MXPA97009556A - Food product container that includes a charola and a envolt - Google Patents

Abstract

A food product container (20) that includes a tray having a base (30) and a side wall (32) extending from the base and a casing (34) positioned generally adjacent to the tray. The side wall of the tray terminates in a flange that includes a first portion (36) extending generally perpendicular from the side wall and a second portion (38) extending generally perpendicular from the first portion, the flange and a portion of the side wall defining a cut space (70). The casing including a lower flap (50) positioned adjacent to the base and a side flap (52) positioned adjacent to the side wall, the side flap ending in a free edge portion (54) and the casing which is positioned and sized so that the free edge portion of the side flap is positioned substantially in the cut space so that the casing can be restricted from the gap from the adjacent tray by virtue of the engaging portion against the eyelash

Description

ANIMAL FOOD CONTAINER THAT INCLUDES A CHAROLA AND A WRAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a food product container that includes a tray and a wrap surrounding the tray. A container for food product, in addition to its main function of containing the food product, must also include surfaces on which the information and commercial indications are printed. With the arrival of the plastic trays to contain the food product, there is a need to provide a cardboard or wrap sleeve to contain the information and commercial indications. These indications include information indicated by the government, such as, for example, food information, as well as striking graphics to attract the consumer to buy the product. Some containers have been suggested that include a tray and wrap around the tray. U.S. Patent No. 3, 785, 544, for example, discloses a plastic tray surrounded by a cardboard wrap. The wrapper includes flanged portions having a hot melt adhesive placed thereon to seal the same to the bottom surface of the tray flange.

PCT WO 92/17375 discloses a packaging container and a method for the production thereof in which an external part is mechanically joined to the internal part by means of protrusions cooperating with holes in the external part and a projection forming a groove inside which adjusts the external part. Problems arise with the prior art designs when it is necessary to assemble the casing and the tray to form the container at extremely high speeds that are commercially viable. It is difficult to effectively secure the wrap to the tray using a hot melt adhesive that is placed near the free edge of the wrapper. This is because it needs to be a solid support surface for the tray flange in order to effectively gather the tray and the wrapper. This requires the use of dice and anvils that must be indexed perfectly at high speeds. As can be expected, the process does not always operate uniformly, leading to inefficiencies in production and excessive scraping of materials. Therefore, what is needed is a food product container that includes a tray and a wrapper in which the casing can be easily and effectively placed inside the tray to form a commercially viable and attractive food product container. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention has met or exceeded the aforementioned need as well as others. A food product container is described which includes a tray having a base and a side wall extending from the base and a wrapping generally positioned adjacent to the tray. The side wall of the tray terminates in a flange that includes a first portion that extends generally perpendicular from the side wall and a second portion extending generally perpendicularly from the first portion, the flange and a portion thereof. lateral wall that define a cut space. The casing includes a lower flap positioned adjacent the base and a side flap positioned adjacent to the side wall, the side flap ending in a free edge portion, the casing which is positioned and dimensioned such that the free edge portion is substantially positioned in the cut space so that the envelope can be restricted from separation from the adjacent tray by means of the engaging portion against the flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full understanding of the invention can be obtained from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a food product package including a tray, a wrapper and a lid. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the food product package of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the food product package of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of upper plant of the food product packaging of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the food product package of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the food product package of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 packing. Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a portion of the vertical section shown in fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, only showing another alterative embodiment of an envelope. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, only showing another alternative embodiment of a wrapper.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7, only showing another alternative embodiment of a wrapper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Fig. 1, a food package 18 according to the invention is shown. The food package 18 includes a food product container 20 which is formed by a tray 22 and a casing 24 generally positioned adjacent the tray 22. The food package 20 also includes a lid 26 sealed to the tray 22. lid 26 is removed from tray 22 with the help of a dotted line 27 which is positioned around the perimeter of lid 26. Preferably, a digital tab is provided by dotted line 28 to facilitate removal of lid 26. Preferably, the tray 22 is made of plastic and, more particularly, crystallized polyethylene terephthalate ("C-PETE"). The wrapper 24 and the lid 26 are preferably made of a paper product, such as cardboard. However, it will be appreciated that the invention contemplates any type of material composition for the tray 22, the wrapper 24 and the lid 26. As can be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5-7, the casing 24 is generally positioned adjacent to and particularly encloses the tray 22. The tray 22 itself consists of a base 30 and a side wall 32 extending from the base 30. The side wall 32 it includes a flange 34 that consists of a first portion 36 that extends generally perpendicular from the side wall 32 and a second portion 38 that extends generally perpendicular from the first portion 36. The enclosure 24 includes a lower fin 50 and two side flaps 52, 54. The wrapper 24 contains indications of the food product, such as the indication "PASTE" 56 that can be placed anywhere on the exposed surface of the wrapper 24. Other indications, such as bar code markings 57 and the food information indications 58 can be placed on the lower fin 50. It can be seen that the casing 24 provides a large amount of surface area on the lower fin 50. where the indications can be placed. The casing 24 can be formed as a flat model and then folded or otherwise placed generally adjacent to the tray 22 as shown in Figs. 1-7. Referring specifically to Figures 6 and 7, the casing 24 is secured to the tray 22 by securing a portion of the lower flap 50 of the casing 24 to the base 30 of the tray 22. This can be accomplished by any means known to those with experience in the art, and shown in Figs. 6 and 7 providing points (only two are shown) of adhesive 60, 62 which are deposited on the base 30 and which then secure the lower flap thereto. It will be appreciated that any type of adhesive, such as a hot melt adhesive, can be used.

