US20190193914A1

US20190193914A1 - Food container with integrated condiment holder

Info

Publication number: US20190193914A1
Application number: US16/161,400
Authority: US
Inventors: Jacqueline A. Magras-Sinnen
Original assignee: Minmor Industries; Mako Surgical Corp
Current assignee: Minmor Industries; Mako Surgical Corp
Priority date: 2017-10-17
Filing date: 2018-10-16
Publication date: 2019-06-27

Abstract

Containers such as food containers with integrated compartments such as for condiments. The container includes a plurality of side walls and a bottom, together surrounding the internal container space, and a condiment compartment configured to hold a condiment or a condiment container and located within the internal container space. The container is constructed of a planar material and has a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the placement of food within the internal container space.

Description

BACKGROUND

Carry out food and fast food are increasingly popular. People often eat such food while they are away from home and are unable to sit at a table. For example, fast food items purchased from a drive-through window are often consumed while in a car or other vehicle. Whether the person eating is the driver or a passenger, eating food in a vehicle presents challenges as it can be hard to avoid dropping or spilling food in the car or on oneself. Some foods such as burgers and sandwiches are relatively self-contained and can be kept partially wrapped and held in one or two hands while they are eaten. However, other foods have two separately packaged components, such as food items that are eaten with condiments such as with dipping sauces. Common examples include French fries and chicken pieces which are often dipped in sauces such as ketchup, barbeque, and many others. It is very difficult to hold both the food container and the dipping sauce container simultaneously while also picking up, dipping, and eating the food items. Inside a vehicle, one solution is to place the condiment container somewhere, such as on the dashboard or the center console, but the condiment container is precariously balanced and spills are likely.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments include containers such as food containers with integrated compartments such as condiment compartments. The food container may include a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges, and a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround an internal container space. The container may further include a condiment compartment configured to hold a condiment or a condiment container, the compartment located within the internal container space. The food container may be partially or entirely made of a planar material. It may have a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the placement of food within the internal container space.
In some embodiments, the condiment compartment is adjacent to the top edge of the first side wall. Such a condiment compartment may be a four sided pyramidal space formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, the four side walls of the condiment compartment together forming a point at the bottom and being open top, wherein the first and second side walls of the condiment compartment comprise portions of the first and second side walls of the container. The third condiment compartment side wall may be attached to the first side wall of the container and the fourth condiment side wall may be attached to the second side wall of the container within the internal container space. The condiment compartment may be configured to be alternatively adjusted by a user into a closed configuration or an open configuration.
In some embodiments, the container also includes a top flap having an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the top flap connected to the upper edge of the first side wall, wherein the condiment compartment comprises an aperture in the top flap, the aperture configured to fit and support a condiment container within the aperture when the top flap is folded along the bottom edge of the top flap into a horizontal configuration over the internal container space.
The container may be adjustable between a collapsed flat configuration and an open use configuration. In another embodiments, when the container is configured in an open configuration for use, the container may include a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges, and a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround an internal container space. The container may further include a top flap including an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the top flap connected to the upper edge of the first side wall along a flap fold line, and an aperture within the top flap, wherein the aperture is configured to fit and support a condiment container within it the aperture when the top flap is folded along the bottom edge into a horizontal configuration. In some such embodiments, the aperture may extend to the bottom edge of the flap. In some embodiments, the first side wall of the container further may include a tab portion adjacent to the aperture and configured to fold inward or outward as a horizontal projection or to be removed. The tab portion may further include one or more rows of perforations or cuts within the first side wall to assist with separating the tab portion from the first side wall prior to folding the tab portion inward or outward or removing the tab portion.
In some embodiments, the container may be constructed of a planar material and may have a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the container space open within the container.
In some embodiments, the top flap, when folded into a horizontal orientation across the open container space, extends only part way across the internal container space. In some embodiments, the top flap includes a first top flap and the fold line of the top flap comprises a first fold line, the food container further comprising a second top flap, the second top flap comprising an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the second top flap connected to the upper edge of the second side wall along a second flap fold line. The second top flap may be sized to extend across the aperture of the first top flap when the first and second top flaps are folded inward into a horizontal configuration over the container space. In some embodiments, the first side wall of the container may further include a tab portion adjacent to the aperture and configured to fold inward or outward as a horizontal projection, wherein when the first and second top flaps are folded inward into a horizontal configuration over the container space and when the tab portion is folded inward or outward, the container space remains visible through a gap in the first side wall created by folding the tab portion.
In some embodiments, the food container includes, when configured in an open configuration for use, a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges, and a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround the open container space. The container further includes a condiment compartment within the open container space, wherein the condiment compartment is adjustable between a closed configuration in which the condiment compartment is flat against one or more walls of the container and an open configuration in which the condiment compartment is open and extends into the open container space. The condiment compartment may be a four sided pyramidal space formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, the side walls of the compartment together forming a point at a bottom and being open at a top of the condiment compartment. The first and second side walls of the condiment compartment comprise portions of the first and second side walls of the container. The condiment compartment may further include a tab located at a top edge of the third side wall of the condiment compartment and, when the condiment compartment is in a closed configuration, the tab extending above the top edges of the first and second side walls of the container. The food container may be made of a planar material such as a paper material and may have a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with an open container space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 are front perspective views of a container according to various embodiments in different open configurations;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are back perspective viewed of the container of FIGS. 1-3 with an upper portion of the back removed, with and without a sauce container;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are front perspective views of the container of FIGS. 1-3 in a closed configuration, with and without a sauce container;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a container;

