Patent Publication Number: US-2006016719-A1

Title: Containers and serving trays for snack foods

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This is a utility application based upon, incorporating by reference and claiming priority to the following provisional applications: Ser. No. 60/591,247 filed Jul. 26, 2004 entitled “Container for Snack Foods”; Ser. No. 60/602,923 filed Aug. 19, 2004 entitled “Container for Snack Foods”; and Ser. No. 60/665,284 filed Mar. 25, 2005 entitled “Containers and Serving Trays for Snack Foods”.  
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to containers, cup holders and trays for snack foods which may be utilized by placement in a cup holder in a vehicle or in the arm of a theatre seat, for example.  
      When attending a movie theatre, entertainment venue or when driving a vehicle, snack food items are often purchased by the patron or driver or otherwise made available. Placement of these snack foods in a sack or box, or other similar container may be distracting and may also be inefficient or cumbersome. As a consequence, various product designs to accommodate such issues have been proposed. For example, combined food and beverage containers and trays have been proposed as illustrated or disclosed in the following listing of patents:  
                                           Patent No.   Inventor   Issue Date   Title                  1,665,289   Weaver   Apr. 10, 1928   Means for Serving Food                   and Drink       3,285,495   Colato   Nov. 15, 1966   Reusable Food Package                   with Integral                   Adjustable Closure       3,288,344   Woollen   Nov. 29, 1966   Double Container           et al.       Dispensing Package       Des.   Ludwick   Oct. 7, 1986   Combined Food and       285,999           Beverage Container       4,779,998   Wischusen   Oct. 25, 1988   Composite Bag-Like Package       5,180,079   Jeng   Jan. 19, 1993   Combined Cup       5,573,131   Berjis   Nov. 12, 1996   Apparatus for Forming                   a Container to Hold a                   Drinking Cup at the                   Bottom End of the                   Container and to Hold                   Food in the Upper                   Portion of the Container       Des.   Waldmann   Sep. 8, 1998   Combined Beverage and       397,911           Snack Holder       6,182,890   Sattler   Feb. 6, 2001   Collapsible Container       B1   et al.       for Holding Foodstuffs,                   and Methods of Using                   Same                  
 
      Such constructions typically call for the inclusion of a lower drink portion in the form of a cup and an upper snack food portion positioned over the lower portion. A straw typically provides access to the liquid lower portion. The upper portion typically includes an open top for manual access. Certain prior art patents suggest that a lower cup portion be shaped to fit into a cup holder.  
      Various other patents are directed to this general subject matter including the following:  
                                           Patent No.   Inventor   Issue Date   Title                  Publication No.   Frank et al.   Oct. 10, 2002   Bottomless Bag       2002/0145295       421,264   Gibbons   Feb. 11, 1890   Party Plate       1,881,416   Uhalt   Oct. 4, 1932   Meal Serving Mat       2,036,687   C. Fisher   Apr. 7, 1936   Moistureproof Bag       2,301,216   Koontz   Nov. 10, 1942   Bottle Holder       3,148,636   Bloomquist   Sep. 15, 1964   Serving Tray           et al.       3,401,858   White et al.   Sep. 17, 1968   Service Tray       3,422,986   Tilseth   Jan. 21, 1969   Dish Lip Plate                   Attachment       4,219,144   Hagelberg   Aug. 26, 1980   Serving Tray       4,461,396   Harper   Jul. 24, 1984   Combined Plates and                   Glass Holders       4,534,469   Elsmo   Aug. 13, 1985   Tray Assembly       4,607,758   Stevens   Aug. 26, 1986   Serving Tray       4,744,597   Bauman et al.   May 17, 1988   Food and Beverage                   Tray       4,836,970   Robbins   Jun. 6, 1989   Method of Extrusion                   Blow-Molding                   Container Having                   Upper and Lower                   Sections of                   Different Thickness       4,989,742   Powell   Feb. 5, 1991   Tray Apparatus       5,100,607   Robbins   Mar. 31, 1992   Blow-Molding                   Methods to Form                   Containers Having                   Upper and Lower                   Sections of Different                   Thickness       5,111,960   Zilliox   May 12, 1992   Interlocking Plate                   and Cup Set       5,184,750   Moller   Feb. 9, 1993   Party Dish       5,323,910   van de   Jun. 28, 1994   Party Plate           Graaf, Jr.       5,390,798   Yanuzzi   Feb. 21, 1995   Food and Beverage                   Support Tray with                   Beverage Vessel                   Cutout       5,425,455   Miller et al.   Jun. 20, 1995   Folding Lap Tray       5,497,885   Sussman   Mar. 12, 1996   Lap Tray for Carrying                   Food       5,542,577   Friedrich   Aug. 6, 1996   Plate Assembly                   Gripping Member       5,780,824   Matos   Jul. 14, 1998   Expandable and Self-                   Venting Novelty                   Container for Cooking                   Microwave Popcorn       6,021,914   Schmidt   Feb. 8, 2000   Hors D&#39;oeuvre Tray       6,149,027   Rathjen   Nov. 21, 2000   Combination Food                   Plate and Beverage-                   Container-Holder                   Article       6,382,449   Kazmierski   May 7, 2002   Two Stage Cup       B1   et al.       6,586,715   Watkins   Jul. 1, 2003   Microwavable       B2           Container for Food                   Products and Method                   of Fabricating                   Same                  
 
