US3637130A

US3637130A - Container and blanks for making same

Info

Publication number: US3637130A
Application number: US62263A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melville T Farquhar
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1970-08-10
Filing date: 1970-08-10
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25

Abstract

A food container is provided having a bottom wall, a top wall, and a pair of end walls arranged at opposite ends of the top and bottom walls. Each of the end walls is comprised of an inner flap having a substantially lenticular configuration which defines a lenticular cross-sectional configuration for the container. A divider flap is foldably connected to and made from material initially comprising a part of the top wall, with the divider flap extending between the bottom wall and top wall and defining a compartment on each side thereof. The container has weakening means provided in its top wall enabling severing of material comprising the top wall to define a comparatively large access opening on each side of the divider flap for easy access into each compartment; and, upon severing such material the lenticular extension flaps and bottom wall enable the container to be used as a deep substantially leak-proof serving dish.

Description

United States Patent Farquhar [451 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] CONTAINER AND BLANKS FOR 3,161,342 12/1964 Wenzel 0229/28 MAKING SAME 3,324,998 6/1967 Farquhar ..229/28 X [72] Inventor: Melville T. Farquhar, Chesterfield Coun- Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead ty, Va. Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs & Thompson [73] Assignee: szynolds Metals Company, Richmond, [57] ABSTRACT A food container is provided having a bottom wall, a top wall, [22] Flled' 1970 and a pair of end walls arranged at opposite ends of the top [21] Appl. No.: 62,263 and bottom walls. Each of the end walls is comprised of an inner flap having a substantially lenticular configuration which defines a lenticular cross-sectional configuration for the con [52] US. Cl ..229/28, 229/52 B, 229/8, tainet A divider flap is foldably conneced to and made from 206/46 206/45 206/72 material initially comprising a part ofthe top wall, with the di- [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/48, B65d 3/00, B65d 1/34 vider flap extending between the bottom wall and mp wall and Fleldl 0 Search 8, 28, B; F, defining a compartment on each Side thereof. The container 206/4514 72 has weakening means provided in its top wall enabling severing of material comprising the top wall to define a compara- [5 6] References cued tively large access opening on each side of the divider flap for UNITED STATES PATENTS easy access into each compartment; and, upon severing such material the lenticular extension flaps and bottom wall enable 2,966,293 12/1960 Goldsholl ..229/8 X the container to be used as a deep substantially leak-proof 3,010,571 11/1961 Transport.. serving dish 3,089,590 5/1963 Mell ..229/8 X 22 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 3 5O 4O 2 42 23 52 39 40 /A a 22 2 v s k 1 g 35 g 2 3 53 PATENIEU Jmzsmz sum 1 Q INVENTOR. MELVILLIE T FARQU HAR HIS ATTORNEYS SHEU 2 MF Q INVENTOR. MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJANZSEJYZ 37,130 sum 30F INVENTOR. MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTED M25197? 363K130 SHEET m 4 55A k Mm I F INVENTOR. MELVILiLE T. FARQUHAR BY 6!?) HIS ATTORNEYS CONTAINER AND BLANKS FOR MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are numerous retail establishments such as carryout restaurants which sell sandwiches such as hamburgers, French fried potatoes, and beverages which depend upon fast service for their very existence. Many of these restaurants use rectangular trays of conventional construction which have vertical dividers therein defining open-top compartments within which various wrapped sandwiches, foods packaged in bags, and paper receptacles or cups are placed for carrying purposes. These conventional trays are generally not suitable for use as serving dishes. Further, an excessive number of paper bags, wrappers, rectangular trays, and the like, are required when packaging these foods using present containers. In addition, an excessive amount of time is required to package these carryout food products using present containers.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved food container, and blanks for making same, which is of simple and economical construction and may be preassembled and knocked down in flat form for storage and handling and easily expanded for use without requiring separate fastening means. The food con trainer is particularly adapted for containing sandwiches, French fried potatoes, beverages, and the like, and has a bottom wall, a top wall, and a pair of end walls arranged at opposite ends of the top and bottom walls. Each of the end walls is comprised of an inner flap having a substantially lenticular configuration which defines a lenticular cross-sectional configuration for the container. A divider flap is foldably connected to and made from material initially comprising a part of the top wall and the divider flap extends between the bottom wall and top wall and defines a compartment on each side thereof. The container has weakening means provided in its top wall enabling severing of material comprising the top wall to define a comparatively large access opening on each side of the divider flap for easy access into each compartment; and, upon severing such material the lenticular extension flaps and bottom wall enable the container to be used as a substantially leak-proof serving dish.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the embodiments thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show present exemplary em bodiments of this invention, in which FIG. I is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the container of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank used to make the container of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container of FIG. I as preassembled and knocked in flat form for transportation and storage;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the container of FIG. 5 in an expanded condition and the manner in which French fried potatoes, or the like, may be packaged in a compartment defined in one end portion thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which each end of the container may be closed after placing a product within an adjoining compartment thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing a sandwich such as a hamburger being packaged in a compartment provided in the end of the container opposite from the French fried potatoes;

