Dual-entry package for storage and display of food items

Abstract

The invention relates to a confectionery package for storage and display of confectionery items that includes: a box assembly comprising two half-box members ( 10, 11 ) arranged together in a substantially opposed arrangement with respect to a median plane when the box assembly is in closed position; a first series of confectionery items ( 20 ) and a second series of food items ( 21 ) housed within the box assembly and capable to substantially complementary fit together in an interlocked manner with respect to said median plane when they are in position of storage within the box assembly; and at least one partition member ( 3 ) arranged within the box assembly so as to separate the first and second series ( 20, 21 ) of confectionery items.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A food package for storage and display of food items which comprises: 
 a box assembly comprising first and second half-box members, each half-box member having a base, at least one sidewall, and a top edge defined by the edge of the sidewall(s) distal to the base, arranged together in a substantially opposed arrangement with respect to a median plane, defined by the top edge of a half-box member, when the box assembly is closed;    a first series of food items and a second series of food items housed within the box assembly, wherein said first and second series substantially fit together in an complementary interlocked manner with respect to the median plane when said food items are in position of storage within the box assembly; and    at least one partition member arranged within the box assembly so as to separate the first and second series of food items.    
     
     
         2 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the half-box members have identical structure.  
     
     
         3 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the sidewalls extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface and the top edge substantially half the height of the food items.  
     
     
         4 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the partition member has an indented shape and transverses the median plane.  
     
     
         5 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the partition member is has sufficient strength to support the food items of the first series in place when food items of the second series are removed and vice versa.  
     
     
         6 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the partition member has substantially rigid free ends forming bent flaps which are substantially parallel to and arranged in a sliding relationship with at least portions of the sidewall(s) of each half-box member so as to permit the half-box members to substantially assemble in a butt-jointed connection.  
     
     
         7 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the partition member has substantially rigid free ends forming bent flaps which are substantially parallel to and arranged in a sliding relationship with at least portions of the sidewall(s) and wherein the height of the bent flaps is substantially equal to the distance between the base and the top edge of the first half-box member plus the distance between the base and the top edge of the second half-box member.  
     
     
         8 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the series of food items are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows within the box assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The food package of    claim 8    wherein the number of rows of the two series are identical.  
     
     
         10 . The food package of    claim 8    wherein the partition comprises protrusions which are positioned, sized, and shaped to hold individual food items in a row at a distance from one another sufficient to allow gripping of an individual food portion by the sides to make it easier to remove the food item from the box.  
     
     
         11 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the food items have the cross-section of a triangle or trapezoid.  
     
     
         12 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the food items have a cross-section of right-angled triangles.  
     
     
         13 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the food items are confectionery items.  
     
     
         14 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the food items of the first series are of identical color and/or flavor, and the food items of the second series are different in color and/or flavor from the food items of the first series.  
     
     
         15 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the distance between the base and the top edge of the first half-box member is substantially the same as the distance between the base and the top edge of the second half-box member.  
     
     
         16 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the first and second series of food items are held securely in place when the container is closed.  
     
     
         17 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the first and second series of food items each travers the median plane and are of complementary shape so as to substantially fill the food package with not large voids.  
     
     
         18 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the partition comprises alternating vertical portions and slant portions; at least one of the first series and second series of food items have the cross-section of a triangle; and the length of the slant portions are substantially equal to the hypotenuse surfaces of the food items that have the cross-section of a triangle.  
     
     
         19 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the partition comprises a plurality of “N” shaped elements.  
     
     
         20 . The food package of    claim 1    wherein the first and second half-box members are held in place, when the box assembly is in closed position, at least in part by frictional resistance of the partition with the sidewall(s) of each half-box member.