U.S. patent number 3,637,130 [Application Number 05/062,263] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-25 for container and blanks for making same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Reynolds Metals Company. Invention is credited to Melville T. Farquhar.
United States Patent |
3,637,130 |
Farquhar |
January 25, 1972 |
CONTAINER AND BLANKS FOR MAKING SAME
Abstract
A food container is provided having a bottom wall, a top wall,
and a pair of end walls arranged at opposite ends of the top and
bottom walls. Each of the end walls is comprised of an inner flap
having a substantially lenticular configuration which defines a
lenticular cross-sectional configuration for the container. A
divider flap is foldably connected to and made from material
initially comprising a part of the top wall, with the divider flap
extending between the bottom wall and top wall and defining a
compartment on each side thereof. The container has weakening means
provided in its top wall enabling severing of material comprising
the top wall to define a comparatively large access opening on each
side of the divider flap for easy access into each compartment;
and, upon severing such material the lenticular extension flaps and
bottom wall enable the container to be used as a deep substantially
leak-proof serving dish.
Inventors: |
Farquhar; Melville T.
(Chesterfield County, VA) |
Assignee: |
Reynolds Metals Company
(Richmond, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
22041314 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/062,263 |
Filed: |
August 10, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/243; 229/103;
229/117.12; 229/904; 229/121; 206/562; 229/104; 229/128;
229/915 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/0209 (20130101); B65D 5/542 (20130101); B65D
5/4802 (20130101); Y10S 229/915 (20130101); Y10S
229/904 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/02 (20060101); B65D 5/489 (20060101); B65D
5/54 (20060101); B65D 5/48 (20060101); B65d
005/48 (); B65d 003/00 (); B65d 001/34 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/6,8,28,52B
;206/46F,45.14,72 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moorhead; Davis T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A food container comprising, a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair
of end walls arranged at opposite ends of said top and bottom
walls, each of said end walls being defined by a substantially
lenticular flap extending from said bottom wall and having an outer
edge which engages said top wall to define a lenticular
cross-sectional configuration for said container, a divider flap
foldably connected to and made from material comprising a part of
said top wall, said divider flap extending between said top wall
and said bottom wall and defining a compartment on each side
thereof, and weakening means in said top wall enabling severing of
material comprising said top wall to define an access opening on
each side of said divider flap for easy access into each
compartment, said lenticular flaps and bottom wall defining a
comparatively deep serving dish upon defining said access
openings.
2. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said divider flap
also has a substantially lenticular configuration which helps
maintain the lenticular configuration of the center portion of said
container.
3. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a
pair of extension flaps extending from opposite ends of said top
wall, each extension flap being folded against an associated
lenticular flap and cooperating therewith to define an associated
end wall, and each of said extension flaps having an outer edge
which defines a support at each end of said container.
4. A container as set forth in claim 3 in which each extension flap
terminates in a planar edge which provides optimum stability for
said container and each extension flap has an arcuate inside
surface which extends beneath said bottom wall, said arcuate inside
surface being particularly adapted to engage an arcuate outside
surface of an extension flap comprising a container arranged there
beneath to enable vertical stacking of a plurality of containers
which are identical to said container.
5. A container as set forth in claim 1 made from a single piece of
paperboard having a moisture impervious inside surface which
prevents liquids comprising food contained within said container
from weakening said paperboard and the single piece construction of
said container assuring said liquids cannot leak at the junction of
said lenticular flaps and bottom wall.
6. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising an
aperture in said top wall and extending into one of said
compartments, said aperture serving as a vent for hot food
contained in said one compartment and enabling easy insertion of a
finger therethrough for carrying of said container.
7. A container as set forth in claim 6 in which said weakening
means comprises a plurality of spaced slits arranged in a
substantially H-shaped pattern with said aperture comprising a
central leg of said H-shaped pattern and enabling easy severing of
said top wall between said slits to define an associated access
opening into said one compartment.
8. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a
pair of apertures in said top wall each extending into an
associated compartment, each aperture cooperating with an
associated portion of said weakening means to enable severing of a
portion of said top wall to provide an access opening into an
associated compartment, and said apertures serving as handle means
for said container.
9. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising
another divider flap foldably connected to and made from material
initially comprising a part of said top wall, said other divider
flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall and
dividing one of said compartments into a pair of smaller
compartments, with one of said smaller compartments having a cutout
therein defined by said material initially comprising a part of
said top wall, and said cutout being adapted to receive an
associated receptacle therethrough.
