Abstract:
A serving tray is provided with multiple compartments, each compartment having distinct peripheral walls having a pair of bands of accordion, style pleats separated by a smooth section of wall running the entire perimeter of the walls. The bands of accordion style pleats allow the container to be folded at the pleats to compress the container to provide three volumes which are easily identifiable. The band of accordion style pleats include pleat locks which can be manually activated to prevent the band of accordion style pleats from being compressed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a multi-compartment container and particularly to a container wherein the multi-compartments are selectively collapsible and expandable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various products are purchased in multi-compartment trays or containers to separate individual and distinct products from one another within the container. This is especially true in the food industry. Vegetable or fruit trays provide an array of vegetables or fruits separated in individual compartments of the tray. The vegetable or fruit tray also will generally have a dip provided in the center compartment. The quantity of the vegetable or fruit trays can vary for the size of the function where it is required. Currently, separate packaging is provided to accommodate each available size of the tray. The food vendor must maintain a significant inventory of the various size trays in his store which occupy significant storage areas. In addition, separate accounting of inventory must be maintained by the food vendor. Another disadvantage is that additional time and tooling is required in the manufacture of the various size trays. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the intent of the invention to address the aforementioned concerns. The invention provides a multi-compartment collapsible and expandable container, wherein each compartment has its own peripheral walls and floor forming an interior therein, and the interior of each compartment is individually collapsible and expandable. 
     In another aspect of the invention the multi-compartment collapsible and expandable container includes a first inner compartment and a plurality of outer compartments surrounding the inner compartment. The inner compartment is formed by a circular peripheral wall and a floor. The plurality of exterior or outer compartments are each formed by a plurality of peripheral walls which are spaced from the peripheral wall forming the other compartments. Each of the peripheral walls of the outer compartments terminate at a level plane and form a surface for engagement with a sealing lid. 
     In another aspect of the invention, all of the peripheral walls have a portion formed into a band of accordion style pleats to allow the container to be compressed to provide a smaller volume capacity. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the band of accordion style pleats includes a pleat lock which when manually activated, prevents the band of accordion style pleats from being compressed. 
    
    
     Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oval shaped multi-compartment expandable and compressible container of the present invention having a center compartment and four exterior compartments; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a round multi-compartment expandable and compressible container of the present invention having a center compartment and four exterior compartments; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an oval-shaped, multi-compartment, expandable and compressible container of the present invention having a center compartment and six exterior compartments; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the container in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the multi-compartment container of FIG. 1 taken along lines  5 — 5 ; 
     FIG. 6 is a portion of the container of FIG. 5 shown partially compressed; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 5 showing the container fully expanded. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a multi-compartment tray illustrating another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG. 8 taken along lines  9 — 9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-3 show different configurations of a multi-compartment container or tray  10   a-c  embodying the present invention. Each tray  10   a-c  has a center interior compartment  12 . Although the center interior compartment  12  is usually circular for receiving dip containers, the center compartment  12  may be other shapes according to the requirements of the retailer or food vendor. The center compartment  12  is formed by a peripheral wall  16  contiguously and integrally joined at a bottom edge to a floor  17 . The center compartment  12  is surrounded by multiple exterior compartments  14 . Each exterior compartment  14  is formed similarly to the center compartment  12  in that each exterior compartment  14  is formed by peripheral walls  22  contiguously and integrally joined along their bottom edges with a floor  23 . A portion of the peripheral wall  22  forming the exterior compartments is adjacent to the peripheral wall  16  of the center compartment  12 . The portion of the peripheral wall of the exterior compartment  14  that is adjacent to the center compartment  12  is designated as  20 . The adjacent peripheral wall portion  20  of each of the exterior compartments  14  is spaced from the peripheral wall  16  of the interior or center compartment  12 . The adjacent peripheral wall portion  20  only connects with the peripheral wall  16  of the interior at the upper face  21 . As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, the individual compartments  12  and  14  are connected to each other only at the upper face  21 . 
     A removable lid  24  may be provided to substantially cover the opening to the individual compartments  12 ,  14 . The lid  24 , shown in phantom in FIG. 5, has the general shape of the outer periphery of the upper face  21  of the container or tray  10   a . The lid  24  is conventional and will generally provide a closure for the outer periphery  44  of the tray at the upper face  21 . In one embodiment, the lid may have a groove  50  for receiving a portion of the outer periphery  44  of the tray  10   a . The outer periphery  44  of the tray  10  is also conventional and may be provided in one embodiment with a sealing ridge  52  extending therefrom along a peripheral surface  54  of the rim  21 . The sealing ridge  52  will meetingly engage with a groove  50  along the outer periphery  52  of the lid  24 . The engagement will form an essentially tight closure or seal between the groove  50  and the ridge  52  to prevent spillage or contamination of the produce stored within the tray or container  10   a-c . Although one configuration of a closure of a lid  24  is shown in FIG. 5, it is evident that other lid closure configurations known in the art may be incorporated in the container  10   a-c.    
     Each peripheral wall  16 ,  22  of both the center compartment  12  and the exterior compartments  14  include at least one band  60  of accordion style pleats positioned parallel to the upper face  21  of the container  10 . The band  60  of accordion style pleats are spaced from both the upper face  21  and floors  17  and  23  of the center compartment  12  and exterior compartments  14 , respectively. For manufacturing purposes, it is preferred that the band  60  of accordion style pleats is spaced the same distance from the upper face  21  for each compartment  12  and  14 . However, since each compartment  12  and  14  does not share a peripheral wall with any other compartment, the band  60  accordion style pleats can be independently positioned. It is imperative that when the band  60  of the accordion style pleats is fully retracted or collapsed, the height A of the trays  10   a-c  are the same for each exterior compartment  14  in order to provide a level surface for secure placement on a horizontal surface. The center compartment  12  should have a height less than or equal to the height A in order to accept the lid  24 . 
