Patent Application
20090039079
A multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package that can be separated without disturbing adjacent sealed trays, and in particular, a multiple-tray, multiple-component food package that is connected together via a film and back panel.
Food packages are known to comprise multiple compartments within a single main tray. The multiple compartment food packages can comprise an assortment of food items contained in the recessed compartments and can be covered by a single continuous sheet of film. Once the sheet of film is removed, all of the multiple compartments are simultaneously exposed, such that all of the food items can be consumed in one sitting. One such food package comprised of a single tray with multiple food compartments is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,375,701 and 5,657,873, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, where a single tray has at least three compartments with a common flexible film placed across each of the compartments to seal the food within the package until it is opened. Once the film is removed from the tray in order to provide access to the food products within, the film is no longer resealable, thus preventing the food from being reclosed with the film and stored in the food package if not all consumed. Another feature that is desirable to have on a food package is the ability to display the food package in a retail store such that the front or top side of the package is visible, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,375,701 and 5,657,873. One way to display the package in this position is to stand it in an upright position by using a back panel secured to the back side of the food package, i.e., the back side of the compartments in the tray, and to use the back panel as a support combined with an edge of the tray in standing the package up on its side.
In order to display the package in an upright position the back panel is used which extends past the edges of the side walls of the compartments in the tray. If it is desired to have two or more trays arranged in series such that they are all connected and packaged together as one package, the multiple trays would all be opened at the same time and consumed at the same time because the single, continuous film that is placed over the top of the two or more trays would expose all of the compartments in all of the trays upon opening and removing the film. Furthermore, the back panel, which is utilized to aid in the display of the package, is secured to the back of the compartments in the tray, such that separating one tray from a second tray would be difficult because both would still be adhered to the common back panel. If multiple trays were manufactured individually, such that each had its own film enclosing the compartments on the tray, this would not provide for an easy way to attach the packages to one another in order to sell and store them together as one unit.
A multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package is provided that allows for multiple individual trays to be packaged and sold together in a connected manner, yet allows the trays to be separated from each other and opened independently of each other. Each multiple tray component of the food package contains multiple compartments therein for storing food products and is covered with a common film having a perforation therein or other weakened portion between the individual trays. The multiple tray food package contains a back panel that is placed along the bottom of each tray such that it covers at least a portion of the bottom wall of at least one compartment on each tray and further connects them together. The back panel is a single, common piece, however, it can be separated into at least two pieces along a line or area of weakness located thereon and positioned between the individual trays, thus providing for a portion of the back panel to remain on each tray while also permitting separation of the trays from each other. The back panel is used to provide either a stand-up display feature and/or a hole in the top of the panel to use as an overhead hanging device. The back panel also can provide support for keeping the individual trays together. The multiple trays are not themselves connected but rather are connected via the common flexible film and the common back panel which are both separable along their respective lines of weakness to provide for individual trays.
The multiple tray food package further comprises a common flexible film that is placed over the top opening of the multiple compartments of each tray to cover and seal the compartments until the food products therein are ready to be consumed. The flexible film is a single continuous sheet of film that overlays all of the multiple trays that make up the food package. Between adjacent food trays the film contains a perforation which allows for the film to be torn along the perforation in order to separate the multiple trays, allowing for the film on one tray to be opened without removing the film from another adjacent tray that was previously attached to that tray. This allows for the consumer to open up only one of the multiple trays and to save the rest of the trays, still containing sealed food products, for later consumption.
The multiple tray food package can be separated into its individual multiple trays and opened for consumption separately, at different times. To separate the multiple tray food package, the back panel is first separated into at least two parts along a line of weakness, with a portion of the back panel remaining affixed to each of the trays. Then the flexible film is separated along its perforation into at least two portions, with each portion remaining sealed to its respective tray. However, the reverse of these steps could also be performed. When a food item is to be consumed, the user simply removes the flexible film from a single tray, while permitting the remaining trays to remain sealed.
A multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package providing for consumption of the food product stored therein at separate times and including upright display of the food package and, in particular, a common flexible film covering all of the compartments of all of the trays that can be separated along a weakened portion, or perforation, prior to opening and a back panel that can be separated into at least two parts along a line or area of weakness are disclosed herein and illustrated in
Turning to
The trays 12a and 12b can be packaged together such that they are attached to one another via a common air impermeable flexible film 18 placed over the top openings of the compartments 14, 15, and 16 of each tray 12a and 12b, and via a common back panel 28 attached to the bottom walls of the compartments 14, 15, and 16; the trays 12a and 12b themselves are not actually connected.
