U.S. patent application number 15/956108 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-24 for reusable playable rigid packages.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Quaker Oats Company. Invention is credited to Eric Thomas HENDERSON, Antonio PUGLIESE, Gianmauro VELLA, ZhenXian ZHAO.
Application Number | 20190322435 15/956108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68236863 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190322435 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HENDERSON; Eric Thomas ; et
al. |
October 24, 2019 |
Reusable Playable Rigid Packages
Abstract
The disclosed principles provide for a new and unique reusable
rigid package configured to provide a container for holding, for
example, food products, as well as to provide a playable structure
for consumers, such as children, to play with during or after
consumption of the food product. In addition, multiple playable
packages as disclosed herein may be collected and combined
together, for example, end-to-end, into a larger toy such as train
of cars, busses, railway cars or any other vehicle shape.
Disposable or reusable covers, either rigid or soft, may also be
provided with each such disclosed rigid package. Furthermore, each
disclosed package is configured to be stacked, one at least
partially received within the other, for efficient stacked storage
of multiple packages.
Inventors: |
HENDERSON; Eric Thomas;
(Chicago, IL) ; PUGLIESE; Antonio; (Shanghai,
CN) ; VELLA; Gianmauro; (Shanghai, CN) ; ZHAO;
ZhenXian; (Shanghai, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Quaker Oats Company |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68236863 |
Appl. No.: |
15/956108 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2203/00 20130101;
B65D 1/34 20130101; B65D 1/40 20130101; B65D 81/365 20130101; B65D
81/361 20130101; Y02W 30/80 20150501; B65D 21/0204 20130101; B65D
79/00 20130101; B65D 21/0233 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101;
B65D 77/2024 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 79/00 20060101
B65D079/00; B65D 21/02 20060101 B65D021/02; B65D 1/34 20060101
B65D001/34; B65D 1/40 20060101 B65D001/40 |
Claims
1. A reusable rigid package, comprising: a downwardly formed
compartment having a front endwall and a rear endwall, and at least
two sidewalls connecting the front and rear endwalls, the
compartment configured to receive one or more products therein via
an opening at a top of the compartment; a flange formed at the top
of the compartment and around the opening, the flange comprising an
entirely flat horizontal surface outwardly extending from the top
of the compartment and sized to receive a flexible film cover
sealable thereon; a first connecting feature formed in a front
portion of the flange; a second connecting feature formed in a rear
portion of the flange, wherein a first connecting feature of the
package is shaped to interconnect with a second connecting feature
of a second package; a decorative feature formed into the front
endwall of the compartment; one or more stacking stops outwardly
formed from one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment, the
one or more stacking stops sized such that a bottommost surface is
configured to contact a top of the flange of a second package when
a bottom portion of the package is placed within the compartment of
the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position
within but above a bottommost surface of the compartment of the
second package; and standing features formed in a bottom portion of
the compartment and downwardly extending therefrom, the standing
features configured to hold the package upright such that the
opening is positioned at the top of the package.
2. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, wherein the first
connecting feature is a hole and the second connecting feature is a
post downwardly formed from the rear portion of the flange.
3. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, wherein the one
or more stacking stops comprise one or more side window shapes
formed in one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment and
extending outwardly therefrom.
4. (canceled)
5. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, wherein the
standing features comprise a plurality of wheel shapes downwardly
formed from the bottom of the compartment.
6. (canceled)
7. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, wherein the
compartment is formed in a single, unitary structure.
8. A reusable rigid package according to claim 7, wherein the
compartment comprises thermoformed plastic.
9. A reusable rigid package according to claim 8, wherein the
thermoformed plastic compartment comprises a downwardly tapered
shape of the front and second endwalls and the first and second
sidewalls.
10. A reusable rigid package according to claim 8, wherein the
thermoformed plastic is selected from the group consisting of: PP
(polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PS (polystyrene), PET
(polyethylene terephthalate), PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate
glycol), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene).
11. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, wherein the
compartment, one or more stacking stops and standing features are
formed in a single unitary piece.
12. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, wherein the
decorative feature comprises a smiley face shape.
13. A reusable rigid package according to claim 1, further
comprising one or more additional decorative features formed into
one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment.
14. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package, comprising:
compartment downwardly formed in a single unitary structure, and
having a front endwall and a rear endwall, and at least two
sidewalls connecting the front and rear endwalls, the compartment
having a downwardly tapered shape of the front and second endwalls
and the first and second sidewalls, and configured to receive one
or more products therein via an opening at a top of the
compartment; a flange formed at the top of the compartment and
around the opening, the flange comprising part of the unitary
structure of the compartment and comprising an entirely flat
horizontal surface outwardly extending from the top of the
compartment and sized to receive a flexible film cover sealable
thereon; a first connecting feature formed in a front portion of
the flange; a second connecting feature formed in a rear portion of
the flange, wherein a first connecting feature of the package is
shaped to interconnect with a second connecting feature of a second
package; a decorative feature formed into the front endwall of the
compartment; one or more stacking stops each comprising a side
window shape formed in one or more of the sidewalls of the
compartment and extending outwardly therefrom, the one or more side
window shapes each sized such that a bottommost surface is
configured to contact a top of the flange of a second package when
a bottom portion of the package is placed within the compartment of
the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position
within but above a bottommost surface of the compartment of the
second package; and a plurality of wheel shapes formed in a bottom
portion of the compartment and downwardly extending therefrom, the
plurality of wheel shapes forming standing features configured to
hold the package upright such that the opening is positioned at the
top of the package.
15. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to claim 14,
wherein the first connecting feature is a hole and the second
connecting feature is a post downwardly formed from the rear
portion of the flange.
16. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to claim 14,
wherein the compartment comprises thermoformed plastic.
17. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to claim 16,
wherein the thermoformed plastic compartment comprises a downwardly
tapered shape of the front and second endwalls and the first and
second sidewalls.
18. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to claim 16,
wherein the thermoformed plastic is selected from the group
consisting of: PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PS
(polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PET-G
(polyethylene terephthalate glycol), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS
(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).
19. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to claim 14,
wherein the decorative feature comprises a smiley face shape.
20. A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to claim 14,
further comprising one or more additional decorative features
formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to snack packages, and in
particular to reusable rigid packages that are also usable for play
by children.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Various container and package designs have been used in the
past to contain and display snack food products. Among the many
existing snack containers and packages, some have been comprised of
rigid materials for safely holding different types of snack
products in a single package. In addition, conventional snack
packages have included downwardly formed compartments for holding
various snack products, where those compartments are downwardly
formed from an upper flat surface of the rigid container. Flexible
film is then laid across this upper flat surface to provide a seal
for the snacks held in the downwardly formed compartments.
[0003] Unfortunately, such conventional downwardly formed rigid
snack packages suffer several disadvantages. For example, most
downwardly formed rigid packaging hides the product held inside
from view of the consumer when displayed on a retailer's shelf.
Also, the downward formation in such conventional rigid packages is
typically generic and nondescript. Thus, the opaque and generic
nature of such conventional rigid packages provides no incentive
for consumer to purchase the snack products held inside. Moreover,
most rigid snack packages are intended to be disposed of after
consumption of the product inside is complete. Since the forming of
rigid snack packages is more costly as compared to conventionally
formed soft snack packages, the intended disposal of rigid
packaging is a costly waste. Such waste not only is a production
cost typically needing offset by retail pricing, but the consistent
disposing of rigid packaging takes a toll on the environment if not
recycled.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an improved downwardly formed
rigid package for holding food products that does not suffer from
these and other deficiencies found in conventional packages. The
disclosed principles provide such improved package.
SUMMARY
[0005] To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the disclosed
principles provide for a new and unique reusable rigid package
configured to provide a container for holding, for example, food
products, as well as to provide a playable structure for consumers,
such as children, to play with during or after consumption of the
food product. In addition, multiple playable packages as disclosed
herein may be collected and combined together, for example,
end-to-end, into a larger toy such as train of cars, busses, or
railway cars. Furthermore, each disclosed package is configured to
be stacked, one at least partially received within the other, for
efficient stacked storage of multiple packages.
[0006] In one exemplary embodiment, a reusable rigid playable
package in accordance with the disclosed principles comprises a
downwardly formed compartment having a front endwall and a rear
endwall, and at least two sidewalls connecting the front and rear
endwalls. The compartment may be configured to receive one or more
products therein via an opening at a top of the compartment. Also,
a flange may be formed at the top of the compartment and around the
opening, wherein the flange is configured to receive a sealable
cover thereon. Such a cover may be comprised of a thin film sealed
onto the flange that may be peelable from the flange, or may be
comprised of a rigid cover clipped or even sealed onto the flange
that may either be removed from the flange and discarded or be
configured for reuse/reclosure with the package at a later
time.
