Method of dividing and transferring the semi-solid type food in pet food cans into equal portions without using a knife or other kitchen tools

Abstract

A method is disclosed for dividing semi-solid pet food contained within a can into equal portions and transferring said portions into a reusable container without the use of knives or other kitchen utensils. The method utilizes a specifically designed container comprising an array of internal partitioning blades and ergonomic finger gaps to facilitate hands-free, hygienic food division and transfer. The container enables precise and repeatable portioning of veterinarian-prescribed or over-the-counter canned pet food, thereby supporting consistent feeding regimens and mitigating risks associated with overfeeding or underfeeding. The container is further configured for refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher compatibility, addressing concerns related to odor retention, moisture accumulation, and reheating. The method and container are additionally applicable to human-grade canned foods and other soft food products requiring equal portioning and hygienic storage.

Claims

1. A method of dividing pet food in a can of pet food into equal portions using a specialized container, the method comprising: providing the specialized container wherein the specialized container comprises an outer cylindrical side wall, a closed bottom wall, an open top and a plurality of blades dividing an inner volume of the specialized container into equal portions wherein the plurality of blades extend from the closed bottom wall and wherein a space is formed between outer edges of the plurality of blades and an inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall; the specialized container further comprising a plurality of finger gaps along an upper edge of the open top; opening a can of pet food; placing the open top of the specialized container over an open top of the can of pet food; inserting the can of pet food into the specialized container by pressing the specialized container downward such that the plurality of blades enter into the pet food in the can of pet food and walls of the can of pet food enter into the space between the outer edges of the plurality of blades and the inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall; removing the can of pet food from the specialized container by grasping the can of pet food through the plurality of finger gaps in the specialized container whereby portions of the pet food remain in the specialized container between the plurality of blades.

2. The method of dividing food in a can of pet food into equal portions defined in claim 1, and further comprising sealing the open top of the specialized container with the pet food therein with a cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the container manufactured in accordance with the design disclosed in the design patent application referenced in paragraph [0002].

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates standing and slightly tilted views of the fully functional container manufactured in accordance with the design disclosed in the design patent application referenced in paragraph [0002].

(3) FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate general preparatory steps required to open the lid of a pet food can. These actions are shown for illustrative purposes only and are not claimed as part of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a pet food can alongside a lid opener.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a user opening the lid of the pet food can using the lid opener.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the pet food can with the lid fully removed.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a side-by-side view of the lid-opened pet food can and the container manufactured in accordance with the design disclosed in paragraph [0002].

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates the container placed upside down on top of the lid-opened pet food can.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a user gently pressing the container downward. As a result of this action, the blades denoted by the reference letter B in FIG. 1 attached to the bottom of the container cut the food in the pet food can into portions.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates the container being pressed fully down until it contacts the bottom of the lid-opened pet food can.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a view in which the lid-opened pet food can is fully inserted into the container, with the container oriented in an inverted (upside-down) position.

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates an intermediate step in which a user flips the container from an inverted (upside-down) position to a right-side-up orientation.

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates a subsequent step in which the user continues to stabilize the container in its right-side-up orientation after completing the flipping motion.

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a view showing the bottom of the lid-opened pet food can positioned inside the container, wherein the container is in an upright orientation and the pet food can is inverted.

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a user inserting fingers into the finger gap arrangement provided in the container to securely grip the bottom of the inverted pet food can. The finger gaps are denoted by the reference letter G in FIG. 1. A total of six such gaps are provided around the periphery of the container, allowing the user to insert all fingers of one hand for improved grip and control when extracting the inverted pet food can.

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates the user extracting the inverted, lid-opened pet food can from the container by applying upward force through the fingers inserted into the finger gaps.

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates that the semi-solid pet food originally contained in the pet food can has been divided into equal portions and deposited into the individual compartments of the container. The pet food can is depicted as empty.

(18) FIG. 17 illustrates the equal food portions settled within the individual compartments of the container as a result of the hands-free transfer process.

(19) FIG. 18 illustrates a user placing a cap onto the container to seal the food portions within the individual compartments for storage.

(20) FIG. 19 illustrates the container with food portions sealed by the cap and prepared for placement in a household refrigerator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(21) The present invention pertains to a method for dividing the contents of a pet food can into equal portions and subsequently transferring the divided portions into a specialized container.

(22) The container is manufactured in accordance with the design disclosed in the non-provisional patent application referenced in paragraph [0002]. Illustrations of the aforementioned container are provided in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(23) The specialized container includes an outer cylindrical wall having a closed bottom and an open top with a plurality of blades inside the container and extending from the closed bottom. The blades divide an inner volume of the container into a plurality of equal portions. Outer edges of the plurality of blades B are spaced from an inner surface of the outer cylindrical wall such that a can of pet food can be inserted into the container as shown in FIGS. 7-11. An upper edge of the outer cylindrical wall includes a plurality of finger gaps G such that a user may grasp the can of pet food after the can has been fully inserted to the container.

(24) The actions illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 depict commonly practiced steps for removing the lid from a pet food can. These steps are not considered part of the method claimed in the present invention.

(25) The actions illustrated sequentially in FIGS. 7 through 17 collectively demonstrate a novel method for cutting or dividing the contents of a pet food can and transferring the portions into the containerwithout the use of a knife or other kitchen utensils. The container is manufactured in accordance with the design disclosed in the non-provisional patent application referenced in paragraph [0002].

(26) The novel method disclosed in the present invention comprises performing the actions illustrated in FIG. 7 through FIG. 17 in the same sequence.

(27) FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the process of opening the lid of a pet food can.

(28) Following the step described in paragraph [0041], the container described in paragraph [0037] is placed upside down over the opened pet food can, as described in paragraph [0039]. This action is illustrated in FIG. 7.

(29) After the step described in paragraph [0042], the user gently presses the container (as described in paragraph [0037]) downward using the palm until the container reaches the bottom of the pet food can. This action is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

(30) Upon completion of the step described in paragraph [0043], the pet food can is fully inserted into the upside-down container referenced in paragraph [0037]. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 10.

(31) The container, now holding the inverted can, is then flipped by hand so that the bottom of the pet food can becomes visible. These actions are illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13.

(32) Following the step described in paragraph [0045], the user places fingers around the bottom of the inserted pet food can using the designated finger gaps on the container (as described in paragraph [0037]). The can is gently pulled out; if necessary, slight tapping or twisting of the can may be applied. These actions are illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.

(33) As a result of the step described in paragraph [0046], the semi-solid food within the can is divided into equal portions, which remain inside the container described in paragraph [0037]. This outcome is illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17.

(34) The sequential execution of the actions described in paragraphs [0042] through [0047] constitutes a method for dividing the contents of a pet food can into equal portions without the use of knives or other kitchen utensils, and for transferring the divided portions into a reusable container in a hands-free manner.

(35) The method involving the container described in paragraph [0037], along with the steps outlined in paragraph [0048], addresses the problem identified in paragraph [0008] by enabling simple division of pet food into equal portions. This allows users to feed pets an appropriate number of portions in accordance with veterinarian-recommended serving sizes.

(36) The same method further addresses the issue described in paragraph [0009] by allowing the container described in paragraph [0037] to be sealed with a lid, thereby preventing odor leakage and spillage within household refrigerators.

(37) The method also mitigates the moisture retention problem described in paragraph [0010] through the use of a lid placed on the container referenced in paragraph [0037].

(38) Finally, the method solves the problem identified in paragraph [0011], as the container described in paragraph [0037] is constructed from food-grade, FDA-approved materials that are compatible with both microwave and dishwasher use.