Product containers, packaging methods, and blanks and methods for making product containers

Abstract

A product container includes a first compartment, including a first-compartment first edge, a second compartment, including a second-compartment first edge, and a hinged connection extending between the first-compartment first edge and the second-compartment first edge. The second compartment is pivotable about the hinged connection relative to the first compartment to convert the product container between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the first compartment and the second compartment are in a stacked configuration. In the open state, the first compartment and the second compartment are in a side-by-side configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product container ( 100 ) comprising:
 a first compartment ( 200 ) comprising a first-compartment first edge ( 214 );   a second compartment ( 300 ) comprising a second-compartment first edge ( 314 ); and   a hinged connection ( 106 ) extending between the first-compartment first edge ( 214 ) and the second-compartment first edge ( 314 ),   wherein:
 the second compartment ( 300 ) is pivotable about the hinged connection ( 106 ) relative to the first compartment ( 200 ) to convert the product container ( 100 ) between a closed state ( 102 ) and an open state ( 104 ); 
 in the closed state ( 102 ), the first compartment ( 200 ) and the second compartment ( 300 ) are in a stacked configuration; and 
 in the open state ( 104 ), the first compartment ( 200 ) and the second compartment ( 300 ) are in a side-by-side configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection ( 106 ) is integral to the first compartment ( 200 ) and the second compartment ( 300 ). 
     
     
         3 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) are coplanar and form a first sidewall ( 108 ) of the product container ( 100 ); and   in the open state ( 104 ), the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) face each other.   
     
     
         4 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the hinged connection ( 110 ) connects the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) together. 
     
     
         5 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment second edge ( 216 ), opposite the first-compartment first edge ( 214 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment second edge ( 316 ), opposite the second-compartment first edge ( 314 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the second-compartment second edge ( 316 ) and the first-compartment second edge ( 216 ) are adjacent to each other; and   in the open state ( 104 ), the second-compartment second edge ( 316 ) and the first-compartment second edge ( 216 ) are spaced away from each other.   
     
     
         6 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ), opposite the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 ), opposite the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ) and the second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 ) are coplanar and form a second sidewall ( 110 ) of the product container ( 100 ); and   in the open state ( 104 ), the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ) and the second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 ) are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         7 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment top wall ( 212 ), extending between the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment top wall ( 312 ), extending between the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) and the second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the first-compartment top wall ( 212 ) and the second-compartment top wall ( 312 ) face each other; and   in the open state ( 104 ), the first-compartment top wall ( 212 ) and the second-compartment top wall ( 312 ) are coplanar and form a top wall ( 118 ) of the product container ( 100 ).   
     
     
         8 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first opening ( 224 ) formed through the first-compartment top wall ( 212 ) to access a first product contained within the first compartment ( 200 ); and   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second opening ( 140324  formed through the second-compartment top wall ( 312 ) to access a second product contained within the second compartment ( 300 ).   
     
     
         9 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment second edge ( 216 ), opposite the first-compartment first edge ( 214 );   the product container ( 100 ) further comprises:
 a third compartment ( 400 ) comprising a third-compartment first edge ( 414 ); and 
 a second hinged connection ( 122 ) extending between the first-compartment second edge ( 216 ) and the third-compartment first edge ( 414 ); 
   the third compartment ( 400 ) is pivotable about the second hinged connection ( 122 ) relative to the first compartment ( 200 ) to convert the product container ( 100 ) between the closed state ( 102 ) and the open state ( 104 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the first compartment ( 200 ) and the third compartment ( 400 ) are in a stacked configuration;   in the closed state ( 102 ), the second compartment ( 300 ) and the third compartment ( 400 ) are in a side-by-side configuration; and
 in the open state ( 104 ), the first compartment ( 200 ), the second compartment ( 300 ), and the third compartment ( 400 ) are in a side-by-side configuration. 
   
     
     
         10 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the second hinged connection ( 122 ) is integral to the first compartment ( 200 ) and the third compartment ( 400 ). 
     
     
         11 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and a first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ), opposite the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 );   the third compartment ( 400 ) further comprises a third-compartment first sidewall ( 402 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) are coplanar and form a first sidewall ( 108 ) of the product container ( 100 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ) and the third-compartment first sidewall ( 402 ) are coplanar and form a second sidewall ( 110 ) of the product container ( 100 );   in the open state ( 104 ), the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) face each other; and   in the open state ( 104 ), the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ) and the third-compartment first sidewall ( 402 ) face each other.   
     