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the manner in which a plurality of containers substantially identical to the container of FIG. I may be stacked vertically;

FIG. I0 is a perspective view showing integral flaps comprising the top wall of the container of FIG. I severed open to provide access to food packaged within the compartments of such container so that the container may be used as a serving dish;

FIG. II is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the container of this invention;

FIG. I2 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 with the flaps initially comprising part of the top wall of the container of FIG. II opened to provide easy access to the interior of the container and showing by dot-dash lines a sandwich in one end of the container, French fried potatoes in the opposite end of the container, and a cup containing a beverage in the center of such container;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating only the center portion of the container of FIG. II and showing an enlargement flap initially comprising part of the container top wall pushed within such container so that a larger beverage cup may be carried in the center portion of the container; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view ofa blank which may be used to make the container of FIG. Ill.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIGS. I and 2 of the drawings which illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a food carton or container of this invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The package or container 20 comprises an outwardly convex bottom wall 21, an outwardly convex top wall 22, and a pair of end walls each designated generally by the reference numeral 23 arranged at opposite ends of the top and bottom walls and each having a generally outwardly concave configuration.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, each end wall 23 is comprised of an inner substantially lenticular extension flap 24 having an outer edge 25 which engages the inside surface of the top wall 22 and in this example the flap 24 is foldably connected to the bottom wall 21 along an arcuate fold line 26. The outer edge 25 of the flap 24 has a straight portion 27 whereby once the flap 24 is folded in position the remainder of its edge 25 engages the inside surface of the top wall 22 causing the container 20 to be expanded so that it too has a substantially lenticular cross-sectional configuration, i.e., has a cross-sectional configuration similar to a double convex lens.

The container 20 has a divider flap 3'0 foldably connected to its top wall 22 along an arcuate fold line 31 and the flap 30 is defined by providing a roughly U-shaped cut 32 in the material comprising top wall 22 whereby the flap 30 is made from material initially comprising a part of such top wall 22. The flap 30 extends between the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 21 so that its outer edge engages the inside surface of the bottom wall 211 and helps define the lenticular cross-sectional configuration in the center portion of container 20. The flap 30 defines a compartment in the container 20 on each side thereof and in this example a compartment 33 is defined in the space beneath the initial position of the flap 30 and another compartment 34 is defined in the opposite end portion of the container 20. Each

compartment

33 and 34 is particularly adapted to contain an associated product such as a food product and in this example the compartment 33 is used to contain a wrapped sandwich, such as a hamburger S and the compartment 34 is used to contain French fried potatoes P, or the like, see FIG. 3.

In addition to its inner lenticular flap 24, each end wall 23 is also comprised of an outer portion defined as an extension flap 35 which extends downwardly from its associated end of the top wall 22. Each extension flap 35 has a base defined by a arcuate fold line 36 and the fold lines 36 also define opposite end edges of the top wall 22. Each extension flap 35 is folded so that an inside surface thereof is against an associated lenticular flap 24 arranged therebeneath to define an associated end wall 23 having a double thickness: throughout practically the entire wall.

Each flap 35 also has an outer or terminal edge 37 which defines a support at each end of the container 20, see FIG. 3, and each edge 37 comprises a planar edge whereby upon placing the container 20 on an associated flat surface it has optimum stability. In addition, because each end wall 23 and hence each flap 35 is arranged in an outwardly concave arcuate path such flap has greater columnar strength than would otherwise be provided if each flap 35 and end wall 23 were to be planar whereby the container 20 is capable of supporting heavier loads without damage to its flaps or supports 35.

