Abstract:
A snack package assembly includes a package having top and bottom walls as considered in a position of use thereof, and a plurality of circumferentially adjacent main panels interconnecting the top and bottom walls. A plurality of edge portions includes a substantially horizontally extending bottom edge portion for delimiting at least one opening in at least one of the main panels for providing access to the interior of the package. At least one flap section is connected to the one main panel along the bottom edge portion and extends into the interior of the package in a substantially horizontal position as considered in the use position to subdivide the interior into an upper and a lower compartment. At least one substantially rigid container containing an edible flowable substance is accommodated in the lower compartment and supports the flap section from below to form a supporting platform. At least one other container containing a multitude of essentially solid items is accommodated in the upper compartment and is supported by the platform.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to packaging of food items in general, and more particularly to a snack package assembly that includes a package for different kinds of containers, each containing different and disparate substances or snack items destined for human consumption in different compartments provided for them in the interior of the package. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are already known various constructions of foodstuff and/or beverage container-accommodating boxes, crates, picnic baskets or even packages and similar receptacles, some of them even being subdivided into smaller compartments in order to separate the individual containers from one another and thus minimize the danger of damage to them when, for instance, in transit. It is also already known to make some of such receptacles open, particularly on top, in order to facilitate the access to the items contained in the interior of the receptacle or in the compartments into which the interior may be subdivided. 
     Moreover, some fast food establishments provide &#34;trays&#34;, especially for takeout orders, which are actually not (flat) trays in the traditional sense of the word but rather holding/carrying formations made of, say, paper pulp material that are provided with a plurality of depressions some of which may be shaped differently from others in order to somewhat snugly receive the bottom portions of different kinds and/or sizes of food or beverage containers or the like. While the latter type comes in particularly handy not only in traditional takeout situations at drive-by windows, they are also very convenient to use at, for instance, sports events, in that they minimize, if not eliminate, the otherwise existing danger that the food items and especially the contents of beverage cups or similar containers could land on innocent bystanders or other sports event onlookers. 
     Yet, as advantageous as these receptacles may be for the purposes for which they have been developed, they are still deficient in at least one respect: they for the most part are not suited for conveniently carrying the food and/or beverage containers containing just about the right amount of such foodstuffs for the outing in question in a manner that is convenient, unobtrusive to other attendees of the event, and also holds the threat of breakage of, or other damage to, any of the food/beverage containers being carried or otherwise transported to and/or through the sports facility or the like at which the event is to take or is taking place. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a snack package assembly that does not possess the drawbacks of the known receptacles for accomplishing the same or similar purpose. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to devise a snack package assembly of the type here under consideration which is capable of accommodating, in separate compartments, different types of containers having different contents and different characteristics so that they could easily damage one another or each other&#39;s contents if left loose to conduct relative movements in contact with one another. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to design the above in such a manner as to make the putting of the assembly together, but also the removal of the individual items from the outer package, as simple as possible. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to develop the assembly of the above type in such a manner as to minimize, if not eliminate, the possibility of movement of at least the relatively heavy and solid containers within the outer package. 
     A concomitant object of the present invention is so to construct the snack package assembly of the above type as to be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, and yet reliable in operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In keeping with the above objects and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides in a snack package assembly that includes a package having top and bottom walls as considered in a position of its use, and a plurality of circumferentially adjacent main panels interconnecting the top and bottom walls. The snack package assembly also includes a plurality of edge portions including a substantially horizontally extending bottom edge portion for bounding at least one opening in at least one of the main panels for providing access to the interior of the package; and partitioning means including at least one flap section connected to the one main panel along the bottom edge portion and extending into the interior of the package in a substantially horizontal position as considered in the use position to subdivide the interior into an upper and a lower compartment, each for accommodating different snack items. 
     There is further provided at least one substantially rigid container containing an edible flowable substance, accommodated in the lower compartment and supporting the partitioning means from below to form a supporting platform, and at least one other soft-packaged container containing a multitude of essentially solid items, accommodated in the upper compartment and supported by the platform. 
     A particular advantage of the assembly as defined so far is that the partitioning means effectively separates the containers of disparate qualities, that is the one that is relatively rigid but possibly fragile or prone to be otherwise damaged if allowed to excessively move within the package, and the relatively softer one containing solid, but easily breakable or otherwise disintegrateable, goods that could become damaged if subjected to impacts directed at them by the moving rigid container, so that each of them can be protected from damage in the way best suited for its particular qualities or characteristics. 
