Compartmentalized containers

Abstract

A container includes a base defining a perimeter opening and a top surface within the perimeter opening. The top surface includes a plurality of discrete openings defining respective compartments extending downwardly from the top surface of the base. A first recloseable lid covers the perimeter opening when the container is closed to resist transfer of solid matter between the compartments of the base. An additional recloseable lid encloses one of the compartments to resist liquid from exiting the compartment when the compartment is closed.

Claims

1. A compartmentalized container comprising: a rectangular base including a perimeter locking shoulder and a top surface extending between opposed sides of the base, wherein the top surface is domed upward between opposing sides of the base and includes a plurality of discrete openings defining respective compartments extending downwardly from the top surface of the base; a first recloseable lid that includes a first lid shoulder for corresponding non- permanent press-fit engagement with the perimeter locking shoulder of the base, the first recloseable lid configured to cover and abut with the bowed top surface and the discrete openings of the base when the container is closed to resist transfer of solid matter between the compartments of the base; and an additional recloseable lid sealingly enclosing one of the compartments to resist liquid from exiting the compartment when the compartment is closed.

2. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein the additional recloseable lid includes a peripherally extending flange, wherein a bottom surface of the peripherally extending flange of the additional recloseable lid abuts the top surface of the base around the entire perimeter of the compartment.

3. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of a top surface of the additional recloseable lid is recessed within the compartment with respect to the top surface of the base.

4. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the first recloseable lid abuts a top surface of the peripherally extending flange of the additional reclo sable lid when the container is closed.

5. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the base includes a detent arranged and positioned so as to provide access to a portion of a bottom surface of the peripherally extending flange of the additional recloseable lid and allow it to be removed.

6. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 5, wherein the detent in the top surface of the base is offset from the edges of the discrete openings.

7. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first recloseable lid terminates in an outwardly extending peripheral flange, wherein a portion of a top surface of the first recloseable lid is recessed with respect to the outwardly extending peripheral flange.

8. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the base includes an upper peripheral rim, wherein a bottom surface of an outwardly extending peripheral flange of the first recloseable lid abuts the upper peripheral rim of the top surface of the base.

9. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 8, wherein a portion of a top surface of the first recloseable lid is recessed within a perimeter opening of the base with respect to the upper peripheral rim of the base.

10. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the compartment covered by the additional recloseable lid includes a peripheral shoulder, and wherein the additional recloseable lid includes a second lid shoulder, wherein the second lid shoulder of the additional recloseable lid engages the peripheral shoulder of the compartment to form a non-permanent press-fit engagement between the compartment and the additional recloseable lid when the compartment is closed.

11. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein a top surface of the first recloseable lid includes ribs raised with respect to the top surface of the first recloseable lid to assist with stacking containers together.

12. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 11, wherein one or more bottom corners of the respective compartments are chamfered to improve container stackability.

13. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tamper-evident hinge joining the first recloseable lid with the base, the tamper-evident hinge including a frangible section.

14. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 13, wherein the frangible section includes at least one line of weakness.

15. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 14, wherein the frangible section includes two parallel lines of weakness defining a tear strip therebetween.

16. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first recloseable lid and the base are thermoformed from a single sheet of plastic.

17. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 1, wherein the additional recloseable lid is one of a plurality of additional recloseable lids, wherein each of the plurality of additional recloseable lids sealingly enclose a respective compartment.

18. A compartmentalized container comprising: a base defining a perimeter opening and a top surface within the perimeter opening, wherein the top surface includes a plurality of discrete openings defining respective compartments extending downwardly from the top surface of the base; a first recloseable lid covering the perimeter opening when the container is closed to resist transfer of solid matter between the compartments of the base; and an additional recloseable lid sealingly enclosing one of the compartments to resist liquid from exiting the compartment when the compartment is closed, the additional recloseable lid includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange; and wherein the top surface of the base includes a detent arranged and positioned so as to provide access to a portion of a bottom surface of the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the additional recloseable lid and so as to allow it to be removed.

19. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 18, wherein the detent in the top surface of the base is offset from the edges of the discrete openings.

20. The compartmentalized container as recited in claim 19, wherein the top surface is domed upward between opposing sides of the base.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a compartmentalized container 100 in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of compartmentalized container 100 in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-4, as will be described.

(2) As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of recloseable compartmentalized container 100 is shown. Container 100 includes base 102 and a first recloseable lid 112. First recloseable lid 112 encloses the contents of container 100. It is contemplated that first recloseable lid 112 and base 102 are thermoformed from a single sheet of plastic. Compartmentalized container 100 includes a tamper-evident hinge 148 joining first recloseable lid 112 with base 102. Tamper-evident hinge 148 includes a frangible section 150. Frangible section 150 includes two parallel lines of weakness 152 and 152′ defining a tear strip 154 therebetween. It is contemplated that one line of weakness or any number of lines of weakness can be used. Top surface 117 of first recloseable lid 112 includes ribs 134 raised with respect to top surface 117 of first recloseable lid 112 to assist with stacking multiple containers 100 together. Ribs 134 are arranged proximate the periphery of container 100 in corners opposite from one another.

