Divider and method for separating contents of a frozen liquid container

Abstract

There are several types of existing ice cream containers and the present invention represents improvement to the existing configuration of carton containers to enable the manufacture and packaging of two or more flavors of ice cream type products in one container. Ice cream is generally sold in 1 pint (16 ounce), cylindrical cartons some of which have a somewhat flat bottom, and a gently tapering conical side wall. Larger capacity containers such as 48 oz. round cardboard, 48 oz. round plastic 48 oz. tubs, 1.75 quart and ½ gal/two quarts containers are also commonly used. This invention provides a cardboard or plastic divider panel that is incorporated into any existing cartons that enables any size container to be divided into two or three flavor compartments depending on its size.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for a semi-fluid material which can be hardened by freezing, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical sidewall, defining a top opening and a bottom opening, the sidewall diverging outwardly between the bottom opening and the top opening;   a bottom joined to a lower portion of the generally cylindrical sidewall to seal the bottom opening;   a divider interposed substantially vertically between opposed sides of the generally cylindrical sidewall of the container, the divider sealingly attached to the opposed sides and the bottom, defining a first compart and a second compartment for containment of the semi-fluid material.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sidewall is rectangular. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the divider further comprises:
 a first flange formed along a lower edge of the divider;   a second flange formed along a vertical edge of the divider;   wherein the first is adhered to an inner surface of the bottom and the second flange is adhered to an inner surface of the sidewall.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are adhered to the container with an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is a food grade adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first flange and the second flange are adhered to the container with a weld. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the divider further comprises:
 a first score line defined spaced apart from the lower edge of the divider, wherein the first flange is formed by a fold of the lower edge of the divider along the first score line;   a second score line defined inwardly spaced from the vertical edge of the divider, wherein the second flange is formed by a fold of the vertical edge of the divider along the second score line.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein an opposed second flange extend from opposite sides of the divider. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a plurality of dividers adhered in a spaced apart relation along an interior length of the container to define more than two compartments.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lid to close the top opening. 
     
     
         11 . A method of containing a plurality of semi-fluid materials which can be hardened by freezing, comprising:
 providing a container having,
 a generally cylindrical sidewall, defining a top opening and a bottom opening, the sidewall diverging outwardly between the bottom opening and the top opening; 
 a bottom joined to a lower portion of the generally cylindrical sidewall to seal the bottom opening; 
 a divider interposed substantially vertically between opposed sides of the generally cylindrical sidewall, the divider sealingly attached to the opposed sides and the bottom, defining a first compart and a second compartment for containment of the semi-fluid material. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 filling the first compartment with a first semi-fluid material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 filling the second compartment with a second semi-fluid material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 freezing the first and the second semi-fluid materials.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 applying a lid to close the top opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first semi-fluid material is a first ice cream flavor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second semi-fluid material is a second ice cream flavor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 adhering a plurality of dividers in a spaced apart relation to define a plurality of compartments.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 filling each of the plurality of compartments with a dissimilar semi-fluid material.