Food Container and Method of Storing Food

Abstract

A container for foods. The container includes a hollow body ( 1 ) having an opening ( 3 ) and a piston ( 7 ) located within the body ( 1 ), wherein the container is constructed and arranged such that, in use, the piston ( 7 ) moves within the body ( 1 ) in response to a consumer sucking the food from the container via the opening ( 3 ). The container can be used to store solid and semi-solid foods such as ice-cream and yoghurt type products. The container is arranged such that the food can be consumed directly from the container, without the need for a spoon or a dispensing device.

1 . A container for foods comprising a hollow body having an opening and a piston located within the body, wherein the container is constructed and arranged such that, in use, the piston moves within the body in response to a consumer sucking the food from the container via the opening. 
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is elongate. 
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is tubular and has an internal width in the range 15 mm to 40 mm. 
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal cross-sectional area of the tube is in the range 150 mm 2  to 1250 mm 2 . 
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is substantially rigid. 
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a mouthpiece including an outlet through which food in the compartment may be consumed by sucking on the mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece is arranged such that the consumer can make a seal around the mouthpiece with his mouth. 
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein the mouthpiece includes a tapered portion. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the piston and the interior of the body are arranged to provide a seal sufficient to prevent the food from leaking from the container. 
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for scraping the ulterior of the container as the piston moves along the body of the container. 
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the piston has a profiled upper surface. 
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the piston is substantially spherical. 
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air inlet to allow air to enter the container as the piston moves within the body. 
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 12 , further comprising a vent arranged to allow air to enter the container and to prevent liquid from escaping the container. 
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the vent includes a membrane or gauze. 
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a closure member arranged to prevent liquid from escaping from the end of the hollow body opposite to that from which the food is dispensed. 
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 15 , wherein the closure member includes a recess arranged to collect liquid. 
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 1  further comprising an individual portion of ice-cream, a yoghurt based food, or confectionery. 
   
   
       18 . A method of storing foods, comprising storing a portion of the food in a container that includes a hollow body having at least one opening and a piston located within the body that is arranged to move within the body in response to a consumer sucking the food from the container via the opening. 
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein the internal width is in the range 15 mm to 35 mm. 
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein the internal width is in the range 20 mm to 30 mm. 
   
   
       21 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein the internal cross-sectional range is 150 mm 2  to 1000 mm 2 . 
   
   
       22 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein the internal cross-sectional range is 200 mm 2  and 800 mm 2 .