Abstract:
A carton for co-packaging two distinct food substances in two distinct cavities within the carton. The carton is formed of a single blank of paperboard creased, folded and glued to form one major cavity and one minor cavity, said minor cavity being an integral discrete compartment.

Description:
The present invention is directed to a carton for co-packaging two distinct food substances, in two distinct cavities. This is accomplished by means of a single blank of paperboard which is creased, folded and glued so as to form one major cavity and one minor cavity, said minor cavity being an integral discrete compartment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At fast food restaurants and at take- out counters, french fries are often sold in paperboard cartons. Many people like to apply ketchup to french fries. If it is applied directly to the fries in the container, they will tend to become soggy. Alternatively, one can obtain a small separate container of ketchup, into which a french fly may be dipped immediately before it is eaten. But this latter gourmet preference has the disadvantage of requiring two separate containers. With the human limitation of two hands, there is one hand to hold the container of fries and one to move the fries from container to mouth. So a stable and convenient surface is required to support the ketchup. But, since fast food customers are often on the move, they want to carry the fries with them as they walk or ride. A solution to the problem is a container for the fries, which includes an integral, discrete compartment for the ketchup. 
     In Applicant&#39;s earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,930, it disclosed a carton which addressed the problem described above. It disclosed a container for french fries, which had an integral, discrete compartment for ketchup. But it had some disadvantages and inconveniences. 
     One such drawback results from the manner in which the flat bottom of the carton (illustrated in FIG. 3,  4  and  5  of U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,930) is formed. It has four bottom panels, which are intricately die cut and scored, so as to interlock when the carton is formed. The intricate die cutting adds substantially to the cost of manufacturing the carton. Also, the relative complexity of the four interlocking bottom panels make it subject to malfunction. It should be understood, that in the context of its use (e.g. fast food restaurant or carry out), the server takes a flat, folded carton and snaps it into open position, before filling its compartments with french fries and ketchup. This is necessarily done as swiftly and smoothly as possible. If the bottom panels do not immediately and properly interlock, if the server has to manually adjust or push the bottom panels into proper alignment, that is a major drawback. 
     An equally serious drawback, is that the bottom formed by the four interlocking bottom panels is not entirely flat and is relatively small in diameter. This makes it somewhat tippy. And the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the ketchup in its upper compartment is dense and heavy. So the carton is top heavy and easily tipped. 
     The present invention addresses these problems by providing a container which has a bottom comprised of a single panel, scored in the middle. The server, when forming the carton simply pushes up on the bottom panel and it snaps into shape. There is no complicated interlocking of panels. There is little or no possibility of malfunction. Furthermore the present invention provides a carton with a bottom that has a leg portion on each end of extended rectangular bottom, that arches up and away from the leg portions. It is a very stable bottom for the carton, therefore the carton cannot be easily tipped. 
     A further drawback to the carton disclosed in applicant&#39;s earlier patent, is its configuration; its four wall panels extend upwardly from it relatively small rhomboid or square shaped bottom. It can contain only the smallest order of french fries. In the present invention the four wall panels extend upwardly from an elongated ovoidal bottom that has an area approximately twice that of carton disclosed in the earlier patent. Therefore, the volume of the container is twice as large, even though it is but slightly higher. Added height would increase tippiness. 
     To summarize, the principal advantages of the present invention are that it is less costly to produce (since it eliminates intricate die cuts on the bottom panels), it is less likely to malfunction when being snapped open by a user, it has a more stable bottom and is therefore less tippy, its upper discrete compartment is formed in such a manner that the volume of the container is greatly increased without substantial increase in height. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the unfolded, die-cut blank. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a front a perspective view of the fully assembled carton. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the fully assembled carton. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a carton adapted for french fries, is formed from a single die-cut blank of paperboard, or similar material. The carton, as formed, includes on its inner periphery a discrete compartment adapted for holding a portion of some different food substance, such as ketchup. 
     The unique carton, including a integral and discrete compartment will be more fully appreciated and understood by having reference to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof. 
