NZ728842B - Packaging for food items - Google Patents

Abstract

food support with a base dimensioned to locate within the base of a tubular container to support a food item so as to transfer force from a central support region to the perimeter of the base. The food support may also provide cushioning between the base of the container and the food item. The food support may be placed within a transparent tubular container to package items such as pip fruit.

Description

PACKAGING FOR FOOD ITEMS FIELD This invention relates to packaging for food items. More specifically, although not exclusively, the invention relates to packaging for fruit.

BACKGROUND Food items such as fruit sold in transparent tubular containers are a popular snack as the container provides protection and portability. It also allows for easy storage in a fridge door and retail display. However when shipping fruit in these containers from the source to market, the assembled tubular containers with fruit inside typically require more space to ship than the fruit on its own. There is also a chance that the quality of the fruit will be reduced during shipping in the container, as there is not typically any protective cushioning between the fruit in the containers.

Therefore it is desirable to send flat packaging so that the fruit may be shipped in a more suitable protective container, and then pack the fruit in a retail container assembled at the destination. However, the two most suitable containers for stacked food items, a cylindrical tube and a tube having a square cross section, both have issues. The cylindrical tube cannot be flat packed and a tube having a square cross section has a centre of mass in the middle, which makes it inherently unstable due to this mass distribution.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved packaging for food items that may be assembled at the point of sale or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY According to one example embodiment there is provided packaging for food items comprised of a tubular container and a food support for insertion into the tubular container for supporting a food item thereon, the food support including a base having a perimeter dimensioned to be accommodated and located within the tubular container, and a central support region configured to receive and support a food item, the support region comprising a plurality of inwardly extending flexible elements configured to support the food item thereon, wherein the support region is located above the base perimeter and the support is configured to transfer force applied to the central support region to the perimeter of the base, and wherein the tubular container may be configured in a flat pack arrangement.

It is acknowledged that the terms “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning – i.e., they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components which the use directly references, and possibly also of other non-specified components or elements.

Reference to any document in this specification does not constitute an admission that it is prior art, validly combinable with other documents or that it forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a food support according to one embodiment; Figure 2 is a plan view of the food support shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the food support shown in Figure 1, supporting an apple; Figure 4 is perspective view of a container in a flat pack configuration; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembled container with a food support in the process of being inserted, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of an assembled container with a food support and apples inserted with a top closure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention generally relates to packaging for food items, and in one particular embodiment, packaging for fruit. The packaging consists of a tubular container having a food support located at the base formed of a resilient material designed to support the fruit and stabilise the container. The base has a support region which distributes the weight of the food and can act as a cushion. The size of the container and support region may be designed with the particular food item in mind, and a plurality of food items may be stacked on top of each other within the container.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a food support 1 according to an example embodiment.

In this embodiment, the food support 1 has a generally rectangular base 2, designed to fit inside a container having a rectangular cross section, however, it may be shaped to fit inside a suitable container having a different shaped cross section, such as a hexagonal cross section. The food support 1 has a raised central support region 3 which is dimensioned to receive and support a food item and transfer its force from the central support region 3 to the base 2 to distribute its weight and cushion the food against impact damage.

The food support may have a support region 3 consisting of a plurality of flexible support arms 4 pivotally attached to the base 2. The support arms 4 may be spaced evenly around the base and attached to the base at its top edge. The support arms 4 are also attached to locators 5, which may fit into the corners of a container to correctly locate the food support. In a container without corners, the locators 5 may be used to support the side of the container and maintain its rigidity. So that the fruit can be located correctly in the centre of the container, the support arms 4 preferably have a concave cross section. In this particular embodiment, the support arms 4 are leaf-shaped. The number of support arms 4 used may be chosen according to the food product to be supported, in this embodiment the preferred number of support arms is four.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the food support 1 supporting an apple 6.

The sloping concave support arms 4 locate the curved base of the apple 6 in the centre of the food support 1.