As will be apparent particularly from FIGS. 1,4 and 5 of the drawings, the container 20 has weakening means provided in its top wall 22 which enable severing of material comprising the top wall to provide a comparatively large access opening on each side of the divider flap 30 and hence provide easy access into each

compartment

33 and 34. In particular, the weakening means in the top wall 22 comprise a plurality of spaced cuts or slits 40 arranged over the compartment 34 in a substantially I-I-shaped tear line. The slits 40 defining the substantially parallel tear lines or legs 41 of the H-shaped pattern each has an angled configuration and a pair of parallel fold lines 42 are provided at opposite ends of the legs 41 and for a purpose to be described subsequently. The slits 40 defining the transverse tear line or leg 43 of the H-shaped pattern 39 are defined as elongated slits arranged in a rectilinear path.

The weakening means provided in the top wall 22 over the compartment 33 comprise a plurality of spaced angled cuts or slits 44 which define a substantially continuous tear line 45 across the full width of the top wall 22 and a plurality of aligned straight slits 44 are arranged in a substantially rectilinear path from the center of the tear line 45 to the center of a bight 46 comprising the U-shaped cut 32 to define a tear line 47. The tear line 47 is arranged substantially in alignment with, though spaced from, the tear line 43 over the compartment 34.

The container 20 has a pair of apertures or holes 50 provided therein, see FIG. 1, and each aperture or opening 50 of this example extends into an associated

compartment

33 or 34 and has a circular peripheral outline. The apertures 50 enable easy insertion of objects such as ones fingers therethrough and serve as handle means for the filled container 20. The apertures 50 may also be used as a means for severing through the weakening means or lines provided in the top wall 22 to provide easy access into the container 20 and hence the food products carried therewithin. The aperture 50 associated with the compartment 34 is provided in the central portion of tear line or transverse leg 43 comprising the H-shaped pattern and it is a simple matter to insert ones fingers through such opening and sever a pair of

flaps

51 and 52 defined by opposite ends of the H-shaped tear line or pattern 39. The

flaps

51 and 52 are folded outwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. for easy access to the food in the compartment 34.

The aperture 50 associated with compartment 33 also enables easy insertion of a finger therethrough and a flap 53 defined by both one end of the tear line 45 and tear line 47 may be pulled upwardly and folded about one end portion of a fold line 54 which defines one edge of the top wall 22. Similarly, a flap 55 defined by the opposite end of line 45 and the line 47 may be severed and folded about a portion of fold line 56 which defines the opposite edge of the top wall 22. Once the

flaps

53 and 55 are folded upwardly and outwardly, a comparatively large access opening is provided for the compartment 33. Thus, with the

flaps

51, 52, 53, and 55 folded outwardly, the container may be used as a serving dish.

The container 20 may be formed in any suitable manner and made from any suitable foldable material, such as cardboard, paperboard, foldable plastic, etc. The container 20 is preferably made from the paperboard blank 60 illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings and such blank may have either one or both sides thereof laminated with a moisture impervious material such as metallic foil. In this example the blank 60 has aluminum foil 61 laminated to a surface thereof which defines the inside surface of the container, see FIGS. 2 and 3. The

metallic foil layer prevents grease from the food products contained within the container 20 from wicking or otherwise absorbing through the paperboard comprising the main body of the container to thereby prevent staining or other damage to clothing and other articles that might come into contact with the container 20.

The blank 60 has a substantially rectangular peripheral outline whereby a minimum amount of structural material is required; and the blank has a fastening flap 62 extending outwardly from the fold line 56 which defines one edge of its top wall 22. The flap 62 may be fastened in position using any suitable adhesive means and essentially in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 so as to define a prefastened container. For simplicity and ease of presentation, the component portions of the blank 60 have been designated by the same reference nu merals as in the container 20 whereby it will not be necessary to repeat the detailed description of these in connection with the blank 60.

The blank 60 may be easily fastened and the container 20 made therefrom expanded or erectedand filled with food in a highly efficient manner which is not possible using previously proposed cartons, paper bags, trays and the like. In particular, the container 20 is prefastened merely by fastening flap 62 into position to define a flattened tube as shown in FIG. 5 and a plurality of such tubes may be stored and transported in a minimum of space.

