Package with internal divider and outer closure

Abstract

A package having an internal divider seated within a base and an outer closure. The divider defines a first compartment within an internal volume of the base, and the outer closure defines a second compartment between the divider and the outer closure. The base and divider are configured so that the divider snap-locks into the base.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A package comprising:
 a thermoformed base having a bottom, a peripheral wall extending upwardly from a periphery of said bottom and defining an open upper end, said base defining an internal volume;   a thermoformed inner divider seated within said base to define a first compartment between said bottom and said divider within said internal volume, said divider disposed below said open upper end; and   an outer closure on said base and closing said open upper end to define a second compartment between said divider and said outer closure;   wherein said base includes a snap-fit channel formed in at least a portion of said peripheral wall, below said open upper end of said the base and above said bottom of said base; said snap-fit channel spaced below said outer closure seated on said base; and   wherein said divider is snap-locked to said base and includes a shoulder at a periphery of the divider received by said snap-fit channel.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said divider comprises an inner lid configured to close said first compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said divider includes a generally planar wall having a peripheral edge and said shoulder at a periphery of said wall. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said divider includes a peripheral side extending upwardly from the periphery of said wall and forming said peripheral edge, wherein said shoulder is formed on said peripheral side below said peripheral edge. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said peripheral side includes a vertical portion and a horizontal portion above said shoulder, said horizontal portion extending outwardly from an upper end of said vertical portion to form a peripheral lip extending around at least a portion of said divider, and said lip including said peripheral edge. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5  wherein said snap-fit channel is formed by a channel shoulder formed in the at least a portion of said peripheral wall, said shoulder defining an undercut that allows said channel to receive said shoulder on said divider, with said channel shoulder of said base fitting closely against a top of said shoulder on said divider. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 5  wherein said vertical portion confronts and extend above said channel shoulder of said base and said lip overlies said channel shoulder of said base. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said snap-fit channel is an annular structure extending entirely around the periphery of said base, and said shoulder is an annular structure extending entirely around the periphery of said wall. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein said peripheral edge has an outer shape that closely follows an inner shape of said peripheral wall of said base. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said snap-fit channel is a U-shaped structure extending around a portion of said peripheral wall, and said shoulder is a U-shaped structure extending around a portion of said the periphery of said divider, and wherein said divider comprises a free edge unattached to said base. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said divider extends over one of: approximately half of said bottom of said base; less than half of said bottom of said base; less than ⅓ of said bottom of said base; less than ¼ of said bottom of said base; more than half of said bottom of said base; more than ⅔ of said bottom of said base; or more than ¾ of said bottom of said base. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said outer closure comprises a thermoformed outer lid snap-locked to said base. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12  wherein said snap-fit channel is a first snap-fit channel, and said base includes a second snap-fit channel disposed above the first snap-fit channel, and wherein said outer lid includes a shoulder received by said second snap-fit channel. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13  wherein said second snap-fit channel is formed by a channel shoulder formed in said peripheral wall, said shoulder defining an undercut that allows said channel to receive said shoulder on said outer lid, with said channel shoulder fitting closely against a top of said shoulder on said outer lid. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said outer closure comprises a film sealed with said base, and wherein said film comprises at least one continuous layer of material that is airtight, and wherein said film has a thickness of 0.01-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein said base includes a flange extending around at least a portion of said open upper end, outwardly from said peripheral wall, and a rim disposed on said flange, wherein said film is sealed to said rim. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said divider comprises a lifting tab provided on said periphery of said divider and extending outwardly beyond said shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said divider comprises a partition dividing said second compartment into at least two separate sub-compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18  wherein said divider includes a generally planar wall having a peripheral edge, and said partition is formed by an elongated concavity in said wall. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said shoulder is configured to snap into said channel to provide an audible indication that said divider has been secured to said base.