Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/183,969, filed Jul. 31, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention generally relates to a flexible container for holding food products and in particular to a container for holding popcorn. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One of the most traditional items associated with an evening at the cinema is a container of popcorn. Movie theaters make a substantial profit selling popcorn, candy, drinks, and other food items at their concession stands. Conventional popcorn containers are typically rectangular paper bags that have folded side panels (“gussets”). The gusseted side panels fold inwardly, enabling the container to be folded flat for storage and shipment, and then unfolded when the food product is ready to be placed inside the container. These gusseted side panels connect to front and rear panels that, in combination with the gussets, define the structure of an expanded container when the gussets have unfolded. 
         [0004]    If a movie patron orders a drink and a container of popcorn at a concession stand, both of his or her hands are full. Should the patron then wish to carry any additional items, such as candy or napkins, that endeavor becomes a juggling act. This problem is compounded for a parent trying to carry concession items for himself or herself as well as for a child or for multiple children. 
         [0005]    Additionally, a topping, such as butter or a powdered flavoring, is often added to the popcorn in a conventional container. When the patron adds the topping to the popcorn, however, the topping only flavors the top layer of popcorn. As such, there is often too much topping on the upper layer of the popcorn, whereas the lower layer is not coated with any of the topping. 
         [0006]    An additional problem associated with a conventional popcorn container at a movie theater is that the top opening of the container is not sealable. As such, the popcorn constantly releases heat through the top opening to the surrounding atmosphere thereby reducing the temperature of the popcorn. The reduction in temperature has a detrimental effect on the taste and smell of the popcorn. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In order to address the above identified problems, a food container in accordance with the present invention, particularly a popcorn container, has one or more auxiliary pockets for holding additional items, has handles for allowing the user to easily carry the container with one hand, and has a resealable top opening to prevent the escape of heat, to inhibit spilling, and to allow the popcorn to be shaken to evenly distribute the toppings. 
         [0008]    With respect to the one or more auxiliary pockets, the auxiliary pockets of the container provide convenient storage spaces for additional concession items. Furthermore, the theater may place advertisements, coupons, or promotional brochures in the auxiliary pockets prior to filling the container with popcorn and selling the popcorn to the customer. The pockets may also have a coupon directly printed on them that the patron could tear off after he or she was finished eating the popcorn. 
         [0009]    The container with auxiliary pockets, in accordance with the present invention, is a collapsible, elongated container for holding popcorn or other food items. The container comprises a flat, rectangular bottom panel with connected upwardly extending upright panels, including a front panel and rear panel that are connected to inwardly folded, gusseted side panels. The connected upper ends of the upright panels (front panel, rear panel, and gusseted side panels) define a top opening. In one embodiment, the auxiliary pockets are attached to the outside of the front and rear panels adjacent the bottom panel. In another embodiment, the auxiliary pockets are attached to the inside of the front and rear panels adjacent the top opening of the container. 
         [0010]    The auxiliary pockets may have different constructions. In one embodiment, the pockets comprise a front pocket panel and a rear pocket panel connected to each other by a gusseted bottom pocket panel and a pair of inwardly folded, gusseted side pocket panels. The rear pocket panel is then bonded to either the inside or the outside of one of the upright panels of the container. In another embodiment, the auxiliary pocket may be formed of a single pocket panel consisting of a single web of material bonded to one of the upright panels of the container. The single pocket panel is bonded to the upright panel along the pocket panel&#39;s edges around a portion of the periphery of the single pocket panel. For a rectangular pocket panel, the portion of the periphery of the pocket panel includes the bottom edge and the two side edges thereby leaving the top edge unbonded to form the opening for the auxiliary pocket. In yet another embodiment, the auxiliary pocket may be preformed by bonding a front pocket panel and a rear pocket panel together around a portion of their mated peripheries. Again in the case of a rectangular front pocket panel and a mated rectangular rear pocket panel, the portion of the periphery of the front and rear pocket panels includes the bottom edges and the two side edges thereby leaving the top edges unbonded to form the opening for the auxiliary pocket. The resulting preformed auxiliary pocket is then bonded to one of the upright panels of the container. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, handles near the top of the popcorn container, in accordance with the present invention, make carrying the container easier. The handles are formed by first folding the tops of the front panel and the rear panel outwards and then down towards the container&#39;s bottom until they are even with the tops of the side panels form a lip around the top opening of the container. A centrally placed hole, sized for fitting the fingers of a human hand, is made in each lip to create a handle for carrying the container. 