The adhesive can be deposited as a spot or it can be deposited as a strip of adhesive. The adhesive can be placed in any desired area on the base 30 of the tray 22. Figs. 6 and 7 also show adhesive spots 64 and 66 which secure the respective lateral fins 52, 54 to the side wall 32. It will be appreciated that either of the side fins 52, 54 or the lower fin 50 or both side fins 52, 54 and the lower flap 50 can be secured to the tray 22 and still be within the scope of the invention. With further reference to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the casing 24 is positioned and dimensioned so that the free edge portions 52a and 54a of the side flaps 52 and 54 are positioned in a cut space 70 defined by the flange 34 and the side wall 32. and, more particularly by the first portion 36 and the second portion 38 of the flange 34 and the portion 32a of the side wall 32. In this manner, the free edge portions 52a and 54a and therefore the side flaps 52 and 54 can be restricted from separation from a position adjacent to the side wall of the tray 22. This restriction feature is shown by imaginary line that delineates the edge portion 52a in Figs. 6 and 7. As can be seen in those figures, if the free end portion 52a begins to move away from its position shown in solid lines in Figs. 6 and 7, will be restricted from the separation from the tray 22 by the second contact portion 38 of the flange 34. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary for the free end portion 52a to be initially positioned so as to contact the second portion 38 of the flange 34. In fact, the placement of the free edge portion 52a shown in solid line of Figures 6 and 7 is preferred. However, the envelope 24 must be positioned and dimensioned so that if a separation movement of the free edge portion 52a, the second portion 38 of the flange 34 will restrict further movement of the side flap 52 away from the side wall 32 of the tray 22 and thus avoids the problem of having a loose side flap 52, which is not adjacent to the side wall 32. It will be appreciated that with the arrangement shown in Figs. 1-7, there is no need to secure the free edge portions 52a and 54a to the flange 34. In fact, if it is desired to secure the side flap to the side wall, a portion of the side flap different from the free edge portions 52a and 54a must be adhesively secured to the tray. This is advantageous due to the inherent difficulty in securing the free edge portion 52a in the cut space 70. To achieve that assurance, specialized securing equipment including sealing dies and anvils must be provided to fit within the cut space. 70. As can be seen, there is a small tolerance to achieve this assurance and when it is in production, because hundreds of such food packages must be made, this small tolerance can lead to rejection and scraping, adversely affecting productivity. In the food product package 18 of the invention, however, there is no need to secure the free end portions 52a and 54a to the tray, thereby avoiding the aforementioned problems. Another advantage of the invention over the prior art packages is that the wrapper 24 is easier to remove from the tray 22 when the consumer wants to cook the product. This is because the side flap is not secured to the flange, but instead, if it is secured in some way, it is secured closer to the bottom of the pan. This makes the wrap easier to remove from the tray. It will further be appreciated that the flange 34 shown in Figs. 1-7 is to illustrate a shape of the tray 22. The invention contemplates any form of flange which, together with the side wall of the tray, defines a cut space in which a portion of the wrapper is placed. For example, the flange could only consist of a portion extending outwardly and angularly from the side wall, forming a cut space having a "V" shaped cross section. The key point is that the flange forms restricting means for restricting that a suitably sized and placed envelope separates from the adjacent tray, and, more particularly, from the adjacent side wall of the tray. Figs. 8-10 show alternative embodiments of the shell structure, wherein reference numbers similar to those used in Figs. 1-7 show similar characteristics of these modalities. In Fig. 8, the side flap 72 of the flange 74 includes a fold line 76 that separates a generally horizontal extending portion 78 from the remainder of the side flap 72. This portion 78 is positioned in the cut space 70 and therefore can be restricted from the spacing from the adjacent side wall 32 by a second portion 38 of the flange 34. Although the portion 78 is shown in FIG. 8 having a free edge 79 that makes contact with the second portion 38, it will be appreciated that, with the embodiment of the wrapper 24 shown in Figs. 1 -7, the portion 78 can be positioned so that the free edge 79 is not in contact with the second portion 38, although, when a separating