THERMOFORMED DUAL CONTAINER PACKAGING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A packaging assembly having a pair of generally conventional thermoformed containers joined in face-to-face relation by a removable thermoformed snap ring. The thermoformed containers each include a container body with an open mouth, and a peripheral lip extending outwardly about the open mouth. The containers are positioned in opposed relationship with their peripheral lips extending generally adjacent to one another. The snap ring is a generally peripheral body having an internal opening capable of being fitted over the body of at least one of the two containers and a containment flange configured to entrap the adjacent lips of the two containers. In use, the snap ring can be selectively fitted simultaneously over a pair of adjacent container lips to join the containers, for example, to allow two separately packaged products to be sold in combination, and can be easily removed to allow the containers to be separated by the consumer.

Claims

1. A packaging assembly comprising: a first container having a first container body defining a first mouth and a first lip extending from the first container body about the mouth, the first lip defining a first face; a second container having a second container body defining a second mouth and a second lip extending from the second container body, the second lip defining a second face, the second container disposed adjacent to the first container in face-to-face relation with the first lip and the second lip extending adjacent to one another; and a snap ring removably snap-fitted about the first container and the second container, the snap ring having a peripheral main body defining an inner opening, the inner opening disposed about the first container body, the snap ring including a containment flange extending from the main body, the containment flange defining an inwardly opening containment channel, the containment channel receiving the first lip and the second lip, the containment flange including a skirt extending from the containment channel and forming a lead-in flange shepherding the first lip and the second lip into the containment channel as the snap ring is installed about the containers.

2. The packaging assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body of the snap ring further includes a support rib.

3. The packaging assembly of claim 2 wherein the support rib is a generally continuous rib extending around the main body, the support rib disposed inwardly of the containment flange.

4. The packaging assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first container lip and the second container lip includes an inner portion extending outwardly from the container body and terminating in an edge portion, the edge portion being offset from the inner portion by a first distance.

5. The packaging assembly of claim 4 wherein the containment channel of the snap ring includes a first wall extending from the main body, the first wall of the containment channel being offset from the main body by about the first distance.

6. The packaging assembly of claim 5 wherein the inner opening of the main body is slightly larger than the diameter of the first container body.

7. The packaging assembly of claim 6 wherein the skirt includes a plurality of spaced apart skirt ribs, a portion of the skirt ribs forming a second wall of the containment channel.

8. The packaging assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first container and the second container includes a lid.

9. The packaging assembly of claim 8 wherein the lid is a lidding film secured to the container lip to close the mouth.

10. A snap ring for selectively joining first and second stacked containers comprising: a peripheral main body corresponding in shape with a container lip of the first container, the peripheral main body defining an internal opening corresponding in shape with a container body of the second container, the peripheral main body including a containment flange having a first portion forming a containment channel and a second portion forming a skirt, the containment flange opening inwardly and being of sufficient width to receive a container lip of the first container and a container lip of the second container, the skirt extending from the containment channel and being angled to form a lead-in flange shepherding, the skirt having a plurality of inwardly extending protrusions.

11. The snap ring of claim 10 wherein the peripheral main body of the snap ring further includes a support rib.

12. The snap ring of claim 11 wherein the support rib is a generally continuous rib extending around the peripheral main body, the support rib disposed inwardly of the containment flange.

13. The snap ring of claim 12 wherein the peripheral main body includes a generally planar section and the containment channel includes a first wall extending from the peripheral main body, the first wall of the containment channel being offset from the generally planar section of the main body.

14. The snap ring of claim 13 wherein the inner opening is slightly larger than a body of the first container body.

15. The snap ring of claim 14 wherein the skirt protrusions cooperatively form a second wall of the containment channel.

16. A packaging assembly comprising: a first container having a first circular container body defining a first circular mouth and a first circular lip extending from the first container body about the circumference of the first circular mouth, the first circular lip having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first container body; a second container having a second circular container body defining a second circular mouth and a second circular lip extending from the second container body about the circumference of the second circular mouth, the second container disposed adjacent to the first container with the first circular lip and the second circular lip being generally coextensive; and a snap ring removably snap-fitted about the first container and the second container, the snap ring having a peripheral circular main body defining a coaxial circular inner opening, the inner opening having a diameter greater than the first container body and lesser than the first container lip, the snap ring disposed with the inner opening positioned about the first container body, the snap ring including a coaxial containment flange extending circumferentially from the main body, the containment flange defining a coaxial inwardly opening circumferential containment channel, the containment channel receiving the first lip and the second lip, the containment flange including a coaxial circular skirt extending from the containment channel and forming a coaxial lead-in flange capable of shepherding the first lip and the second lip into the containment channel as the snap ring is installed about the containers.

