Patent Application
20090200301
The present invention generally relates to containers for storing and shipping food and, more particularly, pertains to nesting containers and container assemblies for maintaining separation of two or more products, such as dry food components and wet food components, during packaging, storage and shipment.
Food products are often packaged in packaging to be shipped and stored on a shelf or at a retailer. The food may be purchased by a consumer who unwraps or opens the package to consume and enjoy the food. Food items having a relatively high moisture content, such as chili or salsa, for example, may be provided within a container. Similarly, dry food items, such as crackers or chips, for example, may also be provided within a separate container. Providing food products, such as the chips and the salsa, in separate, individual packages requires more shelf space and packaging. Further, selling individually packaged food items may lead to a consumer buying one of the food items from a competitor, thus resulting in lost sales.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative container assemblies for the storage of both wet and dry food items within a compact package.
According to one embodiment, a container assembly includes an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes an outer container wall extending upwardly from an outer container base. The outer container wall transitions into a ledge extending outwardly from the outer container wall. The inner container includes an inner container wall extending upwardly from an inner container base and transitioning into a support flange. When the container assembly is assembled, the support flange of the inner container rests upon the ledge of the outer container such that the inner container is removably nested within the outer container.
According to another embodiment, a container assembly includes an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes an outer container wall extending upwardly from an outer container base. The outer container wall transitions into a ledge extending outwardly from the outer container wall. The inner container includes an inner container wall extending upwardly from an inner container base and a circumferentially extending inner container neck extending upwardly from the inner container wall and terminating at a support flange. When the container assembly is assembled, the support flange of the inner container rests upon the ledge of the outer container such that the inner container is removably nested within the outer container.
According to another embodiment, a container assembly includes an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes an outer container wall extending upwardly from an outer container base and transitioning into an outwardly extending ledge. The ledge transitions into a circumferentially extending outer container neck. The inner container includes an inner container wall extending from an inner container base and transitioning into a shoulder, a circumferentially extending inner container neck extending inwardly from the shoulder and transitioning into a support flange, and a seal coupled to the support flange. When the container assembly is assembled, the support flange rests upon the ledge of the outer container such that the inner container is removably nested within the neck of the outer container in an inverted position with respect to the outer container.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the inventions defined by the claims. Moreover, the individual features of the drawings will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description. The following detailed description of specific embodiments can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Referring initially to
As will be discussed herein, the second container (i.e., the inner container) may be nested within the first container (i.e., the outer container). The first container may comprise a retaining surface or ledge that is configured to support a corresponding retaining surface or support flange located on the second container such that the second container is retained or nested within the first container. Although exemplary embodiments described herein may comprise two containers, it is contemplated that embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise more than two containers.
As used herein, food components may comprise wet and/or dry food items. Exemplary food component products may include, but are not limited to, chips with sauces, meat dips with chips, oatmeal with fruit toppings, potatoes with flavorings, yogurts with toppings, noodles with toppings, and meats with vegetables or other side dishes. Embodiments of the present disclosure may hold or contain any combination of food component products in which separate storage and/or packaging is desirable to enhance or maximize flavor, freshness or other qualities, and which then may be combined for consumption. Although embodiments may hold or contain food component products that are combined for consumption, it is contemplated that containers described herein may also hold food component products that need not necessarily be combined for consumption, or products that are not intended for consumption.
Referring now to the exemplary container assembly illustrated in
More specifically, referring to the particular embodiment illustrated in
A second or inner container 60, illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1E-1G, may also have a generally frustum configuration corresponding with the configuration of the outer container 20. The inner container 60 may have a generally flat circular shaped inner container base 64 having a slightly concave center section 68 as viewed from the bottom. It is noted that the inner container 60 of some embodiments may not comprise a concave center section 68. It is also contemplated that the inner container 60 of some embodiments may not be of a generally frustum configuration and/or have a base 64 that is not circular (e.g., rectangular, elliptical, etc).
An inner container wall 72 may extend upwardly from the perimeter of the inner container base 64 such that the inner container wall 72 tapers from an upper portion of the inner container 60 to the inner container base 64. Similar to the outer container 20, the inner container 60 may have a circumferentially extending inner container neck 80. The inner container wall 72 may transition into a shoulder 88. The shoulder 88 may extend outwardly from the inner container wall 72, and the inner container neck 80 may extend upwardly and transition into an outwardly extending support flange 120. The inner container neck 80 may extend inwardly toward the support flange 120 at an angle with respect to the outer container wall 32 such that friction between the inner container neck 80 and outer container wall 32 may be minimized during nesting and denesting. According to other embodiments, the inner container wall 72 may transition directly into the support flange 120 without inner container neck 80 and shoulder 88.
Referring to
One or both containers 20 and 60 may be molded of suitable flexible plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene, or more rigid plastic materials. One or both containers 20 and 60 may be formed of heat resistant microwavable materials to enable the food components to be heated in a microwave oven.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring to
As previously stated, the containers and their similar equivalents that have been described herein need not be cylindrical or of frustum configuration, but may be oval or polygonal in configuration. Moreover, it will be understood that the containers can range in size and depth so that when assembled, containers of different interior volume can be established. As illustrated in
In addition, any number of containers can be utilized and contain any number of sealing members, including lids between or enclosing the containers. For example, the nested containers may be heat sealed such that the inner container is sealed to the outer container and then provided with a lid. In an alternative embodiment, the nested containers may be clip sealed and then lidded with a shrink band to provide tamper evidence and ameliorate food safety concerns. In yet another alternative embodiment, the nested containers may be individually sealed depending upon the nature of the food components, and then provided with a lid. According to some embodiments, the inner and outer containers may function as an eating vessel, thus facilitating portability for both the end user who consumes the food components and intermediaries who may package or ship the item, as well as flexibility in offering the food components, such as by vending machine. Pull tabs may also be included in the container assembly to aid in the removal of the inner container or containers from the assembly. Because the two containers (or in other embodiments, more than two containers) are nested, the overall assembly is compact and uses less shelf and storage space.
The foregoing description of the various embodiments and principles of the inventions has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Moreover, although many inventive aspects have been presented, such aspects need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above. Accordingly, the above description is intended to embrace all possible alternatives, modifications, combinations and variations that have been discussed or suggested herein, as well as others that fall within the principles, spirit, and broad scope of the various inventions as defined by the claims.
It is noted that recitations herein of a component of the present invention being “configured” to embody a particular property, or function in a particular manner, are structural recitations as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these preferred aspects of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/063,891, filed on Feb. 7, 2008, for Nested Bowls.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61063891 | Feb 2008 | US |
