Disposable food delivery apparatus

Abstract

A disposable food delivery device is disclosed. The device includes a food utensil coupled to a food container. The food container can be pre-charged with food, such as a dehydrated food, such that a liquid can be added to the dehydrated food to result in a ready-to-eat food at any selected time. The food container illustratively can include a port for receiving the liquid. The food container also illustratively can include a security seal for assuring that the food has not been contaminated prior to consumption. Another illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a valve for retaining liquid in the food container prior to consumption of the food.

1 . A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising:
 (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and   (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises   a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and   a bowl disposed on the hollow neck;   wherein the food utensil is non-removably fixed with respect to the food container.   
   
   
       2 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bowl comprises an opening in communication with the conduit such that pushing food through the conduit causes food to pass through the opening and be received in the bowl. 
   
   
       3 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a ring disposed around the neck. 
   
   
       4 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the food container and the food utensil are molded as an integral unit. 
   
   
       5 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl and the neck. 
   
   
       6 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall. 
   
   
       7 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom. 
   
   
       8 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the front wall and the back, wall are characterized by an absence of pleats. 
   
   
       9 . A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising:
 (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and   (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises   a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and   a bowl or a tubular straw-like member disposed on the hollow neck;   wherein the food utensil further comprises a ring disposed around the neck;   wherein the ring is disposed on an end of the food utensil closest to and in contact with the food container, and the ring comprises a wall that projects in a radial direction from the neck and terminates in a free end in the radial direction.   
   
   
       10 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall. 
   
   
       11 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom. 
   
   
       12 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats. 
   
   
       13 . A disposable food delivery apparatus comprising:
 (a) a food container comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom, which define a chamber, which has a volume, for holding food, wherein the two side walls are pleated and wherein the food container comprises a flexible material such that applying pressure to the front wall and back wall results in bending of the two side walls along the pleats to thereby cause a reduction of the volume of the chamber, thereby squeezing food out of the chamber that may be contained therein; and   (b) a food utensil disposed on the food container, wherein the food utensil comprises   a hollow neck forming a conduit in open communication with the chamber such that food squeezed out of the food container enters the conduit, and   a bowl or a tubular straw-like member disposed on the hollow neck; and   (c) a cap comprising a side wall and a top for defining a cavity configured for receiving the bowl or tubular straw-like member and the neck;   wherein the cap side wall defines a radial projecting step extending toward an exterior of the cap forming an abutment to limit movement of the cap on the food utensil.   
   
   
       14 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the bottom is pleated such that when pressure is applied to the front wall and the back wall, the bottom bends along the pleats in the bottom to reduce a dimension of the bottom between the front wall and the back wall. 
   
   
       15 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the food utensil is positioned opposite the bottom. 
   
   
       16 . The disposable food delivery apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the front wall and the back wall are characterized by an absence of pleats.