Container with integral compartments

• US 7,140,532 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott M. Lindquist
• Original Assignee: Aricoga Creative Development LLC
• Inventors: Leybeck, Wayne J., Holt, Timothy E., Roelle, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US11/188,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 229/120.13, 229/400, 229/405, 229/902, 229/904, 229/906, 229/193, 220/23.8, 220/23.86, 220/505, 220/520
• US Class Current: 229/120.13
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0209 the tubular body having a curved or partially curved cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/18 by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the container and opposite sides of the body portion, the remaining sides being formed primarily by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides, e.g. flaps hinged thereto B65D5/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/48002 integral
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/48016 formed by folding extensions hinged to the upper or lower edges of a tubular body B65D5/48008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3205 Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces B65D81/3288 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/904 Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/906 Baked goods

Abstract

A container for holding at least two items comprising at least two compartments, a first compartment and a second compartment rotatably affixed to the first compartment. The second compartment in a first position extends from the first compartment substantially in the plane of the rear panel of the first compartment and can thus be used as a scoop to scoop a first item into the first compartment. The second compartment is then rotated until it is adjacent to and extends substantially along or even abuts the rear panel of the first compartment and is expanded, and a second item is placed into the second compartment.

Claims

1. A container for holding at least two items comprising at least two compartments:

a first compartment comprising a front panel spaced apart from a rear panel and a bottom panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel;

a second compartment rotatably attached to said rear panel of said first compartment, said second compartment comprising;

a front small panel;

a rear small panel connected to said from small panel and rotatably connected to said rear panel of said first compartment, so that said front small panel extends substantially along said rear small panel;

wherein said second compartment is rotated from a first position extending along the plane of said rear panel to a second position in which said second compartment extends adjacent to and substantially along an exterior side of said rear panel and in which said front small panel continues to extend substantially along said rear small panel.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said ax least two compartments are formed of a unitary blank of foldable material.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said first compartment further comprises at least one side panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said first compartment further comprises:

front side panels extending from said front panel;

rear side panels extending from said rear panel;

said front panel, said rear panel and said bottom panel connected together along a plurality of lines wherein said front side panels and said rear side panels overlap and are affixed when said front, rear, and bottom panels are folded along said plurality of lines to form said first compartment.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein in said first position said second compartment is flattened and is used to scoop said first item into said first compartment and wherein in said second position said second compartment is expanded after rotation and said second item is placed into said second compartment.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said second compartment further comprises:

front side flaps extending from said front small panel of said second compartment;

rear side flaps extending from said rear small panel of said second compartment;

wherein said front side flaps and said rear side flaps overlap and are affixed when said front small panel extends substantially along said rear small panel;

a bottom small panel between said front small panel and said rear small panel, such that when said second compartment is expanded, said bottom small panel locks said second compartment into said expanded position when said bottom small panel is pushed up into said second compartment.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein said second compartment when expanded pushes said rear panel of said first compartment into said first compartment, thus maintaining said second compartment in said second position.

8. A container for holding a first item and a second item comprising:

a first compartment comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a bottom panel connected together along a plurality of lines;

front side panels extending from said front panel;

rear side panels extending from said rear panel;

wherein said front side panels and said rear side panels overlap and are affixed when said front panel, rear panel, and bottom panel are folded along said plurality of lines to form said first compartment;

a second compartment extending from said first compartment, said second compartment comprising;

a front small panel;

a rear small panel connected to said front small panel and connected to said rear panel of said first compartment;

a bottom small panel between said front small panel and said rear small panel;

said second compartment rotatably attached by said rear small panel to said rear panel of said first compartment, wherein said second compartment is rotated from a first position extending substantially in the plane of said rear panel in which said second compartment is used to scoop said first item into said first compartment to a second position extending adjacent to and substantially along said rear panel in which said second compartment is expanded and said second item is placed into said second compartment, and such that when said second compartment is expanded, said bottom small panel locks in place when said bottom small panel is pushed up into said second compartment.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are formed of a unitary blank of foldable material.

10. The container of claim 8 wherein said second compartment when expanded pushes said rear panel of said first compartment into said first compartment, thus maintaining said second compartment in said second position.

11. A container for holding a first item and a second item comprising:

a first compartment comprising a front panel, a rear panel comprising a first section and a second section, a bottom panel; and

front side panels extending from said front panel and rear side panels extending from said rear panel, all of said panels connected together along a plurality of lines;

wherein said first section and said second section of said rear panel overlap and are affixed when said front panel, rear panel, bottom panel, and side panels are folded along said plurality of lines to form said first compartment;

a second compartment extending from said first compartment, said second compartment comprising;

a front small panel;

a rear small panel connected to said front small panel and connected to said rear panel of said first compartment;

a bottom small panel between said front small panel and said rear small panel;

said second compartment rotatably attached by said rear small panel to said rear panel of said first compartment, wherein said second compartment is rotated from a first position extending substantially in the plane of said rear panel in which said second compartment is used to scoop said first item into said first compartment to a second position adjacent to and extending substantially along said rear panel in which said second compartment is expanded and said second item is placed into said second compartment, and such that when said second compartment is expanded, said bottom small panel locks in place when said bottom small panel is pushed up into said second compartment.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are formed of a unitary blank of foldable material.

