the laminate material further comprises an inner layer lining an interior of the interior cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention in use.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in use.

[0010] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the invention in use.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a typical cross-sectional view.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0015] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an improved food service carrier pouch that keeps baked goods hot for at least 20 minutes by placing a microwavable thermal carrier into a first pouch, and the baked goods in a second pouch. The baked goods retain their crispiness and flavor instead of becoming soggy and cold. Alternatively, a cold pack may be substituted for the heat pack to keep chilled food products cold.

[0016] As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1 through 6, a thermal food carrier 10 of the present invention is illustrated. The food carrier 10 includes a pair of closeable pouches 12 joined along a common edge. The pouches 12 include a laminate covering layer 13 and in interior cavity defined within the pouch. Each pouch 12 also includes an opening at an end of the pouch 12 that may be retained in a closed condition with a cooperating fastener, such as a hook 14a and pile 14b fastener, or a slide fastener, extending in strips along an edge of the opening. The cooperating fastener may be released to selectively open the pouch opening.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a food item 18 may be inserted into the pouch 12, wherein the pouch is dimensioned to receive a food item 18 that may be carried on a food service item 16, such as a plate, a dish, or a bowl. A thermal pad 20 may be received within the second pouch 12 to maintain the food item at the desired temperature. The thermal pad 20 may include a heating pad, such as a microwaveable pad, an exothermic reacting pad, or a powered heating pad operable by an electric source, such as a battery. The thermal pad 20 may also include a cold pack, such as a frozen pack, or a chemically reactive chill pack, or a cooling device operable by an electric source, such as a battery.

[0018] As shown in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, once the food item 18, any associated carrier 16, and the thermal pad 20 are inserted in their respective pouches 12 and sealed with the cooperating fastener 14a, 14b, the pouches 12 may be folded so that the thermal pouch 12 is positioned in abutment with the food item pouch 12. Where the thermal pad 20 is a heating pad, the thermal pouch 12 should be positioned subjacent to the food item pouch 12, such that the heat rising from the thermal pad 20 rises to keep the contents of the food pouch 12 in a warmed condition. Conversely, where the thermal pad 20 is a cooling pad, the food pouch 12 would be positioned subjacent to the thermal pouch 12, such that the chilled air will naturally descend to keep the contents of the food pouch 12 in a chilled condition.

[0019] As seen in reference to FIG. 6, the pouches laminate 13 may be formed of a plurality of material layers. The plurality of layers may include an outer fabric layer 22 and an insulating layer 26 positioned along an interior surface of the outer fabric layer 22. The plurality of layers may also include an inner fabric layer 24 interposed between the insulating layer 26 and the interior cavity of the pouch 12. The inner fabric layer 24 is preferably selected from a material that permits a favorable thermal transfer between the food carrying pouch 12 and the thermal pouch. The pouches may be formed by sewing the fabric and insulating layers.

[0020] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.