Two-piece nested inverted dome cup

Abstract

A multiple cup container device for separately storing two consumables to be later consumed together, has a first cup for storing a first consumable and a second cup for storing a second consumable. Each cup has a flange about its open end. The first cup's flange has a recess therein within which the second cup flange is nested. The nested flanges provide a continuous flat surface there across without any gaps between the flanges. A removable cover seals the container device and removably secures the second cup within the first cup. After removal of the cover, the second cup can be removed from the first cup. The second consumable may then be dispensed within the first cup to allow both consumables to be consumed from the first cup.

1 . A multiple cup container device for separately storing two consumables to be later consumed together, comprising: 
 a first cup for storing a first consumable, said first cup having a first sidewall with a top end and an opposite bottom end with a closed bottom, said first sidewall having a first flange formed around said top end of said first sidewall, said first flange defining an opening to the interior of said first cup, said first flange having top surface and a recess formed in said top surface along the inner periphery of said first flange, said recess having a bottom surface and edge wall surface;    a second cup for storing a second consumable, said second cup having a second sidewall with a first end and a opposite end with a closed bottom, said second sidewall having a second flange formed around said first end of said second sidewall of said second cup defining an opening to said second cup, said second flange extending outwardly from said second sidewall of said second cup, and said second flange having a top surface and a outer peripheral edge,    said second flange of said second cup removably positioned within said recess of said first cup with said peripheral edge of said second flange abutting said edge wall surface of said recess of said first flange,    a cover for said container device, said cover removably positioned over said first and second flanges to seal said container device and removably secure said second cup within said first cup, said second cup being removable from said first cup to allow said second consumable to be dispensed from said second cup into said first cup for consumption of said first and second consumables from said first cup.    
   
   
       2 . The container device of  claim 1  wherein said top surface of said first flange and said top surface of said second flange provide a continuous flat surface, and said cover is attached to said top surfaces of said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       3 . The container device of  claim 1  wherein said first sidewall of said first cup has an inner surface and an outer surface, said first sidewall having an outwardly extending shoulder located between said bottom end of said first sidewall and said top end of said sidewall, said first sidewall having a top section of said first sidewall above said shoulder and bottom section of said first sidewall below said shoulder, said first cup having an upper compartment and a lower compartment below said upper compartment, said upper compartment having a first opening at one end to provide said container device opening and a second opening at the other end to provide an opening to said lower compartment, said lower compartment defined at least in part by the bottom of said first cup and the inner surface of said lower section of said first sidewall, said upper compartment defined at least in part by said inner surface of said upper section of said first sidewall, said outer surface of said lower section of said first sidewall of said first cup having a circumference which is smaller than the circumference of said outer surface of said upper section of said first sidewall, said smaller circumference of said lower section facilitating the holding of said first cup and providing a first cross sectional area for said lower compartment, said larger circumference of said upper section providing a second cross sectional area for said upper compartment which is greater than said first cross sectional area of said lower compartment to facilitate said dispensing of said second consumable into said first cup and to facilitate removing said first and second consumables from said first cup during consumption.  
   
   
       4 . The container device of  claim 3  wherein said second cup is mounted within said upper compartment of said first cup.  
   
   
       5 . The container device of  claim 4  wherein said second cup acts to seal said first cup when mounted therein.  
   
   
       6 . The container device of  claim 4  wherein said second flange has a thickness which is approximately equal to the depth of said recess formed in said first flange.  
   
   
       7 . The container device of  claim 6  where in said first cup and said second cup are formed by thermoforming a plastic material.  
   
   
       8 . The container device of  claim 7  wherein said cover comprises a relatively thin, flexible metalized plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The container device of  claim 1  wherein said cover is adhered to said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       10 . The container device of  claim 4  wherein said upper compartment provides a space into which said second consumable can be dispensed after removal of said second cup from said first cup, said increased diameter of said upper compartment acting to reduce the likelihood of spilling from said first cup during mixing of said first and second consumables and during consumption of said first and second consumables from said first cup.  
   
   
       11 . The container device of  claim 4  wherein said first cup has at least one compartment with a generally frusta-conical shape, and said second cup has a generally frusta-conical shape.  
   
   
       12 . The container device of  claim 11  wherein said first cup and said second cup are of a thermoformed plastic material.  
   
   
       13 . A container device for at least two separate consumables comprising: 
 a first cup for storing a first consumable, said first cup having a hollow interior and a open top end;    a second cup for storing a second consumable, said second cup having sidewall with a top end and a bottom end, a closed bottom at said bottom end of said sidewall, and an open end at said top end of said sidewall, said sidewall having a outer surface and a inner surface forming a hollow interior in said second cup,    said second cup sidewall having a lower section and an upper section,    said second cup having a lower compartment for said storing of said second consumable, said lower compartment defined at least in part by said inner surface of said lower section of said sidewall,    said second cup having an upper compartment, said upper compartment defined at least in part by said inner surface of said upper section of said sidewall, said first cup removably mounted within said upper compartment,    said upper compartment having a first cross sectional area and said lower compartment having a second cross sectional area which is less than said first cross sectional area, p 1  said lower section of said sidewall of said second cup having a periphery about its outer surface which allows convenient gripping within a human hand,    said first cup mounted in said upper compartment and removable therefrom to allow dispensing said first consumable into said upper compartment for consumption with said second consumable from said second cup,    a removable cover for sealing said first and second cups, said cover also removably securing said first cup within said upper compartment of said second cup.    
   
   
       14 . The container device of  claim 13  wherein said first cup has a second sidewall with a first flange around said second sidewall at said open top end, said flange extending outward from said second sidewall and having a top surface and a peripheral edge, 
 said second cup sidewall having a second flange adjacent said open end, said second flange extending outwardly from said sidewall and having a top surface, and a recess appearing in said top surface of said second flange, said recess having a bottom surface and an edge wall,    said first cup first flange being mounted into said second cup second flange recess.    
   
   
       15 . The container device of  claim 14  wherein said peripheral edge of said first flange abuts against said second flange recess edge wall when said first cup is mounted within said second cup.  
   
   
       16 . The container device of  claim 15  wherein said cover is removably adhered to said top surfaces of said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       17 . The container device of  claim 16  wherein said first and second top surfaces form a generally flat and generally continuous surface across the top of said container.  
   
   
       18 . The container device of  claim 14  wherein said first cup has a generally frusta-conical shape, and said second cup has at least one compartment with a generally frusta-conical shape.  
   
   
       19 . The container device of  claim 18  wherein said first cup and said second cup are of a thermoformed plastic material.