Multi-container packages for dispensing liquid and dry food

• US 8,485,378 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dairy Management, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Mills Incorporated
• Inventors: Zoss, Robert A., Scholtes, Bryan, Genord, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, NED ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US12/384,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 206/541, 206/219, 220/23.4, 220/23.83, 220/212, 220/521, 220/574, 220/575, 220/695, 220/697, 220699-701, 220/705, 220/735, 220/736, 220/23.86, 220/503, 220/504, 220/522, 426/85, 426/120, 215/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 220/23.86
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/02 Plates, dishes or the like

Abstract

Food packages having features such as multiple containers in a single package and multiple pieces for a package, wherein the packages can contain multiple food products such as cereal and milk, but not necessarily cereal and milk, for consumption together in a convenient manner. One food package includes a lower container and an upper container, wherein the upper container includes an interior space that is defined by a three-dimensional bottom having at least one aperture, and sidewalls, with a reservoir formed in the three-dimensional bottom and including a volume at the bottom of the reservoir located below the at least one aperture.

Claims

1. A multi-container package comprising:

a lower container comprising;

an upper region having an open top;

a lower bottom;

a lower sidewall;

a lower interior space defined by the lower bottom and the lower sidewall, the lower interior space communicating with the opening;

an upper container connected to the upper region of the lower container, the upper container comprising;

an upper sidewall having a lower region;

an upper bottom extending across a lower end of said upper sidewall, the upper bottom comprising;

an upwardly protruding valve comprising at least one aperture;

an annular channel surrounding the upwardly protruding valve, the annular channel having a downwardly protruding base extending between the lower region of the upper sidewall and the upwardly protruding valve, the annular channel defining a volume located below the at least one aperture;

an upper interior space defined by the upper bottom and the upper sidewall, the upper interior space being in fluid communication with the lower interior space and the volume of the channel is a portion of the upper interior space.

2. The multi-container package according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the annular channel ranges from 3 cubic centimeters to 30 cubic centimeters.

3. The multi-container package according to claim 1, the upper container further comprising a cover for the upper container.

4. The multi-container package according to claim 3, the cover further comprising:

a cover body defining a cover interior below the cover body and above the upper interior space; and

, a perimeter connected to the upper container.

5. The multi-container package according to claim 1, wherein the lower container is a first separate integral piece and the upper container is a second separate integral piece.

6. The multi-container package according to claim 5, further comprising:

the open top of the lower container further comprising a lower engagement portion;

the upper container further comprising;

an open top at an upper region of the sidewall;

an upper engagement portion at the upper bottom, the upper engagement portion fastened to the lower engagement portion of the lower container in a liquid-tight manner;

a cover having an outer portion engaging the open top in a liquid-tight manner.

7. The multi-container package according to claim 5, wherein the upper interior space does not extend into the lower interior space.

8. The multi-container package according to claim 5, the upper bottom further comprising:

an extension sidewall extending from an outer perimeter of the upper sidewall toward the lower container, the extension sidewall comprising the upper engagement portion.

9. A package comprising:

a circumferential sidewall having;

an open top with an upper rim;

a lower rim;

an outer surface extending from the upper rim to the lower rim;

a first inner surface extending downwardly from the upper rim to a lower inner region of the sidewall;

a second inner surface extending upwardly from the lower rim to the lower interior region of the sidewall;

a cover fastened to the upper rim and having a cover opening;

a circular base extending inwardly from the lower inner region of the sidewall to separate the first inner surface from the second inner surface, the circular base substantially closing the lower inner region of the sidewall to define an upper cavity, and the circular base comprising;

a lower exterior surface having;

an annular protrusion;

a central concave portion;

wherein the second inner surface of the circumferential sidewall and the lower exterior surface of the circular base define a lower cavity;

an upper interior surface comprising;

a central convex portion having at least one aperture;

an annular channel surrounding the central convex portion and extending between the first interior surface of the circumferential sidewall and the central convex portion, the annular channel defining an interior annular volume ranging from 3 cubic centimeters to 30 cubic centimeters.

10. The package according to claim 9, wherein the interior annular volume ranges from 3 cubic centimeters to 30 cubic centimeters.

11. The package according to claim 9, wherein the interior annular volume ranges from 5 cubic centimeters to 20 cubic centimeters.