- 1 PACKAGING FOR TRANSPORTING FRAGILE FOODSTUFF Field of Invention [001] The present invention relates to packaging for transporting fragile foodstuff such as 5 cupcakes, cakes and the like. Background [002] It is now common that particular foodstuff can be transported via the mail or via a courier service. This is particularly the case when foodstuff is ordered online as a gift for a 10 recipient. A common example is placing an order for confectionary which is delivered as a gift to a recipient. The packaging for such foodstuff does not need to substantially protective as the foodstuff itself is quite robust. Furthermore, the environmental factors such as the transportation temperature also do not have a significant impact on such exemplary foodstuff. 15 [003] However, for more fragile and temperature dependent foodstuff such as cakes, the current packaging is simply not suitable as the foodstuff is damaged during transportation and may be inedible upon arrival at the destination due to the transportation temperature. 20 [004] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 25 [005] Summary [006] In one aspect there is provided packaging for transporting cupcakes, wherein the packaging includes: 30 a tray for containing a plurality of cupcakes; an inner container for tight-fittingly housing the tray; -2 an insulation sleeve for receiving the inner container and a cooling pack; and an outer container for tight-fittingly housing the insulation sleeve. [007] In another aspect there is provided packaging for transporting cupcakes, wherein 5 the packaging includes: a tray for containing a plurality of cupcakes; a cooling pack; an inner container for tight-fittingly housing the tray and cooling pack; an insulation sleeve for receiving the inner container; and 10 an outer container for tight-fittingly housing the insulation sleeve. [008] In certain embodiments of the first and second aspect, the insulation sleeve includes a padded surface bearing an insulating foil on an external surface. 15 [009] In certain embodiments of the first and second aspect, the tray includes a first tray member hingedly connected to a second tray member which is movable between an open and closed position, wherein each tray member includes cavities, wherein when the tray moves to the closed position, each cavity of the first tray member aligns with a respective cavity of the second tray member to define a void for containing a respective cupcake. 20 [010] In certain embodiments of the first and second aspect, the insulation sleeve includes a tongue for closing an opening of the insulation sleeve, wherein an inner surface of the tongue includes an adhesive strip, wherein the tongue is configured to be folded over the opening such that the adhesive strip releasably adheres to an external surface of the 25 insulation sleeve. [011] Other aspects and embodiments will be appreciated throughout the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 30 Brief Description of the Figures -3 [012] The example embodiment of the present invention should become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, of a preferred but non limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying figures. 5 [013] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example of the tray in the open position; [014] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the tray of Figure 1 in the closed position; 10 [015] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an example of an inner container in the open position; [016] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the inner container of Figure 3 in the open position housing the closed tray of Figure 3; 15 [017] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the inner container of Figure 4 in the closed position; [018] Figure 6 illustrates a plan view of an example of an insulation sleeve in an empty 20 and open state; [019] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective end view of the insulation sleeve in an open state filled with the inner container and the cooling pack; 25 [020] Figure 8 illustrates a plan perspective view of the cooling pack; [021] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the insulation sleeve of Figure 8 enclosing the inner container and the cooling pack whilst in a closed state; 30 [022] Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of an example of an outer container in the open position; -4 [023] Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of the outer container of Figure 10 in the open position housing the insulation sleeve of Figure 9; and 5 [024] Figure 12 illustrates a perspective view of the outer container of Figure 11 in the closed position. Description of the Preferred Embodiment [025] The following modes, given by way of example only, are described in order to 10 provide a more precise understanding of the subject matter of a preferred embodiment or embodiments. [026] Throughout the examples, the packaging 10 will be described with reference to