US2018044092A1PendingUtilityA1

Single-serve condiment container and associated method

54
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 9, 2016Filed: Jul 28, 2017Published: Feb 15, 2018
Est. expiryAug 9, 2036(~10 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael Lemcke
A47G 19/04B65D 1/26B65D 5/3685B65D 81/3205B65D 5/48002
54
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A container comprises a wall and a floor. The wall has an upper rim defining an opening for receiving a foodstuff. The floor and the wall together define a chamber for containing the foodstuff. An inward fold is formed in the floor such that a portion of the floor projects into the chamber and such that a full-length crevice is defined by the floor. At least a portion of the opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating non-planar contours, such as cooperating zigzag or serpentine contours.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a wall having an upper rim defining an opening for receiving a foodstuff; and   a floor, the floor and the wall together defining a chamber for containing the foodstuff;   wherein an inward fold is formed in the floor such that a portion of the floor projects into the chamber and such that a full-length crevice is defined by the floor; and   wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating non-planar contours.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a selectively removable lid affixed to the upper rim of the wall and closing off the opening when affixed.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a foodstuff contained in the chamber and retained in the chamber by the affixed lid.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a top edge of the inward fold is positioned below the upper rim of the wall a sufficient distance to enable the foodstuff to readily flow over the top edge of the inward fold between a first side of the chamber and a second side of the chamber without overflowing the upper rim of the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the crevice is selected to enable the container to sit snugly on an upper rim of another larger foodstuff container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating zigzag or serpentine contours such that at least a portion of the crevice has a zigzag or serpentine shape. 
     
     
         7 . A container comprising:
 a wall having an upper rim defining an opening for receiving a foodstuff; and   a floor, the floor and the wall together defining a chamber for containing the foodstuff;   wherein an inward fold is formed in the floor such that a portion of the floor projects into the chamber and such that a full-length crevice is defined by the floor; and   wherein a width of the crevice is selected to enable the container to sit snugly on an upper rim of another larger foodstuff container.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a selectively removable lid affixed to the upper rim of the wall and closing off the opening when affixed.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a foodstuff contained in the chamber and retained in the chamber by the affixed lid.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein a top edge of the inward fold is positioned below the upper rim of the wall a sufficient distance to enable the foodstuff to readily flow over the top edge of the inward fold between a first side of the chamber and a second side of the chamber without overflowing the upper rim of the wall. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating non-planar contours. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating zigzag or serpentine contours such that at least a portion of the crevice has a zigzag or serpentine shape. 
     
     
         13 . A container comprising:
 a wall having an upper rim defining an opening for receiving a foodstuff; and   a floor, the floor and the wall together defining a chamber for containing the foodstuff;   wherein an inward fold is formed in the floor such that a portion of the floor projects into the chamber and such that a full-length crevice is defined by the floor; and   wherein a top edge of the inward fold is positioned below the upper rim of the wall a sufficient distance to enable the foodstuff to readily flow over the top edge of the inward fold between a first side of the chamber and a second side of the chamber without overflowing the upper rim of the wall.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a selectively removable lid affixed to the upper rim of the wall.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a foodstuff contained in the chamber and retained in the chamber by the affixed lid.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein a width of the crevice is selected to enable the container to sit snugly on an upper rim of another larger foodstuff container. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating non-planar contours. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating zigzag or serpentine contours such that at least a portion of the crevice has a zigzag or serpentine shape. 
     
     
         19 . A method of serving a condiment, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a container comprising:
 a wall having an upper rim defining an opening; 
 a floor, the floor and the wall together defining a chamber; 
 a selectively removable lid affixed to the upper rim of the wall and closing off the opening when affixed; and 
 a condiment contained in the chamber and retained in the chamber by the lid when affixed; 
 wherein an inward fold is formed in the floor such that a portion of the floor projects into the chamber and such that a full-length crevice is defined by the floor; 
   (b) removing the lid from the upper rim of the wall; and   (c) inserting a portion of an upper rim of a French fry cup into the crevice such that the container sits on the upper rim of the French fry cup.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a top edge of the inward fold of the container is positioned below the upper rim of the wall a sufficient distance to enable the condiment to readily flow over the top edge of the inward fold between a first side of the chamber and a second side of the chamber without overflowing the upper rim of the wall. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a width of the crevice is selected to enable the container to sit snugly on the upper rim of the French fry cup. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating non-planar contours. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of opposing sides of the inward fold have cooperating zigzag or serpentine contours such that at least a portion of the crevice has a zigzag or serpentine shape.

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