US3863833A - Storage Container For Meat Or Poultry Products - Google Patents

Abstract

A meat or poultry storage device incorporating a base member that includes a recessed surface portion surrounded by a peripheral outwardly extending ledge and sealing surface. The recessed surface portion of the base also has a plurality of longitudinally oriented channels formed therein to accommodate juices which may exude from the stored produce. Likewise, there is provided a closuring member having peripheral dimensions corresponding to those of the sealing surface of the base so that a snug supporting fit is achieved therebetween.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,863,833 Swett et al. Feb. 4, 1975 [54] STORAGE CONTAINER FOR MEAT OR 3,756,493 9/1973 Holmes 229/55 POULTRY PRODUCTS 3,797,730 3/1974 Zach 229/43 [75] Inventors: James B. Swett, Barrington, R.l.;

Robert H. C. M. Daenen, Erembodegem, Belgium [73] Assignee: Dart Industries Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1973 [2]] App]. No.: 387,646

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 194,885, Nov. 2, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/43, 229/55 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/64, B65d 43/00 [58] Field of Search 229/43, 2.5, 5.5; 220/60 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,055,540 9/1962 Ringlen 220/60 Primary ExaminerLeonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenneth J. Hovet; Leigh B. Taylor; Paul R. Wylie [57] ABSTRACT A meat or poultry storage device incorporating a base member that includes a recessed surface portion surrounded by a peripheral outwardly extending ledge and sealing surface. The recessed surface portion of the base also has a plurality of longitudinally oriented channels formed therein to accommodate juices which may exude from the stored produce. Likewise, there is provided a closuring member having peripheral dimensions corresponding to those of the sealing surface of the base so that a snug supporting fit is achieved therebetween.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures HTENTEU FEB 41975 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 3

FIG4

STORAGE CONTAINER FOR MEAT OR POULTRY PRODUCTS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 194,885, filed Nov. 2, 1971 now abandoned.

This invention relates to a storage and serving device for poultry and other meat produce and more particularly concerns a tray which may be used in the cutting, serving and storage of such produce.

It is known to place perishables in a container, cover the top with a sealing material such as wax paper or aluminum foil, and thereafter store the container in a refrigerator. This arrangement, however, does not provide an effective moisture barrier and, thus, the perishable is quickly dehydrated in the refrigerator. Similarly, containers have been provided which do effectively seal against dehydration and these are even known to include removable trays upon which the perishables rest. Thus, the perishables are also easily removable from the container. Nonetheless, such devices have heretofore not been suitable for overall use, especially in the cutting and serving of such produce. Instead, after the produce is removed from the container, it has been the practice to transfer it to a cutting board or serving platter.

This device or container provides a low profile tray member that is suitably constructed to fulfill all of the requirements from storage to serving. For example, the shallow recessed area of the tray is constructed so that the produce is mostly exposed for cutting or the like and yet is positively retained therein out of contact with the tray or container sealing surface. Further, the ribbed bottom wall structure provides an integral means for drainage of fluids from such produce and in one embodiment, a well for collection thereof is provided. Likewise, a closure is contemplated for placement upon the tray to convert the device for storage. The closure, of course, includes a sealing flange member that is adapted to mate with the sealing surface on the tray to thereby provide an effective moisture and odor barrier.

The device therefore is particularly directed to the storage of meat, roasts, ham, poultry and the like wherein substantial portions of the perishable normally remain unconsumed at a single meal and thus require storage for a short period of time prior to subsequent use. The invention further facilitates the simple opening and closing of the container and provides separate elements that are easily cleaned.

Additional features and advantages will become more apparent from a detailed review of the specification, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an exploded top perspective view of the storage and serving device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container showing the tray and closure as assembled;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the assembled container taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the assembled container taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the assembled elements more clearly depicting the engagement between the sealing flange and surface of the closure and tray, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the container tray wherein a well is provided adjacent one end thereof; and,

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the container tray taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. I, the combination closure and tray member 10 may be seen in an exploded relationship. The closure 12, of course, includes a domelike top wall 14 and side walls I6, I8 which terminate in a sealing flange 20 (FIG. 5) more fully described hereinbelow. As is obvious from the drawings, closure 12 slips onto the tray member 22 over the outwardly extending ledge 24 and into engagement with sealing surface 26.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, note that the tray 22 is integrally formed of a bottom wall 28 which is configured so that a plurality of longitudinally oriented raised rib areas 30 protrude above the channellike portions 32. These ribs therefore support the meat product retained in the tray and any juices or fluids that may exude or drain therefrom are collected in the channels. Likewise, the meat itself is retained above and out of contact with such fluids by the ribs 30 and thus also enables the free circulation of air about the underside of the tray contents. The basic tray construction is completed by the integral side wall 34 which extends upwardly a short distance above the bottom wall. This extension thus provides a boundary wall to retain the foodstuffs yet enables easy access thereto for cutting, garnishing and serving. Outwardly extending ledge 24 emanates from the upper limit of side wall 34 and from it, sealing surface 26 projects downwardly. The tray structure is completed by a lateral horizontally extending annular lip 36 projecting from the lower edge of sealing surface 26.

