U.S. patent application number 10/969033 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for dual separable containers.
Invention is credited to Nelson, James L..
Application Number | 20050051549 10/969033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34225811 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050051549 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nelson, James L. |
March 10, 2005 |
Dual separable containers
Abstract
Dual associated containers for storing and shipping goods in a
primary container with complementary goods or items being in a
secondary container attached to and in some cases integral with the
primary container. One embodiment has a secondary container nested
with the first container and sealed by a cover which engages the
peripheral rims of both containers simultaneously sealing the
containers. A second embodiment employs a receptacle formed on the
underside of the lid that seals the primary container. The
receptacle is closed by a lid that snaps around the peripheral rim
of the receptacle. A third embodiment is comprised of a primary
container having a secondary container formed on a lid above the
primary container. The lid has a peripheral skirt that snaps on to
the primary container and includes a secondary cylindrical
container attached around its upper edge.
Inventors: |
Nelson, James L.; (Mira
Loma, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROJAN LAW OFFICES
9250 WILSHIRE BLVD
SUITE 325
BEVERLY HILLS
CA
90212
|
Family ID: |
34225811 |
Appl. No.: |
10/969033 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10969033 |
Oct 20, 2004 |
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10365590 |
Feb 11, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.83 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00296
20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 21/0219 20130101; B65D
2543/00685 20130101; B65D 43/0212 20130101; B65D 81/3205 20130101;
B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D 2543/0074 20130101; B65D 2543/00796
20130101; B65D 2543/00527 20130101; B65D 81/3216 20130101; B65D
2543/00157 20130101; B65D 2543/00648 20130101; B65D 2543/00194
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/023.83 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A dual container system to store related items comprising: a
primary container; a lid for removably attaching to said primary
container; a secondary container integrally formed on said lid;
wherein said secondary container is positioned above said primary
container when said lid is attached to said primary container.
2. The container system according to claim 1, in which said primary
container comprises a peripheral rounded rim.
3. The container system of claim 2, in which a material is secured
to said peripheral rounded rim to seal said primary container.
4. The container system according to claim 1 in which said lid has
an upwardly extending wall, said secondary container being attached
to an upper peripheral edge of said upwardly extending wall.
5. The container system according to claim 4 in which said lid is
formed with a recess around said upper peripheral edge of said
upwardly extending wall, said secondary container being attached to
said recess.
6. The container system according to claim 5 in which a shelf is
formed in said recess, said secondary container being attached to
an edge of said shelf.
7. The container system according to claim 6 in which a material is
secured to said shelf in said recess to seal said secondary
container.
8. The container system according to claim 7 in which said lid with
said secondary container is formed of a clear plastic material,
wherein a printed label may be inserted between said secondary
container and an interior surface of said upward extending
wall.
9. The container system according to claim 7, in which a third
container may be removably mounted on to said recess of said
lid.
10. The container system according to claims 3, in which said
material is a plastic film.
11. The container system according to claims 3, in which said
material is a metal foil.
12. A dual container system to store related items comprising: a
primary container having a peripheral rounded rim; a lid for
removably attaching to said primary container; a secondary
container integrally formed in said lid, said secondary container
forming a recess with a shelf in said lid; a tertiary container,
removably mounted in said recess formed in said lid wherein said
secondary container is positioned above said primary container and
said tertiary container is positioned above said secondary
container, when said lid is attached to said primary container.
13. The container system of claim 12, in which a material is
secured to said peripheral rounded rim to seal said primary
container.
14. The container system according to claim 12 in which a material
is secured to said shelf in said recess to seal said secondary
container.
15. The container system according to claim 12, in which a material
is secured to said tertiary container to seal said tertiary
container.
16. The container system according to claims 13, in which said
material is a plastic film.
17. The container system according to claims 13, in which said
material is a metal foil.
18. A dual container system to store related items comprising: a
primary container having a peripheral rounded rim; a lid for
removably attaching to said peripheral rounded rim of the primary
container; a secondary container integrally formed in said lid,
said secondary container forming a recess with a shelf in said lid;
a tertiary container, removably secured in the recess formed in
said lid; a material secured to at least one said container thereby
sealing said container; wherein said secondary container is
positioned above said primary container and said tertiary container
is positioned above said secondary container, when said lid is
attached to said primary container.
19. The container system according to claim 18, in which said
material is a plastic film.
