Patent Application
20190322435
The present disclosure relates to snack packages, and in particular to reusable rigid packages that are also usable for play by children.
Various container and package designs have been used in the past to contain and display snack food products. Among the many existing snack containers and packages, some have been comprised of rigid materials for safely holding different types of snack products in a single package. In addition, conventional snack packages have included downwardly formed compartments for holding various snack products, where those compartments are downwardly formed from an upper flat surface of the rigid container. Flexible film is then laid across this upper flat surface to provide a seal for the snacks held in the downwardly formed compartments.
Unfortunately, such conventional downwardly formed rigid snack packages suffer several disadvantages. For example, most downwardly formed rigid packaging hides the product held inside from view of the consumer when displayed on a retailer's shelf. Also, the downward formation in such conventional rigid packages is typically generic and nondescript. Thus, the opaque and generic nature of such conventional rigid packages provides no incentive for consumer to purchase the snack products held inside. Moreover, most rigid snack packages are intended to be disposed of after consumption of the product inside is complete. Since the forming of rigid snack packages is more costly as compared to conventionally formed soft snack packages, the intended disposal of rigid packaging is a costly waste. Such waste not only is a production cost typically needing offset by retail pricing, but the consistent disposing of rigid packaging takes a toll on the environment if not recycled.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved downwardly formed rigid package for holding food products that does not suffer from these and other deficiencies found in conventional packages. The disclosed principles provide such improved package.
To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the disclosed principles provide for a new and unique reusable rigid package configured to provide a container for holding, for example, food products, as well as to provide a playable structure for consumers, such as children, to play with during or after consumption of the food product. In addition, multiple playable packages as disclosed herein may be collected and combined together, for example, end-to-end, into a larger toy such as train of cars, busses, or railway cars. Furthermore, each disclosed package is configured to be stacked, one at least partially received within the other, for efficient stacked storage of multiple packages.
In one exemplary embodiment, a reusable rigid playable package in accordance with the disclosed principles comprises a downwardly formed compartment having a front endwall and a rear endwall, and at least two sidewalls connecting the front and rear endwalls. The compartment may be configured to receive one or more products therein via an opening at a top of the compartment. Also, a flange may be formed at the top of the compartment and around the opening, wherein the flange is configured to receive a sealable cover thereon. Such a cover may be comprised of a thin film sealed onto the flange that may be peelable from the flange, or may be comprised of a rigid cover clipped or even sealed onto the flange that may either be removed from the flange and discarded or be configured for reuse/reclosure with the package at a later time.
Such an exemplary embodiment of a rigid package may also include a first connecting feature located at a front portion of the flange, as well as a second connecting feature located at a rear portion of the flange. In such embodiments, a first connecting feature of a first package may be shaped and configured to interconnect with a second connecting feature of a second package. For example, the first connecting features may be comprised of a hole formed in the flange, while the second connecting feature may comprise posts formed in the flanges and configured to be removably received in to corresponding holes. A decorative feature may also formed into the front endwall of the compartment to make the rigid package playable for children, such as a smiley face or even features of the front of a vehicle of any type.
Additionally, in such exemplary embodiments, the reusable playable rigid packages as disclosed herein may also include one or more stacking stops formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment. In such embodiments, the one or more stacking stops may be configured to contact a portion of a second package when a bottom portion of a first package is placed within the compartment of the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position within the second package. Also, such exemplary packages may also include standing features formed in a bottom portion of the compartment and downwardly extending therefrom. Such standing features may be configured to hold the package upright such that the opening is positioned at the top of the package. Moreover, the standing features may also be shaped and configured to assist in maintaining a position of one package with respect to another package as multiple packages as stacked in the manner discussed above.
In other, more specific exemplary embodiments, a reusable rigid package according to disclosed principles may have a vehicle shape, such as the shape of a bus, car, or railway car. In such embodiments, the vehicle-shaped package may comprise a compartment downwardly formed in a single unitary structure, and having a front endwall and a rear endwall, and at least two sidewalls connecting the front and rear endwalls. In addition, such packages may have the compartment formed having a downwardly tapered shape of the front and second endwalls and the first and second sidewalls. As before, the compartment may be configured to receive one or more products, such food products, therein via an opening at a top of the compartment.
Also, such exemplary vehicle-shaped packages may include a flange formed at the top of the compartment and around the opening, where the flange comprises part of the unitary structure of the compartment and is configured to receive a cover sealable thereon. As before, such a cover may be comprised of a thin film sealed onto the flange that may be peelable from the flange, or may be comprised of a rigid cover clipped or even sealed onto the flange that may either be removed from the flange and discarded or be configured for reuse/reclosure with the package. Also as before, in such embodiments a first connecting feature of a first package may be shaped and configured to interconnect with a second connecting feature of a second package. For example, the first connecting features may be comprised of a hole formed in the flange, while the second connecting feature may comprise posts formed in the flanges and configured to be removably received in to corresponding holes. A decorative feature, such as a smiley face, may also formed into the front endwall of the compartment to make the rigid package playable for children.
Furthermore, in such embodiments the reusable vehicle-shaped rigid packages as disclosed herein may also include one or more stacking stops formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment. In such embodiments, the one or more stacking stops each comprising a side window shape formed in one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment and extending outwardly therefrom. The one or more side window shapes each may comprise a bottom surface configured to contact a flange of a second package when a bottom portion of a first package is placed within the compartment of the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position within the second package. Also, such exemplary packages may also include a plurality of wheel shapes formed in a bottom portion of the compartment and downwardly extending therefrom. These plurality of wheel shapes comprise standing features configured to hold the package upright such that the opening is positioned at the top of the package. Moreover, as before, the plurality of wheel shapes may also be configured to assist in maintaining a position of one package with respect to another package as multiple packages as stacked in the manner discussed above.
Numerous embodiments and advantages associated with each such embodiment are discussed in further detail below.
The detailed description that follows, by way of non-limiting examples of embodiments, makes reference to the noted drawings in which reference numerals represent the same parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and in which:
The above-referenced figures are provided herein for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosed invention. Use of the same reference number in multiple figures is intended to designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the particular embodiment. The extension of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
In view of the foregoing, through one or more various aspects, embodiments and/or specific features, the present disclosure is intended to bring out one or more of the advantages that will be evident from the description. The present disclosure makes reference to one or more specific embodiments by way of illustration and example. It is understood, therefore, that the terminology, examples, drawings and embodiments are illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
The scope of the present disclosure includes any feature or combination of features disclosed herein (either explicitly or implicitly), or any generalization thereof, whether or not it mitigates any or all of the problems addressed herein. Accordingly, new claims may be formulated during prosecution of this application (or an application claiming priority thereto) to any such combination of features. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in the specific combinations enumerated in the appended claims.
The downwardly formed compartment 110 in the illustrated embodiment is formed into a visually appealing structure. The front end or endwall of the package 100 of
Also shown from the front view of
Material for playable rigid packages formed as disclosed herein may be selected from variety of available materials, either now existing or later developed. In addition, package materials may be selected to be safe for use in the packaging of food products in those embodiments, where food products are to be held within the package. Exemplary materials include, but are not limited to, PP (polypropylene), PE(polyethylene), PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). Of course, other suitable materials for both thermoforming and injection molding processes, or any other suitable formation processes, may also be employed.
Formed on the right side are a pair of simulated “wheels” 210a, 210b (collectively, 210). The wheels 210 are formed in a downward direction from the sides of the package 100, and extend just past the bottom-most portion of the compartment 210. By forming the wheels 210 to this downward distance, the wheels 210 (four total in this embodiment of the package 100) may be used to stand the package 100 upright, as illustrated. In this embodiment, the package 100 is formed to resemble a train car having the four wheels 210. As such, the rigid package 100 itself can be played with by consumers a toy train. In other embodiments, a playable, reusable rigid package designed and constructed in accordance with the disclosed principles may be formed into other playable toy shapes, such a bus. In addition, such disclosed playable packages may also be formed in any of a variety of colors. Thus, consumers can collect multiple such packages, each with a distinct color.
As discussed above, multiple packages, such as the package 100 of
Also illustrated in
In some embodiments, the side windows 220 may be formed as a transparent or semi-transparent material, as compared to the opaque material that may be used to form the remainder of the rigid package 100. In such embodiments, the side windows 220 then provide the additional utility or function of allowing consumers to view the product held inside the compartment 130 of the package 100. This advantage in such embodiments is particularly useful to view the product when the package 100 is still sealed, such as at a retail store. Of course, in other embodiments the side windows 220 may also be formed of the same opaque material as the remainder of the package 100.
Also illustrated in the isometric view of
In some embodiments, a more rigid cover may be employed to cover and seal the package 100. Also, in some embodiments, the film or other cover may be configured to be resealable, or even simply recloseable, onto the top flange 120 of the package 100. Such resealing may be provided via a reusable adhesive, and simple reclosing may be provided via snap fitting a cover onto the package 100. Also illustrated on the top flange 120 of the package 100 of
Turning now to
Looking now at
Referring finally to
By providing an inviting and playable structure to each rigid package as disclosed herein, the disclosed principles provide a unique package structure that is usable for both holding food or other types of products, and as a toy for children to play with. The playable nature of the package structure may, for example, hold a child's attention during consumption of the food product therein, where a plain, simple food package may not keep the child's interest long enough to finish the food product held therein. Such a feature of the disclosed packages is especially useful in situations where multiple children are present, such as at lunchtime during school, where the distraction of other children being present may result in a child losing focus on finishing their food and instead focusing on playing with other nearby children. Accordingly, a child given a package as disclosed herein with their food held inside will be encouraged to play with such a package and thus be more likely to finish their food since it would remain within their area of focus while playing with the package. Additionally, even after the child has finished the food held in the package, the playability of the disclosed package encourage children to stay in their immediate area as they can continue playing with their package. Still further, the playability of the package provides the child a new toy, even in situations where the child is permitted to leave the area and play wherever he or she likes. The structural features in the disclosed packages that allow multiple disclosed packages to be combined into a train of packages even further enhances the playability of the train of packages to children.
The foregoing description has made reference to several exemplary embodiments. It is understood, however, that the words that have been used are for description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Thus, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure in all its aspects. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Although this description makes reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the disclosure extends to all functionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the recitation of any method steps does not denote a particular sequence for execution of the steps. Such method steps may therefore be performed in a sequence other than recited unless the particular claim expressly states otherwise.
In the numerous embodiments of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein, such embodiments may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
Moreover, the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
