Product with multipurpose contained strainer
View Patent ↗A single use packing, dispensing, and rinsing technique, where a strainer element is a permanent part of the packaging, placed opposite of the primary opening, to allow a user to drain liquid contents from a container (packing fluid or user-introduced) while retaining the solid contents.
1 . A container comprising:
a container body having at least two open ends;
a strainer comprising a strainer element located adjacent to and covering one of the two open ends of the container body, the strainer element including a plurality of openings formed therethrough for allowing draining of contents of the container, wherein the strainer element occupies the entire surface of the one of the two open ends of the container body, the strainer being permanently sealed to and non-removably located on the one of the two open ends of the container body;
a removable surface with a first pull tab sealingly covering the plurality of openings of the strainer element, the removable surface being defined by a scored edge for removal of the removable surface;
a sealing element sealed on another of the two open ends and located over the other of the two open ends for sealing the other of the two open ends, wherein the sealing element is removably coupled to the other of the two open ends by a weakened periphery; and
a second pull tab secured to the sealing element for removing the sealing element to allow access to the contents of the container.
2 . A method of straining liquid from a container having food packaged in liquid, the method comprising the steps: providing the container as in claim 1 , the containing food packed in liquid; pulling the first tab to remove the removable surface over the strainer on the one of the two open ends; and orienting the container body to permit the liquid to exit the container through the strainer element; adding water to the other of the two open ends, in order to rinse solid contents after draining the liquid, wherein the two open ends of the container body permit to use the container as a strainer by itself.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising pulling the second pull tab secured to the sealing element for breaking the seal of the other of the two open ends of the container body to permit access to the solid contents of the container.
4 . A container for food packed in liquid, the container comprising:
a container body;
a secured end with a first opening pull tab, wherein the secured end includes a weakened periphery for removing the secured end;
a strainer end secured to the container body for sealing an open end of the container body, wherein a strainer comprising a strainer element is permanently sealed to and non-removably located on the strainer end, the strainer element formed having a plurality of openings formed therethrough for allowing draining of contents of the container body, wherein the strainer element occupies the entire surface of the open end of the container body, the openings sized to permit passage of fluid while retaining food within the container body; and
a removable surface sealingly covering the openings of the strainer element, the removable surface being defined by a scored edge to enable removal of the removable surface, the removable surface including a second pull tab for removing the removable surface.