Package having multiple sealed compartments

Abstract

A package has a pair of separated compartments for holding two elements. A container forms one compartment and has an opening with a flange there around. A first cover extends across and closes the opening by being attached to the flange. A second cover extends over the first cover and is attached to the flange, thereby forming a second compartment between the covers. A second element is contained within the second compartment. By detaching a first tab from the flange, the second cover attached to that tab can be removed from the container. The first cover is attached to a second tab of the flange and is removed by detaching the second tab from the container.

1 . A package comprising: 
 a container for receiving a first element and having an opening with a flange extending around the opening;    a first cover releasably attached to the container thereby closing the opening; and    a second cover extending over the first cover outwardly from the container and releasably attached directly to the container, wherein a compartment is formed between the first cover and the second cover within which a second element is received;    wherein second cover is removable from the container to provide access to the second element, and the first cover is separately removable from the container to provide access to the first element.    
   
   
       2 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first cover is releasably attached to the container.  
   
   
       3 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the container includes a flange extending around the opening and to which the first cover and the second cover are attached.  
   
   
       4 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first cover comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached to the container.  
   
   
       5 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second cover comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached directly to the container.  
   
   
       6 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the container has a first tab to which a portion of the second cover is attached, the first tab being removable from a remainder of the container to aid in removing at least a portion of the second cover from the container.  
   
   
       7 . The package as recited in  claim 6  wherein the container has a second tab to which a portion of the first cover is attached, the second tab being removable from a remainder of the container to aid in removing at least a portion of the first cover from the container.  
   
   
       8 . The package as recited in  claim 7  wherein the container has a first groove that aids in detaching the first tab, and has a second groove that that aids in detaching the second tab.  
   
   
       9 . The package as recited in  claim 7  further comprising indicia associated with one of the first tab and the second tab and indicating which tab to detach first in order to open the package.  
   
   
       10 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the container has a tab to which a portion of the first cover is attached, the tab being removable from a remainder of the container to aid in removing at least a portion of the first cover from the container.  
   
   
       11 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first element comprises a liquid and the second element comprises a solid.  
   
   
       12 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first element comprises one of communion wine and communion grape juice, and the second element comprises a communion wafer.  
   
   
       13 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first cover and the second cover are each attached directly to the container by adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first cover comprises a metallic foil.  
   
   
       15 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second cover comprises a plastic film.  
   
   
       16 . The package as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first cover and the second cover each comprises a sheet of material.  
   
   
       17 . A package comprising: 
 a container for receiving a first element and having an opening with a flange extending around the opening, the flange having a removable first tab and a removable second tab;    a first cover closing the container by releasable attachment to the flange and particularly to the second tab; and    a second cover extending over the first cover and releasably attached to the flange and particularly to the first tab at locations surrounding the first cover, wherein a compartment is formed between the first cover and the second cover within which a second element is received;    wherein second cover is removable from the flange by detaching the first tab to provide access to the second element, and the first cover is removable from the flange by detaching the second tab to provide access to the first element.    
   
   
       18 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the flange has a first groove that aids in detaching the first tab, and has a second groove that aids in detaching the second tab.  
   
   
       19 . The package as recited in  claim 17  further comprising indicia associated with one of the first tab and the second tab and indicating which tab to detach first in order to open the package.  
   
   
       20 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the first cover comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached directly to the flange of the container.  
   
   
       21 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the second cover comprises a sheet of material with a perimeter region attached directly to the flange of the container.  
   
   
       22 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein said first element comprises a liquid and the second element comprises a solid.  
   
   
       23 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein said first element comprises one of communion wine and communion grape juice, and the second element comprises a communion wafer.  
   
   
       24 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the first cover and the second cover are each attached directly to the container by adhesive.  
   
   
       25 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the first cover comprises a metallic foil.  
   
   
       26 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the second cover comprises a plastic film.  
   
   
       27 . The package as recited in  claim 17  wherein the first cover and the second cover each comprises a sheet of material.