Container Cup Package

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system and method for containing a pre-packaged food container within an outer container having a lid component. The pre-packaged food container has a flange on an upper most portion and a food product contained within. The outer container has a container wall defining a shoulder positioned radially within and a rim located radially on an upper most portion of the container wall. The shoulder is configured to retain the flange of the pre-packaged food container. The lid component is configured to attach to the rim of the outer container.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A combination package comprising:
 a pre-packaged food container including:
 a cup having a sidewall, the sidewall having an upper sidewall portion and a lower sidewall portion; 
 a support portion circumferentially spaced on the sidewall of the cup; and 
 a spoonable product supported within the cup; and 
   an outer container defining a cup-shaped chamber having an outer wall, wherein the outer wall defines a shoulder located radially around the outer wall, and wherein the cup-shaped chamber is configured to house the pre-packaged food container, such that the support portion of the food container is located on the shoulder, wherein an outer diameter of the support portion is greater than then a lowermost diameter of the shoulder such that the support portion of the food container rests on the shoulder of the outer container;   the outer container has a height greater than a height of the pre-packaged food container, thereby forming a headspace above the pre-packaged food container capable of receiving toppings.   
     
     
         2 . The combination package of  claim 1 , wherein an uppermost diameter of the shoulder is less than the outer diameter of the support portion. 
     
     
         3 . The combination package of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is a flange, wherein the flange is positioned between the upper sidewall portion and the lower sidewall portion of the sidewall of the cup. 
     
     
         4 . The combination package of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is a rim, wherein the rim is located on the upper sidewall portion of the sidewall of the cup. 
     
     
         5 . The combination package of  claim 4 , wherein the shoulder includes a shoulder recess that extends radially around the shoulder, the shoulder recess having an upper end, a lower end, and a middle section positioned between the upper end and the lower end, wherein a diameter of the middle section is greater than the diameters of the upper end and the lower end, and wherein the rim is retained within the middle section of the shoulder recess. 
     
     
         6 . The combination package of  claim 5 , wherein the shoulder recess is a snap fit. 
     
     
         7 . The combination package of  claim 6 , wherein the outer container is formed of polystyrene. 
     
     
         8 . The combination package of  claim 7 , wherein the outer container is transparent. 
     
     
         9 . The combination package of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container is thermoformed. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preparing and transporting a food product, comprising the steps of:
 providing a pre-packaged food container including an open-topped cup, a flange positioned radially around a sidewall of the cup, and a spoonable product in the cup;   providing an outer container defining a cup-shaped chamber having an outer wall, the outer wall defines a shoulder located radially around the outer wall, and wherein the cup-shaped chamber is configured to house the pre-packaged food container, wherein an outer diameter of the flange is greater than then lowermost diameter of the shoulder such that the flange of the food container rests in the shoulder of the outer container, the outer container has a height greater than a height of the pre-packaged food container to enable forming a headspace above the pre-packaged food;   providing toppings configured to be placed into the open-topped cup while it is located in the outer container; and   providing a lid capable of engaging a rim of the outer container to enclose the open-topped cup and toppings.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the placing the cup into the outer container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of opening the food container by removing a lid from the cup. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of scooping the toppings into the headspace after the step of placing the cup into the container. 
     
     
         14 . A plastic outer container having an outer cup and a lid comprising:
 a frusto-conical sidewall extending from a standing ring;   a rim located at an uppermost portion of the sidewall, the rim being adapted for receiving the lid;   a concave, circumferential shoulder formed in the sidewall, the shoulder configured such that the outer diameter of a support portion of a pre-packaged food cup is greater than then lowermost diameter of the shoulder such that the support portion of the food container rests on the shoulder of the outer container, and the outer container has a height greater than a height of the pre-packaged food container, thereby capable of forming a headspace above the pre-packaged food container capable of receiving toppings.   
     
     
         15 . The plastic outer container of  claim 14 , wherein a lower most diameter of the shoulder is no greater than an outer diameter of the support portion such that the support portion is retained in the shoulder. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic outer container of  claim 14 , wherein an uppermost diameter of the shoulder is less than the outer diameter of the support portion. 
     
     
         17 . The plastic outer container of  claim 14 , wherein the shoulder includes a shoulder recess that extends radially around the shoulder, the shoulder recess having an upper end, a lower end, and a middle section positioned between the upper end and the lower end, wherein a diameter of the middle section is greater than the diameters of the upper end and the lower end, and wherein the support portion is retained within the middle section of the shoulder recess. 
     
     
         18 . The plastic outer container of  claim 17 , wherein the shoulder recess is a snap fit. 
     
     
         19 . The plastic outer container of  claim 19 , wherein the outer container is formed of polystyrene. 
     
     
         20 . The plastic outer container of  claim 20 , wherein the outer container is transparent.