10. A container as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising an
enlargement flap defined as an integral part of said top wall and
being adapted to be folded within said one smaller compartment to
increase the size of said cutout and enable receipt of a larger
receptacle therethrough.
11. A container as set forth in claim 10 in which said other
divider flap has a base defined by an arcuate fold line and the
remainder thereof defined by a substantially U-shaped cut in said
top wall having a bight and outwardly extending legs with ends of
the outwardly extending legs of said cut terminating on said
arcuate fold line.
12. A container as set forth in claim 11 in which said enlargement
flap has a base defined by another arcuate fold line which is
similar to and the reverse of said first-named arcuate fold line
and the remainder thereof defined by said bight of said U-shaped
cut and a pair of cuts extending beyond and aligned with said
outwardly extending legs of said U-shaped cut.
13. A container as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said
divider flaps has a substantially lenticular configuration
including an outwardly convex outer edge and said outwardly convex
outer edges engage the inside surface of said bottom wall enabling
said divider flaps to help maintain the lenticular configuration of
the center portion of said container.
14. A container as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a
pair of symmetrically arranged cuts in said bottom wall on opposite
sides of a longitudinal centerline thereof, each of said
symmetrically arranged cuts enabling material arranged inwardly of
the outline thereof to be pushed outwardly to define a
substantially planar supporting platform for said receptacle.
15. A blank being cut and scored and adapted to be assembled to
define a resulting container, said blank comprising, a pair of
foldably connected walls defining a bottom wall and a top wall in
said resulting container, a pair of substantially lenticular flaps
extending from opposite ends of said bottom wall with each
lenticular flap having an outer edge which is adapted to engage
said top wall to define a lenticular cross-sectional configuration
for said resulting container, a divider flap foldably connected to
and made from material comprising a part of said top wall, said
divider flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall
of said resulting container and defining a compartment on each side
thereof, and weakening means in said top wall enabling severing of
material comprising said top wall to define an access opening on
each side of said divider flap for easy access into each
compartment of said resulting container, said lenticular flaps and
bottom wall cooperating in said resulting container to define a
comparatively deep serving dish upon defining said access
openings.
16. A blank as set forth in claim 15 in which said divider flap
also has a substantially lenticular configuration which helps
maintain the lenticular configuration of the center portion of said
resulting container.
17. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a pair
of extension flaps extending from opposite ends of said top wall,
each extension flap being folded against an associated lenticular
flap and cooperating there with to define an associated end wall in
said resulting container, and each of said extension flaps having a
planar outer edge which is arranged beneath the bottom wall of said
resulting container and defines a stable support therefor.
18. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising an
aperture in said top wall and extending into an associated
compartment of said resulting container, said aperture serving as a
vent for hot food contained in said resulting container and
enabling easy insertion of a finger therethrough for carrying
thereof.
19. A blank as set forth in claim 18 in which said weakening means
comprises a plurality of spaced slits arranged in a substantially
H-shaped pattern with said aperture comprising a central leg of
said H-shaped pattern and enabling easy severing of said top wall
between said slits to define an associated access opening into said
associated compartment of said resulting container.
20. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising another
divider flap foldably connected to and defined as an integral part
of said top wall, said other divider flap being adapted to be
extended between said top wall and said bottom wall in said
resulting container and dividing one of said compartments into a
pair of smaller compartments, with one of said smaller compartments
having a cutout therein defined by said other divider flap, and in
said resulting container said cutout is adapted to receive an
associated receptacle therethrough.
21. A blank as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising an
enlargement flap defined as an integral part of said top wall and
being adapted to be folded in said resulting container within said
one smaller compartment to increase the size of said cutout and
enable receipt of a larger receptacle therethrough.
22. A blank as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising a pair
of symmetrically arranged cuts in said bottom wall on opposite
sides of a longitudinal center line thereof, each of said
symmetrically arranged cuts enabling material arranged inwardly of
the outline thereof to be pushed outwardly in said resulting
container to define a substantially planar supporting platform for
said receptacle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are numerous retail establishments such as carryout
restaurants which sell sandwiches such as hamburgers, French fried
potatoes, and beverages which depend upon fast service for their
very existence. Many of these restaurants use rectangular trays of
conventional construction which have vertical dividers therein
defining open-top compartments within which various wrapped
sandwiches, foods packaged in bags, and paper receptacles or cups
are placed for carrying purposes. These conventional trays are
generally not suitable for use as serving dishes. Further, an
excessive number of paper bags, wrappers, rectangular trays, and
the like, are required when packaging these foods using present
containers. In addition, an excessive amount of time is required to
package these carryout food products using present containers.
