Packaging for Selling and Preparing a Combined Food Product

Abstract

A packaging system and method for selling and preparing a food product that is a combination of two or more food items. The system comprises a first container having a first food item therein, a second container having a second food item therein and a mechanism for disconnectedly joining the first container and the second container together. In use, the containers are separated, the food items are separately prepared and at least one of the food items is removed from its container and combined with the other food item to form the desired food product. The joining mechanism can comprise pull-tab devices, threaded connections, slot and pin connections, hook-and-loop connections and the like. A discharging mechanism can assist with discharging a food item from its container. One or more of the containers can be converted into a bowl-like or plate-like receptacle for preparing or consuming the food product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product, said packaging system comprising:
 a first container enclosing a first food item, said first container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said first container and a top wall at an upper end of said first container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said first food item;   a second container enclosing a second food item, said second container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said second container and a top wall at an upper end of said second container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said second food item, said second food item selected so as to be combined with said first food item to produce said combined food product; and   joining means interconnecting one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said first container to one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said second container for disconnectedly joining said first container to said second container.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a first container tab attached to at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said first container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said first container and removing said first food item therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 1  further comprising a second container tab attached to at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said second container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said second container and removing said second food item therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 1  further comprising means associated with said second container for discharging said second food item from said interior chamber thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 4 , wherein discharging means comprises an aperture in said top wall of said second container and a push disk in said interior chamber of said second container, said push disk disposed between said top wall and said second food item and configured to facilitate pushing said second food item out of said interior chamber when force is applied to an upper surface of said push disk through said aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first container and said second container is configured to be converted into a bowl-like receptacle or a plate-like receptacle that is adaptable for preparing and/or consuming said combined food product thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said joining means comprises a pull-tab connector device having a tape section configured to join said first container to said second container and a tab connected to said tape section to facilitate removal of said tape section from at least one of said first container and said second container. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said joining means comprises internal threads on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and external threads on the other of said first container and said second container so as to threadably connect said first container to said second container. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said joining means comprises a hook members section on one of said first container and said second container and a loop members section on the other of said first container and said second container. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said joining means comprises one or more slots on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and cooperatively disposed pins on the other of said first container and said second container so as to lockedly connect said first container to said second container. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging system for selling and preparing a combined food product, said packaging system comprising:
 a first container enclosing a first food item, said first container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said first container and a top wall at an upper end of said first container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said first food item;   a first container tab attached to one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said first container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said first container and removing said first food item therefrom;   a second container enclosing a second food item, said second container having one or more sidewalls, a bottom wall at a lower end of said second container and a top wall at an upper end of said second container, said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior chamber sized and configured to enclose said second food item, said second food item selected so as to be combined with said first food item to produce said combined food product;   a second container tab attached to one of said top wall and said bottom wall of said second container to facilitate opening said interior chamber of said second container and removing said second food item therefrom; and   joining means interconnecting one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said first container to one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said second container for disconnectedly joining said first container to said second container.   
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 11  further comprising an aperture in said top wall of said second container and a push disk in said interior chamber of said second container, said push disk disposed between said top wall and said second food item and configured to facilitate pushing said second food item out of said interior chamber when force is applied to an upper surface of said push disk through said aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first container and said second container is configured to be converted into a bowl-like receptacle or a plate-like receptacle that is adaptable for preparing and/or consuming said combined food product thereon. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein said joining means comprises a pull-tab connector device, said pull-tab connector device having a tape section configured to join said first container to said second container and a tab connected to said tape section to facilitate removal of said tape section from at least one of said first container and said second container. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein said joining means comprises internal threads on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and external threads on the other of said first container and said second container so as to threadably connect said first container to said second container. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein said joining means comprises a hook members section on one of said first container and said second container and a loop members section on the other of said first container and said second container. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein said joining means comprises one or more slots on a peripheral wall disposed on one of said first container and said second container and cooperatively disposed pins on the other of said first container and said second container so as to lockedly connect said first container to said second container. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preparing a combined food product, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a first container having a first food item therein and a second container having a second food item therein, said first container and said second container having a joining means interconnecting one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said first container to one of said sidewalls, said bottom wall and said top wall of said second container for disconnectedly joining said first container and said second container together;   b) separating said first container from said second container;   c) preparing as necessary said first food item in said first container and said second food item in said second container; and   d) combining said first food item with said second food item so as to produce said combined food product.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of converting at least one of said first container and said second container into one of a bowl-like receptacle and a plate-like receptacle prior to or after said preparing step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said second container has a discharging means associated therewith for discharging said second food item from said second container and said method comprises the step of pressing downward onto an upper surface of a push disk disposed in an interior chamber of said second container between a top wall thereof and said second food item therein so as to force said second food item out of said second container through an open lower end thereof before said combining step.