WO2008026943A1

WO2008026943A1 - Retail pack for fruit slices

Info

Publication number: WO2008026943A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2007/000235
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip David Rendell
Original assignee: Philip David Rendell
Priority date: 2006-08-30
Filing date: 2007-08-29
Publication date: 2008-03-06

Abstract

A pack of fruit (unpeeled and uncooked) slices comprising a profiled under tray having inclined lands, a slice on each land, a profiled over tray having a profile adapted to hold each slice on its land and a surround holding the trays together. Each tray is sufficiently robust and rigid to provide some crush resistance and transparent. The surround is a shrink wrap or a sealed at partly evacuated bag. The slices of fruit or vegetable (oranges, paw paw, kiwifruit or citrus) are uniform and the trays are substantially identical. Each tray is vacuum moulded and an eating utensil is included in the pack. The under and over tray's are formed from a transparent sheet plastic material to define an elongate tray with a peripheral flange and at least one row of lands, merging or discrete each having as similar inclination to a general plane that includes a peripheral flange.

Description

RETAIL PACK FOR FRUIT SLICES

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a marketable commodity in the form of viewable fruit and/or vegetable slices, pieces, etc. ("slices"), and related methods and apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Any form of cut fruit or vegetable can be marketed in a number of different ways. With a fruit (such as a citrus fruit (eg; oranges)) there are a number of different ways the product can be presented to a would be customer at a retail outlet. The present invention however recognises that there is an advantage in providing a presentation pack of such a fruit in the form of a viewable or in part viewable array of slices. The same is for other fruits (eg; kiwifruit).

Fresh-cut, minimally processed fruit is generally merchandised in tubs or simple platters with shrink-wrap film. Little protection is afforded to soft fruit pieces such as slices of orange, paw paw, kiwifruit and the like. This lack of protection results in crushed or damaged flesh, excess juice and poor visual presentation.

The present invention provides a retail pack designed to offer protection to fresh-cut soft fruit pieces such that they can be presented in a robust form, protected from rushing, and also in a layout/configuration that is visually appealing. An object is to present in a protected way exposed internal fruit or vegetable surfaces.

The present invention therefore is directed to such an option. Alternatively the invention is to provide the public with a useful choice.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In an aspect the invention consists in slices of a fruit or vegetable, or both, presented in an array, the array being supported by a moulded under tray and a moulded over tray, at least one of the trays (preferably both) being transparent.

In another aspect the invention is slices of at least fruit or at least one vegetable, or both, presented in an array, wherein the array is supported by a moulded under tray and a moulded over tray, wherein each slice is interposed between lands of each tray, and wherein each land is inclined with respect to a general tray to tray interface and wherein each tray is held perimeter to perimeter to the other in a bag or other surround which nonetheless allows the slices to be viewed. The trays are preferably sufficiently robust and rigid to provide some crush resistance. Preferably the trays are thermoformed from a thermoplastic film of a food grade.

The fruit or vegetable slices/pieces can be uniform. Nevertheless different sized pieces (eg; of fruit) is an option. Whilst with kiwifruit having a single uniform size piece of fruit is easy & desirable, with some fruit [eg; an orange] it may be appropriate to pack [say] 3 or 4 different size profiles in one pack. The profiled arrays may or may not have lands of different sizes.

Optionally the slices are parallel cut slices of a consistent size both in perimeter and thickness.

Preferably the arrays display the slices on an inclined under support (eg; inclined "lands").

Preferably the moulded trays are mutually a complement of the array. Preferably, but not necessarily essentially, the over tray and the under tray have similar arrays but arranged such that one complements the other when rotated by 180°.

In some forms of the present invention the under tray and over tray can be regions of a moulded clam shell.

Preferably the pack is shrunk wrapped to hold the tray components together and/or to provide at packing a lower volume atmosphere in which the slices are contained.

If desired, a controlled atmosphere can be provided, eg; low in oxygen.

Preferably the shrink-wrap is in a bag.

Preferably the bag carries advertising indicia.

In another aspect the invention is a tray or a combination of trays or a pack as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In another aspect the invention is a fruit pack comprising or including unpeeled and uncooked fruit as slices arrayed between moulded under and over trays (whether claim shell or separate).

Preferably the fruit is or includes a citrus fruit (eg; oranges) or a fruit such as kiwifruit. Preferably the trays are as aforesaid.

