Separable containers arranged in arrays with integrally formed lids

Abstract

An integrally formed ensemble of interconnected, separable containers and associated lids is adapted for use as disposable containers for condiments, sauces, and the like. The interconnected assembly typically includes a first plurality of containers arranged in a first linear array and a second plurality of containers arranged in a second linear array wherein the first linear array and the second linear array are secured to each other by way of a plurality of tear portions. First and second pluralities of lids are hinged to the containers and outwardly disposed with respect thereto such that the lids and containers are balanced during a fill operation.

1 . An integrally formed ensemble of interconnected separable containers and associated lids comprising: 
 (a) a first plurality of containers arranged in a first linear array each container comprising a cup and a lid adjoined thereto, said containers being separably adjoined to each other by a first plurality of tear portions, each of said first plurality of containers having an upper cup aperture, a cup sidewall and a cup bottom and further including means for securing its associated lid about its upper cup aperture;    (b) a second plurality of containers arranged in a second linear array, each container comprising a cup and a lid adjoined thereto, said containers being separably adjoined to each other by a second plurality of tear portions, each of said second plurality of containers having an upper cup aperture, a cup sidewall and a cup bottom and including means for securing its associated lid about its upper cup aperture; 
 wherein said first linear array of said first plurality of containers is secured to said second linear array of said second plurality of containers by way of a third plurality of tear portions arranged along a medial axis between said first linear array of said first plurality of containers and said second linear array of said second plurality of containers;  
   (c) there being thus provided a first plurality of lids hinged to said first plurality of cups, said first plurality of lids being arranged in a third linear array, generally parallel to the medial axis between the container arrays, said third linear array of said first plurality of lids being generally disposed and hinged along the sides of the first plurality of containers opposite to the sides adjacent the medial axis between said first linear array of said first plurality of containers and said second linear array of said second plurality of containers; 
 each of said first plurality of lids being adapted to cooperate with the means for securing it to its associated cups of the first plurality of containers to provide sealed cup, lid assemblies upon pivotal motion of the lid about its hinge to the upper cup aperture of its associated cup of the first plurality of containers;  
   (d) and there being thus further provided a second plurality of lids hinged to said second plurality of containers, said second plurality of lids being arranged in a fourth linear array generally parallel to the medial axis between the container arrays, said fourth linear array of said second plurality of lids being generally disposed along the sides of the second plurality of containers opposite to the sides adjacent the medial axis between said first linear array of said first plurality of containers and said second linear array of said second plurality of containers; 
 each of said second plurality of lids being adapted to cooperate with the means for securing it to its associated cup of the second plurality of containers to provide sealed cup, lid assemblies upon pivotal motion of the lid about its hinge to the upper cup aperture of its associated cup of the second plurality of containers, the third linear array of said first plurality of lids and the fourth linear array of said second plurality of lids being thus generally distally and symmetrically disposed with respect to the medial axis between the first linear array of the first plurality of containers and the second linear array of the second plurality of containers.  
   
   
   
       2 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth plurality of tearable portions connecting said first plurality of lids to each other and a fifth plurality of tearable portions connecting said second plurality of lids to each other.  
   
   
       3 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second plurality of lids has a tab portion projecting outwardly with respect to said medial axis of the ensemble and wherein the tabs of said first plurality of lids are linearly offset with respect to the tabs of said second plurality of lids and configured such that the tabs of said first and second plurality of lids will lie along the medial axis adjacent each other when the first and second plurality of lids are pivoted to the medial axis.  
   
   
       4 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , made from a thermoplastic composition comprising a polystyrene polymer composition.  
   
   
       5 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 4 , wherein said polystyrene polymer composition comprises high impact polystyrene.  
   
   
       6 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 4 , wherein said polystyrene polymer composition comprises rubberized polystyrene.  
   
   
       7 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 4 , wherein said polystyrene polymer composition is oriented polystyrene.  
   
   
       8 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , made from a thermoplastic composition comprising a polyolefin polymer.  
   
   
       9 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 8 , wherein said polyolefin polymer is polypropylene.  
   
   
       10 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 8 , wherein said polyolefin polymer is polyethylene.  
   
   
       11 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , made from a thermoplastic composition comprising polyethylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       12 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper cup apertures of said first and second plurality of containers is substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       13 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 12 , wherein the bottom portion of each of said first and second plurality containers are substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       14 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second plurality of containers have upwardly convex cup bottom portions.  
   
   
       15 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second plurality of lids are provided with recesses configured to engage the cup bottoms of said first and second plurality of containers.  
   
   
       16 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for securing associated lids about their corresponding cups comprises a plurality of ridges disposed about the upper cup apertures of said first and second plurality of containers.  
   
   
       17 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said first and second pluralities of lids are provided with grooves configured to engage the ridges disposed about the upper cup apertures of said first and second pluralities of containers.  
   
   
       18 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 17 , wherein said grooves and said ridges have mating profiles.  
   
   
       19 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second pluralities of containers include a stacking ledge of uniform width at an upper portion of their interiors.  
   
   
       20 . The integrally formed ensemble according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper cup apertures of said first and second plurality of containers substantially define a planar region about said medial axis.