Abstract:
A package is defined to retain a first product and a separate ingredient. The package includes a hollow tubular body and first and second end closures sealed to the ends of the tube. A retainer cup is provided for storing the separate ingredient. The retainer cup includes a generally tubular cup wall, with an upper edge portion defining a support rim that surrounds a cup opening. One sidewall of the cup wall includes a plurality of concave curved groves forming a scalloped surface. The scalloped surface extends longitudinally along the cup wall and defines a scalloped edge profile for the support rim. A closure lid overlies the cup opening and closes the separate ingredient within the cup interior.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/189,568, filed Jul. 7, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a storage cup for use within a tubular package of the type that typically retains an expandable product, such as refrigerated dough, with the cup retaining a separate product ingredient. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Certain packages for refrigerated dough products are formed as a hollow tube by spirally wound composite materials with metal ends caps. These packages retain the dough, or similar product, and are refrigerated while being shipped and stored prior to use. It is sometimes desirable to separate certain ingredients, such as condiments, topping, spices, and the like, from the retained dough or other product within the package. When the consumer opens the package to remove the dough for baking or the like, they will also have access to the separate ingredient. It is a common practice to package the separate ingredient in a pouch or wrapper and place the pouch within one or more storage cups positioned at one end of the package. Alternatively, the separate ingredient may be retained within the cup without a separate wrapper. A disk shaped lid may be provided to cover the open end of the cup to separate the dough or the like from the ingredient retained within the cup. The disk is sometimes formed by a coated metal material. 
         [0004]    Examples of storage cups positioned within tubular refrigerated dough packages are shown by U.S. Pat. No. 3,182,890 to Elam, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,913 to Rea et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,470 to Antal, Sr. et al. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present disclosure relates to a package for retaining a first product and a separate ingredient. The package is formed by a tubular body for retaining the first product. The tubular body is preferably defined by a generally cylindrical sidewall, a hollow interior and first and second open ends. First and second end closures sealingly close the first and second tube ends, respectively. A retainer cup is provided for storing the separate ingredient. The retainer cup includes a generally tubular cup wall having an upper edge portion defining a support rim and a bottom wall closing a bottom end of the cup. The support rim surrounds a cup opening, which provides access to the interior of the cup. One sidewall of the cup wall includes a plurality of longitudinal concave curved groves forming a scalloped surface. The scalloped surface preferably extends along the cup wall, from the bottom wall to the upper edge of the cup and may further define a scalloped profile along the edge of the support rim. A closure lid is provided to engage the support rim on the retainer cup and to overlie the cup opening, closing the separate ingredient within the cup interior. The closure disk is coaxially positioned with the retainer cup within the tubular body. The retainer cup is positioned within the tubular body adjacent the first closure. The closure disk is positioned in contact with the support rim of the retainer cup. 
         [0006]    In a further aspect of the package, the cup wall may include a plurality of longitudinally extending the ribs, with one of the ribs positioned between adjacent concave grooves of the scalloped surface. The closure lid may also include a generally planar center portion and a rounded outer periphery. The first portion of the cup wall preferably includes a first outside diameter and the upper edge portion of the cup wall flares outwardly from the first outside diameter, with the outside surface of the support rim positioned radially outward of the outside surface of the first portion. In a further aspect of the package, the scalloped surface is formed on an outside surface of the cup wall, including the upper edge portion. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect of the disclosure, a package is defined for retaining an expandable first product and a separate ingredient. The package includes a tubular body for retaining the first product in a first portion thereof. The tubular body includes a generally cylindrical sidewall, a hollow interior and first and second open ends. First and second end closures sealingly close the first and second open ends of the tubular body. A retainer cup is provided for storing the separate ingredient in a second portion of the tubular body, adjacent to the first product. The first and second portions of the tubular body are longitudinally arranged within the hollow interior. The retainer cup includes a generally tubular cup wall, with the cup wall having an upper edge defining a support rim. The support rim surrounds a cup opening, with the opening providing access to the interior of the cup. A bottom wall closes the bottom end of the cup. The cup is preferably positioned within the tubular body adjacent the first closure secured to the first end of the tubular body. One sidewall of the cup wall includes a plurality of concave curved groves forming a longitudinally extending scalloped surface. The scalloped surface of the cup wall may further define a scalloped edge profile for the support rim. A closure lid is configured to engage the support rim on the cup and to overlie the cup opening, closing the separate ingredient within the cup interior. The cup and closure lid are adapted to be stacked within the tubular body, with the closure lid separating the first product from separate ingredient within the cup interior, with the bottom wall contacting the first end closure and with the cup wall extending axially within the tubular body. The pressure from the expandable first product is exerted on the closure lid and is transmitted through engagement of the support rim to the cup wall and in turn to the first end closure. The cup wall remains positioned within the tubular body and is not substantially deformed. The closure lid is retained on the support rim within the package. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect of the disclosure, the cup wall may include a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs, with at least one rib positioned between adjacent concave grooves. In a further aspect of the disclosure, the closure lid may include a generally planar center portion and a rounded outer periphery. Further, a first portion of the cup wall preferably has a first outside diameter and the upper edge portion of the cup wall flares outwardly from the first outside diameter. The outward flare of the cup wall positions an outside surface of the support rim radially outward of the outside surface of the first portion. Preferably, the scalloped surface is formed on an outside surface of the cup wall, including the upper edge portion. 
