U.S. patent application number 11/456916 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for slanted clamshell container with sauce holder.
Invention is credited to David E. Stier.
Application Number | 20070012754 11/456916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37660783 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070012754 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stier; David E. |
January 18, 2007 |
Slanted Clamshell Container with Sauce Holder
Abstract
A clamshell type container formed from a blank that includes
upper and lower sections hingedly connected to one another along a
common edge. A circular region defined by perforations is formed in
the upper section, and is adapted to receive a cup therein. In its
intended use, the cup would contain a dipping sauce that is
complementary to the food product housed in the container.
Inventors: |
Stier; David E.; (Avon Lake,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BOND, SCHOENECK & KING, PLLC
ONE LINCOLN CENTER
SYRACUSE
NY
13202-1355
US
|
Family ID: |
37660783 |
Appl. No.: |
11/456916 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60595570 |
Jul 15, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/108 ;
229/114; 229/146; 229/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/528 20130101;
B65D 5/667 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/108 ;
229/114; 229/146; 229/148 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/00 20060101
B65D005/00 |
Claims
1. A clamshell container adapted for containing a product and a
cup, comprising: a. a lower section having a first planar surface
that extends in a first plane; b. an upper section having a second
planar surface that extends in a second plane, said upper section
positioned in movable relation to said lower section between open
and closed positions, and c. wherein said second planar surface
includes a defined, cup-receiving portion thereof adapted to
receive the cup therein.
2. The clamshell container of claim 1, wherein said defined,
cup-receiving portion is defined by perforations.
3. The clamshell container of claim 2, wherein said defined,
cup-receiving portion is essentially circular in shape.
4. The clamshell container of claim 3, wherein the cup is of a
first, maximum predetermined diameter, a second, minimum
predetermined diameter, and said defined, cup-receiving portion is
of a third, predetermined diameter less than said first,
predetermined diameter and greater than said second predetermined
diameter.
5. The clamshell container of claim 1, wherein said lower and upper
sections are integrally joined to one another along a common edge
about which said upper and lower sections pivot relative to one
another.
6. The clamshell container of claim 1, wherein said first and
second planes are not parallel to one another.
7. The clamshell container of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of sidewalls extending between said upper and lower
surfaces.
8. The clamshell container of claim 7, wherein said clamshell
container is pentagonal in shape.
9. A blank able to be formed into a three-dimensional clamshell
container adapted to contain a product and a cup therein, said
blank comprising: a. a first section having a first major surface;
b. a second section joined to said first section along a common
edge and having a second, major surface; and c. a defined,
cup-receiving portion formed in said second, major surface.
10. The blank according to claim 9, wherein said defined,
cup-receiving portion is defined by perforations.
11. The blank of claim 10, wherein said defined, cup-receiving
portion is essentially circular in shape.
12. The blank of claim 11, wherein the cup is of a first, maximum
predetermined diameter, a second, minimum predetermined diameter,
and said defined, cup-receiving portion is of a third,
predetermined diameter less than said first, predetermined diameter
and greater than said second predetermined diameter.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/595,570, filed Jul. 15, 2005, the content
of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to disposable containers and
more specifically to containers of the so-called clamshell type
erectable from a flat blank to a three-dimensional structure having
two, hingedly connected sections relatively movable between open
and closed positions.
[0003] Many types of fast-food products are served to the consumer
in disposable paperboard or plastic containers specifically
designed for a particular product. A popular form of such
containers is that known as clamshell wherein two sections are
connected by an integral hinge for relative movement. While the
plastic containers are often molded as an integral unit, e.g., of
expanded polystyrene, the paperboard containers are typically
formed from an initially flat blank, provided with cut and score
lines and folded to a three-dimensional container held in place by
glue tabs.
[0004] Some fast foods are sold with a small cup of liquid or
semi-liquid sauce wherein the food product may be dipped as it is
eaten. Although the cup may be positioned on a tray or counter-top
when the food is consumed on the premises where it is obtained,
fast food is often taken from the premises and consumed in a
location having no convenient means for holding the cup of sauce,
sometimes resulting in the cup being overturned or tipped with
sauce spilling into the food container or into less convenient
locations.
[0005] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide
a disposable container of the clamshell type having novel and
improved means for holding a small cup, the purpose of which is to
hold a liquid or semi-liquid sauce intended to be eaten with a food
product served in the container.
[0006] Another object is to provide a paperboard blank formed with
cut and fold lines adapting the blank for erection to an enclosed
container having a unique and advantageous design.