20. The container system according to claim 18, in which said
material is a metal foil
Description
PRIORITY INFORMATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/365,590, filed Feb. 11, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to dual containers for storing and
shipping goods and more particularly relates to dual associated
containers for dispensing goods from a primary container and
complimentary goods from a secondary attached container.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] The present invention relates to containers and particularly
food containers for storing and marketing food items. These are
containers for foods such as cheeses, shrimp, and other types of
snack foods with complimentary foods such as sauces, chips, and
condiments. Typically such food items are shipped in a sealed
container for use with other food items such as a sauce or a
special type of dip. For example, shrimp may be shipped in one
container while the shrimp sauce which would have to be purchased
separately in another container.
[0006] It is known in the art to use of containers having several
compartments for storing different food items. For example there
are a variety of compartmentalized devices for storing food in one
section and a condiment or a beverage in another section. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,443 of Szczerbinski issued May 14,
2002 discloses in combination a food container and a condiment
container. The food container however is not a seal-proof container
but an open container that has a condiment dispenser attached to
the side. Another patent with a compartmentalized section is a
lunch box with a slidable divider disclosed and described in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,391,816 of Swett issued Jul. 9, 1968. This device is
comprised of a container with outwardly bowed walls having a
movable divider to adjust the size of adjacent sections. This
device has a lid to seal the container after filling with food in
the compartments.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,998 of Carlson issued Feb. 19, 1985
describes a food container with a removable lid and a divider to
partition the container into a number of distinct zones. The
container also includes a bottle adapted to be held in the
container.
[0008] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,528 of Schluckebier issued Sep. 11,
1990 also describes a container having separate compartments for
food and condiments. This is an open container generally used for
French fries in one side and a condiment in an adjacent
compartment. It is not a sealed container for storing food to be
marketed.
[0009] Another patent that shows a compartmentalized food and
beverage package is disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,922,376 of Privert issued Jul. 13, 1999. This patent discloses a
container having a rectangular tray with internal and peripheral
flanges defining recessed food receiving compartments. At least one
of the compartments of the tray may contain a beverage. The
beverage compartment is generally rectangular recess formed
adjacent one of the side edges. The beverage compartment
additionally has a recessed design so that the weight of the
contained beverage permits the container to be stood upright upon
the base.
[0010] The diversity of various types of foods available for
snacking indicates that containers for these foods that can carry a
snack as well as a condiment or a dip would be advantageous. The
above patents indicate that manufacturers have responded with a
wide variety of products to satisfy the demands for these
snackfoods.
[0011] Another need is the availability of single-service packages
which provide not only a snack but condiments or other products
that go with it. For example, yogurt is typically sold with fruit
mixed in the yogurt. It would be advantageous if the yogurt could
be sold and the fruit could be separate for adding to the yogurt
after the package is opened. This type of arrangement would require
dual packaging that can be separated to allow the mixing of yogurt
and fruit. Other types of snack foods could also be packaged with
this type of container.
[0012] It is therefore one object of the present invention to
provide dual attached containers that can be separated to provide
goods in a primary container and complementary goods in a secondary
container attached and separable from the primary container.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide dual
attached containers for storing and distributing food items in a
primary container and complimentary food items such as a sauce,
condiment or dip in a secondary container separably attached to the
primary container.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual
containers in which one container nests in the other with both
being sealed by a single cover or a cap.
[0015] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a nested dual containers for containing goods such as a food item
in a primary container and goods such as a condiment or
complementary food item in the second separable container.
[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
dual separable containers in which a food item is contained in a
primary container cup or bowl and a secondary container comprised
of a receptacle on the inside surface of a cover that seals the
container having a complementary food item.
[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
dual container for containing a food item in a primary container
and a complementary food in a secondary container on a lid that
mounts on the primary container.
[0018] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
dual separable containers having a primary cup or bowl containing a
food item and a lid having a compartment forming a secondary
container for containing a complementary food item that sits on top
of and is fastened to the main container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dual
separable containers for storing and marketing goods such as food
items that are complementary. The containers have a variety of
configurations providing a main or primary container or bowl for
storing a food item and a secondary container attached and integral
with the first that can contain a complementary food item. The dual
containers can be separated for use.
