EP0500318A1 - Emballage pour comestibles avec barquettes compartimentées opposées - Google Patents

Emballage pour comestibles avec barquettes compartimentées opposées Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0500318A1
EP0500318A1 EP92301319A EP92301319A EP0500318A1 EP 0500318 A1 EP0500318 A1 EP 0500318A1 EP 92301319 A EP92301319 A EP 92301319A EP 92301319 A EP92301319 A EP 92301319A EP 0500318 A1 EP0500318 A1 EP 0500318A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
trays
package
tray
compartments
package according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP92301319A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Roger R. Zellner
Irene A. Huber
Gary A. Winkler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp
Original Assignee
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oscar Mayer Foods Corp filed Critical Oscar Mayer Foods Corp
Publication of EP0500318A1 publication Critical patent/EP0500318A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/04—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks
    • B65D75/20—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D75/22—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding the sheet or blank being recessed to accommodate contents
    • B65D75/24—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding the sheet or blank being recessed to accommodate contents and formed with several recesses to accommodate a series of articles or quantities of material

Definitions

  • This invention relates to packages, and in particular it relates to a new and improved food package for a ready to eat snack or meal.
  • One such package which contains a ready-to-eat food product comprises a rigid base tray having food receiving compartments therein and covered with a transparent flexible film which hermetically seals the compartments. To protect the rigid base tray and provide a surface for labelling information, this base tray has been provided with an outer enclosure container.
  • Packages of this type are shown for example in U.S. Design Patents Nos. 305204 and 305205.
  • two relatively small rigid base trays have been positioned with their tops against each other to provide a relatively compact food package especially adaptable for use in vending machines or the like.
  • Such a compact package is shown in our European Patent Application No. 90309802.8 (EP-A-0420429).
  • a relatively large volume snack or meal package formed by a pair of relatively large, generally rectangular compartmentalized base trays, the overall shapes of which are generally the same as each other, the two trays meeting and preferably joined along one long edge of each, the compartments of at least those tray compartments having perishable food therein being sealed with a flexible transparent film.
  • Each tray would in a preferred arrangement have at least two compartments which extend completely across the width thereof, each compartment being approximately 3/4 inch to 1 inch (19.05 mm to 25.4 mm) in depth, each tray itself being approximately 3 to 3 1/2 inches (76.2 mm to 88.9 mm) across its width and approximately 7 to 8 inches (177.8 mm to 203.2 mm) in length.
  • Each tray therefore has a width substantially greater than its depth and a length substantially greater than its width. The result is to provide a relatively large volume of food in a convenient space, whether the trays are left open, side-by-side or are folded so that the tops face each other.
  • a package of this type can be formed of any suitable material, particularly materials which can be recycled.
  • suitable material particularly materials which can be recycled.
  • the specific materials which can be utilized to form this package and the environmental friendly aspects of these materials is fully discussed in our European Patent Application No. 91310050.9.
  • This package can include a virtually endless variety of foods, but preferably ready-to-eatfoods. Examples would include proteinaceous foods such as meat, fish, poultry, cheese, peanut butter, etc., farinaceous foods such as breads, crackers, etc., condiments, desserts, including confectioneries, fruits and so on including, for example snack items such as pretzels, nuts, etc.
  • the compartments may also include implements such as plastic utensils and napkins.
  • one tray may contain all of the items requiring hermetic sealing while the other tray might contain items which do not require hermetic sealing such as utensils, prepackaged desserts and condiments, prepackaged crackers and the like. In this case only the side with the perishable food products must be hermetically sealed while a less expensive closure, if any, can be provided over the other tray.
  • This package being of relatively large size with ready-to-eat food products, condiments and implements and the like therein, all visually accessible to the consumer can serve purposes not satisfied heretofore.
  • a ready-to-eat form may include slices of bread with smaller compartments containing slices of cheese, meats or the like and still other smaller compartments containing condiments, utensils or the like.
  • the result can be a full sandwich type lunch meal.
  • a package of this nature would be suitable not only for conventional sales in supermarkets, convenience stores and the like but also for use in the airline industry for short flights wherein a "snack" meal is provided.
  • the two trays may be sold commercially either with the tops of the two trays facing each other or with the two trays arranged side-by-side. With the two trays having their tops against each other, the bottoms of the two trays then form the outer top and bottom of the overall package which is generally brick shaped and since the package would normally be formed of a transparent material, the contents of all compartments of both trays would be fully visible to the purchasing consumer through the top, bottom, front, back and both sides of the package. Labelling information may be provided by encircling this brick shaped food package with a band wrapped around the central girth thereof.
  • the package is provided with the two trays open and side-by-side, the food products are even more fully visible through the transparent films as well as all outside compartment walls.
  • a suitable adhesive label will be applied against the transparent flexible film or films providing some degree of protection therefor and providing necessary labelling information.
  • additional stiffness may be provided, for example by attaching a card or the like to the bottom of the package.
  • Such a bottom card could include additional labelling information.
  • the backing card or other enclosure can provide this package with the ability to stand on one edge.
  • a hole may be provided along the upper edge of the package or in a header extending upwardly from the upper edge of the package so that the package may be hung on a peg.
  • both trays are generally the same overall shape (that is, the overall height, width and depth of the totality of compartments of each tray, disregarding space between trays) has several advantages. First, when the trays are positioned with their tops facing each other it provides a unique symmetrical brick-like appearance. Additionally, whether the trays are sold in "brick" form or with the trays side-by-side, the fact that the two trays are generally of the same overall shape will facilitate the use of the tray as a plate when the contents are being consumed.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a snack or meal food package 10 comprising a first tray 11 and a second tray 12.