The flattened tube of FIG. 5 is easily expanded merely by pushing inwardly on its oppositely side edges as indicated by the arrows 63 in FIG. 6 whereupon the divider flap 30.is folded inwardly so that its outer edge engages the inside surface of the bottom wall 21 and holds such bottom wall and top wall 22 so that the container 20 has a lentic ular cross-sectional configuration. With the container 20 thus expanded, French fried potatoes, for example, are packaged in compartment 34 by holding the expanded container vertically in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 and using an associated funnel 64, or the like. Once the compartment 34 has been filled the lenticular flap 24 provided at the associated end is folded inwardly as illustrated in FIG. 7 followed by inward folding of the outer flap 35 as indicated by the arrow at 65. The container 20 is then held in a substantially horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 8 whereupon the sandwich S is inserted within the compartment 33 and the lenticular flap 24 is then folded in position followed by folding of the associated flap 35 to thereby close the container 20.

As seen in FIG. 3, each flap 35 has an arcuate inside surface indicated at 66 which extends beneath the bottom wall 21. The extended flap 35 with its inside surface 66 lends itself to vertical stacking of a plurality of containers 20 as illustrated in FIG. 9 by engaging the inside surface 66 against an associated arcuate outside surface portion 67 defining the upper portion of an extension flap 35 comprising an identical container 20 arranged therebeneath.

As previously explained, the apertures 50 are used as handle means for the container 20 and to facilitate severing of associated

flaps

51 or 52 of compartment 34, or flaps 53 and 55 of compartment 33 to provide a large access opening for each of such compartments; however, such apertures 50 are also used as steam vents for hot food contained within these compartments.

As previously explained, the entire inside surface of the container 20 is lined with metallic foil. Because of the inwardly concave configuration of the inside surface of the top wall 22 any condensation that occurs on such inside surface easily runs down toward the outer edges of the top wall. In addition, it will be seen that the lenticular flaps 24 and the bottom wall 21 cooperate to define a comparatively deep serving dish once the weakening means in the top wall 22 have been severed and the associated flaps folded outwardly. Further, because the container 20 is made from a single piece of foldable material lined with moisture impervious metallic foil defining its inside surface, it is virtually impossible for liquids such as grease, dressing for salads, or the like, to leak out of the container because it would be necessary for such a liquid to accumulate above the height of the opposite side edges of the bottom wall 22 and, as a practical matter, there would be no accumulation of liquid to this height, whereby the useable serving dish made from the container 20 may, for all practical purposes, be considered liquidtight.

Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FlGS. lll-l4l of the drawings. The carton or container illustrated in FIGS. 1lll l is very similar to the carton 20; therefor, such carton will be designated generally by the reference numeral 20A and parts of the container 20A which are similar to corresponding parts of the container 20 will be designated by the same reference numeral as in the container 20 also followed by the letter designation A and not described again. Only those component parts which are different from corresponding parts of the container 20 will be designated by a new reference numeral also followed by the letter designation A and described in detail.

The container 20A has another divider 72A foldably connected to and made from the material initially comprising a part of the top wall 22A and the divider 72A is in the form ofa flap which is hinged on an arcuate fold line 73A which defines the base of the divider or flap 72A. The remainder of the flap 72A is defined by a substantially U-shaped cut 74A having a bight 75A and a pair of outwardly extending legs 76A adjoining opposite ends of the bight with the ends of the legs 76A terminating on opposed ends of the fold line 73A. The flap 72A has a swinging outer edge 80A defined by the bight 75A of cut 74A and such outer edge has an arcuate configuration which corresponds to the outwardly convex configuration of the bottom wall 21A whereby the flap 72A cooperates with the flap A to hold the bottom wall 211A and top wall 22A so that they have a substantially lenticular configuration as viewed either from an end thereof or in cross section.

The flap 72A serves to divide the compartment to the right of the divider flap 30A, as viewed in FIG. 12 of the drawings, into a pair of

smaller compartments

81A and 85A and the compartment 81A is particularly adapted to contain a beverage receptacle or cup C in an upright manner. The peripheral edge portions defined by the bight 75A and outwardly extending legs serve as retaining edges along three sides and the flap 72A supports the cup C on the fourth side to assure such cup is held in an upright manner.

The container 20A has what will be referred to as an enlargement flap 82A comprising an integral part of the top wall 22A and the enlargement flap has a base which is defined by an arcuate fold line 83A which, in this example, has a configuration which corresponds to and is the reverse of the fold line 73A of the flap 72A. The enlargement flap 72A has its terminal edge defined by the bight 75A of the U-shaped cut 74A and side edge portions 89A defined by parallel rectilinear cuts MA with each cut 84A being defined essentially as an extension of a cut 76A aligned therewith.

The container 20A is particularly adapted to contain a cup C of a regular size merely by folding its divider fiap 72A inwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12 of the drawings. However, it will be appreciated that a larger cup, also designated by the letter C, may be easily supported in position in the container 20A by folding the enlargement flap 82A inwardly toward the bottom wall ZllA together with the divider flap 72A and as illustrated in FlG. 13 of the drawings. in essence. the enlargement flap 82A enables increasing the size of the cutout provided in the top of the compartment 81A so that it may readily receive the larger cup therethrough.

The bottom wall 21A of the container 20A has an outwardly convex configuration and the inside surface of such bottom wall has a corresponding inwardly concave configuration. However, the bottom edge ofa standard cup is usually a circu lar peripheral outline and is arranged in one plane whereby it is not possible to support the bottom of such a cup on the inside surface of the bottom wall 21A in a stable manner, To solve this problem, a pair of symmetrically arranged arcuate cuts 86A are provided in spaced relation on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the bottom wall ZllA and the arcuate cuts 86A of this example have the same radius and extend over substantially the same arcuate length. The arcuate cuts 86A enable a portion 87A of the bottom wall 211A which is arranged inwardly of the outline of each cut 86A to be pushed beneath or outwardly of the outside convex surface of the bottom wall 21A, as shown at MM in FIG. l3 whereby a substantially planar platform is provided in the center portion of the bottom wall 21A which enables a cup C to be supported thereon in a stable manner.

With the exception of the center compartment which is adapted to receive either a small or large cup, the container 20A is substantially identical to the container 20 and may be filled with French fried potatoes P at one end and a sandwich S at its opposite end, for example, :in a similar manner as described in connection with the container 20 whereupon an associated cup C may be suitably supported in the center of container 20A.

The container 20A may be made in any suitable manner and from any suitable foldable material; however, such container is preferably made from the blank 90A illustrated in FIG. 14 of the drawings. Except for the center portion of blank 90A which has another divider flap 72A and an enlargement flap 82A together with the slits hoA provided in the bottom wall 21A, the blank 90A is similar to the blank 60 illustrated in FIG. t. Thus, the component portions of the blank 90A will be given the same reference numerals as component portions of the blank 60 of FlG. 4, Also, for simplicity, all component portions of the blank 90A have been given the same reference characters as corresponding portions of the container 20A made therefrom and such component portions will not be described in detail, because the previous description is sufficient to enable the construction of blank 90A to be easily understood.

The flap 30 of the container 20 and

flaps

30A and 72A of the container 20A have been made by providing what have been referred to as substantially U-:shaped cuts in the associated top wall. However, it will be appreciated that such U- shaped cuts need not necessarily be continuous and small por tions or fastening areas may be provided as indicated at 91A in FIG. 14 for the flap 72A, for example, whereupon these small portions or points enable the top wall of each container to be held together as a single substantially continuous surface. Once it is desired to expand the associated container, these fastening portions are easily severed merely by pushing the associated flap inwardly.

The weakening means defining the various tear lines in the top wall of the

containers

20 and 20A have been presented with particular configurations and using angled as well as straight cuts in this disclosure; however, it will be appreciated that these weakening means may be provided in any suitable manner known in the art.

While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope ofthe following claimsv What is claimed is:

11. A food container comprising, a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of end walls arranged at opposite ends of said top and bottom walls, each of said end walls being defined by a substantially lenticular flap extending from said bottom wall and having an outer edge which engages said top wall to define a lenticular cross-sectional configuration for said container, a divider flap foldably connected to and made from material comprising a part of said top wall, said divider flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall and defining a compartment on each side thereof, and weakening means in said top wall enabling severing ofmaterial comprising said top wall to define an access opening on each side of said divider flap for easy access into each compartment, said lenticular flaps and bottom wall defining a comparatively deep serving dish upon defining said access openings.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said divider flap also has a substantially lenticular configuration which helps maintain the lenticular configuration of the center portion of said container.

3. A container as set forth in claim I and further comprising a pair of extension flaps extending from opposite ends of said top wall, each extension flap being folded against an associated lenticular flap and cooperating therewith to define an associated end wall, and each of said extension flaps having an outer edge which defines a support at each end of said container.