SUMMARY
This invention provides an improved food container, and blanks for
making same, which is of simple and economical construction and may
be preassembled and knocked down in flat form for storage and
handling and easily expanded for use without requiring separate
fastening means. The food container is particularly adapted for
containing sandwiches, French fried potatoes, beverages, and the
like, and has a bottom wall, a top wall, and a pair of end walls
arranged at opposite ends of the top and bottom walls. Each of the
end walls is comprised of an inner flap having a substantially
lenticular configuration which defines a lenticular cross-sectional
configuration for the container. A divider flap is foldably
connected to and made from material initially comprising a part of
the top wall and the divider flap extends between the bottom wall
and top wall and defines a compartment on each side thereof. The
container has weakening means provided in its top wall enabling
severing of material comprising the top wall to define a
comparatively large access opening on each side of the divider flap
for easy access into each compartment; and, upon severing such
material the lenticular extension flaps and bottom wall enable the
container to be used as a substantially leak-proof serving dish
.
Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become
apparent as the following description of the embodiments thereof
presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show present exemplary embodiments of
this invention, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the
container of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank used to make the container of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 1 as preassembled
and knocked in flat form for transportation and storage;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the container of FIG. 5
in an expanded condition and the manner in which French fried
potatoes, or the like, may be packaged in a compartment defined in
one end portion thereof;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in
which each end of the container may be closed after placing a
product within an adjoining compartment thereof;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing a sandwich such as a
hamburger being packaged in a compartment provided in the end of
the container opposite from the French fried potatoes;
FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the manner in which a plurality
of containers substantially identical to the container of FIG. 1
may be stacked vertically;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing integral flaps comprising the
top wall of the container of FIG. 1 severed open to provide access
to food packaged within the compartments of such container so that
the container may be used as a serving dish;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary
embodiment of the container of this invention;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 with the flaps
initially comprising part of the top wall of the container of FIG.
11 opened to provide easy access to the interior of the container
and showing by dot-dash lines a sandwich in one end of the
container, French fried potatoes in the opposite end of the
container, and a cup containing a beverage in the center of such
container;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating only the
center portion of the container of FIG. 11 and showing an
enlargement flap initially comprising part of the container top
wall pushed within such container so that a larger beverage cup may
be carried in the center portion of the container; and
FIG. 14 is a plan view of a blank which may be used to make the
container of FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings which
illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a food carton or container
of this invention which is designated generally by the reference
numeral 20. The package or container 20 comprises an outwardly
convex bottom wall 21, an outwardly convex top wall 22, and a pair
of end walls each designated generally by the reference numeral 23
arranged at opposite ends of the top and bottom walls and each
having a generally outwardly concave configuration.
As seen particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, each end
wall 23 is comprised of an inner substantially lenticular extension
flap 24 having an outer edge 25 which engages the inside surface of
the top wall 22 and in this example the flap 24 is foldably
connected to the bottom wall 21 along an arcuate fold line 26. The
outer edge 25 of the flap 24 has a straight portion 27 whereby once
the flap 24 is folded in position the remainder of its edge 25
engages the inside surface of the top wall 22 causing the container
20 to be expanded so that it too has a substantially lenticular
cross-sectional configuration, i.e., has a cross-sectional
configuration similar to a double convex lens.
The container 20 has a divider flap 30 foldably connected to its
top wall 22 along an arcuate fold line 31 and the flap 30 is
defined by providing a roughly U-shaped cut 32 in the material
comprising top wall 22 whereby the flap 30 is made from material
initially comprising a part of such top wall 22. The flap 30
extends between the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 21 so that its
outer edge engages the inside surface of the bottom wall 21 and
helps define the lenticular cross-sectional configuration in the
center portion of container 20. The flap 30 defines a compartment
in the container 20 on each side thereof and in this example a
compartment 33 is defined in the space beneath the initial position
of the flap 30 and another compartment 34 is defined in the
opposite end portion of the container 20. Each compartment 33 and
34 is particularly adapted to contain an associated product such as
a food product and in this example the compartment 33 is used to
contain a wrapped sandwich, such as a hamburger S and the
compartment 34 is used to contain French fried potatoes P, or the
like, see FIG. 8.
