Preferred Embodiments

[0020] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows a handheld wrap sandwich container 10 in an assembled state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The single serving sandwich container 10 is a hollow and generally elongated box-like package suitable for carrying a food item such as a handheld wrap sandwich A (See FIG. 4 ). The sandwich container 10 has a first end 12 spaced apart from a second end 14 with a plurality of sides 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 extending therebetween. More specifically, with additional reference to FIG. 3 , two of the sides 16 , 18 are rectangular-shaped and generally parallel with one another whereas the remaining two sides 20 , 22 billow outwardly and connect the spaced apart rectangular sides 16 , 18 together along their respective side edges.

[0021] With reference back to FIG. 1 , the sandwich container or packaging structure 10 includes a first tubular section 24 adjacent the first end 12 and a second tubular section 26 adjacent the second end 14 . The lower portion or first section 24 is made up of the first end 12 , also referred to herein as a lower closure wall, and first portions of the sides or side walls 16 - 22 . Similarly, the upper portion or second section 26 is made up of the second end 14 , also referred to herein as an upper closure wall, and second portions of the sides or side walls 16 - 22 . A removeable tear strip 28 is sandwiched between and joins the first and second sections 24 , 26 . The tear strip 28 is adapted for removing the second or removable section 26 from the first section 24 as will be described in more detail below.

[0022] With additional reference to FIG. 4 , the packaging structure 10 defines a sandwich receiving cavity 30 that can be occupied by the handheld sandwich A. When the packaging structure 10 is intact, i.e., the tear strip 28 is in place and has not been pulled to remove the second section 26 from the first section 24 and the packaging structure 10 is otherwise in the form shown in FIG. 1 thereby surrounding the sandwich A, the handheld sandwich A received in the cavity 30 is generally contained therein. As is well known in the art, a plastic film can be added to the packaging structure 10 to further contain the sandwich A within the cavity 30 and, perhaps more importantly, prevent the cavity 30 from becoming contaminated by the surrounding environment and evidence tampering with the food item A.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 2, a connecting tab 32 overlaps a portion of the rear billowed side 22 to help hold the shape of the packaging structure 10 . The connecting tab 32 extends from and connects to the adjacent rectangular side 16 . Further, the connecting tab 32 extends along a substantial portion of the length of the side 22 . Near the first and second ends 12 , 14 , the connecting tab 32 includes angled edges 34 , 36 so as to not interfere with respective intersections between the side 22 and the first end 12 and the side 22 and the second end 14 . A suitable adhesive can be used to hold the connecting tab 32 to the overlapped side 22 .

[0024] At a central location along the connecting tab 32 , a first end 38 of the tear strip 28 is defined. More specifically, a pull tab portion 40 of the tear strip 28 is formed in the connecting tab 32 by a pair of spaced apart perforations 42 , 44 . Along a distal edge 46 of the connecting tab 32 , a pair of notches 48 , 50 further defines the pull tab portion 40 and allows the pull tab portion 40 to be relatively easily graspable. Once grasped, the pull tab portion 40 can be pulled to remove the tear strip 28 from the packaging structure 10 as will be described in more detail below. With reference to FIG. 1 , the remainder of the tear strip 28 , i.e., that defined in the sides 16 - 22 , is defined by a pair of weakening lines or score marks 52 , 54 disposed in the sides 16 - 22 . The score marks 52 , 54 allow the tear strip 28 to be relatively easily pulled away from the first and second sections 24 , 26 . The arrangement of the score marks 52 , 54 are such that when the tear strip 28 is fully pulled and removed, the second section 26 is physically separated from the first remaining section 24 .

[0025] With reference to FIG. 7 , the packaging structure 10 is shown in an unassembled state. To make the packaging structure 10 , the shape shown in FIG. 7 is cut from a single sheet of a suitable material such as a paperboard material or another material having sufficient strength, stiffness and durability to withstand loads associated with shipping, handling, etc., in commercial use. The container is also preferably capable of withstanding exposure to microwave radiation, heat, steam, and hot water during microwave cooking of the food product A contained therein. Fold or score lines 60 can be added through conventional means to ease in the assembly of the packaging structure 10 . Likewise, the score marks or lines 52 , 54 and the perforation lines 42 , 44 of the tear strip 28 can be added through conventional means.

[0026] To assemble, the rectangular side 18 is folded and oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the front billowing side 20 and end flaps 62 , 64 connected to the side 20 . The side 22 and end flaps 66 , 68 connected thereto are folded and oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the side 18 and parallel to the side 20 and its end flaps 62 , 64 . The side 16 is then folded and oriented perpendicularly relative to the sides 20 , 22 and the end flaps 62 - 68 . The connecting tab 32 is folded along the fold line 60 separating the connecting tab 32 from the rectangular side 16 to overlap the rear side 22 (See FIG. 2 ). As mentioned above, an adhesive can be used to secure the connecting tab 32 to the overlapped side 22 as is well known in the art.

