Easymeal food and drink dispensing device

Abstract

A novel food dispensing device is described which includes a tubular container for holding the food to be consumed, a pushing apparatus which fits inside of the container like a piston in a cylinder and is moved upward to push the food out of an opening in the container. This will allow handicapped persons, or other users that only have one free hand to feed themselves, since it only requires a single hand to operate. In other embodiments the pushing apparatus is mechanized allowing for feeding oneself with no hands. In alternate embodiments, there is also a beverage container and a tube ending near the container opening, allowing one to drink the beverage from the tube by only having to move his/her head and without the user to physically change positions.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A food dispenser for allowing a user to feed oneself with ability to advance the food, the food dispenser comprising:
 a. an elongated food container being filled with a food, and having a first end and a second end with a first opening located at the first end and a second opening located at the second end, the first opening being a first elongated food container opening;   b. the elongated food container having side walls and no top on the first end, having a volume that is changeable based on the current position of the moveable location of the effective bottom of the elongated food container, hereinafter described as the pushing apparatus, wherein said pushing apparatus changes the volume of the elongated food container where the food is stored thereby advancing the food, further;   c. a pushing apparatus shaped to fit within the elongated food container and having a sealed fit within the elongated food container; the pushing apparatus entering a second opening of the elongated food container, traveling within the inside of the elongated food container such that the user actuates the pushing apparatus, and thereby causes movement of the pushing apparatus into the elongated food container, thereby causing food located within the elongated food container to be displaced out of the first elongated food container opening;   d. wherein the user controls the pushing apparatus movement and entry into the elongated food container thereby controlling the movement of the food out of the first elongated food container opening upon a forward operation of the pushing apparatus; or the reverse operation whereby a retraction of the pushing apparatus retracts the food down in a direction back into the first elongated food container opening;   e. wherein the food displaced as the volume of storage in the elongated food container decreases as the pushing apparatus is actuated in the forward direction, said food moves directly out of the first container opening entering no other containers as it moves to atmosphere to a consuming location of the user.   
     
     
         2 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pushing apparatus such that the unit is manually operated by the user whereby the user supplies proportional amount of force that provides movement of the pushing apparatus causing it to travel in a forward direction to push food out of the elongated food container first opening or reverse direction and retract within the elongated food container.   
     
     
         3 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pushing apparatus operated by the user, whereby a motorized actuator provides the motive force to the pushing apparatus causing it to travel forward or retract within the elongated food container as the user controls the actuator switch.   
     
     
         4 . A food dispenser of  claim 3 , further wherein:
 the pushing apparatus further comprises a motor and at least one gear to drive the actuator cylinder which pushes the food, wherein the motor provides the force to the pushing apparatus causing the actuator cylinder to travel forward or retract within the elongated food container.   
     
     
         5 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further wherein:
 a tray is operatively attached at or somewhat below the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         6 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further wherein:
 a separate beverage container is included with the food dispenser such that there is no mixing of the beverage with the food; the beverage container positioned such that a straw leads from the beverage container to a point adjacent to the first opening of the elongated food container thereby allowing the user to drink from the straw and eat from the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         7 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a container edge which is made of a flexible material and is operatively connected to the first food container opening, thereby allowing the user to grip the container edge and squeeze the container edge so as to grip the food, thereby allowing manipulation of the food.   
     
     
         8 . A food dispenser of  claim 6 , further wherein:
 the beverage container is operatively attached on the pushing apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . A food dispenser of  claim 6 , further wherein:
 the beverage holder is located adjacent to the elongated food container and offset from the pushing apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further wherein:
 a. a flexible food grip cuff located adjacent to the first elongated food container opening, wherein the flexible food grip cuff reduces a diameter of the elongated food container when squeezed; and   b. a holding apparatus, for allowing the user to grip and hold and squeeze the flexible food grip cuff thereby allowing the user to hold and control the food inside of the elongated food container, where the food is a solid food, thereby allowing the user to bite off a piece of the food extending out of the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         11 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a nozzle operatively connected to the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         12 . A food dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable, pre-packaged cartridge filled with the food wherein the cartridge can be placed within the elongated food container.   
     
     
         13 . A food dispenser allowing a user to feed oneself without the use of one or both hands, a food dispenser comprising:
 an elongated food container filled with food, and having a first end and a second end with a first opening located at the first end and a second opening located at the second end, the first opening being a first elongated food container opening; a powered pushing apparatus having a sealed fit within the elongated food container, the pushing apparatus operated by the user in which the pushing apparatus derives its force from energy not provided by the user, a motive force which when actuated in forward operation causes the pushing apparatus to move food out of the first elongated food container opening, or when actuated in reverse operation then reverses the force to retract the pushing apparatus and the food back into the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         14 . A food dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a tray operatively attached at or below the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         15 . A food dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an onboard beverage container.   
     
     
         16 . A food dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a drink cup adapter base sized to fit securely in a typical automotive cup holder.   
     
     
         17 . A food dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. a flexible food grip cuff located adjacent to the first elongated food container opening, wherein the flexible food grip cuff reduces a diameter of the elongated food container when squeezed; and   b. a holding apparatus, for allowing the user to grip and hold and squeeze the flexible food grip cuff thereby allowing the user to hold and control the food inside of the elongated food container, where the food is a solid food, thereby allowing the user to bite off a piece of the food extending out of the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         18 . A food dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a nozzle operatively connected to the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         19 . A food dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a removable, pre-packaged cartridge filled with the food wherein the cartridge can be placed within the elongated food container.   
     
     
         20 . A food dispenser for providing drink and food to a consuming location of a user, the food dispenser comprising:
 a. an elongated food container for holding a desired food, the food container having first and second food container openings from which the food may exit the food container out of the first elongated food container opening at the level of a tray or above the level a tray, the tray being operatively attached at or below the first elongated container opening, wherein a powered pushing apparatus under the control of the user pushes the food out of the first elongated food container opening and up above the tray elevation, or retracts the food back inside the first food container opening and below the tray elevation depending on which way the pushing apparatus is actuated;   b. a beverage container operatively connected onboard the food dispenser so as to provide drink in close proximity to the consuming location of the user.   
     
     
         21 . A food dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a drinking conduit extending from the beverage container to the consuming location of the user adjacent to the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         22 . A food dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 the food dispenser having a drink cup adapter base sized to fit securely in a typical automotive cup holder.   
     
     
         23 . A food dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a. a flexible food grip cuff located adjacent to the first elongated food container opening, wherein the flexible food grip cuff reduces a diameter of the elongated food container when squeezed; and   b. a holding apparatus, for allowing the user to grip and hold and squeeze the flexible food grip cuff thereby allowing the user to hold and control the food inside of the elongated food container, where the food is a solid food, thereby allowing the user to bite off a piece of the food extending out of the first elongated food container opening.   
     
     
         24 . A food dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a removable, pre-packaged cartridge filled with the food wherein the cartridge can be placed within the elongated food container.