AU2015101368B4 - A Tray - Google Patents

Abstract

-6 Abstract The invention relates to a packaging tray comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface and sidewalls extending from and substantially surrounding the base. The 5 base comprises a plurality of recesses configured to protrude from the lower surface of the base. The recesses may be substantially quadrilateral shaped.

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a packaging tray comprising a plurality of recesses in a lattice arrangement.

Background of the Invention

Trays are commonly used for packaging fruit, vegetables, meats and other items that contain fluids that may leak onto the tray. It is common for circular recesses to be formed on the top surface of the tray base. The recesses hold fluid that has leaked from the packaged item(s). The recess arrangement is intended to allow the packaged item(s) to sit above and substantially clear of at least some of the fluid held in the recesses.

It has been found that the circular recesses may be insufficient to hold enough fluid for some meat products particularly, especially as increasing amounts of water is added to meat products and that water tends to leak out and onto the tray.

In addition, the circular recesses leave circular imprints on the bottom of the meat, which has been found to be an undesirable pattern on a meat product from a consumer perspective.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tray that goes at least some way towards overcoming these disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the invention provides a plastic packaging tray comprising a base having an 30 upper surface and a lower surface and sidewalls extending from and substantially surrounding the base, wherein the base comprises a plurality of recesses configured to protrude from the lower surface of the base, wherein the recesses are substantially quadrilateral shaped, and wherein the recesses have a width of between about 6mm and about 8mm, a length between about 6mm and about 8mm, and a depth between about 5mm and about 8mm, and wherein the recesses are configured to hold fluid within the recesses under capillary action.

One or more of the recesses may be configured to hold fluid within the recess(es) under capillary action.

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Preferably, one or more of the recesses are a substantially square shape.

The corners of the recesses may be substantially rounded.

Preferably, one or more recesses are approximately 8mm wide x 8mm long x 8mm deep or less. Optionally, one or more recesses are 6mm long x 6mm wide and 5mm deep.

In one form, the tray is thermoformed.

Optionally, the tray is made of plastic.

The recesses may be formed in a grid-like arrangement. Alternatively, the recesses may be formed in an offset arrangement.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of tray according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is an isometric view from above of the tray of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figures 1 and 2 show one form of packaging tray according to the invention. The packaging tray 100 comprises a base 110 and side walls 120 that extend upwardly from and surround the base of the tray 100. The base 110 comprises a lower surface 114 on which the tray typically rests during use. The base also comprises an upper surface 115 on which one or more items to be packaged are placed during use.

Food products, such as meat, may exude fluid (known as purge) onto the packaging tray over time. Recesses 130 are provided on the upper surface of the tray 100, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to allow the purge to drain into the recesses 130 and be held away from the food product as much as possible.

The recesses 130 may be of any suitable shape. In one form, the tray 100 may comprise one or more recesses 130 of a substantially quadrilateral shape, such as a square shape.

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Optionally, the square recesses 130 may comprise substantially rounded corners. It has been found that rounded corners help to retain fluid within the recesses 130. In another form, the tray 100 may comprise substantially triangular shaped recesses; rectangular shaped recesses, hexagonal recesses, or octagonal recesses. Preferably, where the recesses are of 5 a shape that has corners, the corners are substantially rounded. In one form, the tray may comprise recesses of different shapes.

In one form, the tray 100 is made of plastic and the recesses 130 may be formed in the tray by thermoforming in which a mould presses against the heated base of the tray. Under this 0 moulding process, the material of the tray 100 that forms the recessed areas becomes thinner than the material in the non-recessed areas of the tray. This arrangement provides a lightweight tray 100 that can be made from a wide variety of materials suitable material or materials, including but not limited to: rigid plastics of various types & grades, foamed plastics, aluminium or any combination of materials.

Furthermore, the recesses 130 are not sunk into a tray 100 having a flat lower surface, but instead the recesses 130 sink into the upper surface 115 of the tray base and protrude below the lower surface of the base. In this arrangement, the protruding recesses provide the tray 100 with a textured bottom surface. The textured surface helps consumers to grip the tray

100, which is especially useful where the tray is used in a refrigerated environment and may become wet and otherwise slippery.

One or more recesses 130 may be configured to be filled with a fluid and to hold the fluid within the recess 130 under capillary action, even when the tray 100 is tilted somewhat. In one form, each recess 130 is approximately 8mm long, 8mm wide and 8 mm deep or less. For example, one or more recesses may be 6mm x 6mm wide and 5mm deep. In other forms, recesses 130 in the central region of the tray 100 may be of different sizes to recesses near the sides of the tray 100. For example, recesses in the central region of the tray may be deeper and/or larger in width and/or height than recesses near the sides. In one form, a plurality of smaller recesses may be provided near the outer sides of the base of the tray. For example, smaller recesses may surround a central area of substantially larger recesses. In another form, smaller recesses may be provided along the ribs between larger recesses. The smaller recesses typically help hold smaller amounts of fluid. The smaller recesses may be of any suitable size and shape, such as 5mm wide x 5mm long x 5mm deep for example.

The recesses 130 are preferably arranged in a uniform arrangement on the base of the tray

100.

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In one form, as illustrated, the recesses 130 may be positioned in a lattice or grid-like arrangement in which the recesses 130 are arranged in a series of lines and columns so that adjacent recesses 130 are aligned with each other. In this arrangement, substantially straight structural ribs 140 are formed between adjacent recesses 130 in both lateral and longitudinal directions.

In another form, the recesses 130 may be positioned in an offset arrangement. For example, that alternating rows and columns of recesses 130 may be substantially aligned and adjacent rows of recesses 130 may be substantially unaligned. In this form, structural ribs 140 are 0 provided between the recesses 130 in a step-like pattern similar to the pattern of mortar in a brick wall.

The structural ribs 140 act to provide strength to the tray, which improves the rigidity of the tray 100. The ribs 140 also help a tray 100 holding a heavy item to retain its integrity when the tray 100 is lifted away from a supporting surface.

Advantages

The invention provides many advantages.

For example, the shape and arrangement of the recesses on the tray of the invention can be selected to maximise the fluid holding capacity of the tray.

Where the recesses are offset, the structural ribs provide superior strength and integrity to 25 the tray in certain circumstances.

In addition, the configuration of recesses and ribs allows the tray to be formed with a substantially thin base, which minimises material use and therefore minimises the cost of producing the tray. By using a thin base, the tray of invention also provides the advantages that it can be cost effectively manufactured from a wide range of materials.

The non-circular shaped imprint left on meat products packaged within the tray is also likely to be more appealing to consumers, especially where the recesses are substantially square shaped as the resulting imprint left on a meat products, for example, resembles a pattern associated with cooking on a grill.

Claims (5)

What we claim is:

1. A plastic packaging tray comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface and sidewalls extending from and substantially surrounding the base, wherein the base

5 comprises a plurality of recesses configured to protrude from the lower surface of the base, wherein the recesses are substantially quadrilateral shaped, and wherein the recesses have a width of between about 6mm and about 8mm, a length between about 6mm and about 8mm, and a depth between about 5mm and about 8mm, and wherein the recesses are configured to hold fluid within the recesses under capillary action.

2. The tray of claim 1, wherein the recesses are aligned in a grid arrangement, with lateral and longitudinal ribs formed between adjacent recesses.

3. The tray of claim 1, wherein the recesses are arranged in offset rows or columns of

5 recesses with ribs formed between the recesses in a step-like pattern.

4. The tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the recesses are a substantially square shape.

0

5. The tray of and one of the preceding claims, wherein corners of the recesses are substantially rounded.