Reusable Playable Rigid Packages

Abstract

The disclosed principles provide for a new and unique reusable rigid package configured to provide a container for holding, for example, food products, as well as to provide a playable structure for consumers, such as children, to play with during or after consumption of the food product. In addition, multiple playable packages as disclosed herein may be collected and combined together, for example, end-to-end, into a larger toy such as train of cars, busses, railway cars or any other vehicle shape. Disposable or reusable covers, either rigid or soft, may also be provided with each such disclosed rigid package. Furthermore, each disclosed package is configured to be stacked, one at least partially received within the other, for efficient stacked storage of multiple packages.

1 . A reusable rigid package, comprising:
 a downwardly formed compartment having a front endwall and a rear endwall, and at least two sidewalls connecting the front and rear endwalls, the compartment configured to receive one or more products therein via an opening at a top of the compartment;   a flange formed at the top of the compartment and around the opening, the flange comprising an entirely flat horizontal surface outwardly extending from the top of the compartment and sized to receive a flexible film cover sealable thereon;   a first connecting feature formed in a front portion of the flange;   a second connecting feature formed in a rear portion of the flange, wherein a first connecting feature of the package is shaped to interconnect with a second connecting feature of a second package;   a decorative feature formed into the front endwall of the compartment;   one or more stacking stops outwardly formed from one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment, the one or more stacking stops sized such that a bottommost surface is configured to contact a top of the flange of a second package when a bottom portion of the package is placed within the compartment of the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position within but above a bottommost surface of the compartment of the second package; and   standing features formed in a bottom portion of the compartment and downwardly extending therefrom, the standing features configured to hold the package upright such that the opening is positioned at the top of the package.   
     
     
         2 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting feature is a hole and the second connecting feature is a post downwardly formed from the rear portion of the flange. 
     
     
         3 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more stacking stops comprise one or more side window shapes formed in one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment and extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , wherein the standing features comprise a plurality of wheel shapes downwardly formed from the bottom of the compartment. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartment is formed in a single, unitary structure. 
     
     
         8 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 7 , wherein the compartment comprises thermoformed plastic. 
     
     
         9 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 8 , wherein the thermoformed plastic compartment comprises a downwardly tapered shape of the front and second endwalls and the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         10 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 8 , wherein the thermoformed plastic is selected from the group consisting of: PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). 
     
     
         11 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartment, one or more stacking stops and standing features are formed in a single unitary piece. 
     
     
         12 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , wherein the decorative feature comprises a smiley face shape. 
     
     
         13 . A reusable rigid package according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional decorative features formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment. 
     
     
         14 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package, comprising:
 compartment downwardly formed in a single unitary structure, and having a front endwall and a rear endwall, and at least two sidewalls connecting the front and rear endwalls, the compartment having a downwardly tapered shape of the front and second endwalls and the first and second sidewalls, and configured to receive one or more products therein via an opening at a top of the compartment;   a flange formed at the top of the compartment and around the opening, the flange comprising part of the unitary structure of the compartment and comprising an entirely flat horizontal surface outwardly extending from the top of the compartment and sized to receive a flexible film cover sealable thereon;   a first connecting feature formed in a front portion of the flange;   a second connecting feature formed in a rear portion of the flange, wherein a first connecting feature of the package is shaped to interconnect with a second connecting feature of a second package;   a decorative feature formed into the front endwall of the compartment;   one or more stacking stops each comprising a side window shape formed in one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment and extending outwardly therefrom, the one or more side window shapes each sized such that a bottommost surface is configured to contact a top of the flange of a second package when a bottom portion of the package is placed within the compartment of the second package to thereby maintain a predetermined position within but above a bottommost surface of the compartment of the second package; and   a plurality of wheel shapes formed in a bottom portion of the compartment and downwardly extending therefrom, the plurality of wheel shapes forming standing features configured to hold the package upright such that the opening is positioned at the top of the package.   
     
     
         15 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to  claim 14 , wherein the first connecting feature is a hole and the second connecting feature is a post downwardly formed from the rear portion of the flange. 
     
     
         16 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to  claim 14 , wherein the compartment comprises thermoformed plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to  claim 16 , wherein the thermoformed plastic compartment comprises a downwardly tapered shape of the front and second endwalls and the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to  claim 16 , wherein the thermoformed plastic is selected from the group consisting of: PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). 
     
     
         19 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to  claim 14 , wherein the decorative feature comprises a smiley face shape. 
     
     
         20 . A reusable rigid vehicle-shaped package according to  claim 14 , further comprising one or more additional decorative features formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the compartment