The flexible film 18 can comprise a single, continuous sheet of film that overlays the top portion of both trays 12a and 12b. The single, continuous sheet of film 18 that is placed over both trays 12a and 12b operates to keep the two trays 12a and 12b connected to each other thus that it can be sold as one food package 10. The common flexible film 18 can comprise a transparent or semi-transparent film 18 such that the food products contained within the compartments 14, 15, and 16 can be at least partially visible. Furthermore, the flexible film 18 can contain printing or labeling. For example, a design can be printed on an upper portion of the package 10 (adjacent a peripheral 24 and internal 26 flanges) such that the design is presented as an opaque area on the flexible film 18 itself, leaving transparent areas therein for viewing interiors of the compartments 14,15, and 16 therethrough.
The flexible film 18 further contains a weakened portion such as a laser score, mechanical score, tear tape or, preferably, a perforation 20, that can be positioned between adjacent trays 12a and 12b, along which the trays 12a and 12b are attached. The perforation 20 can span the entire length of the package 10, from one side end to another opposite side end, or it can span a shorter length as long as the perforation 20 is long enough to allow separation of the adjacent trays 12a and 12b from each other and along the film 18. Where there are only two trays, the perforation 20 may be centrally located. When the film 18 tears along its perforation 20 and is separated, the film 18 can be divided into at least two portions 18a and 18b with each portion remaining intact upon its respective tray 12a and 12b until a force is applied to remove the film 18a and 18b to uncover the openings of the compartments 14, 15, and 16.
The trays 12a and 12b further can comprise a peripheral flange 24 that defines an outer periphery of the top of each tray 12a and 12b, and several internal flanges 26 positioned parallel to a bottom of the trays 12a and 12b such that they are opposite the bottom and located between compartments 14, 15, and 16 and further defining the openings of the compartments 14, 15, and 16. The flexible film 18 can be affixed to each of the trays 12a and 12b at the peripheral flange 24 and internal flange 26 of each tray 12a and 12b, thus forming a relatively air-tight seal with respect to the compartments 14, 15, and 16 containing food product. The film 18 can have a portion that extends outwardly from the peripheral flange 24 and past an edge of the peripheral flange 24 to provide a gripping surface for the removal of the film 18. The film 18 can further include tabs 22 at the corners of the package 10 to further aid in removal of the film 18. The film 18 can be sealed to the trays 12a and 12b by any suitable methods, such as by using glue, adhesive, ultrasonically sealing or heat-sealing to seal the film 18 to the peripheral and internal flanges 24 and 26.
Turning to
When the back panel 28 is attached to the bottom of the trays 12a and 12b, it must be attached in generally the same plane so that the back panel 28 is relatively flat or level across the bottom of the trays 12a and 12b so that it can provide adequate support when stood upright. This requires the bottom walls of the compartments 14, 15, and 16 to all be aligned in about the same plane, which can be achieved by all of the compartments 14, 15, and 16 having a portion of each tray generally at the same depth. The bottom wall may include a first portion having a first depth and a second portion having a second depth, where the second depth is greater than the first depth and the back panel is adhered to the second portion. This accounts for when the compartments 14, 15, and 16 are at different depths, and the bottom walls of the smaller depth compartments can contain the second portion, or a projection, that protrudes slightly therefrom as an extension of the bottom wall, in an amount or thickness that is needed to equal the depth of the deepest compartment. Therefore, when the back panel 28 is attached to the bottom of the trays 12a and 12b it can contact the bottom walls of the deepest compartments (i.e., a first portion) and the bottom wall projections, or second portions, of any shorter depth compartments, thus providing for the back panel 28 to rest in a level plane despite the compartments 14, 15, and 16 having different depths. Alternatively, the deepest compartments may also contain two portions of different depths, and still alternatively, all the compartments may be at the same depth but still contain a first and second portion with two depths that may be similar. Such bottom wall projections can be shaped in many ways, and can span the entire cross-section of the bottom wall or only a portion thereof.
