EP2228309A1 - Sausage tray - Google Patents

Sausage tray Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2228309A1
EP2228309A1 EP10155987A EP10155987A EP2228309A1 EP 2228309 A1 EP2228309 A1 EP 2228309A1 EP 10155987 A EP10155987 A EP 10155987A EP 10155987 A EP10155987 A EP 10155987A EP 2228309 A1 EP2228309 A1 EP 2228309A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tray
sausage
arcuate end
edges
arcuate
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP10155987A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2228309B1 (en
Inventor
David Nicholson
Dean Benson
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.)
Johnsonville Sausage LLC
Original Assignee
Johnsonville Sausage LLC
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 Johnsonville Sausage LLC filed Critical Johnsonville Sausage LLC
Publication of EP2228309A1 publication Critical patent/EP2228309A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2228309B1 publication Critical patent/EP2228309B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a packaging tray for a meat product, and particularly relates to tray for sausage links.
  • Sausage meat is typically provided in bulk, patties, or links. Bulk sausage meat and patties fit neatly on rectangular foam trays that have a clear plastic covering over the sausage meat for viewing by a purchaser.
  • Sausage links such as bratwurst, Italian sausage, and the like, have a cylindrical arcuate shape that can shift or move on a rectangular tray. The shifted links can appear undesirable to a prospective purchaser causing the purchaser to bypass the package having shifted links and choose a package having links in an ordered or more regular appearance. The bypassed package may then sit on a store shelf past its expiration date requiring the vendor to discard the bypassed package resulting in waste.
  • the sausage links also do not cover the entire tray bottom resulting in empty space beneath the clear plastic covering.
  • the tray includes a bottom having side edges joined by arcuate end edges.
  • a side wall extends upwardly from each of the side edges.
  • An end wall extends upwardly from each of the arcuate end edges.
  • One of the arcuate end walls is convex and the other of the arcuate end walls is concave.
  • the arcuate end walls secure nested sausages on the tray from shifting and eliminates empty space on the tray.
  • Fig. 1 is a top, side perspective view of a sausage link tray incorporating the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a top view of the tray of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of the tray of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 ;
  • Fig. 5 is an end view of the tray of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig. 2 ;
  • Fig. 7 is a top, side perspective view of another sausage link tray incorporating the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a top view of the tray of Fig. 7 ;
  • Fig. 9 is a side view of the tray of Fig. 7 ;
  • Fig. 10 is a sectional view along line 10-10 of Fig. 8 ;
  • Fig. 11 is an end view of the tray of Fig. 7 ;
  • Fig. 12 is a sectional view along line 12-12 of Fig. 8 .
  • a sausage link tray 10 incorporating the present invention includes a planar tray bottom 12 having side edges 14, 16 joined by end edges 18, 22.
  • the side edges 14, 16 are substantially parallel to each other.
  • the end edges 18, 22 are arcuate conforming to the general curvature of a sausage link 30, such as a bratwurst, Italian sausage, and the like.
  • One of the end edges 18 is concave generally conforming to an inner diameter of an arcuate sausage link 30.
  • the other end edge 22 is convex generally conforming to an outer diameter of an arcuate sausage link 30.
  • End walls 28, 32 extend upwardly from the end edges 18, 22. Each end wall 28, 32 follows the curvature of the end edge 18, 22 from which the end wall 28, 32 extends.
  • a first end sausage link 30 carried in the tray 10 adjacent the concave end wall 28 extending from the concave end edge 18 nests with the concave end wall 28 along the entire length of the first sausage link 30 on the tray 10.
  • a second end sausage link 30 adjacent the convex end wall 32 extending from the convex end edge 22 nests with the convex end wall 32 along the entire length of the second sausage link 30 on the tray 10.
  • Intermediate sausage links interposed between the first and second end sausages nest with each other or one of the first and second end sausage links 30.
  • the nested sausage links are held securely in the tray 10 between the arcuate end walls 28, 32 to prevent shifting of the sausage links on the tray 10. Moreover, the tray end walls 28, 32 conform to the arcuate shape of the sausage links to avoid empty spaces on the tray 10.
  • the tray 10 has side walls 24, 26 including dividers 34, 36 extending inwardly toward the tray center.
  • Each divider 34 extending from one side wall 24 is paired with a corresponding divider 36 extending from the facing side wall 26.
  • Each pair of dividers 34, 36 separates ends of an individual sausage link 30 on the tray 10 from an adjacent sausage link on the tray 10 to more securely hold the sausage link 30 on the tray 10.
  • the dividers 34, 36 further prevent the sausage links from shifting on the tray 10.
  • arcuate dividers extending upwardly from the tray bottom 14 and substantially parallel to the end edges 18, 22 can be provided to prevent the sausage links from shifting without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the sausage trays 10 incorporating the present invention are preferably formed from molded foamed plastic foam, also known as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS or foam), using methods known in the art.
  • EPS Expanded Polystyrene
  • the present invention from the following materials: polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene (PP), polypropylene copolymer, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), crystallized polyethylene terephthalate (CPET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), paperboard, corrugate, and thermoformed corrugate.
  • PE polyethylene
  • HDPE high-density polyethylene
  • LDPE low-density polyethylene
  • LLDPE linear low-density polyethylene
  • PP polypropylene
  • HIPS high impact polystyrene
  • PET poly
  • the radius of the end edges 18, 22 and arcuate end walls 28, 32 need only approximate the actual curvature of the sausage links if sausage links having a high degree of flexibility are placed on the tray 10.
  • the length of the tray 10, i.e. the distance between the tray end walls 28, 32 depends upon the number of sausage links that will be place on the tray bottom 12.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Abstract