In another aspect the invention is a pack of fruit and/or vegetable slices, the pack comprising or including the slices, a profiled under tray having inclined lands on each of which each slice is positioned, a profiled over tray having a profile adapted to hold each slice on the land of its under tray, and a surround holding the trays together.

In another aspect the invention is a pack of fruit and/or vegetable slices, the pack comprising or including a profiled under tray having inclined lands, a slice on each said land, a profiled over tray having a profile adapted to hold each slice on its land, and a surround holding the trays together.

The trays are preferably sufficiently robust and rigid to provide some crush resistance (eg; vacuum moulded).

Preferably said surround is a shrink wrap or a sealed at partly evacuated bag.

Preferably the slices are of unpeeled and uncooked fruit.

In some forms of the present invention the under tray and over tray can be regions of a moulded clam shell. The fruit or vegetable slices/pieces can be uniform. Nevertheless different sized pieces

(eg; of fruit) is an option. With some fruit [eg; an orange] it may be appropriate to pack [say] 3 or 4 different size profiles in one pack. The profiled arrays may or may not have lands of different sizes. Kiwifruit are more likely of a single uniform size.

Optionally the trays are at least substantially identical for out of phase association. In preferred forms of the present invention preferably each tray is provided with a rim adapted to be held against a rim of the other tray.

Preferably said rims are identical but not necessarily so.

Preferably said rims are of a kind adapted not to puncture the surround or bag.

Preferably the trays are elongate with rows of lands arranged in rows. Preferably the lands of each row is aligned with lands of other rows, ie; there is no staggering of lands between proximate rows. In less preferred forms this can be accommodated.

Preferably the inclined lands all incline in the same direction.

Preferably the arrangement is substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Most preferably the produce is a sliced fruit (eg; orange, kiwifruit or the like).

In another aspect the invention is a pack of fruit and/or vegetable ("fruit") slices comprising or including a first component formed from a transparent sheet plastic material to define an elongate tray with a peripheral flange and at least on row of lands, merging and/or discrete, each having a similar inclination to a general plane that includes said peripheral flange, a second component identical to or similar to the first component, whether also transparent or not, slices of fruit each interposed between a land of each tray, the first and second components being mated flange to flange but out of phase by 180° so that lands interposing lndividual fruit slices are at least substantially parallel but inclined similarly with respect to the flange to flange interface, and an at least in part transparent encasement of the mated first and second components conforming in part thereto to hold them in the mated relationship. Preferably said encasement is a sealed shrink pouch or vacuum pouch.

Optionally said encasement has been sealed when a vacuum and/or a gas flush has been applied and said encasement will allow some oxygen penetration to support respiration of the fruit slices.

Preferably said first and second components have not been moulded as integrally hinged components

Optionally said lands of the (one or plural) row(s) incline with respect to either the longitudinal or transverse axis of each tray.

An eating utensil, such as a plastic fork, can be included in the pack.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a moulded item suitable for use as a under tray and/or as an over tray or in a pack as aforesaid.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of presenting slices of a vegetable or fruit for customer appraisal and/or purchase reliant on a pack as aforesaid.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein the term "(s)" following a noun includes, as might be appropriate, the singular or plural forms of that noun.

As used herein "fruit" or "vegetable" includes any shape retaining item of a vegetable or fruit kind able to be presented as a slice. It is preferably still able to respire.

As used herein "slice" or "slices" includes any piece whether deskinned or not and whether having parallel cuts or the equivalent separations, or not. As used herein "clam shell" includes any closable form (preferably hinged, toggled, or the like) where tray like parts co-act. The term "tray" extends to such tray-like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings in which

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred uniformly perimetered large orange slice (orange being chosen as an example of a citrus fruit) to be arrayed in a pack of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view AA of the slice of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view from above of an under tray (but preferably also the underview of an over tray when rotated to be out of the phase by 180°), Figure 4 is an end view BB of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a side elevation view CC with respect of Figure 3, Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of the tray of Figures 3 through 5. Figure 7 shows two transparent trays as depicted in Figures 3 through 5 overlaid one on top of the other showing how a dotted perimeter large orange slice (as shown in Figure 1) can be positioned and be held on the land of the under tray by land or other feature the over tray, Figure 8 is a view DD of the assembly as shown in Figure 7, Figure 9 is a view EE (not showing the orange slice) of Figure 7

Figure 10 is a plan view of a preferred uniformly penmetered small orange slice (orange being chosen as an example of a fruit or vegetable) to be arrayed in a pack of the present invention, Figure 11 is a view FF of the slice of Figure 10, Figure 12 is a plan view from above of an under tray (but preferably also the under view of an over tray when rotated to be out of phase by 180°),