     It is especially advantageous in accordance with the present invention when the main panels include at least one other main panel located across the interior from the one main panel, and another plurality of edge portions including a substantially horizontally extending other bottom edge portion for bounding at least one other opening in the other main panel, and when the partitioning means further includes at least one other flap section connected to the other main panel along the other bottom edge portion and extending into the interior of the package in a substantially horizontal position as considered in the use position to supplement the one flap section in partitioning the interior into the two compartments. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, it is advantageous for the snack package assembly to further include supporting means additional to the at least one rigid container for supporting the partitioning wall from below. Such supporting means may include an additional flap section secured to a region of the flap section that is remote from the edge portion and extending downwardly from the region into bracing contact with the bottom wall. 
     According to another feature of the present invention, the snack package assembly further includes means for confining the at least one rigid container against horizontal movement in the lower compartment. Such confining means may include an additional flap section secured to an additional one of the main panels situated next to the one main panel and extending therefrom substantially horizontally into the lower compartment, the additional flap section having an aperture therein for unobstructed passage of an upper end portion of the one rigid container through it with at most a small leeway. However, in the alternative, the confining means may includes a pair of auxiliary flap sections secured to an additional one of the main panels situated next to the one main panel and extending therefrom substantially vertically into the lower compartment and into physical contact with the one rigid container. 
     In another alternative, the confining means may include a pair of additional flap sections extending substantially vertically through the lower compartment into contact with the bottom wall, and a pair of further flap sections securing the additional flap sections to, and holding the same at a predetermined distance from, additional ones of the main panels flanking the main panel at respective upper regions of the additional flap sections and in frictional contact with the at least one rigid container. In the latter case, it is further proposed in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention that the confining means further include at least one pair of auxiliary flap sections secured to the one main panel and extending therefrom substantially vertically into the lower compartment and into physical contact with a side of the additional panel that faces away from the at least one rigid container. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snack package assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view, in a developed condition, of a package precursor that is to form the outer envelope of the assembly visible in FIG. 1 when in its condition of use; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the snack package assembly in its use condition, taken in a plane indicated by arrows 3--3 in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is another sectional view of the snack package assembly similar to but taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the snack package assembly along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the snack package assembly but this time taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a view akin to FIG. 1, but showing a somewhat modified version of the snack package assembly of the present invention in its use condition; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the modified version of the snack package, taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a further sectional view of the modified snack package assembly of FIG. 7 but taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the modified snack package assembly taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 11 is a further cross-sectional view of the modified snack package assembly taken on line 11--11 of FIG. 8. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first to FIG. 1 thereof, it may be seen that the reference numeral 10 has been used therein to identify a snack package assembly of the present invention in its entirety. The snack package assembly 10, which is also referred to herein, for the sake of brevity, as a &#34;snack pack&#34;, is intended as a convenient transportable source of food and drink especially during attendance of games and sport contests at ballparks, stadiums or the like. 
     It includes as its main components a portable container or package 11 proper, and compartments for its contents. It may be seen that the container 11 forms the outer envelope of the snack pack 10, whereas the package contents are ordinarily fully received within the confines of the container 11 until such time that it is withdrawn for consumption. As shown, the package contents include two different kinds of goods, namely soft-packaged bags of &#34;chips&#34; identified generally by the reference numeral 40, and more rigid jars of &#34;sauce&#34; designated in general by the reference numeral 50. 
     In this respect, as well as in others, it is to be mentioned that a reference numeral without any suffix is being used herein to denote either an element or part that is unique, that is, that lacks any counterparts, or a collection or set of parts the individual members of which are distinguished from one another, if necessary, by different suffixes. It is also opportune to mention at this juncture that the expression &#34;chips&#34; has been chosen to represent any of a multitude of kinds of alimentary goods, such as potato or cornmeal chips, crackers, saltines or similar relatively small-sized food items, whereas the word &#34;sauce&#34; is being used as a representation of any of a considerable number of more or less flowable substances, be it salsa or barbeque sauce, ketchup, cheese or other dip, etc. that is intended to be used in conjunction with the &#34;chips&#34;, usually by the latter being partially submerged into it just prior to consumption. 