     Although a single band  60  of accordion style pleats can provide various volumes for the multi-compartment containers  10   a-c , there is no indicator to the retailer or food vendor what the volume capacity of a particular tray  10   a-c  is. This is especially important if the retailer or food vendor wants to advertise various size trays, such as small, medium, and large. Therefore, in order to provide an indicator for each of the three volume capacities, the present invention provides two bands  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats for each compartment  12  and  14  running parallel to the upper face  21  and floors  12  and  23  respectively of the container  10   a-c . The two bands  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats are separated by a band of smooth wall  64 . If neither band of accordion style pleats is expanded, the tray  10   a-c  has a small capacity, as shown in FIG. 5, with a height A. If one of the bands  60  or  62  is expanded, the tray  10   a-c  has a medium capacity, as shown in FIG. 6, with a height B. When both bands  60  and  62  of the accordion style pleats are expanded, the tray  10   a-c  has a large capacity, as shown in FIG. 7, with a height C. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the height B of the trays  10   a-c  is greater than the height A; and the height C of the trays  10   a-c  is greater than the height B. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the interior compartment  12  may have only one band  60  of accordion style pleats, while the exterior compartments have two bands  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats. 
     For manufacturing purposes, it is preferred to manufacture the trays  10   a-c  with the two bands  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats in the expanded position. The trays  10   a-c  are shipped to the retailer or vendor with the two bands  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats expanded. The retailer can optionally compress the tray  10   a-c  to the desired volume size by applying pressure to the upper face  21  with a vertically downward force. However, this downward force on the tray  10   a-c  will contract both bands  60 ,  62  indiscriminately. Therefore, it is further the intent of the invention to provide a locking means  70  on the bands of accordion style pleats to selectively prevent one or both bands  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats from being folded when vertically downward pressure is applied to the upper face  21  of the tray  10   a-c . FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the locking means  70 . The locking means  70  includes at least one, but preferably four projections  72  on each band  60 ,  62  of accordion style pleats. The projections  72  extend into the interior of each compartment  12 ,  14  to allow easy access to the projections. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the projections  72  are formed by a gradual convexity of the band  60 ,  62  of pleats at various locations of the band  60 ,  62 . The gradual rise of the band in the interior of the compartments  12 ,  14  to form the projection can also be referred to as a swelling  72 , since the elevation to form the projection  72  is smooth and non-abrupt relative to the remainder of the band  60 ,  62  of pleats. Preferably, each band  60 ,  62  of pleats has four projections or swellings  72 . Two of the projections or swellings  72  are positioned adjacent the outer periphery of the tray or container  10   a-c . The other two projections or swellings  72  are positioned on the opposing side of the container  12 ,  14 . The projections or swellings  72  may also be spaced equidistance from each other. 
     The locking means  70  can be manually activated if the tray  10   a-c  is intended for use in the large or medium volume configuration. If the user, whether it is a retailer or food vendor, wants a medium volume tray, he would manually depress all of the projections or swellings  72  along only one band  60  or  62  of pleats in the interior of each compartment  12 ,  14 . Depressing the projections or swellings  72  disrupts the pleating pattern of the band  60  or  62 . Therefore, as the user applies a vertically downward force upon the upper face  21  of the tray  10   a-c , the band  60  or  62  of pleats having the depressed projections or swellings  72  will not contract or fold and only the other band  60  or  62  in each compartment  12 ,  14  will fold or contract to form the medium size tray  10   a-c.    
     If the user wants a large size tray, then all of the projections or swellings  72  in both bands  60  and  62  of pleats in the interior of each compartment  12 ,  14  would be depressed. This depression prevents any of the bands  60  and  62  of pleats from being folded. If the user wants a small size tray  10   a-c , then none of the projections or swellings  72  would be depressed so that both bands  60 ,  62  of pleats could be folded upon downward pressure on the upper face  21  of the tray  10   a-c.    
     Although, the drawings show each band  60  and  62  of pleats having projections or swellings  72  thereon, it would be conceivable, as an alternative, to only have the projections or swellings  72  on only one of the bands  60  or  62  of pleats in each compartment  12 ,  14 . Depressing all the swellings  72  of the one band  60  or  62  will provide the medium capacity tray. Depressing none of the swellings  72 , but then applying vertically downward pressure on the upper face  21  of the tray will provide the small capacity tray. Finally, depressing none of the swellings  72  and applying no pressure to the upper face  21  of the tray  10   a-c  will maintain the tray  10   a-c  in the large capacity configuration. 
     FIG. 4 shows another configuration for the floors  117  and  123  of the individual compartments  12 ,  14 . In many cases, the trays  10   a-c  of the present invention will be used for the storage of food products, such as vegetables and fruit. 
     These food products have high moisture contents. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a ridged floor configuration, so that any drainage of the moisture will pool at the lower level of the ridged floor so that the food product is not laying in the pool of moisture. The ridged floors  117  and  123  can have various configurations. However, it is preferable that the space between upper edges of the ridges  125  is narrower than the food product contained therein so that food portions do not sit in the pooled liquid. 
     The expandable and compressible tray is made of a plastic material that is compatible for storing food products. The plastic material has the rigidity to withstand the weight of the food contents, but is lightweight enough to provide a inexpensive tray that is disposable. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.