Patent Publication Number: US-2019193914-A1

Title: Food container with integrated condiment holder

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Carry out food and fast food are increasingly popular. People often eat such food while they are away from home and are unable to sit at a table. For example, fast food items purchased from a drive-through window are often consumed while in a car or other vehicle. Whether the person eating is the driver or a passenger, eating food in a vehicle presents challenges as it can be hard to avoid dropping or spilling food in the car or on oneself. Some foods such as burgers and sandwiches are relatively self-contained and can be kept partially wrapped and held in one or two hands while they are eaten. However, other foods have two separately packaged components, such as food items that are eaten with condiments such as with dipping sauces. Common examples include French fries and chicken pieces which are often dipped in sauces such as ketchup, barbeque, and many others. It is very difficult to hold both the food container and the dipping sauce container simultaneously while also picking up, dipping, and eating the food items. Inside a vehicle, one solution is to place the condiment container somewhere, such as on the dashboard or the center console, but the condiment container is precariously balanced and spills are likely. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments include containers such as food containers with integrated compartments such as condiment compartments. The food container may include a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges, and a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround an internal container space. The container may further include a condiment compartment configured to hold a condiment or a condiment container, the compartment located within the internal container space. The food container may be partially or entirely made of a planar material. It may have a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the placement of food within the internal container space. 
     In some embodiments, the condiment compartment is adjacent to the top edge of the first side wall. Such a condiment compartment may be a four sided pyramidal space formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, the four side walls of the condiment compartment together forming a point at the bottom and being open top, wherein the first and second side walls of the condiment compartment comprise portions of the first and second side walls of the container. The third condiment compartment side wall may be attached to the first side wall of the container and the fourth condiment side wall may be attached to the second side wall of the container within the internal container space. The condiment compartment may be configured to be alternatively adjusted by a user into a closed configuration or an open configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the container also includes a top flap having an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the top flap connected to the upper edge of the first side wall, wherein the condiment compartment comprises an aperture in the top flap, the aperture configured to fit and support a condiment container within the aperture when the top flap is folded along the bottom edge of the top flap into a horizontal configuration over the internal container space. 
     The container may be adjustable between a collapsed flat configuration and an open use configuration. In another embodiments, when the container is configured in an open configuration for use, the container may include a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges, and a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround an internal container space. The container may further include a top flap including an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the top flap connected to the upper edge of the first side wall along a flap fold line, and an aperture within the top flap, wherein the aperture is configured to fit and support a condiment container within it the aperture when the top flap is folded along the bottom edge into a horizontal configuration. In some such embodiments, the aperture may extend to the bottom edge of the flap. In some embodiments, the first side wall of the container further may include a tab portion adjacent to the aperture and configured to fold inward or outward as a horizontal projection or to be removed. The tab portion may further include one or more rows of perforations or cuts within the first side wall to assist with separating the tab portion from the first side wall prior to folding the tab portion inward or outward or removing the tab portion. 
     In some embodiments, the container may be constructed of a planar material and may have a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with the container space open within the container. 
     In some embodiments, the top flap, when folded into a horizontal orientation across the open container space, extends only part way across the internal container space. In some embodiments, the top flap includes a first top flap and the fold line of the top flap comprises a first fold line, the food container further comprising a second top flap, the second top flap comprising an outside edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the second top flap connected to the upper edge of the second side wall along a second flap fold line. The second top flap may be sized to extend across the aperture of the first top flap when the first and second top flaps are folded inward into a horizontal configuration over the container space. In some embodiments, the first side wall of the container may further include a tab portion adjacent to the aperture and configured to fold inward or outward as a horizontal projection, wherein when the first and second top flaps are folded inward into a horizontal configuration over the container space and when the tab portion is folded inward or outward, the container space remains visible through a gap in the first side wall created by folding the tab portion. 