  • the package 10 is shown in side elevational and top views in Figures 2 and 3, respectively.
  • Figure 4 illustrates this same package 10 (except for the optional dotted line features which will be described below) with the tray 11 beside the tray 12 rather than superimposed onto the tray 12. The following description will refer to Figures 1 through 4.
  • the tray 11 includes three compartments 15, 16 and 17 while the lower tray includes three compartments 18, 19 and 20. It is a feature of the present invention that the overall volume taken up by the compartments of the tray 11 be essentially the same as the overall volume taken up by the compartments of the lower tray 12. More specifically, ignoring the space between the compartments, the volume defined by the left hand end of compartment 15, the right hand end of compartment 23, the plane of the remote side of the compartments 15, 16 and 17, the plane of the front side of compartments 15, 16 and 17 and the plane of the bottoms of compartments 15, 16 and 17 (i.e., uppermost as viewed in Figure 1) is essentially the same as the corresponding volume of the compartments of Figure 12.
  • This feature provides the advantage of providing a full hearty appearance while in fact maximizing the space available for food.
  • the compartments of both trays are of essentially the same depth and the bottoms of the compartments of each tray lie in a common plane, when the package is utilized as an eating tray with the trays side-by-side, as shown in Figure 4, the package will rest on a plane surface without rocking back and forth.
  • FIG. 5A shows only in front view other possible variations of the compartments of the upper and lower trays.
  • package 10a includes trays 11a and 12a
  • Figure 5B shows package 10b having still differently shaped trays 11 b and 12b. The particular shape of the trays will be dependent on the food items to be included.
  • the compartment 15 would include for example turkey slices 21.
  • the compartment 16 would include condiments 22 such as packs of mustard, mayonnaise or the like.
  • Compartment 17 would include slices 23 of another meat such as ham.
  • compartment 18 could include a farinaceous product such as crackers 24.
  • the smaller central compartment 25 could include other condiments such as prepackaged sauces or a dessert such as mints.
  • the larger compartment 20 could include bread slices 26.
  • tray 11 includes a peripheral flange 30 which encircles the entire tray in an upper reference plane while internal flanges 36, also in this reference plane, divide the compartments 15,16 and 17 from each other.
  • the other tray 12 includes a peripheral flange 31 which completely encircles the periphery of that tray with internal flanges 37, lying in the same plane as flange 31, separating the compartments 18,19 and 20 from each other.
  • a flexible transparent film 40 is applied against the peripheral and internal flanges, hermetically sealing the respective compartments.
  • the two trays 11 and 12 would preferably initially be formed as individual trays, both initially being processed with the bottoms of the compartments (that is the uppermost and lowermost portions of the package as shown in Figure 1) lowermost on a surface, either stationarily or on a conveyor surface, during which the compartments would be filled and sealed.
  • the two trays are preferably formed as one piece, hinged along line 32 where they join or are formed as two separate trays which are subsequently joined together at line 32 after sealing.
  • the trays may be kept separate if for example the trays are arranged with their tops against each other so that they are held together by a band or the like.
  • the package containing the trays 11 and 12 is initially formed as one piece, then during the steps of filling the compartments and applying the transparent flexible film, the package will appear as shown in Figure 4 with the trays side-by-side. In this case a single film 40 can be applied across the entire area occupying the tops of both trays.
  • the trays 11 and 12 are formed as separate elements, they can be processed in one of several ways. The trays may proceed and be filled side-by-side Oust as if they were joined) and then either sealed with a flexible film separately, two different films, or together with a single film concurrently applied across both trays. If the trays are separate, they would be joined together along the joining line 32.
  • an adhesive tape may be applied along the peripheral flanges 30 and 31 adjacent the joining line 32, either above or below said flanges.
  • a means must be provided to apply labelling information to the package.
  • a band 35 of suitable materials such as plastic, paper stock or the like may be wrapped around the package. This would provide the additional function of holding the two trays 11 and 12 together. It is to be understood, however, that other labelling arrangements may be utilized.
  • the two trays could be attached together by adhesive, preferably in the front middle of the package while adhesive labels are applied to some of the flat surfaces of the package.
  • Figure 4 in addition to illustrating the early steps in the formation of the package of Figures 1 through 3, illustrates a different form by which the package may be sold in commerce.
  • the trays 11 and 12 are arranged side-by-side. Leaving the trays 11 and 12 in this position during commercialization of the package has the advantage of providing even more areas to expose the contents of the package for visual inspection by the consumer. If sold in this manner, this package would initially be formed according to any of the procedures discussed above.
  • labelling information could be applied by attaching an adhesive label 43 at a suitable position against the flexible film 40 so as to leave major portions of the contents of the food unobstructed for visual viewing by the potential customer.
  • a package of this type can include backing materials both for protection of the package, for assuring its structural rigidity and possibly for allowing this package to stand on its lower end, i.e., the end which is lowermost in Figure 4. Examples of such backings are shown in our co-pending European Patent Application No. 91310050.9.
  • the package of Figure 4 can be provided with an opening for hanging this package on a peg such as on a pegboard.
  • This may include an opening 41 formed in the top portion of peripheral flange 40 or a header 42 which may be an extension of peripheral flange 30 or a piece of material added thereto.
  • This header would then include the opening 44.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
EP92301319A 1991-02-22 1992-02-18 Emballage pour comestibles avec barquettes compartimentées opposées Ceased EP0500318A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US65885391A 1991-02-22 1991-02-22
US658853 1991-02-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0500318A1 true EP0500318A1 (fr) 1992-08-26

