| Multiple compartment package -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Multiple compartment packageRelated Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Packaged Or Wrapped Product, Having Nonedible Spacer To Segregate All Units Of Multiunit Food Product, Diverse FoodMultiple compartment package description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060068063, Multiple compartment package. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a multiple compartment package and in particular a multiple compartment package which can be used to contain multiple food products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Packages containing food products come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the food product contained. Occasionally it is beneficial to package a variety of food products designed to be eaten together in a single package. One suitable prior package contains a plurality of different compartments, each one containing a different food product. For example, it is common to find a package having one compartment for a primary food product such as chips or crackers and a secondary compartment for a dip or a spread to be applied to the primary food product. [0003] One disadvantage of conventional food packages is that they do not provide a convenient, reliable and efficient package for containing multiple individual food products which allows one to mix the individual food components together within the package. [0004] There is a need for a new and improved multiple compartment package for containing and serving multiple food products within a single package. Further, there is a need to have a new and improved package which provides improved dispensability or mixability of the individual food products within a single eat-in or serve-from package. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention relates to a multiple compartment package. The package includes a lower tray and a lid which permits the package to be in an opened or closed configuration. The tray includes a compartment which holds a primary food product, for example meat strips or slices. The lid is sealed closed with a removable cover such as a removable film The lid includes a compartment which contains a secondary food product which is flowable, such as a liquid sauce, for example barbeque sauce or gravy, or a flowable granular topping such as bacon bits. The lid compartment has an open bottom which is sealed by a removable cover such as a peelable film. In one arrangement the secondary food product is mixed with the primary food product by pulling on the peelable film when the package is in the closed configuration with the lid and hence the secondary food product on top of the tray and primary food product. As a result of pulling the peelable film away from the package, the secondary food product is permitted to flow down into the tray onto the primary food product. [0006] In various alternate forms, the lid is hinged to the tray and a releasable connection holds the lid and tray together. In yet a further form, a second lid compartment holds a tertiary food product which is dispensed onto the primary food product by removing a peelable film which may be the same as the peelable film sealing the first lid compartment or a second peelable film specific for the tertiary food product. In another arrangement, the lid compartment may contain a food product which is solid at room temperature and melts when heated. After films have been removed from both the tray and the lid, upon heating, the second food product will flow onto the food product in the tray compartment. [0007] The present invention, in one form thereof, relates to a multiple compartment package comprising a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment. A lid opposes and engages the tray and has an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment. A peelable film covers the lid compartment and is removable from outside the package while the lid is opposed and engaged with the top of the tray to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment after the removable tray cover has been removed. [0008] The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a ready-to-eat food package comprising a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment. A primary food is disposed in the tray compartment. A lid opposes and engages the tray. The lid has an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment and a peelable film covering the lid compartment. A secondary food is disposed in the lid compartment. The peelable film of the lid compartment is removable from outside the package while the lid opposes and engages the top of the tray to thereby dispense a secondary food product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment after the removable tray cover has been removed. [0009] The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a multiple compartment packaging having a tray with an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment. A lid opposes and engages the tray having an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment. A hinge joins the lid to the tray. A removable lid cover is over the open bottom of the lid compartment. In various further embodiments, the removable lid cover comprises a peelable film which is removable from outside the package while the lid is opposing and engaging the top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment, after the removable tray cover has been removed. [0010] The present invention in another form thereof concerns a multiple compartment package comprising a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment. A lid opposing and engaging the tray has an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment. A removable lid cover is over the open bottom lid compartment. A recessed portion is provided in an exterior bottom surface of the tray, complimentary in dimension to that of the lid compartment, to thereby allow the package to be stacked on top of a second identically shaped package. In one further form, the removable lid cover comprises a peelable film over the open bottom of the lid compartment which is removable from outside the package while the lid is opposing and engaging he top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment, after the removable tray cover has been removed. In an alternative further form, a hinge joins the lid to the tray. [0011] The present invention, in another form thereof, concerns a ready-to-eat food package comprising a tray having a top tray compartment, a primary product in the tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment. A lid opposing and engaging the tray has an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment. A secondary product is disposed in the lid compartment. The secondary product is solid at room temperature and melts when heated. A removable lid cover covers the open bottom of the lid compartment. The secondary product contained in the lid compartment is dispensable onto the primary food product in the tray compartment after the removable tray cover and removable lid cover have been removed, and the package is heated. [0012] The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a method for preparing a food product which includes taking a lower tray with an open top tray compartment and a primary food contained therein and taking a lid having a lid compartment which has an open bottom which is located over the tray compartment and a secondary food product contained therein, and a peelable film covering the open bottom. With the lid engaged with the tray, a secondary food product is caused to flow into the tray compartment by peeling the peelable film off of the bottom of the lid compartment so as to allow the secondary food product to be dispensed into the tray compartment onto the primary food. [0013] The present invention, in yet another form thereof, relates to a method of preparing a food in a package which includes taking a lower tray of the package with an open top tray compartment, a primary food therein, and a removable tray cover covering the tray compartment and taking a lid of the package in which the lid has an open bottom which is placed over the tray and a secondary food product therein, and a removable lid cover covering the open bottom. The secondary product is hardened at room temperature and meltable when heated. With the lid engaged onto the tray and both removable covers removed, heating the container causes the secondary product to melt, thereby causing the secondary food product to flow into the tray compartment to be dispensed onto the primary food product in the tray compartment. [0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple compartment package for containing a primary food product and a secondary food product, separately, until being ready to consume. [0015] It is a further object of the present invention to selectively mix the secondary food product with the primary food product using a multiple compartment package. [0016] It is an additional object of the present invention to mix a primary food product and a secondary food products together by peeling back or pulling on a peelable film which seals the secondary food product contained in a lid compartment, to thereby dispense the secondary food product into a lower tray compartment. [0017] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a two compartment package in which a lid compartment is hinged to a tray compartment with each compartment being sealed with a respective removable cover. [0018] It is yet another object of the present invention in one form thereof to provide a lid compartment containing a secondary product which is solid at room temperature and melts when heated. [0019] It is yet a further object of the present invention in one form thereof to provide a solid secondary product which melts upon heating to flow onto a primary food product contained in a tray after a removable tray cover has been removed. [0020] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multiple compartment package which provides a convenient and mess-free way to add a secondary food product such as a sauce, gravy or other topping to a primary food product. [0021] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a stackable multiple compartment package. Continue reading about Multiple compartment package... Full patent description for Multiple compartment package Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multiple compartment package patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Multiple compartment package or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Chocolate confectionary products and methods of preparing the same Next Patent Application: Quick dissolve packets Industry Class: Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multiple compartment package patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.42921 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