[0007] Such an exemplary embodiment of a rigid package may also
include a first connecting feature located at a front portion of
the flange, as well as a second connecting feature located at a
rear portion of the flange. In such embodiments, a first connecting
feature of a first package may be shaped and configured to
interconnect with a second connecting feature of a second package.
For example, the first connecting features may be comprised of a
hole formed in the flange, while the second connecting feature may
comprise posts formed in the flanges and configured to be removably
received in to corresponding holes. A decorative feature may also
formed into the front endwall of the compartment to make the rigid
package playable for children, such as a smiley face or even
features of the front of a vehicle of any type.
[0008] Additionally, in such exemplary embodiments, the reusable
playable rigid packages as disclosed herein may also include one or
more stacking stops formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the
compartment. In such embodiments, the one or more stacking stops
may be configured to contact a portion of a second package when a
bottom portion of a first package is placed within the compartment
of the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position
within the second package. Also, such exemplary packages may also
include standing features formed in a bottom portion of the
compartment and downwardly extending therefrom. Such standing
features may be configured to hold the package upright such that
the opening is positioned at the top of the package. Moreover, the
standing features may also be shaped and configured to assist in
maintaining a position of one package with respect to another
package as multiple packages as stacked in the manner discussed
above.
[0009] In other, more specific exemplary embodiments, a reusable
rigid package according to disclosed principles may have a vehicle
shape, such as the shape of a bus, car, or railway car. In such
embodiments, the vehicle-shaped package may comprise a compartment
downwardly formed in a single unitary structure, and having a front
endwall and a rear endwall, and at least two sidewalls connecting
the front and rear endwalls. In addition, such packages may have
the compartment formed having a downwardly tapered shape of the
front and second endwalls and the first and second sidewalls. As
before, the compartment may be configured to receive one or more
products, such food products, therein via an opening at a top of
the compartment.
[0010] Also, such exemplary vehicle-shaped packages may include a
flange formed at the top of the compartment and around the opening,
where the flange comprises part of the unitary structure of the
compartment and is configured to receive a cover sealable thereon.
As before, such a cover may be comprised of a thin film sealed onto
the flange that may be peelable from the flange, or may be
comprised of a rigid cover clipped or even sealed onto the flange
that may either be removed from the flange and discarded or be
configured for reuse/reclosure with the package. Also as before, in
such embodiments a first connecting feature of a first package may
be shaped and configured to interconnect with a second connecting
feature of a second package. For example, the first connecting
features may be comprised of a hole formed in the flange, while the
second connecting feature may comprise posts formed in the flanges
and configured to be removably received in to corresponding holes.
A decorative feature, such as a smiley face, may also formed into
the front endwall of the compartment to make the rigid package
playable for children.
[0011] Furthermore, in such embodiments the reusable vehicle-shaped
rigid packages as disclosed herein may also include one or more
stacking stops formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the
compartment. In such embodiments, the one or more stacking stops
each comprising a side window shape formed in one or more of the
sidewalls of the compartment and extending outwardly therefrom. The
one or more side window shapes each may comprise a bottom surface
configured to contact a flange of a second package when a bottom
portion of a first package is placed within the compartment of the
second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position within
the second package. Also, such exemplary packages may also include
a plurality of wheel shapes formed in a bottom portion of the
compartment and downwardly extending therefrom. These plurality of
wheel shapes comprise standing features configured to hold the
package upright such that the opening is positioned at the top of
the package. Moreover, as before, the plurality of wheel shapes may
also be configured to assist in maintaining a position of one
package with respect to another package as multiple packages as
stacked in the manner discussed above.