FIGS. 9-11 b are perspective views of another embodiment of a container;

FIG. 12 is an diagram for the manufacture of a container from a planar material;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the container of FIGS. 1-3 in a flat configuration;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the container of FIGS. 9-11 in a flat configuration; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application claims priority to provisional application 62/573,629 filed Oct. 17, 2017 and entitled Food Container with Integrated Condiment Holder, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The present disclosure is directed to containers for food including integrated condiment compartments. The container may be partially or entirely constructed of a stiff sheet of material such as a paper material which may be folded into the container shape, with the condiment compartment formed by folds, cuts and/or perforations in the paper. The condiment compartment may be oriented such that food within the container can be removed by a consumer and dipped into the condiment while the container is held in the consumer's other hand, sitting in a cup holder of a vehicle, or sitting on a planar surface such as a table top.
Foods for which the use of containers as described herein are particularly useful include multi-piece food items consumed with condiments. Examples of such food include French fries, onion rings, chicken pieces, French toast sticks, mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, chicken drummies, egg rolls, won tons, chips such as potato chips or nacho chips, vegetables such as sliced or baby carrots, fruit pieces such as apple slices, and pretzels. Condiments which may be carried in the condiment compartment include ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, honey-mustard sauce, maple syrup, barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, melted cheese such as nacho cheese sauce, dressings such as salad-style dressings like ranch and thousand island, humus, yogurt, chocolate, caramel, and any other sauce or food in the nature of a thickened liquid into which food is dipped and then eaten. Such condiments are often provided in small, single serving types of disposable containers, such as round or square plastic containers which may have a peel away top, and various container embodiments are configured for use with such condiment containers. While primarily intended for use as a food containers, particularly a disposable containers for food, it should be understood that the containers described herein could alternatively be used to hold other materials with which a small, integrated compartment would be useful. Examples include arts and crafts materials such as paints or beads, home improvement or construction materials such as tools or small components such as screws, nails, washers, etc., or any other types of materials.
A first example of a container according to various embodiments is shown in FIGS. 1-7, with dotted lines representing perforated lines and dashed lines representing fold lines. In practice in a container product, lines described as perforated may alternatively be fully or partially pre-cut along the described line. In addition, in practice in a container product, the fold lines may be marked such by lines (solid, dashed, dotted, etc.) or other user instructions or visual indicators, indented, and/or scored, or may not be unaltered. The container 10 may be shipped and stored in a flat configuration, as shown in FIG. 13, described further below, and may be popped open prior to use to the open use configuration shown in FIGS. 1-7. The container 10 has a square shape with a slight inward taper from the top to the bottom, though it could alternatively be more tapered, straight, or tapered outward. The container 10 includes two opposing sides 20, a back 30, a front 40, a front top flap 50 and a back top flap 60. The use of the terms front, back, and side in this application are used for descriptive purposes only, and it should be realized that any side of a container may be considered a front, back or side. As such, the sides may alternatively be considers as first, second, third, and fourth, though some embodiments could optionally include fewer sides such as three or more sides such as five or six. The container 10 further includes a bottom, not shown, which spans from side to side and front to back to enclose the space within the container 10. Bottom may be a simple flap with a lip, folding in from one of the sides, the front, or the back, for example, or a more complex design. Alternatively, bottom may be any other type of container bottom such as what is known as an auto bottom in which the bottom includes four pieces, one attached to each side, which fold up when the container is flat and bend down and overlap and lock in a flat spiral formation when the box is expanded into use form.
In FIG. 1, the container 10 is shown as it appears when it has just been popped open from the flat configuration. The back 30 may be a complete planar sheet with no apertures and may attach to back top flap 60 along fold line 64. Sides 20 may include apertures 22 which may be in approximate horizontal alignment with fold line 64 such that tabs of the top flaps, such as tabs 62, may be inserted into apertures 22 when the back top flap 60 is folded forward to close the container 10. In alternative embodiments, front top flap 50 may similarly include tabs for insertion into apertures 62 instead of, or in addition to, tabs 62 of the back top flap 60.
