Container with hinged compartment

Abstract

A container comprises a primary compartment, an auxiliary compartment, and a hinge. The primary compartment includes a principle wall, a first lateral wall, and a primary compartment opening opposite the principle wall. The auxiliary compartment includes a first wall and a second wall extending away from each other, and an auxiliary compartment opening extending between the first wall and the second wall. The hinge rotatably couples the primary compartment to the auxiliary compartment such that the auxiliary compartment is rotatably between an open position and a closed position. When the auxiliary compartment is in the closed position, the auxiliary compartment opening faces and is substantially covered by the first lateral wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a primary compartment including a principle wall, a first lateral wall, and a primary compartment opening opposite the principle wall;   an auxiliary compartment including a first wall and a second wall extending away from each other, and an auxiliary compartment opening extending between the first wall and the second wall; and   a hinge rotatably coupling the primary compartment to the auxiliary compartment such that the auxiliary compartment is rotatably between an open position and a closed position;   wherein when the auxiliary compartment is in the closed position, the auxiliary compartment opening faces and is substantially covered by the first lateral wall.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a locking tab extends away from the auxiliary compartment opposite the primary compartment,   the locking tab includes one of a locking indentation and a locking protrusion,   the principle wall includes an other one of the locking indentation and the locking protrusion, and   the locking indentation selectively receives the locking protrusion to frictionally maintain the auxiliary compartment in the closed position.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to be stood on a shelf in a display orientation such that the primary compartment is supported on top of the auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein when the container is in the display orientation, the container is configured such that only the hinge and the auxiliary compartment contact the shelf and the remainder of the container extends upwardly from the hinge and the auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral wall of the primary compartment is angled relative to the principle wall at least 120 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the auxiliary compartment opening is defined in a plane, and the plane is angled relative to the second wall at an angle that is supplementary to the angle at which the first lateral wall of the primary container is angled at relative to the principle wall. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the first wall and the second wall of the auxiliary compartment extend substantially perpendicularly relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral wall of the primary compartment is angled relative to the principle wall at a first angle, the auxiliary compartment opening is defined in a plane, and the plane is angled relative to the second wall at a second angle that is supplementary to the first angle. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid selectively couplable to the primary compartment about the primary compartment opening.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the container is formed of a single piece of substantially transparent material, and when the lid is removed from the primary compartment opening, the lid is coupled to and extends away from the primary compartment opposite the auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the container is configured to be stood on a shelf in a display orientation such that the primary compartment is supported on top of the auxiliary compartment, and the lid is positioned along a plane less than about 25 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an adhesive label applied to each of the lid, the auxiliary compartment and the principle wall of the primary compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein when the container is in the display orientation, both the primary compartment and the auxiliary compartment are positioned behind the lid of the container such that the primary compartment and the auxiliary compartment are positioned substantially entirely behind the lid when the container is viewed from a position in front of the lid of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed of a single piece of substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , in combination with a consumable product stored in the primary compartment and accessory items stored in the auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , in combination with a consumable product stored in the primary compartment and silverware stored in the auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         17 . A packaged product comprising:
 a primary compartment including a principle wall, a first lateral wall, and a primary compartment opening opposite the principle wall;   a consumable item stored in the primary compartment;   an auxiliary compartment including a first wall and a second wall extending away from each other, and an auxiliary compartment opening extending between the first wall and the second wall;   at least one accessory item stored in and selectively removable from the auxiliary compartment; and   a hinge rotatably coupling the primary compartment to the auxiliary compartment such that the auxiliary compartment is rotatably between an open position and a closed position;   wherein when the auxiliary compartment is in the closed position, the auxiliary compartment opening faces and is substantially covered by the first lateral wall.   
     
     
         18 . The packaged product of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a lid selectively couplable to the primary compartment about the primary compartment opening, the lid being formed as part of the single piece of material coupled to the primary compartment opposite the auxiliary compartment.   
     
     
         19 . The packaged product of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a locking tab extends away from the auxiliary compartment opposite the primary compartment,   the locking tab includes one of a locking indentation and a locking protrusion,   the principle wall includes an other one of the locking indentation and the locking protrusion, and   the locking indentation selectively receives the locking protrusion to frictionally maintain the auxiliary compartment in the closed position.   
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a packaged product comprising:
 providing a container including:
 a primary compartment including a principle wall, a first lateral wall, and a primary compartment opening opposite the principle wall; 
 an auxiliary compartment including a first wall and a second wall extending away from each other, and an auxiliary compartment opening extending between the first wall and the second wall; 
 a hinge rotatably coupling the primary compartment to the auxiliary compartment such that the auxiliary compartment is rotatably between an open position and a closed position; 
   placing a consumable item in the primary compartment;   placing at least one accessory item in the auxiliary compartment;   securing the auxiliary compartment in the closed position such that the auxiliary compartment opening faces and is substantially covered by the first lateral wall; and   standing the container on a support shelf independent of any additional support such that the primary compartment sits on top of the auxiliary compartment.