         [0009]    Other features of the present invention and combinations of features will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show one or more forms that are presently preferred. It should be understood that the disclosure and claimed invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric side view of a package according to the present disclosure, with a portion of the sidewall removed to view elements retained within the package. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a side elevation of the package, with a portion of the sidewall removed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded side elevation of a separator cup and cup lid combination for use with the package shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric top view of the separator cup portion of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric bottom view of the separator cup of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a top plan view of the separator cup of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a cross section view of the sidewall of the separator cup as taken along line  6 A- 6 A in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows an enlarged portion of the rim of the separator cup, with the portion designated in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows an enlarged portion of one end of the package, with the sidewall and end cap shown in cross section and the separator cup positioned within the package. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows an enlargement of a portion of the package, as designated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9A  shows an enlargement of a portion of the package designated in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  shows an enlarged portion of one end of a package with the sidewall and end cap shown in cross section and the separator cup shown in an alternate position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  shows an enlargement of a designated portion of package embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    In the figures, where like numerals identify like elements, there is shown an embodiment of a package or container identified by the numeral  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the package  10  includes a tubular sidewall  12  and two end caps  14  and  16 . A portion of the sidewall  12  is removed for illustration purposes, exposing a plurality of product pieces  18  and a separator cup  20 . A cup lid or closure disk  22  is provided on the cup  20  and separates the cup interior from the product pieces  18 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the end cap  14  is attached to one end of the tubular sidewall  12  by a double seaming method. Other forms of package ends and attachment methods are also possible. The second end cap  16  is contemplated to be similarly attached to the opposite end of the tubular sidewall. 
         [0025]    As illustrated, the sidewall has a cylindrical form. Cross sections other than circular are also possible. The package shown is contemplated to be opened by separation of the composite material forming the sidewalls along a spiral seem, as in known in the art. Other opening methods, such as removal of one or both of the end caps, may also be utilized. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded side view of the separator cup  20  and cup lid  22 . The lid  22  is normally placed on the top or support rim  24  of the open end of the cup  20 . As more particularly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the cup  20  is formed by a generally cylindrical cup wall  26  and a round bottom wall  28 . The cup  20  defines an interior volume and an open top end. The interior of the cup  20  is defined to retain a separate ingredient, such as a topping (not shown). The cup wall  26  includes a scalloped outer surface  30 . As is more particularly shown in  FIGS. 6, 6A and 7 , the outer surface  30  of the cup wall  26  also includes a plurality of ribs  32  connected by a concave wall portions  34 . The inside surface  36  of the cup wall  26  is shown as smooth, with the scallops formed on the outer surface  30 . 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 6A , a cross section is taken through the cup wall  26  at the position of a rib  32 . The cup wall  26  is integrally formed with the bottom wall  28 . The rib portion  32  of the outside surface  30  of the cup wall  26  is shown as having a substantially uniform dimension from the intersection with the bottom wall  28  to a position adjacent the top rim  24 . The upper end  38  of the cup wall  26  flairs radially outward at the top edge of the cup  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the ribs  32  are relatively broader (in a circumferential direction) around the body portion of the cup wall  26  and taper to a point on the upper end  38  adjacent the top rim  24 . In  FIG. 7 , the profile of the top rim  24  of the cup  20  is shown. The concave portions  34  of the scalloped outside surface  30  connect the spaced rib portions  32 . The rim  24  of the cup wall  26  creates a support surface for the cup lid  22 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show the separator cup  20  positioned within the hollow interior of the tubular sidewall  12 . The outside surface of the bottom wall  28  of the cup  20  is placed in contact with an inside surface of the end cap  14 . The cup lid  22  is positioned on the top rim  24  of the cup  20 , closing the interior volume and the separate ingredient (not shown). The product pieces  18  (see  FIG. 1 ) are positioned within the tubular sidewall  12 . The second end cap  16  ( FIG. 1 ) is positioned on the second end of the sidewall  12  to close and seal the first product pieces  18  and the separator cup  20  within the package  10 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , the outer edge  40  of the lid  22  has a dimension less than the inside diameter of the hollow tube of sidewall  12 . This dimensional relationship permits the cup lid (and cup) to be positioned within the hollow of the tube. The outward flare of the upper end  38  of the cup wall  26  is also normally spaced from the sidewall  12 . The remaining portions of the cup wall  26  are positioned further inwardly from the inside surface of the tube sidewall  12 . 
