Portion package

Abstract

A potion package with an improved dual compartment configuration for storing, shipping, and stacking food products is provided. The portion package includes three layers of flexible film that define a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment is formed by a first and a second layer of flexible film, and the second compartment is formed by the second and a third layer of flexible film. The second layer of flexible film shared by the opposing, superimposed compartments permits movement of the compartments relative to one another. The first compartment is filled with a granular material, such as unpopped popcorn, and the second compartment is filled with a fluid material, such as popcorn oil. The compartments are sized such that when an external force is applied to the container, the granular material and the fluid material are permitted to move within their respective containers, as well as with respect to one another, thereby distributing the external force and inhibiting rupture of the compartments.

1 . A container for containing an amount of a granular material and an amount of a fluid material adjacent to, but separate from one another, the container comprising: 
 first, second, and third layers of flexible film;    a first compartment having a sealed perimeter and formed by the first and second layers of flexible film, the first compartment for containing the granular material; and    a second compartment having a sealed perimeter and formed by the second and third layers of flexible film, the second compartment for containing the fluid material;    wherein the first and second compartments are sized to permit movement of the granular material and the fluid material within the first and second compartments and with respect to one another such that when an external force is applied to the container, the granular material and the fluid material are capable of moving within their respective compartments and with respect to one another to distribute the external force, thereby inhibiting the rupture of the compartments.    
     
     
         2 . The container of    claim 1    wherein the granular material comprises unpopped popcorn kernels and the fluid material comprises popping oil.  
     
     
         3 . The container of    claim 1    wherein the first, second, and third layers of flexible film are comprised of heat sealable film laminates.  
     
     
         4 . The container of    claim 1    wherein the first, second, and third layers of flexible film comprise a folded sheet of flexible film.  
     
     
         5 . The container of    claim 4    wherein two folds are formed by the folded sheet of flexible film, and the two folds act as seals for the container.  
     
     
         6 . The container of    claim 1    wherein each of the first, second, and third layers of flexible film is of a generally rectangular shape.  
     
     
         7 . The container of    claim 1    further comprising an easy-open top seal.  
     
     
         8 . The container of    claim 7    wherein the easy-open top seal comprises: 
 a notch tab formed by a portion of the sealed perimeter of the first and second compartments along a top seal of the container;  
 a notch margin positioned below the notch tab and formed by a portion of the top seal; and  
 a rip guide positioned between and defined by the notch tab and the notch margin.  
 
     
     
         9 . A container comprising: 
 a first compartment containing a volume of granular material, the first compartment defined by first and second opposing layers of flexible film forming a seal to one another about the granular material; and    a second compartment containing a volume of fluid material, the second compartment defined by the second layer of flexible film of the first compartment and a third layer of flexible film opposing the second layer of flexible film, the second and third layers of flexible film forming a seal to one another about the fluid material;    wherein the granular material and fluid material together occupy less than about 80% of the total capacity of the first and the first and second compartments.    
     
     
         10 . The container of    claim 9    wherein the granular material comprises unpopped popcorn kernels and the fluid material comprises popping oil.  
     
     
         11 . The container of    claim 9    wherein the first, second, and third layers of flexible film are comprised of heat sealable film.  
     
     
         12 . The container of    claim 9    wherein the first, second, and third layers of flexible film comprise a single folded sheet of flexible film.  
     
     
         13 . The container of    claim 12    wherein two folds are formed by the folded sheet of flexible film, and the two folds act as seals for the container.  
     
     
         14 . The container of    claim 9    wherein each of the first, second, and third layers of flexible film is of a generally rectangular shape.  
     
     
         15 . The container of    claim 9    further comprising an easy-open top seal.  
     
     
         16 . The container of    claim 15    wherein the easy-open top seal comprises: 
 a notch tab positioned along a top seal of the container defined by the seals formed by the first and second opposing layers of flexible film and the second and third opposing layers of flexible film;  
 a notch margin positioned below the notch tab and formed by a portion of the top seal; and  
 a rip guide positioned between and defined by the notch tab and the notch margin.  
 
     
     
         17 . A product container comprising: 
 first, second, and third layers of flexible film;    a first compartment having a sealed perimeter and formed by the first and second layers of flexible film;    an amount of unpopped popcorn within the first compartment;    a second compartment having a sealed perimeter and formed by the second and third layers of flexible film; and    an amount of oil within the second compartment;    wherein the popcorn kernels and oil together occupy less than about 80% of the total capacity of the first and the first and second compartments.    
     
     
         18 . The product container of    claim 17    wherein the popcorn kernels occupy less than about 60% of the total capacity of the first compartment and the oil occupies less than about 20% of the total capacity of the second compartment.  
     
     
         19 . The product container of    claim 17    wherein the first, second, and third layers of flexible film are comprised of heat sealable film.  
     
     
         20 . The product container of    claim 17    further comprising an easy-open top seal.