[0007] A further object is to provide a disposable, fast food
container having two sections connected by an integral hinge for
movement between open and closed positions with a shape, when in
the closed position, which enhances the ability of the container to
accommodate and support a small cup complementary to the food
product served in the container.
[0008] Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part
appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In furtherance of the foregoing objects, the container of
the invention is initially in the form of a blank of sheet
material, preferably a suitable weight paperboard, cut to a
predetermined outline and provided with cut and fold lines in
appropriate locations for erection to the final size and shape of
the container. Generally, the blank is divided by a transverse fold
line or perforated line into two sections. When fully erected, this
fold or perforated line forms an integral hinge for relative
movement of the two sections, termed upper and lower sections,
between open and closed positions. Each section is provided with
two pairs of essentially triangular glue tabs, each tab having one
side forming a portion of the blank periphery, a second side formed
by a cut line and a third side formed by a perforated fold line.
Each section also includes a single glue tab at the end opposite
the hinge; that is, the single glue tabs are formed at opposite
ends of the blank, but will be directly adjacent one another when
the container is fully erected and in the closed position. A single
side panel of each section is formed by a fold line extending
between cut lines forming one side of a glue tab at each end. One
end panel of each section is formed by a transverse fold line
extending parallel to the hinge line between opposite ends at a
common junction with the glue tab cut lines and the side panel fold
lines. At the opposite end, each section has a pair of end panels
having one edge forming a portion of the periphery of the blank and
fold or cut lines along three other edges.
[0010] Fold lines of the side and end panels form a peripheral
boundary defining a five-sided center panel in each section. The
center panels of the upper and lower sections are termed top and
bottom panels, respectively, in the erected condition of the
container. The top panel is provided with a circular, breakaway
panel defined by a perforated line. An arcuate portion of the
breakaway panel, including a portion of its periphery, is cut and
removed from the original blank to facilitate manual removal of the
entire breakaway panel, thereby forming a circular opening in the
top panel when a small cup is to be inserted therein for previously
described reasons. A pair of locking tabs are formed in the
periphery of each of the end panels opposite the hinged end in both
the upper and lower sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank of sheet material;
[0012] FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and front elevational views,
respectively, of the container erected from the blank of FIG. 1
shown in the closed position;
[0013] FIGS. 4 and 5 are top and bottom plan views, respectively,
of the container, shown in the closed position; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the container in the open position
showing the interior side thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a blank 10
cut from a sheet of material such as paperboard, appropriate for
forming a container for the intended use. Blank 10 is divided by
fold line 12 into two sections 14 and 16, termed for convenience
upper and lower sections, respectively. Fold line 18 in section 14
and fold line 20 in section 16 are parallel to one another and to
fold line 12. Fold lines 22, 22' extend between the opposite ends
of fold lines 12 and 18, and fold lines 24, 24' extend between
opposite ends of fold lines 12 and 20. Fold lines 12, 18, 22 and
22' form the periphery of first end panel 26, and fold lines 12,
20, 24 and 24' form the periphery of second end panel 28. A first
pair of glue tabs 30, 30', at opposite ends of end panel 26, are
separated from the end panel by fold lines 22, 22', and from
respective side panels 32, 32' by cut lines 34, 34', respectively.
It will be understood that the term fold line, as used herein, may
refer to a continuous score line separating adjacent panels of the
blank or container, or to a line of perforated or intermittently
cut and scored portions, i.e., to any means of providing a line
along which two adjacent panels are to be folded, whereas the term
cut line refers to a line along which the material is severed
between adjacent portions of the blank.
[0016] Side panels 32, 32' are separated from a central panel,
termed top panel 36 by fold lines 38, 38', respectively. A pair of
end panels 40, 40' are separated from top panel 36 by fold lines
42, 42', respectively. Thus, top panel 36 is bounded by fold lines
18, 38, 38', 42 and 42'. Circular portion 44 is formed in top panel
36 by perforated line 46 with an arcuate portion bounded by cut
line 48 of circular portion 44 and cut line 50 of line 46 being
removed. A second pair of glue tabs 52, 52' of upper section 14 are
separated from side panels 32, 32' by cut lines 54, 54',
respectively, and from end panels 40, 40' by fold lines 56, 56',
respectively. A single glue tab 58 is separated from end panel 40
by cut line 60 and from end panel 40' by fold line 62. Portions of
end panels 40 and 40' forming sections of the outer periphery of
blank section 14 are cut to form hooks 64, 64' for purposes
described later.