         [0030]    The relationship between the cup lid  22  and the top rim  24  of the cup wall  26  is shown in close-up in  FIG. 9A . The cup lid  22  is shown as including a rolled outer edge  40 , a support area  42  radially inward of the outer edge  40 , a central landing area  44  and a step or shoulder  46  between the landing  44  and the support area  42 . The contours of the cup lid may be formed to loosely fit over the top rim  24  of the cup  20 , with the shoulder  46  positioned adjacent the inside surface  36  of the cup wall  26  and the outer edge  40  of the lid  22  positioned outside of the cup rim  24 . Alternatively, a snap-fit relationship may be created to resiliently fix the cup lid to the top rim of the cup wall. An additional bead or lip structure may be provided on the outside or inside surface of the top rim of the cup wall and a corresponding engagement surface may be provided on the cup lid. A shown, the rolled outer edge  40  or the step surface  46  may provide the necessary interference with the rim of the cup. The cup lid may be molded or otherwise formed with the interfering surface(s). It is contemplated that the force required to secure the lid to the cup and, in turn, to remove the lid will be relative low. 
         [0031]    In  FIGS. 11-12 , the separator cup  20  is shown within the hollow of the sidewall  12  without a cup lid. The top rim  24  of the cup  20  is positioned in contact with the inside surface of the end cap  14 . The end cap  14  closes the interior volume of the cup  20 , while the bottom wall  28  of the cup  20  separates the stored ingredient (not shown) from the product (see  FIG. 1 ) also stored within the tube  12 . 
         [0032]    The separator cup as shown and described is contemplated to be made of plastic and preferably formed by an injection molding process. The tubular sidewall  12  of the package  10  is preferably formed by a paper composite of the type know in the art and is sealed at either end by metal end caps  14 ,  16 . The disc shaped cup lid  22  is preferably formed of metal with a coating thereon to prevent or diminish the likelihood of the product and/or separate ingredient sticking thereto. The product is preferably refrigerated dough with the separate ingredient being a frosting or other topping. The dough is placed in the container with the cup. The end caps are sealed to the ends of the tubular sidewall. Over time, the dough puffs or expands and pressure is built up inside the package. The pressure created by the dough exerts a force on the composite wall of the package, the end caps, and the separator cup. 
         [0033]    The separator cup must be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the dough to survive until the consumer opens the package. Compared to a cylindrical cup wall, the present structure is contemplated to provide sufficient rigidity, while also reducing the overall amount of material used to create the separator cup. The scalloped surface effectively removes material as compared to a similarly dimensioned smooth surface. An additional consideration in formation of the cup is contact between the support area of the top rim. Sufficient contact area is necessary to prevent or deter bending or collapse of the cup wall and the top lid under the pressure of the expanding dough. 
         [0034]    The flared end of the cup wall assists in deflecting the compressive forces being applied along the wall of the cup. The flaring further serves to increase the rim surface area for contact with the underside of the cup lid (or the end cap). As shown in the cross section of  FIG. 6A , preferably, the inside wall maintains the same inside diameter, while the outside wall flairs outwardly. This flaring increased the wall thickness at the top end of the cup wall and the support surface of the top rim. The ribs  32  adjacent the top portion  38  of the cup wall  20  appear to narrow and become thinner. This surface configuration, however, is created by the increase in thickness of the scalloped area between the spaced ribs in the flared region. 
         [0035]    The scalloped design around the cylinder of the cup may be created on either the inside or outside surface of the cup wall. The concave curve of the scalloped surface results in a material savings, while providing additional strength to withstand the pressure created by the dough (or the like). For example, the scallop design may result in about a 20% reduction in the overall material weight of the cup. However, a relatively large surface area is provided on the top rim of the cup. As a comparison, if the cylindrical wall thickness of the cup were to be reduced, the effective thickness of the rim would also be reduced and the overall strength of the cup would be diminished. 
         [0036]    The present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to one or more exemplary embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, with the scope of the invention being described by the foregoing claims.