Container for tactile interaction with food

Abstract

Pet owners cannot tactilely examine, or experience food contained in rigid packaging. This product experience at the point of purchase requires pliable or flexible packaging. However, pliable or flexible packaging has limited ability to stack, both on the store shelf, as well as in the pet owner's pantry. Provided is a multi-functional container for moist or wet, textured food. The container has rigid sidewalls, a bottom with at least a portion made from a flexible or pliable material or membrane or that provides access to a bag of a flexible or pliable material or membrane, and a lid to seal the opening of the container or the bag. Since the food contacts the flexible or pliable material or membrane, it can be tactilely examined at the point of purchase. If the material or membrane is transparent, the food can also be visibly examined at the point of purchase.

1 . A container for food comprising:
 a bottom surface of flexible or pliable material, the flexible or pliable material configured to provide tactile interaction with food in the container;   a sidewall of rigid material, the sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; and   a lid sealed to the top edge of the sidewall; and   wherein,
 the bottom surface is attached to the bottom edge of the sidewall, and 
 the sidewall, the lid, and the flexible material define the interior of the container. 
   
     
     
         2 . A container for food comprising:
 a sidewall of rigid material, the sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge;   a lid sealed to the top edge of the sidewall; and   a bottom attached to the bottom edge of the sidewall,   wherein the bottom comprises flexible or pliable material, and wherein the sidewall, the lid, and the flexible or pliable material define the interior package volume of the container, and   wherein the bottom is configured to facilitate tactile and/or visual interaction across the flexible or pliable material with contents in the interior package volume of the container.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid sidewall further comprises a ring or flange, and wherein the lid is operationally connected to the ring or flange. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid material comprises metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid material comprises a transparent material, an opaque material or combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom flexible material comprises a plastic containing an oleoresin. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom flexible material comprises a transparent material, an opaque material or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is a pull top lid. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is a peelable film. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall comprises a 3-dimensional shape selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a tapered cylinder, a square, a fish, and a bone. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall comprises a cylinder having at least one circumferential indentation. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom edge of the container has a circumferential length that is equal to or less than the circumferential length of an interior of the top edge of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes at least one bellow. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes at least one window configured to provide access to the flexible material in the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a liner is provided along an interior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . A container for food comprising:
 a bag made of a first piece of flexible or pliable material, the bag comprising a closed bottom, an open edge, and a wall between the closed bottom and said open end;   a sidewall of rigid material, wherein the sidewall has an internal surface and a first volume associated therewith, an opposite external surface, a top edge and a bottom edge; and   a lid sealed to the open edge of the bag to thereby define a second volume; and   wherein,
 the bag is attached to at least a portion of the internal surface of the sidewall, 
 the second volume is less than or equal to the first volume, and 
 the bag defines an interior of the container. 
   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the bag defines a liner and is attached to the entire internal surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the bag is attached to at least a portion of the circumference of the internal surface associated with the top edge of the sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 18 , further comprising a second piece of flexible or pliable material residing under the lid and sealed to the top edge along the entire circumference of the internal surface. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the second piece of flexible or pliable material comprises the same type of material as the first piece of flexible material.