     In some embodiments, the food container includes, when configured in an open configuration for use, a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, each of the first and second side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of the third and fourth side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the third and fourth sidewalls connected to the first and second side walls along their two side edges, and a bottom portion, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls and the bottom portion surround the open container space. The container further includes a condiment compartment within the open container space, wherein the condiment compartment is adjustable between a closed configuration in which the condiment compartment is flat against one or more walls of the container and an open configuration in which the condiment compartment is open and extends into the open container space. The condiment compartment may be a four sided pyramidal space formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, the side walls of the compartment together forming a point at a bottom and being open at a top of the condiment compartment. The first and second side walls of the condiment compartment comprise portions of the first and second side walls of the container. The condiment compartment may further include a tab located at a top edge of the third side wall of the condiment compartment and, when the condiment compartment is in a closed configuration, the tab extending above the top edges of the first and second side walls of the container. The food container may be made of a planar material such as a paper material and may have a first configuration in which the entire container is flat and a second configuration in which the container is configured for use with an open container space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-3  are front perspective views of a container according to various embodiments in different open configurations; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are back perspective viewed of the container of  FIGS. 1-3  with an upper portion of the back removed, with and without a sauce container; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are front perspective views of the container of  FIGS. 1-3  in a closed configuration, with and without a sauce container; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a container; 
         FIGS. 9-11   b  are perspective views of another embodiment of a container; 
         FIG. 12  is an diagram for the manufacture of a container from a planar material; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the container of  FIGS. 1-3  in a flat configuration; 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of the container of  FIGS. 9-11  in a flat configuration; and 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This application claims priority to provisional application 62/573,629 filed Oct. 17, 2017 and entitled Food Container with Integrated Condiment Holder, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The present disclosure is directed to containers for food including integrated condiment compartments. The container may be partially or entirely constructed of a stiff sheet of material such as a paper material which may be folded into the container shape, with the condiment compartment formed by folds, cuts and/or perforations in the paper. The condiment compartment may be oriented such that food within the container can be removed by a consumer and dipped into the condiment while the container is held in the consumer&#39;s other hand, sitting in a cup holder of a vehicle, or sitting on a planar surface such as a table top. 
     Foods for which the use of containers as described herein are particularly useful include multi-piece food items consumed with condiments. Examples of such food include French fries, onion rings, chicken pieces, French toast sticks, mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, chicken drummies, egg rolls, won tons, chips such as potato chips or nacho chips, vegetables such as sliced or baby carrots, fruit pieces such as apple slices, and pretzels. Condiments which may be carried in the condiment compartment include ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, honey-mustard sauce, maple syrup, barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, melted cheese such as nacho cheese sauce, dressings such as salad-style dressings like ranch and thousand island, humus, yogurt, chocolate, caramel, and any other sauce or food in the nature of a thickened liquid into which food is dipped and then eaten. Such condiments are often provided in small, single serving types of disposable containers, such as round or square plastic containers which may have a peel away top, and various container embodiments are configured for use with such condiment containers. While primarily intended for use as a food containers, particularly a disposable containers for food, it should be understood that the containers described herein could alternatively be used to hold other materials with which a small, integrated compartment would be useful. Examples include arts and crafts materials such as paints or beads, home improvement or construction materials such as tools or small components such as screws, nails, washers, etc., or any other types of materials. 
     A first example of a container according to various embodiments is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , with dotted lines representing perforated lines and dashed lines representing fold lines. In practice in a container product, lines described as perforated may alternatively be fully or partially pre-cut along the described line. In addition, in practice in a container product, the fold lines may be marked such by lines (solid, dashed, dotted, etc.) or other user instructions or visual indicators, indented, and/or scored, or may not be unaltered. The container  10  may be shipped and stored in a flat configuration, as shown in  FIG. 13 , described further below, and may be popped open prior to use to the open use configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . The container  10  has a square shape with a slight inward taper from the top to the bottom, though it could alternatively be more tapered, straight, or tapered outward. The container  10  includes two opposing sides  20 , a back  30 , a front  40 , a front top flap  50  and a back top flap  60 . The use of the terms front, back, and side in this application are used for descriptive purposes only, and it should be realized that any side of a container may be considered a front, back or side. As such, the sides may alternatively be considers as first, second, third, and fourth, though some embodiments could optionally include fewer sides such as three or more sides such as five or six. The container  10  further includes a bottom, not shown, which spans from side to side and front to back to enclose the space within the container  10 . Bottom may be a simple flap with a lip, folding in from one of the sides, the front, or the back, for example, or a more complex design. Alternatively, bottom may be any other type of container bottom such as what is known as an auto bottom in which the bottom includes four pieces, one attached to each side, which fold up when the container is flat and bend down and overlap and lock in a flat spiral formation when the box is expanded into use form. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the container  10  is shown as it appears when it has just been popped open from the flat configuration. The back  30  may be a complete planar sheet with no apertures and may attach to back top flap  60  along fold line  64 . Sides  20  may include apertures  22  which may be in approximate horizontal alignment with fold line  64  such that tabs of the top flaps, such as tabs  62 , may be inserted into apertures  22  when the back top flap  60  is folded forward to close the container  10 . In alternative embodiments, front top flap  50  may similarly include tabs for insertion into apertures  62  instead of, or in addition to, tabs  62  of the back top flap  60 . 
