US20070125777A1

US20070125777A1 - Compact yogurt container

Info

Publication number: US20070125777A1
Application number: US11/293,555
Authority: US
Inventors: Tracy Massop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-05
Filing date: 2005-12-05
Publication date: 2007-06-07

Abstract

The present Invention is to relate the idea of a typical injection- molded circumferentially closed container that have two departments to hold yogurt, etc. The top department is to hold the yogurt, etc. The top department has an indention on the side of the body of the container with an internally threaded wall at its bottom. The indention in the top department is a compartment to fit a spoon for quick eating; the spoon within the compartment is to not be attached within the compartment. The internally threaded wall at the bottom of the top department is for the attachment/detachment of the lower department. The lower department is to contain a variety of accompaniments for the yogurt, etc. The lower department has a spout below an externally threaded wall portion; the spout and threaded wall portion are separated. The spout for the lower department is for an easy pouring action of accompaniments for the contents in the top department. The external threading of the lower department is a feature that allows the attachment/detachment of the top department. When the two departments are attached it presents a stackable feature.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

References cited which was prior that are used when explaining this present Invention are:

1. U.S. Pat. Des. 204,168 issued Mar. 22, 1966, due to its internal sectional feature.
2. U.S. Pat Des. 456,707 S issued May 7, 2002, due to its design for the attachment of spoons to containers.
3. U.S. Pat. No. 2,326,414 issued Aug. 10, 1943, due to its detachable staking ability.
4. U.S. Pat. Des. 331,015 issued Nov. 17, 1992, due to the design of the pour spout.
5. U.S. Pat Des. 319,981 issued Sep. 17, 1991, due to its threaded spout feature.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This Invention relates to a typical injection- molded circumferentially closed container made out of High Density Polyethylene or Polypropylene resins that have two departments. The top department has an indention which is the intended compartment for a spoon. The lower department is featured with a spout.
An injection- molded High Density Polyethylene and Polypropylene are typically used but, not commonly known, to be the plastics to create such things as yogurt containers, margarine tubs, and ketchup bottles. These plastics are neither diverse nor flexible when it comes to recycling them. Not all HDPE containers are recyclable and PP is not recyclable at all. When HDPE resins are used for blow-molded containers such as, liquid detergent bottles, peanut butter containers, and milk containers; they are recyclable. The problem with injection-molded plastic containers is the lack of certain chains in the plastic, and the contamination of the plastic with dye treatments for brand labels. Despite its set backs, these plastics are easily malleable, convenient, light-weight, and strong.
With this Invention there is no definite claim to which type of plastic is going to be used; just the claim for the Invention to be used for consumers to enjoy yogurt, etc. more conveniently. Hence, to the design of the containers with utensils in U.S. Patent D456, 707 S issued May 7, 2002. It is a design for containers to have an easily detachable spoon to eat pudding or etc. The thing lacking in this design is the proper sanitation of the exposed spoons. In this present Invention, the spoon is nicely tucked- away inside of an indention that is within the top department. The spoon is intended to be covered over with a film of thin plastic to protect it from any type of contamination. Also, the spoon is not attached to the top department to ensure an easy access to the spoon without any complications of finger sizes trying to unhook the spoon from an attaching mechanism. The indention of this top department is similar in shape to U.S. Patent D204, 168 issued Mar. 22, 1966; the vertical sectional views. Even though, the cellular container shows a portion being extended outwards from the middle to the top end of the container, the shape of '168 is a downward version of the container in this present Invention. The only difference is with the present Invention's indention is located at the midsection without the body of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,326,414 issued Aug. 10, 1943, presents a feature of detachable food departments for the container. '414 includes the use of a threaded detachment and reattachment for the departments, in which is related to the internally threaded feature in the top department and eternally threaded feature at the lower department in this present Invention. The stack-ability that is fitted to complete the whole invention of '414 is related to the present Invention's fitted stack-ability to complete the whole container; but the draw- back of '414 is that it is used to store food in the refrigerator. It is not intended to be an individually-sized container to eat directly from.
The spout for the lower department of this present Invention is a cross between the pour spouts in U.S. Patent D331, 015 issued Nov. 17, 1992 and U.S. Patent D319, 981 issued Sep. 17, 1991. The set back for '015 and '981 to not be the spout designs I am intending to use in this patent is that '015 doesn't seem to have a closed bottom and is not a threaded pour spout; and that '981 has a threaded feature within the cap and the pour spout is above the threading for the cap. In the Invention that is present now, the pour spout is below an external threading and features a closed bottom.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present Invention is to relate the idea of a typical injection- molded circumferentially closed container made out of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Polypropylene (PP) resins that have two departments to hold yogurt, etc. The top department is to hold the yogurt, etc. The top department is to be sealed with foil, etc. The top department has an indention on the side of the body of the container with an internally threaded wall at its bottom. The indention in the top department is a compartment to fit a spoon for quick eating; the spoon is intended to be sealed within the compartment but, to not be attached within the compartment. The internally threaded wall at the bottom of the top department is for the attachment/detachment of the lower department. The lower department is to contain a variety of accompaniments for the yogurt, etc. The lower department has a spout below an externally threaded wall portion; the spout and threaded wall portion are separated. The spout for the lower department is for an easy pouring action of accompaniments for the contents in the top department. The external threading of the lower department is a feature that allows the attachment/detachment of the top department. The lower department is intended to be sealed with a thin layered plastic or foil for the prevention of contamination of the accompaniments such as, fruits and nuts. When the two departments are attached it presents a stackable feature.
The intention of this Invention is to make it more convenient for people to eat their favorite snack. The spoon is available when a consumer is not accessible to a spoon or just don't want to use their own utensils. The lower department is for the storage of the accompaniments for it to not be in the way when a consumer wants to eat their bought product easily; at the bottom, the container with the accompaniments doesn't get in the way when opening the top department. Some producers of yogurt tend to put those, nuts, at the top of their containers; and don't even have spouts for their accompaniment container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present Invention as shown when the top and lower departments are attached with a spoon visibly shown;
FIG. 2 is a side view with a spoon visibly shown;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view without a spoon visibly shown;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the container attached;
FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view at an angle;
FIG. 6 is top view of the lower department.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an injection- molded circumferential yogurt container in a perspective view. The container has a top department 1 that is connected with the lower department 2. The separation is between the two departments are visibly seen by 3. The top department consists of a mouth 10 in which can be sealable by a plastic or foil covering. 5 is the neck of the top department. 9 is the indention for the top department to hold the spoon 8 for quick eaten. There is no mechanism attaching 8 with 9. Even though it is not visible, 9 is a vertically narrow linear U-shaped compartment. The purpose of 9 is to not be rigid when eating yogurt, etc. from 1. The compartment for 8 has short occurring inclining slopes at its top 7 and at its bottom 6. The purpose of 7 and 6 are intended to create a smooth-gliding action for 8 when eating out from 1 and for fewer complications when stirring or retrieving the last bit of yogurt. The lower department 2 is featured with an outwardly visible spout 4 for the out-pouring of accompaniments such as, fruits and nuts.
FIG. 2 shows the same indication of the illustrated concept of the present Invention FIG. 1; instead, with the utensil 14 facing front, not in perspective view, and the spout for the lower department is not visible. 11 is again shown attached to 12 with 13 visibly being seen. The compartment 15 that holds 14 is better displayed with the concept of lines representing the internal view of the indention and the short inclining slopes 17 and 16. 14 will be sealed with thin layered plastic to protect it from contamination.
FIG. 3 shows the illustration of 18 and 19 in an exploded view, without the spoon being shown. 19 is seen here with its external threaded wall 21 exposed. The internal threaded wall 20 of 18 is still hidden in this illustration. The spout 23 is not attached to 21 to not interrupt the flow of accompaniments that will be sealed within 19; indicated in the space represented by 22. The inside of 19 is not visibly shown but, is represented by 24. The contents that will be in 19 will be sealed separately from the most obviously outward sealable threading 21, with foil, etc.
FIG. 4 shows the attached sectional view of this present Invention. The top department 26 and the lower department 25 are shown attached. The spout 27 is shown again being separated from the threaded wall 30 of 25 with the space indicated by 31. 29 is the short, thin flat circumferential surface that will be sealed with plastic or foil that is within 25, which is below the threaded wall 30. The contents of 25 will be held below 29. The circumferentially closed bottom to retain the contents of 26 is represented by 32. 28 is the representation of where the end reaches in 26 when applied to 25.
FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 4 but, instead in an exploded view at an angle. The internally threaded wall 34 of the top department 33 is visibly shown.
FIG. 6 shows the illustration of a top view of the lower department of the present Invention. 35 is the spout. 36 is the space where the accompaniments would have a confluent flow through. 37 is the short, thin flat circumferential surface that will be sealed with plastic or foil to contain accompaniments. 38 is the external threaded wall. 39 is the outer wall without the lower department. 40 is the closed bottom end of the lower department.
While the present Invention is shown in detail, it is evident that modifications and improvements are -to be applied when viewed by those skilled in the art, without distorting the true nature of the present Invention.

