CA2966777A1

CA2966777A1 - Container cup package

Info

Publication number: CA2966777A1
Application number: CA2966777A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Eric J. Blatstein
Original assignee: OTG Experience LLC
Current assignee: OTG Experience LLC
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2015-10-30
Publication date: 2016-05-06
Also published as: SG11201703352YA; BR112017008448A2; US20160122080A1; WO2016069980A1; CN107000918A; AU2015339093A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system and method for containing a pre-packaged food container within an outer container having a lid component. The pre-packaged food container has a flange on an upper most portion and a food product contained within. The outer container has a container wall defining a shoulder positioned radially within and a rim located radially on an upper most portion of the container wall. The shoulder is configured to retain the flange of the pre-packaged food container. The lid component is configured to attach to the rim of the outer container.

Description

CONTAINER CUP PACKAGE
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.0 119(e) of Provisional U.S.
Patent Application No. 62/073,694 filed on October 31, 2014, and entitled "CONTAINER
CUP PACKAGE," the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to a food container, and more specifically, to a container for containing a pre-packaged food container.
BACKGROUND

[0003] Food containers have been around for many years to store and preserve food contents. These containers are used for many purposes, such as for storing food in a refrigerator or freezer, cooking in a microwave or oven, serving, and transporting food items.
They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can hold small volume items to large volume items such as for commercial food storage. In the food industry, food containers are used to hold items in solid, granular or powder form, such as dry cereal, and in liquid form, such as juice and soda. Containers can be vacuum sealed to prevent premature spoiling or may have secure lids to prevent spilling and can be made from a variety of materials including glass, plastic, ceramic, metal, or the like. A variety of containers for storing food products exist, such as, for example, ziploc containers, disposable food containers, take out containers, or the like.

[0004] Food containers may also come in a variety of configurations to store and separate the contents within one food container, and may be referred to as nesting containers. Nesting containers may comprise multiple compartments that can fit together. This can provide an easy way for someone to carry a wide variety of foods in one container. This can also provide someone to store toppings or mixtures separately within one container with the intent of combining the contents of the containers prior to consuming. An example of this includes U.S. Patent No. 6,068,865 (hereinafter "the '865 patent"). The '865 patent purports to describe a chocolate yogurt containing device configured to store the yogurt and a chocolate mixture separately. A first containment device is used to store the yogurt and a second containment device is used to store the chocolate. When someone is ready to consume the chocolate yogurt, they open each container and mix them together, for example, by pouring the contents of the second container into the first container.

[0005] Food containers also exist for storing pre-packaged food containers. In example of this includes a pet food bowl, whereby a pre-packaged pet food container is placed in the food bowl and the cover is removed allowing a pet to access. The food bowl may prevent the pre-packaged container from sliding around and spilling, and it provides an easy method for cleaning up. After feeding is done, the container is removed, and minimal cleaning of the actual bowl is required.

[0006] However, existing containers have limited additional space for adding additional toppings or contents to a pre-packaged food container. This generally entails either removing the contents from the pre-packaged material and placing them into a larger container or minimizing the amount of additional toppings added. Thus, an improved containment device for supporting a pre-packaged food container having enough head space to allow for receiving toppings is desired.
SUMMARY

[0007] The disclosure relates generally to a combination package which includes and outer container and a pre-packaged food container, such as a yogurt container. The pre-packaged food container may fit within and be supported by the outer container. The outer container is configured to allow for a space between the top of the outer container and the top of the pre-packaged food container when the food container is placed within the outer container, such that additional contents may be added to the combination package.

[0008] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a combination package. The combination package includes a pre-packaged food container and an outer container. The pre-packaged food container includes a cup, a support portion, and a spoonable product. The cup has a sidewall that has an upper sidewall portion and a lower sidewall portion. The support portion is circumferentially spaced on the sidewall of the cup. The spoonable product is supported within the cup.

