WO2008045731A2

WO2008045731A2 - Food product container

Info

Publication number: WO2008045731A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/080208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mathew R.J Jackson; Debra L. Brady; Scott L. Fisher; Yoichiro Ishikawa; Nicholas E. Pash; Thomas B. Walker, Iii
Original assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2007-10-02
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: WO2008045731A3

Abstract

A food product container includes a base portion (20), a first end wall (22) disposed at a first end (23) of the base portion, and a second end wall (24) disposed at a second end (25) of the base portion. A plurality of spaced apart partitions (32) are disposed between the first and second end walls. The products (40) have a front surface, a back surface and a maximum thickness between the surfaces, but the products also have at least one region of less than the maximum thickness, such as a peripheral region of a thickness less than the maximum thickness. Each of the partitions has a thickness at the point that they contact the product. The products are spaced apart form each other in the container by the partitions. The sum of the maximum thickness of each of the products in the container and the thicknesses of the partitions at the point they contact the products is less than the internal container width. Each partition may comprise a pair of tabs (54,56) extending from the base portion.

Description

FOOD PRODUCT CONTAINER

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/850,250, filed October 5, 2006; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/877,317, filed December 27, 2006, the entire disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to a food product container. In particular, it relates to a food product container suitable for dispensing a food product. [0003] Containers for food products not only hold the product, but also provide a desired appearance for marketing purposes. In traditional bulk packaging of food product pieces, the individual pieces often stick to each other, making them difficult to dispense. Thus, it would be useful to have a container that prevents the pieces from sticking to each other. Additionally, it would helpful to have a container capable of dispensing one piece of food product at a time. Further, it would be desirable that the container be compact.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] In various aspects, a food product container is provided. The food product container is especially suitable for dispensing a food product that has an interior region of a first thickness and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness. The container takes advantage of this shape, and packages the products so that they are spaced apart from one another by partitions, but the total length of the container is minimized.

[0005] In one aspect, a food product container holds a plurality of food products wherein the products each have an interior region of a first thickness and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness. The container comprises a base; a first end wall disposed at a first end of the base; a second end wall disposed at a second end of the base; and a plurality of spaced apart partitions extending inwardly from the base, disposed between the first and second end walls, wherein a majority of the partitions contact only the peripheral region of the food product.

[0006] In another aspect, a food product container holds a plurality of uniformly shaped food products wherein the products have a front surface, a back surface and a maximum thickness between the surfaces, but the products also have at least one region of less than the maximum thickness. The container comprises a base; a first end wall disposed at a first end of the base; a second end wall disposed at a second end of the base, with an internal container width between the first and second end walls; and a plurality of spaced apart partitions extending inwardly from the base disposed between the first and second end walls, and contacting the products, each of the partitions having a thickness at the point that they contact the product. The products are spaced apart form each other in the container by the partitions, yet the sum of the maximum thickness of each of the products in the container and the thicknesses of the partitions at the point they contact the products is less than the internal container width. [0007] In another aspect, a food product container holds a plurality of food products wherein the products have an interior region of a first thickness extending over a majority of the height and width of the product, and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness. The container comprises a base; a first end wall disposed at a first end of the base; a second end wall disposed at a second end of the base; and a plurality of spaced apart partitions having a thickness and extending inwardly from the base, disposed between the first and second end walls, contacting the products and separating the products from one another, wherein the shape and placement of the majority of the partitions allows those partitions to separate the products by a distance less than the thickness of the partition because they contact the food product only in a part of the product which has a thickness less than the first thickness of the product. [0008] In another aspect, a food product container comprises a base having spaced apart first and second end walls; and a plurality of spaced apart partitions disposed between the first and second end walls, wherein each partition comprises a pair of tabs extending inwardly from the base.

[0009] By coordinating the shape and position of the partitions with the shape of the product, the container can hold a maximum number of pieces of product in a spaced apart relationship while at the same time minimizing the length of the package. These and other advantages will be best understood in light of the attached drawings and the detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a food product container in a closed position.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 in an open position.