Claims

1. A two- sectioned circumferentially closed container, comprising:

(a) a body portion,

wherein said body portion, includes a mouth and a slight neck above said body portion and a bottom portion at the end of said body portion is betwixt said neck portion and bottom portion,

said body portion, includes a detachable feature, said division creates a top and lower department,

said top department have an indention to create a carrying compartment,

wherein said top department indention consists of a vertically narrow linear U-shape with short occurring inclining slopes at the top and bottom of said top department indention,

said lower department have a said spout for a confluent flow of solids;

(b) sealable openings for said top and lower departments,

said mouth portion is the opening for the said top department,

wherein said mouth is sealable with a covering of foil, etc.,

said lower department opening is sealable with a covering of foil, etc., the said lower department is again sealed with an internally threaded wall at the end of said top department,

wherein said lower department opening have a short, thin flat circumferential surface located within said lower department below of said opening that is sealable with said internally threaded wall at end of said top department;

(c) circumferentially parallel openings and threading,

said top department opening is circumferentially at the center of said body portion,

said lower department externally threaded wall and said internal threaded wall of said top department are both circumferential and parallel to each other and to said body portion, said lower department externally threaded wall and said internally threaded wall of said top department are both parallel vertically and horizontally to each other and to said body portion,

said top and lower department openings are facing the same direction, upwards,

said lower department externally threaded wall is not connected to the said spout that is apart of said lower department;

(d) flat leveled surfaces,

said top and lower departments can stand erect independently of each other,

said top department can be stacked on top of said lower department when said top department is twisted onto said lower department,

said top department and lower department both have a flat circumferentially enclosed surfaces at their bottoms to retain their intended contents.