U.S. patent application number 10/934225 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for consumables container with nested insert.
Invention is credited to Adolfo Lopez-Garcia.
Application Number | 20060051463 10/934225 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35996556 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060051463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lopez-Garcia; Adolfo |
March 9, 2006 |
Consumables container with nested insert
Abstract
An improved container for multiple food products comprising a
receptacle and a nested insert. The receptacle and nested insert
are injection molded. One removable seal covers the resultant
container having two separate food product compartments. The
container allows a consumer to hold the container having both food
product compartments in one hand, thus enabling the consumer to mix
and eat the food products with the other hand. The container is
ideal for chips and salsa, crackers and cheese, or any other
compatible food products that are desirably kept separate until
shortly before consuming.
Inventors: |
Lopez-Garcia; Adolfo; (Col.
Industrial Vallejo, MX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARSTENS & CAHOON, LLP
P O BOX 802334
DALLAS
TX
75380
US
|
Family ID: |
35996556 |
Appl. No.: |
10/934225 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2577/205 20130101;
B65D 81/3216 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/120 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/32 20060101
B65D081/32 |
Claims
1. A food product container comprising: a receptacle comprising: a
receptacle base; a receptacle wall attached to said receptacle
base; a receptacle mouth end having a flange attached to said
receptacle wall; an insert comprising: an insert cup having: an
insert base; an insert wall attached to said insert base; an insert
mouth end attached to said insert wall; and a rim extending beyond
and integral with said insert mouth end to form a pass-through
opening, wherein said flange is mated with said rim such that said
insert is nested with said receptacle such that said receptacle
mouth end and said insert mouth end reside substantially in a same
plane.
2. The container in claim 1 wherein a single removable seal is
placed over said receptacle mouth end and said insert mouth
end.
3. The container in claim 1 wherein said insert mouth end comprises
a first removable seal.
4. The container in claim 3 wherein said receptacle mouth end
comprises a second removal seal.
5. The container in claim 1 wherein said receptacle stores a first
food product and said insert stores a second food product.
6. The container in claim 1 wherein said flange further comprises a
protruded section, and wherein said rim comprises an L-shaped rim
having a perpendicular section, wherein said protruded section
exerts an inward force upon said perpendicular section.
7. A food product container for separately storing at least two
food products comprising: a receptacle comprising: a receptacle
base; a receptacle wall connected to said receptacle base, wherein
said receptacle wall extends outwardly from said receptacle base to
form a receptacle mouth end; a flange integral to said receptacle
wall about said receptacle mouth end; an insert comprising: an
insert cup, a rim integral with and extending beyond said insert
cup such as to form a pass-through between said insert cup and a
portion of said rim, wherein said rim mates with said flange
thereby nesting said insert in said receptacle.
8. The food product container of claim 7, wherein said flange
further comprises a protruded section, and wherein said rim
comprises an L-shaped rim having a perpendicular section, wherein
said protruded section exerts an inward force upon said
perpendicular section.
9. The food product container of claim 7, wherein said insert and
said flange mates by a snap fitting means.
10. The food product container of claim 7, wherein said receptacle
and said insert further comprise a single removable seal.
11. The food product container of claim 7, wherein said receptacle
stores a first food product and said insert cup stores a second
food product.
12. A method for making a container having at least two food
products comprising an insert having a cup and a rim, wherein said
rim extends beyond said cup to form a pass-through opening, and
wherein said insert is nested in a receptacle having a flange about
a receptacle mouth end, said method comprising the steps of: a)
separately molding said receptacle having said flange and said
insert having said insert cup and said rim wherein said rim and
said flange are dimensioned such that said rim can be connected to
said receptacle mouth end; b) filling said receptacle through said
receptacle mouth end with a first food product and filling said
insert cup with a second food product; and c) nesting said insert
about said receptacle mouth end.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of sealing
said receptacle and said insert with a single removable seal after
step c).
14. The method in claim 12 wherein said first food product at step
b) comprises a crispy snack product and wherein said second food
product at step b) comprises a non-crispy condiment.
