Convertible Container

Abstract

A container is described having a front face; a rear face; a first side face connecting a first side edge of the front face and a first side edge of the rear face; a second side face connecting a second side edge of the front face and a second side edge of the rear face; a top face connecting a top edge of the front face and a top edge of the rear face; and, a bottom face connecting a bottom edge of the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face. Upon permanently removing the top face, the container can be converted to a bowl-like receptacle.

1 . A container comprising:
 a front face;   a rear face;   a first side face connecting a first side edge of the front face and a first side edge of the rear face;   a second side face connecting a second side edge of the front face and a second side edge of the rear face;   a top face connecting a top edge of the front face and a top edge of the rear face and overhanging the first and second side; and,   a bottom face connecting a bottom edge of the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face;   wherein the top face is removable and the container can be manipulated to form a bowl-like receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the first side face includes a first bottom flap, a first side flap, and a second side flap, wherein the first side flap connects a first side edge of the front face and the second side flap connects a first side edge of the rear face. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the second side face includes a second bottom flap, a third side flap, and a fourth side flap, wherein the third side flap connects a second side edge of the front face and the fourth side flap connects a second side edge of the rear face. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1  further comprising a perforation along each top edge of the top face connecting the top edge of the front face and the rear face, wherein the top face may be permanently removed by separating the top face from the top edge of the front face and the rear face along the perforation to define an access opening that allows access to an interior of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the first side flap includes a first side tab and the second side flap includes a first side slot to removably receive the first side tab. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the third side flap includes a second side tab and the fourth side flap includes a second side slot to removably receive the second side tab. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the top face comprises a first top flap connected to and extending from the top edge of the front face toward the rear face. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7  wherein the top face comprises a second top flap connected to and extending from the top edge of the rear face toward the front face and wherein the first top flap is connected to the second top flap. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1  further comprising first and second intermediate sections connecting the first bottom flap and the first side flap. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1  further comprising third and fourth intermediate sections connecting the first bottom flap and the second side flap. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1  further comprising fifth and sixth intermediate sections connecting the second bottom flap and the third side flap. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1  further comprising seventh and eighth intermediate sections connecting the second bottom flap and the fourth side flap. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 9  wherein the first and second intermediate sections include a first holding tab that is removably received in a first front slit provided on the front face. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 10  wherein the third and fourth intermediate sections include a second holding tab that is removably received in a first rear slit provided on the rear face. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 11  wherein the fifth and sixth intermediate sections include a third holding tab that is removably received in a second front slit provided on the front face. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 12  wherein the seventh and eighth intermediate sections include a fourth holding tab that is removably received in a second rear slit provided on the rear face. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the container is formed from a single piece of single piece of material. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second side faces has an opening adjacent the top face to permit viewing access into an interior of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 2  wherein the first side face includes a first side upper portion foldably joined to a first side top flap that underlies the top face. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein the first side upper portion is removably attached to a distal portion of the first side flap. 
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 3  wherein the second side face includes a second side upper portion foldably joined to a second side top flap that underlies the top face. 
     
     
         22 . The container according to  claim 21 , wherein the second side upper portion is removably attached to a distal portion of the third side flap. 
     
     
         23 . A method for making a container for a food product comprising:
 providing a blank;   assembling the blank into a container having an interior defined by a front face; a rear face; a first side face connecting a first side edge of the front face and a first side edge of the rear face; a second side face connecting a second side edge of the front face and a second side edge of the rear face; a top face connecting a top edge of the front face and a top edge of the rear face and overhanging the first side face and second side face; and, a bottom face connecting a bottom edge of the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second side face;   wherein at least one of the first and second side faces has an opening adjacent the top face to permit viewing access into an interior of the container and wherein the top face includes a first perforation along the first side edge of the front face and second perforation along the first side edge of the rear face.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  further comprising loading at least one food product into the interior of the container. 
     
     
         25 . A bowl-like receptacle for retaining food product comprising:
 a bottom having a centrally located upstanding shelf with a first angled side wall extending from one side of the upstanding shelf and terminating at a bottom edge of a front face and a second angled side wall extending from an opposite side of the upstanding shelf and terminating at a bottom edge of a rear face;   a first side face connecting a first side edge of the front face and a first side edge of the rear face;   a second side face connecting a second side edge of the front face and a second side edge of the rear face;   a first foot extending from the first side face to the second side face and being defined by an exterior portion of the bottom edge of the front face; and   a second foot substantially parallel to and spaced from the first foot, the second foot extending from the first side face to the second side face and being defined by an exterior portion of the bottom edge of the rear face.