Incremental Eating Container

Abstract

An incremental eating container. The incremental eating container can have a tubular body having a first end, a second end and enclosing a cavity, and at least one separation line defined in the tubular body and extending around the circumference thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An incremental eating container, comprising:
 a tubular body having a first end, a second end, a first longitudinal edge overlapping a second longitudinal edge and enclosing a cavity; and   a series of separation lines defined in the tubular body and extending around the circumference thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The incremental eating container of  claim 1 , wherein the series of separation lines commences proximate the first end, terminates proximate the second end, and is continuous therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The incremental eating container of  claim 1 , wherein the series of separation lines commences proximate the first end, terminates proximate the second end, and extends in a substantially helical path therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . An incremental eating container, comprising a series of adjacent strips, each having a first end, a second end, and a pair of longitudinal edges, the longitudinal edges of the strips being detachably coupled to each other along a portion of the length of the strip so as to create an integrated strip to form a tubular body wound in a substantially helical path around the axis, the tubular body enclosing a cavity for supporting food items therein. 
     
     
         5 . The incremental eating container of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first end of the integrated strip is disposed at a first end of the tubular body; and   the second end of the integrated strip is disposed at a second end of the tubular body.   
     
     
         6 . The incremental eating container of  claim 4 , wherein the transverse edges of the strip are detachably coupled to each other by at least one separation line. 
     
     
         7 . A blank for an incremental eating container, comprising:
 a first transverse edge;   a second transverse edge;   a first longitudinal edge;   a second longitudinal edge; and   at least one separation line having a first end at the first longitudinal edge and a second end at the second longitudinal edge, the separation line extending between the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of separation lines, each separation line having a first end at the first longitudinal edge and a second end at the second longitudinal edge and extending therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the first transverse edge and the second transverse edge is shaped so as to define a bite line. 
     
     
         10 . The blank for an incremental eating container of  claim 8 , further comprising internal partitions disposed within the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The blank of  claim 8 , further comprising a latch coupled thereto and receivable in a slit so as to maintain the shape of the incremental eating container. 
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of a separation line is aligned with the first end of an adjacent separation line. 
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein the separation line includes at least one portion extending parallel to a transverse edge of the blank and at least one portion extending at an oblique angle to the transverse edge of the blank. 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein the separation line includes at least one curvilinear portion. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one second separation line extending between the first transverse edge and the second transverse edge. 
     
     
         16 . A blank for an incremental eating container, comprising:
 a first transverse edge;   a second transverse edge;   a first longitudinal edge;   a second longitudinal edge; and   at least two adjacent segments, each segment having a first end proximate the first longitudinal edge and a second end proximate the second longitudinal edge, each segment extending between the first end and the second end;   wherein each segment is detachably coupled to at least one adjacent segment.   
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of a segment is aligned with the first end of an adjacent segment line. 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the segment includes at least one portion extending parallel to a transverse edge of the blank and at least one portion extending at an oblique angle to the transverse edge of the blank. 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the segment includes at least one curvilinear portion. 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 16 , further comprising a pull tab disposed at an end of at least one segment. 
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 16 , further comprising a latch coupled thereto and receivable in a slit so as to maintain the shape of the incremental eating container. 
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the transverse edges pivot to form end walls. 
     
     
         23 . The blank of  claim 16 , further comprising a liner. 
     
     
         24 . The blank of  claim 16 , further comprising internal partitions disposed within the cavity. 
     
     
         25 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the first end and the second end is shaped so as to define a bite line.