Multi-Compartment To-Go Container

Abstract

Two food elements are supplied in a container assembly which may be placed on a horizontal support surface or supported in an automobile cup holder. A smaller secondary cup is received within a secondary cup cavity cantilevered to one side of a thermoformed thermoplastic primary container which has exterior dimensions suited to a cup holder. The primary container has a main compartment which receives another food element. The base of the primary container is inclined from the rim of the primary container, such that the center of gravity of the primary container with secondary cup and edible material overlies the primary container bottom wall when the bottom wall is supported on a horizontal surface. A column in the primary container side wall extends from a protruding toe portion of the bottom wall to engage and support the secondary cup cavity.

1 . A container assembly comprising:
 a secondary cup having an edible material therein;   a primary container having a bottom wall with an upwardly extending side wall, the bottom wall and the side wall defining a main compartment, the side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to terminate at an upper rim which extends in a first plane; and   a secondary cup cavity which projects outwardly from the primary container  10  main compartment and which communicates with the main compartment, the secondary cup cavity having a lower wall which extends outwardly from the primary container side wall, and a secondary cup cavity side wall which extends upwardly from the secondary cup cavity lower wall, and which adjoins the primary container side wall, the secondary cup being positioned within the secondary cup cavity and supported on the secondary cup cavity lower wall within the secondary cup cavity side wall.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 portions of the bottom wall which define a protruding toe; and   portions of the primary container side wall which define a column which extends upwardly from the bottom wall toe to the secondary cup cavity lower wall.   
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the primary container is thermoformed of thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       4 . A primary container for receipt therein of a first food element and a secondary cup containing a second food element, the primary container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a main compartment side wall which extends upwardly from the bottom wall and terminates at an upper rim which extends in a first plane, the bottom wall and the side wall defining a main compartment for receipt of the first food element; and   portions of the side wall which define a secondary cup cavity which projects outwardly from the main compartment and which communicates with the main compartment, the secondary cup cavity having a lower wall which extends outwardly from the side wall, and a secondary cup cavity side wall which extends upwardly from the secondary cup cavity lower wall, and which adjoins the main compartment side wall, the secondary cup cavity being configured to receive the secondary cup and second food element therein and to support the secondary cup on the secondary cup cavity lower wall within the secondary cup cavity side wall.   
   
   
       5 . The primary container of  claim 4  further comprising:
 portions of the bottom wall which define a protruding toe; and   portions of the primary container side wall which define a column which extends upwardly from the bottom wall toe to the secondary cup cavity lower wall.   
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the primary container is thermoformed of thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       7 . A container assembly comprising:
 a secondary cup having an edible material therein;   a primary container having a bottom wall with an upwardly extending side wall, the bottom wall and the side wall defining a main compartment, the side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to terminate at an upper rim which extends in a first plane; and   portions of the primary container side wall which define a secondary cup cavity which projects outwardly from the primary container main compartment and which communicates with the main compartment, the secondary cup cavity having a lower wall which extends outwardly from the primary container side wall, and a secondary cup cavity side wall which extends upwardly from the secondary cup cavity lower wall, and which adjoins the primary container side wall, the secondary cup being positioned within the secondary cup cavity and supported on the secondary cup cavity lower wall within the secondary cup cavity side wall, wherein the primary container bottom wall has portions which extend in a second plane which is below the first plane, wherein the center of gravity of the primary container with secondary cup and edible material overlies the primary container bottom wall when the bottom wall is supported on a horizontal surface.   
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the secondary cup cavity side wall wraps around more than 180 degrees of the secondary cup to restrict the displacement of the secondary cup from the secondary cup cavity to the main compartment. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the bottom wall has portions which extend in a second plane which is not parallel to the first plane defined by the upper rim, such that when the bottom wall portions in the second plane are supported on a horizontal surface, the secondary cup cavity is tipped toward a center of the primary container. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 7  further comprising:
 portions of the bottom wall which define a protruding toe; and   portions of the primary container side wall which define a column which extends upwardly from the bottom wall toe to the secondary cup cavity lower wall, the column being inclined with respect to the bottom wall away from a plane which is perpendicular to the bottom wall.   
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the column is defined by two radiused transition walls extending on either side of a central column wall, and wherein the lower wall of the secondary cup cavity is generally circular, and has a three-sided relief where it joins the column. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a flat lid which overlies the primary container rim. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the primary container rim has a flat region which extends in a plane, and further comprising a film seal which overlies said flat region. 
   