[0020] A first embodiment of the invention is the provision of dual
nested containers for containing a food item in a primary container
and a complementary food item in a secondary container is nested
with the primary container. Both containers are closed and sealed
by a single lid. The nested container has a peripheral rim that
fits over the rim of the main container and has a surface that
seals against an inside skirt of a lid that snaps around both
peripheral rims of the main or primary container and the nested
secondary container.
[0021] The nested secondary container is formed with a peripheral
rim that has an edge angled under to provide a ridge or smooth
surface that tightly engages an inside surface of the lid to assure
a complete seal of both the primary and the nested secondary
container. To provide the sealed ridge that acts similar to an
O-ring, the nested container is formed in a mold that produces a
polished edge around the periphery of the rim and a straight
section adjacent to the shut off area of the mold.
[0022] The nested container is molded such that after removal from
the mold and shrinkage, the peripheral rim migrates under forming a
smooth sealing edge. The sealing edge is formed as a ridge and acts
like an O-ring providing a secure seal against the inside surface
of the lid when attached to both containers.
[0023] In the first embodiment of the secondary cup nested in the
primary container, the sealing lid also includes a centrally
located ridge or ring that matches the outside diameter of the
bottom of the nested secondary cup. This allows the lid to be used
as a tray when removed from the containers.
[0024] Another embodiment of the invention includes a primary
container or bowl and a secondary container in the form of a
receptacle that fits inside the main container and is an integral
part of the lid that seals the primary container. The primary
container is sealed by a lid having a peripheral flange or skirt
that fits around the rolled peripheral rim of the main
container.
[0025] The under side or inside surface of this lid has a circular
wall forming a receptacle on the underside of the lid. This
receptacle provides a secondary container that is closed by a lid
that snaps around the circular wall of the receptacle. Optionally
the receptacle is closed by a foil or film that is sealed around
the peripheral edge of the receptacle.
[0026] The latter embodiment is suitable for such products as
yogurt in the primary bowl and perhaps a fruit or other
complementary food item in the secondary receptacle on the inside
surface of the lid. The lid is removed and turned over and the lid
or foil sealing the secondary receptacle in the lid is then
removed. The contents of the receptacle on the inside surface of
the lid can then be mixed with the contents (e.g., yogurt) in the
primary container. Other options are the provision of a food item
in the main bowl and a complementary sauce, condiment, or dip in
the secondary receptacle on the inside of the lid.
[0027] Another embodiment is in the form of a cup on a cup or a
secondary container acting as a lid for a main or primary
container. The primary container has a peripheral lip for receiving
a skirt having a notched peripheral flange that engages the
peripheral rim of the primary container. This acts as a cover for
the primary container. The cover also includes a receptacle formed
in the central part of the lid for receiving a complementary food
item. The secondary container formed in the lid is sealed by foil
or plastic film in a recess at the top of the container. The recess
forms a shelf for receiving a sealing foil or film.
[0028] This embodiment is also suitable for storing yogurt in the
main or primary container and a complementary food item such as a
fruit in the upper or secondary lid container. The primary
container is preferably sealed by a film or foil after being filled
with a suitable food item such as yogurt. The secondary lid
container is filled with a complementary food item and sealed also
by a film or foil and then snapped onto the main container.
Preferably the secondary lid container is clear plastic so that a
label printed with description of the contents or food items in the
primary and secondary containers can be easily provided.
[0029] The peripheral recess on the top of the secondary lid
container for receiving the sealing foil or film serves a dual
purpose. The peripheral recess also serves the dual purpose of
allowing the food containers to be comfortably and easily
stacked.
[0030] The above and other objects, advantages, and novel features
of the invention will be more fully understood from the following
detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a side view of a nested cup-in-a-cup configuration
of dual associated primary and secondary containers according to
the invention.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dual containers taken at
2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view illustrating a
seal formed on nested bowl or secondary container against the inner
peripheral surface of a lid.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the lid being used as a tray
for the nested secondary container.
[0035] FIGS. 5a-5d illustrate various possible configurations for
producing the dual associated containers.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an optional embodiment in
which a receptacle forms a secondary container on the primary
container lid.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the primary lid of
the embodiment of FIG. 6 removed from the primary container and
reversed to allow use of a complementary food item in the secondary
lid container.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the removal of a lid
from the secondary lid container to use complementary food items in
the lid.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the primary lid
reversed with the secondary lid container sealed by a film or
foil.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of dual
associated containers with the upper or secondary container acting
as a lid for the main or primary container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] A first embodiment of associated or linked dual containers
of a nested cup in a cup is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. FIG.