[0012] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a base of a modified version of the container of Fig. 1

[0013] Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the base of Fig.3.

[0014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a food product container in an open position.

[0015] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 5 in a closed position.

[0016] Fig. 7 is a top view of the container of Fig. 5 in an open position.

[0017] Fig. 7a is a cross-sectional view showing the contact between the products and the partition in the container of Fig. 5.

[0018] Fig. 8 is a side sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

[0019] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

[0020] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a food product container in an open position.

[0021] Fig. 11 is a front perspective view of the container of Fig. 10 in a closed position.

[0022] Fig. 12 is a rear perspective view of the container of Fig. 10 in a closed position. [0023] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment a food product container in an open position.

[0024] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the food product container of Fig. 13 in a closed position.

[0025] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment a food product container in an open position.

[0026] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the food product container of Fig.15 in a partially closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present invention will now be further described. In the following passages, different aspects of the invention are defined in more detail. Each aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect or aspects unless clearly indicated to the contrary. In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature or features indicated as being preferred or advantageous.

[0028] The invention is described with reference to the drawings in which like elements are referred to by like numerals. The relationship and functioning of the various elements of this invention are better understood by the following description. The embodiments described below are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. [0029] A first embodiment of a food product container 10 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A slightly modified base for the container 10 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The container includes a base portion 20 and optionally a sleeve 30. When included, the sleeve 30 surrounds at least a portion of the base portion 20. Desirably, the food product container 10 and the base portion 20 may be generally cylindrical, but other shapes are possible, such as rectangular, triangular, oval, etc. The sleeve 30 may move relative to the base portion 20 in an axial direction between a closed position (Fig. 1) and an open position (Fig. 2). The container 10 includes a first end wall 22 disposed on the first end 23 and a second end wall 24 disposed on the second end 25. A plurality of food product pieces 40 are disposed in the base portion 20.

[0030] As seen in Fig. 3, the base portion 20 provides a product support surface 29 that includes a series of partitions 32 disposed at discrete intervals along the length of the base portion 20. The partitions 32 may be disposed perpendicular to the axis 27. The partitions 32 define compartments 34 (as also shown in Fig. 4) configured to hold individual pieces of a food product. The partitions 32 may be disposed at equal intervals, or otherwise, in the base portion 20. The partitions 32 prevent sticking of food product pieces 40 to one another, and can also keep the food product pieces 40 in a substantially stable position. [0031] In this embodiment, the partitions 32 include two extending tabs 54, 56, that are diametrically opposed structures integral with the base and located at opposing sides of the interior of the base portion 20. Each tab 54, 56 may be generally curved in shape. There may be a gap 58 on the bottom portion of the base portion 20 between the two tabs 54, 56. However, in other embodiments the partitions may have tabs like tabs 54 and 56 but form one structure on the base. The tabs 54, 56 extend a relatively small distance from the product support surface 29 of the base portion 20. The tabs 54, 56 may be wider at a top portion and then taper down towards the gap 58 on the product support surface 29. The use of tabs 54, 56 may provide an easy configuration for molding the base portion 20. The extending tabs 54, 56 of the partitions 32 enable food products to be spaced apart from each other, with minimal space between adjacent pieces of food product. The extending tabs 54, 56 also provide sufficient tolerance for the container 10 to hold food products while allowing for variations of the size of the food products. [0032] As will be discussed in more detail with respect to a second embodiment, and shown in Figs. 7 and 7a, the size, shape and placement of the partitions 32, in this case tabs 54 and 56, cooperate with the shape of the product pieces 40 so that the container can be kept to a minimum length. The product pieces 40 each have an interior region of a first thickness and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness. The spaced apart partitions 32 extend inwardly from the base but contact only the peripheral region of the food product.