         [0012]    Means for releasably sealing the container&#39;s lipped top opening is provided in order to close the top opening of the container and thereby secure the popcorn within the container. The means for releasably sealing the container&#39;s lipped top opening may include adhesive patches or strips, cohesive patches or strips, or an elongated channel lock fastener. The resealable top opening allows the patron to add a topping to the popcorn and then shake the container in order to evenly distribute the flavored topping throughout the popcorn. A fill line located on the interior portion of the rear panel that allows one to know how much popcorn to place inside the container so that the container can still be easily closed would likewise be desirable. The resealable top opening also allows the patron to seal the container when he or she is not eating the popcorn, in order to trap the heat of the popcorn and thereby maintain an elevated temperature of the popcorn. Furthermore, the resealable top opening inhibits spilling when the container is moved or if the container is accidentally knocked over or dropped. 
         [0013]    Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the first embodiment of the container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a section view of the second embodiment of the container in accordance with the present invention as seen along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . the 
       
    
    
       [0020]      FIG. 6  is a section view of a third embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention as seen along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, a first embodiment of a food container  10  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated  FIGS. 1-4 . A second embodiment of a food container  110  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 . A third embodiment of the food container  210  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0022]    The food container  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1-4  is a popcorn container although the food container  10  of the present invention can be used for a variety of food products. The container  10  has a flat, rectangular bottom panel  50  ( FIG. 3 ) and four upright panels, including a front panel  11 , a rear panel  12 , and gusseted side panels  13  and  14 . A top opening  20  is defined by top  21  of the front panel  11 , top  22  of the rear panel  12 , top  23  of the gusseted side panel  13 , and top  24  of the gusseted side panel  14 . While the food container  10  will be described in connection with a generally rectangular container, the food container  10  may be any shape including cylindrical, triangular, or other aesthetically desirable shape. 
         [0023]    The generally rectangular front and rear panels  11  and  12  are taller and wider than gusset side panels  13  and  14 . The gusseted side panel  14  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . The gusseted side panels  13  and  14  each comprise a first set of gusset panels  13   a  and  13   b  and a second set of gusset panels  14   a  and  14   b , respectively. The gusset panels  13   a  and  13   b  R. folded inwardly along fold line  13   c , and the gusset panels  14   a  and  14   b  R. folded inwardly along fold line  14   c . The fold line  13   c  extends from the top  23  of the gusseted panel  13  to the bottom  53  of the gusseted panel  13 . The fold line  14   c  extends from the top  24  of the gusseted panel  14  to the bottom  54  of the of the gusseted panel  14 . These gusseted panels  13  and  14  thereby create accordion type pleats on each side of the container  10 , between the front panel  11  and the rear panel  12 , when the container  10  is folded and collapsed. 
         [0024]    The front panel  11  and the rear panel  12  are joined along the four corner edges  15  to gusseted side panels  13  and  14 . The bottom  11   d  of the front panel  11 , the bottom  12   d  of the the rear panel  12 , the bottom  13   d  of the side panel  13 , and the bottom  14   d  of the side panel  14  are joined to the bottom panel  50  to complete the construction of the container  10 . The upright panels, including the front panel  11 , the rear panel  12 , and the side panels  13  and  14  extend upwardly to create the top opening  20  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0025]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the top  21  of the front panel  11  and the top  22  of the rear panel  12  extend past the top  23  of the side panel  13  and the top  24  of the side panel  14 . The top  21  of the front panel  11  and the top  22  of the rear panel  12  are folded outwardly and downwardly until the uppermost portion  31  of the front panel  11  and the uppermost portion  32  of the rear panel  12  are even with the top  23  of the side panel  13  and the top  24  of the side panel  14 . This folded structure creates a lipped opening  20  composed of a front lip  21  a and a rear lip  22   a.    