4. A container as set forth in claim 3 in which each extension flap terminates in a planar edge which provides optimum stability for said container and each extension flap has an arcuate inside surface which extends beneath said bottom wall, said arcuate inside surface being particularly adapted to engage an arcuate outside surface of an extension flap comprising a container arranged therebeneath to enable vertical stacking of a plurality of containers which are identical to said container.

5. A container as set forth in claim I made from a single piece of paperboard having a moisture impervious inside surface which prevents liquids comprising food contained within said container from weakening said paperboard and the single piece construction of said container assuring said liquids cannot leak at the junction of said lenticular flaps and bottom wall.

6. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising an aperture in said top wall and extending into one of said compartments, said aperture serving as a vent for hot food contained in said one compartment and enabling easy insertion of a finger therethrough for carrying of said container.

7. A container as set forth in claim 6 in which said weakening means comprises a plurality of spaced slits arranged in a substantially H-shaped pattern with said aperture comprising a central leg of said H-shaped pattern and enabling easy severing of said top wall between said slits to define an associated access opening into said one compartment.

8, A container as set forth in claim I and further comprising a pair of apertures in said top wall each extending into an associated compartment, each aperture cooperating with an associated portion of said weakening means to enable severing of a portion of said top wall to provide an access opening into an associated compartment, and said apertures serving as handle means for said container.

9. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising another divider flap foldably connected to and made from material initially comprising a part of said top wall, said other divider flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall and dividing one of said compartments into a pair of smaller compartments, with one of said smaller compartments having a cutout therein defined by said material initially comprising a part of said top wall, and said cutout being adapted to receive an associated receptacle therethrough.

10. A container as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising an enlargement flap defined as an integral part of said top wall and being adapted to be folded within said one smaller compartment to increase the size of said cutout and enable receipt of a larger receptacle therethrough.

11. A container as set forth in claim 10 in which said other divider flap has a base defined by an arcuate fold line and the remainder thereof defined by a substantially U-shaped cut in said top wall having a bight and outwardly extending legs with ends of the outwardly extending legs of said cut terminating on said arcuate fold line.

12. A container as set forth in claim 11 in which said enlargement flap has a base defined by another arcuate fold line which is similar to and the reverse of said first-named arcuate fold line and the remainder thereof defined by said bight of said U-shaped cut and a pair of cuts extending beyond and aligned with said outwardly extending legs of said U-shaped cut.

13. A container as set forth inclaim 9 in which each of said divider flaps has a substantially lenticular configuration including an outwardly convex outer edge and said outwardly convex outer edges engage the inside surface of said bottom wall enabling said divider flaps to help maintain the lenticular configuration of the center portion of said container.

14. A container as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a pair of symmetrically arranged cuts in said bottom wall on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline thereof, each of said symmetrically arranged cuts enabling material arranged inwardly of the outline thereof to be pushed outwardly to define a substantially planar supporting platform for said receptacle.

15. A blank being cut and scored and adapted to be assembled to define a resulting container, said blank comprising. a pair of foldably connected walls defining a bottom wall and a top wall in said resulting container, a pair of substantially lenticular flaps extending from opposite ends of said bottomwall with each lenticular flap having an outer edge which is adapted to engage said top wall to define a lenticular crosssectional configuration for said resulting container, a divider flap foldably connected to and made from material comprising a part of said top wall, said divider flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall of said resulting container and defining a compartment on each side thereof, and weakening means in said top wall enabling severing of material comprising said top wall to define an access opening on each side of said divider flap for easy access into each compartment of said resulting container, said lenticular flaps and bottom wall cooperating in said resulting container to define a comparatively deep serving dish upon defining said access openings.

16. A blank as set forth in claim 15 in which said divider flap also has a substantially lenticular configuration which helps maintain the lenticular configuration of the center portion of said resulting container.

17. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a pair of extension flaps extending from opposite ends of said top wall, each extension flap being folded against an associated lenticular flap and cooperating therewith define an associated end wall in said resulting container, and each of said extension flaps having a planar outer edge which is arranged beneath the bottom wall of said resulting container and defines a stable support therefor.

18. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising an aperture in said top wall and extending into an associated compartment of said resulting container, said aperture serving as a vent for hot food contained in said resulting container and enabling easy insertion of a finger therethrough for carrying thereof.