transporting cupcakes (not shown). However, it will be appreciated that the packaging can 15 be used for other fragile foodstuffs such as larger cakes and the like. [027] The packaging 10 includes an outer container 70, an insulation sleeve 60, a cooling pack 50, an inner container 40 and a tray 20. In particular, the tray 20 contains a plurality of cupcakes. In one embodiment, the tray 20 is tight-fittingly received within the inner 20 container 40. The inner container 40 and the cooling pack 50 are tight-fittingly received within the insulation sleeve 60. The insulation sleeve 60 is tight-fittingly received within the outer container 70. The tight-fitting nature of the combination of components 20, 40, 50, 60, 70 alleviate various external forces impacting upon the cupcakes during transportation whilst also restricting the impact of the temperature of the external 25 environment on the cupcakes so that they are edible once received at their destination. [028] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an example of the tray 20. The tray includes a first and second tray member 21, 22 that are hingedly connected together by a hinge portion 23 which is movable between an open position and a closed position. Each 30 tray member 21, 22 includes a plurality of cavities 24 for supporting or housing a portion of a respective cupcake. Each cavity 24 of the first tray member 21 aligns with a -5 corresponding cavity of the second tray member 22 when hingedly moved from the open position to the closed position. The cavities 24 are spaced apart by spacing protrusions 25 to ensure that each cupcake does not come into contact with a neighbouring cupcake whilst stored in the tray 20 and additionally provides support for each cupcake. 5 [029] Each cavity 24 of the second tray member 22 has a frusto-conical profile to close fittingly receive the base and stem portions of the cupcake. The side walls 26 of each cavity 24 have a rippled texture to minimise the surface area which contact the side walls of the respective cupcake. The base surface 27 of each cavity 24 includes a frictional 10 surface 28 which has a rough texture to additionally provide assistance with reducing movement of the respective cupcake within the respective cavity 24. [030] The cavities 24 of the first tray member 21 also include a frusto-conical profile which substantially corresponds to the profile of the cavities 24 of the second tray member 15 22. The side walls 26 of the cavities 24 of the first tray member 21 also include a rippled side wall texture 29. However, the base surface of the cavities of the first tray member 21 have no textural pattern unlike the cavities 24 of the second tray member 22. When the first and second tray members 21, 22 are moved to the closed position, each cavity 24 of the first tray member 21 aligns with a respective cavity 24 of the second tray member 22 20 thereby defining a double frusto-conical void for containing a respective cupcake. [031] The tray 20 is made from transparent plastic to enable the tray to be manufactured easily, recyclable, and to allow for packing employees to easily see the cupcakes that have been packaged inside the tray prior to insertion into the inner container 40. 25 [032] One of the edges of the first tray member 22 includes two protrusions 30a 30b (collectively referred to by reference numeral 30) which are tight-fittingly received within a corresponding pair of cavities 3 1a, 3 lb (collectively referred to by reference numeral 31) at a corresponding edge of the second tray 23 when the tray is moved to the closed 30 position. The protrusion and cavity arrangement 30, 31 enable the tray 20 to be releasably -6 held in the closed position. As shown in Figure 3, the perimeter of the tray 20 has a rectangular profile. [033] Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, there is shown an example of the inner container 40 5 which is configured to receive the tray 20 filled with cupcakes. The inner container 40 includes an inner storage area 41 which has a profile which substantially corresponds to a substantially rectangular prism footprint of the tray 20. The inner container 40 is provided in the form of a cardboard box having a base portion 42 and a hinged lid 43. The lid 43 includes side tongue portions 44a, 44b, wherein each side tongue portion 44a, 44b is 10 received between the inside surface of the side walls of the base portion 42 and a side portion of the perimeter of the tray 20 in order to promote the tight-fitting containment of the tray 20 within the inner container 40, thereby minimising movement of the tray 20 within the inner container 40 whilst also enclosing the tray 20 within the inner container 40. The lid 43 also includes a front flap 45 including first and second tongue portions 46a, 15 46b which are each received within a respective thin channel 47a, 47b defined by each side wall when the lid 43 is moved to the closed position. [034] The inner container 40 can be constructed from a blank which