15. A method for making a container having at least two food
products comprising an insert having a cup and a rim, wherein said
rim extends beyond said cup to form a pass-through opening, and
wherein said insert is nested in a receptacle having a flange about
a receptacle mouth end, said method comprising the steps of: a)
separately molding said receptacle having said flange and said
insert having said insert cup and said rim wherein said rim and
said flange are dimensioned such that said rim can be connected to
said receptacle mouth end; b) nesting said insert about said
receptacle mouth end; c) filling said insert cup with a first food
product; and d) filling said receptacle through said receptacle
mouth end with a second food product.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sealing
said receptacle and said insert after step d) with a single
removable seal.
17. The method in claim 15 wherein said first food product at step
d) comprises a crispy snack product and wherein said second food
product at step c) comprises a non-crispy condiment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a container suitable for
storing multiple food products (consumables) by using a container
having an insert nested within a receptacle.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The design and construction of packaging for containers of
consumables, such as potato chips, tortilla chips, or other snack
products, requires the consideration of several sometimes competing
factors.
[0005] One factor to consider regarding a consumables container
design is application specific design criteria. For example, and
related to marketing considerations, it may be desirable to
construct the container so that it can separately hold two or more
complementary food products. Mixing separate, complementary food
products just prior to consumption is often popular with consumers.
For example, it may be desirable for a container to hold both a
crispy food such as a tortilla chips, crackers, or potato chips and
a non-crispy condiment such as a salsa, cheese, or onion dip.
[0006] Food ingredients are typically enclosed in a hermetically
sealed food package and thus approach equilibrium with the relative
humidity of the inside of the package. Because of this moisture
migration it can be difficult to achieve a long shelf life on
multiple compartment packages storing snack products sharing the
same headspace. For example, the crispy food ingredient (e.g.
tortilla chip) having a lower moisture content can absorb
evaporated moisture from a non-crispy food ingredient (e.g., salsa
or cheese) having a higher moisture content. As the lower moisture
content food ingredient absorbs water it becomes less crispy. As
the higher moisture content food ingredient loses water, it
hardens. Additionally, oxygen and moisture migration into a
container reduces the product's shelf life. Thus, any container for
holding separate food products should contain a moisture and oxygen
barrier layer encompassing each food product compartment.
[0007] A second factor to consider regarding a consumables
container design is the ease in which a consumer can access
product. For example, the container can be designed with an
easy-open top, a dimension or shape that makes it easy to grip the
container in one hand, and an opening sufficient in size for the
consumer to retrieve the product from the container by pulling out
the product with the other hand. Likewise, the ergonomics of the
container must be considered. The container can be designed to be
easily grasped and held in one hand.
[0008] A third factor in consumables container design is the
economics and efficiencies of filling and shipping the container.
It may be beneficial to have the ability to separately stack food
product compartments for easy shipment and handling prior to the
filling of the compartment with a food product. Further, once
filled, sealed, and assembled, the containers must fit economically
into boxes or crates in order to minimize shipping costs.
[0009] Unfortunately, the prior art fails to disclose a container
having all of the above advantages. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,277,920, 5,853,105, and 5,657,574 all disclose multi-compartment
food packages where the containers are adjacent and integrated with
one another. Unfortunately, because the compartments do share a
common bottom and because the compartments are typically held
together with a thin flexible flange, a consumer must attempt to
balance the container in the palm of one hand while using the other
hand to mix then eat the packaged food products. However, it is
very difficult to balance or hold integral, adjacent,
multi-compartment food packages that fail to share a common bottom.
Thus, it is often difficult for a consumer to hold any of the
disclosed integral containers in one hand while using the other
hand to mix a first food product with a second product and then
consume the two food products.
[0010] In addition, it is difficult to use the disclosed prior art
containers to package a second food product at a location remote
from where the final filling, sealing, and labeling of an integral
multi-compartment food package occurs.
[0011] Consequently, a need exists for a multi-compartment food
container that allows a consumer to easily eat multiple food
products within the container with one hand while holding the
container with the other hand. Further, the container should be
rigid enough to allow a consumer to hold both food products in one
hand so the other hand can be used to mix and then consume the food
product combination. Such design should be simple and inexpensive
to manufacture and be intuitively functional to the consumer. The
container should economically fit into boxes or crates in order to
minimize shipping costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The proposed invention comprises a food product container
for storing multiple food products having a nested insert cup in a
receptacle. In one embodiment, the first food product can be placed
into the receptacle, the insert cup can be nested in the
receptacle, and a second food product can be placed into the insert
cup. Both food products can then have a single removable seal
placed over the receptacle and insert.