Front 40 may have a top edge 42 extending between fold lines 44 and along which front 40 attaches to the front top flap 50. Top edge 42 may be in approximate horizontal alignment with apertures 22 and fold line 64 to allow back top flap 60 to overlie top front flap 50 in a smooth abutting relationship when the container 10 is closed. Front 40 may further include fold line 46, directly beneath and parallel to top edge 42, and perforations 48 extending from the ends of top edge 42 down to the ends of fold line 46. Perforations 48 and fold line 46 surround portion 49 which can be folded to project inward or outward like a tab after the container is torn along perforations 48. Alternatively, rather than having perforations 48, the container 10 could be cut partially or completely though in a line along the extent of perforations 48. In other alternatives, fold line 46 may be a perforated (or partially or completely cut) line and portion 49 may be entirely removed by tearing along lines 48 and 46. In still other embodiments, portion 49 may be missing from the container, such that lines 48 and 46 form the edges of a gap in the front 40.
Back top flap 60 may include a pair of tabs 62 which may extend from side edges 66. The length of back top flap 60, from fold line 64 to edge 68, may be approximately equal to the distance between the front 40 and the back 60 at the top of the container 10 at the top such that when the back top flap 60 is folded forward to close the container 10, it completely covers the space within the container 10. (In alternative embodiments, the back top flap 60 may be omitted or may be reduced in size, such as to only abut or only partially overlap the front top flap 50 when the top flaps 50, 60 are in a closed configuration.) The length of the front top flap 50, from fold lines 44 to edge 58 may be less that the length of back top flap 60 such that when front top flap 50 is folded back to close the container 10 it does not extend fully across the container 10. Front top flap 50 includes aperture 52 formed by edge 54 and edge 42. In this embodiment, edge 54 is arched, such that aperture 52 is a portion of a circle, in this case slightly greater than half of a circle but less than a whole circle. This embodiment is appropriate for use with condiment containers having a circular shape on horizontal cross-section. For other shapes of condiment containers, edge 54 may have other shapes such that aperture 52 is shaped to match the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the condiment container. For example, the aperture may be square, rectangular, oval, or any other shape. In addition, the front top flap 50 may not be square as shown but may be different shape, such as a semicircle, with a bottom edge attached to the front 40 and an outer edge forming any desired shape.
In FIG. 2, the container 10 has been arranged to hold a condiment container within the inside space of the container 10. To achieve this arrangement, a user tears or cuts the container along perforations 48 and folds portion 49 inward along fold line 46. (Alternatively, if the container material is pre-cut along the line of perforations 48, the user may just fold section 49 inward.) The user also folds front top flap 50 back over the container space. A condiment holder space 70 is then formed. In this embodiment, a condiment container having a circular cross-sectional shape may be placed into space 70. A rim of the condiment container may rest on the surface of front top flap 50 and/or the bottom of the condiment container may rest on portion 49 to support the condiment container. Furthermore, since the aperture 52 was greater than a half of a circle, space 70 will extend more than half way around condiment container, holding it securely such that it will not slip out sideways. A consumer can reach into the container 10 to access food within the container 10 through the gap between edge 58 of the front top flap and the back 30. (In alternative embodiments in which portion 49 is removable or is a gap, condiment holder space 70 is formed just by folding front flap 50 back over the container space, and the rim of the condiment container may rest on the top flap 50 and/or the bottom fo the condiment container may rest on the edge at line 46.)
An alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 3. In this configuration, section 49 is folded outward (or alternatively it is not present or is removed) and front top flap 50 is likewise folded outward. A condiment holder space 72 is formed as in the other configuration, but this time extending outside of the container 10. This configuration allows easier access to food within the container 10. However, the weight of the condiment, extending outside of the container, may cause the container 10 to become unbalanced and more likely to tip to the side holding the condiment, particularly as the contents of the container 10 decrease as the consumer eats them. Therefore, the bottom portion of the container 10 may be sized to fit within a standard vehicle cup holder. In this way, when the container 10 is placed within the vehicle cup holder, the vehicle cup holder may hold the container 10 in an upright orientation despite the weight of an outward projecting condiment container.
In some embodiments, in order to allow easier access to food within container 10 when the condiment holder space 70 is inside the container 10, back 30 may include perforations (or alternatively partial or complete through-cuts) to allow it to be partially removed by the consumer as desired. For example, back 30 may be perforated or pre-cut or along side edges 36 from the top fold line 64 and extending midway down the back 30. (Alternatively, the perforated or pre-cut lines may be generally vertical lines, spaced apart and inward from the side edges 36, along with a perforated or partially or completely cut line extending between them at the top, such as at or near fold line 64.) Initially, when the container 10 is full of food, a consumer may be able to access the food without difficulty through the gap between edge 58 and back 30. However, as the food level becomes lower, the food may be difficult to reach through this gap. The consumer may then tear the container 10 along perforations at edges 36 (or inset from edges 36) and fold back and/or tear off back top flap 68 along with an upper portion of back 30. To assist with folding or removal of this upper portion of the back 30, back 30 may include a horizontal line of perforations (or an indentation, mark, or partial or complete cut) extending between edges 36 or a horizontal fold line, somewhere between the top fold line 64 and the bottom of the container 10. In some embodiments, back 30 may include a series of horizontal lines of perforations or folds at various heights to allow user to tear or fold back the upper portion of back 30 sequentially, starting with a higher fold or tear line and progressing to one or more lower fold or tear lines as the food is consumed.
