US 7,246,641 B2Granted

Method and device for inserting a food stuff into a pliable bag

OwnerBrad Blessmaninventor

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Abstract

A resilient foodstuff bag opener is disclosed, wherein the resilient bag opener is forcibly bent or bowed for easily entering a pliable food stuff bag, and upon relaxation of the bending forces, the bag opener resiliently deforms from its bent configuration to thereby open the food stuff bag in a manner that allows a food stuff residing on a food support surface of the bag opener to flow into the food stuff bag. The food support surface of the bag opener may be also used for processing foods such as cutting, dicing, washing, straining, etc. depending on the embodiment used. An inclined support may be optionally provided for maintaining the bag opener in a “hands-free” inclined position so that a food stuff provided on the food support surface can flow into the food stuff bag without a user having to hold the bag opener.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A food stuff insertion device comprising:

a substantially flexible resilient food stuff support having a food stuff supporting surface substantially defined by a perimeter including:
a first end for insertion into a pliable bag, an opposite second end, and opposing sides wherein the opposing sides are:
(i) connected to the first end, and (ii) span a distance between the first and second ends;
wherein in a first configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is greater than a width of an opening of the bag, and in a second configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is less than the width of the opening of the bag;
at least two predetermined force applying portions of the device, operably connected to the food stuff support, wherein forces are applied to the food stuff support for bending the food stuff support, wherein the force applying portions includes one or more of:
a handle, an aperture, or guides for use in bending the food stuff support;
wherein when the forces are applied to the force applying portions, the food stuff support bends so that at least the first end deforms from the first configuration to the second configuration;
wherein in the second configuration, the first end is adapted to enter an interior of the pliable bag, and subsequently the forces are reduced thereby allowing the width of the first end to increase effectively for providing an open volume within the bag into which a food stuff provided on the supporting surface can be transferred into the open volume of the bag;
wherein a portion of the food stuff support is replaceable with a corresponding different portion, wherein the portion is used for a first food processing task, and the different portion is used for different food processing task.

6 more elements

A method of inserting a food stuff into a food stuff bag comprising:

(a) first providing a pliable food stuff bag having an opening to an interior of the bag;
(b) second providing a substantially flexible resilient food stuff support having a food stuff supporting surface substantially defined by a perimeter including:
a first end for insertion into the pliable bag, an opposite second end, and opposing sides that:
(i) connect to the first end, and (ii) span a distance between the first and second ends;
wherein in a first configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is greater than a width of an opening of the bag, and in a second configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is less than the width of the opening of the bag;
(c) applying one or more forces to the food stuff support for bending the food stuff support, said forces using one of:
a handle, an aperture, or a guide for providing a predetermined path for sliding a food stuff support bending mechanism thereon;
wherein when the forces are applied, the food stuff support bends so that at least the first end deforms from the first configuration to the second configuration;
(d) inserting the first end into the interior of the bag while the first end is in the second configuration;
(e) allowing the first end to change shape toward the first configuration, wherein the width of the first end increases effectively for providing an open volume within the bag;
and
(f) transferring a food stuff on the food stuff supporting surface to the interior of the bag;
wherein prior to transferring the food stuff, a further step of providing the food stuff support on an inclined support, wherein for transferring a food stuff from the food stuff support to the bag, the food stuff support is supported on the inclined support when the inclined support is in an upright configuration;
wherein the inclined support is substantially flat in one configuration, and upright in the upright configuration.

