Patent Abstract:
An arrangement of individual condiment serving packets in an outer container is provided having an approximately cylindrical container with at least four dual-packet sheets within said container. 
     Each dual-packet sheet has a pair of individual condiment-filled packets each having a condiment-filled portion, said packets having a weakened tear-line in an unfilled medial portion of the sheet between them for manual separation of said packets for individual use. The dual-packet sheets are arranged with their condiment-filled portions in opposed front-to-back contact with their medial portions in parallel alignment and pinched closely together or in contact so that the condiment-filled portions are arranged generally like spokes on a wheel sized so as to fit into said approximately cylindrical container and to be thereby maintained in said approximately circular arrangement by said outer approximately cylindrical container.

Full Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/730,282, filed Dec. 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,916. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to individual serving condiment packages and a method and apparatus for arranging and packing such individual serving condiment packages into a container. 
   Individual serving packets, such as those used for catsup or other condiments in fast-food restaurants, are known. Typically, such packets are formed of two opposed sheets of plastic, sealed at the edges and filled with the condiment. An example of a particularly functional individual serving packets is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/730,282, co-invented by the present inventors and assigned to the present assignee. The disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference. 
   Individual serving packets are typically sold and/or shipped to the fast-food restaurant or store in larger containers. Such larger containers take a wide variety of forms, such as clear plastic bags, paper cartons, etc. The individual serving packages are packed into the larger container in a variety of manners, including parallel straight rows and sometimes in a random manner. 
   The prior art does not, however, adequately address the problem of how to pack a plurality of individual serving packets in a container in a manner that is easy to use, simple and efficient, and aesthetically pleasing. 
   OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for arranging and packing individual serving condiment packets into a container that overcomes the foregoing disadvantages. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This object is achieved in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which provides an arrangement of condiment packets in a container having a top, a bottom and peripheral walls, wherein the packets are arranged generally like spokes on a wheel and are maintained in said generally spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement by said outer peripheral wall of said container. 
   In accordance with a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the packets are grouped together in pairs, forming dual-packet sheets. Each dual-packet sheet has a pair of individual condiment-filled packets each having a condiment-filled portion, the packets having a weakened tear-line in an unfilled medial portion of the sheet between them for manual separation of said packets for individual use. The dual-packet sheets are arranged with their condiment-filled portions in opposed front-to-back contact with their medial portions in parallel alignment and pinched closely together so that the condiment-filled portions are arranged generally like spokes on a wheel in a container having a size such that said packets are maintained in the approximately spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement by the outer peripheral wall. 
   This object is also achieved in accordance with a preferred aspect of this invention, wherein the outer peripheral wall is approximately cylindrical. 
   This object is also achieved in accordance with a preferred aspect of this invention, wherein at least a portion of said container is transparent or translucent portion so that said generally spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement of said condiment packets is visible from outside the container. 
   This object is also achieved in accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention, wherein the arrangement of condiment packets has a height, the lower approximately cylindrical portion having a height less than the height of the arrangement of individual condiment serving packets so that a portion of the individual condiment serving packets is retained in the upper approximately cylindrical portion. 
   This object is also achieved in accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention, wherein at least one of the upper and lower approximately cylindrical portions has a larger diameter at a point where the upper and lower approximately cylindrical portions meet than at their distal portions. 
   This object is also achieved in accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention, wherein there is an interference fit between lower portions of the packets and the lower portion of the container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a dual-packet sheet having two condiment-filled portions separated by a medial portion suitable for use in the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the dual-packet sheet depicted in  FIG. 1  along one of its long edges; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of an alternative dual-packet sheet having two rectangular condiment-filled portions separated by a medial portion, suitable for use in the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the dual-packet sheet depicted in  FIG. 3  along one of its long edges; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a single rectangular packet sheet; 
       FIG. 6  is a view of the single packet depicted in  FIG. 5  along one of its long edges; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of six of the dual-packet sheets arranged parallel and front-to-back with their medial portions in a line, prior to having the medial portions pinched together by a pinching mechanism; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of six dual-packet sheets depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of six dual-packet sheets depicted in  FIG. 8 , after their medial portions are pinched by a pinching mechanism to create the spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement; 
       FIG. 10  is a somewhat schematic side view of six dual-packet sheets showing a preferred method for packing the sheets into an outer generally cylindrical container disposed below the elevation of the dual-packet sheets; 
       FIG. 11  is a somewhat schematic side view of six dual-packet sheets showing a preferred method for packing the sheets into an outer generally cylindrical container disposed at substantially the same elevation as the dual-packet sheets; 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of six dual-packet sheets disposed in the outer generally cylindrical container in the spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of six dual-packet sheets disposed in the lower portion of an outer generally cylindrical container in the spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement, with the upper portion of the outer generally cylindrical container removed; and 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of six dual-packet sheets disposed in a transparent outer generally cylindrical container in the spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement, with the upper generally transparent and slightly conical portion of the outer generally cylindrical container installed onto the lower, slightly conical portion; 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of the six dual-packet sheets disposed in the transparent outer generally cylindrical container depicted in  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a top view of the six dual-packet sheets disposed in the transparent outer generally cylindrical container depicted in FIG.  14 ; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Turning now to the drawings in detail, and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  thereof, a dual-packet sheet  10  formed by two facing plastic sheets  11 , and having a pair of condiment packets  13  is depicted. Condiment packets  13  each have a condiment-filled portion  15 , and an unfilled medial portion  20  between the condiment packets  13 . The unfilled medial portion  20  also includes a weakened portion  25  running longitudinally down the center of the medial portion so that each of the condiment packets  13  may conveniently be separated manually from each other prior to use. The weakened portion  15  may, for example, be a score line, a perforation or a notch at the edge of the medial portion to facilitate starting a tear. 