[0012] Numerous embodiments and advantages associated with each
such embodiment are discussed in further detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The detailed description that follows, by way of
non-limiting examples of embodiments, makes reference to the noted
drawings in which reference numerals represent the same parts
throughout the several views of the drawings, and in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a
reusable and playable rigid package manufactured in accordance with
the disclosed principles;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment of
the reusable rigid package illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the embodiment of the
reusable rigid package illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of multiple rigid packages
constructed in accordance with the disclosed principles vertically
stacked;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a plurality of
playable rigid packages aligned end-to-end in a train
structure;
[0019] The above-referenced figures are provided herein for the
purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended
to define the limits of the disclosed invention. Use of the same
reference number in multiple figures is intended to designate the
same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms "top," "bottom,"
"first," "second," "upper," "lower," "height," "width," "length,"
"end," "side," "horizontal," "vertical," and similar terms are used
herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference
only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to
facilitate describing the particular embodiment. The extension of
the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and
dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be
explained or will be within the skill of the art after the
following teachings of the present invention have been read and
understood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In view of the foregoing, through one or more various
aspects, embodiments and/or specific features, the present
disclosure is intended to bring out one or more of the advantages
that will be evident from the description. The present disclosure
makes reference to one or more specific embodiments by way of
illustration and example. It is understood, therefore, that the
terminology, examples, drawings and embodiments are illustrative
and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
[0021] The scope of the present disclosure includes any feature or
combination of features disclosed herein (either explicitly or
implicitly), or any generalization thereof, whether or not it
mitigates any or all of the problems addressed herein. Accordingly,
new claims may be formulated during prosecution of this application
(or an application claiming priority thereto) to any such
combination of features. In particular, with reference to the
appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined
with those of the independent claims and features from respective
independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and
not merely in the specific combinations enumerated in the appended
claims.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a
reusable and playable rigid package 100 manufactured in accordance
with the disclosed principles. The term "package" is used herein to
generally refer to a device that may be used to carry or otherwise
house one or more products, such as food products. Other similar
terms, such as "tray," are included within the broader term
"package." In advantageous embodiments, the rigid package 100
comprises a compartment 110 for holding product therein, such as
snack products, where the compartment 110 is downwardly formed from
a top flange 120.
[0023] The downwardly formed compartment 110 in the illustrated
embodiment is formed into a visually appealing structure. The front
end or endwall of the package 100 of FIG. 1 is shown formed into a
"smiley face" 110. Of course, other types of faces or even other
visually appealing decorative features or structures may be formed
on the front of the rigid package 100. For example, in embodiments
where the rigid package is formed into the shape of a type of
vehicle, such as bus, car, or railway car, the decorative feature
may be comprised of structural features typically found on any such
vehicles. Additionally, the rear end or endwall of a playable
package as disclosed herein may also include one or more decorative
features formed therein. The visually appealing decorative features
or structures formed on the surfaces of the package 100 is/are
designed and formed so as to be appealing to potential consumers of
the product sold within the package 100. Moreover, the visually
appealing features or structures formed on the surfaces of the
package 100 may be static as in the illustrated embodiment, or may
include one or more moving components formed on the package
100.
[0024] Also shown from the front view of FIG. 1 is the tapered
formed of the rigid package 100. Specifically, in embodiments where
the package 100 is formed of a plastic material, a thermoforming
technique may be used to mold the shape of the rigid package 100.
In such thermoplastic constructions of the package 100, a
downwardly tapered structure allows easier removal of the rigid
package 100 from a thermoforming mold. The tapered structure starts
from the top flange 120 and narrows the width of the package 100 as
the taper moves downward to the bottom of the compartment 130. In
addition, the tapered structure allows the stacking of multiple
such packages 100 by receiving a bottom portion of one package into
the downwardly formed compartment of a second package. Further
stacking advantages provided by a playable rigid package 100
constructed as disclosed herein are discussed below.
[0025] Material for playable rigid packages formed as disclosed
herein may be selected from variety of available materials, either
now existing or later developed. In addition, package materials may
be selected to be safe for use in the packaging of food products in
those embodiments, where food products are to be held within the
package. Exemplary materials include, but are not limited to, PP
(polypropylene), PE(polyethylene), PS (polystyrene), PET
(polyethylene terephthalate), PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate
glycol), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene). Of course, other suitable materials for both
thermoforming and injection molding processes, or any other
suitable formation processes, may also be employed.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment of
the reusable rigid package 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The
decorative structure on the front end of the package 100 may again
be seen in this figure, which in this embodiment is again a "smiley
face" 110. In addition, this isometric view reveals a right side of
the rigid package 100.
[0027] Formed on the right side are a pair of simulated "wheels"
210a, 210b (collectively, 210). The wheels 210 are formed in a
downward direction from the sides of the package 100, and extend
just past the bottom-most portion of the compartment 210. By
forming the wheels 210 to this downward distance, the wheels 210
(four total in this embodiment of the package 100) may be used to
stand the package 100 upright, as illustrated. In this embodiment,
the package 100 is formed to resemble a train car having the four
wheels 210. As such, the rigid package 100 itself can be played
with by consumers a toy train. In other embodiments, a playable,
reusable rigid package designed and constructed in accordance with
the disclosed principles may be formed into other playable toy
shapes, such a bus. In addition, such disclosed playable packages
may also be formed in any of a variety of colors. Thus, consumers
can collect multiple such packages, each with a distinct color.