(3) With reference now to FIG. 2, base 102 defines a perimeter opening 104 and a top surface 106 within perimeter opening 104. Top surface 106 includes a plurality of discrete openings 108a-108d defining respective compartments 110a-110d extending downwardly from top surface 106 of base 102. First recloseable lid 112 covers perimeter opening 104 when container 100 is closed to resist transfer of solid matter between compartments 110 of base 102 and to prevent unwanted transfer of matter, solid or otherwise, outside of container 100. First recloseable lid 112 terminates in an outwardly extending peripheral flange 124. A portion 117a of the top surface 117 of first recloseable lid 112 is recessed with respect to outwardly extending peripheral flange 124 of first recloseable lid 112.

(4) With continued reference to FIG. 2, in this embodiment, an additional recloseable lid 114 encloses one of compartments 110, e.g. compartment 110a, to resist liquid or other contents from exiting compartment 110a when compartment 110a is closed by additional lid 114. While embodiments of container 100 are shown herein as having only a single compartment 110a enclosed by a single additional lid 114, it is contemplated that multiple compartments 110 within container 100 can be constructed similar to compartment 110a and have respective lids comparable to additional lid 114 to resist liquid or other contents from exiting, e.g. container 100 can include multiple additional lids similar to additional lid 114. It is also contemplated that, in accordance with some embodiments, a single additional lid 114 could enclose more than one of compartments 110.

(5) With multiple compartments 110 in a single container 100, it is possible to store multiple types of products, e.g. comestible products, in a single container without unwanted co-mingling between the products. Moreover, by having both first and additional lids 112 and 114, respectively, recloseable, a consumer can reduce drying out or other deterioration of the comestible food product even after the container 100 and compartment 110a have been initially opened and still reduce unwanted co-mingling between the products.

(6) As shown in FIG. 2, additional recloseable lid 114 includes a peripherally extending flange 118. Top surface 106 of the base 102 includes a detent 144. Detent 144 in top surface 106 of base 102 is offset from edges of discrete openings 108. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, detent 144 is positioned in top surface 106 of base 102 between four discrete openings 108 offset from edges 146 of each of discrete openings 108. When additional recloseable lid 114 is closed over compartment 110a, as shown in FIG. 3A, detent 144 is proximate to peripherally extending flange 118 of additional recloseable lid 114 to provide access to a portion of bottom surface 136 of peripherally extending flange 118 of additional recloseable lid 114. The detent 144 can be any shape which facilitates access to a portion of bottom surface 136 of peripherally extending flange 118 of additional recloseable lid 114. Thus, the detent 144 can be circular, shovel-shaped (as shown) or any other shape which permits access to flange 118 to facilitate removal of recloseable lid 114.

(7) As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when closed, a bottom surface 116 of first recloseable lid 112 abuts top surface 106 of base 102, thereby resisting transfer of solid matter between compartments 110 of base 102. Bottom surface 116 of first recloseable lid 112 abuts a top surface 122 of peripherally extending flange 118 of additional recloseable lid 114. Perimeter opening 104 of base 102 includes a peripheral locking shoulder 130 and first recloseable lid 112 includes an outwardly tapered shoulder 132. Outwardly tapered shoulder 132 engages peripheral locking shoulder 130 to form a non-permanent press-fit engagement between base 102 and first recloseable lid 112 when container 100 is closed.

(8) With continued reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a bottom surface 136 of peripherally extending flange 118 of additional recloseable lid 114 abuts top surface 106 of base 102 around the entire perimeter of compartment 110a. A portion 138a of top surface 138 of additional lid 114 is recessed within compartment 110a with respect to top surface 106 of base 102. A perimeter of compartment 110a covered by additional recloseable lid 114 includes a peripheral locking shoulder 140. Additional recloseable lid 114 includes an outwardly tapered shoulder 142. The outwardly tapered shoulder 142 of additional recloseable lid 114 engages peripheral locking shoulder 140 of compartment 110a to form a non-permanent press-fit engagement between compartment 110a and additional recloseable lid 114 when compartment 110a is closed thereby resisting liquid or other contents from exiting compartment 110a when compartment 110a is closed by additional lid 114.

(9) It has been observed that when the first recloseable lid 112 is snapped in place on the base 102 in the closed position, there is a tendency for the top surface 117 of lid 112 to bow due to the pressure exerted thereon from the seal that is effected. This bowing mitigates against the anti-migration effect caused by the seal between the bottom surface of the first recloseable lid 112 and the top surface 106 of base 102, especially with respect to smaller particles. This bowing tendency can be overcome by providing a domed surface 146 to the top surface 106 of base 102 as shown in FIG. 4B.

(10) Additionally, if desired, the stability of the stack, when the containers of the present invention are place on top of each other for shipment or storage, can be improved if one or more of the bottom corners 148 of the respective compartments 108a-108d are chamfered as shown in FIG. 4A.

(11) Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that container 100 can be made from a variety of suitable materials such as, resins or plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate (“PETE”), as well as other suitable materials or combinations thereof, metallic materials, and/or paper materials. These materials can be transparent, translucent or opaque. It is also contemplated that the container can be made in a variety of colors.

(12) The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for containers with superior properties including multiple compartments within a single container that can be individually sealed, allowing multiple comestible products to be stored in the same container without unwanted co-mingling between the products. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.