An example of an embodiment in which an upper portion of the back 30 has been removed is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Only a lower portion of back 30 remains, and access to the inside of container 10 is easier. A lower portion of back 30 remains in place, able to contain any remaining pieces of food within the container 10. In FIG. 5, a condiment container 80 is shown within the condiment holder space 70.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, the container 10 is shown with the condiment holder space 70 within the container 10 and the front and back top flaps 50 (not shown) and 60 folded inward to close the container 10. Back top flap 60 overlies front top flap 50 and both top flaps 50, 60 are held securely in place by tabs 62 extending through apertures 22. Upper edges 24 of sides 20 extend above the closed top surface of the container 10. While upper edges 24 are shown as being rounded, other profiles are also possible. In FIG. 6, the condiment holder space 70 is empty while in FIG. 7 it holds a condiment container 80 which can be seen protruding slightly through the front 40. This is advantageous as it allows a user such as a food vender or a food purchaser/consumer to see that a condiment has been provided with the food within the container 10.
In alternative embodiments, front top flap 50 could include an aperture sized to fully circumscribe a condiment container, such as a complete full circular, square, or rectangular aperture having no open sides, such that no perforation or folding of the front 40 would be required. However, in such embodiments, when the front top flap is folded in and the condiment container inserted into the aperture, the condiment container would be fully contained within the container 10 and would not be visible. However, depending upon the dimensions of the container 10, it could require the front top flap 50 to be so long that it prohibits access to food within the container. In containers having an upper back 30 that can fold or tear away, this might not present a problem. Likewise, this might also not be a problem if the container is large enough or long enough to still provide a gap between the edge 58 of the front top flap 50 and the back 30.
An alternative embodiment of a container 110 with an integrated condiment holder space is shown in FIG. 8. Container 110 includes sides 120 with apertures 122, back 130, and back top flap 160, and bottom (not shown) which are similar to those described with regard to container 10. Container 110 further includes front 140 and front top flap 150. The small front top flap 150 could alternatively be omitted, or could be replaced by a small lip along edge 168 of the back top flap 160 to fold inside or outside of front 140 when container 110 is closed. Front 140 folds outward along its midsection to form condiment container space 172. Front 140 includes upper fold line 142, lower fold line 146, and middle fold lines 144. Front further includes cut lines 148 (which could alternatively be perforated lines). Upper and lower fold lines 142 and 146 extend from one cut line 148 to the other at their top and bottom ends respectively, while fold lines 144 extend from a central region of cut lines 148 to side edges 145 on each side of front 140. An upper portion of side edges 145 are perforated or partially or completely cut through to allow the upper portion of the front 140 to be folded back along fold lines 144 as shown. When the upper portion of the front 140 is folded outward, section 149 projects out and down and folds along fold line 147. Cut lines 148 are not straight vertical lines but rather turn slightly inward at about the level of fold lines 144, such that the condiment holder space 172 is configured to wrap slightly around the corners of the condiment container on the inside, though this feature is optional and cut lines 148 could alternatively be straight or could curve inward more. This embodiment may be configured to fit within a cup holder of a vehicle, as described previously, to increase stability.
Another alternative embodiment of a container with an integrated condiment holder is shown in FIGS. 9-11 b. In this embodiment, the container 210 includes four opposing sides. Sides 220 and 230 are adjacent and mirror images or each other. Sides 240 and 250 are likewise adjacent to each other but have slightly different upper edges. Sides 240 and 250 optionally include apertures 242, 252 which may be entirely open or may be folded outward as shown in this embodiment and which may function as handles for a user to insert his or her fingers when carrying the container 210. Container 210 further includes a bottom, not shown, which may be like those described above, to enclose the container space. In addition, container 210 includes section 290, including adjoining sections 292 and 294, which are adhered to the inside surface of sides 220 and 230. Section 292 is adhered to side 230 along fold line 296, while section 294 is