The back panel 28 also operates to connect the trays 12a and 12b together and provide support, keeping the trays 12a and 12b attached as one single package 10. The back panel 28 also contains a line or area of weakness 30, which can be removed to separate the back panel 28 into at least two parts 28a and 28b, where each part 28a and 28b of the back panel remains attached to its respective tray 12a and 12b. The back panel 28 may not be as easy to remove or to separate along its line of weakness 30 as is the film 18 along its weakened portion 20. The back panel 28 can provide a sturdier support to keep the trays 12a and 12b together than does the film 18. The line of weakness 30 functions to separate the package 10 into its individual trays 12a and 12b upon removal of the line of weakness 30. The line of weakness 30 can be centrally located such that it may be generally equidistant between the two trays 12a and 12b. The line of weakness 30 may comprise a perforated tear strip, perforation, tear tape, tear string, reverse cut score or the like. The line of weakness 30 may also include a tab 36 or other gripping end that makes grasping and removing the line of weakness 30 easier. The back panel 28 may also contain printing or labeling thereon. Alternatively, the back panel 28 may not contain a line or area of weakness 30 at all and instead the back panel 28 can be torn off or removed by hand, thus removing substantially the entire back panel 28 from the bottom walls of the compartments 14, 15, and 16 to detach the trays 12a and 12b.
When the back panel 28 is used to display the package 10 and to aid in standing the package 10 upright along a bottom edge, the back panel 28 can have a lower edge 32 that extends beyond the edges of the side wall of at least one of the compartments 14, 15, or 16 of the lowermost positioned tray 12b, as shown in
Alternatively and/or in addition to the stand-up feature, a peggable hole can be provided on a peg member, where the peg member may be the back panel 28 containing a hole in an uppermost portion of the back panel 28 for hanging overhead on a hook in a display case, as shown in
The rigid trays 12a and 12b may be formed from any suitable packaging materials, such as high density polyethylene. The rigid trays 12a and 12b, which are preferably formed from a single sheet of material, may further contain a protective multilayer laminate portion, having an inner and outer layer that serves as a moisture barrier and sealant layer and a middle layer that serves as an oxygen barrier layer. The rigid trays 12a and 12b can be formed of various other materials. If formed of a relatively stiff material such as polystyrene, the rigid trays 12a and 12b can tend to be relatively stiff and of such a nature that the compartments 14, 15, and 16, and especially the lower corners thereof, could be damaged if dented or the like in handling. Using certain other materials such as high density polyethylene can provide a somewhat softer and more durable package 10 such that the lower corners may not be as readily damaged.
The flexible film 18 may also comprise a multilayer film. An outer layer of the film 18 can be formed of a number of different film materials, such as polyester, nylon or polyethylene. A middle layer can comprise an oxygen barrier layer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) or polyvinylidene dichloride (PVDC). An inner layer could comprise a moisture barrier and heat-sealable material such as low density polyethylene. The back panel 28 of the package 10 should be constructed of a relatively stiff material, such as paperboard or a relatively thick plastic material such as high density polyethylene when used for both holding the trays 12a and 12b together and as a stand-up feature. If the stand-up feature is not necessary, then the back panel 28 may instead comprise a pressure-sensitive label or other type of attachment sturdy enough to hold the trays 12a and 12b together. Furthermore, the individual trays 12a and 12b may have a length of about 5 to about 9 inches, preferably about 8 inches, and a width of about 1.5 to about 4 inches, preferably about 3 inches. A height or depth of the tray can be at least about 0.35 inches. The package 10 comprising two trays can have a similar length and depth as the individual trays, however, the package can have a different width of about 3 to about 8 inches, preferably about 5.5 inches, since it is equal to the width of two trays, or however many are packaged together.
The food package 10 may include many types of food products. For example, at least one of the compartments 14, 15 or 16 may include proteinaceous foods, such as meat, fish, poultry, cheese, peanut better, and the like, and at least one of the compartments 14, 15 or 16 may include farinaceous foods, such as bread, crackers, and the like. Still other foods that may be included in the compartments 14, 15 or 16 may be condiments, desserts, confectioneries, fruits, and the like. The food package 10 may further contain implements such as plastic utensils and/or napkins. For example, a typical package 10 may include a larger compartment 14 having a plurality of crackers and the like while the smaller compartments 15 and 16 may generally include cheeses, meat, fish, and the like. A beverage container may also be included.
In order to separate the trays 12a and 12b and to open at least one of the trays 12a and 12b for consumption of the food products therein, the line or area of weakness 30 in the back panel 28, as shown in
After the back panel 28 has been separated into at least two parts 28a and 28b, then the front plane of the package 10 can be separated along the perforation 20 of the film 18, as shown in
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated a multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package is provided that allows for packaging the multiple trays together initially and later provides for separating the trays without disrupting the film seal covering the food compartments. However, the disclosure is not limited to the aspects and embodiments described hereinabove, or to any particular embodiments. Various modifications to the multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package can result in substantially the same container and methods of manufacture.