In addition to its inner lenticular flap 24, each end wall 23 is
also comprised of an outer portion defined as an extension flap 35
which extends downwardly from its associated end of the top wall
22. Each extension flap 35 has a base defined by a arcuate fold
line 36 and the fold lines 36 also define opposite end edges of the
top wall 22. Each extension flap 35 is folded so that an inside
surface thereof is against an associated lenticular flap 24
arranged therebeneath to define an associated end wall 23 having a
double thickness throughout practically the entire wall.
Each flap 35 also has an outer or terminal edge 37 which defines a
support at each end of the container 20, see FIG. 3, and each edge
37 comprises a planar edge whereby upon placing the container 20 on
an associated flat surface it has optimum stability. In addition,
because each end wall 23 and hence each flap 35 is arranged in an
outwardly concave arcuate path such flap has greater columnar
strength than would otherwise be provided if each flap 35 and end
wall 23 were to be planar whereby the container 20 is capable of
supporting heavier loads without damage to its flaps or supports
35.
As will be apparent particularly from FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 of the
drawings, the container 20 has weakening means provided in its top
wall 22 which enable severing of material comprising the top wall
to provide a comparatively large access opening on each side of the
divider flap 30 and hence provide easy access into each compartment
33 and 34. In particular, the weakening means in the top wall 22
comprise a plurality of spaced cuts or slits 40 arranged over the
compartment 34 in a substantially H-shaped pattern 39 which defines
what may be considered an H-shaped tear line. The slits 40 defining
the substantially parallel tear lines or legs 41 of the H-shaped
pattern each has an angled configuration and a pair of parallel
fold lines 42 are provided at opposite ends of the legs 41 and for
a purpose to be described subsequently. The slits 40 defining the
transverse tear line or leg 43 of the H-shaped pattern 39 are
defined as elongated slits arranged in a rectilinear path.
The weakening means provided in the top wall 22 over the
compartment 33 comprise a plurality of spaced angled cuts or slits
44 which define a substantially continuous tear line 45 across the
full width of the top wall 22 and a plurality of aligned straight
slits 44 are arranged in a substantially rectilinear path from the
center of the tear line 45 to the center of a bight 46 comprising
the U-shaped cut 32 to define a tear line 47. The tear line 47 is
arranged substantially in alignment with, though spaced from, the
tear line 43 over the compartment 34.
The container 20 has a pair of apertures or holes 50 provided
therein, see FIG. 1, and each aperture or opening 50 of this
example extends into an associated compartment 33 or 34 and has a
circular peripheral outline. The apertures 50 enable easy insertion
of objects such as one's fingers therethrough and serve as handle
means for the filled container 20. The apertures 50 may also be
used as a means for severing through the weakening means or lines
provided in the top wall 22 to provide easy access into the
container 20 and hence the food products carried therewithin. The
aperture 50 associated with the compartment 34 is provided in the
central portion of tear line or transverse leg 43 comprising the
H-shaped pattern and it is a simple matter to insert one's fingers
through such opening and sever a pair of flaps 51 and 52 defined by
opposite ends of the H-shaped tear line or pattern 39. The flaps 51
and 52 are folded outwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10
for easy access to the food in the compartment 34.
The aperture 50 associated with compartment 33 also enables easy
insertion of a finger therethrough and a flap 53 defined by both
one end of the tear line 45 and tear line 47 may be pulled upwardly
and folded about one end portion of a fold line 54 which defines
one edge of the top wall 22. Similarly, a flap 55 defined by the
opposite end of line 45 and the line 47 may be severed and folded
about a portion of fold line 56 which defines the opposite edge of
the top wall 22. Once the flaps 53 and 55 are folded upwardly and
outwardly, a comparatively large access opening is provided for the
compartment 33. Thus, with the flaps 51, 52, 53, and 55 folded
outwardly, the container 20 may be used as a serving dish.
The container 20 may be formed in any suitable manner and made from
any suitable foldable material, such as cardboard, paperboard,
foldable plastic, etc. The container 20 is preferably made from the
paperboard blank 60 illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings and such
blank may have either one or both sides thereof laminated with a
moisture impervious material such as metallic foil. In this example
the blank 60 has aluminum foil 61 laminated to a surface thereof
which defines the inside surface of the container, see FIGS. 2 and
3. The metallic foil layer prevents grease from the food products
contained within the container 20 from wicking or otherwise
absorbing through the paperboard comprising the main body of the
container to thereby prevent staining or other damage to clothing
and other articles that might come into contact with the container
20.
