Flavor gradient container and packaged liquid-based food item

Abstract

A container for a liquid-based food item and a packaged liquid-based food item, such as a soup. A container includes an outer member and an inner dividing member that is positioned inside the outer member to define inner and outer cavities. A liquid, such as water or broth, and one or more seasonings are placed in the inner cavity. Particulates, such as meat and vegetable particulates and, if necessary, water, are placed in the outer cavity. Seasonings are separated from particulates, and the seasoning does not diffuse into the particulates. Thus, the tastes of the individual ingredients are maintained. A sealing member extends across a tops of the inner and outer members to close the package. When the sealing member is removed to open the package, the water or broth with the seasoning, and the particulates and any water can be poured from their respective cavities in a single motion. By reducing or eliminating diffusion of seasonings into particulates, reduced quantities of salt and other seasonings can be added to processed soup products and allows salt and other seasonings to be added just prior to cooking, providing more natural flavor. Separating broth and particulates within a container can also reduce sterilization times.

1 . A segmented container for a liquid-based food item, comprising: 
 an outer member having a bottom, one or more sides extending upwardly from the bottom, and inner and outer surfaces;    an inner dividing member that is positioned inside the outer member and having inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface of the inner dividing member at least partially defines an inner cavity, and the outer surface of the inner dividing member and the inner surface of the outer member define an outer cavity; and    a sealing member that extends across tops of the inner dividing member and the outer member to close the container,    whereby a seasoning and a liquid can be placed in the inner cavity and particulates can be placed in the outer cavity, thereby separating the seasoning and the particulates and preventing the seasoning from diffusing into the particulates, and when the sealing member is removed to open the container, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective inner and outer cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member is cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner dividing member is cylindrical.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the inner dividing member exclusively defines the inner cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member and the inner dividing member are concentric and share a common axis.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member and the inner dividing member are offset relative to each other and have different center points.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the inner dividing member defines a cylindrical inner cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the inner dividing member and the inner surface of the outer member together define an annular or ring-like cavity.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner dividing member extends between the top and the bottom of the outer member.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner dividing member extends from a side of the outer member and vertically between the top and the bottom of the outer member.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the inner dividing member extends from a side of the outer member and from the top and partially to the bottom of the outer member.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member, the inner dividing member and the sealing member are substantially ridged.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the outer member, the inner dividing member and the sealing member are metal or plastic.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member and the inner dividing member are substantially transparent.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member and the inner dividing member are approximately the same height.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a lid that is placed across the tops of the outer member and the inner dividing member to seal the container.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein an underside of the sealing member includes a cushion that sealingly engages a top edge or surface of the inner dividing member.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the cushion has substantially the same shape as a top edge or surface of the inner dividing member.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the cushion has an annular or ring-like shape.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is substantially ridged.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member is metal or plastic.  
   
   
       22 . A segmented container for a liquid-based food item, comprising: 
 a substantially rigid, cylindrical outer member having a bottom, one or more sides extending upwardly from the bottom and an inner surface;    a substantially rigid, cylindrical inner dividing member that is positioned inside the cylindrical outer member and having inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member at least partially defines an inner cavity, and the outer surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member and the inner surface of the cylindrical outer member define an outer cavity; and    a substantially rigid, circular sealing member that extends across the tops of the cylindrical inner dividing member and the cylindrical outer member to close the container, wherein an underside of the circular sealing member includes a cushion that sealingly engages a top edge or surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member and closes the container when the sealing member is placed over the tops of the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical inner dividing member,    whereby a liquid and a seasoning are placed in the inner cavity and particulates are placed in the outer cavity so that the seasoning is separated from the particulates in order to prevent the seasoning from diffusing into the particulates, and when the circular sealing member is removed to open the container, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member exclusively defines the inner cavity.  
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical inner dividing member are concentric and share a common axis.  
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical inner dividing member are offset relative to each other and have different center points.  
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member exclusively defines a cylindrical inner cavity.  
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical inner dividing member extends between the top and the bottom of the cylindrical outer member.  
   
   
       28 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical inner dividing member extends from a side of the outer member and vertically between the top and the bottom of the outer member.  
   
