PACKET FOR A SPREADABLE CONDIMENT

Abstract

A packet for a spreadable condiment. The housing defines an interior cavity to contain the condiment. An upper layer oppositely disposed of a lower layer to form the interior cavity. The upper layer is secured to the lower layer by an adhesive. The housing has a tab which can be removed to make an opening for the condiment to be passed through. Furthermore, the housing has an indicia to indicate the contents of the housing. Additionally, the housing has a peelable layer to provide additional access to the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packet for a spreadable condiment. Condiments are a common food item utilized to supplement or enhance the flavor of a food item. When a meal is adapted to be consumed in a fast manner, such as a packed meal or a to go meal from a restaurant, condiments are commonly provided in the form of packets. These packets are typically used for viscous condiments, such as ketchup, mayonnaise or barbecue sauce. However, these standard packets are inadequate for condiments that lack the viscosity of these condiments. For example, condiments such as peanut butter or almond butter lack the viscosity to be properly dispersed by current condiment packets.

Additionally, spreading a material, such as peanut butter, that is not viscous can be a frustrating task. Particularly, when spreading a thick material, such as peanut butter, onto a softer material, such as bread, the softer material may be compromised during the spreading process. Notably, peanut butter can stick to soft bread, tearing holes therethrough or reducing the bread to mere crumbs.

As such, there is a defined need in the known art for a condiment pack that provides a user with convenience both when releasing a non-viscous condiment therefrom and when evenly distributing the condiment upon a material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of condiment packets now present in the known art, the present invention provides a packet for a spreadable condiment wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when releasing a condiment from a packet in order to spread it upon an object.

The present system comprises a housing. The housing defines an interior cavity. The housing is defined by an upper layer and a lower layer, such that the interior cavity is defined between the upper layer and the lower layer. An edge of the upper layer is secured to an edge of the lower layer by an adhesive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a first layer and a second layer that are made of a flexible material so as to provide ease to a user when releasing a condiment from the packet for a spreadable condiment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a first layer and a second layer that are made of a heat-sealable material, so as to prevent contamination of the spreadable material housed in the packet for a spreadable material.

Yet another object of the present invention to provide at least one indicium on an external surface of the housing, so as to provide the user with information relating to the contents of the packet for a spreadable material.

Still yet another object of present invention is to provide an interior cavity that is impenetrable by liquid, so as to prevent contamination of the spreadable material housed in the packet for a spreadable material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a housing with a dividing wall, so as to provide a first chamber and a second chamber for storage of multiple spreadable materials in the packet for a spreadable material.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a first chamber and a second chamber that each has a tab on an external surface thereof, so as to provide ease to a user when opening the packet for a spreadable material.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a dividing wall that is impenetrable by liquid, so as to prevent the contents of the first chamber from mixing with the contents of the second chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the packet for a spreadable condiment. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material. The packet for a spreadable material 10 comprises a housing 11. The housing defines an interior cavity. The housing 11 is dimensioned to contain a predetermined volume of a spreadable condiment in the interior cavity. In the shown embodiment, the housing 11 defines a tapered midsection. The tapered midsection provides convenience to the user when holding the packet for a spreadable material by providing a surface contoured to a hand or a finger of a user. Furthermore, the tapered midsection allows the user to more effectively squeeze condiment from the opening.

The housing comprises an upper layer 12 and a lower layer 13. The interior cavity of the housing is defined therebetween. An adhesive is disposed around the edges 14 of each of the upper layer 12 and the lower layer 13. The adhesive is configured to make the packet 10 airtight and watertight, such that the condiment stored in the interior cavity is preserved and protected from contamination. Additionally, the adhesive is of a composition that is non-degradable such that the contents of the interior cavity will not be altered by the adhesive.

In one embodiment, at least one of the upper layer 12 and the lower layer 13 is made of a flexible material. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper layer 12 and the lower layer 13 are made of a flexible material. The flexible material provides convenience to the user when releasing the spreadable material from the housing 11. In another embodiment, at least one of the upper layer 12 and the lower layer 13 is made of a rigid material. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the upper layer and the lower layer are made of a heat-sealable material, such that the spreadable material is protected from contamination.

The housing 11 further comprises a removable tab 15 on at least one end portion 16, 17 of the housing 11. The removable tab 15 is in operable communication with an opening in the housing 11. When the removable tab 15 is removed from the housing, the user may depress the housing 11, forcing the contents of the packet for a spreadable condiment 10 outward through the opening. In the shown embodiment, the removable tab 15 is removable by the placement of perforation 18 defining the removable tab from the housing 11.

In one embodiment, the housing 11 further comprises at least one indicium 19 on an external surface thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicium 19 is designed to communicate the contents of the housing 11 to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material. In one embodiment, the housing 11 is liquid impenetrable when the layers are in a sealed configuration. When the housing 11 is liquid impenetrable, the contents of the housing are preserved against contamination.

In one embodiment, the housing 11 comprises a dividing wall 20 therein. The dividing wall 20 divides the interior cavity of the housing into a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 22. In the shown embodiment, the dividing wall 20 is disposed along a vertical axis. The dividing wall 20 provides the ability of the packet for a spreadable condiment to store more than one condiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the dividing wall 20 extends the entire vertical axis such that it is disposed in both layers. Alternatively, the dividing wall 20 allows for the packaging of separate portions of the same condiment.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material. In one embodiment, the housing 11 comprises a dividing wall 20 therein. The dividing wall 20 divides the interior cavity of the housing into a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 22. In the shown embodiment, the dividing wall 21 is disposed along a horizontal axis.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material. In one embodiment, the packet for a spreadable material further comprises a pair of secondary dividers 23, 24 in communication with the dividing wall 20. In the shown embodiment, each of the pair of chambers is divided into a pair of sub-chambers by action of the dividing wall 20 and the secondary dividers 23, 24. As such, four condiments can be stored in the packet for a spreadable material.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the packet for a spreadable material. In the shown embodiment, the housing 11 comprises a removable segment 25. The removable segment 25 extends from a first end portion 16 to an opposing second end portion 17. In the shown embodiment, the removable segment 25 is planar defining a flat surface on the housing. The condiment 26 is shown in the housing. The removable segment 25 provides convenience to a user wherein the user seeks to spread the condiment 26 on a food item using a utensil, such as a knife or a spoon. The removable segment 25 extends through any desired layer, such that the housing 11 can be accessed.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A packet for a spreadable condiment, comprising: a housing defining an interior cavity;the housing having an upper layer oppositely disposed of a lower layer, such that the interior cavity is defined therebetween;an edge of the upper layer secured to an edge of the lower layer by an adhesive;a removable tab extending from a layer, wherein when the tab is removed from the layer an opening in the housing is formed.

2) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 1, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are composed of a flexible material.

3) The condiment packet of claim 1, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are composed of a heat-sealable material.

4) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 1, wherein at least one indicia is disposed on an external surface of the housing for identifying the contents of the housing.

5) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity is liquid impenetrable.

6) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 1, further comprising a removable segment extending from a first end portion to an opposing second end portion.

7) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 6, wherein the removable segment is planar.

8) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a tapered midsection.

9) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a dividing wall therein, such that a first chamber and a second chamber are defined.

10) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein the dividing wall runs from the first end portion to the second end portion.

11) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein the dividing wall runs from a first side portion to a second side portion.

12) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein each of the first chamber and the second chamber comprises a tab in operable communication with an opening into each of the first chamber and the second chamber.

13) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein the dividing wall is impenetrable by liquid.

14) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein each of the first chamber and the second chamber are in operably communication with a single opening and a single tab.

15) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein a pair of secondary dividers is disposed in each of the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein each of the secondary dividers intersects perpendicularly with the dividing wall.

16) The packet for a spreadable condiment of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a tapered midsection.

17) A packet for a spreadable condiment, consisting of: a housing defining an interior cavity;the housing having an upper layer oppositely disposed of a lower layer, such that the interior cavity is defined therebetween;an edge of the upper layer secured to an edge of the lower layer by an adhesive;a removable tab extending from a layer, wherein when the tab is removed from the layer an opening in the housing is formed.