A packaging tray for sausage links includes a bottom (12) having side edges (14,16) joined by arcuate end edges (18,22). A side wall (24,26) extends upwardly from each of the side edges (14,16). An end wall (28,32) extends upwardly from each of the arcuate end edges (14,16). One of the arcuate end walls is convex and the other of the arcuate end walls is concave. Advantageously, the arcuate end walls secure nested sausages on the tray from shifting and eliminates empty space on the tray.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
  • This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/158,791, filed on March 10, 2009 , the entirety of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
    • STATEMENT CONCERNING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
  • Not Applicable.
    • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention generally relates to a packaging tray for a meat product, and particularly relates to tray for sausage links.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Sausage meat is typically provided in bulk, patties, or links. Bulk sausage meat and patties fit neatly on rectangular foam trays that have a clear plastic covering over the sausage meat for viewing by a purchaser. Sausage links, such as bratwurst, Italian sausage, and the like, have a cylindrical arcuate shape that can shift or move on a rectangular tray. The shifted links can appear undesirable to a prospective purchaser causing the purchaser to bypass the package having shifted links and choose a package having links in an ordered or more regular appearance. The bypassed package may then sit on a store shelf past its expiration date requiring the vendor to discard the bypassed package resulting in waste. The sausage links also do not cover the entire tray bottom resulting in empty space beneath the clear plastic covering.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • One embodiment of the present invention provides a packaging tray for sausage links. The tray includes a bottom having side edges joined by arcuate end edges. A side wall extends upwardly from each of the side edges. An end wall extends upwardly from each of the arcuate end edges. One of the arcuate end walls is convex and the other of the arcuate end walls is concave. Advantageously, the arcuate end walls secure nested sausages on the tray from shifting and eliminates empty space on the tray.
  • The foregoing and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description which follows. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
  • Fig. 1 is a top, side perspective view of a sausage link tray incorporating the present invention;
  • Fig. 2 is a top view of the tray of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of the tray of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 is an end view of the tray of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 7 is a top, side perspective view of another sausage link tray incorporating the present invention;
  • Fig. 8 is a top view of the tray of Fig. 7;
  • Fig. 9 is a side view of the tray of Fig. 7;
  • Fig. 10 is a sectional view along line 10-10 of Fig. 8;
  • Fig. 11 is an end view of the tray of Fig. 7;
  • Fig. 12 is a sectional view along line 12-12 of Fig. 8.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • Referring to Figs. 1-6, a sausage link tray 10 incorporating the present invention includes a planar tray bottom 12 having side edges 14, 16 joined by end edges 18, 22. The side edges 14, 16 are substantially parallel to each other. The end edges 18, 22 are arcuate conforming to the general curvature of a sausage link 30, such as a bratwurst, Italian sausage, and the like. One of the end edges 18 is concave generally conforming to an inner diameter of an arcuate sausage link 30. Likewise, the other end edge 22 is convex generally conforming to an outer diameter of an arcuate sausage link 30.
  • Side walls 24, 26 extend upwardly from the side edges 14, 16, and are substantially parallel to each other for receiving sausage links 30 therebetween.
  • End walls 28, 32 extend upwardly from the end edges 18, 22. Each end wall 28, 32 follows the curvature of the end edge 18, 22 from which the end wall 28, 32 extends. A first end sausage link 30 carried in the tray 10 adjacent the concave end wall 28 extending from the concave end edge 18 nests with the concave end wall 28 along the entire length of the first sausage link 30 on the tray 10. Likewise, a second end sausage link 30 adjacent the convex end wall 32 extending from the convex end edge 22 nests with the convex end wall 32 along the entire length of the second sausage link 30 on the tray 10. Intermediate sausage links interposed between the first and second end sausages nest with each other or one of the first and second end sausage links 30. Advantageously, the nested sausage links are held securely in the tray 10 between the arcuate end walls 28, 32 to prevent shifting of the sausage links on the tray 10. Moreover, the tray end walls 28, 32 conform to the arcuate shape of the sausage links to avoid empty spaces on the tray 10.
  • In a second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs 7-12, the tray 10 has side walls 24, 26 including dividers 34, 36 extending inwardly toward the tray center. Each divider 34 extending from one side wall 24 is paired with a corresponding divider 36 extending from the facing side wall 26. Each pair of dividers 34, 36 separates ends of an individual sausage link 30 on the tray 10 from an adjacent sausage link on the tray 10 to more securely hold the sausage link 30 on the tray 10. Advantageously, the dividers 34, 36 further prevent the sausage links from shifting on the tray 10. Although dividers extending from the side walls are shown, arcuate dividers extending upwardly from the tray bottom 14 and substantially parallel to the end edges 18, 22 can be provided to prevent the sausage links from shifting without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • The sausage trays 10 incorporating the present invention are preferably formed from molded foamed plastic foam, also known as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS or foam), using methods known in the art. However, it is possible to form the present invention from the following materials: polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene (PP), polypropylene copolymer, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), crystallized polyethylene terephthalate (CPET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), paperboard, corrugate, and thermoformed corrugate.
  • Moreover, the radius of the end edges 18, 22 and arcuate end walls 28, 32 need only approximate the actual curvature of the sausage links if sausage links having a high degree of flexibility are placed on the tray 10. The length of the tray 10, i.e. the distance between the tray end walls 28, 32 depends upon the number of sausage links that will be place on the tray bottom 12.
  • A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail. Many modifications and variations to the preferred embodiment described will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the embodiment described, but should be defined by the claims that follow.

