The invention relates to a package for food comprising a bottom part and a top part hinged together. Such a package is generally known in the art and is particularly used for packaging food which is either consumed immediately but preferably is taken away from a restaurant and consumed in a car or at an other location. Such a package should be hygienic for the food contained therein and sturdy to allow transport of the package.

In normal cases the consumer will not only order food, such as a breakfast or snack, but will also ask for a drink at the same restaurant or other selling point. If the drink is not in a can or bottle it is usually in a cup and to prevent spillage of the beverage the cup could be sealed with a lid. This makes it possible to transport the cup over relative short distances without spilling of its contents.

If both articles have to be transferred together, serving trays are used. Although the use of such serving trays is well accepted inside restaurants, normally such serving trays are not taken outside because the user should return them. Paperboard trays are used which can be taken away which results however in considerable refuse.

The invention aims to solve the problem of transferral of both the food package and a drink cup by a single person.

This aim is realised with a package for food as described above in that an accommodation is delimited in said top part and said bottom part for receiving a cup.

According to the invention the cup with a drink can be positioned in a stable way on/in a package and the user only has to handle the package and does not need one of his hands to guide or support the beverage cup or can.

The accommodation in the package can realise in several number of ways. It is possible to provide the top part with an elevated portion extending from the top part in an upward direction (condition of use). Such an elevation can be provided with an accommodation for receiving the bottom part of the cup. However, according to a

preferred embodiment of the invention, the top part is only provided with a simple opening for receiving said cup. The bottom part is provided with such an elevation wherein a cavity is defined for said drinking cup. In this way the volume of the package without the drinking cup being present does not increase. Preferably, the elevation is realised such that stacking of the packages in open condition is still possible wherein nesting and denesting does not give rise to any problems.

The accommodation can be either on one (or both) sides of the package or in the centre thereof.

In order to receive different sized cups according to a preferred embodiment of the invention engagement means are provided in the accommodation which are resilient or deflectable. According to a preferred embodiment such an engagement means comprises bendable lips which are more particularly provided in the opening in the top of the package.

After filling the package with its contents, such as breakfast, snack or other food, it can be closed and locked by using locking means. This locking means can comprise locking tabs. Depending from the use of the package it will be embodied. For example, the package can comprise a slot or have other features on the lid to a hold cutlery. The tray itself can have subdivisions in several compartments, i. e. a big compartment for food (around the cup section) and one or more smaller sections to hold sausages and the like.

The invention also relates to a food package-drink cup assembly comprising a package for a food product as described above and a drink cup. More particular the shape of the accommodation and of the drink cup are realised such that a tight fit between the cup and package is obtained.

Both the package and/or cup can comprise a moulded fibre material and/or a plastic material such as a thin walled plastic material or foamed plastic material.

The invention will be further described in detail referring to the enclosed preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in perspective in the transport position.

Fig. 2 shows the package according to the invention in open condition as well as the cup; and Fig. 3 shows the cross section according to III-III in fig. 1.

The package according to the invention is generally referred to by 1. It comprises a bottom part 2 and a top part 3. The package can be made from moulded fibre material or plastic material. Bottom part 2 and top part 3 are connected through a hinge 4. At the front end there are tabs 12,13 on the bottom part 2, top part 3 respectively which can engage to provide secure closing of the package.

The top part or lid 3 is provided with an opening 7 having a circumferential edge 10 and three lips 8. The connection between the lips 8 and the lid 3 can comprise a perforation to allow easy downward bending of lips 8.

The bottom part 2 is provided with a bottom proper from which an elevation 11 extends up to hinge 4. In this elevation a cavity 15 is provided. Opening 7 together with cavity 15 provide an accommodation for a drink cup 5.

The elevation 11 extends up to hinge 4 in order to strengthen the bottom part 3 adjacent to the hinge 4, whilst leaving sufficient space for food to be contained within the package 1.

The cup 5 comprises a lid 14.

At inserting the cup 5 into the accommodation the lips 8 will bend away and firmly engage the cup 5, whilst cavity 15 is embodied such that the bottom part of the drinking

cup 5 is tightly received. In this way it is possible for the user to take away both the food and drink whilst pressing the cup 5 in the package. With one hand he can transfer the assembly of package or cup. Depending on the depth of the cavity 15 and the height/cross sectional area of the drink cup 5, it is possible to have a less tight engagement of the cup into the accommodation.

From the cross section in figure 3 it is clear that in the closed position the top part 3 rests with its bottom portion on the top portion of the elevation 11 such that near opening 7 the closure of the package is obtained.

In the open condition shown in fig. 2 the packages are stackable and easy denestable.

Although the invention is in particular aimed for transferral of food and drink, it should be understood that all kind of other products can be included therein.

After reading the above the person skilled in the art will immediately realise that further embodiments are possible which are obvious after the above and are within the scope of the claims.