11 more elements

A method of providing a food stuff insertion device, comprising:

obtaining a substantially flexible resilient food stuff insertion device having a food stuff support including a food stuff supporting surface substantially defined by a perimeter including:
a first end for insertion into a pliable bag, an opposite second end, and opposing sides that:
(i) connect to the first end, and (ii) span a distance between the first and second ends;
wherein in a first configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is greater than a width of an opening of the bag, and in a second configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is less than the width of the opening of the bag;
wherein there is a predetermined force applying portion of the insertion device, said force applying portion operably connected to the food stuff support, for applying forces to the food stuff support for bending the food stuff support;
wherein when the forces are applied to the force applying portions, the food stuff support bends so that at least the first end deforms from the first configuration to the second configuration;
wherein in the second configuration, the first end enters an interior of the pliable bag, and subsequently the forces are reduced thereby allowing the width of the first end to increase effectively for providing an open volume within the bag into which a food stuff provided on the supporting surface can be transferred into the open volume of the bag;
providing the food stuff insertion device in an enclosure for distribution.

5 more elements

A method of inserting a food stuff into a food stuff bag comprising:

(a) first providing a pliable food stuff bag having an opening to an interior of the bag;
(b) second providing a substantially flexible resilient food stuff support having a food stuff supporting surface substantially defined by a perimeter including:
a first end for insertion into the pliable bag, an opposite second end, and opposing sides that:
(i) connect to the first end, and (ii) span a distance between the first and second ends;
wherein in a first configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is greater than a width of an opening of the bag, and in a second configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is less than the width of the opening of the bag;
wherein at least most of an edge (E) for the first end is curved, wherein the edge E spans at least a majority of a width of a total edge for the first end, and the opposing sides are substantially straight;
(c) applying one or more forces to the food stuff support for bending the food stuff support, said forces using one of:
a handle, an aperture, or a guide for providing a predetermined path for sliding a food stuff support bending mechanism thereon;
wherein when the forces are applied, the food stuff support bends so that at least the first end deforms from the first configuration to the second configuration;
(d) inserting the first end into the interior of the bag while the first end is in the second configuration;
(e) allowing the first end to change shape toward the first configuration, wherein the width of the first end increases effectively for providing an open volume within the bag;
and
(f) transferring a food stuff on the food stuff supporting surface to the interior of the bag.

10 more elements

A method of inserting a food stuff into a food stuff bag comprising:

(a) first providing a pliable food stuff bag having an opening to an interior of the bag;
(b) second providing a substantially flexible resilient food stuff support having a food stuff supporting surface substantially defined by a perimeter including:
a first end for insertion into the pliable bag, an opposite second end, and opposing sides that:
(i) connect to the first end, and (ii) span a distance between the first and second ends;
wherein in a first configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is greater than a width of an opening of the bag, and in a second configuration, the first end has a width between the opposing sides that is less than the width of the opening of the bag;
(c) applying one or more forces to the food stuff support for bending the food stuff support, said forces using one of:
a handle, an aperture, or a guide for providing a predetermined path for sliding a food stuff support bending mechanism thereon;
wherein when the forces are applied, the food stuff support bends so that at least the first end deforms from the first configuration to the second configuration;
(d) inserting the first end into the interior of the bag while the first end is in the second configuration;
(e) allowing the first end to change shape toward the first configuration, wherein the width of the first end increases effectively for providing an open volume within the bag;
and
(f) transferring a food stuff on the food stuff supporting surface to the interior of the bag;
wherein the food stuff support includes indicia thereon, said indicia indicative of a measurement of a food stuff provided on the food stuff support surface.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/856,590Filed 28 May 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 12 Mar 2003
Published: US 2004/0177444 A14 Nov 2004
Granted: 24 Jul 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B65B 67/04
Packaging of articles or materials in containers: devices facilitating the insertion of articles or materials into bags , e.g. guides or chutes
A47C 21/028
Holders for loose bed elements, e.g. sheet holders; bed cover holders: holders for facilitating making the bed
A47G 9/0253
Bed linen: pillow slips
B65B 67/1238
Sack holders, i.e. stands or frames with means for supporting sacks in the open condition to facilitate filling with articles or materials:…

Family

Application10/387,655Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Mar 2003
US 2004/0216807 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Nov 2004
US 6,839,923 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2004/0177444 A1Published application
US 7,246,641 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.