adhered to side 230 along a fold line which is a mirror image of fold line 296 but which cannot be seen in these figures. In FIG. 9, the container 210 is shown a configuration after first being opened, with section 290 abutting and extending above the upper edges of sides 220 and 230. In FIGS. 10 and 11, section 290 has been pulled inward toward the inside of the container 210, reversing the direction of the fold (inverting the fold) at fold line 298 between sections 292 and 294 to form a condiment holder space 270. Likewise the folds at fold lines that connect sections 292 and 294 at fold lines 296 and its counterpart reverse directions when the condiments holder space 270 is opened. Condiment holder space 270 has four sides which come together at a point in the bottom. Two of the sides of the condiment holder are portions of the container sides 220 and 230, while the other two sides of the condiment holder are provided by sections 292 and 294. Condiment holder space may be used to hold condiments which are in their own containers by resting them in them in space 270. Alternatively, a condiment may be directly placed or poured into the space 270. While this embodiment includes one condiment holder space 270, in alternative embodiments the container 210 may include multiple condiment holder spaces 270 such as two, three or four which may be located at some or all of the interior corners of the container 210 in the same or similar manner as described herein.
A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, the container 310 includes four opposing sides including side 330 and an opposing side and side 350 and an opposing side. The container 310 further includes a bottom, not shown, which may be any type of bottom such as those described previously, to enclose the container space. Container also includes section 390, including adjoining sections 392 and 394 which are adhered to the inside surface of the container along fold lines as described above with regard to the previous container to form condiment holder space 370. In alternative embodiments, container 310 may include multiple condiment holder spaces 370 in multiple interior corners of the container 310. In addition, in this embodiment the container 310 includes an optional top flap 360 attached to one side of the container 310 for folding forward and over the top of the container space to enclose the container space. At the end of the top flap 360 is optional tab 363 which folds into the container space when the top flap 360 is in a closed position to hold the top flap 360 in place by friction. In this embodiment tab 363 is divided into two portions, though in other embodiments it may be a single tab or multiple tab or other methods may optionally be used to hold the top flap 360 in a closed position. The embodiment shown in FIG. 15 further includes side flaps 365 extending from the sides adjacent to the side connected to the top flap 360. Side flaps 365 are optional and may be folded inward over the container space under the top flap 365 when the top flap 360 is closed.
In the embodiment shown, the upper edges of sides 240 and 250 are higher than those of sides 220 and 230. This extra height allows space for the apertures 242, 252, which may function as handles, above the height of any food within the container. This is particularly useful when the food will be carried while consumed, such as by a consumer walking around at a carnival or other event. In alternative embodiments, all four sides could have the same height and/or could have different profiles, and may or may not include apertures 242, 252. Apertures 242, 252 could alternatively be located in sides 220 and 230 or in some other combination of sides or all four sides.
In this embodiment, the upper edge of section 294 is higher than that of 292 and sides 230 and 240. In this way, the upper edge extends above the top of any food stored within container 210 or condiment within condiment holder space 270. The upper portion of section 294 which is higher than section 292 may therefore be used for a printed message, such as instructions to pull out sections 292 and 294 to create a condiment holder space. In alternative embodiments, sections 292 and 294 may be reversed or may be the same height as each other, which may be higher than sides 220 and 230, the same height, or shorter, or only a portion of section 292 and/or 294, such as an upward extending tab, may be higher than sides 220 and 230.
The containers described in various embodiments may be made of a planar material such as a paper type material, such as a thick paper, card stock, corrugated or cardboard material. The paper material may include a water and/or grease resistant coating. In other embodiments, the containers may be made of sheets of plastic. In some embodiments, the containers are made entirely of this one material, except for any adhesives. The containers may be cut from the one material, perforated and folded as needed, and adhered along one or more edges with glue or other suitable adhesive. An example of a pattern which may be used for cutting and preparing a container according to various embodiments during manufacture is shown in FIG. 12. After being cut from the material, perforated, folded, and adhered along edges as needed, the container may be configured into a completely planar shape appropriate for shipment to a user and/or storage. For example, FIG. 13 shows the container of FIGS. 1-7 in planar formation. FIG. 14 shows the container of FIGS. 9-11 in planar formation. By pressing the outer edges of the planar container inward, the container may expand and pop open into the formation having a center opening and ready for use.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A food container with an integrated condiment compartment, the food container, when configured for use, comprising:

