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United States Patent Application	20090159596
Kind Code	A1
McNEIL; SONYA J.	June 25, 2009

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Claims

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1. A bread storage device comprising:a. a housing manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape, said housing having a first end and a second end and further including an opening adjacent said first end thereof for permitting insertion and removal of at least one piece of bread; andb. a fastening means operably connected to said housing at a predetermined location thereon adjacent said opening for removably securing said opening in a closed position.

2. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined shape is loaf shaped.

3. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is plastic.

4. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means is a zipper type fastening means.

5. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said device further includes a clamp member disposed on said housing at a second end thereof for selectively clamping said second end of said housing such that a user may selectively reduce the size of said housing.

6. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said device further includes a frame member disposed at a predetermined location therein, said frame member being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape.

7. A bread storage device according to claim 6 wherein said second predetermined shape is loaf-shaped.

8. A bread storage device according to claim 6 wherein said frame member further includes at least one telescoping portion disposed longitudinally within said housing.

9. A bread storage device according to claim 6 wherein said second predetermined material is at least one of plastic, metal, and a combination thereof.

10. A bread storage device according to claim 9 wherein said second predetermined material is metal.

11. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a handle member manufactured from a third predetermined material disposed on a top surface thereof at a predetermined location thereon.

12. A bread storage device according to claim 11 wherein said third predetermined material is plastic.

13. A bread storage device according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes indicia disposed on an outer surface thereof, said indicia illustrating predetermined information relating to a predetermined subject matter.

14. A bread storage device according to claim 13 wherein said predetermined subject matter relates to at least one of sports teams, school affiliations, business affiliations, religious affiliations, hobbies, food stuffs, brand names and a combination thereof.

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Description

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/016,494 filed Dec. 24, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The present invention relates, in general, to storage devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a storage device for bread.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, storage containers such as bags, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to store loaves and slices of bread. Unfortunately, the flimsy plastic bags that are currently popular do nothing to maintain the shape of bread loaves and slices. Slices of bread become unappetizing and ugly when they sag, slide, bend, lean on each other and become mangled, squashed, flattened, damaged, misshapen and dented in such bags. Furthermore, such bags easily rip and tear allowing air to enter such bags resulting in such bread becoming stale. Although twist ties and other similar flimsy types of ties are often used to try to close such bags, such ties are unsuccessful in keeping air out and bread stored in such bags becomes stale quickly. A better storage device is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004]The present invention provides a bread storage device which includes a housing manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. Such housing has a first end and a second end and further includes an opening adjacent such first end thereof for permitting insertion and removal of at least one piece of bread. A fastening means is operably connected to such housing at a predetermined location thereon adjacent such opening for removably securing such opening in a closed position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005]It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a bread storage device for housing at least one of at least a portion of a loaf of bread, a predetermined number of slices of bread, and a combination thereof, such bread storage device fitting snugly around such bread such that such bread will maintain it's shape, such device further including an access means for enabling a user to access such bread and a securing means for securing such access means in a closed position such that air passage into an interior of such device is at least one of reduced and eliminated.

[0006]Another object of the present invention is to provide a bread storage device having a zipper type securing means for securing an access means disposed on such bread storage device in a closed position thereby keeping such bread fresh for a longer period of time.

[0007]Still another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device within which sliced bread may be placed to maintain both freshness of such bread and the shape of each slice.

[0008]Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bread storage device which includes a clamp type member for selectively reducing the size of such storage device, for example by rolling and clamping a predetermined end.

[0009]An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bread storage device which is substantially loaf-shaped and which further includes a handle type member disposed on a top portion thereof such that a user may carry such device from place to place easily and without smashing, squashing, and damaging such bread.

[0010]In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a zipper type securing means is disposed on such housing.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a clamp member is attached to a second end of such housing.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a frame member is included as part of the device; such frame member is depicted as including longitudinally disposed telescoping portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015]Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

[0016]Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-4.

[0017]A bread storage device, generally designated 10, is provided. Such bread storage device 10 includes a housing 12 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined shape is loaf shaped. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic.

[0018]Such housing 12 has a first end 14 and a second end 16 and further includes an opening adjacent such first end 14 thereof for permitting insertion and removal of at least one piece of bread (not shown).

[0019]A fastening means 18 is operably connected to such housing 12 at a predetermined location thereon adjacent such opening for removably securing such opening in a closed position. It is presently preferred that such fastening means 18 is a zipper type fastening means 22.

[0020]It is presently preferred that such device 10 further includes a clamp member 24 disposed on such housing 12 at a second end 16 thereof for selectively clamping such second end 16 of such housing 12 such that a user 11 may selectively reduce the size of such housing 12.

[0021]According to one embodiment such device 10 may include a frame member 26 disposed at a predetermined location within such housing 12, such frame member 26 being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that such second predetermined shape is loaf shaped. It is further presently preferred that such frame member 26 further includes at least one telescoping portion 28 disposed longitudinally within such housing 12.

[0022]It is presently preferred that such second predetermined material is at least one of plastic, metal, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such second predetermined material is metal.

[0023]Such housing 12 may also include a handle member 32 manufactured from a third predetermined material disposed on a top surface thereof at a predetermined location thereon. It is presently preferred that such third predetermined material is plastic.

[0024]Indicia 42 may be disposed on an outer surface of such housing, such indicia 42 illustrating predetermined information relating to a predetermined subject matter. It is presently preferred that such predetermined subject matter relates to at least one of sports teams, school affiliations, business affiliations, religious affiliations, hobbies, food stuffs, brand names and a combination thereof. It is meant that such indicia 42 may be used for advertising purposes.

[0025]While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

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