[0013] The invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture,
provides adequate protection for the product contained therein, and
is easy to use for the consumer. The container permits a consumer
to easily eat multiple food products within the container with one
hand while holding the container with the other hand. The container
is an improvement over the prior art in the packaging efficiencies,
and functional use by the consumer. The above as well as additional
features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent in the following written detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and
advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1a is a top perspective view illustrating the
receptacle without the insert and without the seal;
[0016] FIG. 1b is a partial top plan view of the receptacle
depicted in FIG. 1a;
[0017] FIG. 1c is a cross-sectional side view of the portion of the
receptacle taken along line 1c-1c of FIG. 1b;
[0018] FIG. 2a is a top perspective view of the insert in one
embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2b is a bottom perspective view of the insert depicted
in FIG. 2a;
[0020] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIGS.
2a-2b prior to nesting with the receptacle shown in FIG. 1a;
[0021] FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the receptacle with the
nested insert in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 3c is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG.
3b;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container depicted in
FIG. 3b having a single heat sealed lid covering both the container
and nested dip insert.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] FIG. 1a is a top perspective view illustrating the
receptacle without the insert and without the seal. Referring to
FIG. 1a, the receptacle 100 comprises a receptacle mouth end 102
and a receptacle base 104 coupled with a receptacle wall 106. In
one embodiment, the receptacle 100 comprises a recessed base 104.
In one embodiment, the receptacle 100 comprises a tapered
receptacle wall 106. The receptacle 100 provides for the rigidity
of the container as well as necessary moisture barrier properties.
The receptacle 100 can also be opaque in order to preclude exposure
to light on the product contained therein. The receptacle 100 is
typically injection molded and can be constructed of materials
comprising polypropylene, which provides for effective moisture
barrier properties. Such material can provide a container having a
water vapor transmission rate of about 0.004 g/m.sup.2/day and an
oxygen transmission rate of 7.2 cubic centimeters/m.sup.2/day.
Examples of other suitable material for use in constructing the
receptacle include high density polyethylene. In one embodiment,
the receptacle 100 and insert 200 are made of microwaveable
materials.
[0025] FIG. 1b is a partial top plan view of the receptacle
depicted in FIG. 1a. FIG. 1c is a cross-sectional side view of a
portion of the receptacle taken along line 1c-1c of FIG. 1b.
Referring to FIGS. 1b and 1c, the receptacle mouth end 102
comprises a flange 108. In one embodiment, the flange 108 is
integral the receptacle wall 106 about the receptacle mouth end
102. The flange 108, in one embodiment, comprises a flat section
112, a protruded section 114, and a ledge section 110. The ledge
section 110 extends about the outer perimeter of the flange 108.
The protruded section 114 protrudes slightly inward in the vicinity
of the rounded corners of the container. The amount of protrusion
has been exaggerated in the drawing for purposes of illustration.
In one embodiment, the protruded section 114 extends beyond the
receptacle wall 106 by about 0.50 millimeters. In one embodiment,
the flange 108 does not have a protruded section 114 in the
non-rounded portion 116 of the container.
[0026] FIG. 2a is a top perspective view of the insert 200 in one
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2b is a bottom perspective view
of the insert depicted in FIG. 2a. Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b,
the insert 200 comprises an insert cup 201 and a rim 210. The
insert cup 201 further comprises an insert mouth end 202 and an
insert base 204 connected by an insert wall 206. In one embodiment,
the rim 210 is an L-shaped rim 210 that extends beyond the insert
cup 201 to form a pass-through opening 220. In one embodiment, the
rim 210 is integral with the insert mouth end 202. In an
alternative embodiment, the rim 210 is snap-fit on the insert cup
201.
[0027] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIGS.
2a and 2b prior to nesting with the receptacle shown in FIG. 1a.
FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the receptacle with the nested
insert in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3c is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 3b.
Referring to FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c, in one embodiment, the L-shaped
rim 210 having a perpendicular section 212 is dimensioned so as to
mate above the flange flat section 112 of the receptacle 100 and
substantially abut the first receptacle ledge 110 to enable the
insert 200 to be nested within the receptacle 100. Hence the rim
210 is dimensioned so as to mate with and nest inside the
receptacle 100. In one embodiment, the protruded section 114 snaps
into a channel 214 (shown in FIG. 2b) disposed about the four
corners within the perpendicular section 212 of the L-shaped rim
210. In one embodiment, the channels 214 are dimensioned to ensure
a tight fit with the protruded section 114. The pass-through
opening 220 permits a consumer to conveniently retrieve food from
the receptacle 100.