includes a plurality of fold lines. The blank may be a single unitary piece of card or a plurality of pieces of 20 card which are joined together. [035] Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 9 there is shown an example of the insulation sleeve 60 which houses the cooling pack 50 (see Figure 8) and inner container 40 (see Figure 5) which in turn houses the tray 20 containing the cupcakes. The sleeve 60 comprises of a 25 bubble wrap padded envelope 61 having an opening 62 to receive therein the cooling pack 50 and the inner container 40. The external surface of the bubble wrap padded envelope 61 provides an insulation foil skin to provide additional insulation to the sleeve 60. Due to the insulating nature of the sleeve, the cupcakes can be successfully transported for longer periods of time whilst still being edible when received at the final destination. The 30 insulation sleeve 60 additionally includes a tongue portion 63 which can overlap an opening 62 of the sleeve 60 to enclose the cooling pack 50 and inner container 40 therein.
-7 An edge of the tongue portion 63 includes an adhesive strip 64 which can releasably adhere the tongue portion 63 to the external surface of the sleeve 60 in the overlapped position to enclose the cooling pack 50 and inner container 40 within the sleeve 60 as shown in Figure 9. 5 [036] Referring to Figure 8, the cooling pack 50 is a dry cooling pack which contains a powder, such as Sodium Polyacrylate, known as "waterlock" which acts as a water absorber to form a gel. The cooling pack can be cooled in a freezer and then placed in the packaging as discussed to keep the foodstuff cool. Such powder stores 200 to 300 times its 10 own weight in tap water (even more if the water is distilled) to form the gel. The benefit of this is that the gel does not release any fluid so it doesn't thaw like a normal block of ice. This therefore alleviates risk associated with the lid of the inner container becoming soggy and potentially resulting in some damage to the contained cupcakes from external forces. 15 [037] The cooling pack 50 can have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile which preferably substantially corresponds to the inner cross-sectional profile of the inner area of the sleeve 60. Additionally, the sleeve 60 has an inner cross-sectional profile which substantially corresponds to the outer cross-sectional profile of the inner container 40. The cooling pack 50 can be supported on the lid 43 of the inner container 40 when housed 20 within the insulation sleeve 60. However, in an alternate embodiment, it is possible that the inner container 40 can be designed such that sufficient space is provided for supporting the cooling pack 50 upon the first member of the closed tray 20 in a tight-fitting arrangement. However, supporting the cooling pack upon the lid 43 of the inner container 40 has been found to additionally alleviate any risk of damage to the tray from the weight of the 25 cooling pack due to the additional strength of the lid 43. [038] Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12 there is shown an example of the outer container 70 which houses therein the filled insulation sleeve 60. The outer container 70 tight fittingly receives the insulation sleeve 60 within a base portion 71 of the outer container 30 70. The outer container 70 has a substantially similar inner storage profile to the external profile of the filled insulation sleeve 60. The outer container includes a hinged lid 72 -8 which is connected to the base portion 71 of the container 70. The outer container 70 is of the same design as the inner container 40, however larger in size in order to house the sleeve 60 containing the inner container 40. As such, the outer container 70 can be produced from folding a blank having the same configuration as previously discussed in 5 relation to the inner container, although the dimensions of the blank for producing the outer container 70 are larger than the blank used for producing the inner container. [039] When the lid 72 of the outer container 70 is closed, each side tongue portion 73 slides between the inner surface of a respective side wall of the base portion 71 of the outer 10 container 70 and a respective side surface of the insulation sleeve 60. The side tongue portions 73 promote the tight-packed nature of the sleeve 60 within the outer container 70, thereby providing additional protection to the contained cupcakes within the packaging 10. [040] Figure 9 illustrates the packaging 10 where the lid 72 of the outer container 70 is 15 closed. The lid 72 may bear a sticker 74 or similar which includes the address of the recipient of the package for transportation. However, it is possible that the recipient address may be printed on an external surface of the outer container 70. [041] Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist 20 in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 25 [042] Although a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.