Compact package for food product

Claim 1

A food package (10) of a height greater than its width and less than its length comprising: rigid first (11) and second (12) parts of transparent material and of essentially the same height as each other, each part comprising flanges (30a, 31a, 32a, 33a; 30b, 31b, 32b, 33b) in respective reference planes from which their respective heights are measured perpendicularly and each having a recessed compartment (11; 13, 14) extending from its respective flange (30a, 31a, 32a, 33a or 30b, 31b, 32b, 33b) in its respective reference plane in a direction away therefrom, a hinge means (16; 150) joining a side flange (32a) on the first part (11) to a side flange (32b) on the second part (12) and permitting the two parts (11, 12) to fold about said hinge means (16, 150) to form a package (10) in which the rigid first upper part (11) overlies the rigid second lower part (12) so that the respective reference planes are generally adjacent and parallel to each other and the flange (30a, 31a, 32a, 33a) on the rigid first upper part (11) is brought together essentially to mate with the flange (30b, 31b, 32b, 33b) on the rigid second lower part (12), and a flexible film (40) covering the recessed compartments (11; 13, 14) and attached to the flanges (30a, 31a, 32a, 33a; 30b, 31b, 32b, 33b) surrounding such recessed compartments (11; 13, 14), essentially in its respective reference plane, airtightly sealing the contents within their respective compartments (11; 13, 14), the rigid first upper part (11) having a compartment (11) running essentially the full length and width of the package (10) and containing a first food product, for example, crackers, and the rigid second lower part (12) having at least two compartments (13, 14) each containing a second food product of higher density than said first food product, for example meat, poultry, fish or cheese.