US2540342A - Food container - Google Patents

Description

D. J. MOORE FOOD CONTAINER Feb. 6, 1951 Filed June 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

Fl 6. 3 INVENTOR. DAVID J. MOORE YATT'YS- Feb. 6, 1951 D. J. MOORE 2,540,342

FOOD CONTAINER Filed June 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DAVID 'J. MOORE ATT'YS.

Feta. it, Ziii mates FOOD CONTAINER David J. Moore, Chicago, Ill. Application June 4, 1946, Serial No. 674,330 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) My invention relates to food containers, and more particularly to cartons in which oleomargarine is sold. This product is ordinarily put up in pound size blocks or cakes, which are packed in cartons. Since the oleomargarine is required to be sold without coloring, it is not desirable to cut it up into the familiar quarter-pound prisms, or into squares for individual use, until the coloring is added. This is done by mixing or working a coloring capsule into the pound mass until the same assumes the appearance of butter.

My observation and experience with the coloring of oleomargarine have convinced me that in few cases is the mixing of the coloring into the oleomargarine mass so thorough that a uniform color is imparted thereto. This is especially true when the mass is served on a plate or in a dish, where it is common to note streaks of white in the surface of the mass as evidence that the mixing was not thorough. Also, this manifestation makes the oleomargarine less appetizing for obvious reasons.

The current practice is to serve the oleomargarine in prismatic form, which carries the suggestion of print butter and minimizes imperfections in the coloring. Thus, molds of glass or plastic material are available to receive the oleomargarine after it has been colored and lend it the familiar quarter-pound or half-pound pris matic form in which butter is usually sold. However, these molds constitute special utensils, involve extra expense, and take up room in the pantry or cupboard. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a carton which serves both as the original package for the oleomargarine as well as material for the formation of half-pound and quarter pound molds for the oleomargarine after the same has been colored. v

A further object is to provide a carton which is to all intents and purposes of the conventional full pound size, yet is capable of being divided into halves suitable as molds for the colored oleomargarine.

Another object is to provide stock sections in the novel carton which are protected from outside contamination and removable to divide halfpound oleomargarine portions in the molds referred to into quarter-pound prisms.

An additional object is to provide a carton for the above purpose which is complete for easy conversion into the molds referred to, and requires no accessories, utensils or implements of any kind to convert it from package to mold form or to take up extra storage space.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whicha Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved carton broken away intermediately;

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of the blanks from which the carton is assembled;

Fig. 4 is a group perspective view of the molds made from the carton when they are ready to be filled by the purchaser;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing portions removed to serve as dividers;

Fig. 6 is another view showing the dividers inserted into the molds; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing one end of a mold opened for the removal of the quarter pound prisms formed therein.

In accordance with the foregoing, Fig. 1 is almost a full sized view of the completed onepound carton as it is sold to the customer, such carton having the same size and appearance as the conventional butter or oleomargarine carton.

While the conventional carton is die-cut in one piece and folded into the closed form shown in Fig. 1, the views in Figs. 2 and 3 show that the blanks for the improved carton are two in number and made identical. Owing to the fact that the components of the carton are assembled in reverse positions, the views in Figs. 2 and 3 are arranged accordingly.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the blank shown is formed with a medialsection l5 which is extended laterally with side sections 16 and a terminal section I! adjacent to one of the side sections; These are extended endwise with tabs l8. The medial section I5 is extended from one end with a section IS, a further section 20, and a final tab 2|. The same description holds good for the blank of Fig. 3.

An open container may be formed from each of the blanks. Thus, the main section I5 is designed to form the bottom of the container and is bounded on the sides adjacent to the sections "5 and 19 by creasing lines 22 and 23. Thus, the first folding of the blank involves the raising of the sections l6 to form the sides of the container, the terminal tabs l8 then being folded inwardly on creasing lines 24 to overlap endwise of the section I5 and form the ends of the container.

The perforation line 25 occurs between the sections l9 and 20; and a creasing line 26 occurs between the sections 20 and 2i. The composite terminal member I9-20-2l is now swung up on the folding line 23 to assume a vertical position. The pair of containers folded in this manner is ready for assembly in the positions previously indicated and with hollows facing each other. As

.the containers a sume opposed positions, the sections l1 thereof will occur on opposite sides, the section of one container lining an adjacent wall is of the other container. The sections l920 now cover the ends of the composite carton on the outside; and the end tabs 2| are now folded inwardly on the creasing lines 26 under the respective sections I 5 to constitute retainers for the end covers formed by the sections l9-2D.