   
       14 . A primary container for receipt therein of a first food element and a secondary cup containing a second food element, the primary container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a main compartment side wall which extends upwardly from the bottom wall and terminates at an upper rim which extends in a first plane, the bottom wall and the side wall defining a main compartment for receipt of the first food element; and   portions of the side wall which define a secondary cup cavity which projects outwardly from the main compartment and which communicates with the main compartment, the secondary cup cavity having a lower wall which extends outwardly from the side wall, and a secondary cup cavity side wall which extends upwardly from the secondary cup cavity lower wall, and which adjoins the main compartment side wall, the secondary cup cavity being configured to receive the secondary cup and second food element therein and to support the secondary cup on the secondary cup cavity lower wall within the secondary cup cavity side wall, wherein the bottom wall has portions which extend in a second plane which is not parallel to the first plane defined by the upper rim, such that when the bottom wall portions in the second plane are supported on a horizontal surface, the secondary cup cavity is tipped toward the center of the primary container.   
   
   
       15 . The primary container of  claim 14  wherein the secondary cup cavity side wall defines more than 180 degrees of a frustoconical surface to wrap around a secondary cup when positioned within the secondary cup cavity, and to restrict the displacement of said secondary cup from the secondary cup cavity to the main compartment. 
   
   
       16 . The primary container of  claim 14  fierier comprising:
 portions of the bottom wall which define a protruding toe; and   portions of the main compartment side wall which define a column which extends upwardly from the bottom wall toe to the secondary cup cavity lower wall, the column being inclined with respect to the bottom wall away from a plane which is perpendicular to the bottom wall.   
   
   
       17 . The primary container of  claim 16  wherein the column is defined by two radiused transition walls extending on either side of a central column wall, and wherein the lower wall of the secondary cup cavity is generally circular, and has a three-sided relief where it joins the column. 
   
   
       18 . The primary container of  claim 14  wherein the main compartment side wall extends downwardly from the upper rim at a first draft angle, the draft angle being substantially constant all around the upper rim. 
   
   
       19 . The primary container of  claim 14  further comprising a flat lid which overlies the primary container rim. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the primary container rim has a flat region which extends in a plane, and further comprising a film seal which overlies said flat region. 
   
   
       21 . A primary container for receipt therein of a first food element and a secondary cup containing a second food element, the primary container comprising:
 a bottom wall having a main region and a toe which projects in a first direction from the main region;   a main compartment side wall which extends upwardly from the bottom wall and terminates at an upper rim, the bottom wall and the side wall defining a main compartment for receipt of the first food element;   portions of the side wall which define a secondary cup cavity which projects outwardly in the first direction from the main compartment and which communicates with the main compartment, the secondary cup cavity having a lower wall which extends outwardly from the side wall, and a secondary cup cavity side wall which extends upwardly from the secondary cup cavity lower wall, and which adjoins the main compartment side wall, the secondary cup cavity being configured to receive the secondary cup and second food element therein and to support the secondary cup on the secondary cup cavity lower wall within the secondary cup cavity side wall; and   portions of the main compartment side wall which define a column which extends upwardly from the bottom wall toe to the secondary cup cavity lower wall, the column being inclined with respect to the bottom wall in the first direction, the column being inclined away from a plane which is perpendicular to the bottom wall.   
   
   
       22 . The primary container of  claim 21  wherein the main compartment side wall defines a substantially frustoconical surface having a center axis, and wherein, when the bottom wall is supported on a horizontal surface, portions of the bottom wall foot extend in the first direction away from the center axis to underlie the secondary compartment lower wall. 
   
   
       23 . The primary container of  claim 21  wherein the secondary cup cavity side wall defines more than 180 degrees of a frustoconical surface to wrap around a secondary cup when positioned within the secondary cup cavity, and to restrict the displacement of said secondary cup from the secondary cup cavity to the main compartment. 
   
   
       24 . The primary container of  claim 21  wherein the column is defined by two radiused transition walls extending on either side of a central column wall, and wherein the lower wall of the secondary cup cavity is generally circular, and has a three-sided relief where it joins the column. 
   
   
       25 . The primary container of  claim 21  wherein the main compartment side wall extends downwardly from the upper rim at a first draft angle, the draft angle being substantially constant all around the upper rim. 
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 21  fisher comprising a flat lid which overlies the primary container rim. 
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the primary container rim has a flat region which extends in a plane, and further comprising a film seal which overlies said flat region.