17. The packaging assembly of claim 16 wherein the skirt includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced skirt protrusions, the skirt protrusions cooperatively forming a second wall of the containment channel.

18. The packaging assembly of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first container and the second container includes a lidding film.

19. A method for packaging article in isolation in a single packaging assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a first container containing a first article, the first container having a first container body defining a first container mouth and a first container lip extending outwardly from the first container mouth; providing a second container containing a second article, the second container having a second container body defining a second container mouth and a second container lip extending from the second container mouth, at least one of the first container and the second container including a lid, the lid maintaining separation between the first article and the second article; stacking the first container and the second container with the first container lip disposed generally adjacent to the second container lip; providing a snap ring with a peripheral body defining an internal opening and a inwardly opening containment channel; and moving the snap ring over the container body of the first container with the internal opening receiving the container body of the first container and snap-fitting the snap ring about the first container lip and the second container lip, the first container lip and the second container being retained in adjacent relationship by the containment channel.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the containment channel has first and second opposed walls that form opposite sides of the containment channel and the snap ring including a skirt extending from the second wall to define an angled lead-in flange; and wherein the step of snap-fitting the snap ring about the first container lip and the second container lip includes: moving the snap ring to bring the lead-in flange into engagement with the lip of the first container; and forcing the skirt over the first container lip and the second container lip until both the first container lip and the second container lip are received within the containment channel between the first and second opposed walls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snap ring.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a top view of the snap ring

[0019] FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the snap ring taken along line A-A of FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of Area B of FIG. 4A.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a top view of the packaging assembly.

[0022] FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the packaging assembly take along line A-A of FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of Area B of FIG. 6A.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a front view of the packaging.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first alternative packaging assembly.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a top view of the first alternative packaging assembly.

[0027] FIG. 10A is a sectional view of the first alternative packaging assembly take along line A-A of FIG. 9.

[0028] FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of Area B of FIG. 10A.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second alternative packaging assembly.

[0030] FIG. 12A is a sectional view of the second alternative packaging assembly.

[0031] FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of Area B of FIG. 12A.

[0032] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of including and comprising and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

[0033] A packaging assembly 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The packaging assembly 10 generally includes a pair of containers (in this case generally identical container 12a and 12b) separably joined by a snap ring 14. The containers 12a and 12b are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the container lips 16a-b trapped together by the snap ring 14. The snap ring 14 includes an inwardly facing containment channel 20 that receives and retains the lips 16a and 16b of the two containers 12a and 12b, respectively. In this embodiment, the snap ring 14 includes a skirt 22 that provides a lead-in flange 50 shaped to guide the snap ring 14 into proper alignment with the container lips 16a-b as the snap ring 14 is installed onto the container 12a-b. To provide separation between the interiors of the two containers 12a and 12b, one or both of the containers 12a and 12b may be closed by a lid 18a-b, such as a lidding film (as shown) or a separate thermoformed lid (not shown).

[0034] Directional terms, such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper, lower, inner, inwardly, outer and outwardly, are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).

[0035] As noted above, the present invention provides a package assembly 10 including two container 12a and 12b that are joined in face-to-face relationship by a removable snap-ring 14. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, one container 12a is positioned on the bottom in an upright position and the other container 12b is inverted and positioned atop the bottom container 12a. The snap ring 14 is removably fittable about to the lips 16a-b of the containers 12a-b and secured through a snap fit. In use, the snap ring 14 allows the two containers to be joined together for sale to a consumer and later separated by the consumer to separately gain access to the contents of the two containers. The containers 12a and 12b and the snap ring 14 are thermoformed using conventional thermoformable sheet materials and conventional thermoforming equipment, thereby providing a cost effective packaging assembly that is inexpensive enough to be discarded after use. For example, the containers 12a and 12b and the snap ring 14 can be thermoformed from a relatively rigid material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), although different materials may be used for each component 12a, 12b and 14. The use of a rigid material can provide stiffness and structural rigidity to the packaging assembly 10.