[0028] As discussed above, multiple packages, such as the package
100 of FIG. 2, may be stacked by placing a bottom portion of one
package into the compartment 130 of another similar package. Since
the disclosed packages are rigid, they may be cleaned and reused as
packages for other products, in addition to be useable as play
things. Thus, for assisting with storage of such multiple packages
100, the packages 100 may be stacked to save storage space. In some
embodiments, the downwardly formed wheels 210 can be sized and
configured such that the bottoms of the wheels 210 of an upper
package 100 contact the tops of the formed wheel-wells of another,
lower package to hold the upper package at a predetermined
distance. In some such embodiments, a space within the compartment
130 of the lower package may remain and be used to hold product
therein and protect that product from being crushed by the stacking
of the upper package.
[0029] Also illustrated in FIG. 2, simulated side windows 220a,
220b (collectively, 220) may also be formed outwardly from the
sides of the rigid package 100. As with other structural features
of playable rigid packages constructed as disclosed herein, the
side windows 220 may also be formed using a thermoforming
technique; however, other forming techniques may also be employed.
These outwardly formed features 220 may also be formed as a
different type of feature other than side windows in embodiments
where with the package 100 is formed into a different playable
form. Additionally, the outside bottom edge of the outwardly formed
side windows 220 can be sized and configured to contact the top
edge or surface of a second rigid package, again when stacking
multiple packages, to hold the upper package at a predetermined
distance from a lower package. As before, this can protect the
snack products held within the lower package when stacking a
package on top of it.
[0030] In some embodiments, the side windows 220 may be formed as a
transparent or semi-transparent material, as compared to the opaque
material that may be used to form the remainder of the rigid
package 100. In such embodiments, the side windows 220 then provide
the additional utility or function of allowing consumers to view
the product held inside the compartment 130 of the package 100.
This advantage in such embodiments is particularly useful to view
the product when the package 100 is still sealed, such as at a
retail store. Of course, in other embodiments the side windows 220
may also be formed of the same opaque material as the remainder of
the package 100.
[0031] Also illustrated in the isometric view of FIG. 2 is the top
flange 120 of the rigid package 100. The top flange 120 may be
formed into a single uniform horizontal surface configured to
receive a cover thereon. For example, a thin film, suitable for
food products, may be sealed down on and along the top flange 120
to provide a hermetic, peelable seal for the package 100. For
example, plastic materials, such as polyester or polypropylene may
be used to form the film used to seal the top surface of the
package 100 along the top flange 120. Moreover, the thin film may
be a multilayer material, suitable for both food packaging as well
as for receiving ink on its exterior for package labeling. Of
course, other suitable materials may also be employed as the
flexible thin film. Moreover, any of a number of techniques may be
employed to seal such a thin film onto the top flange 120 of a
package 100 constructed as disclosed herein.
[0032] In some embodiments, a more rigid cover may be employed to
cover and seal the package 100. Also, in some embodiments, the film
or other cover may be configured to be resealable, or even simply
recloseable, onto the top flange 120 of the package 100. Such
resealing may be provided via a reusable adhesive, and simple
reclosing may be provided via snap fitting a cover onto the package
100. Also illustrated on the top flange 120 of the package 100 of
FIG. 2 are hole 230 formed proximate to the front end of the
package 100, and a post 240 formed proximate to its rear end. The
utility of these hole 230 and post 240 are discussed in detail
below.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 3, illustrated is a side view of the
embodiment of the reusable rigid package 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 2. From this view, the overall tapered structure of the rigid
package 100 is further presented. Specifically, the front view of
FIG. 1 illustrated the side-to-side downward taper of the package
100, while FIG. 3 illustrates the similar taper front-to-back of
the package 100. As discussed above, such an overall taper allows
for easier removal of the package 100 from a thermoplastic or other
molding-based technique. In addition, the tapered structure allows
for easier stacking of multiple similar packages, as also discussed
above.
[0034] FIG. 3 also further illustrates the downwardly formed post
240 located at the "rear" of the package 100. Use of the post 240
formed on such packages 100 is described in detail below.
Additionally, two of the formed wheels 210 may also be seen, as
well as one of the side windows 220a. Also visible from this side
view are additional decorative structural features formed on the
side of the package 100, which provide more realism to the package
100 which in turn adds to its attractiveness as a playable toy to
children.