movement arises, the free edge and / or the portion 78 and thus the flap side 72 can be restricted from the spacing from the adjacent side wall 32. In FIG. 9 the casing 80 has a fold line 82 that creates a portion 84 that extends generally angularly from the remainder of the side flap 86. FIG. 9 shows that a portion of the side flap 86 that contains the line of fold 82 makes contact with the first portion 36 of the flange 34 and a free edge portion 89 of the side flap 86 makes contact with the second portion 38 of the flange 34. As with the other embodiments, this does not necessarily have to be the initial placement of the lateral flap 86 in the cut space 70. One, both or no portion 88 and the free edge portion 89 can make contact with the first portion 36 of the flange 34 and the second portion 38 of the flange 34 , respectively. The key point is that the portion of the side flap should be placed in the cut space so that the envelope can be restricted from the separation from the adjacent tray. Even another embodiment of a shell 92 is shown in Fig. 10. In this embodiment, the side flap 92 has a fold line 93 that creates a portion 94 that extends angularly from the remainder of the side flap 92. A portion 94 of the side flap 92 containing the fold line 93 makes contact with the side wall 32 of the tray 22. The free edge portion 95 of the angularly extending portion 94 is placed in the cut space 70 and is shown in contact with the second portion 38 of the flange 34. Once again, the free edge portion 95 can be placed so as not to make contact with the second portion 38 of the tray 22, although it is likely to be restricted once the movement of separation. It will be appreciated that a food product package and a food product container have been described in which the food product container includes a tray and a wrap, the tray including a flange defining a cut space in which a portion is placed of the tray so that the envelope is not separated from the adjacent tray. This arrangement allows the high-speed manufacture of the food product container, while ensuring that the wrapper remains adjacent to the tray during the shipment, handling and transportation of the consumer and the use of the food product.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS 1. A food product container (20) comprising: a tray (22) having a base (30) and a side wall (32) extending from the base, the side wall ending in a flange (34) that includes a first portion (36) extending generally perpendicular from the side wall and a second portion (38) extending generally perpendicularly from the first portion, the flange and a portion of the side wall defining a cut space (70); and a casing (24) positioned generally adjacent to the tray, the casing including a lower flap positioned adjacent the base and a side flap (52) positioned adjacent to the side wall, the side flap ending in a free edge portion. (54) and the casing which is positioned and dimensioned so that the free edge portion of the fin is substantially positioned in the cut space where the casing can be restricted from the separation from the adjacent tray by means of the edge portion. free coupling against the tab. The container of claim 1, wherein a portion of the wrap other than the portion positioned in the cut space is adhesively secured to the tray. - The container of claim 2, wherein the lower flap is secured to the base. 4. The container of claim 2, wherein the side flap is secured to the side wall. The container of claim 2, wherein the lower flap is secured to the base; and the side flap is secured to the side wall. The container of claim 1, wherein the side flap includes a fold line (76) forming a free end section extending from the remainder of the flap, the free end section including the portion placed in the space chopped up. The container of claim 6, wherein the free end section includes a free edge (89). 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the free edge makes contact with the flange. The container of claim 8, wherein the free end section extends generally perpendicular to the side wall. The container of claim 8, wherein the free end section extends generally angularly from the remainder of the side flap. The container of claim 9, wherein the fold line makes contact with the first portion. 12. The container of claim 9, wherein the fold line makes contact with the side wall. 13. The container of claim 1, wherein the tray is made of plastic. 14. The container of claim 13, wherein the tray is made of C-PETE. 15. The container of claim 1, wherein the wrapper is made of cardboard. 16. The container of claim 1, including a lid (26) sealed to a portion of the tray. 17. The container of claim 16, wherein the lid has dotted lines (27) to facilitate the removal thereof. The container of claim 17, wherein the dotted lines define a digital tab (28) to further facilitate the removal of the lid.