      Nonetheless, the availability of serving trays and cup holders for holding snack foods and/or retention thereof in a cup holder has been somewhat limited. The present invention is directed to various unique designs.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Briefly, the present invention comprises various designs for snack holders, cup containers and serving trays. In one embodiment a cup shaped container includes a bottom section or panel that is formed so as to be easily inserted and retained in a cup holder. The cup holder may, of course, be located in a theatre seat or other furniture or in a vehicle and typically comprises an opening for receipt of a circular cross section cup and optionally a support surface for supporting the bottom of the cup. Thus, the holder may comprise a circular opening only and support a cup by frictionally engaging the side of the cup.  
      Various alternative designs of snack container and serving tray devices, as well as methods for manufacture and assembly of such containers are disclosed. For example, a container may comprise a circular cross section lower cup shaped element connected to and supporting a generally larger, cone shaped or rectangular cross section upper element. The upper element may comprise a semi-rigid sided container or a bag. The container or bag may include a cover or top. Snack items may be pre-packaged in the container or added. The devices may be assembled from a folded flat configuration. Serving trays may incorporate a cup holder feature and multiple openings for holding snacks or containers of various sizes.  
      These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of the invention and further depicting a method of manufacture associated therewith;  
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view depicting another version of the invention and a method of manufacture;  
       FIG. 5A  is an isometric view depicting the embodiment of  FIG. 5  in a folded condition;  
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view depicting a further alternative embodiment of the invention and an associated method of manufacture;  
       FIG. 6A  is a plan view of a section of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view illustrating a further embodiment of the invention especially useful for microwave popcorn as a snack food;  
       FIG. 7   a  is a further isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of the invention wherein the snack food comprises microwave popcorn illustrating the manner of application of the invention to a fully popped snack;  
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of yet a further embodiment of the invention utilizing a paper or cardboard material;  
       FIG. 12  is another embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment to  FIG. 11  wherein the product is manufactured from a molded plastic material.  
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the product tray and cup holder illustrated in position in a an arm of a theater seat;  
       FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the tray of  FIG. 13  illustrating the manner of placement of product of snack foods and drinks in the tray of  FIG. 13 ;  
       FIG. 15  is another alternative embodiment of the invention in an isometric view;  
       FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15  having a snack food products positioned in the tray of  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15  illustrating the manner in which the product may be manufactured and configured;  
       FIG. 18  is an isometric view of a further embodiment of the invention including an exploded isometric view illustrating a feature of the invention for retaining the food tray or container in position in a cup holder;  
       FIG. 19  is an isometric view of the container or tray of  FIG. 18  with snack food products placed therein;  
       FIG. 20  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18  in combination with a second example thereof illustrating the manner in which the product may be manufactured;  
       FIG. 21  is a plan view of another embodiment depicting the pattern for the embodiment;  
       FIG. 22  is an isometric view of the embodiment formed from the pattern of  FIG. 21 ;  
       FIG. 23  is a plan view of another embodiment depicting a pattern for the embodiment; and  
       FIG. 24  is an elevation of the assembled embodiment of  FIG. 23 .  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      In general, the various types of snack food containers within the scope of the invention incorporate a bottom panel or lower side which is formed or shaped to fit into a cup holder, for example, at a theatre or entertainment venue. Multiple variations of this concept are disclosed. Variations contemplate, inter alia, forms of the lower base or cup portion of the product or device, methods for attaching or incorporating the cup shaped lower base to an upper container, variations of the form and shape of snack food container itself as used in combination with the lower cup shaped base, and use of a cup shaped base with a snack food package, such as a microwave popcorn package, wherein the microwave popcorn package contents may be subsequently processed. Consequently, there are many variations of the invention incorporating the general concept of a shaped base member capable of being inserted into a cup holder and a container portion associated with and mounted with or attached to the base member.  