     Last but not least, it is to be mentioned that all references being had herein with respect to relative locations or various parts, directions, or the like, are intended to refer only to the orientation of the snack pack 10 that is depicted in the drawing, which also happens to be the orientation that the snack pack preferentially assumes while being displayed, transported and otherwise handled prior to the use of its contents; however, no conclusions are to be drawn from these references to the orientation that the snack pack 10 may assume while in storage or while it is being manipulated during the withdrawal of its contents. 
     As revealed in common and in particular in detail in FIG. 2 of the drawing, in which the package 11 is shown in its original or as-manufactured state in which it is situated or developed in its entirety into the plane of the drawing prior to being folded into and joined in the shape illustrated in FIG. 1, the package 11 includes a central portion 12 consisting of a plurality of (as shown, four) main panels 12a to 12d and an adjacent connecting flap 12e, a bottom portion 13 including an equally numbered plurality of bottom panels 13a to 13d, as well as two connecting flaps 13e and 13f, and a top portion 14 containing a same-numbered plurality of top panels 14a to 14d, and also a pair of handgrip or handle portions 14e and 14f. 
     The handle portions 14e and 14f are carved out of (separated from) the respective top panels 14a and 14c by respective cuts (which may have started as merely weakened, such as perforated, zones) 15a and 15c, respectively, but are still flexibly joined to them by respective hinge zones 16a and 16b or 16c and 16d, respectively. The top panels 14b and 14d include respective slots 17b and 17d through which respective base regions 18a to 18d of the handle portions 14e and 14f pass in the final or erected condition of the container or package 11, these base regions 18a to 18d being adjoined by respective integral nose regions 19a to 19d that engage behind the top panels 14b and 14d next to the slots 17b and 17d when the container 11 assumes its final condition. In that condition, the flaps 12e, 13e and 13f are permanently connected, such as glued, to respective adjacent central and bottom panels 12a, 13b and 13d, respectively. 
     Directing attention now to the main panels 12a to 12d, it may be seen especially from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 that they are all provided with respective openings or &#34;windows&#34; 20a to 20d (only two of which are visible in FIG. 1) through which the bags 40 can be packed or loaded in the snack pack, can be observed from the exterior of the package 11 for display purposes, and can be withdrawn, after a certain amount of manipulation or maneuvering, from the interior of the package 11. The degree of the manipulation required before the bags 40, or any one of them, can be taken out of the interior of the container 11 through the respective window 20a to 20d is high enough to prevent the bags 40 from accidentally or inadvertently falling out of the package 11, but low enough not to constitute an undue burden on or considerable inconvenience or even annoyance to the person trying to dislodge the respective one of the bags 40 and take it out of the container 11. 
     Contrary to what may be expected based on previous experience, the windows 20a to 20d are not made by merely cutting out and removing the material of the panels 12a to 12d from the affected regions; rather, such material is only incompletely severed, thus forming respective integral flaps 21a to 21d, with the flaps 21a and 21c, on the one hand, and the flaps 21b and 21d, on the other hand, being similar or identical to one another as to their overall configuration, structure and functionality. The flaps 21a and 21c include two sections numbered 22a and 23a or 22c and 23c each, whereas each of the flaps 21b and 21d includes three sections 22b, 23b and 24b or 22d, 23d and 24d, respectively. The sections 23b and 23d are provided with respective apertures 25b and 25d that are generally substantially circular except that they are each provided with a generally rectangular extension 26b or 26d that is shown to span the sections 23b and 22b or 23d and 22d. 
     The purpose of the apertures 25b and 25d and of their extensions 26b and 26d will be explained later. At this point, it is sufficient to say that the flaps 21a to 21d are separated from the rest of the panels 12a to 12d by respective cuts identified, without differentiating between or among them, by reference numerals 27, and pivotally articulated thereto by respective flexible hinge regions 28, once more without differentiation. 
     In addition to the windows 20b and 20d, the main panels 12b and 12d (but not the main panels 12a and 12c in the illustrated embodiment) are provided with respective additional windows 30b and 30d (only the window 30b being visible in FIG. 1). Here again, the affected material, instead of completely removed, is caused to form respective auxiliary integral flaps 31a to 31d by being merely partially severed by respective cuts 32 from the rest of the respective main panels 12b and 12d and from one another, while remaining connected to the panels 12b and 12d for pivoting by respective hinge auxiliary hinge portions 33. 