     
         12 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the hinged connection ( 106 ) connects the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) together; and   the second hinged connection ( 122 ) connects the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 ) and the third-compartment first sidewall ( 402 ) together.   
     
     
         13 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment second edge ( 316 ), opposite the second-compartment first edge ( 314 );   the third compartment ( 400 ) further comprises a third-compartment second edge ( 416 ), opposite the third-compartment first edge ( 414 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the second-compartment second edge ( 316 ) and the third-compartment second edge ( 416 ) are adjacent to each other; and   in the open state ( 104 ), the second-compartment second edge ( 316 ) and the third-compartment second edge ( 416 ) are spaced away from each other.   
     
     
         14 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 ), opposite the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 );   the third compartment ( 400 ) further comprises a third-compartment second sidewall ( 404 ), opposite the third-compartment first sidewall ( 402 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 ) and the third-compartment second sidewall ( 404 ) are face each other; and   in the open state ( 104 ), the second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 ) and the third-compartment second sidewall ( 404 ) are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         15 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first-compartment bottom wall ( 210 ), extending between the first-compartment first sidewall ( 202 ) and the first-compartment second sidewall ( 204 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second-compartment top wall ( 312 ), extending between the second-compartment first sidewall ( 302 ) and the second-compartment second sidewall ( 304 );   the third compartment ( 400 ) further comprises a third-compartment top wall ( 412 ), extending between the third-compartment first sidewall ( 402 ) and the third-compartment second sidewall ( 404 );   in the closed state ( 102 ), the second-compartment top wall ( 312 ) and the third-compartment top wall ( 412 ) are coplanar and face the first-compartment bottom wall ( 210 ); and   in the open state ( 104 ), the second-compartment top wall ( 312 ) and the third-compartment top wall ( 412 ) are coplanar and form a top wall ( 118 ) of the product container ( 100 ).   
     
     
         16 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first compartment ( 200 ) further comprises a first opening ( 224 ) to access a first product contained within the first compartment ( 200 );   the second compartment ( 300 ) further comprises a second opening ( 324 ) formed through the second-compartment top wall ( 312 ) to access a second product contained within the second compartment ( 300 ); and   the third compartment ( 400 ) further comprises a third opening ( 424 ) formed through the third-compartment top wall ( 412 ) to access a third product contained within the third compartment ( 400 ).   
     
     
         17 . The product container ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the product container ( 100 ) is formed a one-piece blank ( 500 ). 
     
     
         18 . A blank ( 500 ) for forming a product container ( 100 ), the blank ( 200 ) comprising:
 a first compartment-defining portion ( 502 ) comprising a first series of a plurality of panels ( 508 ); and   a second compartment-defining portion ( 504 ) comprising a second series of the plurality of panels ( 508 ),   wherein the second compartment-defining portion ( 504 ) extends from the first compartment-defining portion ( 502 ) along a fold line ( 506 ).   
     
     
         19 . A method of making a product container ( 100 ) from a blank ( 500 ), the method comprising:
 at least partially assembling a first compartment ( 200 ) of the product container ( 100 ) by folding a first compartment-defining portion ( 502 ) along a first series of a plurality of fold lines ( 510 ) provided therein; and   at least partially assembling a second compartment ( 300 ) of the product container ( 100 ) by folding a second compartment-defining portion ( 504 ) along a second series of the plurality of fold lines ( 510 ) provided therein,   wherein:
 the second compartment ( 300 ) is pivotable about a hinged connection ( 106 ) relative to the first compartment ( 200 ) to convert the product container ( 100 ) between a closed state ( 102 ) and an open state ( 104 ); 
 in the closed state ( 102 ), the first compartment ( 200 ) and the second compartment ( 300 ) are in a stacked configuration; and 
 in the open state ( 104 ), the first compartment ( 200 ) and the second compartment ( 300 ) are in a side-by-side configuration. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method for packaging product, the method comprising:
 at least partially assembling a first compartment ( 200 ) and a second compartment ( 300 ) of a product container ( 100 ) by folding a first compartment-defining portion ( 502 ) and a second compartment-defining portion ( 504 ) along a plurality of fold lines ( 510 ) provided therein;   in an open state ( 104 ) of the product container ( 100 ), loading a first product into the first compartment ( 200 ) and a second product into the second compartment ( 300 ); and   pivoting the second compartment ( 300 ) relative to the first compartment ( 200 ) about a hinged connection ( 106 ) formed by one of the plurality of fold lines ( 510 ) to convert the product container ( 100 ) from the open state ( 104 ) to a closed state ( 102 ).