Family

ID=24642985

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92301319A Ceased EP0500318A1 (fr) 1991-02-22 1992-02-18 Emballage pour comestibles avec barquettes compartimentées opposées

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0500318A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0556638A1 (fr) * 1992-02-19 1993-08-25 GEA Finnah GmbH Double gobelet en plastique
WO1995014623A1 (fr) * 1993-11-24 1995-06-01 United Biscuits (Uk) Limited Emballage pour aliments
FR2903390A1 (fr) * 2006-07-05 2008-01-11 Delifrance Sa Blister destine aux patisseries,notamment les eclairs
US9783358B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2017-10-10 Rajiv Dhand Segmented yogurt container
US9944431B2 (en) 2014-06-19 2018-04-17 Mastronardi Produce Ltd. Ventilated container apparatus
WO2019016276A1 (fr) * 2017-07-19 2019-01-24 Lunch Locker Ltd Récipient d'emballage et procédé

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2220439A1 (fr) * 1973-03-09 1974-10-04 Lunch Locker Systems Ltd
DE2933043A1 (de) * 1979-08-16 1981-03-26 Wippermann, Gerhard, 41379 Brüggen Lunch-packung
DE3110847A1 (de) * 1981-03-20 1982-09-30 Lufthansa Service Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt Verpackungs-behaelter und verfahren zum verpacken einer gebrauchsfertigen mahlzeit in diesem

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2220439A1 (fr) * 1973-03-09 1974-10-04 Lunch Locker Systems Ltd
DE2933043A1 (de) * 1979-08-16 1981-03-26 Wippermann, Gerhard, 41379 Brüggen Lunch-packung
DE3110847A1 (de) * 1981-03-20 1982-09-30 Lufthansa Service Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt Verpackungs-behaelter und verfahren zum verpacken einer gebrauchsfertigen mahlzeit in diesem

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0556638A1 (fr) * 1992-02-19 1993-08-25 GEA Finnah GmbH Double gobelet en plastique
WO1995014623A1 (fr) * 1993-11-24 1995-06-01 United Biscuits (Uk) Limited Emballage pour aliments
GB2298840A (en) * 1993-11-24 1996-09-18 United Biscuits Ltd Food package
GB2298840B (en) * 1993-11-24 1997-06-25 United Biscuits Ltd Food package
FR2903390A1 (fr) * 2006-07-05 2008-01-11 Delifrance Sa Blister destine aux patisseries,notamment les eclairs
US9944431B2 (en) 2014-06-19 2018-04-17 Mastronardi Produce Ltd. Ventilated container apparatus
US10364066B2 (en) 2014-06-19 2019-07-30 Mastronardi Produce, Ltd. Ventilated container apparatus
US10611517B2 (en) 2014-06-19 2020-04-07 Mastronardi Produce Ltd. Ventilated container apparatus
US11345510B2 (en) 2014-06-19 2022-05-31 Mastronardi Produce Ltd. Ventilated container apparatus
US9783358B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2017-10-10 Rajiv Dhand Segmented yogurt container
WO2019016276A1 (fr) * 2017-07-19 2019-01-24 Lunch Locker Ltd Récipient d'emballage et procédé
GB2565530A (en) * 2017-07-19 2019-02-20 Lunch Locker Ltd A packaging container and process
GB2565530B (en) * 2017-07-19 2020-11-18 Lunch Locker Ltd A packaging container and process

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