Claims (6)

  1. A sausage tray comprising:
    a bottom having side edges joined by arcuate end edges;
    a side wall extending upwardly from each of said side edges; and
    an end wall extending upwardly from each of said arcuate end edges, wherein one of said arcuate end walls is convex and the other of said arcuate end walls is concave.
  2. The sausage tray as in claim 1, including at least one first divider extending inwardly from at least one of said side walls.
  3. The sausage tray as in claim 1 or 2, in which said arcuate end edges conform to a general curvature of a sausage link.
  4. The sausage tray as in one of claims 1 to 3, in which said tray is formed from a plastic foam.
  5. The sausage tray as in one of claims 1 to 4, including pairs of dividers, each of said pairs of dividers including one divider extending inwardly from one of said side walls and a corresponding divider extending inwardly from the other of said side walls, wherein ends of a sausage link are securely received between adjacent pairs of said dividers.
  6. The sausage tray as in one of claims 1 to 5, in which a sausage link disposed in said tray nests with one of said arcuate end walls.
EP10155987A 2009-03-10 2010-03-09 Sausage tray Not-in-force EP2228309B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15879109P 2009-03-10 2009-03-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2228309A1 true EP2228309A1 (en) 2010-09-15
EP2228309B1 EP2228309B1 (en) 2012-02-01

