FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAINER HAVING DUAL CHAMBER

Abstract

Dual chamber apparatuses and systems are provided having food and beverage portions forming a single housing that can be controlled by a single user. The systems and apparatuses include multiple receptacles, one for food such as popcorn, and the other for beverages, such as soda.

Description

BACKGROUND

Young children find it difficult to maintain their food and beverage containers without having the contents either stolen or consumed by other siblings. For example, a young child may obtain a beverage and a carton full of popcorn and sit in front of the television to watch a movie, but may find that his or her older siblings are eager to snatch the contents away during the movie. With only two hands, if the child lets go of the beverage container to get a handful of popcorn, he or she risks the prospect that a sibling may snatch the drink container.

Families with young children also often go to the movies to entertain the children. However, it can be challenging to help young children find an appropriate movie to see while at the same time buying popcorn and sodas and transporting those items into the theatre. It can also be cumbersome to manipulate containers so that the child can eat and drink as desired but without spilling or losing content during the show.

Improvements are needed in beverage and food containers to help improve the handling during entertainment and transport.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods and apparatuses designed to improve the handling of food and beverage contents. In certain implementations, a dual chamber apparatus is provided, having food and beverage portions forming a single housing that can be more readily controlled by a user, particularly small children who may be attending a movie or attempting to watch their home television. The systems and apparatuses include multiple receptacles, one for food such as popcorn, and the other for beverages, such as soda.

In certain embodiments, a food and beverage container includes a housing having a bottom with a perimeter, a sidewall that extends substantially about the perimeter of the bottom and upward from the bottom to an upper opening, and a platform disposed within the housing between the bottom and upper opening, forming upper and lower receptacles within the housing. A fluid seal is provided in the lower receptacle between the bottom and the sidewall. The sidewall has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the platform has a food support surface and an edge that joins the interior surface. An access path is provided, extending from the lower receptacle outside the container to permit a user to access fluid in the lower receptacle.

One or more of the following implementations may be provided in certain embodiments. For example, in certain implementations the edge is configured with a seal to join the interior surface. The platform has a passage that opens and closes and, upon closing, supports food inside the upper receptacle and, upon opening, permits fluid to be dispensed against the bottom. The passage may be configured with a plurality of flaps that join or overlap when the platform is closed.

In certain embodiments, two different cups are provided, the upper receptacle is a first cup and the lower receptacle is a second cup joined to the first cup. The second cup may be disposed at least partially inside the first cup. The platform may have an upper slot that receives the upper receptacle and a lower slot that receives the lower receptacle. The upper receptacle and lower receptacle are optionally joined by a threaded connection.

The upper and lower receptacles may be fitted together to secure them as a single operable structure. In certain embodiments, the upper receptacle fits within the lower receptacle, and abuts the lower receptacle along the interior sidewall above the bottom.

Other features may also be included. For example, a straw is optionally provided, extending from the lower receptacle through the upper receptacle. A lid may also be provided to cover the upper opening.

The container is, in certain implementations, filled with popcorn or other food or solid material in the upper receptacle and soda or other liquid in the lower receptacle.

Methods of assembly and use are also provided. In certain embodiments, a method of assembling a food and beverage container includes steps of providing a cup having a bottom, one or more sidewalls and an upper opening; inserting a fluid inside the cup; inserting a straw inside the fluid; placing an intermediate lid over the fluid at a location between the upper opening but above the bottom; and placing food on the intermediate lid.

Other implementations include a method of assembling a food and beverage product comprising steps of providing a first cup having a bottom and one or more sidewalls extending upward from the bottom; dispensing fluid within the first cup; inserting a second cup at least partially within the first cup so as to be accessible to a user, the second cup engaging the first cup against one or more sidewalls; and dispensing food within the second cup. The straw is then provided, inserted inside the first cup so as to be accessible to a user's mouth.

Features, aspects, and advantages of various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain various examples of the disclosed methods, devices and systems.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict an embodiment of a combined food and beverage container.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict an embodiment of an intermediate lid or platform for a food and beverage container.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict an alternative intermediate lid or platform for a food and beverage container.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a combined food and beverage container.