[0033] One of the end walls 22, 24 may be larger than the other in order to provide a stop for the sleeve 30, so that the sleeve 30 may only slide off the base portion 20 in one direction. As shown in Figs. 1 - 4, end wall 22 is larger than end wall 24. (Note that the left hand side of the base 20 in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown on the right side in Figs. 3 and 4.) A larger end wall also allows a site for the user to easily grip the container 10 to remove the sleeve 30. Alternatively, both end walls 22, 24 may be the same size so that the sleeve 30 may slide in either direction with respect to the base portion 20.

[0034] The base portion 20 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 also includes a middle wall 36 disposed between the first end wall 22 and the second end wall 24. (This middle wall is not present in the container 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) The middle wall 36 extends from the base portion 20 and in particular from the product support surface 29. The middle wall 36 may be about the same height and/or diameter as the end walls 22, 24, or the smaller of the end walls 22, 24 if one end wall is larger. The base portion 20 may include two (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) or more middle walls 36 disposed along the length of the base portion 20. The middle walls 36 may be sized about the same size as the interior of sleeve 30 and may act as guides for the sleeve 30. Additionally, the middle walls 36 may provide additional support for the sleeve 30. For example, the outer portion of middle walls 36 may be sized to contact the sleeve 30 when the container 10 is closed, thus providing structural support to the sleeve 30 to prevent it from being smashed or crushed. The base portion 20 may include two middle walls 36 and seven partitions 32, to define ten compartments 34. Other configurations are possible. The middle walls 36 serve as partitions. These partitions contact the product pieces at the point of their greatest thickness, but a majority of the partitions contact the product pieces 40 only at their periphery sections, where their thickness is less.

[0035] The base portion 20 may include one or more longitudinal ridges 38 disposed along the side of the base portion 20. The longitudinal ridges 38 provide a friction fit for the sleeve 30. The friction fit helps to keep the sleeve 30 in a closed position. The longitudinal ridges 38 also can be used in the packaging process to keep the base portion stable when the pieces are being packed inside. [0036] With the above in mind it can be appreciated that the partitions may have a variety of shapes and may be arranged in the interior of the base portion in a variety of ways so that the food product pieces contained within the base portion are suitably separated.

[0037] The container 10 and other containers disclosed herein may be used to hold any sort of food product, including, but not limited to, hard candies, soft candies, chewy candies, gummy candies, tablets, gum pellets, beads, liquid filled beads, chocolate, caramels, and gumballs. The container 10 may contain pieces of food product in a variety of colors, flavors, textures, and other properties. The shape of the cross-section of the base portion 20 may correspond to the shape of the intended food product. For example, if the interior of the container has a circular cross-section, the compartments 34 are especially useful for holding a disk or donut-shaped food product 40, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A candy piece 40 may be disposed in each compartment 34.

[0038] The base portion 20 and the sleeve 30 may have a variety of shapes. In an embodiment, the base portion 20 is in the general shape of a half-cylinder, and the sleeve 30 is cylindrical. Other shapes and cross-sections of the base portion 20 and sleeve 30 are possible. The cross-section of the base portion 20 and sleeve 30 may also be square, rectangular, triangular, oval, polygonal (regular or irregular) and other shapes as well. The container 10 may include a single row, or multiple rows, of compartments 34.

[0039] The container 10 and other containers disclosed herein may be any size suitable for a given food product. The particular container 10 may have a length between 3 and 6 inches, such as around 3.75 inches. The diameter of the container 10 may range from around 1 inch to around 1.25 inches. The container 10 is desirably sized to conveniently fit in a user's pocket.

[0040] The container 10 is also desirably conveniently sized to fit in the hand of a user. A user moves the sleeve 30 relative to the base portion 20. The user may open the container 10 one compartment 32 at a time, or the entire base portion 20 at once, allowing the selective removal of a single piece of food product 40 from the container 10. The user can select any of the food product pieces contained in the container 10. Thus, if the container 10 includes pieces of food product of a variety of colors and /or flavors, the user may select a piece of any desired color or flavor. The food product may be removed by hand or by tipping the container 10 over to dispense the piece of food product. The container 10 provides hygienic dispensing of the food product, since a user does not have to touch the food product to remove it.

