Pressure point food container, storage, and mixing system

Abstract

Closure systems for food containers, and methods for mixing foods in portable containers is disclosed, using new apparatus for closing portable containers to store and transport foods, and new processes for mixing those foods prior to final or on-site dispensing and use, in which the food mixing takes place within the container, generally prior to its opening, as chambers or compartments within a container are opened to other chambers or compartments within the same container by transmission of pressure or tension from the exterior of the container, to one or more points, lines, or channels in one or more walls of chambers within the container, thereby opening one or more channels between such chambers through which food, fluids, or materials may travel.

1 . A container for storing materials comprising: 
 a first outer compartment having a flexible wall;    a second inner compartment having a substantially semi-rigid wall;    the second inner compartment residing within the first outer compartment;    the second inner compartment having a channel formed in the second inner container wall;    means for sealing the channel formed in the second inner container wall; and    means for opening the channel in the second inner container wall by opening the channel sealing means.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising means for opening the flexible wall of the first outer container.  
   
   
       3 . A container for storing materials comprising: 
 a first wall having an opening;    a second wall forming an open compartment having a volume;    the first wall adapted to fit tightly over the open compartment of the second wall, thereby creating a hermetically sealed space between the first wall and the second wall;    a closure residing between the first wall and the second wall, the closure having a channel, the channel having a mouth;    the first wall adapted to fit tightly over the closure, thereby creating a hermetically sealed space between the first wall and the closure upon sealing the mouth of the channel;    a first seal, adapted to seal the mouth of the channel, the first seal positioned over the mouth of the channel to thereby seal the channel;    means for transmitting tension to the first seal to break it away from the mouth of the channel, the means for transmitting tension to the first seal extending from the first seal, through the space between the first wall and the closure, and through the opening in the first wall, and to the exterior of the container; and    a second seal, residing over the opening in the first wall, the second seal adapted to fit snugly around the means for transmitting tension to the first seal, the second seal closing the opening in the first wall.    
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , in which the second seal is firmly attached to the means for transmitting tension to the first seal, with frangible connection between the second seal and the first wall.  
   
   
       5 . A lid for sealing a container comprising: 
 a substantially flat lid body having an opening therethrough, the lid body having a lip at its edge for engaging a container wall;    a pouch having at least one lobe formed from a thin sheet of material, the lobe having an interior and at least one frangible line in the thin sheet;    means for pulling the pouch through the opening in the lid body, thereby increasing pressure within the interior of the pouch; and    the means for pulling the pouch extends through the opening in the lid body, and is attached to the lobe along a line substantially distal from the frangible line in the thin sheet of the lobe.    
   
   
       6 . The lid of  claim 5 , in which the pouch has two lobes, each lobe having an interior and at least one frangible line in the thin sheet of material, each lobe being attached to the means for pulling the pouch.  
   
   
       7 . The lid of  claim 5 , in which the opening in the lid body is near the center of the lid body.  
   
   
       8 . The lid of  claim 5 , in which the opening in the lid body is near one side of the lid body.  
   
   
       9 . The lid of  claim 5 , in which the opening in the lid body is a narrow slit, and the means for pulling the pouch is a strip formed to fit within the slit.  
   
   
       10 . The lid of  claim 5 , in which the pouch is removably affixed to the underside of the lid body, such that the pouch may break away from the underside of the body of the lid when tension is applied to the means for pulling the pouch.  
   
   
       11 . A container for mixing materials comprising: 
 a dispensing chamber having sides and roof, and an opening at one end;    the dispensing chamber having a plunger consisting of a shaft, the shaft extending axially from the interior of the roof of the dispensing chamber, through its interior, and toward its opening;    the plunger shaft having a stopper near the end of the shaft;    a connecting chamber having on one side a boss extending therefrom, and on the other side an opening;    the boss of the connecting chamber having an opening in its distal end;    the boss of the connecting chamber having walls formed to closely engage with the opening of the dispensing chamber; and    the opening of the dispensing chamber residing over the end of the boss of the connecting chamber, the shaft of the dispensing chamber plunger extending through the opening of the boss of the connecting chamber.    
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , in which the connecting chamber has a plurality of bosses, and a plurality of dispensing chambers engaged therewith.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising means for removably affixing the connecting chamber to a vessel.