Patent Publication Number: US-2007095828-A1

Title: Snack food container

Description:
This application is based on provisional patent application in Ser. No. 60/731,444 filed on Oct. 28, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to an assembly of containers for holding two or more products and, more particularly, to a device for suspending a first container within a second, larger container so that products in each of the containers are visibly exposed through a transparent wall structure of the larger container.  
      2. Discussion of the Related Art  
      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 of other manufacturers. In the past, products have been packaged together using shrink wrap or similar plastic film material which bundles the two or more products as 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. Sometimes, a promotional (i.e. free) item is packaged with the main product in order 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 a 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 products that include the toy inside.  
      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 larger container for holding a food product, such as a snack food product (e.g. potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, etc.) and a smaller container which is sized to be received through an open top of the larger container, and wherein a device removably holds the smaller container in suspended relation within the larger container so that a second food product in the smaller container can be packaged within the larger container while remaining isolated from the first food product.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple, one piece device which is adapted to removably hold a smaller container within a larger container, and wherein a first product is visibly contained within the main, larger container and a second product is visibly contained within the smaller container.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple, one piece device that removably attaches to the top of a first container, and wherein the device includes a flanged lip which seats on the top rim of a larger container, allowing the first, smaller container to nest within the open top of the larger container.  
      It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a simple device that attaches to a first container and allows the first container to nest within the open top of a larger container, and wherein a first product is stored in a larger container and a second product is stored within the smaller container without increasing the size or altering the shape or structure of either container.  
      It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a simple device that allows a conventional smaller container to be inserted and supported within a conventional larger container so that two different products that are normally packaged and sold separately can be combined within the packaging of the larger container without altering the structure of either container.  
      It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a simple, one-piece device that attaches to a first, smaller container, and wherein the device is adapted to allow the smaller container to be received through an open top of a larger container with the device seating against a top rim surrounding the open top of the larger container while allowing a removable top to be secured on the larger container.  
      It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a simple, one-piece device that allows a smaller container to be removably supported in packaged relation within a larger container without changing the structure of either container, and wherein packaging the products within each of the containers is readily adapted to an existing assembly line process without significant alteration or cost.  
      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.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a device for holding a first container within a second, larger container. The device includes an endless band with a peripheral flanged lip extending outwardly from a top edge and an arrangement of flap members extending inwardly from a bottom edge of the band and forming a continuous curvlinear edge with inwardly directed arcuate sections surrounding a central opening. The device is removably fitted over the top of the first container with the arcuate edge sections engaging the underside of the container lid or an annular ring on the threaded neck of the first container. The flanged lip is sized, structured and configured for seated engagement on the top rim of the larger container with the first container held suspended within the interior of the larger container. A removable lid covers the top opening of the larger container with the first container held therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      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:  
       FIG. 1  is a partially exploded front elevational view, in partial section, showing a larger container, a smaller container being received through an open top of the larger container, the device of the present invention fitted to a top neck of the smaller container, and the lids of both the larger container and the smaller container removed;  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view, in partial cut-away and cross section, showing the device of the present invention holding the smaller container in suspended relation within the larger container with the lids of both containers securely fastened to the tops of the respective containers;  
       FIG. 3  is a front, top perspective view showing the device of the present invention fitted to the top neck of the smaller container removed from the open top of the larger container;  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the device of the present invention removed from the top neck of the smaller container;  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view showing the device of the present invention secured to the top neck of the smaller container; and  
       FIG. 6  is a partially exploded top perspective view showing the device of the present invention secured to the top neck of the smaller container and the lid separated from the top of the smaller container. 
    
