Expandable Food Container

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for transporting and rehydrating a dehydrated or other hydratable food component. The food component, which may illustratively comprise a powder or gel, may be reconstituted with water or some other liquid (e.g., milk, juice) to produce tea, coffee, an energy drink, soup, or some other food. The apparatus comprises a flexible pouch that may be provided with the hydratable food already inside. The apparatus includes an aperture for receiving the liquid and extracting the reconstituted food, and expands as the liquid is introduced. The pouch is sturdy enough to allow the liquid and food component to be mixed (e.g., by shaking), but the apparatus may also include a shell into which the pouch may be placed. The optional shell lends rigidity to the apparatus. In some implementations, the pouch may be designed for a single use (and be recyclable), while the shell may be reused.

1 . An apparatus for mixing a hydratable food component with a hydrating liquid, the apparatus comprising:
 two panels constructed of a flexible material, wherein said two panels are joined at three of four edges of the two panels;   a bottom joined to the fourth edges of the two panels to define, with said two panels, an inner cavity of the apparatus, wherein:
 said bottom is flexibly adjustable from a closed configuration to an open configuration; and 
 said inner cavity increases in volume when said bottom is adjusted from said closed configuration to said open configuration; and 
   an aperture for receiving the hydrating liquid into the cavity.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured to cover said aperture. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for maintaining said bottom in the open configuration. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is substantially flat when said bottom is in said closed configuration. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the hydratable food component. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the hydratable food component comprises a powder. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the hydratable food component comprises a gel. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus configured to transport a hydratable food and receive a liquid for mixing with the hydratable food, the apparatus comprising:
 a pouch comprising an interior cavity;   an aperture through the pouch for accessing the interior cavity, wherein the pouch is closed except for the aperture; and   a shell configurable to removably receive the pouch;   wherein the pouch is substantially flexible; and   wherein the shell provides rigidity to the apparatus when the pouch is placed within the shell.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the shell has an elliptically cylindrical form with at least one open end when configured to receive the pouch. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the shell is compressible to a substantially flat form when not configured to receive the pouch. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pouch comprises:
 two panels constructed of a flexible material, wherein said two panels are joined at three of four edges of the two panels; and   a bottom joined to the fourth edges of the two panels;   wherein the joining of the two panels and the bottom define the interior cavity.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the aperture comprises a bore through a side of the pouch;   the aperture is defined by a lip rising from the side of the pouch; and   the shell comprises a slot configured to snugly receive said lip.   
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for transporting and reconstituting a hydratable food, the apparatus comprising:
 an expandable closed pouch containing the hydratable food and having a substantially rectangular form when not expanded;   an aperture defining a bore through the pouch for accessing an interior of the pouch; and   an expandable shell configured to receive the expandable pouch;   wherein after the expandable pouch is installed within the shell, the aperture is configured to permit a liquid to be introduced to the interior to reconstitute the hydratable food; and   wherein the expandable pouch and the expandable shell automatically expand as the liquid is introduced.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein both the expandable pouch and the expandable shell are substantially flat when not expanded. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the aperture is located on a first edge of the expandable pouch. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the shell is configured to cover substantially all other edges of the pouch other than the first edge. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the aperture is located on a side of the expandable pouch. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the shell comprises a slot configured to accommodate the aperture. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is self-supporting in an upright orientation after said automatic expanding.