     Front  40  may have a top edge  42  extending between fold lines  44  and along which front  40  attaches to the front top flap  50 . Top edge  42  may be in approximate horizontal alignment with apertures  22  and fold line  64  to allow back top flap  60  to overlie top front flap  50  in a smooth abutting relationship when the container  10  is closed. Front  40  may further include fold line  46 , directly beneath and parallel to top edge  42 , and perforations  48  extending from the ends of top edge  42  down to the ends of fold line  46 . Perforations  48  and fold line  46  surround portion  49  which can be folded to project inward or outward like a tab after the container is torn along perforations  48 . Alternatively, rather than having perforations  48 , the container  10  could be cut partially or completely though in a line along the extent of perforations  48 . In other alternatives, fold line  46  may be a perforated (or partially or completely cut) line and portion  49  may be entirely removed by tearing along lines  48  and  46 . In still other embodiments, portion  49  may be missing from the container, such that lines  48  and  46  form the edges of a gap in the front  40 . 
     Back top flap  60  may include a pair of tabs  62  which may extend from side edges  66 . The length of back top flap  60 , from fold line  64  to edge  68 , may be approximately equal to the distance between the front  40  and the back  60  at the top of the container  10  at the top such that when the back top flap  60  is folded forward to close the container  10 , it completely covers the space within the container  10 . (In alternative embodiments, the back top flap  60  may be omitted or may be reduced in size, such as to only abut or only partially overlap the front top flap  50  when the top flaps  50 ,  60  are in a closed configuration.) The length of the front top flap  50 , from fold lines  44  to edge  58  may be less that the length of back top flap  60  such that when front top flap  50  is folded back to close the container  10  it does not extend fully across the container  10 . Front top flap  50  includes aperture  52  formed by edge  54  and edge  42 . In this embodiment, edge  54  is arched, such that aperture  52  is a portion of a circle, in this case slightly greater than half of a circle but less than a whole circle. This embodiment is appropriate for use with condiment containers having a circular shape on horizontal cross-section. For other shapes of condiment containers, edge  54  may have other shapes such that aperture  52  is shaped to match the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the condiment container. For example, the aperture may be square, rectangular, oval, or any other shape. In addition, the front top flap  50  may not be square as shown but may be different shape, such as a semicircle, with a bottom edge attached to the front  40  and an outer edge forming any desired shape. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the container  10  has been arranged to hold a condiment container within the inside space of the container  10 . To achieve this arrangement, a user tears or cuts the container along perforations  48  and folds portion  49  inward along fold line  46 . (Alternatively, if the container material is pre-cut along the line of perforations  48 , the user may just fold section  49  inward.) The user also folds front top flap  50  back over the container space. A condiment holder space  70  is then formed. In this embodiment, a condiment container having a circular cross-sectional shape may be placed into space  70 . A rim of the condiment container may rest on the surface of front top flap  50  and/or the bottom of the condiment container may rest on portion  49  to support the condiment container. Furthermore, since the aperture  52  was greater than a half of a circle, space  70  will extend more than half way around condiment container, holding it securely such that it will not slip out sideways. A consumer can reach into the container  10  to access food within the container  10  through the gap between edge  58  of the front top flap and the back  30 . (In alternative embodiments in which portion  49  is removable or is a gap, condiment holder space  70  is formed just by folding front flap  50  back over the container space, and the rim of the condiment container may rest on the top flap  50  and/or the bottom fo the condiment container may rest on the edge at line  46 .) 
     An alternative configuration is shown in  FIG. 3 . In this configuration, section  49  is folded outward (or alternatively it is not present or is removed) and front top flap  50  is likewise folded outward. A condiment holder space  72  is formed as in the other configuration, but this time extending outside of the container  10 . This configuration allows easier access to food within the container  10 . However, the weight of the condiment, extending outside of the container, may cause the container  10  to become unbalanced and more likely to tip to the side holding the condiment, particularly as the contents of the container  10  decrease as the consumer eats them. Therefore, the bottom portion of the container  10  may be sized to fit within a standard vehicle cup holder. In this way, when the container  10  is placed within the vehicle cup holder, the vehicle cup holder may hold the container  10  in an upright orientation despite the weight of an outward projecting condiment container. 