     Here again, the purpose of the windows 30b and 30d is to permit view of and give access to the jars or other similar sauce containers 50, but not to offer a ready path for withdrawal of the jars 50 from the interior of the package 11. Given the dimensions in question and other factors, such removal through the auxiliary windows 30b and 30d would entail or require partial ripping or a similar destruction of at least the respective main panel 12b or 12d, if not of the flap 21b or 21d as well. 
     Last but not least, it may be observed in FIG. 2 of the drawing that the top panels 14a and 14c are provided with respective orifices 29a and 29c that are geared to providing easier access to the handgrip portions 14e and 14f for the purposes of moving them out of the planes of the respective panels 14a and 14c in the course of the erection of the container 11. 
     Now that the construction of the various panels 12 to 14 and of the flaps 21a to 21d and 31a to 31d has been described in some detail, it is time for discussing what happens to the flaps 21a to 21d and 31a to 31d when the package 11 is in its final or use condition. It may be discerned, in the succession described, from FIGS. 3 to 6 of the drawing that the flap sections 22b and 22d depend downwardly from the respective hinge zones 28, that the flap sections 23b and 23d proceed from there substantially horizontally toward the middle of the package 11, and that the flap sections 24b and 24d extend from there again downwardly until they reach and brace themselves against the combined bottom panel or wall 13. Along their courses, the flaps 21b and 21d encounter respective top regions of two jars 50a and 50b; as a matter of fact, such top regions extend through the apertures 25b and 25d. To be more precise, respective neck regions 51a and 51b of the jars 50a and 50b are received in such apertures 25b and 25d, while respective lids 52a and 52b are located above them. 
     In this manner, the jars 50a and 50b are retained in place against undue horizontal shifting by the restraining action exerted on them by the respective flaps 21b and 21d. It will be appreciated that the extensions 26b and 26d may serve either one or both of the following purposes, depending on the circumstances: for one, they may be used to facilitate the removal of the jars 50a and 50b from the confining action of the flaps 21b and 21d by providing extra leeway or wiggling room needed to dissociate the respective jars 50a and 50b from the flaps 21b and 21d, especially if the top regions of the jars 50a and 50b are received in the apertures 25b and 25d with a relatively tight fit. On the other hand, especially when the diameters of the apertures 25b and 25d are equal to or even exceed those of the lids 52a or 52b, the reduced transverse dimension of the respective extension 26b or 26d relative to that of the aperture 25b or 25d causes the respective flap 21b or 21d to safely keep the respective jar 50a or 50b connected to the flap 21b or 21d after the top region of the jar 50a or 50b has been caused or permitted to slip into the extension 26b or 26d during the removal manipulation of the jar 50a or 50b, until the person desiring to remove the jar 50a or 50b is ready to dissociate the jar 50a or 50b from the flap 21b or 21d. 
     As a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing will reveal, the flaps 21a and 21c initially behave the same way as described above in connection with the flaps 21b and 21d, that is their sections 22a and 22c depend downwardly from the hinge regions 28, whereas the neighboring sections 23a and 23c extend horizontally; however, here the similarity ends--there is no further continuation downward. Rather, the sections 23a and 23c merely extend toward one another and/or, as shown, actually overlap each other, to form, being supported from below by the jars 50a and 50b, a supporting platform for the bags 40a and 40b. At the same time, the sections 23a and 23b constitute an--albeit incomplete--partitioning wall that separates the compartment containing the chip bags 40a and 40b from that accommodating the sauce jars 50a and 50b. 
     FIG. 5 of the drawing illustrates, in a view from below, in additional detail how the handgrip portions 18a to 18d extend, in respective paired, mutually parallel, relationships, through the respective slots 17b and 17d of the top panels 14b and 14d, respectively, and how the noses 19a to 19d engage behind the top panels 14b and 14d from underneath, next to the slots 17b and 71d. 