Figure 13 is an end view GG of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a side elevational view HH with respect of Figure 12,

Figure 15 is a perspective view from above of the tray of Figures 12 through 14, Figure 16 shows two transparent trays as depicted in Figures 12 through 14 overlaid one on top of the other showing how a dotted perimeter small orange slice (as shown in Figure 10) can be positioned and be held on the land of the under tray by land or other feature the over tray, Figure 17 is a view II of the assembly as shown in Figure 16,

Figure 18 is a view JJ (not showing the orange slice) of Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a plan view of a preferred uniformly peαmetered kiwifruit slice (kiwifruit being chosen as an example of a fruit or vegetable) to be arrayed in a pack of the present invention,

Figure 20 is a view KK of the slice of Figure 19, Figure 21 is a plan view from above of an under tray (but preferably also the under view of an over tray when rotated to be out of phased by 180°), Figure 22 is an end view LL of Figure 21 ,

Figure 23 is a side elevational view MM with respect of Figure 21, Figure 24 is a perspective view from above of the tray of Figures 21 through 23, Figure 25 shows two transparent trays as depicted in Figures 21 through 23 overlaid one on top of the other showing how a dotted perimeter kiwifruit slice (as shown in Figure 1) can be positioned and be held on the land of the under tray by land or other feature the over tray, Figure 26 is a view NN of the assembly as shown in Figure 25, and Figure 27 is a view OO (not showing the kiwifruit slice) of Figure 25 The present invention provides protection for a soft fruit but not limited to fruit produce from physical damage. Soft fresh vegetables are also in prospect, Examples of fruit include citrus (eg; orange), paw paw and kiwifruit.

A reason no-one simply vacuum packs soft fruit (eg; orange, paw paw or kiwifruit) is that the flesh would crush. This is overcome with the present invention. The finished shrink wrapped pack is to be a robust item.

Preferably, the retail pack comprises two clear rigid plastic trays (eg; vacuum moulded), which sandwich the individual fruit or vegetable pieces affording physical protection from crushing. That 'sandwich' is then placed in a plastic pouch which is then subjected to a light vacuum or shrinking, locking the trays together and resulting in a robust pack. Shrinking and vacuum packing is preferred but shrinking and gas flushing is another option if there is to be controlled oxygen intrusion.

The clear rigid plastic trays may be of any thickness, but for reasons of economy a thinner grade [<4micron] food grade plastics film (eg; PET or acrylic) is preferable. Different fruit pieces may demand different strengths of plastic trays.

The clear rigid plastic trays may be perforated [or not] to allow greater breathability to the fruit pieces, and to allow excess fruit juice to drain from the 'sandwich' before being placed in the vacuum pouch. It is desirable to have as little free fruit juice in the pouch as possible as excess juice may spoil prematurely. The plastic pouch optionally can be made from a shrink plastic film that allows the fruit pieces to continue respiration. The optimum permeability will vary from fruit to fruit. The plastic pouch preferably is manufactured from a soft film so a shrinkage of the plastic tightly into the tray cavities will hold the trays in place. In other forms vacuum packing can achieve the same outcome.

The plastic pouch preferably are manufactured from a film with high tensile strength so the trays do not tear through the film during or after the vacuum and/or shrinkage process.

It is desirable that the plastic pouch is optically clear so the visual presentation of the fruit pieces is maximised.

The plastic pouch preferably size that [when drawn under vacuum] there is enough plastic for the pouch to cling to the complete profile of the trays. Because each individual fruit piece is fully protected by the tray cavity, there is complete freedom to array the fruit pieces in any configuration that appeals. For instance, pieces may be placed alongside one another; on top of one another; overlapping one another or quite apart from one another. In Figures 1 to 9 orange slices 3 of constant size are interposed between out of phase mated trays of lands 1 and peripheral rims 2 They are held together to display a single row by the shrink wrap 10.

In Figure 10 to 18 smaller orange slices 10 are between lands 4 in two rows, the rims being 5 The shrink wrap is 11.

In Figures 19 to 27 kiwifruit slices are between lands 7 of trays with rims 8. The trays are held together by shrink wrap 12.

Preferably a smaller same size, for example of kiwifruit, is of the order of about 35mm by 45mm and a larger same size is of, for example, about 40mm x about 50 mm. Preferably the thickness is for example from 12mm to 20mm (preferably about 16mm).

