Two Compartment Plastic Containers and Food Product Pack Comprising Such Containers

Abstract

The container ( 1 ) for a dairy product or similar food composition is provided with a hollow body ( 2 ), a bottom ( 2 a ) and an opening ( 6 ) typically surrounded by a generally planar annular flange ( 7 ) connected to the top of the body. Two flexible closure lids ( 15, 20 ) are used to define with the side wall of the body an upper compartment that extends between the two lids. The lower compartment is filled with the food composition. The inner lid ( 15 ) has an annular outer portion which is in continuous annular contact with an inner shoulder of the side wall ( 4 ) and extends upwardly from a central covering portion. A spoon ( 18 ) or other solid content may be provided in the upper compartment, below the outer lid ( 20 ). Several identical containers ( 1 ) can be grouped in a pack with breakable junctions at an outer side edge of the flange.

1 . A two compartment container for a food composition, comprising:
 a body comprising a bottom and a side wall extending along a longitudinal axis from the bottom to a top, the body being a thermoplastic hollow body;   a first annular surface formed on an interior face of the side wall, the first annular surface extending between the bottom and the top of the hollow body;   a generally planar second annular surface surrounding an upper opening of the container;   a first flexible closure lid, sealed on the first annular surface so that a lower compartment is defined between the bottom and the first flexible closure lid; and   a second flexible closure lid, sealed on the second annular surface so that an upper compartment is defined at the opposite from the bottom between the first flexible closure lid and the second flexible closure lid;   wherein the side wall is provided with an inner shoulder that defines a slope and wherein the first flexible closure lid comprises:   a central covering portion that defines an upper limit of the lower compartment;   an annular rim; and   an annular outer portion that comprises the annular rim and extends upwardly from the central covering portion to the annular rim, said annular outer portion being in continuous annular contact with the inner shoulder.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises an upper portion and a lower portion the upper portion being connected to the lower portion via the inner shoulder which is rounded to define a curved connection profile between the lower portion and the upper portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the side wall is annularly covered by a decorative strip. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the side wall is provided with more than one radius of curvature above the lower portion and below the top of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner shoulder has a constant height which is superior or equal to 2 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible closure lid is a one-piece foil of a film material and the annular outer portion is folded with respect to the central portion, and wherein the second flexible closure lid is a one-piece foil. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular rim of the first flexible closure lid is axially spaced from the top of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible closure lid comprises a flap adapted for removing the first flexible closure lid from the first annular surface, the flap protruding radially outwards and/or inwards in a folded state, the flap comprising a free end that extends at a distance from the inner shoulder. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , comprising a generally planar annular flange integral with the body and connected to the top of the body, the flange defining the second annular surface and comprising an inner edge that defines the upper opening of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein the flange has a constant thickness which is higher than the thickness of the side wall at the inner shoulder. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has a flanged cup-like shape and is stretched from a plastic sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower compartment is filled with a food composition and the upper compartment contains an article in a solid state. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second flexible closure lid and an upper portion of the side wall comprises a transparent material or a semi-transparent material so that the upper compartment can be viewed before removal of the second flexible closure lid. 
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A food pack comprising a plurality of containers for a food composition, wherein each of the containers is a two compartment container and comprises:
 a body comprising a bottom and a side wall extending along a longitudinal axis from the bottom to a top, the body being a thermoplastic hollow body;   a first annular surface formed on an interior face of the side wall, the first annular surface extending between the bottom and the top of the body;   a generally planar second annular surface surrounding an upper opening of the container;   a first flexible closure lid, sealed on the first annular surface so that a lower compartment is defined between the bottom and the first flexible closure lid; and   a second flexible closure lid, sealed on the second annular surface so that an upper compartment is defined at the opposite from the bottom between the first flexible closure lid and the second flexible closure lid;
 wherein the side wall is provided with an inner shoulder that defines a slope and wherein the first flexible closure lid comprises: 
   a central covering portion that defines an upper limit of the lower compartment;   an annular rim; and   an annular outer portion that comprises the annular rim and extends upwardly from the central covering portion to the annular rim, said annular outer portion being in continuous annular contact with the inner shoulder; and   
       wherein
 each of the containers comprises a generally planar annular flange integral with the body and defining the second annular surface, and 
 said containers are arranged in at least one row and separably joined to each other at a junction of two flange portions of two distinct containers of the pack. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of making a two-compartment container, using a container having a bottom and an upper opening and a cavity defined by a thermoplastic hollow body, the method comprising:
 providing the thermoplastic hollow body with a side wall extending along a longitudinal axis from the bottom to a top, the side wall having on an interior face thereof a first annular surface and an inner shoulder that defines a slope, and providing the thermoplastic hollow body with a generally planar second annular surface surrounding the upper opening;   filling the cavity defined by the thermoplastic hollow body with a food composition entirely below the inner shoulder;   shaping a first flexible closure lid according to a 3D shape when attaching an annular outer portion of the first flexible closure lid to the inner shoulder, in order to seal a lower compartment of the container, a central covering portion of the first flexible closure lid defining an upper limit of the lower compartment, the annular outer portion extending upwardly from the central covering portion to an annular rim and continuously contacting the inner shoulder;   positioning through the upper opening a solid content into an upper compartment of the container above the first flexible closure lid;   closing the upper opening and sealing the upper compartment by attaching a second flexible closure lid to an upper end of the thermoplastic hollow body, the second flexible closure lid being sealed on the second annular surface and defining an upper limit of the upper compartment.