1 is a side elevation of a usual food storage container 10 having a
main or primary food container 12 and a lid 14 to seal the
container. Preferably lid 14 is a tamper evident lid that will
prevent tampering with contents of food container 10.
[0042] Dual food container 10 is shown in greater detail in
sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 3. Primary food container 12 is the
usual cylindrical configuration having bottom recess 16 when molded
to provide additional strength and a peripheral rim 18 having
flange 20 for engaging lid 14. A secondary container 15 is fitted
inside and nests with primary container 12. Nested secondary
container 15 can store and provide complementary food or other
items that go with the contents of main or primary container 12.
Secondary container 15 has a peripheral rim 22 that fits over upper
edge 24 of flange 20 on primary container 12 as will be described
in greater detail hereinafter.
[0043] A critical element of the invention is the provision of a
seal to seal the contents of primary container 12 and nested
secondary container 15 containing complementary items. This seal
must be secure to prevent items stored in nested secondary
container 15 from leaking into primary container 12. This is
particularly important if the items in nested container 15 are
liquid or semi-liquid form. To provide a secure seal rim 22 formed
on nested secondary container 15 is produced in a mold that creates
a curvature to fit upper peripheral edge 24 of flange 20 on primary
container 12. The mold produces a polished edge 26 around the
periphery of rim 22 and a straight section 28 adjacent to the shut
off area of the mold. Nested container 15 is created in the mold so
that after removal and shrinkage, the peripheral rim migrates under
forming smooth sealing edge 26. Sealing edge 26 is formed as a
ridge and acts like an O-ring providing a secure seal against
inside surface 30 of a skirt 32 on lid 14. Straight surface 28
formed on rim 22 rests on flange 20 of primary container 12 and
securely abuts the inside surface 30 of lid 14 forming a secure
seal. Shoulder 34 on the underside of skirt 32 on lid 14 acts as a
catch to engage flange 20 on primary container 12 and abut ridge 26
on rim 22 of nesting secondary container 15.
[0044] In use, primary container 12 is filled with a primary
product or item such as yogurt while nested secondary container 15
can be filled with a complementary food item such as a fruit. When
the lid 14 is removed, nested secondary container 15 can sit on lid
14 which acts as a tray. For this purpose lid 14 has circular boss
or ring 34 formed on top 36. The bottom or periphery ring 38 on
secondary container 15 fits into boss or ring 34 on cover 14 to
secure it while cover 14 is acting as a tray.
[0045] While the preferred embodiment of the dual nested primary
and secondary containers 12 and 15 is preferably substantially
cylindrical, it can be in different shapes. For example FIG. 5a
shows the preferred cylindrical shape 40 while FIGS. 5b through 5d
show triangular 42, square 44, and rectangular 46, as optional
shapes. The only requirement for the nested containers is that the
respective rims be constructed such that cover 14 provides an
airtight, secure seal after the respective containers are filled
with food items.
[0046] Another embodiment of dual associated or linked containers
is illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9. In this embodiment, primary
container 50 is constructed in the usual fashion with base or
bottom 52 having a recessed section 54 to provide strength and a
peripheral rounded rim 56 for receiving and securing cover or lid
58 that seals the contents of the container. For this purpose as
before, skirt 60 has a peripheral shoulder 52 that engages the edge
of rim 56 on primary container 50. A secondary independent
container is formed on underside 62 of primary lid 58 by circular
or cylindrical wall 64 integrally formed on cover or lid 58.
Peripheral edge 66 of wall 64 provides a shoulder 68 (FIG. 8) that
engages and latches sealing secondary lid 70 having a shoulder on
the inside surface of skirt 74. In most cases, secondary lid 70
will be sufficient to retain food items inside receptacle 75 formed
by wall 64 on inside surface 62 of cover 58. This is particularly
effective if the items inside receptacle 75 are dry items such as
fruit.
[0047] However in some cases the complementary food item in
receptacle 75 forming a secondary container on the inside surface
62 of primary lid 58 may be a liquid. Thus secondary lid 70 may not
be sufficient to maintain a secure seal to prevent the liquid from
leaking from receptacle 75 into primary container 50. To seal
secondary container 75 in this case, a foil or film 76 may be
securely fastened around the peripheral edge 78 of cylindrical wall
64 with an adhesive or by heat sealing as is well known in the art.