   In the example embodiment of the dual-packet sheet  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each condiment-filled portion includes a slanted nozzle portion  30  and  30 ′, respectively, as more fully described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/730,282, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The condiment-containing portions  15  on dual-packet sheet  10  may be formed by sealing the two plastic facing sheets  11  forming the dual-packet sheet  10  together by means of heat, ultrasonic energy, adhesive or other means, filling the condiment-containing portions  15  with a desired amount of condiment, and sealing the fill openings. 
   It is not required to use the specific dual-packet sheet  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as a packet having a product containing portion of any shape will work, providing it fits into an outer container in a spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement. Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another version of a dual-packet sheet  40  useful in the invention is depicted, in this case with two rectangular-shaped condiment-filled portions  45 . 
   Although the use of a dual-packet sheet is advantageous in the invention, a single packet, such as depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , will also work, providing that a plurality of the packets will fit into an outer container in a spokes-in-a-wheel arrangement. 
   Where the perimeter of the condiment-containing portion is an asymmetrical shape, such as the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is preferable that the condiment-containing portions be arranged so that they are generally mirror-images of each other, as depicted. It is to be understood that the perimeter of the condiment-containing portions of the packets  13  may be rectangular, symmetrical, asymmetrical, triangular, oval, rounded or any other shape. For convenience, the  FIGS. 1 and 2  dual-packets will be primarily discussed herein, it being understood that the same explanation applies to  FIGS. 2-3  dual-packets and dual-packets of any other shape. Furthermore, with some modifications to the method of placing the packets into the outer container, the same discussion also applies to the single packets of  FIGS. 5-6 . 
   As depicted in  FIG. 2 , when filled, the condiment-filled portions  15  are substantially thicker than the unfilled perimeter edges  17  and the unfilled medial portion  20  of the sealed-together plastic sheets  11  forming the dual-packet sheet  10 , these portions being, of course, substantially the thickness of the two plastic sheets affixed together. 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 7-11 , a preferred manner of placing dual-packet sheets  10  into an outer container  100  is depicted. Referring first to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a front-to-back arrangement of six of the dual-packet sheets  10 , as seen from above in FIG.  8  and seen in perspective in  FIG. 7 , are depicted with their medial portions  20  generally aligned, prior to having the medial portions  20  pinched together by means of fingers  61  and  61 ′ of pincher mechanism  60 , as further described below. Although sheets  10  are described as being front-to-back, it is to be understood that both the front and back of each of the sheets are preferably substantially the same. Further, although six dual-packet sheets are depicted, it is to be understood that a smaller or larger number may be employed. Preferably, however, the minimum number of dual-packet sheets  10  is three. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 9 , following arranging the dual-packet sheets  10  front-to-back, fingers  61  and  61 ′ of pincher mechanism  60  are brought close to one another, thus putting the medial portions  20  of adjacent ones of the sheets  10  in contact or at least close together. Because the condiment-filled portions  15  are thicker than the medial portions  20 , the condiment-filled portions facing each other tend to “round out” into generally a circular shape, causing the packets  13  to tend to arrange themselves like spokes on a wheel. Thus, the assembly of the medial portions  20  is generally near the center of the arrangement, where the hub of the wheel would be. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  depict schematically two different methods of placing the pinched-together dual-packet sheets into an open, outer, generally in  FIG. 10 , open container  100  is placed below the elevation of the pinched arrangement of dual-packet sheets  10 . After the fingers  61  and  61 ′ of pincher mechanism  60  are brought together, the pinched-together arrangement of sheets  10  is preferably held together sufficiently snugly as to be able to suspend, or almost suspend, the pinched-together arrangement of the sheets  10 . The mechanism  60 , holding the pinched-together arrangement of the sheets  10 , is moved horizontally above an open lower portion  105  of container  100 , and then moved down to place the pinched-together assembly of the sheets  10  into the lower portion  105 . If moved quickly enough, even if the mechanism  60  does not pinch quite hard enough to suspend the pinched-together assembly, the pinched-together assembly will be maintained in mid-air long enough to become positioned above container lower portion  105  before dropping into the container. The fingers  61  and  61 ′ of the mechanism  60  are moved away from each other sufficiently to release the pinched-together assembly. This allows the mechanism to be moved up and away, back to a position above the next front-to-back arranged group of the sheets  10 , i.e., arranged in the manner depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8  to repeat the process. 