         [0026]    The lipped opening  20  has a front handle  41  and a rear handle  42  that are formed by creating centrally placed holes, through front lip  21   a  and rear lip  22   a , respectively. The front handle  41  is composed of holes  41   a  and  41   b . The rear handle  42  is composed of holes  42   a  and  42   b . The holes  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a , and  42   b  are sized for fitting the fingers of an adult human hand. Although the two layers of material used to create the handles  41  and  42  provide sufficient strength for a fully filled container to be carried without tearing, a reinforcing backing can be added to provide additional strength. Furthermore, interlocking, plastic backings can be applied to the handles to provide additional support as well as a means for releasably sealing the container. 
         [0027]    In order to releasably seal the top opening  20  of the container  10 , at patches  100  are located near the tops  23  and  24  of the gusset panels  13   a ,  13   b ,  14   a , and  14   b . When the user wishes to seal the container, he or she collapses the top of the container  10  by bring handles  41  and  42  into contact and then squeeze each adhesive patch  100  against the opposite adhesive patch  100  on its respective side panels  13  and  14 . An alternative means for releasably sealing the top opening  20  of the container  10  includes a first adhesive strip  101  located along the length of the interior of the front lip  21   a  and beneath the handle  42  ( FIG. 1 ) and a second adhesive strip  103  located along the length of the interior of the rear lip  22   a  and beneath the handle  41  ( FIG. 4 ). A further sealing means includes a channel lock fastener comprising a mating male rib or bead and a female sealing channel closure along the length of the top opening  20  located in the same place as the adhesive strips  101  and  103 . When the male and female portions are properly aligned and pressed together along the length of the top opening  20 , the channel lock fastener creates an airtight seal. Yet a further means for releasably sealing the top opening  20  consists of cohesive patches or strips located in the positions of adhesive patches  100  or of adhesive strips  101  and  103 . The cohesive patches or strips adhere only to each other, and therefore will not collect debris as may be the case with the adhesive patches or strips  101  and  103 . 
         [0028]    A fill line  102  may be located on the interior portion of the container  10  below the top opening  20  to indicate the highest level that the container  10  should be filled so that the container  10  may still be closed by one the means for releasably sealing the container  10 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , an auxiliary pocket  60  is attached to the front panel  11  of the container  10  and an auxiliary pocket  70  is attached to the rear panel  12  of the container  10 . The auxiliary pocket  60  is formed by a rectangular front pocket panel  61 , folded side pocket panels  63  and  64  (center folds  67  and  68 ), a rear pocket panel  62 , and a bottom pocket panel  65  ( FIG. 3 ) and has a top pocket opening  66 . The rear pocket panel  62  of the pocket  60  is bonded to the front panel  11  of the container  10 . The rear pocket panel  62  may be bonded to the front panel  11  of the food container  10  by any suitable means including, without limitation, gluing, ultrasonic welding, heat welding, or any other method available to those of ordinary skill in the art. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the pocket  70  is formed by a rectangular front pocket panel  71 , folded side pocket panels  73  and  74  (center folds  77  and  78 ), a rear pocket panel  72 , and a bottom pocket panel  75  ( FIG. 3 ) and has a top pocket opening  76 . The rear pocket panel  72  of the pocket  70  is bonded to the front panel  12  of the container  10  as previously described with respect to the auxiliary pocket  60 . 
         [0030]    Alternately, the rear pocket panels  62  and  72  of the pockets  60  and  70  may be eliminated. Without the rear pocket panel  62 , the side pocket panels  63  and  64  of the pocket  60  are secured directly to the front panel  11  of the container  10 . Without the rear pocket panel  72 , the side pocket panels  73  and  74  of the pocket  70  are secured directly to the back panel  12  of the container  10 . 