[0036] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, the containers 12a-b are generally conventional circular containers, each having a container body 22a-b forming an internal cylindrical space that is accessible through a container mouth 24a-b. The size, shape and configuration of the container body 22a-b and mouth 24a-b may vary from application to application. For example, the containers need not be circular, but may have other shapes, such as square, rectangular or oval. The mouth 24a-b of each container 12a-b is surrounded by an outwardly-extending periphery lip 16a-b. The size, shape and configuration of the lips 16a-b may vary from application to application. In the illustrated embodiment, each lip 16a-b includes a planar ring-shaped inner portion 26a-b that extends outwardly from the container body 22a-b and terminates in a peripherally offset 28a-b. The peripheral offset 28a-b of this embodiment includes an angled transition portion 30a-b and a substantially planar edge portion 32a-b. In this embodiment, the edge portion 32a-b is offset from and substantially parallel to the inner portion 26a-b.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, each container 12a-b is closed by a lid 18a-b. It should be noted, however, that lids 18a-b are optional and, in alternative applications, one or both of the containers may be incorporated into the packaging assembly 10 without a lid. When desired, the container may include essentially any type of lid. In the illustrated embodiment, each container 12aa-b is closed by a lid 18a-b formed by a lidding film affixed to the container lip 16a-b. In each of the illustrated containers 12a-b, the lidding film extends over and closes the mouth 24a-b to close the interior space defined by the container body 22a-b. In the illustrated containers 12a-b, the lidding film is affixed to the container lip 16a-b by cement or other adhesive. The type of lid 18a-b may vary from application to application. For example, in other applications, one or both of the lids 18a-b may be a thermoformed lid that is separately manufactured and attached to the container to close the mouth. In some applications, the lid may be snap-fitted into the interior of the mouth, for example, into a shoulder formed in the container body about the mouth. In other application, the lid may be snap-fitted about the exterior of the container lip. In each applications, the snap ring 14 is configured to receive and retain the container lips 16a-b and whatever type of lid 18a-b that might be used to close the container 12a-b.

[0038] As noted above, the two containers 12a-b are selectively joined by the snap ring 14. The snap ring 14 of the illustrated embodiment is a generally peripheral body configured to entrap the container lips 16a-b. In the illustrated embodiment, the snap ring 14 is generally circular in shape corresponding with the circular shape of the containers 12a-b. In the illustrated embodiment, the snap ring 14 includes an inner flange 62 that defines an internal opening 40 capable of being fitted over the container body 22a-b of at least one of the two containers 12a-b, for example, over the container body 22b of the top container 12b as shown in FIG. 1. The size, shape and configuration of the snap ring 14 and the internal opening 40 may vary from application to application to accommodate different sized and shaped container bodies.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the snap ring 14 includes a containment flange 20 configured to receive and entrap the lips 16a-b of the two adjacent containers 12a-b. The containment flange 20 of the illustrated embodiment has a compound shape with a first portion 42 defining an inwardly facing containment channel 44 adapted to closely receive the two container lips 16a-b and a second portion 46 in the form of a skirt 48 forming a lead-in flange 50 extending downwardly around the periphery of the snap ring 14. The lead-in flange 50 of the illustrated embodiment extends at an outward angle to define a circular somewhat funnel-like surface having a diameter larger than that of the container lips 16a-b. During use, the lead-in flange 50 helps to shepherd the snap ring 14 into a centered position as it is pushed down over the container lips 16a-b.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 52 of the containment channel 44 is discontinuous being cooperatively formed by a plurality of ribs 54 spaced around the skirt 48. The arrangement of spaced ribs 54 has the effect of allowing the bottom wall 52 of the snap ring 14 to resiliently expand as it is forced to pass over the lips 16a-b during installation and removal of the snap ring 14. FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross sectional views of the snap ring 14 taken through a skirt rib 54. As can be seen, the skirt rib 54 includes an inner segment 56 and a top segment 58 that are joined by a rounded corner 64. The configuration of the skirt ribs 54, including the inner segment 56 and the top segment 58, can be varied to control the characteristics of the snap ring. For example, the number, size, shape, spacing and configuration of the skirt ribs may be selected to control the force required to install and remove the snap ring 14.