It should be appreciated that the tray 22 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is invertible and may therefore be used in either position to form a closured container. To achieve this double purpose effect, the tray side wall 34 is extended below the bottom wall 28 as at 38. This extension 38 then serves to properly position the closure 12 over the inverted tray so that the terminal ends of flange 20 will seat on the underside of annular lip 36.

Although in the inverted position there is no positive sealing effect between flange 20 and lip 36, the head space of the two combined elements is substantially reduced. Thus, in certain circumstances where space limitations become a factor, the inverted arrangement may be preferred.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an alternative embodiment of serving tray member 22 which contra to that shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 also includes a well portion 40. Such well is located in the bottom wall 28 adjacent one end of the tray and the channels open thereto. Therefore, the fluids that may be collected in these channel-like portions 32 will drain toward and to the well and likewise will be collected there. This then provides a storage area for the fluids and same may be easily poured or otherwise removed from the tray with ease.

Referring now to FIG. 5, one will better appreciate the sealing technique which is preferably employed with this device. As has been set forth above, the tray sealing surface 26 and closure terminal sealing flange 20 are so dimensioned that as the closure is positioned on the tray, such areas come into mating and sealing engagement. Further, as is apparent in FIGS. 1-5, the closure side walls l6, l8 and flange 20 have positioned therebetween a protruding peripheral rim 42. This rim is proximate the terminus of flange 20 and at a point that will reside approximately opposite ledge 24 when the closure is in place on the tray 22. This positioning supports the overall closure yet lends flexibility to flange 20 so that same can resiliently contact all areas of the sealing surface 26. Likewise, the rim 42 will produce a light binding effect on sealing surface 26 at the outer extremity of ledge 24 to further create va viable seal.

An additional function of the noted ledge is, of course, to provide a ready means for gripping the clo sure to remove same from the tray.

It is anticipated that the tray and closure can be fabricated from any known plastic material, however, it is preferred that the tray be relatively rigid and capable of withstanding the placement of hot perishables thereon.

We claim:

1. A storage and serving tray and closure combination adapted to hold consumable foodstuffs and the like comprising: a tray member having a recessed bottom wall integral with an upwardly extending side wall, said bottom wall being integrally constructed to include a plurality of raised rib areas adapted to support the foodstuff so that the remaining channel-like portion thereof will collect any fluids exuded thereby, the upper portion of said side wall having a cross-section in i the shape of an inverted U with the top surface characterized by an outwardly extending ledge with a downwardly projecting sealing surface that terminates in a laterally extending annular lip all of which are integral with said side and bottom walls, and a closure having a top wall and side walls, said side walls including a sealing flange area that is adapted to sealably engage said sealing surface and which area is further supported by an outwardly protruding peripheral rim that is positioned above the lower edge of said sealing flange area such that it is approximately opposite the outwardly extending ledge of said tray when said closure is in sealing relation thereon.

2. A storage and serving tray and closure combination according to claim 1 wherein the tray of said bottom wall also includes a well portion adjacent one end thereof into which fluid will flow from said channel-like portions.

3. A storage and serving tray and closure combination according to claim 2 wherein said raised rib areas are longitudinally oriented in said tray.

4. A storage and serving tray and closure combination according to claim 1 wherein an annular extension of said tray side wall protrudes downwardly below said bottom wall to such extent that upon inversion of said tray said extension will position the closure with its terminal flange resting on said annular lip thus producing a convertible double purpose container.

Claims (4)

1. A storage and serving tray and closure combination adapted to hold consumable foodstuffs and the like comprising: a tray member having a recessed bottom wall integral with an upwardly extending side wall, said bottom wall being integrally constructed to include a plurality of raised rib areas adapted to support the foodstuff so that the remaining channel-like portion thereof will collect any fluids exuded thereby, the upper portion of said side wall having a cross-section in the shape of an inverted U with the top surface characterized by an outwardly extending ledge with a downwardly projecting sealing surface that terminates in a laterally extending annular lip all of which are integral with said side and bottom walls, and a closure having a top wall and side walls, said side walls including a sealing flange area that is adapted to sealably engage said sealing surface and which area is further supported by an outwardly protruding peripheral rim that is positioned above the lower edge of said sealing flange area such that it is approximately opposite the outwardly extending ledge of said tray when said closure is in sealing relation thereon.

2. A storage and serving tray and closure combination according to claim 1 wherein the tray of said bottom wall also includes a well portion adjacent one end thereof into which fluid will flow from said channel-like portions.

3. A storage and serving tray and closure combination according to claim 2 wherein said raised rib areas are longitudinally oriented in said tray.

4. A storage and serving tray and closure combination according to claim 1 wherein an annular extension of said tray side wall protrudes downwardly below said bottom wall to such extent that upon inversion of said tray said extension will position the closure with its terminal flange resting on said annular lip thus producing a convertible double purpose container.

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