19. A blank as set forth in claim 18 in which said weakening means comprises a plurality of spaced slits arranged in a substantially H-shaped pattern with said aperture comprising a central leg of said H-shaped pattern and enabling easy severing of said top wall between said slits to define an associated access opening into said associated compartment of said resulting container.

20. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising another divider flap foldably connected to and defined as an integral part of said top wall, said other divider flap being adapted to be extended between said top wall and said bottom wall in said resulting container and dividing one of said compartments into a pair of smaller compartments, with one of said smaller compartments having a cutout therein defined by said other divider flap, and in said resulting container said cutout is adapted to receive an associated receptacle therethrough.

21. A blank as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising an enlargement flap defined as an integral part of said top wall and being adapted to be folded in said resulting container within said one smaller compartment to increase the size of said cutout and enable receipt of a larger receptacle therethrough.

22. A blank as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising a pair of symmetrically arranged cuts in said bottom wall on upposite sides of a longitudinal centerline thereof, each of said symmetrically arranged cuts enabling material arranged inwardly of the outline thereof to be pushed outwardly in said resulting container to define a substantially planar supporting platform for said receptacle.

Claims

1. A food container comprising, a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of end walls arranged at opposite ends of said top and bottom walls, each of said end walls being defined by a substantially lenticular flap extending from said bottom wall and having an outer edge which engages said top wall to define a lenticular cross-sectional configuration for said container, a divider flap foldably connected to and made from material comprising a part of said top wall, said divider flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall and defining a compartment on each side thereof, and weakening means in said top wall enabling severing of material comprising said top wall to define an access opening on each side of said divider flap for easy access into each compartment, said lenticular flaps and bottom wall defining a comparatively deep serving dish upon defining said access openings.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a pair of extension flaps extending from opposite ends of said top wall, each extension flap being folded against an associated lenticular flap and cooperating therewith to define an associated end wall, and each of said extension flaps having an outer edge which defines a support at each end of said container.

4. A container as set forth in claim 3 in which each extension flap terminates in a planar edge which provides optimum stability for said container and each extension flap has an arcuate inside surface which extends beneath said bottom wall, said arcuate inside surface being particularly adapted to engage an arcuate outside surface of an extension flap comprising a container arranged there beneath to enable vertical stacking of a plurality of containers which are identical to said container.

5. A container as set forth in claim 1 made from a single piece of paperboard having a moisture impervious inside surface which prevents liquids comprising food contained within said container from weakening said paPerboard and the single piece construction of said container assuring said liquids cannot leak at the junction of said lenticular flaps and bottom wall.

8. A container as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a pair of apertures in said top wall each extending into an associated compartment, each aperture cooperating with an associated portion of said weakening means to enable severing of a portion of said top wall to provide an access opening into an associated compartment, and said apertures serving as handle means for said container.

13. A container as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said divider flaps has a substantially lenticular configuration including an outwardly convex outer edge and said outwardly convex outer edges engage the inside surface of said bottom wall enabling said divider flaps to help maintain the lenticular configuration of the center portion of said container.

15. A blank being cut and scored and adapted to be assembled to define a resulting container, said blank comprising, a pair of foldably connected walls defining a bottom wall and a top wall in said resulting container, a pair of substantially lenticular flaps extending from opposite ends of said bottom wall with each lenticular flap having an outer edge which is adapted to engage said top wall to define a lenticular cross-sectional configuration for said resulting container, a divider flap foldably connected to and made from material compRising a part of said top wall, said divider flap extending between said top wall and said bottom wall of said resulting container and defining a compartment on each side thereof, and weakening means in said top wall enabling severing of material comprising said top wall to define an access opening on each side of said divider flap for easy access into each compartment of said resulting container, said lenticular flaps and bottom wall cooperating in said resulting container to define a comparatively deep serving dish upon defining said access openings.

17. A blank as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a pair of extension flaps extending from opposite ends of said top wall, each extension flap being folded against an associated lenticular flap and cooperating there with to define an associated end wall in said resulting container, and each of said extension flaps having a planar outer edge which is arranged beneath the bottom wall of said resulting container and defines a stable support therefor.

22. A blank as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising a pair of symmetrically arranged cuts in said bottom wall on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line thereof, each of said symmetrically arranged cuts enabling material arranged inwardly of the outline thereof to be pushed outwardly in said resulting container to define a substantially planar supporting platform for said receptacle.