FOOD CONTAINERAND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which can contain food, specifically, a portion of fast food such as hamburgers, toast, rice balls, and the like so that a user may eat food in a state of easily grasping food without directly contacting with food.

Background Art

Consumers' desires become more complex and diverse due to general rapid growth and development of society, and modern lives have significantly changed food culture of modern people. As a result of change, a fast food is developed in order to quickly provide food which is easily edible and thus suitable for the modern people.

The above-described phenomenon results from a great advantage of fast food as a substitute for a meal, or a between-meal snack for modern people living a busy daily life. In particular, realistically speaking people generally eat sandwiches, toast, rice balls, hamburgers, and the like, while commuting as a substitute for breakfast when skipping breakfast, and as a between-meal snack when people are hungry after lunch, at a restaurant or while walking on the street.

According to a conventional method, people generally eat fast food by directly grasping food, or using paper cups, paper wrappers, and the like, and the conventional method has a few problems as follows. First, there is a problem that hands may be soiled with oil, or condiments, or hands may be soiled with flowing sauce, or condiments when grasping and eating toast, rice balls, or sandwiches.

Second, there is a hygiene problem in that hands are generally dirty when eating fast food at a restaurant or on the go. Third, there is a problem that hot food cannot be easily grasped and eaten when eating fast food having a relatively high temperature.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals

The present invention provides a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which enables a user to easily grasp and eat food without directly contacting with food.

The present invention also provides a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which enables a user's hands not to be soiled with food, or sauce or contents added to food.

The present invention also provides a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which can contain a portion of food, and enables a user to grasp food without directly contacting with food, thereby solving a hygiene problem generated when directly grasping and eating food.

The present invention also provides a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which can contain a portion of food, enables a user to easily grasp food, and prevent food from being separated to an outside.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting food in which food can be easily grasped without being directly contacted with a user's hands. The device for supporting food includes: a lower member including any one of a curved surface concavely formed in a direction, and in an angular shape; and a lateral member in which a lower portion is formed by combining with both lateral sides of the lower member, and which is formed in a concave direction of the lower member, wherein a containing portion is formed by the lower member and the lateral member, is formed corresponding to a portion of food, and contains the portion of the food, and entirely contain the food as required.

Here, the lateral member includes any one of a right-angle triangular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a fan-shape, and a shape in which a lateral side of the lateral member is a circular arc. Also, the lateral member is relatively thicker than the lower member, or includes a plurality of layers.

Also, the lateral member forms at least one projection portion in which an internal portion of the lateral member is projected in an internal direction of the

containing portion, thereby preventing separation of food, and the projection portion is successively formed as a line shape in order to easily prevent separation of food. Also, the projection portion is not limited thereto, and, for example, the projection portion includes any one of a triangular shape, a perpendicular shape, and an unsuccessively dotted shape.

Also, the projection portion is extended in a perpendicular direction to a direction of where the food is to be contained, and the projection portion includes any one of a straight line shape, a curve shape, and a line shape of a successive pattern.

A plurality of support portions is formed in the direction of where the food is to be contained, in an external portion of the lateral member, and an external side of the lateral member disconnecting with the lower member includes: a top protrusion portion extendedly formed in an opposite direction of the containing portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a device for supporting food, the method including: providing a source material; forming a lower member and a lateral member by vacuum shaping the source material; and hardening the vacuum shaped source material, wherein a containing portion is formed by the lower member and the lateral member formed by the vacuum shaping, is formed corresponding to a portion of food, and contains the portion of the food. Also, the method further includes: cutting the source material, and providing the lateral member with a plurality of layers.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a device for supporting food according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a section incising a portion I of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a section incising a portion II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a device for supporting food according to a transformational exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a section incising a portion III of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a circular arc device for supporting food

according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a rectangular device for supporting food according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of the rectangular device for supporting food of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a device for supporting food according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

First exemplary embodiment

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a device for supporting food according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a device for supporting food according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a section incised in a direction I of FIG. 1. Also, FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a section incised in a direction II of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the device for supporting food 10 includes a lower member 110, a first lateral member 130, a second lateral member 140, and a food- containing portion 105. The lower member 110 is concavely formed in a direction. The lower member

110 extendedly forms the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 in dual lateral portions, and the food-containing portion 105 is formed by the lower member 110, the first lateral member 130, and the second lateral member 140, formed as one body. The lower member 110 includes a support portion 132 and a projection portion

135.