[0027] Next, the first and second ends 12 , 14 ( FIG. 1 ) can be formed. More specifically, one of the end flaps 68 at the first end 12 can be folded inward toward the other end flap 64 at the first end 12 . The other end flap 64 can then be folded to overlap the first folded end flap 68 . Again, an adhesive can be used to secure the second folded end flap 64 to the first folded end flap 68 . Similarly, one of the end flaps 66 at the second end 14 which optionally includes a notch 70 , can be folded toward the other end flap 62 at the second end 14 . The other end flap 62 can then be folded to overlap the first folded end flap 66 and an adhesive can be used to secure the two end flaps 62 , 66 together. The folding of the end flaps 62 - 68 causes the sides 20 , 22 to billow outwardly from one another as can be seen in FIG. 3 .

[0028] If the packaging structure 10 and its contents A are to be heated, it may be desirable to remove the outer plastic film from the packaging structure 10 when an outer plastic film is used on the packaging structure 10 . It may be further desirable to open at least one end of the packaging structure 10 prior to heating to allow heat such as steam created during heating to escape from the cavity 30 of the packaging structure 10 . This may reduce the likelihood that someone would be injured by escaping heat when opening the packaging structure 10 after heating. For this purpose, the second end 14 is designed to be opened with relative ease. The second end 14 and, specifically, the overlapping flap 62 can include printed indicia explaining that the second end 14 is the preferred end to be opened. To open the second end 14 , the overlapping flap 62 is pulled apart from the overlapped flap 66 thereby revealing the overlapped flap 66 . The overlapped flap 66 can include additional printed indicia also explaining that the second end 14 is the preferred end to be opened and opening thereof should be continued. Next, the overlapped flap 66 is pulled open to reveal the cavity 30 and the sandwich A occupying the cavity 30 (See FIG. 5 ). The notch 70 in the overlapped flap 64 is engageable by an individual's finger to facilitate the pulling open of the flap 66 . The first end 12 can also include indicia on one or both of the flaps 64 , 68 to indicate that it is not the appropriate end to be opened during heating.

[0029] With the film removed and the second end 14 opened, the packaging structure 10 and its contents A can be heated by, for example, microwaving the packaging structure 10 and the sandwich A held therein. Any of the sides 16 - 22 or the ends 12 , 14 can include heating instructions and/or after-heating temperature warnings. After heating, the package 10 can be removed from the heating source, such as a microwave, carefully so as to keep the sandwich A within the package 10 . Then, with reference to FIG. 5 , an individual can hold the first section 24 in one hand while pulling the tear strip 28 with his or her other hand to remove the second section 26 from the first section 24 and thereby reveal a substantial portion of the sandwich A for consumption thereof.

[0030] More specifically, the individual can apply pressure with a first hand to the billowing sides 20 , 22 of the packaging structure or container 10 to hold the sandwich A in position. With additional reference to FIG. 3 , the shape of the packaging structure 10 is generally a shape that corresponds or matches the shape of one's hand when grasping an object between the thumb and the four other fingers of that hand. Thus, the packaging structure 10 and, particularly, the first section 24 are appropriately sized to be graspable and easily held by an individual.

[0031] With a second hand, the individual can use a finger to wedge open the pull tab portion 40 , i.e., break the perforations 42 , 44 holding the pull tab portion 40 to the remainder of the connecting tab 32 . Then, the pull tab portion 40 can be easily grasped and pulled, as shown in FIG. 5 , to remove the pull strip 28 from the first section 24 of the packaging structure 10 . Because, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower score mark 54 adjacent the lower section 24 extends around the entire packaging structure 10 (around the entire perimeter of the cavity 30 ) and the upper score mark 52 extends around only a portion of the packaging structure 10 , the tear strip 28 will not completely separate from the second section 26 . Instead, continued pulling of the tear strip 28 will cause the tear strip 28 and the second section 26 to together separate from the first section 24 . Thus, in the first hand, the individual will have the first section 24 with the sandwich A and, in the second hand, the individual will have the removed tear strip 28 with the second section 26 attached thereto. The second section 26 can then be discarded.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 6 , with the second section 26 removed, the sandwich A is revealed through an opening 72 defined in the first section 24 . The opening 70 is connected and leads a first portion of the cavity 30 defined by the first section 24 . As mentioned above, the second section 26 which defined a second portion of the cavity 30 can be discarded after being removed from the first section 24 . The sandwich A is seated in the first portion of the cavity 30 and extends through the opening 70 . The individual can continue holding only the first section 24 in his or her hand and use only the first section 24 as a holder of the sandwich A while the sandwich A is consumed. Exertion of a force or pressure on the opposed compressible sides or walls 20 , 22 of the packaging structure 10 , such as a grasping force between the individuals thumb and other four fingers, can be applied to maintain the sandwich A within the remaining first section 24 . One of the benefits or advantages of the present invention is the provision of a food item packaging structure 10 that permits a user to heat a food item A contained therein and consume the food item A therefrom without physically removing the food item A from the packaging structure 10 . Further, if the food item A is too hot for holding directly after heating, the food item A can still be held via the first section 24 .

[0033] Although the present invention is illustrated and described as a package, packaging structure or container for holding a wrap sandwich, it should be appreciated that other food items may be used with the present invention. The present invention provides a packaging structure for a food item that contains the item and allows the item to be held by at least a portion of the packaging structure during consumption of the food item. It is not necessary that the food item be a wrap sandwich or even have a shape similar to the wrap sandwich illustrated and described herein. Thus, it is contemplated that other food items can be used with the present invention and all such food items that would be known to those skilled in the art are to be considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0034] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to other upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.