When the components of the novel carton have 3 4 been formed and are ready for assembly as (18- tion when their use is required. A s t of mo ds scribed, a block or cake of oleomargarine, wrapped is thus obtainable from the griginal rton and in wax paper as usual, is deposited in the lower container; and the upper one is then applied as described to complete the carton. The terminal sections l9 are preferably gummed on their inner sides and moistened as they are folded on the overlapped end tabs It to become sealed to the same and secure them in place. The product is now ready for sale over the counter.

Suitable directions will accompany each carton of oleomargarine for opening it and carrying out the-purpose of the present invention. Accordingly, the first instruction would be to cut the end covers l9-2ll of the carton apart on the perforation line 25. This action will enable the container components of the cartons to become separated, so that when they are set side by side-without the oleomargarine package-they will appear as in Fig. 4. If desired, the end units 20-2I may be pulled loose from the respective containers and discarded. Fig. 5 shows that the extensions 11 of the container have also been torn away on a perforation line 21, leaving the containers open and even on all sides.

The containers formed as just described are of a width suitable for a half-pound filling of the oleomargarine. Thus, after the oleomargarine has been prepared with the coloring, it may be divided into proper amounts to fill the two containers and patted down to assume a fiat appearance.

While the oleomargarine, prepared as just described, may be usable where half-pound portions are to be stored or served, it is a more common practice to store and serve quarter-section prisms of the oleomargarine in the manner of butter.

Since the oleomargarine is in a fairly soft state when deposited into the containers referred to, the cards ll may be pushed down into the oleomargarine mass of each container to divide the same lengthwise as shown in Fig. 6 and form separate oleomargarine sections. The filled containers may now be placed in the refrigerator. When a serving of oleomargarine is needed, Fig. 7 shows how one end of the container may be broken open and one section of the oleomargarine slid forward as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in the same figure for easy removal.

It will be evident from the above description that the novel carton not only serves as an initial container or package for the oleomargarine, but also provides material to form a full set of molds for the same. The original carton remains the same in size and form as the conventional package of oleomargarine and needs no accessories or special means to serve the novel purpose. It is only necessary that the blanks for the carton be cut as shown and formed with the necessary creasing and perforation lines, when it is ready to receive the package of oleomargarine and be folded and secured in the complete form. Also, the preparation of the carton for mold purposes is extremely simple, since only the cutting of the carton covers across the center is necessary to separate the carton into the sections designed to serve as molds; and the removal of the waste units 20-2l and final tearing away of the upstanding sections ll simplifies the containers and provides the dividers to form the quarter-sections of oleomargarine. Further, the interior of the carton serves as the interior of the molds too; and the dividers are originally encased in the carton and are therefore free from outside contaminawithout further expense; and they are suitable to serve until the oleomargarine has been used up. when they may be discarded in the anticipation of new molds when the next carton of oleomargarine is purchased. Thus, no molds need be purchased or stored separately or accessory to the oleomargarine. Finally, the novel carton is an article of simplicity, and its use and handling may be easily learned by the average person from simple instructions.

'While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A box-like structure forming a food container comprising separable and identical top and bottom sections, each section comprising a main portion forming the top and bottom of the container, side sections attached to the said top and bottom sections, one side section only of each of the top and bottom sections having an extended terminal section, tab members extending from both ends of the respective side members, each of the top and bottom sections having an extension extending from the main portion, said extension consisting of a first section, a second further section and a final tab section, and a perforated line extending crosswise between the said first and second sections and a further longitudinal perforated line between the side and the extended terminal section.

2. A box-like container consisting of separable and identical top and bottom sections, said sections comprising a main portion forming the top and bottom of said container when the same are arranged in superposed relation, oppositely disposed side sections adjacent aid main portion, a terminalextension extending from only one oi the side members, tabs extending from both e ds of the said side sections, a first section forming a continuation of the main portion, a second section and a final tab section, and perforated lines extending between the first and second sections extending from the main portio and between the side and the terminal extension.

3. A food container or the like comprising in combination two identical half members, each member consisting of a main portion, a first, second and final section extending from the main portion, a perforated line extending crosswise between the said first and second sections, side sections adjacent each side of the main portion, tabs extending from both ends of said side sections and a terminal flap extending from only one of the sides of each of the half members and a perforated line between said terminal flap and its side section.

DAVID J. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,992,087 Miller et al Feb. 19, 1935 2,316,457 Royce Apr. 13. 1943 2,349,088 Guyer May 16, 1944

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