     FIG. 6, on the other hand, depicts in some detail what happens with the auxiliary flaps 31a to 31d in the final condition of the package assembly or snack pack 10. It may be seen there that the auxiliary flaps 31a to 31d assume respective positions corresponding to those of partially opened doors, that is they are pivoted about their respective hinge zones 33 only to the minimum extent necessary to accommodate the respective jars 50a and 50b between them. As a matter of fact, in view of the seemingly small but yet significant resiliency of the hinge zones 33, the auxiliary flaps 31a to 31d not only are in contact with the jars 50a or 50b, as the case may be, but even push against them. This provides a further amount of stabilization of the jars 50a and 50b in their designed-for positions, on top of that provided by the flap sections 21b and 21d, against horizontal displacement. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 7 to 11 of the drawing, it is to be mentioned first that they show a modification of the previously described package 11 that is so minor in character--involving merely dimensions and/or precise locations of certain cut and crease lines--that not only have the same reference numerals as before been used therein to designate corresponding parts, but it was even possible to eliminate the equivalent of FIG. 2 from this set of drawings as redundant. Moreover, the similarities are so numerous that it is not necessary to describe those features that correspond to those described above in detail; rather, pointing out and focusing on the differences will suffice. 
     The modified snack pack 10 is again intended to provide nourishment for its owner and/or his or her companions, but this time accompanied by libation instead of the aforementioned sauce. To this end, the dimensions of the entire package 11 and/or of the aforementioned upper and lower compartments adjusted, with corresponding adjustments in the sizes of the flaps 21a to 21d and 31a to 31d, to the extent necessary for the lower compartment to be able to accommodate a six-pack of cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; instead of the aforementioned jars 50a and 50b. In this case, it is not necessary to individually hold the cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; against horizontal displacement; rather, in view of the fact that respective neck portions 51a&#39; to 51f&#39; are connected with one another, as is customary in this field, by a plastic collar assembly 53 (usually made of shrinkable material or foil that is shrunk during the formation of the six-pack), it is merely necessary to hold the entire six-pack 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; in place. This can be achieved by mere wedging or frictional retention of the six-pack 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; in its original assembled position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of the modified snack pack 10, this is accomplished, among others, by frictionally retaining the cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; between the two flaps 21b and 21d (which in this case are not subdivided into any sections) constituting the platform or partitioning wall separating the upper and lower compartments from one another and the bottom wall 13, as may be perceived in particular from FIG. 8 of the drawing. Moreover, the six-pack of cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; is confined between and pressed against by respective sections 23a and 23c of the flaps 21a and 21c, each of which is connected with its respective associated main panel 12a or 12c through the intermediary of the respective flap section 22a or 22c. 
     It ought to be noted that in the illustrated modified embodiment of the snack pack 10 of the present invention, the flap sections 22a and 22c form respective ledges and that the flaps 21b and 21d fit between them, so that the so formed ledges complement the aforementioned partitioning wall 21b, 21d to form a contiguous platform for supporting the chip bags 40a and 40b, with the partitioning wall 21b, 21d being again, as it was before, supported from below on top of the receptacles--this time the cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39;--located underneath it, and with the flap sections 23a and 23c extending all the way to, and bracing themselves against, the bottom wall 13, thus offering an additional measure of stability to the platform supporting the chip bags 40a and 40b. This mutual complementation aspect may best be observed in FIG. 10 of the drawing. 
     FIG. 11, on the other hand, depicts an additional feature of the present invention, that is the use of the auxiliary flaps 31a to 31d as springs-of-sort that urge the flaps 23a and 23c towards one another and hence into a rather tight contact with the cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; located between them. To this end, the auxiliary flaps 31a to 31d extend from the respective main panels 12b and 12d to behind the flap sections 23a and 23c, so that the resiliency inherent in the bending of the auxiliary flaps 31a to 31d about the hinge zones 33 out of their coplanar positions with the respective main panels 12b and 12d into their positions shown especially in FIG. 11 results in the exertion of forces on the flap sections 23a and 23c which, albeit seemingly quite small in absolute terms, are still significant and/or decisive in the context of the present invention, in that they not only prevent the flap sections 23a and 23c from receding from the cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39; but even improve the frictional engagement between the flap sections 23a and 23c and the cans 50a&#39; to 50f&#39;. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above. 
     While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein as embodied in two specific constructions of a compartmentalized snack pack, it is not limited to the details of this particular construction, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 
     What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.