Abstract:
A main container includes a bottom, a side wall structure and a neck with a top rim surrounding an access opening which communicates with an interior storage chamber for holding a first product. An insert container with an open top and a peripheral flange holds a second product. The insert container is sized and configured for nested receipt within the access opening of the main container so that the top peripheral flange rests in seated engagement on the top rim of the neck of the main container. A removable lid covers the access opening of the main container and open top of the insert container. The insert container is lifted and removed from the main container to allow removal of the first product.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/852,484 filed on Oct. 18, 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a container assembly with separate storage compartments for holding two or more products therein and, more particularly to a container assembly including an outer container with an interior storage compartment for holding a first product and a removable insert container which nests within the open top of the main container for holding a second product in a manner which visibly exposes both products. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Packaging two or more products as a combined unit is an effective marketing strategy for boosting sales and gaining market share, particularly when the products are sold alongside similar type competitive products from other companies. In the past, products have been packaged together using shrink wrap or similar plastic film material which bundles the two or more products as a single unit. This is commonly done with cleaning products such as dish detergent, laundry detergent, bath soap and shampoo. Various food products, such as crackers and cheese, are often packaged together in a molded tray having separate recessed holding areas. Often, a promotional (i.e. free) item is packaged with the main product to provide an incentive for consumers to purchase the product. For instance, cereal products often include a toy inside of the box with a reference to the toy surprise and picture presented on the box packaging. This is a well known marketing strategy, aimed at children, and can be highly effective to influence parents to purchase the particular cereal product that includes the toy inside. 
         [0004]    While numerous packaging assemblies and methods are known for combining two or more products together, as described above, there remains a need for a container assembly which is adapted to support an insert container within an outer main container in a manner which visibly exposes all of the products and without increasing the size or altering the form and structure of the main container. In particular, there is a need for a container assembly which provides a main container for holding a food product, such as a snack food product, and an insert container nested within the main container for holding a second food product, such as a condiment, dip, candy, beverage, etc. Alternatively, a non-food product, such as a toy or other object may be packaged in the second container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to a container assembly which includes a main container having a bottom, a side wall structure and a neck surrounding an access opening which communicates with an interior storage chamber for holding a first product. An insert container with a peripheral flange surrounding an open top is used to hold a second product. The insert container is sized and configured for nested receipt within the access opening of the main container so that the top peripheral flange rests in seated engagement on the top rim of the neck of the main container. A removable lid covers the access opening of the main container and open top of the insert container. The insert container is lifted and removed from the main container to allow access to the first product. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    With the foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a container assembly including a main container formed of a transparent material and a secondary insert container which is removably received within the main container, and wherein a first product is visibly contained within the main container and a second product is visibly contained within the insert container. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present, invention to provide a container assembly which includes a main container with an open top and a removable insert container which nests within the open top of the main container in a manner which allows a first product to be stored in the main container and a second product to be stored within the insert container without increasing the size or altering the shape or structure of the main container. 
         [0008]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a container assembly which allows use of a conventional outer container for containing a first product, and an insert container which is adapted for receipt within the outer container for holding at least one other product separated from the first product and within the interior of the outer main container. 
         [0009]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a container assembly which includes a main outer container with an open top and lid and a removable insert container which nests within the open top of the main container in a manner which allows a first product to be stored in the main container and at least a second product to be stored within the insert container, and wherein packaging the products within the container assembly is readily adapted to an existing assembly line process without significant alteration or additional cost. 
         [0010]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a container assembly which includes a main container with an open top and a removable insert container that is received within the main container in nested engagement with the open top, and wherein a single lid effectively closes both the main container and the removable insert container. 
         [0011]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a container assembly which includes a main container having an open top and a removable insert container that is received through the open top of the main container for nested engagement therewith, and wherein a first food product is contained within the main container and a complementary product is contained with the removable insert container, and wherein the overall appeal and value of the first product is enhanced by the inclusion of the second product within the same container package. 
         [0012]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are more readily apparent with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the container assembly of the present invention in accordance with a first embodiment thereof; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the container assembly of  FIG. 1 , showing the removable insert container received in nested engagement within the main outer container, and wherein a food product is contained within the insert container; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an isolated cross-sectional view taken from the area indicated as  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the container assembly in accordance with a second embodiment thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded view of the container assembly in accordance with a third embodiment thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an isolated, exploded perspective view of the container assembly in accordance with a fourth embodiment thereof; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an isolated cut-away view of an insert container of the invention, showing an embodiment of the top flange which is angled slightly downward; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an isolated cut-away view of an insert container of the invention, showing a further embodiment of the top flange which includes a downwardly extending lip that hooks over the rim of the main container. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The container assembly of the present invention is shown throughout the drawings, in accordance with various embodiments thereof, and is generally indicated as  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a first embodiment of the container assembly  10  is shown and includes a main container  20   a . The container  20   a  is preferably formed of a transparent molded plastic material in the form of a barrel or like shape container of the type commonly used for containing pretzels. It is noted, however, that the container  20   a  may be of other configurations and materials and may be used to contain any of a wide variety of products including food products and non-food products. The container  20   a  includes a side wall structure  22  which extends up from a bottom  24  to a top neck  26 . As previously noted, the wall structure  22  and bottom  24  are preferably transparent so that the product contained within the container  20   a  is visible through the wall structure  22  and bottom  24 . The neck  26  terminates at a top rim  28  which surrounds an open top  30  communicating with an interior storage chamber  32 . A first product is contained within the interior chamber  32 . 
