GB2381185A - Beverage or food container with temperature indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A food or drinks container incorporating in its body or lid or both a temperature sensing item which detects whether the food or drink in the container is at a safe or unsafe temperature for consumption and displays on the container or its lid or both at least one message or pictorial or symbolic indication concerning the temperature of the food or drink. The container may be a disposable cup, dish or tray for takeaway drink or food. The temperature indicator may incorporate parts changing colour in response to temperature.

Description

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BURN FREE General description of the product The concept of BURN FREE involves the manufacture and distribution of a specially designed disposable cup that would enable patrons of fast food and other catering outlets to see an indication of the temperature of the hot beverage or food and to avoid or minimise the risk of being burnt by consuming items which are too hot.

To accomplish this BURN FREE would be manufactured to look and feel like other currently available disposable paper or plastic cups but with the additional feature of an easily understood colour-changing temperature indicator incorporated in the container and/or its lid. The indicator would incorporate plain-language text giving advice on whether or not the consumable item was at a safe temperature for consumption without risk of burning or scalding.

The concept is intended to remove or minimise a risk experienced by consumers who purchase hot tea, coffee or other beverages, hot soups or other hot food items from takeaway outlets or mobile catering units When supplied to the customer it is quite likely that the beverage or food is too hot to drink or eat immediately, with the consequent potential risk of burning or scalding.

In recent years law suits arising from such bums or scalds have been well publicised The best advice to consumers is to allow the item to cool to a suitable temperature before consumption but without allowing it to become too cool or cold. However this is an imprecise guide and consumers can easily misjudge the optimum moment to consume hot food or drink. BURN FREE will indicate clearly when the optimum temperature range is reached.

This indication will be in the form of a temperature sensing, colour-changing panel built into the side and/or lid of each cup, accompanied by wording such as"STOP", "Too Hot to Drink"or"Too Hot To Eat"when it is still very hot,"Wait"when it is a little cooler but may still be too hot for most consumers and"Drink Now"or"Eat Now"when it has reached a safe temperature The latter will appear as soon as the top of the safe range has been reached and will allow the consumer to enjoy the beverage or food at an enjoyable temperature but without risk of burning or scalding.

The BURN FREE product offers benefits not only to consumers in terms of enhanced safety and enjoyment of food and drink at optimum temperatures but also to hot food and drinks suppliers who will enjoy a high degree of protection from litigation arising from customers being burnt or scalded by items which are frequently supplied at too high a temperature for safe immediate consumption.

The BURN FREE concept is intended to apply to a wider range of products than only cups and can include dishes or trays (with or without lids) used in the supply of fast food or takeaway food products. An initial design drawing is submitted with this request to indicate how the product may appear in the form of a cup and lid.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS Burn Free is a food or drinks container Incorporating In Its body or lid or both a temperature sensing item which detects whether the food or drink In the container is at a safe or unsafe temperature for consumption and displays on the container or its lid or both at least one message or pictonal or symbolic indication concerning the temperature of the food or drink.