a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges;

a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges;

a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround an internal container space;

a condiment compartment configured to hold a condiment or a condiment container, the compartment located within the internal container space;

wherein the food container comprises a planar material having a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the placement of food within the internal container space.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the condiment compartment is adjacent to the top edge of the first side wall.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the condiment compartment comprises a four sided pyramidal space formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, the four side walls of the condiment compartment together forming a point at the bottom and being open top, wherein the first and second side walls of the condiment compartment comprise portions of the first and second side walls of the container.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the third condiment compartment side wall is attached to the first side wall of the container and the fourth condiment side wall is attached to the second side wall of the container within the internal container space.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the condiment compartment can be alternatively adjusted by a user into a closed configuration or an open configuration.

6. The container of claim 2 further comprising;

a top flap having an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the top flap connected to the upper edge of the first side wall;

wherein the condiment compartment comprises an aperture in the top flap, the aperture configured to fit and support a condiment container within the aperture when the top flap is folded along the bottom edge of the top flap into a horizontal configuration over the internal container space.

7. A food container with an integrated condiment compartment, the container, when configured in an open configuration for use, comprising:

a top flap comprising an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the top flap connected to the upper edge of the first side wall along a flap fold line;

an aperture within the top flap, wherein the aperture is configured to fit and support a condiment container within it the aperture when the top flap is folded along the bottom edge into a horizontal configuration.

8. The food container of claim 7 wherein the aperture extends to the bottom edge of the flap.

9. The food container of claim 8 wherein the first side wall of the container further comprises a tab portion adjacent to the aperture and configured to fold inward or outward as a horizontal projection or to be removed.

10. The food container of claim 9 wherein the tab portion further comprises one or more rows of perforations or cuts within the first side wall to assist with separating the tab portion from the first side wall prior to folding the tab portion inward or outward or removing the tab portion.

11. The food container of claim 7 wherein the food container comprises a planar material having a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the container space open within the container.

12. The food container of claim 7 wherein the top flap, when folded into a horizontal orientation across the open container space, extends only part way across the internal container space.

13. The food container of claim 12 wherein the top flap comprises a first top flap and the fold line of the top flap comprises a first fold line, the food container further comprising a second top flap, the second top flap comprising an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the second top flap connected to the upper edge of the second side wall along a second flap fold line.

14. The food container of claim 13 wherein the second top flap is sized to extend across the aperture of the first top flap when the first and second top flaps are folded inward into a horizontal configuration over the container space.

15. The food container of claim 14 wherein the first side wall of the container further comprises a tab portion adjacent to the aperture and configured to fold inward or outward as a horizontal projection, wherein when the first and second top flaps are folded inward into a horizontal configuration over the container space and when the tab portion is folded inward or outward, the container space remains visible through a gap in the first side wall created by folding the tab portion.

16. A food container with an integrated condiment compartment, the container, when configured in an open configuration for use, comprising:

a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround the open container space;

a condiment compartment within the open container space, wherein the condiment compartment is adjustable between a closed configuration in which the condiment compartment is flat against one or more walls of the container and an open configuration in which the condiment compartment is open and extends into the open container space.

17. The container of claim 15 wherein the condiment compartment comprises a four sided pyramidal space formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, the side walls of the compartment together forming a point at a bottom and being open at a top of the condiment compartment.

18. The condiment compartment of claim 16 wherein the first and second side walls of the condiment compartment comprise portions of the first and second side walls of the container.

19. The container of claim 17 wherein the condiment compartment further comprises a tab, the tab located at a top edge of the third side wall of the condiment compartment and, when the condiment compartment is in a closed configuration, the tab extending above the top edges of the first and second side walls of the container.

20. The container of claim 18 wherein the food container comprises a planar material having a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with an open container space.