GB2147275A - Foodstuff containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand-held container from which foodstuffs can be eaten comprises a folded carton (1) defining a main open-topped foodstuff compartment and a secondary smaller open-topped compartment for example for a sauce or dip. The container may be generally conical and an outer slip-on sleeve (19) may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foodstuff containers This invention relates to containers for foodstuffs, the object being to provide such a container which can be held in the hand and from which an interesting and varied snack or meal can be eaten.

According to one aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a container for foodstuffs in the form of a folded carton which is erectable to define a primary open-topped foodstuff compartment and connected thereto a secondary smaller open-topped foodstuff compartment.

With this arrangement, the primary compartment may contain a main foodstuff such as potato chips or the like and the secondary compartment may contain a dip or sauce whereby an interesting and varied snack or meal can be eaten from the container whilst this is held in the hand.

The primary compartment may comprises a structure which tapers away from the open top to a closed bottom end thereof, particularly a generally conical structure which may be of circular or polygonal cross-section.

The secondary compartment may be connected to the primary compartment at or close to the open top of the latter and internally thereof. The secondary compartment may comprise a structure which tapers away from its open top to a closed bottom end thereof.

The said carton may be foldable flat and may require only flexing or bending for erection thereof (i.e. no joining operation being required). The carton may be formed from card or plastics or any other suitable material.

The container of the invention may further comprise a sleeve which fits around the erected carton, such sleeve acting as a protective cover and/or providing a convenient surface for advertising or other matter of a printed or like nature.

Indeed, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for foodstuffs in the form of a carton having a primary open-topped foodstuff compartment and connected thereto a secondary smaller open-topped foodstuff compartment, wherein a sleeve is provided which fits around said carton.

The sleeve may comprise a loose flexible slip-on paper or plastics sleeve of like shape to the exterior of the carton.

If desired there may be two or more primary compartments and/or two or more secondary compartments interconnected with each other.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of a foodstuff container according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 in a fold-fl at condition.

The container of Figure 1 has an inner carton 1 formed from card. The carton comprises a first sheet 2 of card which is folded along seven edges to define eight side-by-side triangular or generally triangular panels 3-10 which meet at a common point 11, one end panel 10 being bonded behind the opposite end panel 3 so as to define a main compartment of generally conical form tapering from an open top to a closed bottom tip corresponding to said common point 11. As shown in the drawing, four front panels 3,4,9, 10 have aligned level edges bonding the open top and the other four rear panels 5,6,7,8 project above said edges and terminate in inclined top edges.

The carton further comprises a second sheet 12 of card which is folded along five edges to define five side-by-side triangular or generally triangular panels 13-17 which meet at a common point 18, the two end panels 13, 17 being bonded to the inner surfaces of the upper projecting parts of the central two panels 6, 7 of the first sheet 2 so as to define a small compartment of generally conical form tapering from an open top to a closed bottom tip corresponding to said common point 11.

As indicated in broken lines, the carton 1 fits loosely within an outer slip-on cover 19, which is generally of conical form, formed from a sheet of paper folded along two edges 20, 21 and joined by bonding of overlapping end regions 22, 23 between said edges. The shape of the cover 19 corresponds generally to that of the exterior of the carton 1 although the cover is slightly larger than the carton.

As shown in Figure 2, the carton can be stored folded flat. The cover 19 can also be folded flat whether in position around the carton or separated therefrom.

When required for use, the carton 1 is erected simply by pushing opposite edges 24, 25 towards each other (and without need for any interengagement of tabs or other joining operation).

A foodstuff such as cooked potato chips can then be put into the main compartment defined by the sheet 2, and a dip or sauce can be put into the smaller compartment defined by the sheet 12. The foodstuff can then be eaten whilst the container is held in the hand.

The tapered conical structure of the container facilitates holding in the hand and also enables the container to be stored in an upright position when filled with foodstuffs for example by insertion of the bottom end of the container into a hole in a rack or table top.

The small subsidiary compartment provides a particularly convenient storage receptacle for the sauce or dip whereby an interesting and varied snack or meal can be readily presented despite the hand-held format of the container.

The outer cover 19 provides a protective function and also presents an outer surface which conveniently may be printed with advertising or other matter.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment. Thus, for example, although it is visualised that the container will be particularly suitable for use with potato chips, other foodstuffs or combinations of foodstuffs may be used. Moreover, the container may be used in combination with one or more further like containers, the containers being fixed back to back or being held back to back within an appropriately shaped outer cover, whereby a range of foodstuffs can be presented simultaneously.

Claims (11)

1. A container for foodstuffs in the form of a folded carton which is erectable to define a primary open-topped foodstuff compartment and connected thereto a secondary smaller open-topped foodstuff compartment.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the primary compartment comprises a structure which tapers away from the open top to a closed bottom end thereof.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said structure is generally conical.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the secondary compartment is connected to the primary compartment at or close to the open top of the latter and internally thereof.

5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said secondary compartment comprises a structure which tapers away from its open top to a closed bottom end thereof.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said carton is foldable flat.

7. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said carton requires no joining operation for erection thereof.

8. A container for foodstuffs in the form of a carton having a primary open-topped foodstuff compartment and connected thereto a secondary smaller open-topped foodstuff compartment, wherein a sleeve is provided which fits around said carton.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein said sleeve comprises a loose flexible slip-on sleeve of like shape to the exterior of the carton.

10. A container according to claim 8 or 9, which is also a container according to any one of claims 1 to7.

11. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.