     In some embodiments, in order to allow easier access to food within container  10  when the condiment holder space  70  is inside the container  10 , back  30  may include perforations (or alternatively partial or complete through-cuts) to allow it to be partially removed by the consumer as desired. For example, back  30  may be perforated or pre-cut or along side edges  36  from the top fold line  64  and extending midway down the back  30 . (Alternatively, the perforated or pre-cut lines may be generally vertical lines, spaced apart and inward from the side edges  36 , along with a perforated or partially or completely cut line extending between them at the top, such as at or near fold line  64 .) Initially, when the container  10  is full of food, a consumer may be able to access the food without difficulty through the gap between edge  58  and back  30 . However, as the food level becomes lower, the food may be difficult to reach through this gap. The consumer may then tear the container  10  along perforations at edges  36  (or inset from edges  36 ) and fold back and/or tear off back top flap  68  along with an upper portion of back  30 . To assist with folding or removal of this upper portion of the back  30 , back  30  may include a horizontal line of perforations (or an indentation, mark, or partial or complete cut) extending between edges  36  or a horizontal fold line, somewhere between the top fold line  64  and the bottom of the container  10 . In some embodiments, back  30  may include a series of horizontal lines of perforations or folds at various heights to allow user to tear or fold back the upper portion of back  30  sequentially, starting with a higher fold or tear line and progressing to one or more lower fold or tear lines as the food is consumed. 
     An example of an embodiment in which an upper portion of the back  30  has been removed is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Only a lower portion of back  30  remains, and access to the inside of container  10  is easier. A lower portion of back  30  remains in place, able to contain any remaining pieces of food within the container  10 . In  FIG. 5 , a condiment container  80  is shown within the condiment holder space  70 . 
     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the container  10  is shown with the condiment holder space  70  within the container  10  and the front and back top flaps  50  (not shown) and  60  folded inward to close the container  10 . Back top flap  60  overlies front top flap  50  and both top flaps  50 ,  60  are held securely in place by tabs  62  extending through apertures  22 . Upper edges  24  of sides  20  extend above the closed top surface of the container  10 . While upper edges  24  are shown as being rounded, other profiles are also possible. In  FIG. 6 , the condiment holder space  70  is empty while in  FIG. 7  it holds a condiment container  80  which can be seen protruding slightly through the front  40 . This is advantageous as it allows a user such as a food vender or a food purchaser/consumer to see that a condiment has been provided with the food within the container  10 . 
     In alternative embodiments, front top flap  50  could include an aperture sized to fully circumscribe a condiment container, such as a complete full circular, square, or rectangular aperture having no open sides, such that no perforation or folding of the front  40  would be required. However, in such embodiments, when the front top flap is folded in and the condiment container inserted into the aperture, the condiment container would be fully contained within the container  10  and would not be visible. However, depending upon the dimensions of the container  10 , it could require the front top flap  50  to be so long that it prohibits access to food within the container. In containers having an upper back  30  that can fold or tear away, this might not present a problem. Likewise, this might also not be a problem if the container is large enough or long enough to still provide a gap between the edge  58  of the front top flap  50  and the back  30 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a container  110  with an integrated condiment holder space is shown in  FIG. 8 . Container  110  includes sides  120  with apertures  122 , back  130 , and back top flap  160 , and bottom (not shown) which are similar to those described with regard to container  10 . Container  110  further includes front  140  and front top flap  150 . The small front top flap  150  could alternatively be omitted, or could be replaced by a small lip along edge  168  of the back top flap  160  to fold inside or outside of front  140  when container  110  is closed. Front  140  folds outward along its midsection to form condiment container space  172 . Front  140  includes upper fold line  142 , lower fold line  146 , and middle fold lines  144 . Front further includes cut lines  148  (which could alternatively be perforated lines). Upper and lower fold lines  142  and  146  extend from one cut line  148  to the other at their top and bottom ends respectively, while fold lines  144  extend from a central region of cut lines  148  to side edges  145  on each side of front  140 . An upper portion of side edges  145  are perforated or partially or completely cut through to allow the upper portion of the front  140  to be folded back along fold lines  144  as shown. When the upper portion of the front  140  is folded outward, section  149  projects out and down and folds along fold line  147 . Cut lines  148  are not straight vertical lines but rather turn slightly inward at about the level of fold lines  144 , such that the condiment holder space  172  is configured to wrap slightly around the corners of the condiment container on the inside, though this feature is optional and cut lines  148  could alternatively be straight or could curve inward more. This embodiment may be configured to fit within a cup holder of a vehicle, as described previously, to increase stability. 