     Directing attention to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a blank is die cut out of paperboard. It is also die cut along line  11 . It is creased for folding along lines  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20 . It is also creased along lines  25  and  26 . It is semiperforated along lines  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  35 . Crease  17  defines the inner back wall panel  4 . Creases  20  and die cut  11  define the outer back wall panel  3 . Front wall panel  7  extends between creases  18  and  19 . Side wall panel  5  extends between creases  17  and  18 . Side wall panel  6  extends between creases  19  and  20 . Bottom panel  8 , includes a bottom extending between creases  25  and  26 ;and contiguous therewith, a bottom tab  31 . An upper portion of inner back wall panel  4  includes an inner compartment wall  10 , defined between creases  23  and  24 . An upper portion of outer back wall panel  3  includes an outer compartment wall  9 , defined between creases  21  and  22 . 
     Directing attention to FIG.  2  and FIG. 3 of the drawings, the carton is formed by folding inner back wall panel  4  under outer back wall panel  3  and secured by gluing. Bottom panel  8  is folded at crease  25  to a position perpendicular to wall panels  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 . Bottom tab  31  is folded at crease  26  to a position adjacent the bottom portion of outer back wall panel  3  and secured thereto by gluing. 
     It should be noted that the terminal end of bottom tab  31  has a configuration which corresponds to and fits tightly within the terminal end of inner back wall panel  4  which is also secured by gluing to outer back, wall panel  3 , immediately above where bottom tab  31  is secured to outer back wall panel  3 . 
     The semi-perforated line  35 , divides bottom tab  31 . When bottom tab  31  is positioned in the formed carton, the semi-perforated line  35  is immediately adjacent the semi-perforated line  15  of the outer back wall panel  3 , and aligns with the semi-perforated line  16  of the inner back wall panel  4 . This gives the entire back wall panel a greater flexibility to curve outwardly is correspondence to the outward curve of crease  26 , when the bottom panel  8  is positioned in the formed carton. Similarly, the semi-perforated lines  12  and  13  provide greater flexibility to the side panels  5  and  6  in curving outwardly in correspondence to the outward extending peripheral points  36  and  37 , at opposite ends of semi-perforated line  14  of the bottom panel  8 . 
     The semi-perforated line  14  provides greater flexibility along the axis of bottom panel  8 , allowing it to curve upwardly when the carton is formed. 
     An important aspect of the present invention is the configuration of bottom panel  8 . It is essentially an elongated ovoid, having creases  25  and  26  which curve outwardly from the axis (semi-perforated line  14 ); and outwardly extending peripheral points  36  and  37  at opposite ends of the axis. When the assembled and glued blank is formed into a carton, the user presses up on the bottom panel  8  along the axis (semi-perforated line  14 ) and the panel  8  snaps into a upwardly arched position. The upwardly arched position assumed by the bottom panel  8  is dictated by the outward curve of creases  25  and  26 . The elongated ovoid configuration of bottom panel  8  becomes the base for upward extending wall panels  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 , which collectively form the four sides of the carton. Each of the wall panels is tapered, being wider at top than at bottom. Therefore the top open end of the carton (in cross section) has the same elongated ovoid configuration as bottom panel  8 , but has greater dimensions. So the overall shape of the carton might be described as an ovoid frustum. 
     Creases  21  and  22  define an outer compartment wall  9  in the upper portion of outer back wall panel  3 . Outer compartment wall  9  has a crease  34  along its vertical axis. At the upper terminus of creases  34 , there is a notch or fingerhole  32 . 
     Creases  23  and  24  define an inner compartment wall  10  in the upper portion of inner back wall panel  4 . Inner compartment wall  10  has a crease  33  along its vertical axis, and an upward extending peripheral point  38  at the upper terminus of crease  33 . 
     When the carton is formed, panels  3  and  4  are glued together, but their contiguous compartment walls  9  and  10  are not glued together. So a user&#39;s finger can easily pass through the fingerhole  32  to engage the extending peripheral point  38  and snap open the integral discrete compartment  2 . The creases  33  and  34  facilitate formation of the integral discrete compartment  2 . 
     On the outer bottom end of side panel  6 , a tab  30  is formed by die cut  11 . When the carton is formed tab  30  extends back from and slightly below the arched bottom panel  8 . A corresponding tab  29 , is formed on the outer bottom end of side panel  8 . A corresponding tab  29 , is formed on the outer bottom end side panel  5 . When the carton is formed tab  29  extends back from and slightly below the arched bottom panel  8 . So, the opposite ends of creases  25  of bottom panel  8  align with tabs  29  and  30  to form a four point footing for the carton that is stable and relatively untippable. 
     Other modifications and expedients will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended thereto.