[0009] The outer container defines a cup-shaped chamber having an outer wall.
The outer wall defines a shoulder located radially around the outer wall. The cup-shaped chamber is configured to house the pre-packaged food container, such that the support portion of the food container is located on the shoulder. An outer diameter of the support portion is greater than then a lowermost diameter of the shoulder such that the support portion of the food container rests on the shoulder of the outer container. The outer container has a height greater than a height of the pre-packaged food container, thereby forming a headspace above the pre-packaged food container capable of receiving toppings.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of preparing and transporting a food product. The method comprises providing a pre-packaged food container including an open-topped cup, a flange positioned radially around a sidewall of the cup, and a spoonable product in the cup; providing an outer container defining a cup-shaped chamber having an outer wall, the outer wall defines a shoulder located radially around the outer wall, and wherein the cup-shaped chamber is configured to house the pre-packaged food container, wherein an outer diameter of the flange is greater than then lowermost diameter of the shoulder such that the flange of the food container rests in the shoulder of the outer container, the outer container has a height greater than a height of the pre-packaged food container to enable forming a headspace above the pre-packaged food; providing toppings configured to be placed into the open-topped cup while it is located in the outer container;
and providing a lid capable of engaging a rim of the outer container to enclose the open-topped cup and toppings.

[0011] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a plastic outer container having an outer cup and a lid. The plastic outer container comprising a frusto-conical sidewall extending from a standing ring, a rim located at an uppermost portion of the sidewall, and a concave, circumferential shoulder formed in the sidewall. The rim is adapted for receiving the lid. The shoulder is configured such that the outer diameter of a support portion of a pre-packaged food cup is greater than then lowermost diameter of the shoulder such that the support portion of the food container rests on the shoulder of the outer container. The outer container has a height greater than a height of the pre-packaged food container, thereby capable of forming a headspace above the pre-packaged food container capable of receiving toppings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic of a container cup package, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2A is a side view of an outer container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2B is a side view of the top of an outer container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3A is a side view of a lid, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3B is a side view the top of a lid, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4A is a side view a pre-packaged food container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 4B is a side view the top of a pre-packaged food container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view a pre-packaged food container within an outer container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an outer container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a side view an outer container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 8 is an illustration a top view of an outer container, according to an aspect of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The following description is of an exemplary embodiment of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope or applicability on the invention in any way.
Rather, the following description is intended to provide convenient illustrations for implementing various embodiments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a combination package 10 including a pre-packaged food container 400, a lid component 300, and an outer container 100, according to an aspect of the disclosure. The pre-packaged food container 400 is positioned within the outer container 100 and the lid component 300 is securedly and removably attached to the outer container 100.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the outer container 100 includes an outer wall 102 and a base 104. The outer wall 102 and the base 104 are formed together in a unit to form a chamber 114, such that no fluid can flow through the coupling. The chamber 114 may define a cup-shape. The outer container 100 is preferably formed of a conventional plastic, such as polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, LDPE, PET or the like, and by a conventional process, such by injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, or other similar process.
Preferably, the outer container 100 may be transparent.

[0026] The outer wall 102 includes an upper section 106, a lower section 108, and a shoulder 116. The upper section 106 is spaced from the lower section 108 along a longitudinal direction D, and the shoulder 116 is positioned in between the upper section 106 and the lower section 108 in the longitudinal direction D. A height H1 of the outer wall 102 extends from an upper most portion of the upper section 106 to a lower most portion of the lower section 108. It should be appreciated that the use of the term "upper"
refers to a location closer to the upper section 106 in the longitudinal direction D, accordingly, the term "lower" or "below" refers to a location closer to the lower section 108.
Additionally, "upper direction" refers to the direction from the lower section 108 toward the upper section 106, while "lower direction" refers to the direction from the upper section 106 to the lower section 108.

[0027] The upper section 106 includes a rim 110 that defines an opening 112.
The rim 110 is circumferential about the upper most portion of the upper section 106 in a radial direction R. The rim 110 has an inner rim diameter dl that is substantially similar to a diameter of the upper most portion of the upper section 106, and an outer rim diameter d2, whereby the rim 110 extends in the radial direction R from the inner rim diameter dl to the outer rim diameter d2. The upper section 106 may have a frusto-conical shape that extends from an upper shoulder portion 120 of the shoulder 116 to an upper most portion of upper section 106. The inner rim diameter dl may be greater than a diameter of a lower most portion (not labeled) of the upper section 106.

[0028] The shoulder 116 is positioned lower than and directly below the upper section 106, whereby a diameter of the lower most portion of the upper section 106 is substantially similar to an upper shoulder diameter d3 of an upper shoulder portion 120 of the shoulder 116 at the juncture. The shoulder 116 has a lower shoulder diameter d4 and is formed by the outer wall 102 and extends radially around the longitudinal direction D. The shoulder 116 may also have a frusto-conical shape extending from a lower shoulder portion 118 to the upper shoulder portion 120 of the shoulder 116, such that the lower shoulder diameter d4 is less than the upper shoulder diameter d3. The frusto-conical shape of the shoulder 116 may have an angle D, which is the angle between the longitudinal direction D and the line extending from the lower shoulder portion 118 to the upper shoulder portion 120 of the shoulder 116. The anglecto ranges from just above 0 degrees to 90 degrees. It should be appreciated that the angle 01) may be greater than an angle Q between the longitudinal direction D and a line 121 extending from the lower most portion of the upper section 106 to the upper most portion of the upper section 106.

[0029] The upper section 106 has a height H2 that extends in the longitudinal direction D
and the lower section 108 has a height H3 that extends in the longitudinal direction D. The height H2 is less than the height H3, however, it should be appreciated that in another aspect this disclosure, the height H3 may be less than the height H2. The configuration of the diameters dl, d2, d3, and d4, the heights H2 and H3, and/or the anglecto of the shoulder 116 may depend upon the size and dimension of a container positioned within, for example, the size and dimension of the pre-packaged food container 400.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, side views of the lid component 300 are shown, according to an aspect of the disclosure. The lid component 300 is configured to removably attach to the outer container 100. The lid component 300 includes an upper lid section 302 and a lower lid section 304 located below the upper lid section 302 in a longitudinal direction E. The upper lid section 302 and the lower lid section 304 are spaced radially about the longitudinal direction E in the radial direction R', and form a headspace 316.

[0031] The upper lid section 302 defines a recess 306. The recess 306 has an outer recess edge 308 and a base 310. The recess is formed by the intersection of the edge 308 with the base 310, which are spaced radially about the upper lid section 302 in a radial direction R'.
The base is positioned lower than the upper most portion of the upper lid section 302 along a longitudinal direction E. The recess 306 is configured to support a container, for example, the outer wall 102 and the base 104 of the outer container 100.

[0032] The lower lid section 304 (FIG. 3B) has a lid base 310 having a base diameter d5, a rim support 312 having a first attachment diameter d6, and a rim lock 314 having a second attachment diameter d7. Each diameter d5, d6, and d7 extends about the longitudinal axis E
in the radial direction R'. The second attachment diameter d7 is less than the first attachment diameter d6. The length of base diameter d5 is greater than the diameters of d6 and d7, and the lengths of the diameters d6 and d7 are such that a rim of a container or cup can be positioned radially in between. For example, the first attachment diameter d6 may be configured to have a diameter that is less than the outer rim diameter d2 of the rim 110 of the outer container 100, and the second attachment diameter d7 may be configured to have a diameter greater than outer rim diameter d2 of the rim 110 when the rim 110 is positioned radially in between diameters d6 and d7.

[0033] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a side view of a pre-packaged food container 400 and a side view of a top portion of a pre-packaged food container 400, respectively.
It should be appreciated that in an aspect of this disclosure, the pre-packaged food container 400 may be a yogurt cup, soup cup, or similar cup configured to hold a fluid or spoonable product.

[0034] The food container 400 includes an inner container sidewall 402, which has a top inner section 404, a flange or first support portion 408, and a lower inner section 406. The height H4 of the food container 400 extends from the upper most portion of the top inner section 404 to the lower most portion of the lower inner section 406.

[0035] The top inner section 404 includes an inner rim or second support portion 410 that defines an opening 412. The inner rim 410 is spaced radially about the upper most portion of the top inner section 404 in a radial direction R". The inner rim 410 has an inner and outer rim diameter d9 and d8, respectively, whereby the inner rim 410 extends in the radial direction R" from the inner rim diameter d9 to the outer rim diameter d8.

[0036] The flange 408 is positioned in between the top inner section 404 and the lower inner section 406 in a longitudinal direction F. The flange 408 extends radially about the longitudinal direction F in the radial direction R". The flange 408 has an inner flange diameter d10 and an outer flange diameter (not labeled) that is substantially similar to the inner rim diameter d9. The flange 408 may be frusto-conical in shape, whereby the inner flange diameter d10 is less than inner rim diameter d9. The flange 408 extends between a lower flange portion 414 and an upper flange portion 416 at a flange angle E.
The flange angle E extends between the longitudinal direction F and a line 417 extending between the lower flange portion 414 and the upper flange portion 416. The flange angle E
may be in a range from 0 to 90 degrees.

[0037] The top inner section 404 has a height H5 that extends in the longitudinal direction F and the lower inner section 406 has a height H6 that extends in the longitudinal direction F.
The height H5 is less than the height H6, such that when the flange 408 is positioned on top of or supported by a shoulder, movement of the food container 400 may be minimized. The configuration of the diameters d8, d9, and d10, the heights H4, H5, and H6, and/or the flange angle E of the flange 408 depend upon the size and dimension of a container for which the food container 400 is positioned within, for example, the size and dimension of the outer container 100.

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the pre-packaged food container 400 positioned within the outer container 100. When the pre-packaged food container 400 is positioned within the outer container 100, the longitudinal axes D and F of each container 100, 400 are aligned. In an aspect of this disclosure, the height H4 of the food container 400 is less than the height H1 of the outer container 100, such that the entire food container 400 is housed within the outer container 100. Accordingly, the height H3 of the outer container 100 is greater than the height H6 of the food container 400, and the height H2 of the outer container 100 is greater than the height H5 of the food container 400.

[0039] A outer container headspace 502 is formed when the pre-packaged food container 400 is positioned within the outer container 100. The outer container headspace 502 is formed in the upper section 106 of the outer wall 102 of the outer container 100. The outer container headspace 502 is capable of receiving toppings.

[0040] The flange 408 of the food container 400 and the shoulder 116 of the outer container 100 are configured to align, whereby the food container 400 may be retained, supported, rested, or otherwise held in place by the shoulder 116 of the outer container 100. According to an aspect of this disclosure, the lower shoulder diameter d4 of the shoulder 116 is not greater than the inner flange diameter d10 of the flange 408. The shoulder 116 may also be a substantially horizontal shelf for receiving the flange 408.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates another aspect of an outer container 600, according to this disclosure. The outer container 700 may include a container sidewall 602 with a shoulder 604 defined thereon. The shoulder 604 may be configured to receive a rim of a food container, such as the inner rim 410 of the food container 400.

[0042] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate another aspect of an outer container 700 including a shoulder recess 702 within a shoulder 704. The shoulder recess 702 extends radially around the shoulder 704. The shoulder recess 702 has an upper end 706, a lower end 708, and a middle section 710 positioned between the upper end 706 and the lower end. The diameter of the middle section 710 is greater than the diameters of the upper end 706 and the lower end 708, such that a rim of a food container, such as the inner rim 410 of the food container 400, may be retained within the middle section 710 of the shoulder recess 702. In an aspect of this disclosure, the shoulder recess 702 may be a snap fit.

[0043] According to an aspect of this disclosure, a method for preparing and transporting a food product may include the steps of: providing the pre-packaged food container 400 in the shape of an open-topped cup and having food contents, providing the outer container 100 defining the cup-shaped chamber 114, inserting the pre-packaged food container 400 into the cup-shaped chamber 114, providing toppings configured to be placed into the open-topped cup while it is located in the outer container 100, and providing the lid 300 capable of engaging the rim 110 of the outer container 100 to enclose the open-topped cup and toppings.

[0044] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and method. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.

[0045] Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A combination package comprising:
a pre-packaged food container including:
a cup having a sidewall and a flange that extends circumferentially about the cup sidewal; and a food product disposed within the cup; and an outer container having a circumferential shoulder disposed between an upper portion and a lower portion, the shoulder having an upper end connected to the upper portion, a lower end connected to the lower portion, and a middle section disposed between the upper end and the lower end that defines a recess, wherein each of the upper end, lower end, and middle section define diameters and the diameter of the middle section is greater than the diameters of the upper end and the lower end and wherein the flange of the cup of the prepackaged food container is disposed within the recess.

2. The combination package of claim 1, wherein the flange defines a flange diameter and the flange diameter is less than the diameter of the upper end of the shoulder.

3. The combination package of claim 1, wherein the shoulder recess is a snap fit.

4. The combination package of claim 3, wherein the outer container is formed of polystyrene.

5. The combination package of claim 4, wherein the outer container is transparent.

6. The combination package of claim 1, wherein the outer container is thermoformed.

7. A method of preparing a food product comprising the steps of:
providing a pre-packaged food container that includes a cup having a sidewall and a flange that extends circumferentially about the cup sidewall, the food container further comprising a food product in the cup;

providing an outer container having a circumferential shoulder disposed between an upper portion and a lower portion, the shoulder having an upper end connected to the upper portion, a lower end connected to the lower portion, and a middle section disposed between the upper end and the lower end that defines a recess, wherein each of the upper end, lower end, and middle section define diameters and the diameter of the middle section is greater than the diameters of the upper end and the lower end so as to enable the flange of the cup of the prepackaged food container to be disposed within the recess;
providing toppings configured to be placed into a topping recess defined by a top surface of the food product an the upper portion of the outer container; and providing a lid capable of engaging a rim of the outer container to enclose the , open-topped cup and toppings.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of placing the cup into the outer container so as to dispose the flange in the recess.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of opening the pre-packaged food container by removing a lid from the cup.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of scooping the toppings'into the topping recess, the scoping step occuring after the step of placing the cup into the outer container.

11 A plastic container comprising:
a base;
a sidewall comprising:
a lower portion that extends from the base;
an upper portion disposed above the lower portion; and a circumferential shoulder disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the shoulder having an upper end connected to the upper portion, a lower end connected to the lower portion, and a middle section disposed between the upper end and the lower end that defines a recess, wherein each of the upper end, lower end, and middle section define diameters and the diameter of the middle section is greater than the diameters of the upper end and the lower end.

12. The plastic container of claim 11, wherein the base and the lower portion of the sidewall define a cup recess that is configured to fit a cup and the shoulder recess is configured to snap fit about a circumferentially extending flange of the cup.

13. The plastic outer container of claim 11, wherein the outer container is formed of polystyrene.

14. The plastic outer container of claim 13, wherein the outer container is transparent.

15. The plastic container of claim 12, wherein the upper portion of the sidewall partially defines a toppings recess configured to fit toppings for a food product disposed in the cup.

16. The plastic container of claim 11, wherein the sidewall extends from the base to define a height and the shoulder is disposed in a middle third of the height of the sidewall.