Preferred trays of the present invention are thermoformed from a film initially of constant thickness to be provided with lands internally of their exterior perimeter but arrayed in a row or rows as shown so that each land proceeds to another etc. thereby to allow die presentation desired.

Preferably the tray is vacuum formed from a suitable plastics material, eg; PET or acrylic. It is to be suffϊciendy strong, rigid and robust as profiled so as to protect the produce slices.

Preferably the film thickness is of the order of from 0 30 to 0.50 microns.

Preferably the tray as shown in Figures 19 through 27 is used as both the under tray and over tray such that an item of fruit 9 as shown in Figures 25 and 26 can be located as shown in broken outlines between complementing and thus substantially parallel lands 7 as shown. Shown by the broken outline also in Figure 26 is the shrink wrap bag or like surround 12 provided to provide a holding force of one tray to the other.

Whilst preferably a single uniform item is provided in packs of the present invention other presentational forms are contemplated.

Preferably without any substantial colouration of the transparent or translucent trays, the items are presented in a natural state but cut to uniform forms and arrayed in inclined rows.

Various peripheral forms are available, and particularly so, if the same tooling is not used to provide both the under tray and the over tray (unless a clam shell where a single tool can match disparate peripheries. With such an arrangement it is possible for the perimeter of one tray to be included inside a flanged perimeter of the other tray thereby to minimise the prospect of damage to the surround.

A suitable material for the surround is a lamination of one or, more or all of PE, Nylon, EVOH and PET.

Preferably the surround is from 60 to 80 microns thick. Preferably is to allow respiration.

The surround can carry an attached label or other indicia for product explanation purposes and advertising purposes. An eating utensil such as a plastic form can be included in the pack.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pack of fruit and/or vegetable slices, the pack comprising or including a profiled under tray having inclined lands, a slice on each said land, a profiled over tray having a profile adapted to hold each slice on its land, and a surround holding the trays together.

2. A pack of claim 1 wherein each tray is sufficiently robust and rigid to provide some crush resistance.

3. A pack of claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one tray is transparent.

4. A pack of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the surround is a shrink wrap or a sealed at pardy evacuated bag, or both.

5. A pack of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein slices are of unpeeled and uncooked fruit.

6. A pack of any one of die preceding claims wherein the fruit or vegetable slices are uniform.

7. A pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the trays are at least substantially identical.

8. A pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein each tray is elongate at least one longitudinal row of lands.

9. A pack of claim 8 wherein there are two rows of inclined lands all incline in the same direction.

10. A pack of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein each tray is vacuum moulded.

11. A pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein an eating utensil is included in the pack.

12. A pack substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

13. Slices of at least fruit or at least one vegetable, or both, presented in an array, wherein the array is supported by a moulded under tray and a moulded over tray, wherein each slice is interposed between lands of each tray, and wherein each land is inclined with respect to a general tray to tray interface and wherein each tray is held perimeter to perimeter to the odier in a bag or other surround which nonetheless allows the slices to be viewed.

14. Slices of claim 13 wherein the bag is shrink wrapping the mated trays.

15. Slices of claim 13 or 14 the slices are of a citrus fruit (eg; oranges), paw paw, and/or kiwifruit.

16. A pack of fruit and/or vegetable ("fruit") slices comprising or including a first component formed from a transparent sheet plastic material to define an elongate tray with a peripheral flange and at least on row of lands, merging and/or discrete, each having a similar inclination to a general plane that includes said peripheral flange, a second component identical to or similar to the first component, whether also transparent or not, slices of fruit each interposed between a land of each tray, the first and second components being mated flange to flange but out of phase by 180° so that lands interposing individual fruit slices are at least substantially parallel but inclined similarly with respect to the flange to flange interface, and an at least in part transparent encasement of the mated first and second components conforming in part thereto to hold them in the mated relationship.

17. A pack of claim 16 wherein said encasement is a sealed shrink pouch or the like.

18. A pack of claim 16 or 17 wherein said encasement has been sealed when a vacuum and/or a gas flush has been applied and said encasement will allow some oxygen penetration to support respiration of the fruit slices.

19. A pack of any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said first and second components have not been moulded as integrally hinged components.

20. A pack of any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein said lands of the row(s) incline with respect to either the longitudinal or transverse axis of each tray.

21. A moulded item suitable for use as a under tray or as an over tray or in a pack as substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.