FIGS. 5A-5C depict an embodiment of a combined food and beverage container with an example connection mechanism between upper and lower chambers.

FIGS. 6A-6D depict an embodiment of a combined food and beverage container with a connection mechanism between upper and lower chambers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Various systems, methods and apparatuses are provided hereunder which can be used to provide a combination device that contains both food (such as popcorn) and beverages (such as soda or water). In certain implementations, a dual chamber apparatus is provided, having food and beverage portions forming a single housing that can be more readily controlled by a user, particularly small children who may be attending a movie or attempting to watch their home television. The systems and apparatuses include multiple receptacles, one for food such as popcorn, and the other for beverages, such as soda.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict an embodiment of a combination food and beverage container 100. The container 100 has a unitary housing having an upper sidewall 101a and a lower sidewall 101b, a bottom 103 forming a fluid tight seal with the lower sidewall 101b, and an upper opening 105. A platform 110 is disposed between the bottom 100c and opening 100d, thus forming an upper receptacle 102 and a lower receptacle 104. The upper receptacle 102 contains pieces of popcorn 106 which had been popped and presented in the upper receptacle 102 for serving to the user. The chamber 104 is a fluid chamber containing 108 (such as soda or other beverage) having a fluid level 99 that is located just under the upper receptacle 102.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the food in the upper receptacle 102 (e.g., the popcorn 106) and the fluid in chamber 104 (soda 108) are separated from each other by the platform 110. The platform 110 could be configured in a number of different structures, for example, a paper or wax platform that is connected to the sidewall 101 of the housing 100. In particular, the platform 110 is also shown as a platform or bottom of the upper receptacle 102 and includes a first connection surface 111a and a second connection surface 111b, each of which is fastened to the sidewall 101 of the container 100. The platform 110 with connection surfaces 111a and 111b may form a continuous surface that extends substantially around the interior surface of the container 100, forming a platform with a seal. For example, the platform 110 may be sealed by wax or glue, or co-molded, around the inner perimeter of the sidewall 101.

Also shown in FIG. 1A is a straw 112 which has been installed within the wall of the lower receptacle 104 through an opening 114 in the chamber sidewall 101. In use, the platform 110 blocks the popcorn 106 from falling into the lower housing 104, and thus keeps the popcorn out of the fluid 108. This allows a child or parent to use a single apparatus (which can be held in one hand, or two hands by a small child) to transport both popcorn and soda. The opening 114 provides an access path for the user to obtain beverage from the lower receptacle or chamber while food is contained inside the top receptacle or chamber.

The platform 110 may be configured through different approaches. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an example platform 110 between the upper and lower receptacles. The platform 110 is joined along the inner surface of the sidewall 101 and includes three flaps 120, 122 and 124. The flaps fold up and down, and join together when folded, in a tri-fold arrangement. As shown, three connection lines 126 join flaps 120 and 122, interface line 130 joins flaps 122 and 124, and interface line 128 joins flaps 120 and 124. In use when folded upward, so as to support and block the movement of food, the three folds are laid flat, so the platform 110 is strong enough to support a load of food (e.g., popcorn contained in the upper container 102) without allowing it to flow down into the fluid of the lower housing 104 and the flaps connect tightly enough to prevent the food from falling through openings into the lower housing 104. Each flap is either co-molded with the sidewall 101 or is waxed or glued to the sidewall, forming a foldable connection 130 that extends around the interior perimeter of the container 110.

FIG. 2A shows the flaps 120, 122 and 124 in an open position, allowing a beverage or other fluid to be poured from the top of the container and into the lower housing 104. FIG. 2B illustrates the flaps 120, 122 and 124 folded up, into the platform 110, and prepared to support a load of popcorn in the upper housing while simultaneously containing the beverage in the lower housing 104. A user, such as a parent or a small child, can then carry the combined container 100 with one hand (if they have sufficient strength), leaving a hand free to eat the popcorn or guard it from a sibling.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an alternative set of flaps that form the interface platform 110. As shown, four flaps are provided—flaps 142, 144, 146, and 148. Each flap includes a hole (140, 140, 140 and 140) through which a string 150 extends, forming a loop between each hole and extending upwardly and out of the cup 100. As the user pulls on the string 150, it pulls the flaps 142-148 toward each other and upwardly by operation of the strings within the holes 140-140. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the string 150 is pulled tighter, the holes within each flap are pulled closer together, drawing the flaps together into a sealed interface that can support food in the upper receptacle 102 and prevent it from flowing down into the liquid in the lower receptacle 104.