    
      Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to the several views of the drawings, the container holding device is shown and generally indicated as  10 .  
      The holding device  10  is specifically structured for supporting a first container  30  within a second, larger container  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first container  30  may be formed of plastic or glass and includes a main side wall structure  31 , a neck  32  extending upwardly from the side wall structure  31  and surrounding open top  33 . The neck is preferably provided with outer threads for screw attachment of a lid  38  in order to cover the open top  33 . The neck  32  further includes an annular ring  34  below the threads. The annular ring  34  is conventional on many containers or jars and is used in the assembly line process for lifting and/or moving the container  30  when packaging a product therein.  
      The larger container  40  includes a transparent sidewall structure  41  and a top neck  42  terminating at a top rim  46  surrounding an open top  44  that communicates with an interior of the larger container  40 . The size and shape of the top opening  44 , as defined by the surrounding neck  42 , is sufficient to permit passage of the smaller container  30  therethrough, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The neck  42  of the larger container may be provided with threads for screw attachment of a lid  48 .  
      The device  10  of the present invention is formed as one piece and removably attaches to the neck  32  of the smaller container  30 . With the device  10  attached, the smaller container  30  is dropped down through the open top  44  of the larger container  40 . The device  10  hangs from the top rim  46  of the larger container to hold the smaller container  30  in suspended relation inside of the larger container  40  as seen, in  FIG. 2 .  
      The device  10  is preferably molded of a substantially rigid, yet somewhat flexible plastic material and includes an endless band  12  that is sized and configured to be generally congruent with the top opening of the larger container  40 , as defined by an inner surface of the neck  42 . It is noted, however, that the band  12  is dimensioned to be received within the top opening  44  of the container  40  so that the neck  42  of the container  40  surrounds the band  12  when the device  10  is seated against the top rim  46 . The device  10  further includes an outwardly extending flanged lip  14  integrally formed on the top edge of the band  12 . The flanged lip  14  is sized, structured and configured for mating, seated engagement with the top rim  46  of the container  40  with a remainder of the device  10  received within the top opening  44  of the container and surrounded by the neck  42 .  
      In order to removably attach the device  10  to the smaller container  30 , a plurality of inwardly directed flap members  16  are integrally formed on the bottom edge of the band  12 . The flap members  16  extend inwardly and terminate at an edge  18 . The edges  18  of the flap members surround a central opening  20  which is sized for passage of the lid  38  and top neck  32  of the container  30  therethrough. The edges  18  of the flap members  16  are curvilinear and form arcuate segments which bulge inwardly towards the center of the central opening  20 . When the device  10  is forced downwardly onto the top of the container  30 , the top lid  38  and threaded exterior neck  32  brush against the innermost portions of the curvelinear edges  18  of the flaps  16 . The flaps  16  are structured to flex in order to yield to the force of the edges  18  against the sides of the lid  38  and exterior threaded neck  32  of the smaller container  30 , thereby allowing the lid and neck to pass upwardly through the central opening  20  as the device  10  moves down around the sides of the neck  32 . The flap members  16  and curvlinear edges  18  are structured to snap around the annular ring  34  on the neck  32  of the container  30  so that the flap members  16  engage an underside of the annular ring  34 . The flap members  16  are sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the filled (i.e. including contents) smaller container  30  so that the container  30  is able to hang from the flap members  16 . Thus, when the device  10  is attached to the smaller container  30 , the assembly of the smaller container  30  and the device  10  can be dropped through the open top  44  of the larger container  40  until the flanged lip  14  seats against the top rim  46 . Once nested within the open top  44 , the smaller container  30  is suspended within the larger container  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The top lid  48  of the larger container  40  can then be fastened to the neck  42  to enclose and seal the contents, including the smaller container  30 , within the interior of the larger container  40 .  
      In one preferred embodiment, the larger container  40  may be used for packaging pretzels, potato chips, tortilla chips or other dry snack products, while the smaller container  30  contains a dip food product, such as mustard, sour cream mix, cheese dip or salsa. Alternatively, the smaller container  30  may be used for packaging a beverage or non-food product, such as a toy. The contents of both the larger container  40  and the smaller container  30  may be any of a wide variety of products and combination and are not limited to those disclosed herein.  
      While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.