[0028] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a different snap
fitting means is used couple the insert 200 with the receptacle
100. There are numerous ways to snap fit a smaller nested insert
into a larger receptacle as those skilled in the art are aware. For
example, in one embodiment, the flange 108 having a groove capable
of receiving a lip can be placed about the mouth end 102 of the
receptacle 100. A lip can then be placed about the insert rim 210
so as to mate with the groove to enable the insert 200 to be snap
fit with the receptacle 100. Similarly, the groove can be placed on
the insert rim 210 and the lip can be placed about the flange 108.
The disclosed methods are shown by way of illustration and not
limitation. Any method of snap fitting or placing the insert 200
into the receptacle 100 in a nested fashion known in the art can be
used.
[0029] The first step in manufacturing the container of Applicants'
invention involves constructing the receptacle 100 and insert 200.
Construction of each is typically performed by injection molding of
the material selected, but could also be accomplished by blow
molding, thermoforming, or other means used in container
manufacturing. Manufacture of the receptacle 100 and insert 200 are
performed separately. After each receptacle 100 is removed from the
mold, the receptacles can be efficiently nested and stored in one
another and then shipped to a food processing facility where it can
be filled with product or consumables. Alternatively, the
receptacle, shortly after manufacture, can be filled with a first
food product, such as corn-based snack foods, dropped into the
receptacle 100 through the mouth end 102.
[0030] In one embodiment, after each insert 200 is removed from the
mold, the inserts can be nested in one another for storage or
shipment separate from the receptacle 100. In an alternative
embodiment, inserts 200 can be immediately nested into a receptacle
100 that has been filled with a first food product and a second
food product including, but not limited to, a non-crispy condiment
such as spreadable cheese, salsa, or bean dip, can then be dropped
into the insert 200 through the insert mouth end 202.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container depicted in
FIG. 3b having a single removable seal covering both the container
and the nested dip insert. After the insert 200 is nested in the
receptacle 100 and filled with a second food product, a removable
seal (shown as reference 410 in FIG. 4) is secured over both the
receptacle mouth end 110 as well as the insert mouth end 210 by
methods well known in the industry. Such seals can be found, for
example, on the top of some plastic ketchup bottles. This removable
seal can be, for example, a metalized polyester secured by a heat
and pressure seal or other means. In one embodiment, once the
removable seal is placed over each mouth end 110 210, a label can
be affixed about the receptacle and the container can be shipped to
consumers. It should be noted, however, that a label can be affixed
about the receptacle at any time after the receptacle is
manufactured.
[0032] The instant invention provides numerous other advantages as
well. First, it provides for a multi-compartment food package that
allows a consumer to easily eat the food products within the
container with one hand while holding the container with the other
hand. For example, referring to FIG. 3b, because of the nested
insert 200, the consumer can easily hold both the insert 200 and
the receptacle 100 in one hand. The consumer can then, with the
other hand, reach through the pass-through section 220 into the
mouth end of the receptacle, and retrieve a first food product such
as a tortilla chip. The consumer can then place the first food
product into the mouth end of the insert and mix the first food
product with a second food product, such as salsa. Moreover, if the
second food product in the insert requires the application of some
pressure to retrieve, the consumer can still apply the requisite
pressure without additional difficulty in holding the container.
For example, if spreadable cheese is placed in the nested insert,
application of pressure first downward and then toward an insert
side wall may be required to scoop the cheese onto a cracker. The
instant invention permits a consumer to more easily perform this
task than previously because the container can be gripped in one's
first hand and pressure can be applied in numerous directions
within the insert (e.g. scooping can occur with one's second hand)
while still having the ability to easily hold the container with
the first hand. Second, the shape of the receptacle can be
fashioned such that it is ergonomic and easy to hold. Third, the
manufacture of the container can be performed by inexpensive
molding methods consisting of injection molding, blow molding and
thermoforming. Fourth, in one embodiment, the container requires
only a single heat-sealed lid that covers both food products making
it easier to manufacture a multi-compartment food container.
Further, the container lid can be easily removed by one hand as the
other hand holds the container. Moreover, the container shape
provides for easy stacking in boxes for shipping and on shelves for
display to a consumer.
[0033] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *