GB2396854A

GB2396854A - Food container having compartments

Info

Publication number: GB2396854A
Application number: GB0328282A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Henry Leslie; Barrington Harvey Pamplin; Johanne Elizabeth Hayles; Daniel Durrant
Original assignee: United Biscuits Ltd
Current assignee: United Biscuits Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-09
Filing date: 2003-12-05
Publication date: 2004-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-05
Also published as: GB2396854B; GB0228684D0; GB0328282D0

Abstract

A food container (1) <WC 1>comprises ```a first portion comprising a first compartment (2) with a lid (5); and ```a second portion comprising a second compartment preferably comprising a pivotable drawer (8), ```relative movement of said first and second portions being possible from a first relative position in which the second compartment is not accessible to a second position in which the second compartment is accessible. The<WC 1> first and second portions are mutually attached in both the first and second and the container is for containing a multiplicity of snack food and/or biscuit items.

Description

1 2396854 Dual-Compartment Food Packaging The invention relates to

containers for food products and in particular for food products which are sold in the form of a multiplicity of individual food items. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to containers for snack products or biscuit products and dips.

Conventionally, many snack products have been sold in the form of bags each containing a multiplicity of the snack products, the amount of snack product in each bag often being selected to be suitable for consumption by an individual consumer on a single occasion. In recent years, however, consumers have become increasingly sophisticated in their requirements, and a number of snack products have been sold in larger individual portions in more rigid, reclosable containers, such that the portion can be shared more easily between a number of consumers and/or a remaining portion of the products can be retained in the container for consumption at a later time, the container allowing airtight closure to decrease the rate of deterioration.

It is common for snack products and biscuit products, especially miniature biscuit products, to be eaten at times of social interaction, for example, by families at home, or by groups of people in other social settings.

Many of the existing containers serve the sole function of enclosing the food products, and do not contribute, or do not significantly contribute, to enhancement of the consumers' eating experience.

There is a continuing need for food containers which are suitable for enclosing a multiplicity of food items, especially snack products or biscuits, and which will meet the desires of consumers for a new or enhanced eating experience such as snacking on the go. There is a particular need for containers designed to store combinations of complementary food products, such as snack products or biscuits together with dips (for example, dipping sauces).

The invention provides a food container comprising: i) a first compartment with a lid; and ii) a second compartment; relative movement of said first and second compartments being possible from a first relative position in which the second compartment is not accessible to a second position in which the second compartment is accessible.

A food container according to the present invention allows consumption of snack products with a dip from the constituent parts of the container itself and can allow for the snack products and dip to be readily resealed.

The invention removes any requirement for separate purchase of a dip or need for additional receptacles for holding the snack products or accompanying dip.

It is preferred that the food container of the present invention comprises: i) a first portion comprising a first compartment with a lids and ii) a second portion comprising a second compartment; relative movement of said first and second portions being possible from a first relative position in which the second compartment is not accessible to a second position in which the second compartment is accessible wherein the first and second portions are mutually attached in both the first and second positions.

Such a container allows the user to access both compartments (say, for example, containing snack products and dip) while holding the container in one-hand.

It is further preferred that the first and second portions may be mutually attached such that they are inseparable. In that connection, "inseparable" is to be understood as not being liable to separate in normal use of the container. This prevents one of the portions (and its contents) from becoming misplaced, for example, during a party.

The first and second portions may be mutually pivotally attached. This allows the two portions to be rotated relative to one another to gain access to the second compartment. Such a mechanism provides a simple and effective mechanism for closure and opening of the container.

Alternatively, the first and second portions may be slidably mutually attached so as to be relatively slidable between the first and second positions.

The second compartment may comprise a drawer that fits into a recess in the food container. A drawer provides an effective and convenient manner of providing a relatively movable second compartment. Such a drawer may be movable between the first and second positions by a translational or rotational movement. The drawer may be hingedly attached to the edge of a mouth of the recess.

The drawer may be arranged to engage positively with engagement means provided in the recess when the drawer is closed. This mitigates against accidental opening of the second compartment and possible loss of foodstuffs therefrom.

One or both of the second compartment and the lid may be usable as a bowl. Such arrangements provide a convenient receptacle for the user, dispensing with the need to locate additional receptacles, often at inconvenient times and in inconvenient places.

The food container may contain a multiplicity of food items, preferably snack food items and/or biscuit items.

The food container may contain a multiplicity of food items in one compartment and a dip in the other compartment. Such an arrangement allows the user to garnish or season the snack food or biscuit items with dip as desired without the need to find alternative dips. A dip may, for example, comprise a powder or a sauce.

Furthermore, if the two portions of the container are mutually attached when the two compartments are accessible (as is preferred), then this allows the user to effectively hold the dip and snacks in one hand and to dip with the other hand.

The term "food item" is used herein to mean any item of food which may be sold in the form of a multiplicity of the individual items and, for example, includes snack foods (such as crisps, fabricated snack products and nuts) and biscuits. Food items especially suitable for packaging in the containers of the invention are those sold in "bite size" pieces, for example, snack products (especially fabricated snack products, nuts and miniature crisps) and small biscuits.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. la is a side view of a first form of container according to the invention; and Fig. lb is a perspective view of the container of Fig. la with a second compartment open.

Referring firstly to Fig.la and lb, a food container 1 comprises a container housing 2 enclosing an upper compartment 3 suitable for holding food items, especially snack foods, a lower compartment 4 suitable for holding a dip (such as a dipping sauce) and a lid 5. The lower compartment 4 comprises a recess 6 in the food container below the upper compartment having a mouth 7 in the housing 2 of the container and a drawer 8 hingedly attached to the container housing at a side edge of the mouth 7 by a hinge 9. The drawer 8 fits in the recess 6 when in a closed, storage position and can be moved to an open position for access to the contents of the drawer by means of rotation about the hinge 9. The drawer 8 may be movable between the open and closed positions by other means than a hinge as will be understood by a person skilled in the art. Although not shown, the drawer 8 is preferably arranged to engage positively with engagement means provided in the recess when the drawer is closed.

In practice, the dip will normally be in a separate receptacle, which may be received in the drawer 8. The separate receptacle may be sealed by a membrane which preferably acts as an oxygen and moisture barrier. The drawer may contain two or more separate compartments for receiving dips of different flavours.

The lid 5 may be attachable to the container housing by any suitable means, for example by means of a friction- fit, snap-fit or screw-fit.

The container is of any suitable material, which is preferably able to act as an oxygen and/or moisture barrier, especially plastics material, for example, polypropylene. The lid 5 may advantageously be of a plastics material which is the same or different from that of the container housing 2. Although not shown, the container housing 2 may have an inner layer of clear plastics material and an outer layer having an aperture framing a transparent window in the inner layer of plastics material, through which the food items are then visible. The outer layer may be a film of plastics material, for example, a shrink-wrap film. It may instead be a layer of ink, for example, generated by printing on the inner layer. The container may have a volume of, for example, 200 to 800cm3, preferably from 300 to 500cm3.

In use, the container 1 is filled with food items, for example, fabricated snacks, and the lid 5 is placed onto the top of container housing 2. If desired, an outer plastic wrapper can be provided around the closure means, around the seal between lid and receptacle, or around the whole article, the wrapper preferably having oxygen and/or moisture barrier properties for improving preservation of the snacks and/or providing evidence of tampering with the seal.

The consumer is able to open the upper compartment by removing the lid 5. The drawer 8 can then be swung out to make accessible the dip, into which the food items can be dipped by the consumer according to his or her taste.

After use, the consumer may close the drawer 8 and replace the lid 5 to reseal the lower and upper compartments respectively for maintaining product freshness.

The food items may be sealed in the container at normal atmospheric pressure, at reduced pressure or at increased pressure. It is also possible for increased pressure or reduced pressure to be generated after closure by means within the container.

If desired an outer plastic wrapper can be provided around the seal or around the whole article, providing an oxygen and/or moisture proof barrier for improving preservation of the food items and/or providing evidence of tampering with the seal. Suitable barrier materials include EVOH.

Claims

Claims A food container comprising: i) a first portion comprising a first

compartment with a lid; and ii) a second portion comprising a second compartment; relative movement of said first and second portions being possible from a first relative position in which the second compartment is not accessible to a second position in which the second compartment is accessible wherein the first and second portions are mutually attached in both the first and second positions, the container further comprising a multiplicity of snack food and/or biscuit items.
2. A food container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second portions are inseparable.
3. A food container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and second portions are mutually pivotally attached.
4. A food container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and second portions are slidably mutually attached so as to be relatively slidable between the first and second positions.
5. A food container as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the second compartment comprises a drawer that fits into a recess in the food container.
6. A food container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the drawer is movable between the first and second positions by a translational movement.
7. A food container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the drawer is rotationally movable between the first and second positions.
8. A food container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the drawer is hingedly attached to the edge of a mouth of the recess.
9. A food container as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the drawer is arranged to engage positively with engagement means provided in the recess when the drawer is closed.
10. A food container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second compartment is usable as a bowl.
A food container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid is usable as a bowl.
12. A food container as claimed in any preceding claim containing a multiplicity of snack food and/or biscuit items in one compartment and a dip in the other compartment.
13. A food container as substantially herein described with reference to Fig la and lb.