FIG. 4 shows an implementation of a food and beverage combination container in a housing 200. The container 200 has two containers or chambers 202 and 204 that are separate receptacles or cups, where upper container 202 fits at least partially inside lower container 204. The upper container includes sidewalls 203 and a first bottom 210. The lower container includes sidewalls 233 and a second bottom 230. As shown, the upper container 202 includes food 206 (e.g., popcorn) between the sidewall 203 and the first bottom 210. The first bottom 210 is a platform, preferably in the form of a single piece of cardstock or thick paper, that is co-molded to the sidewalls of the container 202 to form a cup-like structure for holding the popcorn or other food. The bottom container is preferably fluid tight along the second bottom 230. The top container may also be fluid tight along the first bottom 210. The two containers may be made of the same material (e.g., card stock or wax coated beverage containers) or different materials. For example, the bottom can be made of fluid tight card stock while the top could be made of meshed or other permeable material for allowing air to circulate through food particles contained therein.

As shown, the upper container 202 fits inside the lower container 204 and abuts a side of the lower container 204 at one or more interface points 214. A straw 212 extends inside the lower container 204 along the wall of the container 204 and is spaced between the lower container 204 and the upper container 202, forming an interface 216 between the upper container 202 and the straw 212. The lower container 204 contains soda or other fluid. The upper container is preferably taped, glued or otherwise connected to the lower container, for further stability. For example, the user can fill the two cups, insert the food cup inside the beverage cup, then apply a strip of masking or other tape 270a around the upper perimeter of the lid of the beverage container 204, to secure it to the walls of the upper food container 202. In addition, or alternatively, a layer of tape 270b is applied in between surfaces of the two containers 202 and 204 above the contact point 214. Specifically, tape layer 270b is applied to the inside of the upper perimeter of the lower container 204 and to the outside of the lower perimeter of the upper container 202 to affix the two containers together through an inside taping approach.

In use, the user fills the container 200 with beverage 208 in the bottom container 204 and popcorn or other food in the upper container 202, then applies the tape. That allows the user to carry the combined system 200 much easier and potentially even in a single hand. For adults who take young children to the movies, being able to carry popcorn and beverage in a single hand without having to manage a wide and unwieldy platform tray (or, by allowing the user to use fewer of such trays) can make the experience much more pleasant. For little children, it can be much easier to use a container that can be handled and manipulated in a concise, consolidated structure, potentially even using only a single hand to carry the housing 200.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate an alternative embodiment of a dual-chamber food and beverage container 500 having a quick-connect interface. The container 500 has an upper container 502 and a lower container 504. The upper container has a bottom 510 with a straw hole 520. The upper container 502 also has a distal extension surface 512 with inner threads 513. The inner threads mate via a twist-connect with complimentary threads 515 located on a proximal extension 514 of the lower housing 504. The threads are preferably plastic, to permit the upper and lower housings to screw together. The lower housing 504 contains a straw hole 530.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate another embodiment of a dual chamber container 600. The upper chamber 602 snap-fits to the lower chamber 604 via an intermediate lid or fitting 610. The lid has a support surface 611 that is strong enough to hold food or beverage, and tight enough to avoid significant leaking into the lower chamber 604 when attached to the lower chamber. The lid 610 has an upper slot 612 that extends around the perimeter of the lid 610 on the upper side, and a lower slot 614 that extends around the perimeter of the lid 610 underneath the support surface 611. The upper slot 612 receives the distal extension 605 of the upper chamber 602, and the lower slot receives proximal extension 607 of the lower chamber 604. Alternatively, the upper chamber 602 is configured with a bottom (like a wax paper cup bottom, so that surface 611 sits within the upper chamber 602 above the distal extension 605), and the lid 610 is configured a ring without a support surface, the ring having the upper and lower slots as shown.