         [0031]    The bottom panel  50  of the container  10 , shown in  FIG. 3 , has a center fold  51  that extends from one side  50   a  of the bottom panel  50  to the other side  50   b  of the bottom panel  50 . The bottom panel  50  also has four angular folds  52  that extend from each corner of the bottom panel  50  to the center fold  51  forming an apex  55 . A triangular bottom section  54  is formed on opposite ends of the bottom panel  50  between the angular folds  52  and of both sides  50   a  and  50   b . The center fold  51  has end sections  56  which extend between the apex  55  and each side  50   a  and  50   b  and bisect each triangular section  54 . 
         [0032]    Similarly the bottom pocket panels  65  and  75  of the pockets  60  and  70  respectively, have identical structure. Each bottom pocket panel  65  or  75  has a center fold  80  that extends from one side  81  of the bottom pocket panel  65  or  75  to the other pocket side  82  of the bottom pocket panel  65  or  75 . The bottom pocket panels  65  and  75  also each have four angular folds  83  which extend from each corner of the bottom pocket panel  65  or  75  to the center fold  80  forming an apex  84 . A triangular bottom section  85  is formed on opposite ends of the bottom pocket panels  65  and  75  between the angular folds  83  and the sides  81  and  82  of the bottom pocket panels  65  and  75 . The center fold  80  has end sections  86  which extend between the apex  84  and the sides  81  and  82  and bisect each triangular section  85 . 
         [0033]    The container  10  may be collapsed as shown in  FIG. 4 . The front panel  11  and the rear panel  12  are brought together by folding the sides at the center folds  13   c  and  14   c  that move inward towards the interior of the container  10 . The bottom panel  50  is folded outwards along the bottom center fold  51 , but the end sections  56  are folded inwards similar to the side center folds  13   c  and  14   c . As the front panel  11  and the rear panel  12  are brought together, the sides  13  and  14  and the triangular sections  54  are folded in half along the side center folds  13   c  and  14   c  and the bottom center fold end sections  56  respectively. 
         [0034]    The pockets  60  and  70  also are collapsed in an identical manner. The front pocket panel  71  and the rear pocket panel  72  of pocket  70  are brought together by folding the side pocket panels  73  and  74  at the center folds  77  and  78  that move inward towards the interior of the pocket  70 . The bottom pocket panels  65  and  75  are folded outwards along their center folds  80 , but the end sections  86  are folded inwards similar to the side center folds  77  and  78 . As the front and rear panels  11  and  12  are brought together, the sides  73  and  74  and the triangular bottom sections  85  are folded in half along the side center folds  77  and  78  and the bottom center fold end sections  86 , respectively. Similarly, the same movement is performed on the analogous structures in the pocket  60  to collapse the pocket  60 . The collapsed container  10  and the pockets  60  and  70  can be pressed flat for compact storage. 
         [0035]    While one or more of the pockets  60  and  70  may be placed anywhere on the inside or outside of the front panel  11  or of the rear panel  12  of the container  10 , the pockets  60  and  70  are positioned on the outside of the front panel  11  or the rear panel  12  adjacent the bottom panel  50  and low enough to keep the container&#39;s center of gravity low and thereby provide stability for the container  10 . By positioning the pockets  60  and  70  adjacent to the bottom panel  50 , the unfolded flat, bottom pocket panels  65  and  75  and the bottom panel  50  of the container  10  form a plane to provide maximum stability in keeping the container in an upright position. Alternatively, the pockets  60  and  70  may be located on the insides of the front panel  11  and the rear panel  12 . If the pockets  60  and  70  are located on the insides of the front panel  11  and the rear panel  12 , the pockets  60  and  70  are located near the top  21  of the front panel  11  and the top  22  of the rear panel  12  in order to allow access to the pockets  60  and  70  through the top opening  20 . Further, the container  10  may have only a single auxiliary pocket pocket, or the container  10  may have more than two auxiliary pockets. 