[0035] Looking now at FIG. 4, illustrated is a side view of
multiple rigid packages constructed in accordance with the
disclosed principles vertically stacked. Specifically, first,
second and third packages 100, 200, 300 are shown vertically
stacked one partially received within another. In this embodiment
of the rigid packages 100, 200, 300, the depth each of the second
and third packages 200, 300 are received within the package
immediately below it is regulated by the side window formed in the
second and third packages 200, 300. In this respect, the outside
bottom edge of the outwardly formed side window in the second
package 200 is sized and configured to contact the top edge or
surface of the first package 100, and the outside bottom edge of
the side window of the third package 300 is sized and configured to
contact the top edge or surface of the second package 200, to hold
an upper package at a predetermined distance from a lower package
when the multiple packages are stacked as illustrated. This
structural feature on each package 100, 200, 300 may not only allow
for uniform vertical stacking of multiple packages, but also allows
for protection of any products held within a lower package when
stacking a package on top of it. In other embodiments, as discussed
above, the downwardly formed wheels of an upper package may be
configured to contact the upper surface of the wheels formed in a
lower package as the packages are stacked one within the other.
[0036] Referring finally to FIG. 5, illustrated is an isometric
view of a plurality of playable rigid packages aligned end-to-end
in a train structure 500. More specifically, four separate playable
packages 100, 200, 300, 400 are illustrated in this figure.
Moreover, the first, second and third packages 100, 200, 300 are
illustrated as connected end-to-end to form a type of train for
children to play with, while the fourth package 400 is shown being
moved downwardly to connect to, and thereby further extend, the
playable train formed by the first three packages. The connection
of multiple packages into such a train structure is accomplished by
the downwardly formed post on the top flange at an end of one
package (e.g., the rear end of the package) being placed within the
hole formed in the top flange on the opposing end of the packages,
and repeating such connection for each package. As such, multiple
playable vehicle-shaped packages as disclosed herein may be
collected and combined together end-to-end into a larger toy such
as train of cars, busses, or railway cars. While the illustrated
embodiment shows the holes formed at the front end of the packages
and thus the posts at the rear end, in other embodiments the
locations of the holes and posts may be reversed.
[0037] By providing an inviting and playable structure to each
rigid package as disclosed herein, the disclosed principles provide
a unique package structure that is usable for both holding food or
other types of products, and as a toy for children to play with.
The playable nature of the package structure may, for example, hold
a child's attention during consumption of the food product therein,
where a plain, simple food package may not keep the child's
interest long enough to finish the food product held therein. Such
a feature of the disclosed packages is especially useful in
situations where multiple children are present, such as at
lunchtime during school, where the distraction of other children
being present may result in a child losing focus on finishing their
food and instead focusing on playing with other nearby children.
Accordingly, a child given a package as disclosed herein with their
food held inside will be encouraged to play with such a package and
thus be more likely to finish their food since it would remain
within their area of focus while playing with the package.
Additionally, even after the child has finished the food held in
the package, the playability of the disclosed package encourage
children to stay in their immediate area as they can continue
playing with their package. Still further, the playability of the
package provides the child a new toy, even in situations where the
child is permitted to leave the area and play wherever he or she
likes. The structural features in the disclosed packages that allow
multiple disclosed packages to be combined into a train of packages
even further enhances the playability of the train of packages to
children.
[0038] The foregoing description has made reference to several
exemplary embodiments. It is understood, however, that the words
that have been used are for description and illustration, rather
than words of limitation. Thus, the present embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended
claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the disclosure in all its aspects. All
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Although
this description makes reference to particular means, materials and
embodiments, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the
particulars disclosed; rather, the disclosure extends to all
functionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods and uses
such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the
recitation of any method steps does not denote a particular
sequence for execution of the steps. Such method steps may
therefore be performed in a sequence other than recited unless the
particular claim expressly states otherwise.
[0039] In the numerous embodiments of the inventive subject matter
disclosed herein, such embodiments may be referred to herein,
individually and/or collectively, by the term "invention" merely
for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the
scope of this application to any single invention or inventive
concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although
specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it
should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve
the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments
shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations
or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above
embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described
herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon
reviewing the above description.
[0040] Moreover, the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.
.sctn. 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to
quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is
submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to
interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,
in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various
features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the
purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure
is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the
claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly
recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive
subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed
embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into
the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a
separate embodiment.
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