     FIG. 11  depicts another example method for placing the pinched-together arrangement of sheets  10  into open container lower portion  105 . In this example method, open container lower portion  105  is at approximately the same the elevation of the pinched arrangement of dual-packet sheets  10 . After the fingers  61  and  61 ′ of pincher mechanism  60  are brought together, the pinched-together arrangement of sheets  10  is held together sufficiently tightly as to be able to suspend the pinched-together arrangement of the sheets  10 . Then, the mechanism  60  holding the pinched-together arrangement of the sheets  10  is first raised above the elevation of the top of the open container lower portion  105 , then moved horizontally above the open container lower portion  105 , and then moved down to place the pinched-together assembly of the sheets  10  into the container. The fingers  61  and  61 ′ of the mechanism  60  are then moved away from each other sufficiently to release the pinched-together assembly, allowing the mechanism to be moved up and away, and back to a position above the front-to-back arranged group of the sheets  10 , i.e., arranged in the manner depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , to repeat the process. 
   Once the pinched-together arrangement of the dual-packet sheets  10  is placed into container lower portion  105 , the sides of the container lower portion  105  will maintain the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement of the packets  13 , without the need for fingers  61  and  61 ′ to maintain medial portions  20  together. When fingers  61  and  61 ′ are removed, some loosening and separation of the medial portions  20  from each other may occur, but the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement of the packets  13  will still be substantially maintained by the sides of the container  105 , as depicted in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 14-16 , an embodiment of the invention wherein container  100 ′ has a lower portion  105 ′ which is generally cylindrical and has a height less than the height of the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement of packets  13 . Also, although lower portion is described as being generally cylindrical, it is not required, or preferred, that the sides be exactly cylindrical. A 12-sided polygon may be employed, for example. Although the sides can be parallel, if desired, it is preferable for the bottom  107 ′ of the lower portion  105 ′ to have a smaller diameter than the upper rim  110 ′, since such tends to make insertion of the pinched-together dual-packet sheets  10  easier and also desirably tends to “jam” the bottom of the dual-packet sheets  10  slightly into the lower portion  105 ′ in an interference fit, to more securely maintain the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement. 
   Preferably, as depicted in  FIGS. 14-16 , container  100 ′ includes a generally cylindrical upper portion  115 ′, covering the portion of the arrangement of dual-packet sheets  10  that is about the height of the upper rim  110 ′ of lower portion  105 ′. Although upper portion  115 ′ is described as being generally cylindrical, it is not required, or preferred, that the sides be exactly cylindrical. A 12-sided polygonal shape may be employed, for example, if desired. Although the sides can be parallell, if desired, it is preferable for the top  117 ′ of the upper portion  115 ′ to have a smaller diameter than the lower edge  119 ′ that meets the upper edge  110 ′ of lower portion  105 ′, since such tends to “jam” the top corners of the dual-packet sheets  10  slightly, to more securely maintain the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement in the container. Also, preferably one of either the upper  115 ′ or lower  105 ′ portions of container  100 ′ includes a portion made from a material that is either transparent or translucent material, so that the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement is visible from outside the container. Most preferably, a substantial portion of upper portion  115 ′ is made from transparent or translucent plastic, so that the upper part of the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement is visible through the sides of the upper portion, as well as through the top  117 ′ of upper portion  115 ′. 
   It should be noted that, although it is preferred that the height of the upper rim  110 ′ of lower portion  105 ′ of container  100 ′ be lower than the height of the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement of packets  13 , this is not required. Alternatively, the height of the rim  110 ′ of lower portion  105 ′ may be the same as, or even slightly less, than the height of the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement of packets  13  and  13 ′. In such case, preferably, either lower portion  105 ′ or the flat top  117 ′ includes a translucent or transparent portion, so that the spokes on wheel arrangement is visible from outside the container. 
   Although the dual-packet  10  has been primarily discussed, it is to the understood that multi-packets greater than two may also be used, providing the spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement is maintained. Similarly, single packets, as were disclosed in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , may also be used, providing the packets are arranged in a spokes-on-a-wheel arrangement. 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is by no means limited to these preferred embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention is intended to be that defined by the claims below, and any equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8