[0017] A first pair of glue tabs 66, 66' of lower section 16 are
separated from end panel 28 by fold lines 24, 24', respectively,
and from side panels 68, 68' by cut lines 70, 70'. A second pair of
lower section glue tabs 72, 72' are separated from side panels 68,
68' by cut lines 74, 74'. Glue tabs 72, 72' are separated from end
panels 76, 76' by fold lines 78, 78'. End panels 76, 76' are
separated from the central portion of lower section 16, termed
bottom panel 80, by fold lines 82, 82'. Side panels 68, 68' are
separated from bottom panel 80 by fold lines 84, 84', respectively.
Thus, bottom panel 80 is bounded by fold lines 20, 82, 82' 84 and
84'. A single glue tab 86 is separated from end panel 76 by fold
line 88 and from end panel 76' by fold line 90. A pair of hooked
portions 92, 92' are formed in the outer peripheries of end panels
76, 76' for purposes described later.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, container 94 has been
formed from blank 10 in the usual manner of folding adjacent panels
along the fold lines provided and adhesively connecting surfaces of
glue tabs to surfaces of other panels with which they have been
brought into opposition in the folding operation. Upper and lower
sections 14 and 16 are connected by an integral hinge formed by
fold line 12 for relative movement between the closed position
shown, and an open position in the usual manner of clamshell
containers. It will be noted that side panels 32 and 68 of upper
and lower section 14 and 16, respectively, (and, of course, side
panels 32' and 68' on the opposite side) increase in width from the
rear (hinged) to the forward end of the container, thereby
providing a slanted clamshell configuration with a greater height
at the front than at the rear. As seen in the front view of FIG. 3,
hooks 64 and 64' of upper section 14 engage hooks 92, 92',
respectively, of lower section 16 to maintain the sections in
mutual engagement until manually pulled apart at the front end. As
also best seen in FIG. 3, the outer, free edges of side panels 32
and 32' of upper section 14 overlap the outer edges of side panels
68 and 68', respectively, and the free edges of end panel 76 of
lower section 16 overlap the free edges of end panel 40 of upper
section 14, except in the region of hooks 64, 64' and 92, 92'.
[0019] In the side view of FIG. 2, cup 96 is positioned above
container 94. Cup 96 tapers outwardly from bottom to top having a
diameter D1, smaller than diameter D of circular portion 44 of top
panel 36 of upper section 14, at its lower end and a diameter D2,
larger than D, at its upper end. Thus, after removing circular
portion 44 of top panel 36, the lower end of cup 96 may be inserted
into opening 98 (FIG. 4) where the outer side surface of cup 96
will engage the circular edge of the opening and hold the cup
securely in place. This provides a simple and convenient means of
providing a cup of dipping sauce, or the like, in conjunction with
a food product which is served in the container.
[0020] The interior of the erected container is shown in FIG. 6. By
folding along fold lines 18 and 20, end panels 26 and 28 are moved
relative to top and bottom panels 36 and 80, thereby bringing
surfaces of glue tabs 30, 30' and of upper section 14 and glue tabs
66, 66' of lower section 16 into opposing contact with portions of
side panels 32, 32' of the upper section and side panels 68, 68' of
the lower section. A suitable adhesive is applied to maintain the
opposing surfaces permanently in this position. By folding along
fold lines 42 and 42' of front section 14, surfaces of glue tabs
52, 52' are brought into opposing contact with portions of side
panels 32 and 32' and maintained in this position by application of
adhesive. Likewise, glue tabs 72, 72' of rear section 16 are
brought into opposing contact with portions of side panels 68, 68'
and secured with adhesive. By the folding along fold lines 42 and
42', glue tab 58 is brought into contact with end panel 40 and the
two opposing surfaces are secured with adhesive. Folding along
lines 82, 82' brings glue tab 86 into contact with end panel 76' of
lower section 16 and the opposing surfaces are maintained in
contact with adhesive. Container 94 is then fully erected and ready
for use. If no sauce cup is provided with an order, circular
portion 44 is left in place on top panel 36; if a sauce cup is
provided, the server breaks circular portion 44 free from top panel
36 along perforated line 46 to provide an opening to hold the cup
and sauce in secure relation to container 94, the latter being in
the form of a two-section clamshell tapering outwardly to a larger
capacity from the rear (hinged) end to the opposite (front)
end.
* * * * *