The support portion 132 is formed in an external portion of the first lateral

member 110, and a plurality of support portions is formed in a parallel direction with the direction of where the food is to be contained, or by forming a predetermined angle. The first lateral member 110 performs a function of having resistance to a perpendicular power operated in the parallel direction with the direction of where the food is to be contained, and, when containing the food, enabling a user to easily grasp the food.

The present exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides that the support portion 132 is formed in the parallel direction with the direction of where the food is to be contained, or by forming the predetermined angle, however, the support portion 132 is not limited thereto. For example, forming the support portion 132 in a perpendicular direction to the direction of where the food is to be contained enables a user to easily grasp food.

The projection portion 135 is formed in an internal portion of the first lateral member 110, and the projection portion 135 is successively formed as a line shape, and is extendedly formed in the perpendicular direction to the direction of where the food is to be contained. The projection portion 135 includes any one of a straight line shape, a curve shape, and a line shape of a successive pattern, and performs a function of a prevention protrusion for preventing food from being separated from the device for supporting food 10 by being formed in the perpendicular direction to the direction of where the food is to be contained. The first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 are formed in order to have a right-angle triangular shape, thereby reducing material costs. Also, it is desirable that the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 are formed corresponding to a shape of a portion of food, and enabling food to be easily contained and grasped. The second lateral member 140 includes a support portion 142 and a projection portion 145 in an opposite side of the first lateral member 130 by the same structures as structures of the support portion 132 and the projection portion 135 included in the first lateral member 130. Since the support portions 132 and 142, and the projection portions 135 and 145 are formed by the same structures, a description thereof is omitted. The present exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides that the projection portion 135 is formed with the first lateral member 130 as one body, and is projected in a direction of the containing portion 105, however, the projection portion

135 is not limited thereto. For example, the projection portion 135 may be projected to an outside, or is combined by being separately manufactured.

Also, the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides that the projection portion 135 is formed as a line shape, however, the projection portion 135 is not limited thereto. For example, the projection portion 135 may include any one of an unsuccessive shape, and a shape of a relatively large projection being projected in the direction of the food-containing portion 105.

Also, the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides that the support portion 132 is formed with the first lateral member 130 as one body, and is projected to the outside. However, for example, the support portion 132 may be formed in an inside of the first lateral member 130 in the parallel direction with the direction of where the food is to be contained.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 are formed so that thickness t2 of the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 may be relatively greater than thickness tl of the lower member 110.

The first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 correspond to portions in which food is inserted, and which a user grasps. Also, it is desirable that the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 are formed in order to have a relatively little bending. For example, it is supposed that a member is a simple beam, a strength which a user applies to a center of the member is a concentrated load W, a coefficient of elasticity of the member is E, a sectional second moment of the member is I, and a length of the member is L. Equation 1 which shows a maximal

bending of the member ^max _a s Equation is described as follows.

δ m. ax = ₄ ^W ₈ £ ^L "J

[Equation 1]

In Equation 1, the maximal bending ^max is in inverse proportion to multiplication of the coefficient of elasticity E and the sectional second moment I, and

is in proportion to multiplication of the cube of the product of the concentrated load W and the length of the member L.

When supposing that the concentrated load W applied to the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140, and the concentrated load W applied to the lower member 110 are identical, and cross sections thereof are identical, the coefficient of elasticity E and the sectional second moment I are identical since the member is formed by an identical material. Accordingly, since the maximal bending

max j _s determined by the length of the member L, and the maximal bending ^max is in proportion to the cube of the length of the member L, the length of the member L

must be reduced in order to reduce the maximal bending ^max of the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140. However, since the food-containing portion 105 is formed corresponding to a shape of a portion of food, it is difficult to reduce the length of the member L.

Accordingly, the sectional second moment I must be reduced, and since the sectional second moment I is in proportion to the square of the product of a length in a center of a section of the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140, there is an effect that the sectional second moment I is increased, and the maximal r bending ^max of the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 is also reduced when the section of the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 is relatively more widely formed.