         [0025]    A removable insert container  40   a , generally in the form of a cup or bowl, is sized and configured for receipt within the open top  30 . More specifically, the insert container  40   a  includes a bottom  42 , a side wall structure  44 , including an upper side wall structure  45  which is congruently configured in relation to the shape of the open top  30 , as defined by the neck  26 , so that the upper side wall structure  45  fits neatly within the open top  30  in sliding engagement with the interior surface of the neck  26 . The insert container  40   a  further includes a top peripheral flange  46  which extends about an open top  48 . The top peripheral flange  46  is sized and configured to engage the top rim  28  of the neck  26  when the insert container  40   a  is fully nested within the open top  30 , thereby supporting the insert container  40   a  in nested position within the open top  30  and preventing the insert container  40   a  from falling completely through the open top and into the interior chamber  32 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the top peripheral flange  46   a  is angled slightly downward to resist flexing and collapsing when supporting the insert container and weight of contents within the insert container on the rim  28  of main container  20   a . In  FIG. 8 , a further embodiment of the top flange  46   b  includes a downwardly depending lip  47   b  that hangs over the rim  28  of main container  20   a . Much like the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , this embodiment of the top flange  46   b  is designed to support the weight of the inset container and its contents while resisting upward flexing and collapsing which would cause the inset container to fall through the open top  30  of the main container  20   a  and down into the interior storage chamber  32 . 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, the wall structure  44  of the insert container  40   a  is formed of a transparent molded plastic material which may be similar to the outer container  20   a , except of a thinner gauge. The insert container  40   a  is particularly adapted for holding a second product  50  which complements the first product (not shown) contained in the interior storage chamber  32  of the main container  20   a . In particular, the second product  50  may be a condiment or dip, such as salsa, mustard or onion dip for consumption with a snack food product contained in the main container  20   a . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the insert container  40   a  and second food product  50  are dropped into nested receipt within the open top  30  of the main container  20   a , a lid  60  is secured to the neck  26  (e.g. by screw threads) to effectively enclose the insert container  40  and second food product  50  within the interior of the main container  20   a . Accordingly, a single lid  60  is used to close both the main container  20   a  and removable insert container  40   a.    
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of the container assembly  10  is shown. In this particular embodiment, the same main container  20   a  as described in conjunction with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  is used. However, the insert container  40   b  is shaped and configured to be elongated for holding a bottled beverage, such as a bottle of champagne. In this particular embodiment, the upper side wall structure  45  of the insert container  40   b  is significantly lengthened so that when the insert container  40   b  is received within the open top  30  of the main container  20   a , the side wall structure  44  of the insert container  40   b  extends deep into the interior chamber  32 . Again, the upper side wall structure  45  is dimensioned and configured for congruent sliding engagement with the inner surface of the neck  26  to provide a neat fit of the insert container  40   b  within the open top  30  without excessive lateral movement. Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the top peripheral flange  46  of the insert container  40   b  is sized and configured to engage the top rim  28  to support the insert container  40   b  in nested engagement within the open top  30  while preventing the container  40   b  from dropping entirely through the open top  30 . The lid  60  is secured to the neck  26  to effectively enclose the interior chamber  32 , insert container  40   b  and beverage bottle  52 . Preferably both the wall structure  22  of the main container  20   a  and the wall structure  44  (including the upper wall structure  45 ) of the insert container  40   b  are transparent so that the beverage product  52  is visibly exposed through the containers  40   b ,  20   a  when contained therein. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates yet a further embodiment of the container assembly  10 , wherein the main container  20   c  is formed in a generally square or rectangular shape having side walls  22 ′. The remainder of the assembly, including the insert container  40   a , is essentially identical as described in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates yet a further embodiment of the container assembly  10 , wherein the main container  20   c  is formed in a generally square or rectangular shape, similar to the embodiment in  FIG. 5 . In this particular embodiment ( FIG. 6 ), the main container  20   c  includes a square shaped neck  26 ′ with top rim  28 ′. The insert container  40   c  includes a side wall structure  44 ′ which is shaped and configured for congruent sliding receipt against the inner surface of the square shaped neck  26 ′. The top peripheral flange  48 ′ is sized and configured to rest in supported engagement on the top rim  28 ′ of the neck  26 ′ so that the insert container  40   c  is supported in nested receipt within the open top  30 ′ of the container  20   c . A lid  60 ′ removably attaches to the neck  26 ′ to enclose the main container  20   c  and insert container  40   c . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the product contained in the insert container  40   c  may be a toy  54  such as a toy car or other non-food item. The first product (not shown) contained within the interior storage chamber of the main container  20   c  may be either a food product or non-food product. Similar to the previously described embodiments, the wall structure  22 ′ of the container  20   c  and the wall structure  44 ′ of the insert container  40   c  are preferably of a transparent material so that both the first product in the container  20   c  and second product  54  in the insert container  40   c  are visibly exposed when contained in the container assembly  10  with the lid  60 ′ attached. 
         [0030]    In each of the above-described embodiments, the insert container  40   a - 40   c  is removed from the open top  30  of the main container  20   a - 20   c  by grasping the top peripheral flange with the fingertips and lifting the insert container upwardly from the open top of the main container, thereby effectively removing both the insert container and the product contained therein. 
         [0031]    While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.