GB2255550A - Pack - Google Patents

Abstract

A pack comprises a tray (10) with a downwardly convergent peripheral wall and a cover (13) also having a downwardly convergent peripheral wall (15) so that the tray is captive in the cover. The pack may be used for food products. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Pack and method of packing Description of Invention The present invention relates to a pack which includes a tray and a cover for covering contents of the tray.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the tray of a pack of the kind described has a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall which overhangs at the outside of the tray, the cover of the pack has a top wall and a depending peripheral wall which is convergent in a direction away from the top wall and the peripheral wall of the cover embraces the peripheral wall of the tray sufficiently closely to make the tray captive in the cover.

The cover may provide mechanical protection for the contents of the tray. Additionally or alternatively, the cover may prevent the ingress of foreign matter to the tray. The cover may also bear information and/or decoration.

The respective peripheral walls of the tray and the cover are preferably substantially continuous around the periphery of the pack.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of packing a product wherein there is formed a tray having a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall which overhangs at the outside of the tray, the product is placed in the tray, a cover sheet is placed over the tray, marginal portions of the cover sheet are bent downwards and then inwards relative to a mid-portion of the cover sheet overlying the product and the marginal portions of the cover sheet are then connected to each other at a level below the top of the tray to make the tray captive in the cover.

It will be understood that descriptions herein of walls as being bottom and top walls and a description of marginal portions being bent downwards and other description relating to direction relate to the tray and cover in the normal attitude for use, are used herein for convenience of description and are not limiting as to the attitude of the pack or of components of the pack An example of a pack embodying the invention and which is prepared by a method embodying the second aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying.drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the pack, FIGURE 2 shows an elevation of a tray of the pack of Figure 1 and FIGURE 3 shows a blank from which a cover of the pack of Figure 1 is formed.

The pack shown in Figure 1 comprises a tray shown in Figure 2 which has a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall 11. The peripheral wall is continuous around the periphery of the bottom wall. The peripheral wall is divergent in a direction away from the bottom wall and therefore overhangs at the outside of the tray. Furthermore, there is a laterally outwardly projecting flange 12 incorporated in the peripheral wall at the margin thereof which is remote from the bottom wall. In the example illustrated, the flange 12 is continuous around the periphery of the tray.

The bottom wall of the tray 10 is polygonal and may be substantially flat. Alternatively, the bottom wall may define a plurality of wells for receiving respective different products. The tray may be divided internally by one or more partitions. The tray 10 is formed of a self-supporting material. By this, we mean that the tray has sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape under the action of gravity acting on the tray alone, irrespective of the attitude of the tray and of the position at which the tray is supported. Preferably, the tray has sufficient rigidity to retain its shape under the action of gravity acting on both the tray and the contents of the tray and also under the action of a directly applied force, for example a force exerted by a stack of packs on the lowermost pack of the stack.

The tray is preferably suitable to receive food products. Thermoplastics materials, metal foil and coated paper and board are suitable materials for forming the tray 10.

The pack further comprises a cover 13 which includes a top wall 14 and a depending peripheral wall 15. The top wall 14 is polygonal and has a size and shape corresponding to the perimeter of the flange 12 so that the cover can rest on the flange and cover the contents of the tray. The top wall 14 is substantially flat and extends without significant interruption throughout the entire length and width of the pack.

The peripheral wall 15 of the cover extends continuously around the periphery of the top wall 14 and is convergent in a direction away from the top wall. The peripheral wall therefore extends beneath the flange 12. The peripheral wall of the cover may extend beneath a further, upper part of the peripheral wall 11 of the tray. The peripheral wall comprises a number of substantially flat panels, one at each of the rectilinear margins of the top wall 14.

In the example illustrated, the cover comprises four of these panels and the top wall is rectangular. Each of the substantially flat panels meets the top wall 14 of the cover at a respective rectilinear fold. Mutually adjacent panels of the cover meet at substantially rectilinear intersections which are inclined at an acute angle to the top wall 14.

The cover 13 is formed of a self-supporting material, for example paper or card. This material may be laminated and may have a moisture-resistant layer at at least that face which is an inner face of the cover. Additionally or alternatively, the tray 10 and its contents may be enclosed in an envelope of moisture-resistant material, for example a thermoplastics film. It will be understood that a thermoplastics film is not self-supporting and does not have sufficient rigidity to provide the degree of mechanical protection to the contents of the tray which is provided by the cover 13.

The peripheral wall 15 of the cover embraces the peripheral wall 11 of the tray sufficiently closely to render the tray captive in the cover. In the example illustrated, the peripheral wall 15 of the cover engages the flange 12 of the tray. In consequence of the convergent shape of the peripheral wall 15, this engagement prevents upward movement of the cover relative to the tray. The peripheral wall 15 may also bear on the peripheral wall 11 at a position spaced from the flange 12 in a manner further to restrain upward movement of the cover relative to the tray. The peripheral wall of the cover may extend downwardly substantially to the level of the bottom wall of the tray.

The rectilinear folds between the top wall 14 of the cover and the panels of the peripheral wall 15 contributes substantially to the overall rigidity of the cover. In other words, the panels of the peripheral wall substantially prevent significant flexing of the top wall 14. The rectilinear intersections between the panels of the peripheral wall 15 also contribute significantly to the overall stiffness of the cover and inhibit flexing of the panels.

A product is packed in the tray and cover illustrated in the accompanying drawings by placing the product in the pre-formed tray and then placing over the tray and the product therein the cover sheet illustrated in Figure 3. This cover sheet is a pre-formed blank comprising a rectangular mid-portion 16 and respective marginal portions 17 to 20 along respective edges of the mid portion 16. The edges of the mid portion 16 may be defined by pre-formed folds.

However, the cover sheet may be substantially flat when placed over the tray.

The marginal portions 17 to 20 are then bent downwards and inwards relative to the mid portion 16 so that they collectively embrace the flange 12 and the peripheral wall 11 of the tray. Mutually adjacent ones of the marginal portions 17 to 20 are then connected to each other at a level below the mid portion 16.

The connection may be established by adhering mutually overlapped portions to each other. In Figure 3, there are shown flaps, one of which is identified by the reference numeral 21, for this purpose. Alternatively, there may be provided flaps which can be locked mechanically with one another. For this purpose, slits or slots may be formed in the marginal portions 17 to 20 or some of them. When attached to each other, the marginal portions 17 to 20 form the peripheral wall 15. The mid portion 16 constitutes the top wall 14 of the formed cover.

The completed cover is robust and provides uninterrupted external surfaces for bearing information and/or decoration. The cover provides mechanical protection for the tray and for the contents of the tray.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (5)

1. A pack which includes a tray and a cover for covering contents of the tray, wherein the tray has a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall which overhangs at the outside of the tray, the cover has a top wall and a depending peripheral wall which is convergent in a direction away from the top wall and wherein the peripheral wall of the cover embraces the peripheral wall of the tray sufficiently closely to make the tray captive in the cover.

2. A pack according to Claim 1 wherein the top wall of the cover is polygonal and meets the side wall of the cover at a number of substantially rectilinear folds.

3. A pack according to Claim 2 wherein the peripheral wall of the cover comprises a number of substantially flat panels.

4. A method of packing a product wherein there is formed a tray having a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral wall which overhangs at the outside of the tray, the product is placed in the tray, a cover sheet is placed over the tray, marginal portions of the cover sheet are bent downwards and then inwards relative to a mid portion of the cover sheet overlying the product and wherein the marginal portions are connected to each other at a level below the top of the tray to make the tray captive in the cover.

5. A pack substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.