      The upper container portion may have a generally flexible design fabricated from paper materials, for example. The upper container portion may also be of limited flexibility made, for example, from various grades of cardboard, plastic or other similar materials. The upper portion may be in the form of a bag or container which contains snack foods that are already packaged and maintained within secondary packaging in the container or covered by a removable cover sheet or replaceable top or cover to assure freshness. The upper container may be adapted to include food products or snacks which are not fully processed, for example, microwave popcorn products. In such an event, the upper container section may be sealed and may be folded in order to accommodate storage, packaging and transportation. Additionally, the entire assembly may be formed from plastic or other formable materials using molding techniques to form the container or package. The container may include instructions, advertising or other indicia. The interior of the containers may be appropriately coated to assure product freshness. Again, many combinations and permutations of the invention are disclosed.  
      Referring to the figures therefore,  FIG. 1  illustrates a flexible paper bag upper container  20  with a lower base  22  attached to a bottom panel  21  of the upper container  20 . The lower base  22  may be in the form of a premolded plastic cup or a preformed paper cup, for example. Of course, the containers such as the top container  20  in  FIG. 1  may be of a variety of materials, sizes and shapes. The lower base cup portion  22  is preferably a standard size which will fit within a cup holder.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein an upper container section  24  is made from a stiff cardboard construction, for example, and the lower base or cup portion  26  is fabricated from a treated paper material and is attached by an adhesive to the base  25  of section  24 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates the construction wherein an upper container  30  has a configuration which is generally truncated and designed to fit within a lower base or cup section  32 . That is, the upper container includes multiple folds or crimped portions  31  and is fitted into and attached to the lower section  32 . The upper section or container section  30  may be preassembled with the lower section  32  or unfolded from a flat storage condition and inserted into a lower section at a dispensing or point of sale station. The upper section may include printing or indicia on the outside surface. It may be coated with an interior wax layer to facilitate freshness and maintaining ingredients in the container.  
       FIG. 4  depicts yet another embodiment wherein a lower cup shaped base  50  includes a panel  52  with adhesive strips  54  or other attachment elements that attach to the lower base  56  of a tub type container  58 . The cup base  50  has a configuration which will fit within a cup holder.  
       FIG. 5  depicts a single piece design wherein a frustoconical upper container section  60  includes a lower base section  62  in the shape of a cup. The container may have a bottom panel  64 . Alternatively, a bottom panel  66  may be provided or formed within the frustoconical cone section  60 . The embodiment may be folded as depicted in  FIG. 5A .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a further embodiment wherein a section of planar cardboard or other material is cut and folded or formed as depicted in the figure to form a frustoconical container  72  which may be attached or inserted or coupled with a base section  74 . An arcuate detent  73  facilitates access to the contents of container  72 .  FIG. 6A  depicts the pattern for the container  72  which comprises an arcuate shape with sides  71 ,  75  that may be joined to form a seam. A lower margin is provided to affix to the top of cup  74 .  
       FIGS. 7 and 7 A illustrate a combination wherein a cup section  80  is sized to fit within a cup holder and includes an expandable and/or removable cover  83 , so that microwave popcorn product, which upon placement in a microwave oven, will expand cover  83  to form an upper container  82  while the lower base cup shaped section  80  serves to hold the snack filled container  82  within a cup holder.  
       FIGS. 8-10  depict an embodiment of the invention wherein a cup section  90  is combined with an expandable bag section  92 . The bag section  92  is typically folded as shown in  FIG. 9  prior to popping of a microwave corn product within the bag  92 . The cup  90  or base  90  may be open to the package  92  as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Alternatively, it may be merely attached to a portion or flap  94  of the package as depicted in  FIG. 10 . Thus, in the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , a standard microwave style microwave popcorn bag will have the additional feature of a cup member or cup base  90  attached thereto.  
