Quick access pocket for shopping bags

Abstract

A primary bag that can be used for holding the majority of purchased items includes an integral or attachable secondary container that may contain items related to the purchase. For use in the fast food industry, the secondary container is used to house finger food to allow a customer, easy, safe and undisruptive access to snack items that can be consumed on the way to his or her destination.

1 . An apparatus for containing items, the apparatus comprising:
 a main compartment that is operable to receive a first item;   a secondary compartment that is smaller than the first compartment and is operable to receive a second item; and   the secondary compartment being accessible external to the main compartment and providing easy access to the second item.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main compartment is a paper bag. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary compartment is integral to the paper bag. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary compartment is attachable to the side of the paper bag. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary compartment is a pocket fixedly attached to the side of the paper bag. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the paper bag includes a front, a back, a left side and a right side with the front and the back having the same dimensions and the left side and right side having the same dimensions, the width of the front and back being larger than the width of the left side and right side, and the pocket being fixedly attached to the front or back. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pocket is attached to the lower portion of the front or back of the paper bag. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket is expandable. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pocket is comprised of a heavier stock material than the paper bag. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pocket is fixedly attached by adhering one surface of the pocket to one surface of the paper bag. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main compartment is a paper bag and the secondary compartment is formed by creating an opening in the side of the paper bag and affixing a panel to the interior surface of the paper bag over the opening, thereby creating a pocket. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary compartment is a pocket including an extension, and wherein the extension of the pocket can be folded with the top of the paper bag when closing the paper bag, thereby securing the pocket to the paper bag. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary compartment is a pocket including an extension, and wherein the extension of the pocket is adhered to a surface of the paper bag. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary compartment is constructed of a material having thermal characteristics. 
   
   
       15 . A container including a main compartment and a secondary compartment, the container comprising:
 a first plurality of surfaces defining the interior of the main compartment, the main compartment including an opening providing access to the interior of the main compartment;   a second plurality of surfaces defining the interior of the secondary compartment, the secondary compartment including an opening that is external to the interior of the main compartment and provides access to the interior of the secondary compartment.   
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the main compartment is a paper bag and the secondary compartment is a paper pocket adhered to an exterior surface of the paper bag. 
   
   
       17 . A method for providing safe access to a plurality of items that have been purchased for consumption, the method comprising:
 placing a first plurality of items into a main compartment of a container;   placing a second plurality of items into a secondary compartment of the container; and   closing the opening of the main compartment leaving access to the secondary compartment readily available without having to open the main container.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein prior to the step of placing the second plurality of items into the secondary compartment, a seller inquires of a purchaser whether the purchaser desires to receive the second plurality of items. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second plurality of items is finger food and the seller's inquiry is an indication that for an increased purchase price, the purchaser can obtain the finger food placed into the secondary opening. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the finger food is french fries and the seller's inquiry includes asking the purchaser if the purchaser would like to purchase ride-along-fries.