[0041] The container 10 and the other containers disclosed herein may be made of any suitable material. The container 10 may be made of an opaque material, or of a material that is transparent or translucent so that the contents of the container can be seen. The container 10 may be made from plastic (flexible or rigid), paperboard, film laminated paperboard, film, corrugate, metal, or any combination of materials. When made of plastic, the container pieces may be made by any suitable technique including extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, vacuum forming, thermoforming, and combinations thereof. [0042] The base portion 20 may be injection molded. It may also be thermo formed. It may be made of any suitable plastic material, including polypropylene. The sleeve 30 may be transparent, translucent, colored, or opaque, and may include writing, logos, or other designs. The sleeve 30 may be an extruded plastic tube. The plastic may be selected from polypropylene, PET, PETG, or other suitable materials. The sleeve 30 may be rigid or semi-flexible plastic.

[0043] The embodiments of base portions 20, with or without sleeve 30, may also include an outer wrapping (not shown) to keep air and moisture out. Types of outer wrapping include a shrink sleeve (which may be made from a high barrier film) and a full overwrap. The shrink sleeve or overwrap may be made from any suitable plastic material. The shrink sleeve or overwrap may include lettering or logos directly upon it. The shrink sleeve or overwrap may include a perforation on one side to allow it to be removed. The shrink sleeve or overwrap may be translucent or transparent. By providing a transparent sleeve 30 (if present) and transparent outer wrapping, a user can determine the orientation of the food products 40 to prevent the opening of the container 10 while upside down. The shrink sleeve may or may not cover the ends of the container 10. [0044] Another embodiment of a food product container 110 is shown in Figs. 5 - 9. The container includes a first or cover portion 120 and a second or base portion 130. Desirably, the food product container 110 has a generally cylindrical shape. The cover portion 120 is connected to the base portion 130. The cover portion 120 and the base portion 130 define a container interior 140 and a longitudinally extending exterior 150 including an axis 111. The exterior 150 may be generally cylindrical, but other shapes are possible, such as rectangular, triangular, etc. The cover portion 120 moves relative to the base portion 130 in an axial direction between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the interior 140 is exposed between a first end 122 of the cover portion and a first end 132 of the base portion 130.

[0045] Similar to the previously described base portion 20, the base portion 130 includes a series of partitions 160 disposed at discrete intervals along the length of the container 110. The partitions 160 are preferably disposed perpendicular to the axis 111. The partitions 160 define compartments 162 configured to hold individual pieces of a food product. The partitions 160 may be any suitable shape, such as the extending tabs 54, 56 of container 10. The partitions 160 may be disposed at equal intervals in the base portion 130. The partitions 160 prevent sticking of pieces of food product and can also keep the pieces of food product in a substantially stable position.

[0046] As best seen in Fig. 8, the product pieces 40 have a front surface, a back surface and a maximum thickness between the surfaces. The products also have at least one region of less than the maximum thickness. In the embodiment shown, the peripheral portion of the piece is narrowed in a curving shape from both the front and rear faces of the product to a narrow peripheral portion. Thus the products have an interior region of a first thickness extending over a majority of the height and width of the product, and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness.

