TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER

A container can be prepared with a detachable section that is operable to be removed along a separation line by a user. The container transforms from a packaging container into a serving container after the detachable section is torn off. Additionally, the container can be in any size, shape or material. For example, the container can be a bag made of any material that serves food and can be separated so that it transforms into a serving piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, providing a way to transform a package, e.g. a bag, into a serving piece allows the serving piece to contain and present items in one clean place while also considerably increasing visibility and ease of access to the packaged items, such as food, originally contained in the package.

Transformable containers can be used as convenient serving containers. For example, when a family is on the road, passengers, including young children, often consume the food items directly out of the packaging containers. Traditional packaging bags are optimized for packaging purposes, but not for serving purposes. Retrieving food items for consumption from a container optimized for serving makes the food more visible, easily retrievable and the overall experience more enjoyable. This is especially so for children and people with disabilities, who may have difficulty reaching into tall food bags to retrieve food, without being able to see inside a traditional packaging container, and who may be prone to cause spills or damages.

Transformable packaging bags can be transformed and used at a restaurant or in a sit-down setting as a convenient serving apparatus. They can be taken from a counter and placed on a table. For example, a patron can remove the top of a transformable packaging container of tortilla chips, and the bag can become an instant serving bowl of tortilla chips. The patron can now easily see and retrieve the chips from the transformed serving bowl. By not requiring transferring of the food items from the packaging container to an outside serving piece, a transformable packaging bag can help keep food consumption sanitary, reduce the likelihood for spillage or untidiness. Transformable packaging bags also reduce energy and resources required in manufacturing of additional serving pieces and in cleaning them after use, and can lead to a reduction in overall human-produced waste.

FIG. 1is an illustration of a transformable container in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, a packaging container100can be prepared with a detachable section102that is operable to be removed, by means such as tearing or pulling apart, along a separation line or its proximity103by a user.

For example, the packaging container100can be a paper bag, a plastic bag, or a cardboard box that may be used to contain food or small items. Additionally, the packaging container100can also be a foil type bag, e.g. a retail potato chip bag, or other containers that are used for containing various types of food.

The separation line103can be prepared by means including: cutting away a portion of the packaging container100; applying closely spaced perforations on the packaging container100; using a tearing strip; and using a lighter or thinner material along the line than the rest of the container. After a user removes the detachable section102along the separation line103, the packaging container100can transform into a serving container101.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the separation line103can optionally start from the top opening of the packaging container100, so that the user can easily create an opening by removing the detachable section102.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the separation line103can be configured or optimized for serving purposes, since the geometry and location of the separation line103can determine the shape and size of the serving container101.

For example, there can be multiple separation lines, e.g. the separation lines103and113, on the packaging container100, so that a user can choose to tear off a portion of the detachable section102from the packaging container100and create a serving container101with a depth accordingly to the quantity of the items contained.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container100can take on one or more of various simple or complex shapes, such as box, cube, bag, cylinder, pyramid, cone, sphere, prism, and others.

FIG. 2is an illustration of the transformable container with a detachable section removed, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, the packaging container200can transform into a serving container201after one or more detachable sections, e.g. section202and203, are removed.

The separation line can be manipulated by the user to remove the detachable sections by means including tearing, pulling apart, and removing a tearing strip, etc.

Furthermore, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the serving container201can be prepared using a material, or applied with a lining, padding or a coating inside or outside, which is different from what is used in the detachable sections202or203. Such material, lining, padding, or coating can be optimized for handling the particular item210being contained.

For example, thermal materials can be used for hot food or cold food. Anti-leak materials can be used for liquid. Non-stick materials can be used for greasy food or materials. Strengthened materials can be used to contain fragile or sharp items.

The separation line can be optimized so that the edges of the serving container201is soft and smooth. Users, e.g. young children, can reach in the serving container201and retrieve items such as chicken nuggets where the possibility of cuts or other injuries can be significantly reduced. Small particles near the corners inside the container can become more easily retrievable.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, after being removed from the packaging container100, the detached portion of the container202can be used as an additional serving container.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the detachable sections202or203can be re-attached to the remaining section201as a cover or lid.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, after being removed from the packaging container200, the detached portion of the container202and203can be used as a graphical ornament or a recreational game, such as board games, puzzles, origami, coloring sheets, mazes, cartoons, joke sheets, etc.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the detached sections202,203, and the remaining section201can take on one or more of various simple or complex shapes, such as box, cube, bag, cylinder, pyramid, cone, sphere, prism, and others.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be specially designed for use by users with small body frames or below-average motor skills, such as young children or physically impaired persons. The separation line can be designed to separate with great ease. The serving portion can be designed with a low height so that articles contained in the portion can become more visible and more easily retrieved.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be used to contain servings of food chips, such as potato, corn, or tortilla chips. After removing the detachable sections, the remaining section can be used as a serving bowl for the food chips.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be used to as an airtight container, such as a foil bag, of snack food, such as potato chips. After removing the detachable sections, the remaining section can be used as an instant serving piece.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be specially adapted for use in an automobile. Features can include a spill-proof lid, a wide base, a friction bottom, and a serving section adapted to be placed on the center console of an automobile.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art. The variations may include combination of two or more features disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalence.