Food packaging container

Abstract

A food storage container having a graduated, substantially cylindrical container having a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. A coupling mechanism is operable to couple the first sub-chamber and the second-chamber. The coupling mechanism is fabricated so as to allow the separation of the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber using a moderate separation force. Each sub-chamber is slightly less than half of the total cylindrical container space and each sub-chamber further comprising an open end and a closed end for containing a food product, such as ice cream, gelato, sorbet, custard, yogurt and pudding or other viscous or semi-viscous food product.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A food storage container, comprising:
 a graduated, substantially cylindrical container having a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber;   a coupling mechanism operable to couple the first sub-chamber and the second-chamber; and   the coupling mechanism fabricated so as to allow the separation of the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber using a moderate separation force.   
     
     
         2 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising having contained within each sub-chamber a food product selected from one or more of the groups consisting of ice cream, gelato, sorbet, custard, yogurt and pudding or other viscous or semi-viscous food product. 
     
     
         3 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the container is made of a food grade material. 
     
     
         4 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising the container being made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         5 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising the coupling mechanism being a plurality of pairs of vertical bridges which couple the first sub-chamber and second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The food storage container of  claim 5 , further comprising the coupling and bonding strength between the first sub-chamber and second sub-chamber being provided by vertical connecting members that couple at the midway point that separates the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The food storage container of  claim 6 , further comprising each pair of vertical bridges being coupled by a thin, vertical central membrane midway between the inner wall of the first sub-chamber and second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The food storage container of  claim 7 , further comprising the vertical central membrane operable to act as a line of weakness to allow separation of the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The food storage container of  claim 6 , further comprising each vertical bridge having a pair of raised vertical planes next to the thin, vertical central membrane that prevent the premature separation of the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The food storage container of  claim 9 , further comprising an indent formed in the lower end of the pair of vertical bridges to allow for the initiation of the ripping of the thin, vertical central membrane. 
     
     
         11 . The food storage container of  claim 9 , further comprising the portion of each vertical bridge that is coupled to, and adjacent to its respective sub-chamber having formed with a radius or curved portion to prevent the premature separation of the first sub-chamber from the second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The food storage container of  claim 9 , wherein each pair of vertical bridges is comprised of a thin-walled food grade plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The food storage container of  claim 12 , wherein each paid of vertical bridges is made of plastic, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         14 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , where in the coupling mechanism is a perforated pull-tab mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , where in the coupling mechanism is a perforation-type separation mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , in combination with a lid. 
     
     
         17 . The food storage container of  claim 16 , wherein the lid is re-closable. 
     
     
         18 . The food storage container of  claim 16 , wherein the lid is made of polypropylene plastic of low density polyethylene. 
     
     
         19 . A container for holding a plurality of varieties of frozen food items, comprising:
 a graduated container having a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber made of a food grade material; and   a plurality of pairs of vertical bridges coupling the first sub-chamber to the second sub-chamber, having therein-between each pair of the vertical bridges, a thin membrane material operable to tear with moderate human force.   
     
     
         20 . A container for holding a plurality of varieties of frozen food items, comprising:
 a graduated container having a plurality of sub-chambers made of a food grade material; and   a plurality of pairs of vertical bridges coupling each of the plurality of sub-chambers to an adjacent sub-chamber, having therein-between each pair of the vertical bridges, a thin membrane material operable to tear with moderate human force.