The blank 60 has a substantially rectangular peripheral outline
whereby a minimum amount of structural material is required; and
the blank has a fastening flap 62 extending outwardly from the fold
line 56 which defines one edge of its top wall 22. The flap 62 may
be fastened in position using any suitable adhesive means and
essentially in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 so as to define a
prefastened container. For simplicity and ease of presentation, the
component portions of the blank 60 have been designated by the same
reference numerals as in the container 20 whereby it will not be
necessary to repeat the detailed description of these in connection
with the blank 60.
The blank 60 may be easily fastened and the container 20 made
therefrom expanded or erected and filled with food in a highly
efficient manner which is not possible using previously proposed
cartons, paper bags, trays and the like. In particular, the
container 20 is prefastened merely by fastening flap 62 into
position to define a flattened tube as shown in FIG. 5 and a
plurality of such tubes may be stored and transported in a minimum
of space.
The flattened tube of FIG. 5 is easily expanded merely by pushing
inwardly on its opposite side edges as indicated by the arrows 63
in FIG. 6 whereupon the divider flap 30 is folded inwardly so that
its outer edge engages the inside surface of the bottom wall 21 and
holds such bottom wall and top wall 22 so that the container 20 has
a lenticular cross-sectional configuration. With the container 20
thus expanded, French fried potatoes, for example, are packaged in
compartment 34 by holding the expanded container vertically in the
manner illustrated in FIG. 6 and using an associated funnel 64, or
the like. Once the compartment 34 has been filled the lenticular
flap 24 provided at the associated end is folded inwardly as
illustrated in FIG. 7 followed by inward folding of the outer flap
35 as indicated by the arrow at 65. The container 20 is then held
in a substantially horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 8
whereupon the sandwich S is inserted within the compartment 33 and
the lenticular flap 24 is then folded in position followed by
folding of the associated flap 35 to thereby close the container
20.
As seen in FIG. 3, each flap 35 has an arcuate inside surface
indicated at 66 which extends beneath the bottom wall 21. The
extended flap 35 with its inside surface 66 lends itself to
vertical stacking of a plurality of containers 20 as illustrated in
FIG. 9 by engaging the inside surface 66 against an associated
arcuate outside surface portion 67 defining the upper portion of an
extension flap 35 comprising an identical container 20 arranged
therebeneath.
As previously explained, the apertures 50 are used as handle means
for the container 20 and to facilitate severing of associated flaps
51 or 52 of compartment 34, or flaps 53 and 55 of compartment 33 to
provide a large access opening for each of such compartments;
however, such apertures 50 are also used as steam vents for hot
food contained within these compartments.
As previously explained, the entire inside surface of the container
20 is lined with metallic foil. Because of the inwardly concave
configuration of the inside surface of the top wall 22 any
condensation that occurs on such inside surface easily runs down
toward the outer edges of the top wall. In addition, it will be
seen that the lenticular flaps 24 and the bottom wall 21 cooperate
to define a comparatively deep serving dish once the weakening
means in the top wall 22 have been severed and the associated flaps
folded outwardly. Further, because the container 20 is made from a
single piece of foldable material lined with moisture impervious
metallic foil defining its inside surface, it is virtually
impossible for liquids such as grease, dressing for salads, or the
like, to leak out of the container 20 because it would be necessary
for such a liquid to accumulate above the height of the opposite
side edges of the bottom wall 22 and, as a practical matter, there
would be no accumulation of liquid to this height, whereby the
useable serving dish made from the container 20 may, for all
practical purposes, be considered liquidtight.
Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 11-14 of the drawings. The carton or container illustrated in
FIGS. 11-14 is very similar to the carton 20; therefor, such carton
will be designated generally by the reference numeral 20A and parts
of the container 20A which are similar to corresponding parts of
the container 20 will be designated by the same reference numeral
as in the container 20 also followed by the letter designation A
and not described again. Only those component parts which are
different from corresponding parts of the container 20 will be
designated by a new reference numeral also followed by the letter
designation A and described in detail.
The container 20A has another divider 72A foldably connected to and
made from the material initially comprising a part of the top wall
22A and the divider 72A is in the form of a flap which is hinged on
an arcuate fold line 73A which defines the base of the divider or
flap 72A. The remainder of the flap 72A is defined by a
substantially U-shaped cut 74A having a bight 75A and a pair of
outwardly extending legs 76A adjoining opposite ends of the bight
with the ends of the legs 76A terminating on opposed ends of the
fold line 73A. The flap 72A has a swinging outer edge 80A defined
by the bight 75A of cut 74A and such outer edge has an arcuate
configuration which corresponds to the outwardly convex
configuration of the bottom wall 21A whereby the flap 72A
cooperates with the flap 30A to hold the bottom wall 21A and top
wall 22A so that they have a substantially lenticular configuration
as viewed either from an end thereof or in cross section.