   
       29 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical inner dividing member extends from a side of the outer member and from the top and partially to the bottom of the outer member.  
   
   
       30 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical outer member, the cylindrical inner dividing member and the sealing member are substantially ridged.  
   
   
       31 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the cylindrical outer member, the cylindrical inner dividing member and the sealing member are metal or plastic.  
   
   
       32 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical inner dividing member are substantially transparent.  
   
   
       33 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical inner dividing member are approximately the same height.  
   
   
       34 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the sealing member comprises a lid that is placed across the tops of the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical inner dividing member to seal the container.  
   
   
       35 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein an underside of the sealing member includes a cushion that sealingly engages a top edge or surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member.  
   
   
       36 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cushion has substantially the same shape as a top edge or surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member.  
   
   
       37 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the cushion has an annular or ring-like shape.  
   
   
       38 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the sealing member is substantially ridged.  
   
   
       39 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the sealing member is metal or plastic.  
   
   
       40 . A packaged liquid-based food item, comprising 
 a container having an outer member and a vertical dividing member, wherein the outer member has a bottom, one or more sides extending upwardly from the bottom, and an inner surface, the vertical dividing member has inner and outer surfaces and is positioned inside the outer member, the inner surface of the inner dividing member at least partially defines an inner cavity, and the outer surface of the inner dividing member and the inner surface of the outer member define an outer annular cavity;    a liquid;    a seasoning;    a plurality of particulates, wherein the liquid and the seasoning are in the inner cavity and the particulates are in the outer cavity, thereby separating the seasoning from the particulates so that the seasoning does not diffuse into the particulates; and    a sealing member that extends across tops of the outer member and the vertical dividing member to close the container, whereby when the sealing member is removed to open the container, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       41 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the outer member is cylindrical.  
   
   
       42 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the vertical dividing member is cylindrical.  
   
   
       43 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the inner surface of the vertical dividing member exclusively defines the inner cavity.  
   
   
       44 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the outer member, the vertical dividing member and the sealing member are substantially ridged.  
   
   
       45 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 44 , wherein the outer member, the vertical dividing member and the sealing member are metal or plastic.  
   
   
       46 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the outer member and the vertical dividing member are substantially transparent.  
   
   
       47 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the sealing member comprises a lid that is placed across the tops of the outer member and the inner dividing member to seal the container, and wherein an underside of the sealing member includes a cushion that sealingly engages a top edge or surface of the vertical dividing member.  
   
   
       48 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 40 , wherein the outer cavity includes the particulates and water.  
   
   
       49 . A packaged liquid-based food item, comprising 
 a substantially rigid cylindrical outer member, the cylindrical outer member having a bottom, one or more sides extending upwardly from the bottom to a top of the cylindrical outer member, and an inner surface;    a substantially rigid cylindrical dividing member having inner and outer surfaces, wherein the cylindrical dividing member is positioned inside the cylindrical outer member and at least partially defines a cylindrical inner cavity, and wherein the outer surface of the cylindrical inner dividing member and the inner surface of the cylindrical outer member define an annular outer cavity;    a liquid;    a seasoning;    a plurality of particulates, wherein the liquid and the seasoning are placed in the cylindrical inner cavity and the particulates are placed in the annular outer cavity so that the seasoning is separated from the particulates to prevent the seasoning from diffusing into the particulates; and    a substantially rigid circular sealing member that extends across the tops of the cylindrical inner dividing member and the cylindrical outer member to close the container, and when the circular sealing member is removed to open the container, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       50 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 49 , wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical dividing member exclusively defines the inner cavity.  
   
   
       51 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 49 , wherein the cylindrical outer member, the cylindrical dividing member and the sealing member are substantially ridged.  
   
   
       52 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 51 , wherein the outer member, the cylindrical dividing member and the sealing member are metal or plastic.  
   
   
       53 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 49 , wherein the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical dividing member are substantially transparent.  
   
   
       54 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 49 , wherein the sealing member comprises a lid that is placed across the tops of the cylindrical outer member and the cylindrical dividing member to seal the container, and wherein an underside of the sealing member includes a cushion that sealingly engages a top edge or surface of the cylindrical dividing member.  
   
   
       55 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 49 , wherein the outer cavity includes the particulates and water.