GB2259640A

GB2259640A - Food tray with an associated waste compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2259640A
Application number: GB9119803A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Joseph Kennedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-17
Filing date: 1991-09-17
Publication date: 1993-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-17
Also published as: GB9119803D0; GB2259640B

Abstract

A food tray has a main compartment (1) containing food portions in individual wrappings. A secondary compartment (2), attached to the main compartment (1) by a connecting wall (3), is closed by a top wall (4) which incorporates a number of flaps (5) which are initially connected to fixed wall portions (6) of the top wall by perforations (7). A pull-back sheet (8) is removed to expose the food compartment (1), and any wrappings and waste items can be disposed of through the slots created when the perforations (7) are broken from the flaps (5), and held in place by wall portions (6) and flaps (5). <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements Relatina to Food Travs" Pre-packed food trays are commonly available such as on airlines. These trays generally comprise a compartment incorporating various food items, some of which are wrapped, the compartment being and sealed by a removable cover sheet.

During the course of use of such a food tray various wrappings and unwanted materials (chicken bones, for example) accumulate.

It is the object of this invention to provide means whereby waste items may readily be stored during the time that food is being consumed from a food tray.

Accordingly, this invention provides a food tray having a compartment for receipt of food items and an attached additional compartment with a partially closed wall in the form of wall portions which between them define access slots through which waste food or food wrappings can be inserted to be held in the additional compartment by the wall portions.

The additional compartment therefore provides a tidy means of storing the waste items. The access slots could be provided in a side wall, but are preferably formed in a top wall of the additional compartment.

In the preferred arrangement the access slots incorporate flexible flaps which can be pressed down to provide access through the slots for the waste items. These flaps will then tend to spring back to close the slots and thus act as additional means to retain the waste items. If desired, the flaps could initially be attached to the wall portions by perforated connections which will be broken as waste items are pushed through the slots leaving the flaps attached just at one end only. A pull-back sheet may be temporarily attached over at least the food compartment but could extend over the additional compartment also so as to protect any top wall flaps (when present) from damage until they are put into use.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred examples thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates one preferred form of food tray of this invention; and Figures 2 to 4 show several alternative food tray arrangements of the invention.

The food tray has a main compartment 1 which will receive various prepared food portions some of which will be in individual wrappings. A secondary compartment 2 is attached to the main compartment 1 by a connecting wall 3.

The top of the compartment 2 is closed by a top wall 4 which incorporates a number of flaps 5 which are initially connected to fixed wall portions 6 of the top wall by perforations 7. During use, a pull-back sheet 8 is removed to expose the contents of the food compartment 1. Any wrappings (such as the sheet 8) and waste items can be disposed of by pressing these items through the slots created when the perforations 7 are broken from the flaps 5.

The waste items will then be stored in the compartment 2 and be held in place by the wall portions 6 and the flaps 5.

In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 2 a small secondary compartment 2 is formed within the bounds of the main compartment 1 and has perforated flaps 9 on the top or as an alternative, slots or flaps, through which waste materials can be pressed, may be formed in the side wall at 10 as shown. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the top surface is sealed and slots 11 are formed at various positions in the side walls for receipt of the waste materials. In the modified construction shown in Figure 4 flaps 12 are formed in a criss-cross array and tend to spring back into position when waste materials are pushed through. There is also a perforated line 13 between the two compartments so that the secondary compartment 2 may be able to be detached.

Claims

1. A food tray having a compartment for receipt of food items and an attached additional compartment with a partially closed wall in the form of wall portions which between them define access slots through which waste food or food wrappings can be inserted to be held in the additional compartment by the wall portions.

2. A food tray according to Claim 1, wherein the access slots are provided in a side wall or a top wall of the additional compartment.

3. A food tray according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the access slots incorporate flexible flaps which can be pressed down to provide access through the slots for the waste items.

4. A food tray according to Claim 3, wherein the flaps are initially attached to the wall portions by perforated connections which will be broken as waste items are pushed through the slots leaving the flaps attached just at one end only.

5. A food tray according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a pull-back sheet is temporarily attached over at least the food compartment.

6. A food tray according to Claim 5, wherein the pullback sheet extends over the additional compartment also so as to protect any top wall flaps (when present) from damage until they are put into use.

7. A food tray substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.