Also preferably, film or foil 76 has an overlapping edge 80 that
allows the film to be easily peeled off peripheral edge 78 exposing
the contents of secondary container 75.
[0048] In use, for example with yogurt in primary container 50,
secondary container 75 could contain a fruit or other complementary
product. To use the product primary lid 58 is removed and turned
over exposing secondary lid 70 or foil or film seal 76. Secondary
lid 70 or foil seal 76 is removed allowing the contents to be
exposed for use or mixing with yogurt in primary container 50.
[0049] A third embodiment of dual separable associated or linked
containers is illustrated in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, primary
container 90 is provided as before with peripheral rounded rim 92
and recessed bottom 94 to provide strength as is well known in the
art. Upper peripheral rim 92 provides an edge 96 for seating with a
cover as is known in the art and was described in previous
embodiments.
[0050] However in this embodiment, cover or lid 100 is formed with
skirt 98 having shoulder 102 that engages edge 96 of rim 92 on
primary container 90.
[0051] Lid 100 also has a vertically extending wall 104 of
sufficient height to allow secondary container 94 to be formed as
an integral part of lid 100. Secondary container 94 is attached to
wall 104 of lid 100 by a flange 106 that is secured to the
underside of peripheral rim 108. Preferably cover 100 is formed as
an integral part on a mold with container 94 integral with
peripheral rim 108 and sidewall 104 as well as skirt 98. Secondary
container 94 when attached to the peripheral rounded rim 108 of
cover 100 leaves a recess 110 and shelf 112 for receiving a foil or
film seal 114. Film or foil seal 114 is secured to shelf 110 by an
adhesive or heat sealing as is well known in the art. When film 114
is securely sealed around peripheral shelf 112, recess 110 remains
allowing additional containers 115 to be stably stacked.
[0052] As was described previously, lid 100 snaps on to peripheral
rim 92 of primary container 90 with shoulder 102 on the underside
of skirt 98 engaging an edge 96 of peripheral rounded rim 92. An
additional seal to tightly seal the contents in main container 90
is provided by foil or film 112 securely fastened to the upper
surface area 114 of rim 92 on main container 90. Foil or film again
is securely fastened by means of adhesive or heat sealing to the
upper edge of main container 90.
[0053] To use dual linked containers 105 comprised of primary
container 90 and secondary container 94, they are each filled with
a suitable food item. Main container 90 is then sealed with a foil
or film 112 around the peripheral edge of rim 92. Secondary
container 94 is then filled with a complementary food item and
sealed by another foil or film 114 securely fastened to shelf 112
by adhesive or heat welding. Lid 100 having secondary container 94
is then snapped onto peripheral rim 92 of main container 90. To use
the products stored in the container, the processed is simply
reversed. Lid 100 is removed from container 90 and film seals 112
and 114 removed to expose the contents. Complementary contents in
secondary container 94 can be used separately with the goods in
primary container 90 or optionally they can contain products that
can be mixed.
[0054] Another optional preferred feature is to manufacture lid 100
of a clear plastic material allowing a printed label 116 describing
the contents to between wall 104 and the outside of secondary
container 94. The printed label fits the curvature and when
inserted extends only part way around the container allowing the
contents in secondary container 94 to be visible.
[0055] Thus there has been described three different embodiments of
dual associated or linked containers that are completely separable
for using the products independently or cooperatively. In one
embodiment a primary or main container has a nested secondary
container with both being sealed by a lid that fits around the
peripheral rims sealing both containers simultaneously. The lid
when removed can also serve as a tray for the nested secondary
container. In another embodiment, a secondary container is formed
on the inside surface of the primary lid securely snaps around and
seals a primary or main container. A lid on the secondary container
formed on the underside of the lid seals the container against
leakage. When liquid or semi-liquid goods are included in the
secondary container or receptacle, a film or foil seal may be used.
In a third embodiment, a secondary container sits on top of and is
formed as an integral part of the lid on a primary or main
container. The primary container is sealed by a foil or plastic
film as is the secondary container integrally formed on the lid.
The lid extends above the primary container and supports the
secondary container. A space between the secondary container and
the wall of the lid formed integrally therewith can be used for
insertion of a printed label.
[0056] This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown
in the drawings and described in the description which is given by
way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *