Claims
- 1. A shaped container bottom for containing a plurality of curved snack pieces, each snack piece having a peripheral edge and a lower surface, within a container, the container bottom comprising a bottom panel having a concave-curvature about a first axis of the bottom panel, wherein the concave-curvature of the bottom panel substantially conforms to the curvature of the snack pieces and at least a portion of the peripheral edge of a lowest snack piece of the plurality of snack pieces rests upon the bottom panel.
- 2. The container bottom according to claim 1, wherein the bottom panel is integral to the container.
- 3. The container bottom according to claim 2, wherein the concave-curvature is downwardly curved about the first axis.
- 4. The container bottom according to claim 3, wherein the first axis is a major axis of the bottom panel.
- 5. The container bottom according to claim 3, wherein the curvature of the bottom panel conforms to the curvature of the plurality of snack pieces without the lower surface of the lowest snack piece resting upon the bottom panel.
- 6. The container bottom according to claim 1, wherein the saddle height of the snack piece is from about 0.5 mm to about 30 mm greater than the center height of the bottom panel.
- 7. The container bottom according to claim 6, wherein the center height of the bottom panel is from about 2 mm to about 40 mm.
- 8. The container bottom according to claim 6, wherein the center radius of the bottom panel is not more than about 60 mm.
- 9. The container bottom according to claim 8, wherein the center radius of the bottom panel is from about 15 mm to about 35 mm.
- 10. The container bottom according to claim 1, wherein the bottom panel has a second upwardly concave-curvature about a second axis of the bottom panel.
- 11. A shaped container bottom for containing a plurality of curved snack pieces, each snack piece having a peripheral edge and a lower surface, within a container, the container bottom comprising a bottom panel comprising at least two base portions and a bottom panel center disposed between the base portions, the bottom panel center having a concave curvature about a first axis of the container, wherein the concave-curvature of the bottom panel substantially conforms to the curvature of the snack pieces and a peripheral edge of a lowest snack piece of the plurality rests upon the base portions.
- 12. The container bottom according to claim 11, wherein the concave-curvature is downwardly curved about the first axis.
- 13. The container bottom according to claim 11, wherein the bottom panel has a second upwardly concave-curvature about a second axis of the bottom panel.
- 14. The container bottom according to claim 13, wherein the first axis is a major axis of the bottom panel.
- 15. The container bottom according to claim 11, wherein the bottom comprises two base portions each base portion being substantially flat and having a width greater than 0 mm.
- 16. The container bottom according to claim 11, wherein the curvature of the bottom panel center conforms to the curvature of the plurality of snack pieces without a lower surface of the lowest snack piece resting upon the bottom panel center.
- 17. The container bottom according to claim 11, wherein the container bottom is thermoformed.
- 18. The container bottom according to claim 11, wherein the saddle height of the snack piece is from about 0.5 mm to about 30 mm greater than the center height of the bottom panel.
- 19. A container comprising the container bottom of claim 1.
- 20. A container comprising the container bottom of claim 11.
- 21. A process for filling a container with curved snack pieces, each snack piece having a peripheral edge and a lower surface, the process comprising (a) providing a container having a shaped bottom that conforms to the shape of the snack pieces but where at least a portion of the peripheral edge of a lowest snack piece of the plurality of snack pieces rests upon the bottom panel upon introduction of the snack pieces into the container; and (b) introducing the snack pieces into the container such that the pieces self align as a result of the shaped bottom.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/254,187, filed Dec. 8, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60254187 |
Dec 2000 |
US |