Package for Multiple Food Items

Abstract

A package for a plurality of items includes a first portion and a second portion hingedly joined to one another. In a first configuration, the first portion and the second portion are in a facing relationship such that the interior space of the first portion and the interior space of the second portion are contiguous with one another. In a second configuration, the first portion and the second portion are in a side by side relationship, so the first portion is for containing a first item and the second portion is for containing a second item.

1 . A package comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel opposite one another, the first panel and the second panel at least partially defining an interior space, the first panel and the second panel each having a first dimension extending in a first direction between opposite ends of the package, and a second dimension extending in a second direction;   a tear line extending in the second direction at least partially across the first panel; and   a fold line extending in the second direction at least partially across the second panel,   wherein the tear line is for separating the package into a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment being hingedly joined to one another along the fold line.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tear line and the fold line are each distal from the opposite ends of the package. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment includes a first portion of the interior space and the second segment includes a second portion of the interior space. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the interior space is for receiving a first item and the second portion of the interior space is for receiving a second item. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tear line is a first tear line of a pair of tear lines extending in the second direction at least partially across the first panel, the pair of tear lines defining a tear strip. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the tear strip is substantially aligned with the fold line along the first dimension of the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of side panels joined to the first panel and the second panel along fold lines extending in the first direction, the side panels being opposite one another, wherein the tear line further extends at least partially across the side panels. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first segment includes a first portion of each of the first panel and the second panel, and   the second segment includes a second portion of each of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the first segment and the second segment are adapted to pivot toward one another along the fold line to bring the first portion of the second panel and the second portion of the second panel towards one another. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the second panel includes a cutout flap, the cutout flap being operative for moving away from the second panel to define a cutout. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the first segment is for receiving a container, the container including a base and a rim, wherein the rim is for being received within the cutout. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the first segment is for receiving a container, the container including a base and a rim, wherein
 in a first position, the base of the container is in a substantially parallel relationship with the first portion of the second panel, and   in a second position, the base of the container is in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the first portion of the second panel with at least a portion of the rim being received in the cutout flap.   
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the first panel includes at least one line of weakness for allowing the first portion of the first panel to move away from the first portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pair of side panels and a second pair of side panels joined to the first panel and the second panel along fold lines extending in the first direction, the side panels being opposite one another, wherein the tear line further extends at least partially across at least one of the first pair of side panels and the second pair of side panels. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein
 the pair of opposite ends of the package includes a first end and a second end, and   the package further comprises an end panel disposed at the first end of the package, the end panel including a tear strip.   
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the end panel is substantially hexagonal in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 15 , further comprising a tab adjacent to the tear strip. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein
 the end panel is a first end panel, and   the package further comprises a second end panel disposed at the first end of the package, the second end panel including a slot for receiving the tab of the first end panel.   
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising microwave energy interactive material. 
     
     
         20 . A package for containing a plurality of items including a first item and a second item, the package comprising:
 a first portion and a second portion hingedly joined to one another, the first portion and the second portion each having an interior space for receiving the first item and the second item, respectively,   wherein
 in a first configuration, the first portion and the second portion are in a facing relationship such that the interior space of the first portion and the interior space of the second portion are contiguous with one another, the first portion and the second portion each being for containing at least one of the first item and the second item, and 
 in a second configuration, the first portion and the second portion are in a side by side relationship, the first portion being for containing the first item and the second portion being for containing the second item. 
   
     
     
         21 . A blank for forming a package, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of adjoined panels, each panel having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of adjoined panels including
 a first panel, 
 a second panel, and 
 a third panel joined to one another along fold lines extending in the first direction, such that the third panel is disposed between the first panel and the second panel; 
   a line of disruption extending in the second direction across at least a portion of the second panel; and   a pair of tear lines extending in the second direction across at least a portion of the first panel and the third panel, the pair of tear lines defining a tear strip, the tear strip being substantially aligned in the second direction with the line of disruption of the second panel.   
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 21 , further comprising a cut at least partially defining a cutout flap in the second panel proximate to the line of disruption. 
     
     
         23 . The blank of  claim 21 , further comprising a pair of lines of disruption extending obliquely and outwardly substantially between the tear strip and respective corners of the first panel. 
     
     
         24 . The blank of  claim 21 , further comprising a top end panel and a bottom end panel joined to each of the first panel and the second panel along respective fold lines extending in the second direction. 
     
     
         25 . The blank of  claim 24 , wherein the top end panel and the bottom end panel are substantially hexagonal in shape.