Compartmentalized food package

Abstract

A compartmentalized plastic food package includes a container and sealed cover which have a plurality of individually sealed chambers for distinct foodstuffs. The container includes a top flange or surface which extends about the individual chambers onto which the removable cover is secured by an adhesive or heat sealing. The top flange includes a peripheral shoulder and lip which cooperates with the rear or bottom edge of certain of the chambers to facilitate substantially upright self-display of the container and contents. The sidewalls of the chambers are tapered and include notched or stepped spacers such that the containers may be controllably nested, the spacers preventing overly tight nesting and thus facilitating separation prior to filling and sealing. A plurality of distinct foodstuffs such as meat, cheese, crackers and cookies, for example, may be individually sealed in the chambers, thereby maintaining each foods flavor, aroma and desired moisture content.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to multi-chamber food packages and more specifically to a multi-chamber or compartmentalized food package which is both nestable in its unfilled state and self-displaying when filled and sealed.While the diversity of snack foods increases on an almost daily basis, over the long term, such foods reflect the consumers' desire for quickly and readily available sustenance and currently reflect their demand for healthier foods, i.e., foods low in calories, fats and cholesterol. Manufacturer's have responded with a wide variety of products satisfying these demands.In addition to the constantly changing demands for foodstuffs themselves, a second trend of the snack food market relates to packaging for the products. Single serving packages which provide average or typically sized servings of a food or snack are increasingly popular. These packages not only remain sealed until just prior to consumption thereby eliminating sanitation ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

A compartmentalized, plastic food package includes a container and sealed cover which have a plurality of individually sealed chambers for foodstuffs. The container includes a top flange or surface which extends about the individual chambers onto which the removable cover is secured by an adhesive or heat sealing. The top flange includes a peripheral shoulder and lip which cooperates with the rear or bottom edge of certain of the chambers to facilitate substantially upright self-display of the container and contents. The sidewalls of the chambers are tapered and include notched or stepped spacers such that the containers may be controllably nested, the spacers preventing overly tight nesting and thus facilitating separation prior to filling and sealing.

A plurality of distinct foodstuffs such as meat, cheese, nuts, crackers, fruit, cookies and candy, for example, may be individually sealed in the chambers, thereby maintaining each foods flavor, aroma and desired moisture content. Preferably, the heavier foodstuffs, e.g., meat and cheese, are disposed in the lower chambers when the container is oriented in a vertical (display) position and the lighter foodstuffs, e.g., crackers and cookies, are disposed in the upper chambers to improve stability in this position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compartmentalized food package wherein diverse foodstuffs may be stored in isolated fashion from one another.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a compartmentalized food container which is nestable and includes spacers which facilitate ready separation for filling.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a compartmentalized food container having a cover which may removably secured by an adhesive or heat sealing.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a compartmentalized food package wherein the heavier foodstuffs, e.g., meat and cheese are disposed in bottom chambers and lighter foodstuffs, e.g., crackers and cookies, are disposed in the upper chambers to improve, vertical, i.e., standing, self-standing stability.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, if the product is not balanced within the package relative to the hang point, the package will hang at an angle.

Such skewed disposition is generally considered to be unattractive and therefore undesirable.

Clearly, the packages in the above two patents require additional components to maintain them in an upright, display position which is undesirable.