It is preferred that the food support 1 is designed to be stackable, so that it may be sent in compact form either together with or separately from the food and container to be packaged at the destination, which may be the point of sale. The food support 1 maintains the rigidity of the container and as such is formed of a resilient material, preferable plastics and more preferably foamed plastics.

Figure 4 shows the tubular container 7 in a flat pack configuration. The flat pack design allows for efficient use of space when the containers are packed for shipping, in comparison to a tube with a round profile, which are either manufactured in such a way that they cannot be flat packed, or if designed to be flat packed, have diminished structural integrity. According to one embodiment, the container has a base 8, rigid sides 9 and flexible sides 10. The flexible sides 10 allow the assembled box to conform to the size of the products inside, so that they are not damaged from moving around inside the container. The container 7 may be assembled by placing tabs 11a into slots 11b. The tabs 11a may be secured by an adhesive, or they may be a friction fit into the slots 11b.

The container has a top closure 12, comprising tabs 12a and 12b. The closure 12 does not completely enclose the top of the container and instead allows for ventilation, as when tab 12a is placed in slot 12b, the sides of the closure remain open. This prevents condensation from building up inside the container. In some embodiments it may be preferable to have a lid completely enclosing the top of the container. The container may be transparent to display the food product and allow the customer to verify the quality of the food product. Preferably the container is formed of a suitable plastics material.

Once the container and food product arrive at the destination, the container 7 is assembled so that it has a secured base 8 and an open top closure 12 as shown in Figure 5. The food support 1 is then inserted. One or more food products, in this embodiment apples 6, are placed inside the container and stacked on top of the food support. The top closure may then be secured by a tab and slot, creating an air gap 13. The assembled and filled container is shown in Figure 6.

The food support and container may be used to house any suitable food item, however they are particularly suitable for fruit, especially stone fruit, and apples and other pip fruit. The profile of the container may be altered to suit the food item to be enclosed, as well as the height adjusted to accommodate several food items being stacked on top of each other. The container profile may be square, rectangular, round or any other suitable shape.

The flat packed container minimises wasted space during shipping and the food support stabilises the container once assembled and minimises damage to the fruit due to the cushioning provided by the support. When the packages are displayed, the supports maintain uniform spacing between the containers to prevent impact damage to the fruit inside the containers.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant’s general inventive concept.

Claims (18)

CLAIMS 1.:

1. Packaging for food items comprised of a tubular container and a food support for insertion into the tubular container for supporting a food item thereon, the food support including: 5 a base having a perimeter dimensioned to be accommodated and located within the tubular container, and a central support region configured to receive and support a food item, the support region comprising a plurality of inwardly extending flexible elements configured to support the food item thereon, 10 wherein the support region is located above the base perimeter and the support is configured to transfer force applied to the central support region to the perimeter of the base, and wherein the tubular container may be configured in a flat pack arrangement. 15

2. Packaging for food items as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support region cushions the food.

3. Packaging for food items as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the inwardly extending flexible elements are a plurality flexible support arms pivotally 20 attached to the base.

4. Packaging for food items as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support arms have concave cross-section along their longitudinal axis to centre the fruit. 25

5. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a rectangular base and four support arms.

6. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein locators extend from the corners of the base to locate the support arms within a tube of rectangular cross section 5

7. Packaging for food items as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the food support is stackable.

8. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the food support is formed of resilient material.

9. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the food support is formed of plastics.

10. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 15 wherein the food support is formed of foamed plastics.

11. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the food item is fruit. 20

12. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the food item is apples.

13. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of claims 1-11 wherein the food item is stone fruit.

14. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of claims 1-11 wherein the food item is pip fruit.

15. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of claims 1-14, wherein the container is transparent.

16. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of claims 1-15, wherein the 5 container is formed of plastics material.

17. Packaging for food items as claimed in any one of claims 1-16, wherein the container has a top closure. 10

18. A method of transporting and packaging food comprising; a. transporting a food product separately from packaging for food items as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular container is shipped in a flat pack configuration; b. forming the tubular container into a tubular form with a base at one 15 end; c. placing the food support in the base of the container; and d. placing the food product in the container on top of the support.