Accordingly, when forming the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 relatively thicker than the lower member 110 to contain food, it is desirable to partially prevent the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140 from being bent in a direction of the food-containing portion 105 to grasp food. Also, when it is difficult to thickly form the first lateral member 130 and the second lateral member 140, it is more desirable to form the support portions 132 and 142 in order to increase stiffness, similar to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since little additional material is consumed, and a similar effect is expected. Also, as described above, when including the projection portions 135 and 145, and the support portions 132 and 142, and thickly forming the lateral members 130 and 140, heat of food can be significantly prevented from being conduced to the user's hands

when the user eats fast food having a relatively high temperature, and the like, and thus there is an advantage that the user can easily grasp hot food.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a device for supporting food further including a top protrusion portion and a multi-layered lateral member as a transformational exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a device for supporting food according to a transformational exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Also, FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a section incised in a direction III of FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the device for supporting food 20 includes a lower member 160, a first multi-layered lateral member 170, a second multi-layered lateral member 180, and a food-containing portion 105. Here, a description of elements in the transformational exemplary embodiment provided in the same configuration as the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment is omitted. The first multi-layered lateral member 170 and the second multi-layered lateral member 180 include a plurality of layers 173 and 183, support portions 172 and 182, and projection portions 175 and 185. The plurality of layers 173 and 183 is formed by overlapping a plurality of single-layered lateral members. The plurality of layers 173 and 183 may be respectively formed with the projection portions 175 and 185, however, the plurality of layers 173 and 183 are not limited thereto.

A plurality of the projection portions 175 and 185 is successively formed as a line shape, and is disposed in an approximate perpendicular direction to the direction of where food is inserted in the food-containing portion 105. Also, the projection portions 175 and 185 are disposed in a curve shape, and fixes food so that food may not be separated from the food-containing portion 105 to an outside after food is inserted in the food-containing portion 105.

An upper portion of the first multi-layered lateral member 170 and the second multi-layered lateral member 180 includes a top protrusion portion 190 extendedly formed to an outside. The top protrusion portion 190 prevents food, or liquid sauce or food scraps added to food from being separated to an outside of the device for supporting food 20. Accordingly, there is an effect that food or a food condiment may

not soil the user's hands, a body's region, or clothes while the user grasps and eats food by the device for supporting food 20.

Also, the top protrusion portion 190 is provided as a shape extended in an external direction of the first multi-layered lateral member 170 and the second multi- layered lateral member 180. However, for example, the top protrusion portion 190 may be formed as a shape being extended to an outside of an upper direction, and becoming wider in a direction of food, and is not limited thereto.

Second exemplary embodiment FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a circular arc device for supporting food

30 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the circular arc device for supporting food 30 includes a lower member 210, a first lateral member 230, a second lateral member 240, a food- containing portion 105, and a top protrusion portion 250. The first lateral member 230 and the second lateral member 240 respectively include support portions 232 and 242, and projection portions 235 and 245. Since a configuration of the first lateral member 230 and a configuration of the second lateral member 240 are identical, a description of the second lateral member 240 is omitted by describing the configuration of the first lateral member 230, and is described depending on a request.

The lower member 210 is formed as a circular arc to be concave in a direction. Here, a lateral surface of the first lateral member 230 formed in a concave direction is formed as a circular arc, and the first lateral member 230 is connected with the lower member 210. This is a shape in which a portion of a hamburger or a portion of circular food, and the like may be contained.

The second lateral member 240 includes the projection portion 245. A shape of the projection portion 245 is formed in order to prevent food contained in the food- containing portion 105 from being separated to an outside when generally grasping circular food such as hamburger. Also, the projection portion 245 has a predetermined pattern by a combination of straight lines being successively bent, and is formed as a line shape.

Third exemplary embodiment

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a rectangular device for supporting food according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a rectangular device for supporting food according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of the rectangular device for supporting food of FIG. 7.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rectangular device for supporting food 40 includes a lower member 320, a first lateral member 330, a second lateral member 340, a food-containing portion 105, and a top protrusion portion 350.

A lateral portion of the lower member 320 is extendedly formed by forming an angle 90° to an upper portion by an "L" shape in a direction of a surface, and another lateral portion of the lower member 320 includes an extendedly-formed cover portion 310. The first lateral member 330 and the second lateral member 340 are extendedly formed with a lateral side of a lower surface of the "L" shape as one body, and include a connection release portion 315 in a connection portion in order to be easily released. The connection release portion 315 is provided by successively forming a perforated hole as a line shape, however, the connection release portion 315 is not limited thereto. For example, the connection release portion 315 may be provided as a relatively thin form.

Also, the first lateral member 330 and the second lateral member 340 include a support portion 332 and a linear projection portion 345.