       FIGS. 11 and 12  set forth an embodiment of the invention which incorporates a large standard-sized tub or container for popcorn or other snack foods in combination with a standard-sized cup which is attached to the underside or bottom side of the container.  FIG. 11  is a version wherein the component parts are manufactured from wax coated cardboard paper.  FIG. 12  is directed to an embodiment of the invention wherein the item is a molded plastic item.  
      Thus, referring to  FIG. 11 , a tub or container  100  has a generally cylindrical shape and includes a formed bottom surface  102 . The tub or container  100  has a centerline axis or axis of rotation or cylindrical axis  104 . Attached to the underside or bottom panel  102  of the container  100  is a standard-sized cup or lower portion of a cup  106 . Attachment may be effected by adhesive for example. The centerline axis  104  of the cup  106  is aligned with the axis  104  so that the container will have symmetry and be less likely to spill or fall from a cup holder. It is to be noted, however, that the lower cup portion  106  may be positioned at various other parts of the lower or underside panel  102  to provide desired positioning of the container. Additionally, more than a single cup element  106  may be attached to the underside panel  102  of the container in the event that the cup holder associated with the motor vehicle, movie theater seat or the like includes more than one cup holder receptacle arrayed next to each other, or for positioning the container off center with respect to the cup holder.  
      In  FIG. 12 , a container or tub  110  includes a molded plastic base or bottom panel  112  and has attached thereto or molded therewith a lower cup-sized base section  114 . Again, in the preferred embodiment the axis or centerline axis  116  of the tub or container  110  is aligned with the centerline axis of cup section  114 .  
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a molded or formed tray  150  includes a central web  152  with a generally cylindrical, central opening  154  for receipt, for example, of a cup or a generally congruent or compatible snack food holding item such as the popcorn box  156  in  FIG. 14 . The central web  152  further includes a recess opening  158  for snack foods such as a candy bar  160  as depicted in  FIG. 14 . Projecting from the center web  152  laterally is a first wing  162 . Projecting in the opposite direction is a second wing  164 . The wings  162  and  164  include respectively a molded passage or opening  166  and  168 . The openings  166  and  168  include a generally cylindrical side wall, such as side wall  170 , and a bottom surface such as the bottom surface  172 . The projecting lateral side wings  164  and  162  are maintained in the lower elevation relative to the web  152 . That is, there is a transition section such as the transition section  174 . The transition section  174  in combination with the second transition section  176  forms a groove which accommodates that arm  178  of a theatre seat for example. This enhances the maintenance of the position of the food tray construction depicted in  FIG. 13 .  
      Thus as illustrated in  FIG. 14  drink containers, such as containers  182  and  184 , can be placed in the respective cup holders  166  and  168 . The identified groove in the center of the tray assembly in combination with the depending sections  174  and  176  will tend to hold the tray in a fixed position on the arm  178  even when a filled cup  182  is removed from one side of the tray. In other words, the tray is designed to maintain balance even when items are removed therefrom. Further, the various cylindrical openings  166 ,  168  and  154  enable placement of various types of food containers therein. Also, the configuration of various openings or passages in the tray assembly may be configured in any desired shape although the center  154  preferably generally cylindrical with a draft. That is, the side walls of the cylindrical passage are inclined inwardly in a slight manner to facilitate holding the containers that are placed therein and to conform in general to the shape of those containers. Such a draft construction is utilized with respect to any of the openings provided in the tray as described as a preferred feature of the inventions.  
       FIGS. 15, 16  and  17  illustrate a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment which is fabricated from a molded plastic or wax covered paper material, the configuration of the tray  200  is such that a web  202  includes a first generally cylindrical drink or cup containing section  204 , and the second similarly shaped section  206  with a rectangular opening to a rectangular parallelepiped section  208 . Thus, a drink container or cup  210  may be positioned in the opening  204 . A snack container  212  in the opening  206  and a package for candy, for example, package  214  in the opening  208 . The center section  204  would preferably be placed in a cup holder and arm rest by way of example although it is possible to position the cup shaped section  206  in such an arm holder.  
