Patent Application
20190352071
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a container that enables the mixing of two or more products, and to methods of making and using the container.
Many consumers in today's society enjoy finger foods, i.e., foods that can be eaten by hand. Such foods are often served in containers, such as bags and/or tubs. However, one difficulty with prior art containers is the inability to evenly distribute condiments throughout the entire container. For example, moviegoers often find it difficult to evenly distribute butter, salt, and/or other seasonings throughout a bag or tub of popcorn. A moviegoer typically purchases popcorn at the concession stand before a movie begins. Butter, salt, or other seasonings can then be added to the top of the popcorn after the bag or tub is filled. Normally, the moviegoer will shake the container in an attempt to distribute the condiments across the entire portion of popcorn. However, because the container is full, the condiments do not reach the popcorn at the bottom of the bag or tub. In addition, attempts to evenly distribute the condiments by shaking the container commonly result in spillage. It would therefore be beneficial to provide an improved container that allows for uniform distribution of condiments.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a container comprising a main compartment and an extension portion. The main compartment and the extension portion have a first position in which the main compartment and extension portion are engaged. In some embodiments, the main compartment and the extension portion have a second position in which the extension portion is detached from the main compartment by manipulation of a perforated edge that surrounds the exterior of the main compartment.
In some embodiments, the extension portion has a tapered cross-section and/or an access port for receiving a product. In some embodiments, the access port is selectively sealable. In some embodiments, the access port comprises a removable cover.
In some embodiments, the perforations are selected from a line of weakness, apertures, pinholes, ruptures, slits, a thickness reduction in the container material, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the main compartment is configured to receive a food product, such as popcorn.
In some embodiments, the container includes a pull tab that encircles the perforated edge.
In some embodiments, the extension portion has an interior with a volume that is greater than an interior volume of the main compartment.
The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate some (but not all) embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.
The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a bag” can include a plurality of such bags, and so forth.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.
As used herein, the term “about”, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/−20%, in some embodiments +/−10%, in some embodiments +/−5%, in some embodiments +/−1%, in some embodiments +/−0.5%, and in some embodiments +/−0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.
Main compartment 10 can be configured as a cup or other open-topped device. For example, the main compartment can be configured as a square or rectangular bag, a round or oval tub, or in any other desired shape. The main compartment includes an interior that is sized to house a portion of a product, such as food product. As shown in
Extension portion 15 is typically positioned above the main compartment, as shown in
In some embodiments, the volume of extension interior 60 is greater than the volume of interior 40 of the main compartment. However, the presently disclosed subject matter also includes embodiments wherein the volume of the extension interior is about the same or less than the volume of the main compartment interior. Thus, the volume of the extension portion interior can be about 50-200% of the volume of the main compartment interior (e.g., 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, or 200%).
Extension portion 15 comprises access port 25 to allow the addition of a product to the interior of the container. Access port 25 can be selected from any known access port device, including (but not limited to) openings, zippers, hook and loop closures, buttons, snaps, stitching, and the like. For example, in some embodiments, access port 25 can be configured as an opening in the extension. In some embodiments, the access port can be selectively sealable (e.g., closable) through use of cover 26, such that the access port can be accessed by removing at least a portion of the cover, as shown in
Access port 25 can be configured on any desired surface of extension portion 15, such as top face 50 or sidewall 55. When configured on sidewall 55, the access port can be positioned adjacent to or near the top or upper surface of the extension. However, the location of access port 25 is not limited.
The access port can be constructed in bag 5 using any method known or used in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the access port can be created through the use of a cutting device, such as scissors, razors, lasers, etc.
Access port 25 can be configured in any desired size and shape. For example, the access port can be configured in a square, rectangular, circular, oval, triangular, diamond, cylindrical, or abstract shape. Further, the access port can have a length and/or width of about 2-8 inches, such as about 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 6, 6.25, 6.5, 6.75, 7, 7.25, 7.5, 7.75, or 8 inches. However, access ports with dimensions greater than or less than the ranges set forth above are also included within the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
As illustrated in
Container 5 (e.g., main compartment 10, extension 15, and optional handle 70) can be constructed from any material known or used in the art. For example, in some embodiments the container can be constructed from paper, plastic, wax-coated paper, plastic-coated paper, foil, laminates thereof, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the materials used to construct main compartment 10 can be the same as those used to construct extension portion 15. However, the presently disclosed subject matter includes embodiments wherein the main compartment and attachment are constructed from different materials. In some embodiments, the materials used to construct container 5 are non-toxic and food-grade.
As set forth above, perforations 20 can divide the container into main compartment 10 an extension portion 15. The term “perforations” as used herein refers to any weakening of the container material that facilities the separation of the extension portion from the main compartment. For example, the perforations can include a line of weakness, apertures, pinholes, ruptures, slits, a thickness reduction in the container material, and the like.
Perforations 20 can be created in container 5 using any known method. For example, the perforations can be created by penetrating the container material with needles or other sharp objects, ablation using lasers, and the like.
In some embodiments, the container can include pull tab opener 21 secured to the container proximal to perforations 20, as shown in
The main compartment and the extension portion can be constructed from a single section of material. For example, the main compartment and extension portion can be formed from a single section of coated paper, and perforations added about the middle of the container after or during construction. Alternatively, the main compartment and the extension portion can be formed separately and attached together using any method known or used in the art, including the use of adhesives, heat sealing, and the like.
In use, container 5 allows first product (such as a condiment) to be evenly distributed to second product (such as a food product) housed within a main compartment. For example, a desired portion of food product 75, such as popcorn, can be deposited through container access port 25 into the interior of the container, as shown by Arrow A in
It should be appreciated that the presently disclosed subject matter also includes embodiments wherein the container lacks perforations 20, as illustrated in
Advantageously, the disclosed container allows for uniform distribution of a first product (such as a condiment) on a second product (such as a food product) with no or minimal spillage. Further, the disclosed container requires no additional containers, such as a second container for mixing the popcorn and the condiment. The disclosed container is also less messy than previous containers because the mixing occurs within the container interior.
