US 5,328,051 A · Food serving device

Abstract

A food serving device and method for keeping different food items separated prior to their consumption. The device harnesses gravitational flow to allow desirable or undesirable liquids to flow to a receiving compartment (20). In a preferred embodiment, a cereal bowl (10) maintains the crispness of cereal by keeping the cereal in a separate compartment (12) away from milk or other liquid which is kept in liquid reservoir compartment (26). Liquid from reservoir compartment (26) gravitates through channel (38) to the receiving compartment (20). Cereal is pulled toward the user from the cereal compartment (12) and falls into the awaiting liquid in the receiving compartment (20). Additionally, the cereal in the receiving compartment (20) is geographically confined to limit its dispersement so a spoon can be used to easily scoop out a portion of the cereal and the liquid.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A bowl that separates dry food from liquid until just prior to consumption, comprising:

a first compartment for retaining dry food;
a second compartment for retaining food and liquid;
an upstanding wall for separating said first compartment from said second compartment;
a third compartment for retaining liquid;
a first liquid transfer means for providing fluid communication between said second compartment and said third compartment;
and
said third compartment being elevated with respect to said second compartment so that liquid in said third compartment flows without assist through said first liquid transfer means under the influence of gravity into said second compartment;
whereby dry food in said first compartment remains dry until it is moved over said upstanding wall into said second compartment where it is mixed briefly with liquid in said second compartment just prior to its consumption with liquid.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Food serving device

Life of this patent

Food serving device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18