The present invention relates to improvements in packaging. In particular the present invention relates to an item of food packaging, and especially to a popcorn carton.

Popcorn is routinely consumed in leisure scenarios, and most frequently at cinemas. Popcorn is often consumed in conjunction with a beverage, thereby requiring a user to transport both the popcorn and the beverage into the cinema theatre.

It can at times prove tricky for a person transporting both popcorn and a beverage to operate doors, display a cinema ticket to a member of staff and to position a drink without spillage when seated so as to consume the popcorn.

The present invention seeks to improve upon prior art solutions.

According to the present invention there is provided a food packaging carton comprising:

a chamber defined by a base and at least one side wall, the chamber being adapted for storage of a food product;

means located at the base of the carton to attach the carton to a lid of a beverage container. By providing a carton that has at least one connector at the base of the carton so as to attach the carton to a lid of a beverage container such that when in use the carton sits upon the lid of the beverage container a user is able to readily transport both a drink and a carton of food. Furthermore the user may transport the carton and beverage without the beverage spilling and potentially soiling food held within the carton as the lid remains in place on the beverage container as an effective barrier to spillage when the two items are combined. In some embodiments when the carton is attached to the lid and the lid is attached to a beverage container, the force required to remove the carton from the lid is greater than the force required to remove the lid from the beverage container.

This allows a user to remove the lid of the beverage container to access the drink within simply by pulling the carton away from the beverage container.

In some embodiments when the carton is attached to the lid and the lid is attached to a beverage container, the force required to remove the carton from the lid is less than the force required to remove the lid from the beverage container.

This allows a user to remove the carton from the beverage container whilst still keeping the lid on the beverage container so as to prevent spillage.

In some embodiments the carton comprises at least two opposing lip portions extending beneath the base adapted to grip the lid. In some embodiment a lip extends around a periphery of the base.

In some embodiments the carton comprises four side walls.

In some embodiments the base is substantially rectangular.

In some embodiments the carton comprises at its base two pairs of opposing lip portions.

In some embodiments the carton comprises a single circular side wall.

In some embodiments the base is substantially circular. In some embodiments the carton comprises a circular lip. In some embodiments lip portions are formed by side walls of the carton extending beneath the base.

In some embodiments a first flap extends from a side wall and is folded back against the side wall such that the first flap and part of the side wall form a lip portion and extending from the first flap is a second flap that forms part of the base.

In some embodiments the carton comprises four side walls with four first flaps extending therefrom wherein the first flaps are each folded back against the respective side walls such that the first flaps and part of the side walls form lip portions and wherein extending from the first flaps are four respective second flaps that together form the base. In some embodiments the means to attach the carton to the lid of a beverage container comprises at the base of the carton a protrusion adapted to fit through a hole in a lid of the container.

In some embodiments a carton tapers from an upper opening towards the base.

In some embodiments the carton comprises a lid at an upper opening. In some embodiments the carton is provided in a flat packed form.

In some embodiments the carton is a popcorn carton.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a carton according to any previous statement of invention attached to a beverage container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a template for creating a carton according to any previous statement of invention. In order that the invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 illustrates a template for forming a carton in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base of the carton formed by the template of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carton of Figure 2 and a beverage container having a detachable lid;

Figure 4 illustrates the carton of Figures 2 and 3 being attached to the lid of the beverage container of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the carton of Figures 2 to 4 attached to the lid of the beverage container.

Referring to the Figures a carton 1 comprises four side walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d arranged such that when carton 1 is assembled side walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are in a substantially rectangular formation with a first pair of opposing side walls 2a 2c and a second pair of opposing side walls 2b, 2d.

Extending from side wall 2d is provided attachment flap 1 1 that may be adhered to side wall 2a in assembly of carton 1 . Free ends of opposing side walls 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d define an upper opening to a main chamber 8.

Extending from the lower end of side walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are respective first flaps 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, which are foldably attached to side walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d by respective first creases 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d.

Extending from first flaps 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, are respective second flaps 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, which are foldably attached to first flaps 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, by respective second creases 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d. When assembled first flaps 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are folded back against the inner faces of side walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d that define chamber 8, and second flaps 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d together define the base of carton 1 at the bottom of chamber 8.

Thus the lower part of each side wall 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d together with its respective first flap 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d in combination form lip portions that extend from the base of carton 1 . A first pair of opposing lip portions is defined by part of side wall 2a and flap 3a being located opposite part of side wall 2c and flap 3c.

A second pair of opposing lip portions is defined by part of side wall 2b and flap 3b being located opposite part of side wall 2d and flap 3d.

Owing to the two pairs of opposing lip portions at the base of carton 1 being formed by lower sections of each side wall 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and respective first flap 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d the lip portions are inevitably arranged around the periphery of the base of carton 1 .

The opposing pairs of lip portions at the base of carton 1 define a recess that is of a size to snugly house a lid 9 of a beverage container 10 so as to allow carton 1 to be attached to beverage container 10. Lid 9 is a standard detachable plastic lid that snap fits around the rim of standard beverage container 10. When fitted to beverage container 1 0 lid 9 forms an effective barrier to prevent spillage from container 10.

Side walls 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d each taper in width from respective wider free ends 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d to narrower first creases 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. Thus carton 1 is wider at its upper opening than it is at its base.

Turning to carton 1 in use and Figures 3 to 5, it can be seen that a user may attach carton 1 to a beverage container 10 by housing a lid 9 of a beverage container inside the recess formed by the opposing pairs of lip portions at the base of carton 1 .

A user may then carry both beverage container 10 and carton 1 with a single hand without fear of spilling a beverage in container 1 or food, in particular popcorn, in carton 1 .

It will be apparent that a carton might be attached at its base to a lid of a beverage container in various fashions.

For example a carton might comprise a protrusion adapted to fit through a hole formed in a lid of a beverage container.

In those embodiments where a carton comprises at least two opposing lip portions adapted to attach the carton to a beverage container the portions might be formed by a single lip. For example a circular carton might comprise a single circular lip that defines opposing lip portions.

In some embodiments a carton might comprise a lid that may be formed in one, two or more pieces at the upper opening to its main chamber.

Furthermore, in some embodiments a carton may attach to the lid more strongly than the lid attaches to the beverage container, thereby allowing a user to remove the lid from the container simply by pulling the carton away from the container along the longitudinal axis of the container.

In other embodiments a carton may attach to a lid less strongly than the lid attaches to the beverage container, thereby allowing a user to remove the carton without removing the lid from the container simply by pulling the carton away from the container along the longitudinal axis of the container.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.