[0047] As best seen in Fig. 7a, the shape and placement of at least the majority of the partitions allow those partitions to separate the products by a distance less than the thickness of the partition because they contact the food product only in a part of the product which has a thickness less than the maximum thickness of the product. Two product pieces 40a and 40b are shown in Fig. 7a in their relative proximity to one another within container 110. The product 40a, in this instance, includes surface lettering that results in protrusions 177 seen in the cross-section and present on the front face of the product. The maximum thickness of the product includes these protrusions 177, since they would interfere with two product pieces contacting one another. The gap 178 between the front face of product piece 40a and the rear face of product 40b is less than the thickness of the partition 160 at the point 179 that the partition 160 contacts the product. [0048] It will be understood that each of the partitions have a thickness at the point that they contact the product. However, the sum of the maximum thickness of each of the products in the container, and the thicknesses of the partitions at the point they contact the products, is less than the internal container width between the first and second end walls. Another way of saying this is that part of the product overlaps with the space taken up at the product support surface by the partitions 160. By contacting the products at only their periphery, the products can still be spaced apart from one another, but that spacing is less than the spacing that would exist if the partitions extended up to the point that they contacted the product pieces at their maximum thickness. This is still the case even if one or more middle walls 36 are used in the container as partitions, so long as at least some of the partitions have this overlapping placement with the product and only contact the product pieces at a position where the product piece 40 has a thickness less than its maximum thickness.

[0049] The shape of the cross-section of the container 110 and other containers disclosed herein may correspond to the shape of the intended food product. The base portion 130 may include a series of tabs 166 protruding from the side wall of the base portion 130 help to keep the candy pieces 40 in place and prevent or reduce rattling of the candy pieces 40 during movement of the container 110 [0050] The cover portion 120 and the base portion 130 may have a variety of shapes. In an embodiment, the cover portion 120 and base portion 130 are each in the general shape of a half-cylinder with a semi-circular cross-section. Thus, when the two portions 120, 130 come together, they form a cylindrical container. Other shapes of the cover portion 120 and base portion 130 are possible. For example, the base portion 130 could be slightly smaller, such as 1/3 of the circumference of a cylinder, and the cover portion 120 slightly larger, such as 2/3 of the circumference of a cylinder. The cross-section of the cover portion 120 and base portion 130 may also be square, rectangular, triangular, oval, polygonal (regular or irregular) and other shapes as well.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, the base portion 130 includes a wall 135 in the shape of a half-cylinder, forming the side and bottom. The first end wall 136 is circular in shape. The second end wall 138 is semicircular in shape. The cover portion 120 includes a wall 125 in the shape of a half-cylinder and forming the side and top walls. The first end 122 does not have an end wall. The second end 124 includes a semicircular end wall 126. In one embodiment, a grip 128 is disposed adjacent the first end 122 of the cover portion 120. The grip 128 may include an oval-shaped depression 129 (Fig. 8). The grip 128 helps the user to open the container 10 when sliding the cover portion 120 relative to the base portion 130.

[0052] The cover portion 120 includes one or more engagement members for engaging the base portion 130 at discrete locations. The discrete locations correspond to the locations of the compartments 162. As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the base portion 130 may include a series of notches 137 disposed on a longitudinally extending ridge 172 near the top of the base portion 130. The cover portion 130 may include protrusions (not shown) on each side of one end 122 near the bottom edge of the cover portion 120. The protrusions engage the notches 137 to stop the cover portion 120 at discrete locations. This configuration allows a user to open the container 110 to expose one compartment 162 at a time, allowing the selective removal of a single piece of food product from the container. The protrusions engage the notches 137 adjacent the end wall 136 when the container 110 is in a closed position. The engagement members preferably do not directly engage the pieces of food product within the container 110. [0053] In one embodiment, the engagement members are outwardly biased by the wall 125 of the cover portion 120. Thus, the wall 125 of the cover portion 120 biases the protrusions sideways to engage the notches 137, but the force of a user's hand can still move the cover portion 120 relative to the base portion 130 to relieve this biasing force so that the cover can be moved to reach subsequent notches 137. The notches 137 thus provide stops for movement of the cover portion 120. Other configurations are possible between the cover portion 120 and the base portion 130, such as latches, springs, etc. [0054] As shown in Fig. 9, the cover portion 120 includes a pair of longitudinally extending channels 178, and the base portion comprises a pair of longitudinally extending ridges 172. The ridges 172 engage the channels 178 and slide along the channels 178 to provide the sliding connection between the cover portion 120 and the base portion 130 while keeping the portions 120, 130 connected. The cover portion 120 may also include a projection 176 that snaps over the ridge 172 to help secure the cover portion 120. Other designs for the sliding connection between the cover portion 120 and base portion 130 are possible. For example, the cover portion 120 may include one or more longitudinally extending ridges, and the base portion 130 may include one or more longitudinally extending channels, and mixtures thereof. The protrusions which engage the notches 137 in the base portion 130 may be provided by eliminating the portion of the channels 178 immediately adjacent the first end 122, thus providing a protrusion relative to the channel 178.

