AU2003100358B4 - A kit for marketing microwave popcorn - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to food packaging. More particularly although not exclusively it discloses an improved form of packaging and marketing microwave popcorn.

Microwave popcorn is a popular snack food for domestic consumption. In particular it is commonly enjoyed by many people while viewing video movies in the home. No doubt this is partly because popcorn is closely associated with a traditional night or afternoon out at the movies. In order to enhance this feeling of being at the movie theatre a take home kit is proposed which provides a purchaser with a bucket of popcorn reminiscent of that obtained from a confectionery bar.

It is also an object of this invention 'to provide in one take home hygienic package all the necessary ingredients for a bucket of fresh popcorn as traditionally associated with movie theatres.

Accordingly this invention discloses a kit for marketing microwave popcorn which includes a packaged combination of a sachet of corn kernels adapted for placement directly into a microwave oven for cooking and a fold-out bucket for receiving and holding said popcorn during consumption.

Preferably the bucket is foldable between a collapsed substantially flat configuration for containment in a packaging wrapper together with said sachet and an open configuration to receive said popcorn.

It is further preferred that said package comprises a sealed transparent plastic wrapper encasing both said collapsed bucket and sachet which are sold as one product to a consumer.

The currently preferred embodiment of this innovation will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of the kit as offered for sale, figure 2 shows the components of the kit after removal I from the wrapper figures 3 and 4 show the bucket in the partially and fully unfolded configurations, and figure 4 shows the bucket containing popcorn ready for consumption.

Referring first to figures 1 and 2 the kit may comprise a four sided cardboard bucket 1 folded along corner creases into a substantially flat configuration. A airtight foil envelope 2 containing the corn kernels is preferably located in one of the folds 2A of the collapsed bucket and the two items are enclosed in a sealed transparent cellophane wrapper 3.

After purchase a consumer removes the wrapper, opens the foil envelope 2 and places an inner paper sachet (not shown) into a microwave oven at a suitable setting for popping the kernels. The bucket is also removed from the wrapper and opened in the manner shown in figures 2 and 3. The four sides are unfolded along corner crease lines 4 so that end tabs interlock to form the bottom of the bucket. Preferably the engaging edges 6 of these tabs have an interference fit so that they are biased into an overlapping arrangement which locks the bucket open and also supports the weight of the popcorn deposited therein.

After popping the corn 7 is poured directly from the sachet into the bucket where it can be consumed during a video show in a manner reminiscent of a traditional theatre movie.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at leastin the form of the embodiment described comprises a new and improved form of kit for marketing microwave popcorn. Clearly however the example disclosed is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide varierty of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape of the envelope and sachet as well as the size and configuration of the bucket may be changed according to design preference. Also, while it is currently preferred that the bucket be made from cardboard the invention extends to the use of other low cost materials such as plastic.

Claims (4)

1. A kit for marketing microwave popcorn which includes a flattened sachet of corn kernels adapted for placement into a microwave oven for cooking and a fold-out bucket for receiving and holding said popcorn during consumption after cooking, said bucket being collapsed into a substantially flat configuration which includes a fold or pocket in which said sachet is located and a sealed wrapper enclosing said sachet and bucket.

2. The kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bucket is foldable between a collapsed substantially flat configuration for containment in said sealed wrapper together with said sachet and an open configuration for receiving and holding said popcorn.

3. The kit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bucket is four sided and is folded along corner creases when in said collapsed configuration,

4. A method of marketing microwave popcorn which includes the step of offering for sale to a customer a kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3. The method of marketing microwave popcorn as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of offering for sale to a customer takes place in a video store. Dated this 5th day of November 2003 Neil Barnard Mary Barnard By Our Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR