Handtool for closing foil food containers and method of use thereof

Abstract

A handheld lid-closing tool and method of use thereof for closing a foil food container having a food-receiving compartment with a ledge extending around the periphery and a flexible flange extending around the peripheral edge of the ledge. The flange is reversibly foldable over a lid removably placed over the food-receiving compartment and the ledge. The handheld tool including a body member which is configured and dimensioned to be grasped by a user, having an outer surface; and at least one elongated, flange-closing channel formed in the outer surface of the body member. The channel has two open ends and two opposite spaced-apart channel walls which are connected together by a base wall to define a generally U-shaped cross section The channel has an outwardly flared broad portion on at least one of the first and second ends and an inner narrow portion.

1 . A handheld lid-closing tool for closing a foil food container of the type having a food-receiving compartment with a ledge extending around the periphery thereof and with a flexible flange extending around the peripheral edge of the ledge, which flange is reversibly foldable over a lid removably placed over said food-receiving compartment and said ledge, comprising:
 a body member which is configured and dimensioned to be grasped by a user, having an outer surface; and   at least one elongated, flange-closing channel formed in said outer surface of said body member, wherein said channel has two open ends and two opposite spaced-apart channel walls which are connected together by a base wall to define a generally U-shaped cross section; and wherein said channel has an outwardly flared broad portion on at least one of said first and said second ends and an inner narrow portion.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said channel has an outwardly flared broad portion on both of said first and second ends.   
     
     
         3 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said channel walls are parabolic-shaped and each has a vertex and wherein said channel walls curve towards each other so that said vertex of each of said channel walls are disposed opposite each other generally adjacent to the center of said channel.   
     
     
         4 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body member is generally rectangular and has first and second opposite ends and wherein said channel extends from said first end of said body member to said second end of said body member.   
     
     
         5 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body member has two opposite lateral sides and two opposite end sides and wherein said two lateral sides are concave and said two end sides are convex.   
     
     
         6 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body member has a length in the range of approximately 2.75 inches to 3.25 inches, a height of approximately 0.7 of an inch and a width in the range of approximately 1.25 inches to 1.50 inches.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said channel has a depth of approximately 0.25 of an inch.   
     
     
         8 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said channel walls are disposed approximately 0.14 of an inch apart at said narrow portion and 0.5 of an inch apart at said broad portion.   
     
     
         9 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said outer surface of said body member has two opposite faces and two flange-closing channels are formed in said two opposite faces.   
     
     
         10 . A method for closing a foil food container, comprising the steps of:
 providing a foil food container having a food-receiving compartment with a ledge extending around the periphery thereof and with a flexible flange extending around the peripheral edge of the ledge, which flange is reversibly foldable from a generally upright position to a generally horizontal position to overlie a lid removably placed over said food-receiving compartment and said ledge;   providing a lid configured and dimensioned to overlie said food-receiving compartment and said ledge of said foil food container;   providing a handheld lid-closing tool comprising a body member which is configured and dimensioned to be grasped by a user, having an outer surface; and at least one elongated, flange-closing channel formed in said outer surface of said body member, wherein said channel has two open ends and two opposite spaced-apart channel walls which are connected together by a base wall to define a generally U-shaped cross section; and wherein said channel has an outwardly flared broad portion on at least one of said first and said second ends and an inner narrow portion;   placing said lid on said foil food container to overlie said food-receiving compartment and said ledge, with said flange of said container in said generally upright position;   inserting a portion of said flange in said broad portion of said channel; and   moving said handheld tool along said peripheral edge of said ledge of said container with said portion of said flange inserted in said channel being moved from said broad portion of said channel towards said narrow portion said channel, to move said portion of said flange inserted in said channel from said upright position, to said folded position overlying said lid.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 moving said handheld tool along the entire peripheral edge of said ledge of said container to move the entire flange from said upright position to said folded position overlying said lid, to close said container.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 removing said tool from said container after closing said container.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said channel has an outwardly flared broad portion on both of said first and second ends.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said channel walls are parabolic-shaped and each has a vertex and wherein said channel walls curve towards each other so that said vertex of each of said channel walls are disposed opposite each other generally adjacent to the center of said channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said body member is generally rectangular and has first and second opposite ends and wherein said channel extends from said first end of said body member to said second end of said body member.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said body member has two opposite lateral sides and two opposite end sides and wherein said two lateral sides are concave and said two end sides are convex.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said body member has a length in the range of approximately 2.75 inches to 3.25 inches, a height of approximately 0.7 of an inch and a width in the range of approximately 1.25 inches to 1.50 inches.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said channel has a depth of approximately 0.25 of an inch.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said channel walls are disposed approximately 0.14 of an inch apart at said narrow portion and 0.5 of an inch apart at said broad portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said outer surface of said body member has two opposite faces and two flange-closing channels are formed in said two opposite faces.   
     
     
         21 . The handheld tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second channel formed in said outer surface of said body member, wherein said body member has two opposite lateral sides and two opposite end sides and wherein said second channel extends from one of said end sides to one of said lateral sides, to form an upwardly projecting tab on a corner of said body member.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second channel formed in said outer surface of said body member, wherein said body member has two opposite lateral sides and two opposite end sides and wherein said second channel extends from one of said end sides to one of said lateral sides, to form an upwardly projecting tab on a corner of said body member.