[0055] As best seen in Fig. 8, the base portion 130 preferably includes a stop member 170 disposed adjacent the second end 134 of the base portion 130. The stop member 170 limits the axial travel of the cover portion 120 to prevent the cover portion 120 from becoming disengaged from the base portion 130. As shown in Fig. 8, the cover portion 120 may include a lip 175 that engages the stop member 170 to limit the travel of the cover portion 130 in the axial direction when the container 110 is fully opened. The travel of the top member 120 while closing the container 110 is limited by the end wall 136.

[0056] The container 110 is desirably conveniently sized to fit in the hand of a user. A user holds the container 110 in a palm and can position a thumb on the grip 128. The user then retracts the thumb, moving the cover portion 120 relative to the base portion 130, which is restrained by the palm. As the engagement member of the cover portion 120 engages the base portion 130 at discrete intervals, the user may open the container 110 one compartment 162 at a time, allowing the selective removal of a single piece of food product from the container 110. The user can select any of the food product pieces 40 contained in the container 110, and is not limited to the piece adjacent the opening of the container 110.

[0057] Another embodiment of a food product container 210 is shown in Figs. 10 - 12. The container includes a base portion 220 and a cover portion 230. Desirably, the food product container 210 may be generally cylindrical, but other shapes are possible, such as rectangular, triangular, oval, etc. The cover portion 230 is hingedly connected to the base portion 220 and moveable between an open position (Fig. 10) and a closed position (Fig. 11). The container 210 includes a first end wall 222 disposed on the first end 223 and a second end wall 224 disposed on the second end 225. The end walls 222, 224 extend between the base portion 220 and the cover portion 230 when the cover portion is in a closed position (as in Fig. 11). As shown in Fig. 11, the end walls 222, 224 may provide a continuous surface between the base portion 220 and the cover portion 230, with no holes or other apertures, when the container 210 is closed. [0058] As shown in Fig. 12, a hinge 240 connects the cover portion 230 to the base portion 220. The hinge 240 may include a pin joint including a pin portion 244 disposed in apertures in sockets 242. Alternatively, the hinge 240 may be a living hinge monolithically formed with cover portion 230 and base portion 220. The cover portion 230 may include a grasping ledge 236 disposed on the edge 231 of the cover portion 230. The grasping ledge 236 provides a grip for a user to open the cover portion 230. The cover portion 230 may include a snap fit connection (not shown) to secure the cover 230 to the base 220 when the container 210 is in a closed position. The cover portion 230 may be translucent, transparent, or opaque.

[0059] As seen in Fig. 10, the base portion 220 includes a series of partitions 232 disposed at intervals along the length of the base portion 220. The partitions 232 may be disposed parallel to the end walls 222, 224. The partitions 232 define compartments 234 configured to hold individual pieces of a food product 40. A plurality of food product pieces 40 may be disposed in the base portion 220. The container 210 may be opened by a user by grasping ledge 236 and urging the cover portion 230 into an open position. A user may then select a food product piece 40 and remove it from the container 210.