       FIG. 17  illustrates the manner in which the embedment of  FIG. 15  can be manufactured in a molding process wherein two such embodiments are molded with a tear line  220  separating the separate embodiments. The tear line  220  may be a perforated line or connection between the embodiments  222  and  224 . Thus, the embodiments may be utilized for serving as well as any cup holder and snack holder for use in association with a theatre seat, for example. That is, if one is entertaining the configuration of  FIG. 17  may be used to facilitate service of drink items and other snacks.  
       FIGS. 18-20  illustrate yet a further embodiment of the invention. A web  240  includes a cup section  242 , a second cup section  244  and a snack or box receiving section  246 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , the cup section  242  may receive a cup  243 . A second section  244  may receive a food container such as a popcorn container  245  and the third section  246  may receive a box of snacks, box  247 . The orientation of the various elements is such that the container  242  will serve to be placed in an arm rest of a seat, whereas the section  246  may fit over front arm of the seat and the section  244  will extend laterally from the seat.  FIG. 20  illustrates the manner in which two such embodiments of the type shown in  FIG. 18  may be physically molded or made with a separation line  260 . In the tray represented by  FIG. 20  may be used as a serving tray when entertaining or may be used as described to provide for placement in a cup holder to hold snack items.  
      Referring to  FIG. 18 , the bottom of the cup container  242  may include a downwardly projecting peg or extension  270  which will fit into passage  272  normally provided in cup holders in theatre seat arms  274 . The peg or projection  270  from the bottom surface of the cup holder  242  thus fits within the opening  272  to facilitate maintenance of balance and placement of the tray. This concept may be employed in any of the embodiments heretofore described.  
      Again, referring to  FIG. 18 , depressions or depending molded forms  241  may be incorporated in the web  240  to hold the tray a fixed distance from an arm or cup holder and to facilitate balance as well as reinforce the tray. One or more formed depressions  241  may be molded or formed.  
       FIGS. 21-22  and  FIGS. 23-24  depict a variation or embodiment that provides a generally planar tray supported by a cup shaped lower section wherein the embodiments are formed from a flat sheet of die cut material such as cardboard stock. Referring to  FIGS. 21-22  the flat stock in the form of a rectangular sheet is die cut along dotted lines  400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408  and  410 . The center section  412  of the stock is also cut having a flexible hinge section  414 ,  416  on each side thereof. Tabs  418  are provided on a bottom side  420  to engage slot  422  cut in flap or semi-cylindrical section. The bottom side  420  is attached along a fold  426  to flap or semi-cylindrical section  428 . Tabs  430 ,  432  at the edges of semi-cylindrical section  428  engage slots  434 ,  436  respectively when the flaps  424 ,  428  are folded as shown in  FIG. 23  to form a truncated cup shape with a bottom side  420  supporting a flat planar tray  440 . Thus, the formed cup will fit into a cup holder and the tray  440  will support snacks, etc.  
       FIGS. 23-24  illustrate a variation or alternative to the embodiment of  FIGS. 21-22 . In  FIGS. 23-24  flat stock is die cut with an elongate rectangular or nearly rectangular lower section  450  having a slot  452  for receipt of end tabs  454 ,  456  when section  450  is folded or formed as a cylinder. An upper rectangular tray section  460  is attached by a side hinge element or connection  462  to a side edge of section  450 . A locking tab  464  formed on the opposite side of section  450  may be fitted through a slot  466  in the side of upper tray section  460  to complete the folding of the die cut flat stock to the form of  FIG. 24  where the lower section  450  will fit into a cup holder and the upper section  460  forms a tray.  
      As previously mentioned, any or all of the various designs may be manufactured as molded plastic products and any one of the designs may include indicia, such as writing instructions, etc. on the outside of the container portion. Further, any or all of the embodiments may include coating on the interior side. Further, the base container may serve as a portion or part of the interior of the combination cup shaped base and container for storage of a portion of the snack food element. However, in the preferred embodiments, the base is a separate element attached to a panel of a container in order to enable the container to be placed in a cup holder. The particular shape of the base may thus be varied also, e.g. downwardly, be pending prongs or legs may be used, for example. The containers may include a separate liner or a liner which compartmentalizes the container into multiple sections for different snacks. The container may also include an insert which will receive and hold a cup with the remainder of the container for the purpose of placement of a snack therein.  
      Thus, while there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.