The flap 72A serves to divide the compartment to the right of the
divider flap 30A, as viewed in FIG. 12 of the drawings, into a pair
of smaller compartments 81A and 85A and the compartment 81A is
particularly adapted to contain a beverage receptacle or cup C in
an upright manner. The peripheral edge portions defined by the
bight 75A and outwardly extending legs serve as retaining edges
along three sides and the flap 72A supports the cup C on the fourth
side to assure such cup is held in an upright manner.
The container 20A has what will be referred to as an enlargement
flap 82A comprising an integral part of the top wall 22A and the
enlargement flap has a base which is defined by an arcuate fold
line 83A which, in this example, has a configuration which
corresponds to and is the reverse of the fold line 73A of the flap
72A. The enlargement flap 72A has its terminal edge defined by the
bight 75A of the U-shaped cut 74A and side edge portions 89A
defined by parallel rectilinear cuts 84A with each cut 84A being
defined essentially as an extension of a cut 76A aligned
therewith.
The container 20A is particularly adapted to contain a cup C of a
regular size merely by folding its divider flap 72A inwardly in the
manner illustrated in FIG. 12 of the drawings. However, it will be
appreciated that a larger cup, also designated by the letter C, may
be easily supported in position in the container 20A by folding the
enlargement flap 82A inwardly toward the bottom wall 21A together
with the divider flap 72A and as illustrated in FIG. 13 of the
drawings. In essence, the enlargement flap 82A enables increasing
the size of the cutout provided in the top of the compartment 81A
so that it may readily receive the larger cup therethrough.
The bottom wall 21A of the container 20A has an outwardly convex
configuration and the inside surface of such bottom wall has a
corresponding inwardly concave configuration. However, the bottom
edge of a standard cup is usually a circular peripheral outline and
is arranged in one plane whereby it is not possible to support the
bottom of such a cup on the inside surface of the bottom wall 21A
in a stable manner. To solve this problem, a pair of symmetrically
arranged arcuate cuts 86A are provided in spaced relation on
opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the bottom wall
21A and the arcuate cuts 86A of this example have the same radius
and extend over substantially the same arcuate length. The arcuate
cuts 86A enable a portion 87A of the bottom wall 21A which is
arranged inwardly of the outline of each cut 86A to be pushed
beneath or outwardly of the outside convex surface of the bottom
wall 21A, as shown at 88A in FIG. 13 whereby a substantially planar
platform is provided in the center portion of the bottom wall 21A
which enables a cup C to be supported thereon in a stable
manner.
With the exception of the center compartment which is adapted to
receive either a small or large cup, the container 20A is
substantially identical to the container 20 and may be filled with
French fried potatoes P at one end and a sandwich S at its opposite
end, for example, in a similar manner as described in connection
with the container 20 whereupon an associated cup C may be suitably
supported in the center of container 20A.
The container 20A may be made in any suitable manner and from any
suitable foldable material; however, such container is preferably
made from the blank 90A illustrated in FIG. 14 of the drawings.
Except for the center portion of blank 90A which has another
divider flap 72A and an enlargement flap 82A together with the
slits 86A provided in the bottom wall 21A, the blank 90A is similar
to the blank 60 illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, the component portions
of the blank 90A will be given the same reference numerals as
component portions of the blank 60 of FIG. 4. Also, for simplicity,
all component portions of the blank 90A have been given the same
reference characters as corresponding portions of the container 20A
made therefrom and such component portions will not be described in
detail, because the previous description is sufficient to enable
the construction of blank 90A to be easily understood.
The flap 30 of the container 20 and flaps 30A and 72A of the
container 20A have been made by providing what have been referred
to as substantially U-shaped cuts in the associated top wall.
However, it will be appreciated that such U-shaped cuts need not
necessarily be continuous and small portions or fastening areas may
be provided as indicated at 91A in FIG. 14 for the flap 72A, for
example, whereupon these small portions or points enable the top
wall of each container to be held together as a single
substantially continuous surface. Once it is desired to expand the
associated container, these fastening portions are easily severed
merely by pushing the associated flap inwardly.
The weakening means defining the various tear lines in the top wall
of the containers 20 and 20A have been presented with particular
configurations and using angled as well as straight cuts in this
disclosure; however, it will be appreciated that these weakening
means may be provided in any suitable manner known in the art.
While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods
of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it
will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously
embodied and practiced within the scope of the following
claims.
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