13. The container of claim 11 wherein said second compartment when expanded pushes said rear panel of said first compartment into said first compartment, thus maintaining said second compartment in said second position.

14. A method for holding at least two items in a container having at least two compartments comprising:

providing a first compartment comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a bottom panel connected together along a plurality of lines, wherein front side panels extend from said front panel and rear side panels extend from said rear panel and wherein said front side panels and said rear side panels overlap and are affixed when said front panel, rear panel, and bottom panel are folded along said plurality of lines to form said first compartment;

providing a second compartment extending from said first compartment, said second compartment comprising a front small panel, a rear small panel connected to said front small panel and connected to said rear panel of said first compartment, so that said front small panel extends substantially along said rear small panel;

scooping a first item into said first compartment using said extended second compartment;

rotating said second compartment from said first position to a second position adjacent to and extending substantially along said rear panel of said first compartment and in which said front small panel continues to extend substantially along said rear small panel;

expanding said second compartment;

placing a second item into said second compartment.

15. A container for holding at least two items comprising at least two compartments:

a first compartment comprising a front panel spaced apart from a rear panel and a bottom panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel;

a second compartment rotatably attached to said rear panel of said first compartment;

wherein said second compartment is rotated from a first position extending along the plane of said rear panel to a second position in which said second compartment extends adjacent to and substantially along said rear panel;

wherein said at least two compartments are formed of a unitary blank of foldable material;

wherein said first compartment further comprises at least one side panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel;

said first compartment further comprising;

front side panels extending from said front panel;

rear side panels extending from said rear panel;

said front panel, said rear panel, and said bottom panel connected together along a plurality of lines wherein said front side panels and said rear side panels overlap and are affixed when said front, rear, and bottom panels are folded along said plurality of lines to form said first compartment

wherein in said first position said second compartment is flattened and is used to scoop said first item into said first compartment and wherein in said second position said second compartment is expanded and said second item is placed into said second compartment;

said second compartment further comprising;

a front small panel and a rear small panel connected together along a first line;

front side flaps extending from said front small panels of said second compartment;

rear side flaps extending from said rear small panels of said second compartment;

wherein said front side flaps and said rear side flaps overlap and are affixed when said front small panel and said rear small panel are folded along said first line;

a bottom small panel between said front small panel and said rear small panel, such that when said second compartment is expanded, said bottom small panel locks said second compartment into said expanded position when said bottom small panel is pushed up into said second compartment.

16. A container for holding at least two items comprising ax least two compartments:

a first compartment comprising a front panel spaced apart from a rear panel and a bottom panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel;

a second compartment rotatably attached to said rear panel of said first compartment;

wherein said second compartment is rotated from a first position extending along the plane of said rear panel to a second position in which said second compartment extends adjacent to and substantially along said rear panel;

wherein said at least two compartments are formed of a unitary blank of foldable material;

said first compartment further comprising;

at least one side panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel;

front side panels extending from said front panel;

rear side panels extending from said rear panel;

said front panel, said rear panel, and said bottom panel connected together along a plurality of lines wherein said front side panels and said rear side panels overlap and are affixed when said front, rear, and bottom panels are folded along said plurality of lines to form said first compartment

wherein in said first position said second compartment is flattened and is used to scoop said first item into said first compartment and wherein in said second position said second compartment is expanded and said second item is placed into said second compartment

said second compartment further comprising;

a front small panel and a rear small panel connected together along a first line;

front side flaps extending from said front small panels of said second compartment;

rear side flaps extending from said rear small panels of said second compartment;

wherein said front side flaps and said rear side flaps overlap and are affixed when said front small panel and said rear small panel are folded along said first line;

a bottom small panel between said front small panel and said rear small panel, such that when said second compartment is expanded, said bottom small panel locks said second compartment into said expanded position when said bottom small panel is pushed up into said second compartment;

wherein said second compartment when expanded pushes said rear panel of said first compartment into said first compartment, thus maintaining said second compartment in said second position.

17. A container for holding at least two items comprising at least two compartments:

a first compartment comprising a front panel spaced apart from a rear panel and a bottom panel connected to said front panel and said rear panel;

a second compartment rotatably attached to said rear panel of said first compartment, said second compartment comprising;

a front small panel and a rear small panel connected together along a first line;

front side flaps extending from said front small panels of said second compartment;

rear side flaps extending from said rear small panels of said second compartment;

wherein said front side flaps and said rear side flaps overlap and are affixed when said front small panel and said rear small panel are folded along said first line;

a bottom small panel between said front small panel and said rear small panel, such that when said second compartment is expanded, said bottom small panel locks said second compartment into said expanded position when said bottom small panel is pushed up into said second compartment.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein said second compartment when expanded pushes said rear panel of said first compartment into said first compartment, thus maintaining said second compartment in said second position.