Container assembly having a removable insert/divider

• US 5,213,256 A
• Filed: 03/18/1987
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tenneco Foam Products Co.
• Original Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Cyr, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Little, Willis
• Application Number:
  US07/027,345
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 229/2.5 R, 229/2.5 EC, 229/44 R, 229/45 R, 229/45 RC, 229/904, 229/905, 229/906, 229/902, 229/7 SC, 229/101, 229/120.02, 229/120.07, 229/120.32, 206/524.4, 206/219
• US Class Current: 229/120.32
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/105 The closure having a part fitting over the rim of the container or spout and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/08 with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/904 Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray

Abstract

A container assembly comprising a container having a first section having a bottom wall, sidewalls, and end walls and a second section adapted to lie over the open top of said first section to selectively close the open top of said first section and an insert means adapted to separate the contents of said sections, said insert being removable from said container while said container is in a closed position. The container assembly of the present invention is particularly useful in maintaining the hot/cold or moist/dry components of a food product separate until just prior to consumption at which time the insert is removed and the components of the food product are combined. The insert is removable while the container is closed so that the components of the food product can be combined without necessitating handling by the consumer.

Claims

1. A container assembly comprising in combination, a container comprising a plastic material and having (a) a first space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall, (b) a second space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall, said second section being adapted to lie over the open portion of said first section to close at least one of said open portions, wherein said sections are joined together by a hinge at the edges of corresponding walls of said sections, (c) locking means for holding said sections together disposed upon the walls of said sections directly opposite the hinge, and (d) a planar insert positioned between said open portions of said sections, said insert comprising foam polystyrene coated with a polymeric resinous material and having a tab element on at least one end thereof which extends beyond at least one of the end walls or sidewalls of said container whereby said insert is removable from said container while said container is in a closed position.

2. A container assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second sections each define hollow cavities bounded by said walls.

3. A container assembly of claim 1 wherein two separate hollow cavities separated by said insert are formed when said container is in the closed position.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking means is disposed upon the end walls of said sections.

5. A plastic food package comprising in combination:

a container having (a) a first space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall and (b) a second space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall, said second section being adapted to lie over the open portion of said first section to close at least one of said open portions, wherein said sections are joined together by a hinge at the edges of corresponding walls of said sections, and

a planar insert positioned between the open portions of said sections, said insert having a tab element on at least one end thereof which extends beyond at least one of the end walls or sidewalls of said sections wherein said insert is removable from said container while said container is in a closed position, wherein said container and said insert are thermoformed from foamed polystyrene and said insert is coated on both sides with a polymeric resinous material.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein said resinous material is rubber modified polystyrene.

7. A plastic food package comprising in combination:

a container having (a) a first space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall and (b) a second space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall, said second section being adapted to lie over the open portion of said first section to close at least one of said open portions, wherein said sections are joined together by a hinge at the edges of corresponding walls of said sections, and

a planar insert positioned between the open portions of said sections, said insert having a tab element on at least one end thereof which extends beyond at least one of the end walls or sidewalls of said sections wherein said insert is removable from said container while said container is in a closed position, and

a food product comprising a first component and a second component wherein said first component is in said first section on one side of said insert and said second component is in said section on the opposite side of said insert,

wherein said container and said insert are thermoformed from a sheet of foamed polystyrene and wherein said insert is coated with a polymeric resinous material.

8. A method of combining the components of a closed container comprising:

placing a food product comprising a first component and a second component into a container assembly comprising in combination, a container having (a) a first space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall and (b) a second space-defining section having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls and an open portion opposite said bottom wall, said second section being adapted to lie over the open portion of said first section to close at least one of said open portions; and

an insert positioned between said open portions of said sections, said insert having a tab element on at least one end thereof which extends beyond at least one of the end walls or sidewalls of said container wherein said insert is removable from said container while said container is in a closed position,

wherein said first component is placed in said first section and said insert is placed over said first component and first section, and said second component is placed in said second section, and said sections are joined together to form a closed container; and

said insert is removed from said closed container by means of a tab element on at least one end thereof which extends beyond the sidewalls of said container.

wherein said container and said insert are formed from a sheet of foamed polystyrene.