[0060] Another embodiment of a food product container 310 is shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The container includes a base portion 320 and a cover portion 330. Desirably, the food product container 310 may be generally cylindrical with an axis 392, but other shapes are possible. The cover portion 330 is moveable from an open position (Fig. 13) to a closed position (Fig. 14) by rotation of the cover portion 330 along the axis 392 of the base portion 320. The cover 330 may be translucent, transparent, or opaque. The container 310 includes a first end wall 302 disposed on the first end 303 of the base portion 320 and a second end wall 304 disposed on the second end 305 of the base portion 320. The cover portion 330 may also have a grasping ledge (like previously described grasping ledge 236) to help the user to open the cover portion 330.

[0061] The end walls 302, 304 may include circular channels 306 near the periphery of the inside of the end walls 302, 304. The end walls 302, 304 may be circular. The base portion 320 may include partition (not shown) like partitions 32 in Fig. 3. The end portions of cover 330 are disposed in channels 306, which provide a track for movement of the cover 330. The channels 306 may be disposed around the entire periphery of the end walls 302, 304 (in which case the channels 306 will be circular in shape). Alternatively, the channels may be disposed around a portion of the periphery of the end walls 302, 304. The channels 306 may be arranged so that the travel of the cover 330 is limited in one or both rotational directions. Thus, the cover 330 may stop in one direction when edge portion 311 of the cover 330 is adjacent edge portion 301 of the base portion 310, i.e. when the container 310 is in a closed position. In this configuration, the cover 330 may only be opened by rotation in one direction. Alternatively, the cover 330 may rotate completely around the base portion 310 with no limitations. [0062] Another embodiment of a food product container 420 is shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Container 420 is similar to container 310 but includes two covers 440, 442 that are independently moveable. The container includes a base portion 430 with partitions (not shown) such as the partitions used in the other embodiments. The cover portions 440, 442 are moveable from an open position to a closed position by rotation along the axis 422. The container 420 includes a first end wall 432 disposed on the first end 433, a second end wall 434 disposed on the second end 435, and a middle wall 436 disposed between covers 440 and 442. [0063] The end walls 432, 434 and middle wall 436 may include circular channels 438 near the periphery of the inside of the end walls 432, 434 and both sides of middle wall 436. The end portions 441, 443, 445, and 447 of covers 440, 442 are disposed in channels 438, which provide a track for movement of the covers 440, 442, similar to cover 310 as previously described. The end portions of each cover portions 440, 442 may include extending lips 444, 446. The extending lips 444, 446 are of smaller thickness than the rest of the cover portions 440, 442. The extending lips 444, 446 are disposed in channels 438. The covers 440, 442 are independently moveable, so that, for example and as shown in Fig. 16, cover 440 may be in an open position and cover 442 may be in a closed position. Thus, a user may open only one half of the container 420 to remove the food product pieces 40 contained therein. The covers 440, 442 may also have grasping ledges to help the user to open the covers 440, 442.

[0064] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made and formed in detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of this invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A food product container holding a plurality of food products wherein the products each have an interior region of a first thickness and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness, the container comprising: a) a base; b) a first end wall disposed at a first end of the base; c) a second end wall disposed at a second end of the base; and d) a plurality of spaced apart partitions extending inwardly from the base, disposed between the first and second end walls, wherein a majority of the partitions contact only the peripheral region of the food product.

2. A food product container holding a plurality of uniformly shaped food products wherein the products have a front surface, a back surface and a maximum thickness between the surfaces, but the products also have at least one region of less than the maximum thickness, the container comprising: a) a base; b) a first end wall disposed at a first end of the base; c) a second end wall disposed at a second end of the base, with an internal container width between the first and second end walls; and d) a plurality of spaced apart partitions extending inwardly from the base disposed between the first and second end walls, and contacting the products, each of the partitions having a thickness at the point that they contact the product, e) wherein the products are spaced apart form each other in the container by the partitions, yet the sum of the maximum thickness of each of the products in the container and the thicknesses of the partitions at the point they contact the products is less than the internal container width.

