Multiple compartment package

Abstract

A multiple compartment package includes a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover, and an upper lid compartment opposing and engaging the tray with a peelable film sealing the bottom opening thereof. In one arrangement, the peelable film is removable from outside the package while the lid is opposing and engaging the top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary food product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment after the removable tray cover has been removed from the tray. Optionally, a hinge connects the lid to the tray. Further, a method is provided for preparing a food product which includes causing a secondary food product to flow into a lower tray compartment by peeling a peelable film off the bottom of a lid compartment so as to allow the secondary food product to be dispersed into the tray compartment with the primary food product. In another arrangement and method, the lid compartment may contain a hardened product which, after removal of covers over the lid compartment and tray compartment, will melt and fall onto the food product in the tray compartment when the package is heated.

1 . A multiple compartment package comprising: 
 a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment;    a lid opposing and engaging the tray, the lid having an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment; and    a peelable film covering the open bottom of the lid compartment, the peelable film of the lid compartment being removable from outside of the package while the lid is opposing and engaging the top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment, after the removable tray cover has been removed.    
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge joining the lid to the tray.  
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2 , further comprising a releasable connection between the lid and the tray, the releasable connection located opposite the hinge.  
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable connection between the lid and the tray holding the lid and tray together.  
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the peelable film comprises a first portion sealed to the lid and a second portion folded back over the first portion.  
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a second lid compartment with an open bottom opposite the tray compartment.  
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 6 , further comprising a second peelable film covering the open bottom of the second lid compartment.  
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the peelable film covers the open bottom of the second lid compartment.  
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a recess portion in an exterior bottom surface of the tray complementary in dimension to that of the lid compartment to thereby allow the package to be stacked on top of a second identically shaped package.  
   
   
       10 . A ready-to-eat food package comprising: 
 a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment;    a primary food disposed in the tray compartment;    a lid opposing and engaging the tray, the lid having an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment, and a peelable film covering the open bottom of the lid compartment; and    a secondary food disposed in the lid compartment,    wherein the peelable film of the lid compartment being removable from outside of the package while the lid is opposing and engaging the top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment, after the removable tray cover has been removed.    
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 10 , further comprising a hinge joining the lid to the tray.  
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 10 , further comprising a releasable connection between the lid and the tray holding the lid and tray together.  
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the peelable film comprises a first portion sealed to the lid and a second portion folded back over the first portion.  
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 10 , further comprising a second lid compartment with an open bottom opposite the tray compartment.  
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 14 , further comprising a second peelable film covering the open bottom of the second lid compartment.  
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the peelable film covers the open bottom of the second lid compartment.  
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 10 , further comprising a recess portion in a bottom surface of the tray complementary in dimension to that of the lid thereby allowing the package to be stacked on top of a second identically shaped package.  
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary food product has a flowable consistency.  
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary food product has a solid form.  
   
   
       20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the secondary food product is solid at room temperature and meltable upon heating.  
   
   
       21 . A multiple compartment package comprising: 
 a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment;    a lid opposing and engaging the tray, the lid having an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment;    a hinge joining the lid to the tray; and    a removable lid cover over the open bottom of the lid compartment.    
   
   
       22 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein said removable lid cover comprises a peelable film which is removable from outside of the package while the lid is opposing and engaging the top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment, after the removable tray cover has been removed.  
   
   
       23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the peelable film comprises a first portion sealed to the lid and a second portion folded back over the first portion.  
   
   
       24 . The package of  claim 21 , further comprising a releasable connection between the lid and the tray, the releasable connection located opposite the hinge.  
   
   
       25 . The package of  claim 21 , further comprising a second lid compartment with an open bottom opposite the tray compartment.  
   
   
       26 . The package of  claim 21 , further comprising a recess portion in an exterior bottom surface of the tray complementary in dimension to that of the lid compartment to thereby allow the package to be stacked on top of a second identically shaped package.  
   
   
       27 . A multiple compartment package comprising: 
 a tray having an open top tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment;    a lid opposing and engaging the tray, the lid having an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment;    a removable lid cover over the open bottom of the lid compartment; and    a recess portion in an exterior bottom surface of the tray complementary in dimension to that of the lid compartment to thereby allow the package to be stacked on top of a second identically shaped package.    
   
   
       28 . The package of  claim 27 , wherein said removable lid cover comprises a peelable film over the open bottom of the lid compartment which is removable from outside of the package while the lid is opposing and engaging the top of the tray, to thereby dispense a secondary product contained therein onto a primary food product in the tray compartment, after the removable tray cover has been removed.  
   
   
       29 . The package of  claim 27 , further comprising a hinge joining the lid to the tray.  
   
   
       30 . The package of  claim 27 , further comprising a releasable connection between the lid and the tray holding the lid and tray together.  
   
   
       31 . The package of  claim 27 , further comprising a second lid compartment with an open bottom opposite the tray compartment.  
   
   
       32 . A ready-to-eat food package comprising: 
 a tray having an open top tray compartment, a primary product in the tray compartment and a removable tray cover sealing the tray compartment; and    a lid opposing and engaging the tray, the lid having an open bottom lid compartment opposite the tray compartment, a secondary product in the lid compartment and a removable lid cover covering the open bottom of the lid compartment, the secondary product in the lid compartment being hard at room temperature and meltable when heated,    wherein the secondary product contained in the lid compartment is dispensable onto the primary food product in the tray compartment after the removable tray covers have been removed and the package is heated.    
   
   
       33 . The package of  claim 32 , further comprising a hinge joining the lid to the tray.  
   
   
       34 . The package of  claim 32 , further comprising a releasable connection between the lid and the tray holding the lid and tray together.  
   
   
       35 . The package of  claim 32 , further comprising a second lid compartment with an open bottom opposite the tray compartment.  
   
   
       36 . The package of  claim 32 , further comprising a recess portion in an exterior bottom surface of the tray complementary in dimension to that of the lid compartment to thereby allow the package to be stacked on top of a second identically shaped package.  
   
   
       37 . A method of preparing a food product comprising the steps of: 
 taking a lower tray with an open top tray compartment and a primary food therein;    taking a lid having an open bottom which is placed over the tray and a secondary food product therein, and a peelable film covering the open bottom, and    with the lid engaged onto the tray, causing the secondary food product to flow into the tray compartment by peeling the peelable film off of the bottom of the lid compartment so as to allow the secondary food product to be dispensed into the tray compartment with the primary food.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the lid comprises a tertiary food product contained in a second lid compartment separate from the secondary food product, and the method further comprises peeling a second peelable film off the bottom of the second lid compartment so as to allow the tertiary food product be dispensed into the tray compartment with the primary food.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the lid comprises a tertiary food product contained in a compartment separate from the secondary food product, and said method further comprises continuing peeling the peelable film off of the bottom of the lid compartment so as to allow the tertiary food product to be dispensed into the tray compartment with the primary food.  
   
   
       40 . A method of preparing a food product in a package, said method comprising the steps of: 
 taking a lower tray of the container with an open top tray compartment, a primary food therein, and a removable tray cover covering the tray compartment;    taking a lid of the package, which lid has an open bottom which is placed over the tray and a secondary food product therein, and a removable lid cover covering the open bottom, the secondary product being hardened at room temperature and meltable when heated, and    with the lid engaged onto the tray, and both removable covers removed, heating the package to cause the secondary product to melt, to cause the secondary food product to flow into the tray compartment to be dispensed onto the primary food product in the tray compartment.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said heating comprises placing the package in a microwave oven to melt the secondary food product.