Food container and method

• US 5,012,971 A
• Filed: 08/28/1990
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Conway, Timothy F., Rusnak, Eileen M., Cozzi, Joseph J., Johnson, Neil H., LaFleur, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/573,940
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 229/120.06, 229/120.07, 229/120.32, 229/2.5 R, 229/902, 229/904, 229/906, 426/115, 426/119, 426/120, 426/128, 426/129, 220/4.22, 220/4.23, 220/520, 220/521, 220/522, 220/529
• US Class Current: 229/120.07
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/08 with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/48024 inserted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/32 for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture containers with removable or destructible partitions B65D25/08 ; closures combined with auxiliary containers B65D51/28; in aerosol containers B65D83/682; amalgam capsules A61C5/66; containers for pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/20, A61M5/19; medical syringes A61M3/005, resin cartridges for grouting anchoring-bolts in mines E21D20/026
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3211 coaxially and provided with means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/902 Box for prepared or processed food

Abstract

A compartmented container that is especially suitable for containing food is provided. The container or package in one embodiment comprises a first or bottom compartment and a second or top compartment that is hinged to the first compartment. The container further includes a latch mechanism composed of a locking latch extending from one compartment and a locking aperture in the other compartment into which the latch can be inserted when the container is in the closed position. A removable platform forms part of the container and is positionable over the open portion of one of the compartments. The platform includes a support tab dimensioned to allow insertion into the locking aperture when the platform is positioned over the open portion of one of the compartments. An elongated slot extends adjacent the hinge to permit the platform to be removed from the container through the slot. A gripping tab can be provided as part of the platform that extends through the slot when the container is in the closed position to facilitate removal of the platform therefrom.

Claims

1. A container for storing contents in separate compartments comprising:

(a) a first compartment defined by a bottom portion and side portions and having an open portion opposite said bottom portion;

(b) a second compartment defined by a bottom portion and side portions and having an open portion opposite said bottom portion;

(c) hinge means located along and connecting a side portion of each of said first and second compartments permitting said second compartment to be folded over and onto said first compartment to define an enclosed volume comprising said first and second compartments with the bottom portion of said second compartment defining the top of said container when said container is in a closed position;

(d) latch means for locking the package together in said closed position, said latching means including a locking latch extending from the side opposite from the side where said hinge means is located in one of said compartments and a locking aperture in the side opposite from the side where said hinge means is in the other of said compartments, said locking latch and locking aperture located to permit insertion of the locking latch into the locking aperture when the container is in said closed position;

(e) a removable platform positionable over the open portion of said second compartment, said platform having a periphery, a portion of said periphery defining a support tab projecting from said platform, said support tab dimensioned to allow insertion of said tab into said locking aperture when said platform is positioned over said open portion of said second compartment to restrain movement of said platform; and

(f) an elongated slot extending adjacent said hinge means in the side of one of said compartments through which said platform can be removed from said container while in said closed position.

2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a gripping tab extending said periphery of said platform opposite from said support tab, said gripping tab extending through said elongated slot and beyond at least one of the side portions of said package when said platform is in position over the opening of the second compartment with said support tab in said locking aperture, for facilitating removal of said platform from said container when said container is in said closed position and for supporting said platform, in conjunction with said support tab.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said elongated slot extends generally horizontally when said container is in said closed position and said bottom portion of said first compartment is generally horizontal.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said locking aperture is a slot that extends generally horizontally when said container is in said closed position and said bottom portion of said first compartment is generally horizontal.

5. The container of claim 2 wherein said elongated slot and locking aperture are located so that when said platform is in position with said elongated tab extending through said elongated slot and said support tab is in said locking aperture and said container is in said closed position with the bottom portion of said first compartment being generally horizontal, said platform is inclined upwardly from said locking aperture to said elongated slot.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said upward incline forms an angle of from about 9 degrees to about 15 degrees from horizontal.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein said angle is about 12 degrees.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein said elongated slot is in said second compartment.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein said latching aperture is in said second compartment.

10. The container of claim 8 wherein said latching aperture is in said second compartment.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein said elongated slot extends along substantially the entire width of the side of one of said compartments.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein each compartment is composed of four side portions including two spaced apart side walls, a front wall and a rear wall.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the second compartment has a depth that is defined by said four side portions and the depth of the second compartment increases from the rear wall to the front wall.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the first compartment has a depth that is defined by said four side portions and the depth of the first compartment decreases from the rear wall to the front wall.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein said elongated slot and said locking aperture are located so that when said platform is in position over the open portion of said second compartment with said support tab in said locking aperture and a peripheral portion of said platform is said elongated slot with the container in the closed position with the bottom portion of the first compartment being generally horizontal, the platform is included upwardly from the locking aperture to the elongated slot.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein the platform inclination substantially corresponds to the increase in the depth of the second compartment from the rear wall to the front wall.

17. The container of claim 1 wherein the side of the compartment through which the elongated slot extends includes a strengthened portion adjacent the elongated slot.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the strengthened portion includes a shoulder extending substantially along the entire length of said elongated slot.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the shoulder is located above the elongated slot when the container is in the closed position and the second compartment is above the first compartment.