| 摘要 |
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a food container assembly that includes a plurality of pre-packaged rigid containers, each containing an amount of food, that are vertically stacked within a tubular receptacle having oxygen (and optionally moisture) barrier properties. Each container ( 1 ) includes: (i) a bowl ( 11 ) having a closed bottom ( 14 ), an inner surface ( 17 ) defining a bowl interior ( 20 ), and an upper rim ( 23 ) defining an open top ( 26 ); (ii) a sleeve ( 29 ) having an outer surface ( 32 ) and a lower edge ( 35 ), and extending downwardly from upper rim ( 23 ) of bowl ( 11 ); (iii) an amount of food ( 44 ) residing within bowl interior ( 20 ); and (iv) a removable polymer film ( 47 ) sealingly engaging upper rim ( 23 ) of bowl ( 11 ), thereby sealing open top ( 26 ) of bowl ( 11 ) and containing food ( 44 ) within bowl interior ( 20 ). The plurality of containers ( 1 ) are arranged in a vertical stack (e.g., 2 or 3 ) having an outer edge ( 53 ). The assembly further includes a tubular receptacle ( 56 ) having a closed bottom ( 59 ), a closed top ( 62 ), and a sidewall ( 65 ) having an interior surface ( 68 ) defining an interior space ( 71 ). Tubular receptacle ( 56 ) is substantially continuous and has oxygen barrier properties. Interior space ( 71 ) is a substantially sealed interior space. The vertical stack (e.g., 2 ) resides within interior space ( 71 ) of tubular receptacle ( 56 ), and at least a portion of the outer edge ( 53 ) of vertical stack ( 56 ) abuts a portion of inner surface ( 68 ) of sidewall ( 65 ) thereof. The assembly of the present invention may be used to provide food for consumption by human and non-human animals, e.g., pets, such as dogs and cats.
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