3. A food product container holding a plurality of food products wherein the products have an interior region of a first thickness extending over a majority of the height and width of the product, and a peripheral region of a second thickness less than the first thickness, the container comprising: a) a base; b) a first end wall disposed at a first end of the base; c) a second end wall disposed at a second end of the base; and d) a plurality of spaced apart partitions having a thickness and extending inwardly from the base, disposed between the first and second end walls, contacting the products and separating the products from one another, wherein the shape and placement of at least the majority of the partitions allows those partitions to separate the products by a distance less than the thickness of the partition because they contact the food product only in a part of the product which has a thickness less than the first thickness of the product.

4. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the partitions are generally semi-circular in shape.

5. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the partitions comprise a pair of tabs.

6. A food product container comprising: a) a base having spaced apart first and second end walls; and b) a plurality of spaced apart partitions disposed between the first and second end walls, wherein each partition comprises a pair of tabs extending inwardly from the base.

7. The food product container of any one of claims 5 and 6 wherein the tabs comprise separate structures integral with the base and located at opposing sides of the base.

8. The food product container of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the tabs are generally curved in shape.

9. The food product container of any one of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the base portion has a semi-circular cross section.

10. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the end walls are generally circular in shape.

11. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the base portion has a rectangular cross section.

12. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the first and second end walls each have a height, and the height of the first end wall is greater than the height of the second end wall.

13. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the partitions are disposed at equal intervals in the base portion.

14. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 13 further comprising an outer wrapping disposed around the base portion.

15. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 14 further comprising a cover portion connected to the base portion.

16. The food product container of claim 15 wherein the cover comprises a sleeve disposed around the base.

17. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 16 wherein the cover is translucent.

18. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 16 wherein the cover is transparent.

19. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the cover comprises rigid plastic.

20. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the cover comprises semi-flexible plastic.

21. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 20 wherein the base portion moves relative to the cover portion in an axial direction between an open position and a closed position.

22. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 21 further comprising an engagement member disposed on one of the base portion and cover portion and configured to engage the other of the base portion and cover portion at discrete locations corresponding to the discrete intervals of the plurality of partitions.

23. The food product container of any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein the exterior is generally cylindrical.

24. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 23 wherein the cover portion comprises a pair of longitudinally extending ridges, and the base portion comprises a pair of longitudinally extending channels, wherein the ridges engage the channels to provide a connection between the cover portion and the base portion.

25. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 23 wherein the cover portion comprises a pair of longitudinally extending channels, and the base portion comprises a pair of longitudinally extending ridges, wherein the ridges engage the channels to provide a connection between the cover portion and the base portion.

26. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 23 wherein the cover portion is hingedly connected to the base portion and moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the container has a generally cylindrical shape and the first and second end walls extend between the base portion and the cover portion.

27. The food product container of any one of claims 15to 23 further comprising a monolithic hinge connecting the base portion to the cover portion.

28. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 23 further comprising a pin joint connecting the base portion to the cover portion.

29. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 28 wherein the cover portion comprises a grasping ledge disposed on an outer surface of the cover portion.

30. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 23 wherein the cover portion is moveable from an open position to a closed position by rotating the cover portion around an axis of the container.

31. The food product container of any one of claims 15 to 23 wherein the first end wall comprises a first channel and the second end wall comprises a second channel, and a first end of the cover portion is disposed in the first channel and a second end of the cover portion is disposed in the second channel.

32. The food product container of claim 31 wherein the first and second channels are disposed on an inner portion of the first and second end walls.

33. The food product container of claim 31 wherein the first and second end walls are generally circular and the first and second channels are disposed around the entire periphery of the end walls.

34. The food product container of claim 31 wherein the first and second end walls are generally circular and the first and second channels are disposed around a portion of the periphery of the end walls.

35. The food product container of claim 30 further comprising a middle wall disposed between the first end wall and the second end wall.

36. The food product container of claim 35 wherein the cover portion comprises a first cover portion disposed between the first end wall and the middle wall, and further comprises a second cover portion disposed between the middle wall and the second end wall.