Family

ID=42227858

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10155987A Not-in-force EP2228309B1 (en) 2009-03-10 2010-03-09 Sausage tray

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20100230322A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2228309B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE543735T1 (en)
ES (1) ES2378646T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120006718A1 (en) * 2010-07-09 2012-01-12 Waldrop Christopher N Packaging tray and method of use
US8702141B2 (en) * 2011-09-01 2014-04-22 John Vinciguerra Serving tray for use with left or right hand
USD698643S1 (en) 2012-12-13 2014-02-04 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. Container
USD710701S1 (en) * 2013-06-25 2014-08-12 Connie Y. Lai Container tray
USD812476S1 (en) * 2017-01-27 2018-03-13 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Packing tray
US10421601B2 (en) * 2017-01-27 2019-09-24 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Processor tray and method of packing
US20190062031A1 (en) * 2017-08-30 2019-02-28 Bemis Company, Inc. Thermoformed Tray for Food Products
USD891274S1 (en) * 2018-12-07 2020-07-28 Meaty Meats Inc. Packaging tray
US11834216B2 (en) * 2019-03-28 2023-12-05 Meaty Meats Inc. Tray for soft materials and methods of loading trays with soft materials
US20210352920A1 (en) * 2020-05-14 2021-11-18 Bacon Blend LLC Process of Meat Packaging

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5820904A (en) * 1995-06-12 1998-10-13 Sara Lee Corporation Meat product package and method of forming same
US5934472A (en) * 1998-04-06 1999-08-10 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Processor tray
EP1779733A1 (en) * 2005-10-26 2007-05-02 Recla Srl - GmbH Method and device for producing curved skinless sausages
DE202006018008U1 (en) * 2006-11-27 2008-04-10 MEICA Ammerländische Fleischwarenfabrik Fritz Meinen GmbH & Co. Packaging and food bowl for sausages
EP1997618A2 (en) * 2007-06-01 2008-12-03 Coopbox Europe S.P.A. Sheet of plastic material, tray for a food product obtained from said sheet, packaging comprising said tray and related manufacture method

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3139348A (en) * 1962-12-18 1964-06-30 Diamond National Corp Banana tray and package
US3676159A (en) * 1970-04-27 1972-07-11 Grace W R & Co Thermoformed reusable package having a reclosable lid
US5393539A (en) * 1993-12-13 1995-02-28 Tekni-Plex Inc. Molded plastic overwrap tray
US5770249A (en) * 1995-06-12 1998-06-23 Sara Lee Corporation Meat product package and method of forming same

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5820904A (en) * 1995-06-12 1998-10-13 Sara Lee Corporation Meat product package and method of forming same
US5934472A (en) * 1998-04-06 1999-08-10 Tekni-Plex, Inc. Processor tray
EP1779733A1 (en) * 2005-10-26 2007-05-02 Recla Srl - GmbH Method and device for producing curved skinless sausages
DE202006018008U1 (en) * 2006-11-27 2008-04-10 MEICA Ammerländische Fleischwarenfabrik Fritz Meinen GmbH & Co. Packaging and food bowl for sausages
EP1997618A2 (en) * 2007-06-01 2008-12-03 Coopbox Europe S.P.A. Sheet of plastic material, tray for a food product obtained from said sheet, packaging comprising said tray and related manufacture method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2228309B1 (en) 2012-02-01
US20100230322A1 (en) 2010-09-16
ES2378646T3 (en) 2012-04-16
ATE543735T1 (en) 2012-02-15

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