         [0036]    A second embodiment of a food container  110  in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The food container  110  comprises a front panel  111 , a rear panel  112 , a first side panel  113 , a second side panel  114 , and a bottom panel  150 . The panels  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 , and  150  are joined together as previously described with respect to panels  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  50  of the food container  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . Also, as previously described in connection with the food container  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the food container  110  has handles  141  in  142  and a top opening  120  that may be releasably sealed. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the food container  110  has a front pocket  160  attached to the front panel  111  that is different than the front pocket  60  disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . An additional rear pocket or internal pockets may be provided. The front pocket  160  of the second embodiment of the invention comprises a generally rectangular front pocket panel  161  having side edges  220  and  224 , bottom edge  222 , and top edge  226 . The front pocket panel  161  is bonded to the front panel  111  along side bonding areas  210  and  214  (adjacent side edges  220  and  224  of the front docket panel  161 ) and along bottom bonding area  212  (adjacent bottom edge  222  of the front pocket panel  161 ). The top edge  226  of the front pocket panel  161  remains unbonded to form an opening  166  for the front pocket  160 . 
         [0037]    The construction of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  has the advantage of ease of manufacture. During the manufacturing process, the front pocket panel  161  is positioned at the appropriate, predetermined position on the front panel  111  and then bonded to the front panel  111 . The front pocket panel  161  may be bonded to the front panel  111  of the food container  110  by any suitable means including, without limitation, gluing, ultrasonic welding, heat welding, or any other method available to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0038]    A third embodiment of the food container  210  in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7 . The third embodiment of the food container  210  is in all respects the same as the food container  110  shown in  FIG. 5  except for the construction of the auxiliary pocket  260 . The pocket  260  ( FIG. 7 ) comprises two generally rectangular pocket panels, a front pocket panel  261  and a rear pocket panel  262 . The pocket  260  is formed by bonding the rectangular pocket panels  261  and  262  along their side edges (not shown) and along their bottom edges  264  and  265  but not along their top edges  268  and  267 . The unbonded top edges  268  and  267  define pocket opening  266 . The rear pocket panel  262  is then bonded to the front panel  211  of the food container. The pocket panel  262  may be bonded to the front panel  211  of the food container across the entire mating surfaces between the rear pocket panel  262  and the front panel  211  of the food container  210 . Alternatively, the rear pocket panel  262  may be spot bonded to the front panel  211 . The third embodiment, like the second embodiment, has the advantage of ease of manufacture as compared to the first embodiment. 
         [0039]    Suitable materials for both the container and the pockets may be paper stock, coated paper, plastic film, foil, nonwoven fabric, foil-covered paper, or other materials available to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The material used should be flexible enough to allow the container and pockets to be collapsible. The pockets are appropriately sized to hold food products typically sold at a movie theater concession stand, such as a variety of candies. The volume of the auxiliary pocket may range from 5 to 50 cubic inches, although a typical range is 25 to 35 cubic inches. The pocket openings  66  and  76  are sized so that a food product or other item may be easily placed into the pocket and be securely held while the user is carrying the container. The pocket opening may have an area ranging from 2 to 12 square inches, although a typical range is 4 to 8 square inches. While the food container  10  is illustrated as generally rectangular in shape, the food container  10  may be constructed in a variety of shapes including but not limited to square shaped, circular shaped, oval shaped, and any shape that produces both a functional container and that is aesthetically pleasing. 
         [0040]    In addition to the embodiments shown in the figures, a container in accordance with the present invention may be constructed with a front panel and a rear panel and with the side edges and bottom edges of the front and rear panels attached to each other. Such a container would not have separate side panels or a separate bottom panel. In another embodiment of the container, the container may be constructed with a front panel, a rear panel, and side panels all connected together at their side edges and bottom edges. Again such a container would not have a separate bottom panel. In yet another embodiment, the container may be constructed with a front panel, a rear panel, and a bottom panel all connected at their edges. Such an embodiment would not have separate side panels. 
         [0041]    While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.

Technology Category: 7