[0041] The snap ring may include contours and/or other features configured to provide the desired structural support. For example, the snap ring 14 of the illustrated embodiment includes a support rib 60. In this embodiment, the support rib 60 is a continuous circumferential rib that extends around the snap ring 14. As perhaps best shown in FIG. 4B, the support rib 60 is formed from contours in the peripheral body disposed inwardly from the containment channel 44. In this embodiment, the support rib 60 extends upwardly from the peripheral body. The number, size, shape and configuration of the support rib 60 may vary from application to application to provide the snap ring with the desired structural characteristics.

[0042] As noted above, the containment channel 44 is configured to receive the lips 16a-b of two stacked containers 12a-b. In this embodiment, the containment channel 44 is somewhat rectangular in cross section defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and an outer wall. The shape of the containment channel 44 may vary from application to application. For example, the containment channel 44 may be semicircular in cross section formed by a single curved wall segment. Referring now to FIG. 6B, the width of the channel 44 is sufficient to accommodate the peripheral offsets 28a-b of the two adjacent container lips 16a-b. In those applications in which the container lid 18a-b extends over and/or beyond the container lips 16a-b, the channel 44 may be configured to also accommodate the container lid(s) 18a-b. In this embodiment, the top wall of the containment channel 44 is axially offset from the inner flange 62 a distance corresponding with the peripheral offset 28b of the top container 12b, which allows the inner flange 62 and the top wall of the containment channel 44 to simultaneously engage the container lip 16b and the peripheral offset 28b (See FIG. 6B). As noted above, the bottom wall of the channel 44 is cooperatively defined by the top segments 58 of the plurality of skirt ribs 54. The top segments 58 may be inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees from vertical to help provide the desired snap lock action. The configuration of the containment channel 44 may vary from application to application in correspondence with the configuration of the container lips and any container lid(s) that might extend into the containment channel.

[0043] In use, the snap ring can be selectively fitted simultaneously over a pair of adjacent container lips to join the containers, for example, to allow two separately packaged products to be sold in combination, and can be easily removed to allow the containers to be separated by the consumer. To install the snap ring 14, the second container 12b is inverted and stacked upon the first container 12a. In this application, the two containers are essentially identical and are disposed so that the container lips 16a-b are substantially coextensive. Once stacked, the snap ring 14 is fitted over the body of the second container 16 and pushed down until the lead-in flange 50 engages the container lip 16b of the second container 16b. Physical interaction between the lead-in flange 50 and the container lip 16b helps to center the snap ring 14 over the containers 12a-b and bring them into proper alignment. Further downward force on the snap ring 14 causes the snap ring 14 to pass down over the container lips 16a-b allowing the lips to snap lock into the containment channel 44. This is made possible by resilient deformation of the snap ring 14 and/or the container lips 16a-b. Once installed, the snap ring 14 will firmly hold the containers 12a-b in a stacked assembly until removed.

[0044] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, the two containers are generally identical circular containers. As noted above, the shape of the containers may vary from application to application. For example, FIGS. 8-10B show an alternative packaging assembly 10 in which the containers 12a-b have container bodies 22a-b that differ from those of containers 12a-b. It should be noted that the container lips 16a-b of these two containers 12a-b are essentially identical to the container lips 16a-b of containers 12a-b. As a result, the snap ring 14 is essentially identical to snap ring 14, thereby demonstrating the ability of a single snap ring to be used with different containers provided that the container lips are sufficient similar. FIGS. 8-10B includes reference numerals that generally correspond with the reference numerals used in FIGS. 1-7, except that a is added to the end of each reference numeral to denote that the illustrations show an alternative embodiment. The packaging assemblies 10 and 10 each include essentially identical top and bottom containers 12a-b, 12a-b. In alternative embodiments, the top and bottom containers may be different. For example, FIGS. 11-12B show a packaging assembly 10 with a larger top container 12b. In this embodiment, the container lips 16a-b are again essentially identical to container lips 16a-b, thereby allowing the two containers 16a-b despite their different size to be removably joined by a snap ring 14 that is essentially identical to snap ring 14. FIGS. 11-12B includes reference numerals that generally correspond with the reference numerals used in FIGS. 1-7, except that a is added to the end of each reference numeral to denote that the illustrations show an alternative embodiment.

[0045] The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles a, an, the or said, is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.