In use, the lower chamber is filled with beverage (or food, if desired), then the lid 610 is snapped to the lower chamber 604 by press-fitting the lower slot 614 to the proximal extension 607, about the perimeter of the chamber 604. The upper chamber (which has no bottom in it) is snapped onto the upper side of the lid 610 by press-fitting the distal extension 605 into the upper slot 612 of the lid 610. The lid is then press fitted to the distal extension 605 and to the upper rim of the lower chamber 604. The lid is preferably held in place by friction between the respective upper or lower slot and the lid itself.

The upper chamber 602 is then filled with food (e.g., popcorn) or beverage, if desired. A straw hole 620 is included in the side wall of the lower chamber 604, permitting a user to drink from the lower chamber while eating from the upper chamber 602. Optionally, a straw hole 617 is included in the lid 610, to permit the straw to extend through the upper chamber 602. Optionally, the lid 610 can be fitted to the upper chamber after having filled the upper chamber with food or fluid (if that embodiment is used).

After being seated in the theatre, the user can remove the upper container 202, for example to pass it down the aisle to share with others. The child, at home, can also handle the food and beverage with less concern about losing the contents.

Variations and modifications of these embodiments will occur to those of skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure. The foregoing features and aspects may be implemented, in any combination and subcombinations (including multiple dependent combinations and subcombinations), with one or more other features described herein. The various features described or illustrated below, including any components thereof, may be combined or integrated in other systems. Moreover, certain features may be omitted or not implemented.

Claims

1. A food and beverage container, comprising: a housing having a bottom having a perimeter, a sidewall that extends substantially about the perimeter of the bottom and upward from the bottom to an upper opening, and a platform disposed within the housing between the bottom and upper opening, forming upper and lower receptacles within the housing;a fluid seal in the lower receptacle between the bottom and the sidewall; the sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the platform having a food support surface and an edge that joins the interior surface; andan access path that extends from the lower receptacle outside the container to permit a user to access fluid in the lower receptacle.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the edge joins the interior surface by a seal.

3. The food and beverage container of claim 2, wherein the platform supports food inside the upper receptacle and substantially prevents the food from falling into the bottom.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the platform is closed.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the upper receptacle is a first cup and the lower receptacle is a second cup joined to the first cup.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the second cup is disposed at least partially inside the first cup.

7. The container of claim 6, comprising an intermediate lid connected to the first cup and having a distally facing receptacle for receiving an upper rim of the second cup.

8. The container of claim 5, comprising a fitting with an upper slot that receives the upper receptacle and a lower slot that receives the lower receptacle.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the platform is disposed within the fitting.

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the platform is disposed within the upper receptacle and sits above the fitting.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the fitting is substantially shaped like a ring.

12. The container of claim 5, wherein the upper receptacle and lower receptacle are joined by a threaded connection.

13. The container of claim 5, wherein the first cup fits within the second cup, and abuts the second cup along the interior sidewall above the bottom.

14. The container of claim 13, comprising a layer of tape that secures the first cup and second cup together.

15. The container of claim 5, comprising a straw that extends from the lower receptacle through the upper receptacle.

16. The container of claim 1, including a lid that covers the upper opening.

17. The container of claim 1, having popcorn in the upper receptacle and soda in the lower receptacle.

18. A method of assembling a food and beverage container, comprising: providing a cup having a bottom, one or more sidewalls and an upper opening;inserting a fluid inside the cup; inserting a straw inside the fluid; placing an intermediate lid over the fluid at a location between the upper opening but above the bottom; andplacing food on the intermediate lid.

19. A method of assembling a food and beverage product comprising: providing a first cup having a bottom and one or more sidewalls extending upward from the bottom;dispensing fluid within the first cup; inserting a second cup at least partially within the first cup so as to be accessible to a user;the second cup engaging the first cup against one or more sidewalls; anddispensing food within the second cup.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising inserting a straw inside the first cup so as to be accessible to a user's mouth.

21. (canceled)