Here, when a user eats the food 500 and leaves only a portion of food 500, the food 500 remaining in the rectangular device for supporting food 40 illustrated in FIG. 7 is difficult to pull out.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a connection of the connection release portion 315 is released, and the cover portion 310 of the rectangular device for supporting food 40 is exposed to an external direction 317. Also, the rectangular device for supporting food 40 is formed so that the user may easily eat the food 500 by taking the food 500 in a direction 501 of the opened cover portion 310.

Also, the cover portion 310 is formed to be opened in the range of 90° to 270°, and is formed to prevent the cover portion 310 from being inserted in a mouth of the user when the user eats the food 500.

Also, the projection portion 345 is desirably formed in a parallel direction with the direction 501 of the cover portion 310 in order to easily perform a process of discharging the food 500 in the parallel direction with the direction 501 of the cover portion 310, however, the projection portion 345 is not limited thereto.

Although a device for supporting food is not provided in the first exemplary embodiment, the transformational exemplary embodiment, the second exemplary embodiment, and the third exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the above embodiments. Specifically, a shape of the device for supporting food may be generally changed depending on a form of food. For example, the device for supporting food may be formed to contain spherical food by being formed in a semispherical shape without distinguishing a lower member from a lateral member, and baguette or long food may be contained by forming a pipe shape which includes hollow space in an inside, one side is closed, and another side is opened.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a device for supporting food according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a device for supporting food according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, first, a source material is provided for an upper portion of a frame formed in a shape of a portion of food, in operation Sl. A thermoplastic material is used for the source material being a material of the device for supporting food, however, the material is not limited thereto. For example, papers or starch may be used, and any one of an eco-friendly material, an eco-degradable material, a biodegradable material, and a bio-disintegrable material may be used considering an environmental effect.

Next, the device for supporting food is formed by forming a lower member and a lateral member by vacuum shaping the source material, in operation S2. The lateral member is formed including a projection portion and a support portion by passing through a vacuum shaping operation in the frame, and a top protrusion portion is formed

in the upper portion of the lateral member.

Next, the lateral member is provided with a plurality of layers in operation S3.

The lateral member included in the plurality of layers may be formed with the lower member as one body, and may be combined with the lower member by being separately manufactured. Also, operation S3 of providing the lateral member with the plurality of layers may be replaced with an operation of thickening the lateral member, or omitted.

Next, the vacuum shaped device for supporting food is hardened, in operation S4.

Next, the source material is cut in order to separate the hardened device for supporting food from the frame, and respectively separate the device for supporting food one by one, in operation S5. In the present method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, operation S 5 of the cutting the source material is provided after operation S4 of hardening the device for supporting food, however, operation S 5 is not limited thereto. For example, operation S5 may be performed before operation Sl of the providing the source material.

Next, the hardened device for supporting food is discharged, in operation S6. Since the method of manufacturing the device for supporting food manufactures the device for supporting food by vacuum shaping, it is advantageous to use the source material which is easily refrigerated. Also, since fast foods are quickly changed depending on quickly-changing food culture, and thus a shape of the device for supporting food must be changed, there is an advantage that the device for supporting food can be manufactured in accordance with the change due to a general short period of manufacturing the frame of the vacuum shaping, specifically about one week. Although the vacuum shaping is provided as an example in the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method is not limited thereto. An injection molding method may be used. In this instance, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes of molds may be easily made to the above embodiments, and similar advantages may be acquired.

As described above, first, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which enables a user to indirectly grasp and eat toast, rice balls, sandwiches, and the like, and enables a region of the user's body, or clothes not to be soiled with food.

Second, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which enables the user to eat food without directly contacting with food, when the user's hands are externally dirty, thereby preventing a hygiene problem. Third, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which enables the user to easily grasp and eat hot food, since heat is not easily conduced via a projection portion and a support portion when eating fast foods having a relatively high temperature. Fourth, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which can manufacture the device for supporting food by vacuum shaping, and easily change a shape of the device for supporting food. This results from a fact that a frame of the vacuum shaping can be changeably manufactured for a short period when shapes of foods are quickly changed depending on changes of quickly-changing food culture, and a shape of the device for supporting food must be changed in accordance with the changes.

Fifth, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting food, and a method of manufacturing the device for supporting food, which can use a manufacturing process such as vacuum shaping, injection molding used for general purposes, and the like, and thereby changing a mold shape for a short period, similar to an advantage of vacuum shaping, easily changing the shape of the device for supporting food, and using various manufacturing processes.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.