     Another alternative embodiment of a container with an integrated condiment holder is shown in  FIGS. 9-11   b . In this embodiment, the container  210  includes four opposing sides. Sides  220  and  230  are adjacent and mirror images or each other. Sides  240  and  250  are likewise adjacent to each other but have slightly different upper edges. Sides  240  and  250  optionally include apertures  242 ,  252  which may be entirely open or may be folded outward as shown in this embodiment and which may function as handles for a user to insert his or her fingers when carrying the container  210 . Container  210  further includes a bottom, not shown, which may be like those described above, to enclose the container space. In addition, container  210  includes section  290 , including adjoining sections  292  and  294 , which are adhered to the inside surface of sides  220  and  230 . Section  292  is adhered to side  230  along fold line  296 , while section  294  is adhered to side  230  along a fold line which is a mirror image of fold line  296  but which cannot be seen in these figures. In  FIG. 9 , the container  210  is shown a configuration after first being opened, with section  290  abutting and extending above the upper edges of sides  220  and  230 . In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , section  290  has been pulled inward toward the inside of the container  210 , reversing the direction of the fold (inverting the fold) at fold line  298  between sections  292  and  294  to form a condiment holder space  270 . Likewise the folds at fold lines that connect sections  292  and  294  at fold lines  296  and its counterpart reverse directions when the condiments holder space  270  is opened. Condiment holder space  270  has four sides which come together at a point in the bottom. Two of the sides of the condiment holder are portions of the container sides  220  and  230 , while the other two sides of the condiment holder are provided by sections  292  and  294 . Condiment holder space may be used to hold condiments which are in their own containers by resting them in them in space  270 . Alternatively, a condiment may be directly placed or poured into the space  270 . While this embodiment includes one condiment holder space  270 , in alternative embodiments the container  210  may include multiple condiment holder spaces  270  such as two, three or four which may be located at some or all of the interior corners of the container  210  in the same or similar manner as described herein. 
     A similar embodiment is shown in  FIG. 15 . In this embodiment, the container  310  includes four opposing sides including side  330  and an opposing side and side  350  and an opposing side. The container  310  further includes a bottom, not shown, which may be any type of bottom such as those described previously, to enclose the container space. Container also includes section  390 , including adjoining sections  392  and  394  which are adhered to the inside surface of the container along fold lines as described above with regard to the previous container to form condiment holder space  370 . In alternative embodiments, container  310  may include multiple condiment holder spaces  370  in multiple interior corners of the container  310 . In addition, in this embodiment the container  310  includes an optional top flap  360  attached to one side of the container  310  for folding forward and over the top of the container space to enclose the container space. At the end of the top flap  360  is optional tab  363  which folds into the container space when the top flap  360  is in a closed position to hold the top flap  360  in place by friction. In this embodiment tab  363  is divided into two portions, though in other embodiments it may be a single tab or multiple tab or other methods may optionally be used to hold the top flap  360  in a closed position. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  further includes side flaps  365  extending from the sides adjacent to the side connected to the top flap  360 . Side flaps  365  are optional and may be folded inward over the container space under the top flap  365  when the top flap  360  is closed. 
     In the embodiment shown, the upper edges of sides  240  and  250  are higher than those of sides  220  and  230 . This extra height allows space for the apertures  242 ,  252 , which may function as handles, above the height of any food within the container. This is particularly useful when the food will be carried while consumed, such as by a consumer walking around at a carnival or other event. In alternative embodiments, all four sides could have the same height and/or could have different profiles, and may or may not include apertures  242 ,  252 . Apertures  242 ,  252  could alternatively be located in sides  220  and  230  or in some other combination of sides or all four sides. 
     In this embodiment, the upper edge of section  294  is higher than that of  292  and sides  230  and  240 . In this way, the upper edge extends above the top of any food stored within container  210  or condiment within condiment holder space  270 . The upper portion of section  294  which is higher than section  292  may therefore be used for a printed message, such as instructions to pull out sections  292  and  294  to create a condiment holder space. In alternative embodiments, sections  292  and  294  may be reversed or may be the same height as each other, which may be higher than sides  220  and  230 , the same height, or shorter, or only a portion of section  292  and/or  294 , such as an upward extending tab, may be higher than sides  220  and  230 . 
     The containers described in various embodiments may be made of a planar material such as a paper type material, such as a thick paper, card stock, corrugated or cardboard material. The paper material may include a water and/or grease resistant coating. In other embodiments, the containers may be made of sheets of plastic. In some embodiments, the containers are made entirely of this one material, except for any adhesives. The containers may be cut from the one material, perforated and folded as needed, and adhered along one or more edges with glue or other suitable adhesive. An example of a pattern which may be used for cutting and preparing a container according to various embodiments during manufacture is shown in  FIG. 12 . After being cut from the material, perforated, folded, and adhered along edges as needed, the container may be configured into a completely planar shape appropriate for shipment to a user and/or storage. For example,  FIG. 13  shows the container of  FIGS. 1-7  in planar formation.  FIG. 14  shows the container of  FIGS. 9-11  in planar formation. By pressing the outer edges of the planar container inward, the container may expand and pop open into the formation having a center opening and ready for use. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.