h.j. heinz co. did not steal the idea for the dip & squeeze condiment package from a michigan inventor, a federal jury in pittsburgh decided wednesday.enlarge photocourtesy of h.j. heinz co.the dip & squeeze is the first ketchup packet with dual functionality, meaning users can tear off the top to squeeze or peel back the lid to dip.david wawrzynski claimed the pittsburghbased ketchup maker used his idea for the ketchup package after he sent correspondence and promotional material to heinz for his "little dipper" condiment package in march 2008.&ldquoheinz firmly believed all along that mr. wawrzynski&rsquos claims were groundless, and we are pleased to have prevailed in this case," heinz spokesman michael mullen said in an email. "heinz&rsquos history of product and packaging innovations dates back to our founder, h.j. heinz, and continues today as a cornerstone of the company." the case, which has been ongoing for more than five years, was revived in june 2014 after a third circuit panel vacated a 2012 ruling in favor of heinz, finding the u.s. district court for the western district of pennsylvania should not have considered the inventor&39s patent as grounds for dismissal.when heinz introduced the packets in 2010, the innovative dip & squeeze packaging won praise for the company and was hailed as the first new ketchup packet design in 42 years.justine coyne covers manufacturing and higher education. 
